Refrigerator and household appliance networking system

• US 10,161,673 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Yamato, Yasunari, Maeda, Go, Okabe, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Teitelbaum, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwarzenberg, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/893,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 236 51
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/06 Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 9/005 from plastics E05D1/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/10 Electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy, e.g. sleep or wake-up
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/676 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/00 Control issues
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a casing including storage compartments, doors attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartments, hinges connecting the doors to the casing and supporting the doors so that the doors are openable and closable, electrically non-conductive hinge covers detachably attached to the casing and covering the hinges, and a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover and including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a casing including a storage compartment;

a door attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartment;

a hinge connecting the door to the casing and supporting the door so that the door is openable and closable;

an electrically non-conductive hinge cover detachably attached to the casing, wherein the hinge cover covers the hinge;

a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover, wherein the wireless adapter includes an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves; and

an electrically non-conductive attachment interposed between the hinge cover and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the hinge cover and the wireless adapter and fix the hinge cover and the wireless adapter.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a lighting unit provided for the attachment, wherein the lighting unit is configured to illuminate a surrounding area.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a camera provided for the attachment, wherein the camera captures an image of a surrounding area.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a human presence sensor provided for the attachment, wherein the human presence sensor senses a presence of a person in a surrounding area.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising an attachment shield disposed on an attachment surface of the attachment facing the casing, wherein the attachment shield absorbs radio waves.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a wireless adapter shield disposed on an attachment surface of the wireless adapter facing the casing, wherein the wireless adapter shield absorbs radio waves.

7. A household appliance networking system comprising:

the refrigerator of claim 1;

an electrical apparatus; and

a central controller configured to control the refrigerator and the electrical apparatus,

wherein the refrigerator and the electrical apparatus are connected through the central controller.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is mounted on a top surface of the hinge cover.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is located on an upper surface of the hinge cover.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the wireless adaptor is fastened to the hinge cover.