Control Unit for Refrigerator and Method Controlling the Same

• US 20080295033A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Sung-Ae, Jeon, Ji-Won, Lee, Ik-Kyu
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2400/10 Refrigerator units
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/30 Quick freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2500/06 Stock management
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control unit for a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same. A control unit for a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises an input means for receiving an operation signal for setting a service mode of a dispenser provided at the refrigerator; a storage means for storing a plurality of mode image data corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser; a display means for displaying mode images of the mode image data; and a control means for performing control such that mode image data corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser are read from the storage means according to an operation signal received by the input means and a mode image corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means. According to the present invention, there are advantages in that more various menus can be displayed in different manners, and the configuration of the input unit is simplified and thus can be more conveniently used.

Claims

1. A control unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

an input means for receiving an operation signal for setting a service mode of a dispenser provided at the refrigerator;

a storage means for storing a plurality of mode image data corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser;

a display means for displaying mode images of the mode image data; and

a control means for performing control such that mode image data corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser are read from the storage means according to an operation signal received by the input means and a mode image corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means.

2. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input means comprises at least a first manipulation button for receiving an operation signal for changing setting of the service mode of the dispenser, and a second manipulation button for receiving an operation signal for storing the setting of the service mode of the dispenser, and

the control means performs control such that a mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means if the first manipulation button receives an operation signal, the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is sequentially changed and displayed on the display means if the first manipulation button receives an operation signal in a state where the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means, and the service mode of the dispenser is set to a service mode corresponding to a mode image of the service mode of the dispenser displayed on the display means if the second manipulation button receives an operation signal in a state where the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means.

3. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means performs control such that the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means if the input means receives an operation signal, the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is sequentially changed and displayed on the display means if the input means receives an operation signal within a predetermined period of time in a state where the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means, and the service mode of the dispenser is set to a service mode corresponding to the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser displayed on the display means if a predetermined period of time is elapsed in a state where the mode image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means.

4. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of background screen data to be displayed on the display means are further stored in the storage means, and

the control means performs control such that a background screen image of the background screen data is displayed on the display means only until the input means receives an operation signal.

5. The control unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mode image includes at least one of a still image, a moving image, an animation, and a letter.

6. The control unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mode image further includes an avatar of a certain image.

7. The control unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein information data including at least information on a set service mode of the dispenser is further stored in the storage means, and

the control means performs control such that the service mode information of the dispenser stored in the storage means is updated with a service mode of the dispenser that is set according to an operation signal received by the input means.

8. The control unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control means performs control such that the updated service mode information of the dispenser is displayed as an information screen on the display means.

19. The control unit as claimed in claim 1S, wherein the control means performs control such that the temperature setting screen is displayed on the display means if the temperature setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the detail setting button, and the independent function setting screen is displayed on the display means if the detail setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the temperature setting button.

20. The control unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the storage space includes at least any one of a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber, and an express freezing chamber, and

the temperature setting menu includes at least any one of a refrigerating chamber temperature setting menu, a freezing chamber temperature setting menu, and an express freezing chamber temperature setting menu.

21. The control unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein the detail button includes:

a pair of buttons for sequentially highlighting a menu in order to select any one of the refrigerating chamber temperature setting menu, the freezing chamber temperature setting menu, and the express freezing chamber temperature setting menu displayed on the display means;

a pair of buttons for increasing or decreasing any one of a set temperature of the refrigerating chamber, a set temperature of the freezing chamber, and a set temperature of the express freezing chamber displayed on the display means; and

a button for selecting any one of the refrigerating chamber temperature setting menu, the freezing chamber temperature setting menu, and the express freezing chamber temperature setting menu, or for confirming an increase or decrease in any one of the refrigerating chamber set temperature, the freezing chamber set temperature, and the express freezing chamber set temperature.

9. A control unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

an input means for receiving an operation signal for setting a service mode of a dispenser provided at the refrigerator;

a storage means for storing background screen data and information data including at least information on a set service mode of the dispenser;

a display means for displaying a background screen image of the background screen data and an information image of the information data; and

a control means for performing control such that information data corresponding to the information on the service mode of the dispenser are read from the storage means according to an operation signal received by the input means and an information image corresponding to the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means.

10. The control unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the input means comprises at least a first manipulation button for receiving an operation signal for changing setting of the service mode of the dispenser, and a second manipulation button for receiving an operation signal for storing the setting of the service mode of the dispenser, and

the control means performs control such that an information image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means if the first manipulation button receives an operation signal, the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is sequentially changed and displayed on the display means if the first manipulation button receives an operation signal in a state where the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means, and the service mode of the dispenser is set to a service mode corresponding to an information image of the service mode of the dispenser displayed on the display means if the second manipulation button receives an operation signal in a state where the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means.

11. The control unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control means performs control such that the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means if the input means receives an operation signal, the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is sequentially changed and displayed on the display means if the input means receives an operation signal within a predetermined period of time in a state where the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means, and the service mode of the dispenser is set to a service mode corresponding to the information image of the service mode of the dispenser displayed on the display means if a predetermined period of time is elapsed in a state where the information image of the service mode of the dispenser is displayed on the display means.

12. The control unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control means performs control such that the background screen image and the information image are displayed on the display means in such a manner that the entire information image overlaps with a portion of the background screen image.

