Refrigerator
First Claim
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein;
a lighting device arranged inside the storage chamber and configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber;
a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door having an opening defined therethrough and comprising;
a panel assembly configured to cover the opening in the door, the panel assembly comprising;
a front panel that defines at least part of an outer appearance of the door, and through which light emitted from the lighting device passes in a state in which the door is closed;
a sensor arranged in the door and in contact with the front panel of the panel assembly of the door, the sensor comprising a microphone configured to detect sound waves from a knock input applied on the door; and
at least one processor configured to activate the lighting device based on the sensor detecting the sound waves from the knock input applied on the door,wherein the front panel of the panel assembly of the door comprises;
a front surface that defines the at least part of the outer appearance of the door, and that provides an area to receive the knock input that is applied on the door; and
a rear surface that faces the interior of the storage chamber in a state in which the door is closed,wherein the door further comprises;
a door frame that is arranged behind the front panel and that has the opening of the door defined therethrough,wherein the sensor is in contact with the rear surface of the front panel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator equipped with a door that becomes transparent as necessary to make the interior thereof visible is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment defined therein, a lighting device for illuminating the interior of the storage compartment, a door, which is hingedly coupled to the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment, and has an opening and a panel assembly including a front panel disposed on the front surface thereof, a sensor for detecting sound waves, which are generated by a knock input applied to the door and are transmitted through the front panel, and a controller for controlling the lighting device to allow light to be transmitted through the panel assembly, thus making the storage compartment visible from outside the door through the opening when a predetermined knock input is detected.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein; a lighting device arranged inside the storage chamber and configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber; a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door having an opening defined therethrough and comprising; a panel assembly configured to cover the opening in the door, the panel assembly comprising; a front panel that defines at least part of an outer appearance of the door, and through which light emitted from the lighting device passes in a state in which the door is closed; a sensor arranged in the door and in contact with the front panel of the panel assembly of the door, the sensor comprising a microphone configured to detect sound waves from a knock input applied on the door; and at least one processor configured to activate the lighting device based on the sensor detecting the sound waves from the knock input applied on the door, wherein the front panel of the panel assembly of the door comprises; a front surface that defines the at least part of the outer appearance of the door, and that provides an area to receive the knock input that is applied on the door; and a rear surface that faces the interior of the storage chamber in a state in which the door is closed, wherein the door further comprises; a door frame that is arranged behind the front panel and that has the opening of the door defined therethrough, wherein the sensor is in contact with the rear surface of the front panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein; a main door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the main door having a first opening defined therethrough; a lighting device arranged in at least one of the storage chamber or the first opening in the main door, and configured to illuminate an interior of the refrigerator; a sub door configured to open and close the first opening in the main door, the sub door having a second opening defined therethrough and comprising; a panel assembly configured to cover the second opening in the sub door, the panel assembly comprising; a front panel that defines at least a portion of an outer appearance of the sub door, and through which light emitted from the lighting device passes in a state in which the sub door is closed; a sensor arranged in the sub door and in contact with the front panel of the panel assembly of the sub door, the sensor comprising a microphone configured to detect sound waves from a knock input applied on the sub door; and at least one processor configured to activate the lighting device based on the sensor detecting the sound waves from the knock input applied on the sub door, wherein the front panel of the panel assembly of the sub door comprises; a front surface that defines the at least part of the outer appearance of the sub door, and that provides an area to receive the knock input that is applied on the sub door; and a rear surface that faces the interior of the storage chamber in a state in which the sub door is closed, wherein the sensor is in contact with either the front surface or the rear surface of the front panel of the panel assembly of the sub door. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein; a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door having an opening defined therethrough and comprising; a panel assembly configured to cover the opening in the door, wherein the panel assembly comprises; a front panel that defines at least a portion of an outer appearance of the door, and through which light passes from an inside of the refrigerator to an outside of the refrigerator in a state in which the door is closed; and a sensor installed in the door, and comprising a microphone configured to detect a sound wave, the sensor further comprising; an accommodation part that is in contact with the front panel of the panel assembly of the door, wherein, in a state in which the accommodation part of the sensor is in contact with the front panel, the accommodation part and the front panel form a space between the microphone and the front panel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber, and configured to illuminate an interior of the refrigerator; a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door having an opening defined therethrough and comprising; a panel assembly configured to cover the opening in the door, the panel assembly comprising; a front panel that defines at least a portion of an outer appearance of the door and through which light emitted from the lighting device passes in a state in which the door is closed; a sensor arranged in the door and in contact with the front panel of the panel assembly of the door, the sensor comprising a microphone configured to detect sound waves from a knock input applied on the door; and at least one processor configured to; determine, based on the sound waves detected by the sensor, whether at least one knock input is applied on the front panel of the panel assembly of the door; and based on a determination that a second knock input is applied within a first period of time after a first knock input is applied, activate the lighting device to illuminate the interior of the refrigerator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification