Power-off state display apparatus of refrigerator and method thereof

• US 6,883,338 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yu, Dong-Kug
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US10/139,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20020166329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 621/31, 622/30, 624/41, 624/42, 236/94, 165/11.1
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/04 Freezing; Subsequent thawing; Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/10 Preserving with acids; Acid fermentation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

An apparatus and a method is provided for displaying a power-off state of a refrigerator having plural chambers. When a user turns off at least one of the plurality of chambers of the refrigerator, a power-off state display apparatus of the refrigerator displays “OFF” characters on a display unit, thus confirming that a particular chamber has been turned off. The power-off state display apparatus includes a signal generating unit for generating a power-off signal when a user turns off at least one of the plurality of chambers, and a display unit for displaying the power-off state after receiving the power-off signal.

Claims

1. A power-off state display apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising:

a signal generating unit configured to generate a power-off signal at least one of a plurality of chambers of the refrigerator is turned off; and

a display unit configured to receive the power off signal and to display a corresponding power-off state indicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to output the power-off signal or a control signal to display a preset kimchi fermentation time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to output only the power-off signal to the display unit when the power-off signal is input, and to output only the control signal to the display unit when the power-off signal is not input.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display unit is configured to display the power-off state indicator after receiving the power-off signal, and to display the preset kimchi fermentation time after receiving the control signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal generating unit is configured to generate the power-off signal when a power button configured to turn off power of a chamber of the plurality of chambers is depressed for a predetermined time.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time is three seconds.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises a 7-segment display.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display “

OFF”

characters after receiving the power-off signal.

10. A power-off state display apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising:

a signal generating unit for generating a power-off signal to display a power-off state of a pertinent chamber of the refrigerator when a user turns off power of at least one of a plurality of chambers installed in the refrigerator;

a control unit for outputting the power-off signal or a control signal to display a preset kimchi fermentation time; and

a display unit for displaying a power-off state by receiving the power-off signal, or for displaying the preset kimchi fermentation time by receiving the control signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal generating unit generates the power-off signal when the user pushes a power button for turning off power of a pertinent chamber for a certain time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the certain time is three seconds.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit outputs only a power-off signal to the display unit when the power-off signal is inputted, or outputs only the control signal to the display unit when the power-off signal is not inputted.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display unit consists of light emitting diodes.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display unit is a 7-segment display.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display unit displays “

OFF”

characters after receiving the power-off signal.

17. A power-off state display method of a refrigerator, comprising:

generating a power-off signal to display a power-off state indicator of a pertinent chamber of the refrigerator when power of at least one of a plurality of chambers of refrigerator is off; and

displaying the power-off state indicator of a display unit after receiving the power-off signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying a preset kimchi fermentation time on a display unit of a corresponding chamber of the plurality of chambers when the corresponding chamber is in a power-on state.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the power-off signal further comprises depressing a power button of at least one of the plurality of chambers for three seconds.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the power off state indicator further comprises displaying “

OFF”

characters on the display unit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the display unit comprises a 7-segment display.