System and method for switching communication mode of a detachable pad refrigerator

• US 7,178,349 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jung Ho, Chang, Jae Won, Cho, Jin Cheol, Kang, Sang Hyuk, Roh, Young Hoon, Kim, Pan Su, Hong, Kwang Hui, Kim, Sang Mahn
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman; Marc
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANKHEAD, GENE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/769,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/28, 621/29, 621/30, 621/31, 622/30, 236/51, 236/94, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 379/93.07, 379/100.12, 164/11.1, 164/11.2
• US Class Current: 62/125
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for switching a communication mode of a detachable pad refrigerator, wherein the attachment/detachment of a client pad to/from the refrigerator is sensed and the communication mode of the refrigerator with the client pad is switched to a wired/wireless communication mode according to the sensed result so that signals can be transmitted and received in the switched communication mode. The client pad is detachably attached to the outer surface of the refrigerator. A communication module is installed in the refrigerator to transmit and receive signals to/from the client pad by wire or wirelessly. A refrigerator control unit is adapted to control the communication module to automatically switch the communication mode of the refrigerator with the client pad to the wired/wireless communication mode according to the attachment/detachment of the client pad. Therefore, the present invention has the effect of increasing the client pad'"'"'s use efficiency and user'"'"'s convenience, and stability of signal transmission and reception owing to the automatic switching between the wired communication mode and the wireless communication mode.

Claims

1. A system for switching a communication mode of a detachable pad refrigerator, comprising:

a client pad configured to detachably attach to a surface of said refrigerator;

a communication module installed in said refrigerator that transmits and receives signals to and from said client pad by wire or wirelessly;

a contact switch, provided at a location on the outer surface of said refrigerator, which said client pad contacts, said contact switch sensing whether said client pad is attached to said refrigerator; and

a refrigerator controller that controls said communication module to automatically switch said communication mode of said refrigerator with said client pad between a wired communication mode and a wireless communication mode according to whether said client pad is attached to said refrigerator.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an input/output sensor electrically connected with said contact switch, said sensor sensing an on/off state of said contact switch and transferring a sensed result to said refrigerator controller.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said contact switch is connected to a power supply voltage source to apply a voltage to said refrigerator controller when it is turned on.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said contact switch is turned on and off according to whether said client pad is attached to said refrigerator and is electrically connected with said refrigerator controller when it is turned on.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication module includes:

a wired communication module that transmits and receives signals to and from said client pad in said wired communication mode when said client pad is attached to said refrigerator; and

a wireless communication module that transmits and receives signals to and from said client pad in said wireless communication mode when said client pad is detached from said refrigerator.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said communication module further includes an Internet modem that transmits and receives signals to/from an external system over the Internet.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said refrigerator control unit includes:

a main controller that transmits and receives signals to/from one or more clients connected to a home network provided in a building to perform a home server function; and

an input/output control hub that controls said communication module to switch said communication mode of said refrigerator to said wired/wireless communication mode according to the attachment/detachment of said client pad.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said client pad includes:

a wired communication module that transmit and receives signals to and from said refrigerator controller by wire when said client pad is attached to said refrigerator;

a wireless communication module that wirelessly transmits and receives signals to and from said refrigerator controller when said client pad is detached from said refrigerator;

a controller that controls operations based on the signals transmitted and received to and from said refrigerator controller through said wired communication module or wireless communication module; and

an output unit that displays operation results based on the control of said controller.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said client pad further includes an input unit, said input unit having at least one button for directly inputting a user'"'"'s control commands.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said client pad further includes an input unit configured integrally with said output unit for forming a touch panel enabling a touch input.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator controller is configured to establish a connection between the client pad and a network, and maintain the connection between the client pad and the network when said refrigerator controller switches the communication mode of the communication module between said wired communication mode and said wireless communication mode.

11. A method for switching a communication mode of a detachable pad refrigerator, comprising:

sensing whether a client pad is attached to said refrigerator according to an on/off state of a contact switch;

enabling a wired communication module when it is sensed that the client pad is attached to said refrigerator, and enabling a wireless communication module when it is sensed that the client pad is not attached to said refrigerator;

transmitting and receiving signals to and from said client pad through said wired communication module or wireless communication module; and

controlling an operation of said client pad and externally outputting results of the operation control.

12. A system for switching a communication mode of a refrigerator, comprising:

a client pad configured to detachably attach to said refrigerator;

a communication module, installed in said refrigerator, that communicates with said client pad via a wired connection in a wired communication mode and via a wireless connection in a wireless communication mode;

an attachment sensor, provided on the refrigerator, which senses whether said client pad is attached to said refrigerator; and

a refrigerator controller that switches said a communication mode of the communication module between said wired communication mode and said wireless communication mode based on an output of the attachment sensor.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the refrigerator controller switches the communication mode of the communication module to the wired communication mode when the attachment sensor senses that the client pad is attached to the refrigerator, and switches the communication mode of the communication module to the wireless communication mode when the attachment sensor senses that the client pad is not attached to the refrigerator.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the refrigerator controller is configured to establish a connection between the client pad and a network, and maintain the connection between the client pad and the network when said refrigerator controller switches the communication mode of the communication module between said wired communication mode and said wireless communication mode.