JP6373653B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The embodiment relates to a refrigerator provided with a touch open sensor on a front plate on the front surface of the door.

  In recent years, refrigerators that have a front panel made of a decorative plate made of glass or plastic on the door have appeared. In such a refrigerator, the operation input unit is arranged on the front plate as a capacitive touch button, and when the user touches the part corresponding to the operation button on the front of the front plate, the operation input is performed due to the change in capacitance. And a corresponding operation signal is transmitted to the refrigerator control unit. Even in such a refrigerator, it is desirable to provide a door opening device that automatically opens the door by sensing a user's touch operation on a specific location on the front plate.

  However, when the door is automatically opened when a certain place on the front plate is touched, the user carelessly touches the corresponding place for a moment even if the user does not intend to open the door or the body of the user's body. There is a risk of malfunction, such as opening the door even when some of the people touch the location unconsciously.

  In order to avoid such a malfunction, a technique for operating the door opening device by the touch detection means can be considered, but malfunction is unavoidable.

JP 2009-257627 A Japanese Patent No. 4347234 JP 2012-17865 A JP 2012-17866 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides a refrigerator that does not malfunction when the user touches the place for a long time without intention of opening the door or when an object touches for a long time. The purpose is to provide.

The refrigerator of the embodiment includes a refrigerator body having a front surface opened, a heat insulating door attached to the front opening of the refrigerator body, and an open door that is attached to the refrigerator body and forcibly opens the door. A door device, a door opening operation unit provided on the door for operating a door opening operation of the door opening device, and a control unit that inputs an operation signal from the door opening operation unit and performs door opening control. A portion for giving a door opening operation input to the door opening operation portion is a part of the front plate of the door and is continuous with the front plate, and the door opening operation portion is the door A plurality of operation detection units provided in the plurality of operation detection units, outputting an operation detection signal from the plurality of operation detection units to the control unit, wherein the control unit has a predetermined response to the operation detection signals from the plurality of operation detection units. It is determined whether the operation is an operation, and when the predetermined operation is The door opening control is performed on the door opening device, and the control unit receives the operation detection signal for one operation detection unit among the plurality of operation detection units, and then the plurality of the plurality of operation detection units within a predetermined time. When the operation detection signal for the other operation detection unit among the operation detection units is not received, the opening control is not performed on the door opening device .

The front view of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view of the door opening state of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The expansion perspective view of the refrigerator compartment part of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The flowchart of the door opening control in the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. Explanatory drawing of attachment operation of the opening operation part in the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the door opening operation part in the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. The front view which shows the door opening operation part and door opening operation display part in the refrigerator of 7th Embodiment. The front view which shows the door opening operation part and door opening operation display part in the refrigerator of 8th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of installation of the door opening operation part in the refrigerator of 9th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the touch detection electrode of the door opening operation part in the refrigerator of 10th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the touch detection electrode of the door opening operation part in the refrigerator of 11th Embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of arrangement | positioning of the touch detection electrode of the door opening operation part in the refrigerator of 11th Embodiment. The front view which shows the door opening operation part and door opening operation display part in the refrigerator of 12th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 15th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 17th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 18th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 16th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 15th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 20th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 19th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 22nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 24th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 16th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 25th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 26th Embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of other embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of other embodiment. The figure which shows the refrigerator of 27th Embodiment. The perspective view of the open door state of the refrigerator of FIG. The expansion perspective view of the refrigerator compartment part of a refrigerator. The block diagram of door opening control in a refrigerator. The flowchart which shows a mode that the left door of a refrigerator compartment and a right door are opened not by manual operation by the user. For example, the figure which shows the model of the cross section of the right door. The block diagram of door opening control in a refrigerator. The flowchart which shows the operation example of the door opening operation part which gave the function of the proximity sensor. The front view of the refrigerator of the 28th Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the door opening state of the refrigerator of 28th Embodiment. The expansion perspective view of the refrigerator compartment part of the refrigerator of 28th Embodiment. The block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator of 28th Embodiment. The figure which shows the example in which the door opening operation part shown in FIGS. 37-39 functions as a human body detection means for detecting the human body of the user of a refrigerator. The front view which has shown the refrigerator of 29th Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of door opening control containing the human body detection means of the refrigerator shown in FIG. Sectional drawing along the front-back direction which shows the upper part of a refrigerator. Another sectional view along the front-back direction which shows the upper part of a refrigerator. Still another cross-sectional view along the front-rear direction showing the upper part of the refrigerator. Still another cross-sectional view along the front-rear direction showing the upper part of the refrigerator. It is a front view of the refrigerator 1 which shows the 30th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a side view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. The structural example of the board | substrate of the opening operation part is shown. It is a figure which shows the proximity sensor and guard electrode which are arrange | positioned at the board | substrate of the door opening operation part shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structural example of an opening / closing operation part. It is a block diagram which shows electrical connections, such as a control part, an opening / closing operation part, and an opening drive part which is a door opening apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a storage structure of the board | substrate in a left door and a right door. It is a front view of the refrigerator 1 which shows the 31st Embodiment of this invention. 56 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V1-V1 showing an example of the structure in the vicinity of the opening operation unit 651 including the proximity sensor 607 in the left door 21 shown in FIG. 56 (or in the vicinity of the opening operation unit 652 including the proximity sensor 608 in the right door 22). FIG. It is sectional drawing in the V2-V2 line of the control operation part 650 shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection of a control part, a control operation part, a door operation part, and the door drive part which is a door opening apparatus. After the proximity sensor of the left door shown in FIG. 56 detects the approach of the user's finger, when the finger touches the electrode of the touch button of the opening operation unit, the control operation unit and the opening operation unit of the left door are lit It is a figure which shows the example of a mode to do. It is a front view of the refrigerator which shows the 32nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a side view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. An example of the structure of the substrate of the door opening operation portion shown in FIG. 61 is shown. It is a figure which shows the proximity sensor and guard electrode which are arrange | positioned at the board | substrate of the door opening operation part shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structural example of a door opening operation part. It is a block diagram which shows electrical connections, such as a control part, a door opening operation part, and the door opening drive part which is a door opening apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a storage structure of the board | substrate in a left door and a right door. It is a front view of the refrigerator 1 which shows the 33rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the operation detection part in the ZR-ZR line | wire shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows electrical connections, such as a control part, an operation detection part, and an opening drive part which is a door opening apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example in which a user performs approach operation in the specific order predetermined with respect to the proximity sensor by operation | movement (gesture), such as a palm, the side part of a hand, or an elbow. It is a figure which shows the example which approaches by another predetermined specific order with respect to a proximity sensor. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows the principle in which a proximity sensor detects a finger touch. It is a figure which shows the basic structure of a proximity sensor. It is a figure explaining switching of the proximity mode and electrostatic touch mode in a proximity sensor. It is a figure explaining the change of the proximity | contact range in a proximity sensor.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or similar constituent members will be described using the same or similar reference numerals.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment includes a cabinet 11 that is a refrigerator main body. The cabinet 11 is comprised from the upper stage from the refrigerator compartment 12, the vegetable compartment 13, the switch room 14 which can switch the set temperature in a store | warehouse | chamber, and the freezer compartment 15. An ice making chamber 16 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in order to cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12, a pair of left and right left doors 21 and 22 is opened and closed with a hinged portion at the left end and the top and bottom of the right end respectively. It is attached to do. The vegetable room 13, the switching room 14, the freezing room 15, and the ice making room 16 are provided with drawer-type doors 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively. Although not shown in the drawing, the refrigeration evaporator for cooling the refrigerator compartment 12 and the vegetable compartment 13 is arranged on the back of the vegetable compartment 13. Although not shown, a freezing evaporator for cooling the switching chamber 14, the freezing chamber 15, and the ice making chamber 16 is arranged. Further, a control unit 56 composed of a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 is also arranged on the back of the vegetable compartment 13.

  Both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the opening portion of a flat inner plate that opens to the front surface, and a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity portion to provide vacuum heat insulation. This is a structure in which a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a urethane heat insulating material) or a pre-molded solid heat insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a material. The degree of coloring of the front plates 21A and 22A is such that a filler such as a heat insulating material on the back side of the front plates 21A and 22A cannot be seen from the outside in a state of receiving external light. Moreover, light is transmitted from the front side in the lighting state of the LED display lamp for transparently displaying the operation button name, the cooling function name, the cooling intensity, etc., which will be described later, and the 7-segment LED display device for transparently displaying the numerical value changing such as the temperature value. It is also the darkness that can be seen. In addition, it is not limited to 7 segment LED, LCD and EL may be sufficient.

  The right end portion of the left door 21, that is, the open side portion that faces and opposes the left end portion of the right door 22 in the closed state, and the left end portion of the right door 22, that is, the open side portion in the closed state. A rotating partition 31 is provided for maintaining the sealed state. A condensation prevention heater for preventing condensation is built in the rotary partition 31.

  On the back side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, a capacitive control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the front of the front plate 22A is installed. The control operation unit 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental condition around the refrigerator, a home button, an LED that detects touch of the home button and transparently displays an operation button name, a cooling function name, a cooling intensity, and the like. An indicator lamp, a 7-segment LED display device that transparently displays numerical values that change, such as a temperature value, and the like are provided.

  Opening operation sections 51 and 52 that are elongated in the left-right lateral direction are respectively installed on the front side plate 21A of the left door 21 and the back side near the lower side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22. The front plates 21A and 22A are provided with door opening operation display portions 51A and 52A which are door opening operation portions and which indicate a door opening operation direction. Here, the opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21 is provided with a left-pointing arrow mark for recognizing that the opening operation is performed by sliding the finger in the left direction while touching the finger. The door opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is provided with a right-pointing arrow mark for recognizing that the door opening operation is performed by sliding the finger in the right direction while touching it.

  The door opening drive units 54 and 55 are respectively installed at positions corresponding to the open side end portions of the upper sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22 respectively in the left and right positions near the front end of the top surface of the top plate of the cabinet 11. is there. These door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by electromagnets to push the upper sides near the open side end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward to automatically open the doors. be able to. As will be described in detail later, in order to open the left door 21, if the finger is slid in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end of the left door opening operation display portion 51A, the door opening operation is performed. The unit 51 senses the continuous touch and sends a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. When the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 is operated, The door 21 is automatically opened. On the other hand, in order to open the right door 22, if the finger is slid in the right direction while touching the arrow mark near the left end or the left end of the right door opening operation display portion 52A, the door opening operation portion 52 is continuously connected. A touch detection signal is sent to the control unit 56, and if the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 is operated to automatically open the right door 22. Door.

  In addition, the cooling control performed by the control unit 56 in the refrigerator of the present embodiment is general and is not particularly limited. For example, the compressor, the operation panel, the dew condensation prevention heater, the ice making in the ice making chamber, and the like. An apparatus, a refrigerator compartment fan, a freezer compartment fan, and a defrost heater are connected to this control part 56, and are controlled.

  The arrow mark in the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A is not limited to this display, and it can be easily recognized that the door opening operation can be realized by touching and sliding it to the right or left. As long as there is a mark, the shape and form of the mark are not limited.

  In the left door 21 and the right door 22, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are operated by inserting a finger with the palm facing upward at the lower end surface portion below the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A and pulling the finger toward the front. Handles 61 and 62 are installed so that each can be manually opened manually.

  Next, the automatic door opening operation in the refrigerator of the above embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening operation sections 51 and 52 are opposed to the arrow marks arranged in the left and right lateral directions of the opening operation display sections 51A and 52A with the front plates 21A and 22A interposed therebetween. Thus, the capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are arranged in a row. These capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5 each detect a change in capacitance due to a user's touch and transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. It is set.

  Therefore, when the user touches the left arrow mark in the opening operation display portion 52A to open the right door 22 and slides the finger in the right direction while touching, the capacitive touch sensor 52. Each of the sensors that have detected a change in capacitance among −1 to 52-5 transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56 in the order of touch. Therefore, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the door opening operation is based on the logic of the flowchart of FIG. 5, and outputs a door opening drive signal to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door if it is determined that the door opening operation is normal. Then, the right door 22 is automatically opened. In the case of the opening operation of the left door 21, with respect to the operation of sliding the finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end with respect to the opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21, A similar operation for opening the left door 21 is determined.

  The logic of the door opening judgment here is as follows. If at least three of the five sensors on the left and right are touch-detected within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds or 1 second) and in the order of arrangement, the corresponding door is determined to be an opening operation. Is to automatically open the door. Here, the opening operation of the right door 22 will be described.

  When any one of the arrow marks on the opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is touched, the corresponding capacitive touch sensor on the door opening operation portion 52 side (usually the arrow mark near the left end or the left end). Since it is touched, the leftmost sensor 52-1 here detects the touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. The control unit 56 receives this signal and starts the determination process of the door opening operation (step S0). First, a timer count is started (step S1).

  When the capacitive touch sensors 52-2 and 52-3 on the right and right sides detect touches and transmit detection signals until the timer counts up, the control unit 56 receives those signals. The touched sensors are three consecutive in the right direction, and it is determined that the opening operation direction of the right door 22 from the left to the right is a forward sliding operation. That is, NO is determined in step S2, YES is determined in step S3, YES is determined in step S4, and YES is determined in step S5. As a result, the control unit 56 determines that the operation is a normal opening operation for the right door 22, outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening driving unit 55 for the right door, and operates the door opening driving unit 54. The right door 22 is automatically opened (step S6).

  If the slide stops halfway, the slide speed is slow, or the slide length is short, three or more arrow marks will be displayed within a certain time (for example, 0.5 seconds or 1 second). Since it is not possible to determine that has been touched in the forward direction, the determination process of this door opening operation is temporarily stopped and the next touch detection is awaited (NO in step S2 and jump to step S7). To stop the decision process). Further, even if the sliding operation is performed from the right end side to the left in the opening operation display section 52A, the right door is not opened (NO in step S5, jump to step S7, and stop the determination process).

  The determination process for the opening operation of the left door 21 is the same. However, in the case of the left door 21, the direction is opposite to that of the right door 22, and it is determined that the operation is the door opening operation when the arrow mark near the right end or the right end in the door opening operation display portion 51 </ b> A is touched and slid leftward. Will do. Therefore, the left door is not opened even if a slide operation is performed to the right from the left end or an arrow mark near the left end.

  In the automatic door opening control described above, the control unit 56 determines the door opening operation and drives the door opening driving units 54 and 55. Instead, the door opening operation unit 51, A microcomputer is mounted on the side of 52, and the capacitance type touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 detect the change in capacitance due to the user's touch and send the touch detection signal to the micro. When it is input to the computer and it is determined that there is a sliding operation in a certain direction within a predetermined time in the opening operation units 51 and 52, it is finally determined that there is an opening operation, and the left door opening or the right door opening is performed. The control signal can be transmitted to the control unit 56, and when the control unit 56 receives the door opening command, the door driving unit 54 or the door driving unit 55 can be driven to open.

  Next, how to incorporate the opening operation sections 51 and 52 into the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, the opening operation unit 52 of the right door 22 will be described, but the same applies to the opening operation unit 51 of the left door 21.

  First, the opening operation unit 52 has a structure in which capacitive touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction L on an elongated substrate 52 P having a short W direction and a long L direction. is there. And this door operation part 52 is installed inside the lower end of the right door 22 in the attitude | position which closely_contact | adheres to the back surface of 22 A of front plates, making the longitudinal direction L direction into the left-right direction.

  Therefore, an operation portion installation space 64 that opens downward is formed near the left end of the lower end portion of the right door 22. The operation portion installation space 64 is slightly wider in the left-right lateral direction than the length in the longitudinal direction L of the door opening operation portion 52, and the door opening operation portion 52 is in a state where the longitudinal direction L is in the horizontal direction. It can be slid and inserted upward from the lower surface opening. Then, the door opening operation part 52 is inserted upward into the operation part installation space 64 from its lower surface opening with the longitudinal direction L aligned in the horizontal direction, and is slid until the upper end of the operation part installation space 64 is reached. To do. Then, the door opening operation unit 52 is temporarily fixed with a tape or the like in a state where the door opening operation unit 52 is in close contact with the back surface of the front plate 22A. Thereafter, the opening operation part 52 is fixed in the operation part installation space 64 by injecting liquid urethane as a heat insulating material 22B into the internal cavity of the right door 22 to foam and solidify. The door opening operation unit 51 for the left door 21 is attached in the same procedure.

  By adopting such an installation procedure, in particular, the opening operation sections 51 and 52 are installed and fixed in the operation section installation space 64 in a posture that is long in the left and right horizontal direction L and short in the vertical direction W direction. Even if the right capacitive touch sensor 52-5 is in close contact with the back surface of the front plate 22A, the left capacitive touch sensor 52-1 remains on the front plate 22A. Even if the left capacitive touch sensor 52-1 is fixed in a floating state without being in close contact with the back surface, or the left capacitive touch sensor 52-1 is in close contact with the back surface of the front plate 22A, the right capacitive touch sensor 52- 5 can be prevented from being fixed in a floating state without being in close contact with the back surface of the front plate 22A, and all the capacitive touch sensors 52 arranged side by side as shown in FIG. -1 to 52-5 on the back of the front plate 22A It can be reliably fixed while lay close contact.

[Other embodiments]
The simplest door structure of a refrigerator is a single left-open or right-open door in front of the refrigerator compartment. A conductive front plate can be attached, and a control operation unit for performing an operation of changing the cooling control content of the refrigerator and a door opening operation unit for operating a door opening operation of the door opening device can be provided. That is, the configuration of the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 can be made to be a single door (second embodiment).

  In addition, the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are not limited to capacitive touch sensors, and the user does not create irregularities on the surface side of the front plates 21A and 22A such as pressure-sensitive sensors and infrared sensors. The present invention is not limited as long as the corresponding operation can be performed in response to the operation (third embodiment).

  Moreover, the setting which respond | corresponds to operation input with respect to the operation method different from the control operation part 50 and the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 is preferable. For example, in the case of the control operation unit 50, one operation input is accepted in response to the point touch to the corresponding part, but in the case of the door opening operation parts 51 and 52, the corresponding part is slid while being touched for a certain distance or more. Otherwise, it can be set so as not to be recognized as an opening operation input (fourth embodiment).

  Further, the door opening operation units 51 and 52 may detect an operation of touching a plurality of places in a predetermined order or in a predetermined direction in place of an operation of touching and sliding with a finger (fifth). Embodiment). Furthermore, as another modified example, the opening operation unit can be provided at the upper end instead of the lower end of the door (sixth embodiment).

  Furthermore, the following modifications are possible as other embodiments. As shown in FIG. 8, in a refrigerator in which the left and right doors 21 and 22 are double doors, the opening operation display portions 51A-1 and 52A-1 for the opening operation portions 51 and 52 are placed on the surface of the front plates 21A and 22A. The left door 21 can be opened if the user slides while touching a finger from near the left end to near the right end in the opening operation display section 51A-1 of the left door 21. The opening operation display section 52A-1 of the right door 22 can also be set so that the right door 22 can be opened if the user slides while touching a finger from near the left end to near the right end. In this case, as indicated by an arrow A1 in FIG. 8, the direction from the vicinity of the left end of the opening operation display section 51A-1 of the left door 21 to the vicinity of the right end of the opening operation display section 52A-1 of the right door 22 is unidirectional. The left and right doors 21 and 22 can be simultaneously opened by the operation of sliding the finger continuously (seventh embodiment).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, in a refrigerator in which the left and right doors 21, 22 are double doors, the opening operation display portions 51 </ b> A- 2, 52 </ b> A- 2 for the opening operation portions 51, 52 are placed in front of the doors 21, 22. The doors 21 and 22A may be installed near the open ends, and the doors 21 and 22 can be opened by sliding operation in the direction opposite to the open side of the doors 21 and 22, respectively. In this case, since the right end of the left door 21 is an open end, the door opening operation display section 51A-2 is displayed to slide leftward from the right end side. In addition, the left end of the right door 22 is an open end, and the door opening operation display section 52A-2 is displayed to slide in the right direction from the left end side. With this setting, the user slides the finger in the direction in which the open end of the door opens by the opening operation, so the user's finger is less likely to interfere with the open end of the door that has begun to open, and smooth. An opening operation is possible (eighth embodiment).

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, even if the refrigerator door is a single door or a double door with two doors, it is close to any of the four corners of the door (here, door 22). The door opening operation unit 52 is installed horizontally or vertically or obliquely toward the corner, the door operation display unit 52A-3 is also installed at a position corresponding to that of the front plate 22A of the door 22, and When the door opening operation direction is a direction toward the outside of the door, the door opening operation can be set (9th embodiment).

  For example, in FIG. 10A, the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display unit 52A-31 are installed in the horizontal direction at the lower end of the door 22 on the open end side, and rightward toward the open end side of the door 22. An example of setting that can be opened by sliding operation is shown. In the case of this modification, the door opening operation part 52 and the door opening operation display part 52A-31 can be similarly installed on the upper end part of the door 22 on the open end side. In FIG. 10B, the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display unit 52A-32 are installed in the vertical direction at the lower end on the open end side of the door 22 and are slid from the top toward the bottom toward the lower end of the door 22. The example of a setting which can be opened is shown. In FIG. 10C, the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display unit 52 </ b> A- 33 are installed in the vertical direction at the upper end on the open end side of the door 22, and are slid upward from the bottom toward the upper end of the door 22. The example of a setting which can be opened is shown. FIG. 10 (d) shows that the door opening operation section 52 and the door opening operation display section 52 </ b> A-34 are installed in the vertical direction at the lower end of the rotary hinge end side of the door 22, and the sliding operation is performed from the top toward the bottom toward the lower end of the door 22. The example of a setting which can be opened by doing is shown. In the case of this modification, the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display unit 52A-31 are installed at the upper end of the door 22 on the rotating hinge end side, and the door is opened by sliding operation from below to above. You can also. Further, FIG. 10 (e) shows that one of the four corners of the door 22 is provided with an opening operation portion 52 and an opening operation display portion 52A-35 in the diagonal direction at the lower corner portion of the open end side. A setting example is shown in which the door can be opened by sliding operation from diagonally upward to diagonally downward. In the case of this modification, the door opening operation part 52 and the door opening operation display part 52A-35 are installed at any one of the other three corners of the door 22, and obliquely from bottom to top toward each corner. Moreover, it can also be set to be able to open the door by sliding from diagonally up to down.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, even if the refrigerator door is a single door or a double door with two doors, it is provided in the opening operation section 52 installed on the back surface side of the front plate 22A of the door 22. The capacitive touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 can be configured such that adjacent sensors partially overlap in a direction A3 different from the slide operation direction A2. Due to the overlap structure of this sensor, there is no shortage of touch during a slide operation, and even if adjacent sensors are touched at the same time, the change in capacitance becomes larger in a sensor with a larger area, and there is an effect that simultaneous detection is not performed ( (Tenth embodiment).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, even if the refrigerator door is a single door or a double door with two doors, a door opening operation unit incorporated in the door (here, also referred to as door 22). 52 is for detecting a door opening operation by a slide operation. A plurality of slide detection touch sensors are arranged in an annular shape or a matrix shape on the top, bottom, left and right, and the plurality of electrodes are fixed. The door opening operation can be detected with respect to the sliding operation that draws the pattern (the eleventh embodiment).

  In the example of FIG. 12, a plurality of slide detection touch sensors 52-1 to 52-8 in the door opening operation unit 52 incorporated in the door 22 are arranged in an annular shape. Thus, the door is opened when three or more adjacent touch sensors are continuously touched to draw a circle. Therefore, the door opening operation can be performed by any of the slide operations indicated by the arrows A4 to A6 or by a slide operation in the opposite direction. Further, in the example of FIG. 13, a plurality of slide detection electrodes 5211 to 5244 in the opening operation unit 52 incorporated in the door 22 are arranged in a matrix form on the top, bottom, left, and right. As shown by arrows A7 to A13, when three or more adjacent electrodes in the upward direction, the downward direction, the diagonally upward direction, or the diagonally downward direction are continuously touched, the door is opened.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, even if the refrigerator door is a single door or a double door type door (here, the double door type is shown), the doors 21 and 22 are opened. The operation units 51 and 52 both detect a door opening operation by a sliding operation in one predetermined direction. The left door 21 is slid from the left side to the right side from the rotating hinge side toward the open end side. The door is detected when the door is opened, and the door is detected when it is slid from the right side to the left side from the rotating hinge side to the open end side. In this case, each of the door opening operation display portions 51A and 52A is provided with an arrow mark toward the open end in order to indicate the slide operation direction (a twelfth embodiment). The opening operation by the sliding operation toward the open end is usually performed by the user from the outside of the refrigerator to the center of the refrigerator to perform the opening operation, and the flow line direction and the sliding operation direction coincide with each other. It is easy to open the door.

  As yet another modification, the following configuration is possible. Human detection means (for example, an infrared sensor or a camera for recognizing a person) is provided on the door to detect that a person has stood in front of the refrigerator door, and the door opening operation is activated after the human detection means detects the person. The control unit may perform the control to be performed. Thereby, it can prevent that a refrigerator door opens arbitrarily by water, static electricity, etc. (13th Embodiment).

  Furthermore, the opening operation parts 51 and 52 of the refrigerator compartment doors 21 and 22 are provided not on the rotary opening doors 21 and 22 in front of the refrigerator compartment 12 but on the drawer type doors 23 and 24 such as the vegetable compartment 13 and the switching compartment 14. It can also be provided (fourteenth embodiment). In this case, the electrical wiring is connected to the control unit 56 along the slide rail of the drawer type door.

  Furthermore, you may comprise the refrigerator 1 of embodiment of this invention so that it may demonstrate sequentially below.

[Fifteenth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 15, the control operation unit (also referred to as a control operation board) 50 is formed on a door cap that constitutes the left, right, top, and bottom sides of the door that supports the door front plate that is the vertical side surface of the right door 22. Further, it can be inserted into the storage portion 50R from the insertion port 50V and stored in the G direction. The opening operation part (also referred to as a touch-open switch board) 52 can be stored by being inserted in the G direction into the storage part 52R from the insertion port 52V in the vertical side surface part of the right door 22. Further, the opening operation portion (touch open switch board) 51 can be inserted and stored in the H direction into the storage portion 51R from the insertion port 51V on the side surface portion of the left door 21 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the grips (handles) 61 and 62 are disposed on the lower surface (lower side) of the left door 21 and the lower surface (lower side) of the right door 22, respectively. The parts 51 and 52 are respectively arranged at the lower corner position of the left door 21 and the lower corner position of the right door 22 and are arranged on different sides of the door. Moreover, the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 and the handles 61 and 62 may be in different positions in the vertical direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19 to be described later, for example, the right door 22 includes a front plate 22A, an inner plate 22K, and a door cap 72 which are glass plates, and the insertion port 50V is formed in the door cap 72. It is good to provide. And it is good to provide the accommodating part 50R so that it may continue in the direction of 22 A of front plates from the door cap 72 continuously with the insertion port 50V, and a board | substrate is inserted in the accommodating part 50R.

  In addition, it is preferable that the space between the front plate 22A, the inner plate 22K, and the door cap 72 outside the storage portion 50R is filled with a foam heat insulating material such as urethane or a vacuum heat insulating material for heat insulation.

  Further, the inserted control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 51 may be brought into close contact with the front plate 22A by elastic means that presses against the front plate 22A from the rear after the insertion. The operation unit 51 and the like may be directly adhered to the back surface of the front plate 22A with an adhesive or the like. Then, operational sensitivity can be improved.

  LED 51M and 52M can be used for the door opening operation display parts 51A and 52A which are the arrow marks which show the position of the door opening operation parts 51 and 52. FIG. Moreover, as an arrow mark, what was directly printed on glass may be sufficient, and what was printed on the film may be provided in the back surface of glass, and you may make it look with light.

  The opening operation units 51 and 52 for opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIG. 15 use electrostatic switches. In the left door 21 and the right door 22 which are revolving doors, the electrostatic switch can be electrically connected to the control unit on the cabinet 11 side using electric wiring. Therefore, electrostatic switches can be used as the opening operation units 51 and 52. The electrostatic switch is used in a portion that is vulnerable to moisture and has a small temperature difference.

  On the other hand, the opening operation part 71 for opening the drawer door, for example, the drawer door 25 of the freezer compartment 15, and the opening operation part 77 for opening the drawer door 23 use a switch of the Hall IC. Since the drawer door has a structure that can be pulled out and removed from the cabinet 11 (the refrigerator main body), the door opening operation unit 77 and the control unit on the cabinet 11 side cannot be connected using electrical wiring. For this reason, for example, as the opening operation units 71 and 77, when a magnet is arranged on the drawer door and the drawer door is pushed, the position of the magnet is changed, and the position of the magnet is changed without touching the Hall IC switch. Can be detected. The control unit can open the drawer door by operating the pushing means for pushing out the drawer door by the signal indicating that the position of the magnet from the Hall IC has changed.

  FIG. 19 shows a horizontal section of the right door 22 shown in FIG. For example, the right door 22 includes a front plate 22 </ b> A, an inner plate 22 </ b> K, a reinforcing plate 71, a door cap 72, and a substrate 74 of the opening operation unit 52 that are glass plates. Inside the right door 22, a urethane member for heat insulation or a vacuum heat insulating material 73 having a thickness of 20 mm is arranged. The gap between the substrate 74 and the glass plate 22G is zero. A door cap 72 covers the end of the front plate 22A, which is a glass plate. The front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, is tempered glass, but if the end of the glass plate is exposed, the glass plate is exposed to protect the exposed end of the glass plate. A C-plane cut is provided at the end.

  By doing so, there is a risk that the end of the front plate 22A may come into contact with another kitchen furniture or the wall placed next to the refrigerator because the door is automatically opened by operating the door opening operation portion 52. It is possible to prevent the end face from cracking. Moreover, you may provide the prevention means which protects by covering the edge part for preventing contacting to the edge part of 22 A of front plates. Moreover, the board | substrate 74 of the door opening operation part 52 is arrange | positioned so that there may be no clearance gap with respect to the inner surface of 22 A of front plates. In addition, although it is a left-right symmetric shape, the left door 21 has the same structure. Further, the sizes of the substrates of the left and right opening operation units 52 may be different. For example, the large door side substrate may be larger than the small door substrate.

[Sixteenth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 18, the opening operation unit 51 is disposed below the position LL of the lower end line of the meat dish ceiling plate inside the left door 21. That is, FIG. 24 shows a longitudinal section of the refrigerator body. As shown in FIG. 24, in the cabinet 11, a cool air duct through which cool air from the cooler passes is provided on the back surface, and a blowout opening is provided from the duct toward the door side. Flowing into.

  A meat dish 99T is disposed in the cabinet 11, and a blow-out opening is provided on the rear side of the meat dish 99T. In the left door 21, the opening operation part 51 is arrange | positioned below the position LL of the lower end line of a meat plate ceiling board. Thereby, the cold air that has passed through the meat dish 99T does not reach the opening operation portion 51 in the left door 21 by wind-proof means such as a front wall that constitutes the front surface of the meat dish. Accordingly, the cool air does not reach the opening operation portion 51 (52) in the left door 21, and therefore the opening operation portion 51 (52) is cooled and no dew phenomenon occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 24, when the upper end of the pocket frame is above the upper end of the meat plate 99T, the cool air does not hit the back of the door. Thereby, in order to accommodate the opening operation part 51 (52), since the heat insulating material is thin in the part of the opening operation part 51 (52), the cold air directly hits the part that is likely to condense. Can be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the left door 21 from being opened unintentionally due to the door opening operation part 51 operating inadvertently without operating by this dew and sending a signal to the control part. The same applies to the opening operation unit 52 of the right door 22 shown in FIG.

  The meat plate 99T can also be used as a chilled chamber, has a door and a drawer container, and can be pulled out forward. The chilled chamber may be constituted by a sealed space that can be sealed with a reinforced storage case capable of storing a drawer container and a door, and the space inside the sealed storage space is decompressed by a vacuum pump that is a decompressing means. It is good also as a structure. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the cold air from the cold air outlet provided on the back of the storage case from reaching the door directly in the meat dish 99T, and to reduce the cold temperature zone of the outlet to the reduced pressure in the sealed space. Therefore, heat insulation can be prevented. In this case, the storage case may be provided so as to cover the outlet. In addition, the cool air from the air outlet provided on the back surface of the hermetic housing part may be controlled by a damper which is an air volume adjusting means, and the temperature is lowered by a temperature sensor which measures the temperature in the cabinet in order to prevent dew condensation. It may be controlled so that the door is closed and the damper is closed to make it difficult for cold air to hit the door.

  Further, a vacuum heat insulating material disposed inside the door is disposed behind the substrate including the door opening operation unit 52 between the substrate and a blowout port disposed behind the meat dish 99T. It is better to insulate so as not to cause condensation. In addition, this board is housed in a resin housing with an air layer formed inside the door. In this case, it is particularly easy to condense, but it is equipped with a vacuum heat insulating material to insulate the cold in the cabinet. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dew condensation and prevent the door from being opened unexpectedly. In addition, a metal member having excellent heat transfer may be disposed around the storage unit to transmit heat from the outside air to the storage unit to prevent condensation.

  Further, a vertical partition that is disposed between the right door and the left door and that opens and closes in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of one of the doors may be provided, and a heat source may be stored inside the vertical partition. And by arrange | positioning this board | substrate and the accommodating part in the vicinity of the heat source of a warehouse, heat can be transmitted to a board | substrate or an accommodating part, and it can prevent dew condensation more. The heat source extends in the vertical direction together with the vertical partition, and the amount of heat transfer may be increased by increasing the heater density at the position of the substrate or the storage unit. The heater density is such that the heater wires are doubled or bent, or a metal with good thermal conductivity (for example, aluminum) is extended from the heater to the substrate side so that heat is transferred to the substrate side in the vertical partition. You may arrange in.

  Further, by attaching the opening operation portion 51 (52) at a position different from the position of the outlet 79R in the cabinet 11 shown in FIG. 18, the cold air from the outlet 79R is changed to the opening operation in the left door 21. The part 51 (52) can be prevented from reaching. Accordingly, the cool air does not reach the opening operation portion 51 (52) in the left door 21, so that the opening operation portion 51 (52) is cooled and does not cause a dew phenomenon. Thus, it is possible to prevent the left door 21 (right door 22) from opening unintentionally due to the door opening operation unit 51 (52) operating carelessly without sending a signal to the control unit.

[Seventeenth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 16, the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 51 can be arranged on one substrate 99 in the left door 21. The detection unit and the detection signal processing unit of the door opening operation unit 51 (52) can be configured by a single substrate 99. The detection unit and the detection signal processing unit are stored together in the storage unit 50R. The microcomputer MC is preferably arranged on the same substrate.

  The control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52 can be arranged on separate substrates in the right door 22, and the control operation unit 50 and the microcomputer MC are arranged on a single substrate 99A. Can also be placed on a separate substrate 99B. Thus, by using the MC that may cause noise as a separate substrate, it is possible to prevent a malfunction that the door opening operation unit 52 erroneously detects and opens the door without permission. Further, when the storage unit 50R has different storage units in which the substrate 99A and the substrate 99B are stored separately, the electrical signal line of the substrate 99B is connected to a storage unit in another location (for example, storage in which the substrate 99A is stored). Part) control means (MC). In particular, when the connection connector extends from the storage portion in another place to the storage portion of the board 99B in advance and the connection line of the board 99B is connected to the connection connector when the board 99B is stored in the storage section, the door is assembled. Easy to manufacture.

  Note that the microcomputer MC may be disposed on the same substrate 99B or another substrate 99C disposed at a different position. The substrate 99 may be vertically long or horizontally long.

  The control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 18 are not connected directly by lead wires. That is, the control operation unit 50 and the opening operation units 51 and 52 are connected to each other via the power supply board of the control unit 56 using separate electric wirings LA and LB. The reason for this is to reliably prevent noise generated from the control operation unit 50 from inadvertently causing the door opening / closing operations of the door opening operation units 51 and 52 to occur.

  The handles (handles) of the drawer doors 23, 24, 25, and 26 shown in FIG. 15 can be arranged on the left or right side of the drawer doors 23, 24, 25, and 26. The handle (handle) is not disposed on the front surface portion of the drawer door. For example, an opening operation portion 77 of the drawer door 23 and an opening operation portion 71 of the drawer door 25 are disposed on the front surface portion. Only. Thereby, since there is no handle (handle) in the front part of a drawer door, appearance improves.

[Eighteenth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 17, in the right door 22, the arrangement positions of the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52 are different with respect to the left and right lateral directions. That is, the control operation unit 50 is located near the right side surface of the right door 22, and the door opening operation unit 52 is located near the right side surface of the right door 22. Thereby, since the control operation unit 50 is not arranged on the upper side of the door opening operation unit 52, for example, even if water is dripped from the control operation unit 50 by touching the user with a wet hand, This water is not applied to the lower opening operation portion 52. In addition, the distance Wb between the storage unit of the control operation unit 50 and the storage unit of the door opening operation unit 52 is smaller than the distance Wa between the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52, and the distance Wb is the minimum. This is the distance that must be separated.

  Further, the control operation unit 50 may be arranged such that the storage unit for storing the substrate of the door opening operation unit 52 is shifted in the vertical direction and overlapped in the horizontal direction. The control operation unit 50 may be arranged so that the substrate of the opening operation unit 52 also overlaps in the left-right direction. If the electrostatic capacitance type switch SA and the switch 52A on the respective substrates do not overlap, water does not drip from the electrostatic capacitance type SW arranged above to the switch of the opening operation unit arranged below. By wrapping the storage unit and the substrate, the degree of freedom in layout is increased by overlapping the left and right directions within a small area of the door. It should be noted that the arrangement of the substrates in the left-right direction can be applied even when the substrates are arranged in the same storage unit.

  The electrodes of the opening operation units 51 and 52 may have different detection sensitivities when operated by the user compared to the electrodes of the control operation unit 50. For example, by increasing the detection sensitivity of the electrodes of the opening operation units 51 and 52 compared to the electrodes of the control operation unit 50, the operation sensitivity of the opening operation units 51 and 52 can be improved. The electrodes 52 of the control operation unit 50 may have different capacities, or may be made different by changing the electrode area. The opening operation units 51 and 52 may have a single electrode instead of a plurality of electrodes.

  The operation method for the control operation unit 50 and the operation method for the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are different from each other. As a different operation method, for example, the control operation unit 50 has a long press operation of 0.5 seconds. In the opening operation units 51 and 52, for example, the operation is detected by performing a long press operation for 1 second.

[Nineteenth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 21, all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, and when any switch of the control operation unit 50 is pressed, a plurality of LEDs or all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned on. During the lighting, the switches of the opening operation units 51 and 52 have a control to be invalidated even if an operation is detected during this period, and the door opening operation is invalidated without accepting the user's operation. Good (effective and may be operable). During lighting, the LEDs of the opening operation units 51 and 52 are OFF and are not lit during that time. Instead, while all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, the switches of the opening operation units 51 and 52 are valid and can be operated during that time (they may be invalid and cannot be operated). While all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, the LEDs of the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are ON and light up.

  By adopting a configuration in which the control switch is enabled and the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 are disabled as described above, the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 are inadvertently connected to the elbow when the control operation portion 50 is pressed with a finger. Has the effect of preventing the door from opening unexpectedly.

  Further, when the LED of the control switch is turned on and the LEDs of the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are turned off, for example, when the child lights up at the same time, the child pushes the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 at the same time. The door may be opened due to an urgent impulse, but this configuration can solve the problem.

  Even when both the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are enabled and detected to be pressed at the same time, notification that the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are to be performed is displayed or by voice. Can call attention.

  The switches SA and SB having different forms of the control operation unit 50 shown in FIG. 17 can be turned on by the same operation method with the same operation sensitivity for the predetermined time. A switch SA and a switch SB of the same operation method are provided on one surface of the substrate. Further, the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 may have the same operation method as that of the switch SA, and this configuration can be adopted in each embodiment.

  The bundle of electric wires LA of the control operation unit 50 and the bundle of electric wires LB and the heater wires of the door opening operation units 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 18 are not put together. In other words, it is preferable that the doors are spaced apart from each other and approached at the door hinge location leading to the cabinet. Moreover, the AC line and the DC line may be bundled separately. This prevents noise.

  For example, the front plate 22A which is a glass plate shown in FIG. 19 of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 15 is a tempered glass, but a reinforcing plate 71 may be added and a scattering prevention film may be arranged. In order to protect the end of the glass plate 22A, a cap 72 is disposed so as to cover the end of the glass plate 22A.

  However, unlike FIG. 19, when the door cap does not cover the end portion of the glass plate 22A and the end portion of the glass plate 22G is in an exposed state, the C surface which is a cut surface at the end portion of the glass plate 22G. A cut or an R surface may be formed. The front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, is tempered glass, but if the end of the glass plate is exposed, a C-cut is provided on the glass plate to protect the end of the glass plate. By providing the opening / closing door operation unit, even when the door is opened unexpectedly, it is possible to prevent the end portion from being missing somewhere. In addition, although it is a left-right symmetric shape, the left door 21 has the same structure.

  Since it is necessary not to break down the opening operation parts 51 and 52 shown in FIG. 17, as shown in FIG. 19, the vacuum heat insulating material 73 is arrange | positioned and the heat insulation thickness of this vacuum heat insulating material 78 is 20 mm. Since it is above and is arrange | positioned by the vertical partition, a dew does not adhere to the vacuum heat insulating material 78. FIG. Although not shown, a heater is disposed in the vicinity of the opening operation portions 51 and 52, and a vacuum heat insulating material 78 is disposed behind the opening operation portions 51 and 52. Thereby, it is avoided that the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 are condensed by the influence from a low temperature part.

  The switches SA and SB of the control operation unit 50 shown in FIG. 17 have a function of adjusting the operation sensitivity, and have setting means for changing the sensitivity and a predetermined time. Thereby, it can set so that the operation sensitivity at the time of operating switch SA, SB or 51A, 51B by using a setting means may differ.

[20th embodiment]
FIG. 20 is a plan view showing, for example, the drawer doors 23 and 25 shown in FIG. For example, the drawer doors 23 and 25 shown in FIG. 15 have door opening operation portions 77 and 71, respectively. If the substrate 82 of the opening operation sections 77 and 71 is configured to be inserted and stored in the storage section 81 downward from the upper surface of the drawer doors 13 and 15, a gap is generated in the front portions of the drawer doors 13 and 15. It is clean because it is not present, and the glass surface on the front surface of the drawer doors 13 and 15 has a good appearance.

  20 includes a substrate 82, a battery 83, and elastic means 84 for pressing the substrate 82 against the inner surface of the front surface portion. The battery 83 is connected to the door opening operation portions 77, 71. Supply power. Then, compared with the case where the following electrical wiring is guided to the door along the metal rail, it is possible to prevent noise from entering the door opening operation portions 77 and 71 and opening the door without permission.

  In the case of a power supply type in which the power supply is taken from another place using electric wiring instead of the battery 83 in FIG. 20, the electric wiring is guided to the door along the metal rail and is pulled out at maximum according to the opening / closing operation of the door. It is preferable that the length of the wiring corresponding to this distance be movable and deformable.

In that case, noise may be placed on the electrical wiring along the metal rail that guides the drawer door, so the door opening operation units 77 and 71 are entered, or the door opening operation units 77 and 71 enter the microcomputer that instructs the opening operation. It is preferable to provide a noise filter which is noise removing means for removing noise. Further, an insulating means (noise removing means) may be provided around the electric wiring arranged along the metal rail to remove noise by not directly contacting the metal (the twenty-first embodiment).
As shown in FIG. 16, among the drawer doors 23, 24, 25, and 26 having a glass plate, for example, the drawer door 25 is a portion other than the glass front portion of the drawer door 25 and is made of a different material door cap ( For example, the push button 100 is provided in the resin). By pushing the resin push button 100, the drawer door 15 can be opened.

[Twenty-second embodiment]
FIG. 22 is a horizontal sectional view showing the drawer door 23 (24, 25, 26) and the refrigerator cabinet 11, and a pressing member 120 is provided between the drawer door 23 (24, 25, 26) and the refrigerator cabinet 11. Is arranged. The pressing member 120 sets a gap DH between the drawer door 23 (24, 25, 26) and the refrigerator cabinet 11. The user pushes the drawer door 23 (24, 25, 26) against the force of the pressing member 120 in the pressing direction indicated by the arrow, so that the transmitter 131 of the non-contact distance sensor 130 becomes the receiver 132. Get closer. Thereby, the distance sensor 130 detects the distance, and when the detected distance becomes smaller than the predetermined distance, the door opening operation unit 77 (71) instructs the control unit to pull out by the pushing means. The door can be opened.

  As illustrated in FIG. 17, the opening operation units 102, 102, 103, and 104 for opening the drawer doors 23, 24, 25, and 26 may be disposed on the left door 22, for example. The opening operation sections 102, 102, 103, 104 are designed according to the arrangement shape of the drawer doors 23, 24, 25, 26. Thereby, the user can easily grasp visually and can easily open the necessary drawer door without changing the posture.

  The left door 21, the right door 22, and the drawer doors 23, 24, 25, and 26 can be formed in an all-flat manner so that no handle (handle) is provided on the front portions thereof.

[Twenty-third embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 15, the gaps X and Y between the drawer doors 23, 24, 25 and 26 are such that the gap X> the gap Y. That is, the clearance Y between the drawer door 23 having the opening operation portion 77 and the drawer door 25 having the opening operation portion 72 is set smaller than the clearance X between the drawer doors 24 and 26 without the opening operation portion. Yes. In other words, the gap X between the drawer doors 24 and 26 having the handle 140 and no opening operation section is used to insert the hand, and the drawer 23 having the opening operation section 77 and the drawer operation section 72 are provided. It is larger than the gap Y of the door 25. Note that the drawer door 23 having the opening operation portion 77 and the drawer door 25 having the opening operation portion 72 may be provided with handles on the left and right side portions of the drawer door. At this time, the handle can be formed by providing a recess in the cap that supports the glass plate.

  Since the non-contact distance sensor 130 is used as means for detecting the displacement amount of the door shown in FIG. 22 in order to open and close the drawer door having the glass plate, if the drawer door having the glass plate is slightly pushed in the direction of the arrow, The drawer door can be opened.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the control operation unit 50 can be arranged on one or both of the left door 22 and the right door 22.

[Twenty-fourth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 23, a cap 150, which is a door frame and is a decorative portion, is disposed on the upper part of the glass plates (front plates 22A and 22A) of the left door 22 and the right door 22. The cap 150 has a protrusion 151 that protrudes outward (upward), and the protrusion 151 abuts against a pressing member 162 of the pushing means 160. The protrusion 151 is provided at a position away from the front plates 21A and 22A, which are glass plates. When the pressing member 162 of the pushing means 160 pushes the protrusion 151, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened. Further, the front plates 21A and 22A are not affected by the force. Reinforcing ribs 162, 163, 164, and 165 are formed inside the cap 150. Glass plates (front plates 21A and 22A) fit into the reinforcing ribs 162 and 163, and the reinforcing ribs 163 and 164 have a cross section. A U-shaped reinforcing plate 169 is fixed. An inner plate 170 is disposed on the reinforcing rib 165. Urethane is embedded between the front plate 21A (22A), which is a glass plate, and the inner plate 170 for reinforcement.

  Each embodiment mentioned above is applicable not only to the refrigerator which has the double door shown in the figure but to a single-open refrigerator.

[Twenty-fifth embodiment]
FIG. 25A shows a plane of the drawer door 25 of the refrigerator, for example, and there are building walls 200 on both sides of the drawer door 25. Concave handles 201 are provided on the left and right side surface portions 25 </ b> S of the drawer door 25. In FIG. 25B, the left and right side portions of the drawer door 25 are provided with concave handles 202, but the left and right side portions are inclined surfaces 25G that are inclined forward. Thereby, even if there are the building walls 200 on the left and right, the inclined surface 25G is formed, so that a gap is formed, and the user can easily put a finger into the handle 202. At this time, the handle 202 may be shaped so as to be easily gripped as shown on the right side of the drawing.

[Twenty-sixth embodiment]
FIG. 26 shows an example of the drawer doors 210, 220, and 230, and a concave handle 240 is provided on the upper surface portion of the drawer door 220. The drawer door 230 is provided with an opening operation portion 77 on the front surface thereof. Since the drawer door 230 is provided with the opening operation portion 77 on the front surface thereof, the front surface of the front surface portion can be a glass surface. The gap C between the drawer door 230 and the drawer door 220 can be made smaller than the gap B between the drawer door 210 and the drawer door 220, and the appearance is improved.

  Further, when the user releases his / her finger, not when the user touches the touch switch type door opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52 shown in FIG. 15, for example, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is moved. It should be opened. Alternatively, the left door 21 or the right door 22 may be opened when a predetermined time elapses after the user touches the opening operation unit 51 or the opening operation unit 52 with a finger.

  That is, the control unit controls the door to open at a different timing from when the user presses the door opening operation unit 51, and when the user releases the door opening operation unit 51 instead of pressing it. May be detected and the door opening may be instructed, or the door opening may be instructed after a predetermined time has elapsed from when the door opening operation unit 51 is pressed. Moreover, you may make it instruct | indicate opening of a door, after predetermined time passes from the time of releasing the door opening operation part 51. FIG.

  This is because the control unit performs control to open the door after the touch sensor detects a touch operation and then becomes non-detected when performing the door opening control. The door opening control may be performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the touch operation was detected (for example, it is not 1 second and 0.3 seconds is preferable).

  By doing in this way, when the user touches the opening operation unit 51 or the opening operation unit 52 with a finger, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened more quickly than when the user opens the opening operation unit 51 or the opening operation unit 52. It is possible to suppress the hand touching the door operation unit 52 from hitting the left door 21 or the right door 22 that is opened.

  In particular, when the user presses and holds the door opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52 with a finger, the hand touching the door opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52 opens the left door 21 or Although it hits the right door 22, as described above, when a predetermined time elapses after the user touches the finger to the door opening operation section 51 or the door opening operation section 52, the left door 21 or the right door By opening 22, the touched hand can be prevented from hitting the opened left door 21 or right door 22.

  The door structure described above may be configured in detail as follows.

  FIG. 27 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing only one door of the double doors of the refrigerator compartment 1 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. The left door 21, the right door 22, the vegetable room 13, the ice making room 16, the upper freezer room 14, and the freezer room 15 that constitute the double doors of the refrigerator compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. The structure of 25 is basically the same as the door shown in FIG. 27, and the structure example will be described as the door 103b.

  The door 103b of the refrigerator compartment 12 shown in FIG. 27 has the glass plate 121 of the outer surface provided so that the front surface of the said door 103b might be covered entirely. In FIG. 27, the side on which the glass plate 121 is provided is the front side of the door 103 b, and the rear side opposite to the glass plate 121 is the rear side of the door 103 b facing the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12.

  An upper door cap 131, a lower door cap 133, a left door cap 135, and a right door cap 137 are provided on the upper, lower, left and right outer peripheral portions of the glass plate 121, respectively. These four upper, lower, left and right door caps hold and fix the upper, lower, left and right side surfaces of the glass plate 121 from the upper, lower, left and right sides. The upper door cap 131, the lower door cap 133, the left door cap 135, and the right door cap 137 are fixed to the four side portions of the glass plate 121, and the decoration portion for decorating the four side portions of the glass plate 121. Function as.

