Household appliance having a dispenser for beverages and/or ice

Abstract

A household appliance having a dispenser for beverages and/or ice. The appliance includes a recess with a supporting surface for a container and a rear wall. A dispenser for a product including at least one of a beverage and ice is disposed in the recess. A user control and display unit configured for selection and display of the type of product being dispensed is included on the appliance. A trigger that is operable to dispense the product includes at least one sensor array configured to detect the container. The at least one sensor array has a sensor range and is disposed on the rear wall of the recess. A controller coupled to the user control and display unit is operable to control the dispensing process such that selection of at least one of the product and the amount to be dispensed is determined by movement of the container relative to the dispenser within the sensing range of the at least one sensor array.

1 : A household appliance comprising:
 a recess including a supporting surface for a container and a rear wall;   a dispenser for a product including at least one of beverages and ice, the dispenser being disposed in the recess;   a user control and display unit configured for selection and display of a type of product being dispensed;   at least one trigger operable to dispense the product, the at least one trigger including at least one sensor array configured to detect the container and having a sensor range, the at least one sensor array being disposed on the rear wall of the recess; and   a controller coupled to the user control and display unit and operable to control a dispensing process such that selection of at least one of the product and an amount to be dispensed is determined by movement of the container relative to the dispenser within the sensing range of the at least one sensor array.   
     
     
         2 : The household appliance recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor array includes at least one ultrasonic transmitter and at least one ultrasonic receiver. 
     
     
         3 : The household appliance recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rear wall of the recess includes a shape of a semicircle and surrounds the supporting surface, and
 wherein the at least one sensor array is disposed on the rear wall.   
     
     
         4 : The household appliance recited in  claim 2 , wherein the rear wall of the recess includes a shape of a semicircle and surrounds the supporting surface, and
 wherein the at least one sensor array is disposed on the rear wall.   
     
     
         5 : The household appliance recited in  claim 1 , wherein the recess is bordered by wall portions having a shape of a U, the wall portions including the rear wall and at least one side wall, and
 wherein the at least one sensor array is disposed on the rear wall and at least one additional sensor array is disposed on the side wall.   
     
     
         6 : The household appliance recited in  claim 2 , wherein the recess is bordered by wall portions having a shape of a U, the wall portions including the rear wall and at least one side wall, and
 wherein the at least one sensor array is disposed on the rear wall and at least one additional sensor array is disposed on the side wall.   
     
     
         7 : The household appliance recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one ultrasonic transmitter disposed in a plane perpendicular to a filling axis of the dispenser. 
     
     
         8 : The household appliance recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one ultrasonic receiver associated with the ultrasonic transmitter and disposed to a right or a left side of the ultrasonic transmitter. 
     
     
         9 : The household appliance recited in  claim 1 , wherein the control and display unit is configured to display the at least one product selected by the movement of the container. 
     
     
         10 : The household appliance recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor array includes a light barrier system.