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 defining an opening therethrough and comprising;
a panel assembly configured to cover the opening, 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 first sensor arranged in the door, and comprising a first microphone configured to detect a sound wave, the first sensor configured to contact the front panel of the panel assembly of the door;
a second sensor arranged in either the cabinet or in the door; and
at least one processor configured to;
determine, based on signals detected by the first sensor and by the second sensor, whether an ON command has been input; and
activate the lighting device based on a determination that the ON command has been input,wherein the first sensor further comprises;
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 first sensor is in contact with the front panel, the accommodation part and the front panel form a space between the first microphone and 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
17 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 defining an opening therethrough and comprising; a panel assembly configured to cover the opening, 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 first sensor arranged in the door, and comprising a first microphone configured to detect a sound wave, the first sensor configured to contact the front panel of the panel assembly of the door; a second sensor arranged in either the cabinet or in the door; and at least one processor configured to; determine, based on signals detected by the first sensor and by the second sensor, whether an ON command has been input; and activate the lighting device based on a determination that the ON command has been input, wherein the first sensor further comprises; 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 first sensor is in contact with the front panel, the accommodation part and the front panel form a space between the first microphone and the front panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling a refrigerator that comprises 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 defining an opening therethrough and comprising;
a panel assembly configured to cover the opening, 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 first sensor arranged in the door, and comprising a first microphone configured to detect a sound wave, the first sensor configured to contact the front panel of the panel assembly of the door; and
a second sensor arranged in either the cabinet or in the door, the method comprising;determining, by at least one processor and based on signals detected by the first sensor and by the second sensor, whether an ON command has been input; and activating, by the at least one processor, the lighting device based on a determination that the ON command has been input, wherein the first sensor further comprises; 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 first sensor is in contact with the front panel, the accommodation part and the front panel form a space between the first microphone and the front panel.
- a lighting device arranged inside the storage chamber and configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber;
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15. 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 defining an opening therethrough and comprising; a panel assembly configured to cover the opening, 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; and a sensor arranged in the door, and comprising a microphone, the sensor configured to contact the front panel of the panel assembly of the door; and at least one processor configured to; determine, based on signal detected by the sensor, whether an ON command has been input; and activate the lighting device based on a determination that the ON command has been input, wherein the microphone is spaced apart from the front panel, wherein the sensor further comprises an accommodation part that is in contact with the front panel of the panel assembly of the door and receives the microphone, and wherein, in a state in which the accommodation part is in contact with the front panel, the accommodation part and the front panel form a space between the front panel and the microphone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification