Refrigerator and method for controlling the same

• US 10,359,227 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Seungje
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Joseph P
• Application Number:
  US14/931,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20160131420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/126 of cellular type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94031 Calibration involving digital processing
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

According to an embodiment for a refrigerator, a plurality of touch parts may be manipulated to enter into a special mode, thereby preventing the refrigerator from malfunctioning. The touch sensitivity adjustment of the refrigerator due to the touch manipulation of the refrigerator may be visualized.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a door having a front panel that allows light to pass through to display information;

a touch sensor assembly provided at a rear surface of the front panel, the touch sensor assembly including;

a sensor printed circuit board; and

a plurality of sensors mounted on the sensor printed circuit board to detect a touch input on the front panel; and

a display assembly mounted inside the door at a position spaced apart from the touch sensor assembly, and configured to emit light to display the information, the display assembly including;

a display printed circuit board on which at least one LED is mounted; and

a sensor controller to process signals transmitted from the plurality of sensors,

wherein the sensor controller is electrically connected to the sensor printed circuit board by a cable connector to receive the signals transmitted from the plurality of sensors,

wherein the sensor controller determines the touch input as an erroneous input when the signals generated by at least two sensors occur at the same time, wherein the front panel includes;

a display area in which a plurality of holes are arranged in a prescribed configuration to display light irradiation from the display assembly; and

a touch area provided at a position corresponding to the plurality of sensors and having a plurality of touch parts to which the touch input is applied, wherein when a first touch part corresponding to a first sensor is touched, and a second touch part corresponding to a second sensor is touched within a first predetermined time after the first touch part is touched and the second touch part is held in a pressed state for a set time, the sensor controller allows the refrigerator to enter into a special mode to set or adjust an operation condition of the refrigerator.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensor controller ignores the signals of the at least two sensors when variation values in quantity of electricity exceed a preset reference value.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein through the display assembly, the sensor controller displays a state of the refrigerator entering into the special mode.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display area includes a numerical display area for displaying numerical information based on irradiation of seven light source segments, and the display area displays the sensitivity setting value of one of the plurality of sensors in the form of a number during in the special mode.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display area is divided into a plurality of display parts corresponding to the plurality of touch parts, the plurality of display parts being located adjacent to the plurality of touch parts, wherein the display area corresponding to one of the plurality of sensors selected for setting sensitivity is configured to flicker.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the special mode includes at least one of:

a sensitivity setting mode for setting sensitivity of the plurality of sensors;

an inspection mode for inspecting and setting a state of the refrigerator that is manufactured in a manufacturing line;

a test mode for testing a normal operation of at least one component to which power is supplied in the refrigerator, and

a store display mode for turning off non-essential components for display of the refrigerator at a retail store.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensor controller allows adjustment of a sensitivity setting value of each of the sensors by entering into the special mode.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the sensor controller outputs a variation in set sensitivity setting value of the sensors through the display assembly.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising a storage medium connected to the sensor controller, the storage medium storing the sensitivity setting value of the plurality of sensors settable in the special mode for comparing the sensitivity setting value to a value received based on the touch input in a normal mode of the refrigerator.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the storage medium is an EEPROM.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising a host controller connected to the sensor controller and the storage medium,

wherein when the host control part receives a signal, from the sensor controller, the host controller determines whether the touch input is recognized to process the signal in the normal mode, and

during the special mode, the host controller adjusts the sensitivity setting value of the plurality of sensors according to the touch input to store the adjusted sensitivity setting value in the storage medium.