Refrigerator and control method thereof

• US 10,598,427 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Kwanghyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunay, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US16/146,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20190032994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/18 Filling preformed cavities B29C44/1204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• 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 2323/021 French doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/023 Door in door constructions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2327/00 Lighting arrangements not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/005 combined with control means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/00 Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 : Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 : Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 : by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet forming a storage space, a main door that opens and closes the storage space while defining an opening part that is in communication with the storage space, a sub-door mounted to the main door and configured to open and close the opening part, the sub-door including a panel assembly for allowing selective viewing of an inside of the opening part, a detection device for detecting an operation of a user, a lighting unit inside the refrigerator that turns on based on user operation to allow selective viewing of the inner side of the opening part, and a display unit inside the refrigerator at a position corresponding to the panel assembly that becomes visible and displays an operation state of the refrigerator when the lighting unit turns on.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet that defines a storage chamber therein;

a lighting device arranged inside the storage chamber and configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber;

a first door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the first door defining an opening;

a second door configured to open and close the opening of the first door, the second door comprising a panel assembly that comprises a front panel, an insulating panel disposed at a rear side of the front panel, and a spacer configured to maintain a space between the front panel and the insulating panel;

a display unit disposed in the opening of the first door and disposed at a rear side of the insulating panel of the panel assembly in a state in which the second door closes the opening of the first door, the display unit comprising a display configured to show state information; and

a sensor disposed in the second door and configured to detect whether a user inputs a signal,

wherein the display unit remains in the opening of the first door in a state in which the second door opens the opening of the first door,

wherein the lighting device and the display unit are configured to be turned on based on the sensor detecting that the user inputs the signal, and

wherein the panel assembly is configured to, based on the lighting device and the display unit being turned on, allow the interior of the storage chamber and the state information of the display to be visible through the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front panel comprises a first region through which light from the lighting device passes and a second region disposed outside the first region and configured to block transmission of light therethrough.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a bezel that is printed along an edge of a rear surface of the front panel and that defines the second region of the front panel.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the sensor faces the second region of the front panel.

5. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the sensor is in contact with the second region of the front panel.

6. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the sensor is located closer to a boundary between the first region and the second region than an outer edge of the front panel.

7. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone configured to detect sound waves corresponding to a knock input applied on the front panel.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the sensor further comprises a microphone accommodation part that accommodates the microphone and that is in contact with the second region of the front panel.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the microphone is spaced apart from the second region of the front panel in a state in which the microphone is accommodated in the microphone accommodation part.

10. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the insulation panel comprises a third region that faces at least a portion the first region of the front panel, and

wherein the display unit faces the third region and the first region in a state in which the second door closes the opening of the first door.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the lighting device is configured to be turned off based on an elapse of a predetermined period of time after being turned on.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to be turned off based on an elapse of a predetermined period of time after being turned on.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first door comprises a first door frame that defines the opening, and

wherein the display unit is detachably mounted on the first door frame within the opening of the first door.

14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display unit further comprises a control button configured to control operation of the refrigerator.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the control button and the display are exposed to an outside of the opening of the first door in a state in which the second door opens the opening of the first door.

16. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door is rotatably connected to the first door by a hinge, and

wherein the display unit is disposed rearward of the hinge in a state in which the second door closes the opening of the first door.

17. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display unit is disposed at a lower end of the opening of the first door.

18. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the state information includes an operation state of the refrigerator.

19. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a main hinge that rotatably connects the first door to the cabinet; and

a sub hinge that rotatably connects the second door to the first door.