Refrigerator and control method thereof
First Claim
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet configured to form a storage space;
a door configured to open and close the cabinet, and rotatably connected to the cabinet by a hinge, the door having a door frame with an opening which is in communication with the storage space;
a panel assembly provided at the opening and configured to allow an inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator, the panel assembly comprising;
a front panel,an insulation panel spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, anda spacer bar provided between the front panel and the insulation panel, wherein an insulation space is defined between the front panel and the insulation panel;
a knock detection device disposed to be in close contact with the panel assembly, and configured to detect a user'"'"'s knocking operation on the panel assembly; and
a lighting unit provided inside the refrigerator and configured to be turned on based on a signal of the knock detection device in a state in which the door is closed to allow the inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from the outside of the refrigerator,wherein the knock detection device is provided outside the insulation space.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door including a door frame with an opening, a panel assembly provided at the opening and configured to allow an inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator, a knock detection device configured to detect a user'"'"'s knocking operation on the panel assembly, and a lighting unit provided inside the refrigerator and configured to turn on or off based on a signal of the knock detection device while the door is closed. The panel assembly includes a front panel, an insulation panel spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, and a spacer bar provided between the front panel and the insulation panel. An insulation space is defined between the front panel and the insulation panel, and the knock detection device is provided outside the insulation space.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a cabinet configured to form a storage space; a door configured to open and close the cabinet, and rotatably connected to the cabinet by a hinge, the door having a door frame with an opening which is in communication with the storage space; a panel assembly provided at the opening and configured to allow an inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator, the panel assembly comprising; a front panel, an insulation panel spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, and a spacer bar provided between the front panel and the insulation panel, wherein an insulation space is defined between the front panel and the insulation panel; a knock detection device disposed to be in close contact with the panel assembly, and configured to detect a user'"'"'s knocking operation on the panel assembly; and a lighting unit provided inside the refrigerator and configured to be turned on based on a signal of the knock detection device in a state in which the door is closed to allow the inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein the knock detection device is provided outside the insulation space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling a refrigerator that includes a panel assembly installed at an opening part of a door in communication with an inside of the refrigerator and configured to allow the inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator, the method comprising:
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activating a knock detection device which detects a user'"'"'s knocking operation at an outside of the panel assembly of the door while the door is closed; determining whether an input signal of the knock detection device is valid; and turning on a lighting unit disposed inside the refrigerator by a main control part to allow the inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from the outside of the refrigerator based on a determination that the user'"'"'s knocking operation is valid, wherein the panel assembly comprises a front panel, an insulation panel spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, and a spacer bar provided between the front panel and the insulation panel, wherein an insulation space is defined between the front panel and the insulation panel, and wherein the knock detection device is in contact with the front panel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification