REFRIGERATOR AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE NETWORKING SYSTEM

• US 20160116207A1
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: YAMATO, Yasunari, MAEDA, Go, OKABE, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 10,161,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/00 Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/06 Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0054 Covers, e.g. for protection
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 9/005 from plastics E05D1/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/10 Electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/452 for saving energy
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/676 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2600/00 Control issues
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a casing including storage compartments, doors attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartments, hinges connecting the doors to the casing and supporting the doors so that the doors are openable and closeable, non-conductive hinge covers detachably attached to the casing and covering the hinges, and a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover and including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a casing including a storage compartment;

a non-conductive carrying handle attached to the casing, the carrying handle being used for carrying the casing; and

a wireless adapter disposed cover the carrying handle, the wireless adapter including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising

a non-conductive attachment interposed between the carrying handle and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the carrying handle and the wireless adapter and fix the carrying handle and the wireless adapter.

6. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising

a lighting unit provided for the attachment, the lighting unit configured to illuminate a surrounding area.

7. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising

a camera provided for the attachment, the camera capturing an image of a surrounding area.

8. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising

a human presence sensor provided for the attachment, the human presence sensor sensing a presence of a person in a surrounding area.

9. The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising

an attachment shield disposed on an attachment surface of the attachment facing the casing, the attachment shield absorbing radio waves.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 further, comprising

a wireless adapter shield disposed on an attachment surface of the wireless adapter facing the casing, the wireless adapter shield absorbing radio waves.

11. A household appliance networking system comprising:

the refrigerator of claim 1;

an electrical apparatus; and

a central controller configured to control the refrigerator and the electrical apparatus,

the refrigerator and the electrical apparatus being connected through the central controller.

2. A refrigerator comprising:

a casing including a storage compartment;

a door attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartment;

a hinge connecting the door to the casing and supporting the door so that the door is openable and closeable;

a non-conductive hinge cover detachably attached to the casing, the hinge cover covering the hinge; and

a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover, the wireless adapter including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising

a non-conductive attachment interposed between the hinge cover and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the hinge cover and the wireless adapter and fix the hinge cover and the wireless adapter.

5. A refrigerator comprising:

a casing including a storage compartment;

a cooling device supplying cooled air to the storage compartment;

a board holder included in the casing, the board holder holding a control board controlling the cooling device;

a board holder cover covering the board holder;

a wireless adapter disposed on the board holder cover, the wireless adapter including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves; and

a non-conductive attachment interposed between the board holder cover and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the board holder cover and the wireless adapter and fix the board holder cover and the wireless adapter.