Informing apparatus and method for exchange time of expendable supplies in refrigerator

• US 20010052896A1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Keyong-Seok
• Granted Patent: US 6,741,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The present invention relates to an informing apparatus and method for exchange time of expendable supplies in a refrigerator. In the present invention, an exchange date of the expendable supplies is calculated on the basis of data on the exchange of the expendable supplies inputted by a user upon exchange of the expendable supplies, and indication of request for the exchange of the expendable supplies is displayed onto a screen 50 on the relevant date in accordance with the exchange date of the expendable supplies. According to the present invention, the expendable supplies can be replaced at more accurate exchange time, and the operation of the refrigerator in a state where its performance has been reduced by using the expendable supplies of which a term of validity has passed can be prevented beforehand.

Claims

1. An informing apparatus for exchange time of expendable supplies in a refrigerator, comprising:

a screen installed on one side of an outer surface of said refrigerator for displaying data;

a control portion for processing said data to be displayed on said screen and performing control relevant to operation of said refrigerator;

an input portion for receiving data on the exchange of said expendable supplies which are transmitted to said control portion; and

an exchange date setting portion for setting an exchange date of said expendable supplies calculated in said control portion on the basis of said data on the exchange of said expendable supplies, and informing said control portion of said exchange date to be displayed on said screen in due time for exchange of said expendable supplies.

2. The informing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said screen is provided integrally with an input section in which the data are inputted into said screen by a touch.

3. The informing apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, further comprising a communication means for transmitting a signal of said exchange of said expendable supplies generated from said control portion to suppliers of said expendable supplies.

4. An informing method for exchange time of expendable supplies in a refrigerator, comprising the steps of:

mounting said expendable supplies into said refrigerator;

receiving data on the exchange of said mounted expendable supplies inputted by a user;

calculating the next exchange date on the basis of said data on the exchange of said expendable supplies;

comparing said calculated exchange date with the present date; and

displaying information on the exchange of said expendable supplies onto a screen on a front surface of said refrigerator when said exchange date is consistent with the present date.

5. The informing method as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein said step of displaying information on the exchange of said expendable supplies further comprises a step of displaying said exchange information onto a main menu window in the morning of said exchange date.

6. The informing method as claimed in

claim 5

, wherein said exchange information continues to be displayed until said expendable supplies have been replaced.

7. The informing method as claimed in any one of

claims 4

to

6

, wherein said exchange information on said expendable supplies is transmitted to suppliers via an additional communication means while it is displayed onto said screen.