  The door 103b is assembled as a whole and integrally by attaching a door inner structure 125 constituting the inner plate of the door to the door cap inside the glass plate 121 shown in FIG. A gasket 127 which is a rectangular sealing means for sealing the door and the cabinet is provided inside the door inner structure 125 and toward the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12. The space between the glass plate 121, the door cap, and the door inner structure 125 is filled with a foam heat insulating material made of urethane foam or the like to improve heat insulating performance, and the foam heat insulating material is bonded to the inner surface of the glass plate 121. Then, the glass plate 121 is fixed and fixed so that the glass plate 121 does not come off or warp. A coating material is applied to the glass plate 121, and a scattering prevention sheet for preventing the glass from being broken and scattered is provided on the back side of the glass plate 121, and a protection member for preventing the scattering prevention sheet and urethane from contacting each other may be provided.

  Next, a structural example of the relationship between a substrate having a capacitance type switch and a door will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 28 shows a door (doors 21, 22, etc.) having capacitance type switches (corresponding to switches SA, SB, 51A, 52A, etc.) constituting the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51, 52 described above. FIG.

  The left door cap 135 shown in FIG. 28 is a left decorative portion provided in the vertical direction of the door 103b (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 28), and the right door cap 137 is a right side provided in the vertical direction of the door 103b. The decoration part. The vertical direction of the door 103b is the Z direction shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 28, one end portion (left end portion) 150 of the glass plate 121 is not entirely covered by the left door cap 135 but is exposed from the left door cap 135. It is the end of the state. On the other hand, the other end portion (right end portion) 121f of the glass plate 121 is an end portion that is not exposed by being covered with the gripping portion 137a.

  An R surface 151 is formed on the front portion of the side surface 152 of the one end portion 150 of the glass plate 121, and is not a right-angled shape. The R surface 151 is, for example, a 1/4 circumferential R surface. For example, the R surface 151 can be formed by polishing a part of the one end portion 150 after cutting and rounding, and the R surface 151 is formed continuously in the Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 28, compared to the side surface 153 of the left door cap 135, the side surface 152 of the one end 150 of the glass plate 121 does not protrude outward. Thereby, since the side surface 152 of the glass plate 121 does not protrude from the side surface 153 of the left door cap 135, the end portion 152 of the glass plate 121 can be protected.

  As shown in FIG. 28, a substrate insertion portion 154 is provided on the side surface 153 of the left door cap 135. The board insertion portion 154 is a through hole, and is provided to insert the board 110 into the storage member 105 from the outside of the left door cap 135. The board 110 is equipped with a communication unit 102 that communicates information on the capacitance type switch 101 and the refrigerator to the outside and receives other information from the outside. The storage member 105 is fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 and the inner surface 135M of the left door cap 135, respectively. The storage member 105 is a member constituting a storage unit that can store the substrate 110. The board insertion portion 154 can be provided with a lid, and the storage portion can be sealed by closing the lid with the lid.

  As described above, dew condensation can be prevented by providing a metal such as aluminum having good heat conductivity around the storage portion or by disposing a reinforcing metal 65 inside.

  The substrate 110 is held in close contact with the inner surface 121M by being pressed against the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 from the storage member 105 side using an elastic means 103 such as a spring. The substrate 110 is fixed at a position P1 different from the support portion P2 of the left cap 135. Thus, the substrate 110 having the capacitance type switch 101 can be fixed in close contact with the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121, avoiding the support portion P2 of the left cap 135. For this reason, since the capacitive switch 101 can be pressed against the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 without leaving a gap, the user can turn on / off the capacitive switch 101 from the surface of the glass plate 121. Can be done reliably.

  Further, as a method of pressing the capacitance type switch 101 against the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 without leaving a gap, guide means for moving the substrate 110 from the rear to the front may be provided instead of the elastic means. The portion may be inclined so as to become narrower toward the insertion direction of the substrate, or the protrusion provided on the substrate 110 may be pressed by being inserted into the guide groove provided in the storage portion and guided.

  Moreover, the structure arrange | positioned at the support container which supports a board | substrate may be sufficient, and it is good to arrange | position LED which is a light emission means in this support container, and to light-emit LED from the back surface of a board | substrate.

  Note that the capacitance type switch 101 may be integrated by arranging electrodes on the surface of the LED substrate disposed on the back surface, and is provided on another substrate separately from the substrate on which the LEDs are disposed. May be. The substrate is preferably provided with an electrode of a capacitive switch on a film-like transparent film having elasticity. If it does so, LED can be arrange | positioned on the back surface of a transparent electrode, and it can be made to light-emit from the back side of an electrode.

[Twenty Seventh Embodiment]
FIG. 29 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a twenty-seventh embodiment, FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the refrigerator opened, and FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerator compartment portion of the refrigerator. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, in the refrigerator 1 of the 27th embodiment, the cabinet 11 that is the refrigerator main body can switch the refrigerator compartment 12, the vegetable compartment 13, and the set temperature in the cabinet from the upper stage. 14 is composed of a freezer compartment 15. An ice making chamber 16 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 29 to 31, in order to cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12, a pair of left and right left doors 21 and 22 is opened and closed with a hinged portion at the left end and the top and bottom of the right end respectively. It is attached to do. The vegetable room 13, the switching room 14, the freezing room 15, and the ice making room 16 are provided with drawer-type doors 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively.

  Both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the opening portion of a flat inner plate that opens to the front surface, and a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity portion to provide vacuum heat insulation. This is a structure in which a urethane heat insulating material or a solid heat insulating material is disposed in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a material. The degree of coloring of the front plates 21A and 22A is such that a filler such as a heat insulating material on the back side of the front plates 21A and 22A cannot be seen from the outside in a state of receiving external light. In addition, the coloring degree of the front plates 21A and 22A is the LED display lamp that transparently displays operation button names, cooling function names, cooling intensity, etc., which will be described later, and the 7-segment LED display device that transparently displays changing numerical values such as temperature values. It is also the darkness that can be seen from the front side when light is transmitted in the lighting state.

  On the back side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, a capacitive control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the front of the front plate 22A is installed. The control operation unit 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental condition around the refrigerator, a home button, an LED that detects touch of the home button and transparently displays an operation button name, a cooling function name, a cooling intensity, and the like. An indicator lamp, a 7-segment LED display device that transparently displays numerical values that change, such as a temperature value, and the like are provided.

  On the back side near the lower side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22A of the right door 22, door opening operation portions 51 and 52 that are elongated in the left and right lateral directions are respectively installed. The front plates 21A and 22A are provided with door opening operation display portions 51A and 52A which are door opening operation portions and which indicate a door opening operation direction. Here, the opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21 is provided with a left-pointing arrow mark for recognizing that the opening operation is performed by sliding the finger in the left direction while touching the finger. The door opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is provided with a right-pointing arrow mark for recognizing that the door opening operation is performed by sliding the finger in the right direction while touching it.

  Opening drive units 54 and 55 are installed at two positions near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11 at positions corresponding to the open side end portions of the upper sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. It is. These door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by electromagnets, thereby pushing the upper sides near the open side end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward to automatically open the doors. can do. In order to open the left door 21, if the finger is slid in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end of the left door opening operation display portion 51A, the door opening operation portion 51 is continuously displayed. A touch detection signal is sent to the control unit 56, and if the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 is operated to automatically open the left door 21. Door. On the other hand, in order to open the right door 22, if the finger is slid in the right direction while touching the arrow mark near the left end or the left end of the right door opening operation display portion 52A, the door opening operation portion 52 is continuously connected. A touch detection signal is sent to the control unit 56, and if the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 is operated to automatically open the right door 22. Door.

  In addition, the cooling control performed by the control unit 56 in the refrigerator of the present embodiment is general and is not particularly limited. For example, the compressor, the operation panel, the dew condensation prevention heater, the ice making in the ice making chamber, and the like. An apparatus, a refrigerator compartment fan, a freezer compartment fan, and a defrost heater are connected to this control part 56, and are controlled.

  The arrow mark in the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A is not limited to this display, and it can be easily recognized that the door opening operation can be realized by touching and sliding it to the right or left. As long as there is a mark, the shape and form of the mark are not limited.

  In the left door 21 and the right door 22, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are operated by inserting a finger with the palm facing upward at the lower end surface portion below the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A and pulling the finger toward the front. Handles 61 and 62 are installed so that each can be manually opened manually.

  Next, the automatic door opening operation in the refrigerator of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 32 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 32, the opening operation sections 51 and 52 are respectively opposed to the arrow marks arranged in the left and right lateral directions of the opening operation display sections 51A and 52A with the front plates 21A and 22A interposed therebetween. Thus, the capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are arranged in a row. These capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5 each detect a change in capacitance due to a user's touch and transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. It is set.

  Therefore, when the user touches the left arrow mark in the opening operation display portion 52A to open the right door 22 and slides the finger in the right direction while touching, the capacitive touch sensor 52. Each of the sensors that have detected a change in capacitance among −1 to 52-5 transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56 in the order of touch. Therefore, the control unit 56 determines whether or not it is a door opening operation, and if it is determined to be a regular door opening operation, it outputs a door opening drive signal to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door to automatically turn the right door 22 on. Open the door. In the case of the opening operation of the left door 21, with respect to the operation of sliding the finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end with respect to the opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21, A similar operation for opening the left door 21 is determined.

  The logic of the door opening judgment here is as follows. If at least three of the five sensors on the left and right are touch-detected within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds or 1 second) and in the order of arrangement, the corresponding door is determined to be an opening operation. Is to automatically open the door. Here, the opening operation of the right door 22 will be described.

  When any one of the arrow marks on the opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is touched, the corresponding capacitive touch sensor on the door opening operation portion 52 side (usually the arrow mark near the left end or the left end). Since it is touched, the leftmost sensor 52-1 here detects the touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. The control unit 56 receives this signal and starts the opening operation determination process. As a result, the control unit 56 determines that the operation is a normal opening operation for the right door 22, outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening driving unit 55 for the right door, and operates the door opening driving unit 54. The right door 22 is automatically opened. The determination process for the opening operation of the left door 21 is the same. However, in the case of the left door 21, the direction is opposite to that of the right door 22, and it is determined that the operation is the door opening operation when the arrow mark near the right end or the right end in the door opening operation display portion 51 </ b> A is touched and slid leftward. Will do.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 29 to FIG. 31, two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, which are voice recognition means, a human sensor HS, and an illuminance sensor LS will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, one voice recognition sensor NS <b> 1, human sensor HS and illuminance sensor LS are disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator 1. Another voice recognition sensor NS2 is arranged at a distance from one voice recognition sensor NS1, for example, in the lower part of the right door 22. As these voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, for example, condenser microphones can be used, but are not particularly limited.

