REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20190032994A1
• Filed: 09/28/2018
• Published: 01/31/2019
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,598,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 to define a storage chamber therein;

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

a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door having an opening defined therethrough,

wherein the door comprises;

a panel assembly configured to close the opening defined through the door and having a viewing area,

a display unit mounted in the opening defined through the door and arranged on a rear side of the panel assembly, the display unit comprising a display configured to show state information;

a sensor arranged in the panel assembly, and configured to detect whether a user inputs a signal; and

a processor configured to control at least one of the lighting device or the display unit according to a detection result of the sensor,

wherein the processor activates the lighting device and the display unit in a state in which the door is closed, and based on the sensor detecting the signal,

wherein in a state in which both the lighting device and the display unit are activated, an interior of the storage chamber and the state information of the display are visible through the viewing area of the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the panel assembly comprising:

a front panel;

an insulating panel arranged on a rear side of the front panel; and

a spacer configured to maintain a space between the front panel and the insulating panel of the panel assembly of the door,

wherein the front panel and the insulating panel have the viewing area.

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

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door further comprises:

a door frame through which the opening of the door is defined,

wherein the display unit is detachably mounted on the door frame and within the opening defined through the door frame.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

deactivate the display unit based on a first period of time having elapsed since a most recent time at which the display unit was activated.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

deactivate the lighting unit together with the display unit.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a door switch configured to detect an opening and a closing of the door,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

activate the display unit based on the door switch detecting that the door is opened.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

activate the lighting device in the storage chamber together with the display unit based on the door switch detecting that the door is opened.

9. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

deactivate the display unit based on the door switch detecting that the door is closed.