Refrigerator and service system of parts for the same

• US 8,397,524 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Ik-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): ALI, MOHAMMAD M
• Application Number:
  US12/674,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20110132009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 621/29, 623/89, 624/41, 621/27, 713/300, 713/340, 340/310.06, 340/310.01
• US Class Current: 62/127
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/121 the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator. A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a main body configured with a plurality of parts, a door coupled to the main body, an RF reader provided in the main body to read out information recorded in each RF tag attached to the parts, a display part provided on the door to display replacement information or abnormal states of the parts, and a controller for controlling the operation of the display part.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body configured with at least one part;

a door coupled to the main body;

an RF reader provided in the main body to read out information recorded in an RF tag attached to the at least one part;

a display part provided on the door to display replacement information or abnormal state information of the at least one part; and

a controller for controlling the operation of the display part, the controller configured to;

determine a replacement time of the at least one part or an abnormal state of the at least one part;

send the information of the at least one part received from the RF reader and replacement information or abnormal state information of the at least one part to a service center server when the abnormal state or replacement time of the at least one part is determined by the controller; and

control the display part to display the replacement information or abnormal state information of the at least one part.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door comprises:

a dispenser for dispensing water of the refrigerator in the outside; and

a filter for filtering water dispensed through the dispenser, wherein the filter is the at least one part.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the at least one part.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the replacement time of the at least one part is determined from after the RF tag is recognized by the RF reader.