  As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the upper voice recognition sensor NS <b> 1 is arranged on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator 1, but the lower voice recognition sensor NS <b> 2 is arranged, for example, in the lower end portion of the right door 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only one of the two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 may be arranged.

  As the human sensor HS shown in FIG. 31, for example, an infrared sensor can be used. The upper voice recognition sensor NS1, the human sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS shown in FIG. 31 are housed in the housing cases CS1, CS2, and CS3, respectively. Thereby, the voice recognition sensor NS1, the human sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS can be arranged on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 or arranged side by side, and can be protected from dust and the like. The storage cases C1, C2, and C3 are disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 at, for example, a position between the door opening operation portions 51 and 52, but the positions of the sensors are not limited thereto.

  These sensors may be housed in the case of the door opening drive units 54 and 55, or in a case for covering the hinge of the fulcrum that opens and closes the door.

  FIG. 32 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator. The flowchart of FIG. 33 shows a case where the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerator compartment are automatically opened.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, the human sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS are electrically connected to the control unit 56 described above. Thereby, the voice signal when the two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 receive the sound can be sent to the control unit 56. The detection signal of the human sensor HS can be sent to the control unit 56. The illuminance signal of the illuminance sensor LS can be sent to the control unit 56.

  Thus, by providing the two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, as will be described later, when the user speaks by voice as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 33, the left door 21 of the refrigerator compartment and The right door 22 is not manually opened by the user, that is, the user can automatically open the door by using a different detection (operation) method such as detecting sound or sound, in addition to opening the door with a handle (handle). It can be done.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the storage unit 300 and the relevance input registration unit 310 are connected to the control unit 56. In the relevance input registration means 310, the user can select “name of food or the like that is contained”, for example, “name of storage pocket of the left door 21”, “name of storage pocket of the right door 22”, “name of the refrigerator 1. The name of the storage location in the warehouse "can be entered and registered. Examples of the “name of food or the like that is contained” include “milk”, “egg”, “butter”, “juice”, “wasabi”, “tofu”, and the like. The “name of the storage place in the refrigerator 1” is, for example, the refrigerator room 12, the vegetable room 13, the switching room 14, the freezer room 15, the ice making room 16, and the like shown in FIG.

  The control unit 56 illustrated in FIG. 32 stores, in the storage unit 300, related information indicating that “the name of the food that is the stored item” is included in “the name of the storage location in the refrigerator 1”. It comes to memorize. As an example, in the storage unit 300, the user sets (stores), for example, “milk”, “egg”, and “butter” in the storage pocket on the left door 21 side. In step S12, the right door 22 is set. For example, “juice”, “wasabi”, and “tofu” can be set (stored) in the storage pocket on the side.

  Here, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 33 showing the case where the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerator compartment are automatically opened, the case where the user automatically opens the left door 21 and the right door 22 by voice. This will be specifically described.

  In FIG. 33, in step S11, the user operates, for example, the keyboard or the touch panel of the relevance input registration unit 310 in advance, and for example, “milk”, “egg”, For example, “juice”, “wasabi”, and “tofu” are entered and registered in the storage pocket on the right door 22 side. Thus, the control unit 56 shown in FIG. 32 sets, for example, “milk”, “egg”, and “butter” in relation to the storage pocket on the left door 21 side with respect to the storage unit 300 shown in FIG. In step S12, for example, “juice”, “wasabi”, and “tofu” are set (stored) in the storage pocket on the right door 22 side.

  In step S13 of FIG. 33, is the detection signal sent from the human sensor HS to the control unit 56 by detecting that the user has approached the refrigerator by using the human sensor HS or the illuminance sensor LS, for example? Alternatively, an illuminance signal is sent from the illuminance sensor LS. For this reason, in the control part 56, the trigger of the voice recognition function start of the control part 56 is triggered by the detection signal or the illuminance signal, that is, the control part 56 generates a timing for demonstrating the voice recognition function. The voice recognition function starts working.

  As described above, when the human sensor H detects a user approaching the refrigerator, the trigger for starting the voice recognition function is when a detection signal is given from the human sensor HS to the control unit 56 or when the illuminance sensor LS is activated. This is the time when an illuminance signal is given from the illuminance sensor LS to the controller 56 when it is detected that the user has turned on the kitchen in which the refrigerator is placed.

  In step S14 of FIG. 33, when the user says at least one of “milk”, “egg”, and “butter” by voice, the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in FIG. 32 receive this voice. Then, since the voice signal is sent to the control unit 56, the control unit 56 recognizes the voice. Thereby, in step S15, the control unit 56 drives to open the door with respect to the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 shown in FIG. 32 in which at least one of “milk”, “egg”, and “butter” is accommodated. A command is output and the door opening drive part 54 is operated. Therefore, in step S <b> 16, the storage pocket of the left door 21 can be automatically opened by the operation of the door opening drive unit 54.

  Similarly, in step S14, when the user says at least one of “juice”, “wasabi”, and “tofu” by voice, the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in FIG. 32 receive this voice. Thus, since the voice signal is sent to the control unit 56, the control unit 56 recognizes the voice. Thereby, in step S17, the control unit 56 outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door 22 in which at least one of “juice”, “wasabi”, and “tofu” is accommodated. Then, the door opening drive unit 54 is operated. For this reason, in step S18, the storage pocket of the right door 22 can be automatically opened by the operation of the door opening drive unit 54.

  In the storage unit 310, for example, a storage pocket on the left door 21 side containing “milk” is registered in advance so that even a person who does not know the location in the refrigerator containing “milk” can receive “milk” "The left door 21 side can be automatically opened. This prevents a person who does not know the location in the refrigerator containing “milk” from opening the right door 22 that does not contain “milk” by mistake. For this reason, the frequency | count of opening and closing of a door reduces, and an energy saving effect increases.

  When the ice-making water storage tank is disposed in the refrigerator, the user speaks, for example, “water storage” to open the door on which the water storage tank is stored, for example, the left door 21. Therefore, the user can accommodate the water storage tank in a predetermined storage position of the water storage tank while holding the water storage tank. Accordingly, even when the user holds the water storage tank with both hands and both hands are blocked, the left door 21 to be opened to accommodate the water storage tank is used, for example, using the handle 61 shown in FIG. It can be opened automatically without it.

  In addition, the drawer-type doors 23, 24, 25, and 26 shown in FIG. 29 can be automatically opened by voice in the same manner as the left door 21 and the right door 22 by providing door opening driving sections. it can.

In this way, unlike the manual operation in which the user manually opens the left door 21, the right door 22, and the drawer-type doors 23, 24, 25, and 26 by grasping the handle, the door can be automatically opened. This is very convenient, for example, when the user holds food with both hands.

  In addition, when the voice which opens a different door is recognized simultaneously, you may make it aim at prevention of the collision of the door to a user by shifting and releasing the opening timing of these different doors.

  In addition, in step S13 shown in FIG. 33 described above, as an example of giving a trigger for starting speech recognition to the control unit 56, words (words) uttered by the user are recognized by the speech recognition sensors NS1 and NS2. This is a voice signal from the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2. As a predetermined word (word) uttered by the user, for example, “plus opening sesame” or the like can be adopted. That is, as a preferable example for giving a trigger for starting voice recognition to the control unit 56, for example, “open sesame” or “plus open sesame” is a word that does not appear in normal conversation. Is desirable.

  That is, when an example of giving a trigger for starting speech recognition to the control unit 56 is a human voice, the adverse effect that the control unit 56 starts a speech recognition operation due to a word generated in normal conversation content is prevented. Therefore, it is desirable to use words that do not appear in normal conversation. Thereby, it can prevent that the control part 56 starts voice recognition operation | movement accidentally. The sound that gives a trigger for starting speech recognition to the control unit 56 is used in an abnormal sound generated in the refrigerator, such as a sound of a compressor, an alarm sound for notifying when the door is released, a door opening / closing sound, or a room. It is better to set the sound different from the sound of music flowing in a vacuum cleaner or room. When the sound to be recognized is set to a sound that is not a voice, if it is set to recognize a sound that is obtained by tapping a hand a plurality of times (for example, twice), it is different from the sound generated from the refrigerator, so that erroneous opening and closing is eliminated.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 34, the example of arrangement | positioning of the speech recognition sensor NS2 arrange | positioned at the lower part of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 30 is demonstrated. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the right door 22, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 34, the voice recognition sensor NS <b> 2 is, for example, a condenser microphone, and is disposed below the right door 22. The voice recognition sensor NS2 is disposed in the storage member 105. The storage member 105 is fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 and the inner surface 135M of the left door cap 135, respectively. The storage member 105 is a member constituting a storage unit that can store the substrate 110. For example, the hole 154 is provided in a lower portion of the left door cap 135 of the right door 22. The voice generated by the user reaches the voice recognition sensor NS2 through the hole 154. The hole 154 may be a single hole or a plurality of holes. As a result, the voice recognition sensor NS2 can be disposed so as to be built in the lower part of the right door 22, and external voices can be reliably picked up through the hole 154. The voice recognition sensor NS2 may be mounted on the substrate 110, may be provided with a lid that covers the hole 154, and a small hole may be formed in the lid.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 32, the control unit 56 is connected to the light emitting unit 330, the sound generation unit 340, and the sound generation unit 350. The light emitting unit 330, the sound generating unit 340, and the voice generating unit 350 are used to warn the user that the door is opened when the door is opened by sound (voice) detected by the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2. Informing means for informing the user.

  The light emitting unit 330 is, for example, an LED light emitting unit, and the sound generating unit 340 is, for example, a buzzer. The sound generator 350 is a speaker, for example. As described above, when at least one of the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in FIG. 32 detects the user's voice and the control unit 56 issues a command to open the left door 21 or the right door 22, for example, the control is performed. The unit 56 causes the light emitting unit 330 shown in FIG. 32 to emit light, for example, “red”, the sound generating unit 340 generates an alarm sound, or the sound generating unit 350 generates a warning “door opens”. The contents can be notified to the user. Thereby, since it can alert | report that a door opens with at least one of light, a sound, and an audio | voice to a user, it can prevent that a user hits a door unexpectedly.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 32, a human sensor HS is connected to the control unit 56. When detecting that the user has approached the refrigerator, the human sensor HS issues a detection signal to the control unit 56 to notify that a person has been detected. Thus, when the control unit 56 detects that the user has approached the refrigerator, the control unit 56 shown in FIG. 32 sends an inquiry content “Do you want to open the door?” Users can be asked by voice guidance. In this case, for example, when the user answers “YES”, this “YES” is recognized by the voice recognition sensors NS 1 and NS 2, and a voice signal is notified to the control unit 56. Thereby, the control part 56 can open the right door 22 by outputting a door opening drive command with respect to the door opening drive part 55 of the right door 22, for example. Similarly, the control unit 56 can open the left door 21 by, for example, outputting a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21.

