Timer for a cooling appliance

Abstract

The system comprises an electronic timer circuit in a housing. The system having an automatic voltage sensor, a handheld tool, and a tool storage location. The sensor eliminates the need for manual voltage selection. The handheld tool connects to the circuit via a USB cable and is storable about the housing. The tool processes data it receives from the circuit and displays various information to a user.

Claims

1. A timer for a cooling appliance, the timer comprising: a timer circuit; the timer circuit being attachable and detachable to an appliance via a terminal block; the timer circuit having a connection port; a cable; a tool; the tool being attachable and detachable to the timer circuit via the connection port and the cable; the tool capable of processing electronic information that is digitally stored on the timer circuit; the tool presents data derived from the processed electronic information to a user; a sensor; the sensor having a plurality of controls; the sensor being attached to the timer circuit; the sensor being configured to automatically determine a value of a voltage that is supplied to the timer circuit from an external power source and adjust the timer circuit to accommodate the voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a user can connect to, interpret, and read embedded data related to the historical performance of the appliance that is received from the timer circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor automatically sensing and adjusting eliminates the need for a user of the apparatus to manually alter electrical wiring in order to accommodate different power supply voltage levels being supplied to the timer circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool is wirelessly connectable and disconnectable to the timer circuit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tool is handheld and presents data to a user that is relevant to the timer's operations.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the timer being located within a timer case; the tool capable of being conveniently stored in the timer case, the timer case being secured to the appliance.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the terminal block is capable of receiving alphanumeric markings.

8. A method of using a portable timer for a cooling appliance and a handheld reader unit to troubleshoot defrost cycle operations, the timer including a timer circuit that is attachable and detachable to the cooling appliance, the timer further including a connection port and a cable, a handheld reader unit being attachable and detachable to the timer circuit via the connection port and the cable, the handheld reader unit processing electronic information from the timer circuit and presenting data to a user, a sensor having a plurality of controls and the sensor being attached to the timer circuit and capable of automatically sensing and adjusting for different voltage levels supplied to the timer circuit, the method comprising: a first step of a user encountering an inventive timer; next locating the timer and review it for indications of error messages; then if the user determines that no troubleshooting is necessary, then making repairs or adjustments to the cooling appliance, however if an error is indicated then a handheld reader is removed by the user from a storage location within the timer's housing; next, the technician uses a cable and connects the handheld reader to the timer; next the timer button is pressed which causes the timer to communicate with the handheld unit, electronic data that was stored on the timer's circuitry is now available for viewing on display of the handheld unit; then the technician will scroll through data that is presented on the display of the handheld reader and choose a record of interest and analyze the defrost cycle data related to the operation of the cooling appliance; next the technician determines the proper repairs or adjustments needed and completes the job.

9. A method of using a portable timer for a cooling appliance and a handheld reader unit to troubleshoot defrost cycle operations, the timer including a timer circuit that is attachable and detachable to the cooling appliance, the timer further including a connection port and a cable, a handheld reader unit being attachable and detachable to the timer circuit via the connection port and the cable, the handheld reader unit processing electronic information from the timer circuit and presenting data to a user, a sensor having a plurality of controls and the sensor being attached to the timer circuit and capable of automatically sensing and adjusting for different voltage levels supplied to the timer circuit, the method comprising: encountering the cooling appliance including an inventive timer; locating the timer and reviewing for error indications; in response to an absence of error indications indicating no need for troubleshooting, making repairs and/or adjustments to the cooling appliance; in response to an error indication being present, troubleshooting the cooling appliance by: removing a handheld reader from a storage location within the timer housing; connecting the handheld reader to the timer with a cable; initiating communication between the timer and the handheld unit to enable historical records from the timer to be read from the handheld unit; identify a relevant historical record; and determine appropriate repairs and/or adjustments in accordance with the relevant historical record.

Description

[0018] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing where:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus used to control appliances.

[0020] FIG. 2, shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a handheld unit of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3, shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive timer being used during troubleshooting by a technician.

[0022] FIG. 4, shows a block diagram for a method embodiment for troubleshooting an embodiment of the timer.

DESCRIPTION

Overview.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus according to the present invention that is used to control appliances, such as a refrigerator to name one example, comprises a housing 7, an electronic timer circuit 1 with a timer 4, a handheld tool 2 that is attachable and detachable to the timer circuit 1 at port 9 via a USB cable 3. The handheld tool 2 has a plurality of controls 8 attached. The housing 7 accommodates the storage of the handheld tool 2 such as via a space within the housing 10. The handheld tool 2 having an electronic display 6 where data is presented to a user. The timer circuit 1 have an automatic voltage sensor 5 that eliminates the need for manual selection of different power source levels.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, a perspective view of an embodiment of a handheld unit of the present invention comprises, a handheld reader 100. The handheld reader 100 being connected via a USB cable 107 to an inventive timer similar to that shown in FIG. 1. There are a plurality of buttons on the handheld reader that have different functions when pressed. There is a select button 102, a download button 103, a delete button 104, a P/T terminate button 105, a down button 106, and an up button 108. A user is presented various electronic data that appears on the display 101 at various times.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive timer being used during troubleshooting by a technician comprises a technician 306 that has approached a cooling appliance 307. The cooling appliance 307 having attached to it a timer system 308. The timer system having electronic circuitry 302. One component of the electronic circuitry is an LED light 301 that, when lit, indicates that the cooling appliance 307 has experienced a defrost cycle error, such as the defrost cycle running for too long a time period. This would be dangerous for the items inside the appliance.

[0026] The technician 306 can use a handheld reader 305 that connects to the timer 308 via a USB cable 304. The handheld reader 305 will provide to the technician 306 a means for reviewing electronic data that is informative with respect to defrost cycles that prompted the LED light 301 to indicate an error has occurred. The connection block 309 is labeled to indicate to the technician the proper wiring configuration needed.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, a method for troubleshooting an embodiment of the timer comprises, a first step 301 where a technician encounters an inventive timer. This usually occurs because an owner of a cooling appliance has requested service and the technician is dispatched to the location where the cooling appliance with a timer is located. The technician next will locate the timer and review 302 its LED indicators for error messages 303. If no error 310 is found or if the technician determines that no troubleshooting is necessary, then repairs or adjustments are made and the job is complete 304.

[0028] If an error is indicated 309, or the technician decides that troubleshooting is needed then a handheld reader is removed from its storage location within the timer's housing. Next, the technician uses a provided USB cable and connects the handheld reader unit to the timer 305. The USB cable will plug into a USB port that is a component of the timer circuitry. Next the timer button is pressed 306. This causes the timer to communicate with the handheld unit. Electronic data that was stored on the timer's circuitry is now available for viewing on display of the handheld unit. The technician will next scroll through data that is presented on the display of the handheld reader 307. Once a record of interest, the record containing defrost cycle data related to the operation of the cooling apparatus, is chosen then the technician will hit the download button and review the defrost cycle data 308. Analyzing the defrost cycle data allows the technician to determine the proper repairs or adjustments needed 304.

[0029] Although the present process has been described in considerable detail with the reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the connection between the reader and the timer could be wireless. Or the timer could communicate more detailed cycle data to the reader. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

[0030] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state means for performing a specified function, or step for performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a means or step clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. 112, 6.