Multifunctional refrigerator

• US 20020007486A1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Keyong-Seok
• Application Number:
  US09/878,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/26
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multifunctional refrigerator, and more particularly, to a multifunctional refrigerator capable of preventing private information from being leaked through external hacking in the refrigerator which can communicate images with an external device. The multifunctional refrigerator of the present invention is constructed to selectively drive a camera signal processing portion and a microphone signal processing portion which are provided for an image communicating function, and thus, information inside the houses can be prevented from being leaked to the outside. The selective drive of the camera signal processing portion and the microphone signal processing portion is carried out by controlling electric power supplied thereto. It is constructed such that the control of the supplied power can be made only by a manual switch mounted in the refrigerator and not by a control signal through an external communication means.

Claims

1. A multifunctional refrigerator, comprising:

an image/voice input and output means installed in said refrigerator for controlling input and output of image and voice signals;

a communication means connected to the outside through a communication line for performing data communications of said image and voice signals between said image/voice input and output means and said outside;

a selector switch installed on the exterior of said refrigerator for selecting as to whether to supply electric power to said image/voice input and output means by a user; and

a power supply control means for switching operating power source of said image/voice input and output means in accordance with a select signal of said selector switch.

2. The multifunctional refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control means for controlling transmission of said image and voice signals between said image/voice input and output means and said communication means.

3. The multifunctional refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a storage means for storing said image and voice signals inputted from said image/voice input and output means, electric power supplied to said storage means being controlled by said power source control means.

4. The multifunctional refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said image/voice input and output means comprises:

a camera lens for taking a picture of an object;

a camera signal processing portion for signal processing a photographed signal of said camera lens;

a microphone for inputting said voice signal;

a microphone signal processing portion for signal processing said signal inputted from said microphone;

a speaker for outputting said voice signal; and

a display screen for displaying said image signal.

5. The multifunctional refrigerator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said power source control means cuts off the electric power supplied to said camera signal processing portion and said microphone signal processing portion.