13. The control unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein standby screen data to be displayed on the display means are further stored in the storage means, and

the control means performs control such that a standby screen image of the standby screen data is displayed on the display means in other cases except a case where the refrigerator is manipulated by a user.

14. The control unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein if the refrigerator is manipulated by the user in a state where the standby screen image is displayed on the display means, the control means performs control such that a reduced standby screen image is displayed at one side of the background screen image in a state where the background screen image is displayed on the display means.

15. The control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the standby screen image is an information image of at least one piece of information among information data stored in the storage means.

16. A control unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

an input means having a temperature setting button for receiving an operation signal for selecting a temperature setting menu for a storage space of the refrigerator, and a detail setting button for receiving an operation signal for setting a temperature of the storage space or setting an independent function; and

a control means for performing control such that the setting of the temperature of the storage space or the setting of the independent function is carried out according to a sequence of manipulating the temperature setting button and the detail setting button.

17. The control unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control means performs control such that the temperature setting for the storage space is carried out if the temperature setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the detail setting button, and the independent function setting is carried out if the detail setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the temperature setting button.

18. A control unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

an input means having a temperature setting button for receiving an operation signal for selecting a temperature setting menu for a storage space of the refrigerator, and a detail setting button for receiving an operation signal for setting a temperature of the storage space or setting an independent function;

a storage means for storing a temperature setting screen for setting a temperature of the storage space and an independent function setting screen for setting an independent function;

a display means for displaying the temperature setting screen and the independent function setting screen; and

a control means for performing control such that the temperature setting screen or the independent function setting screen is displayed on the display means according to a sequence of manipulating the temperature setting button and the detail setting button.

22. The control unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the temperature setting screen and the independent function setting screen include function display bars for displaying the functions of the temperature setting button and the detail setting button for temperature setting or independent function setting, respectively, and

the control means performs control such that if any one of the temperature setting screen and the independent function setting screen is displayed on the display means, the function display bar for temperature setting or independent function setting is displayed at one side of the display means in the vicinity of the temperature setting button or the detail setting button.

23. A control unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

an input means having a menu setting button for receiving an operation signal for selecting a menu of the refrigerator to be set, and a detail setting button for receiving an operation signal for detail setting of a selected menu or separate independent function setting; and

a control means for performing control such that either the menu setting and detail setting thereof or the independent function setting is carried out according to a sequence of manipulating the menu setting button and the detail setting button.

24. The control unit as claimed in claim 23, wherein the control means performs control such that the menu setting and detail setting thereof are carried out if the menu setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the detail setting button, and the independent function setting is carried out if the detail setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the menu setting button.

25. A control unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

an input means having a menu setting button for receiving an operation signal for menu setting or information display for the refrigerator and a detail setting button for receiving an operation signal for detail setting of a selected menu or separate independent function setting;

a storage means for storing a menu setting screen for the menu setting, a detail setting screen for the detail setting of the selected menu, and an independent function setting screen for the independent function setting;

a display means for displaying the menu setting screen, the detail setting screen, and the independent function setting screen; and

a control means for performing control such that any one of sequential display of the menu setting screen and the detail setting screen, display of information, and display of the independent function setting screen is carried out on the display means according to a sequence of manipulating the menu setting button and the detail setting button.

26. The control unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the control means performs control such that the sequential display of the menu setting screen and the detail setting screen or the display of information is carried out on the display means if the menu setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the detail setting button, and the display of the independent function setting screen is carried out on the display means if the detail setting button is manipulated prior to manipulation of the menu setting button.

27. The control unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the detail setting button includes:

a pair of buttons for alternately highlighting the menu and the information in order to select either of the menu or the information displayed on the display means;

a pair of buttons for changing a set value for the detail setting of the menu;

a button for selecting either of the menu or the information, or confirming a change in the set value for the detail setting of the menu.

28. The control unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein the menu setting screen, the detail setting screen, and the independent function setting screen include function display bars for displaying functions of the menu setting button and detail setting button for the menu setting and detail setting and the independent function setting, respectively, and

the control means performs control such that the function display bar for the menu setting and detail setting or the independent function setting is displayed at one side of the display means in the vicinity of the menu setting button and the detail setting button if any one of the temperature setting screen, the detail setting screen, and the independent function setting screen is displayed on the display means.

29. A method of controlling a control unit for a refrigerator, the control unit including an input means for receiving an operation signal for selecting a menu for manipulating the refrigerator, and a display means for displaying a menu and a corresponding avatar according to the operation signal inputted through the input means, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) displaying, by the display means, one or more menus;

(B) receiving, by the input means, an operation signal for selecting any one of the menus displayed on the display means in step (A); and

(C) displaying, by the display means, an avatar corresponding to the menu selected according to the operation signal received by the input means in step (B).

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein in step (C), the display means further displays a description of the selected menu.

31. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein in step (C), the display means further displays one or more lower menus subordinate to the selected menu.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein in step (C), the display means further displays descriptions of the lower menus.

33. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

(D) receiving, by the input means, an operation signal for selecting any one of the lower menus displayed on the display means in step (C); and

(E) controlling, by control means, an operation of the refrigerator according to a menu selected according to the operation signal received by the input means in step (D).

34. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein in step (C), the display means displays an avatar image such that the avatar can be changed according to the selected menu or lower menu.