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Refrigerator and method for controlling the same

  • US 9,516,956 B2
  • Filed: 11/05/2015
  • Issued: 12/13/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator, comprising:

  • a cabinet defining a storage chamber of which a front surface is open, wherein at least one first receiving part is disposed in the storage chamber;

    a sub door, the sub door including;

    a frame coupled to a front portion of the cabinet;

    at least one second receiving part including a receiving basket; and

    an access opening formed in the frame to enable access to the at least one second receiving part therethrough, an inner side surface of the frame configured to define an edge of the access opening;

    a main door which is disposed at front portions of the sub door and the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening, the main door including;

    an inner door part in contact with the front portion of the sub door;

    an outer door part defining a front surface of the main door; and

    a door body coupling the outer door part and the inner door part to each other to establish a vacant space inside the main door;

    a hinge unit including;

    a first hinge configured to couple the sub door rotatably to the cabinet;

    a second hinge configured to couple the main door rotatably to the cabinet or the sub door;

    a light emitting unit disposed in one of or both the cabinet and the frame of the sub door;

    a light emitting manipulator configured to input a command for selectively turning on or off the light emitting unit;

    a control unit configured to turn on or off the light emitting unit according to the command input by the light emitting manipulator;

    a display unit disposed on the outer door part; and

    a driving unit disposed in the vacant space at a rear side of the display unit and configured to drive the display unit,wherein when the light emitting unit is turned on according to the command input by the light emitting manipulator, the main door is changed to be transparent such that an inside of the storage chamber is identified by a user,wherein the control unit is configured to turn off the light emitting unit when a duration time reaches a predetermined set time,wherein when the light emitting unit is turned off, the main door is changed to be opaque and the display unit is displayed,wherein the driving unit comprises;

    an LCD panel;

    a backlight unit configured to emit light towards the LCD panel; and

    a power supply configured to supply power to the backlight unit and the LCD panel,wherein the LCD panel comprises;

    a liquid crystal layer;

    a first transparent conductor and a second transparent conductor respectively disposed on a front surface and a rear surface of the liquid crystal layer;

    a first plate and a second plate formed of transparent glass or plastic, the first plate and the second plate respectively disposed on a front surface of the first transparent conductor and a rear surface of the second transparent conductor; and

    a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate respectively disposed on a front surface of the first plate and a rear surface of the second plate,wherein the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor are driven as a positive electrode and a negative electrode, respectively, by power supplied from the power supply.

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