  Further, the left door 21 and the right door 22 can be opened at different speeds. The left door 21 and the right door 22 are normally configured so that the doors do not open suddenly by setting the opening speed to be slow and slow by driving the door opening drive units 54 and 55.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 35, a height measurement sensor 410 is connected to the control unit 56. As the height measurement sensor 410, for example, an optical sensor such as a photocoupler can be used, and the approximate height of the user is measured. For example, the height measurement sensor 410 only needs to be able to distinguish whether the height value of the user is a value until reaching the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side or not. Thereby, the control part 56 can change the opening speed of the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the upper stage side based on the value of the height of the user which the height measurement sensor 410 measured.

  For example, when the height value of the user measured by the height measurement sensor 410 is a value until reaching the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side, the control unit 56 includes the door opening drive unit 54, By further delaying the operation of 55, the opening drive units 54 and 55 open the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper stage side at a speed slower than the normal opening speed.

  Thereby, it can avoid that the left door 21 and the right door 22 hit a user's head and body. When the height value of the user measured by the height measurement sensor 410 is a value that does not reach the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side, the door opening drive units 54 and 55 are on the left side on the upper side. The door 21 and the right door 22 are each opened at a normal opening speed.

  When the control unit 56 shown in FIG. 32 or FIG. 35 notifies the user of the warning content “open the right door”, for example, using the sound generation unit 350, the user once again issues this warning. When you want to check the contents, you can do it as follows. When the user says repetitive prompting contents such as “one more time” or “repeat”, the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 send voice signals of repeated prompting contents such as “one more time” or “repeat”. Send to. The control unit 56 notifies the user of the warning content “open the right door” at least once again by using the voice generation unit 350 based on the voice signals from the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2. Thereby, even if a user hears the warning content which the refrigerator side emits, he can confirm again easily.

  Further, when the user opens the right door 22 of the upper refrigeration room and looks into the interior, for example, the control unit 56 does not accept an operation that automatically opens the left door 21, which is another door. It is like that. As a result, when the user opens the right door 22 and looks into the cabinet, and the user murmurs, for example, “If you don't put out milk,” the left side of the side containing “milk” by mistake. It is possible to prevent the door 21 from automatically opening and to reliably prevent the left door 21 from hitting the face of the user, for example.

  Similarly, when the user opens the right door 22 of the upper refrigeration room and peeks into the inside of the cabinet, for example, when the user murmurs, “There must be no vegetables,” it is “ It is possible to prevent the vegetable room door containing “vegetables” from automatically coming out and hitting the user's lower abdomen or knees.

  In addition to invalidating the reception as described above, it is also possible to set the opening speed of other doors to be slower than the normal speed when a certain door is open.

  Also, if there is an abnormal sound (compressor sound, buzzer sound) from the refrigerator and the voice recognition cannot be recognized well, the voice of the instruction to the user such as “Please speak again” is given. It may flow from the speaker.

  As shown in FIG. 35, the proximity sensor 400 is connected to the control unit 56. The proximity sensor 400 is disposed, for example, on the left door 21 and the right door 22, and when the user brings his or her hand close to the left door 21 or the right door 22, the door opening operation units 51 and 52 which are touch switches and control operations are performed. The unit 50 shines using, for example, an LED lamp. Thereby, even if the place where the refrigerator is placed is a dark place, the user can visually confirm the positions of the opening operation units 51 and 52 and the control operation unit 50.

  Moreover, the function of this proximity sensor and the function of the opening operation parts 51 and 52 can be combined. In this case, it is not necessary to separately provide the proximity sensor 400 as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the opening operation unit having the function of the proximity sensor. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 36, in step S21, the control unit 56 in FIG. 35 increases the sensitivity of the electrostatic switches of the opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors by software and holds them. This keeps the function of the proximity sensor.

  In step S22 of FIG. 36, when the opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors detect the approach of the user's finger, the door opening operation that also functions as a proximity sensor in response to a command from the control unit 56 in step S23. As the parts 51 and 52 shine, the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors function only as the door opening operation part by lowering the sensitivity of the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors to the original state. . Here, unless the sensitivity of the opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors is lowered, detection is performed before touch input to the door opening operation units 51 and 52 that also functions as proximity sensors, and accurate input cannot be performed. Because it will end up.

  In this way, the door opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors sense the approach of the user's finger, and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors shine, thereby opening the door operation that also functions as a proximity sensor. The positions of the parts 51 and 52 can be clearly understood, and the user can be notified that the input is possible by using the opening operation parts 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors. Since there is no need to provide a separate proximity sensor, the number of parts can be reduced.

  On the other hand, before the opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors shine, the control unit 56 does not allow the user to input using the opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors. Although it is not intended, erroneous input is prevented when the user's finger touches the opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors.

[Twenty-eighth embodiment]
FIG. 37 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to the twenty-eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 in the opened state. FIG. 39 is an enlarged perspective view of the refrigerator compartment portion of the refrigerator 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 11 which is a refrigerator body. The cabinet 11 is comprised from the upper stage from the refrigerator compartment 12, the vegetable compartment 13, the switch room 14 which can switch the set temperature in a store | warehouse | chamber, and the freezer compartment 15. An ice making chamber 16 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 37 to 39, in order to cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12, a pair of left and right left doors 21 and 22 are opened and closed with a hinged portion at the left end and the upper and lower ends of the right end respectively. It is attached to do.

  The vegetable room 13, the switching room 14, the freezing room 15, and the ice making room 16 are provided with drawer-type doors 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the refrigeration evaporator for cooling the refrigerator compartment 12 and the vegetable compartment 13 is arranged on the back of the vegetable compartment 13. Although not shown, a freezing evaporator for cooling the switching chamber 14, the freezing chamber 15, and the ice making chamber 16 is arranged.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, a control unit 56 composed of a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 is disposed on the back of the vegetable compartment 13.

  As shown in FIG. 37, both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A at the opening of a flat inner plate that opens to the front, and the internal cavity is vacuumed. A heat insulating material is arranged, and a urethane heat insulating material or a solid heat insulating material is arranged in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a vacuum heat insulating material.

  The degree of coloring of the front plates 21A and 22A made of glass is such that the filler such as a heat insulating material on the back side of the front plates 21A and 22A cannot be seen from the outside in a state of receiving external light. In addition, the coloration degree of the glass front plates 21A and 22A is, for example, LED buttons for transparently displaying operation button names, cooling function names, cooling strengths, etc. in the control operation unit 50, and transparent numerical values such as temperature values are displayed. In the lighting state of the 7-segment LED display device, the light is transmitted and the depth is visible from the front side.

  As shown in FIG. 38, the right end of the left door 21, that is, the portion on the open side that is close to and faces the left end of the right door 22 in the closed state, the left end of the right door 22 in the closed state, That is, the rotary partition 31 for maintaining the sealing state with the open portion is provided. A condensation prevention heater for preventing condensation is built in the rotary partition 31.

  On the back side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, a capacitive control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the front of the front plate 22A is installed. The control operation unit 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental condition around the refrigerator, a home button, an LED that detects touch of the home button and transparently displays an operation button name, a cooling function name, a cooling intensity, and the like. An indicator lamp, a 7-segment LED display device that transparently displays numerical values that change, such as a temperature value, and the like are provided. This control operation part 50 is arrange | positioned at the right door 22, for example in order to perform operation which changes the cooling control content of the refrigerator 1. FIG. The home button of the control operation unit 50 is a menu button that can instruct various operations to the control unit 56 of the refrigerator 1 by a user (user) touching with a finger of a hand.

  As shown in FIG. 37, on the back side of the front side 21A of the left door 21 and the lower side of the front side 22A of the right door 22, elongated door opening operation portions 51 and 52 are installed along the left and right lateral directions, respectively. Has been. The opening operation sections 51 and 52 are also called door open buttons. Opening operation display portions 51B and 52B indicating the opening operation direction are provided on the surfaces of the front plates 21A and 22A. The opening operation display portion 51B of the left door 21 is provided with a left-pointing arrow mark that allows the user to recognize that the user performs the opening operation by sliding the finger while touching the left direction with a finger. The opening operation display portion 52B of the right door 22 is provided with a right-pointing arrow mark for recognizing that the user slides the door while touching it with the finger in the right direction to perform the opening operation.

  As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the door opening drive units 54 and 55 are located at two left and right positions in the vicinity of the front end of the top surface of the top plate of the cabinet 11, that is, the open side end portions of the upper sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22. Each is installed at a position corresponding to the vicinity.

  These door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54B and 55B forward by an electromagnet to push the upper sides near the open side end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, and the left door 21 and the right door Each door 22 can be automatically opened. In order to open the left door 21, if the finger is slid in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end of the left door opening operation display portion 51B, the door opening operation portion 51 is continuously displayed. A touch detection signal is sent to the control unit 56. And if it judges that it is a door opening operation command in the control part 56, the door opening drive part 54 of the left door 21 will be operated, and the left door 21 can be opened automatically.

  Similarly, in order to open the right door 22, if the finger is slid in the right direction while touching the arrow mark near the left end or the left end of the right door opening operation display portion 52B, the door opening operation portion 52 is opened. Senses the continuous touch and sends a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. And if it judges that it is a door opening operation command in the control part 56, the door opening drive part 55 of the right door 22 will be operated, and the right door 22 can be opened automatically.

  As shown in FIG. 37, a control operation unit 50 for performing an operation to change the cooling control content of the refrigerator 1 is provided, for example, on the right door 12, and the user operates the control operation unit 50, The cooling control content of the refrigerator 1 is changed.

In the right door 12, the door opening operation unit 52 is disposed below the control operation unit 50, and the door opening operation unit 52 is not at a position directly below the control operation unit 50 but on the left and right with respect to the control operation unit 50. It is arranged at a position shifted in the direction. In other words, in the right door 22, a door opening operation unit 52 is disposed at a position below the control operation unit 50 having menu buttons. The door opening operation unit 52 includes a control operation unit having menu buttons. With respect to the position of 50, it is shifted to a different position in the right direction along the arrow QR direction.

  Accordingly, when the user touches the menu button of the control operation unit 50 with a finger, even if the user's finger is wet with water and the water hangs from the finger, There is no adhesion to the opening operation section 52. For this reason, the electrostatic touch-type opening operation unit 52 does not react with water dripping from the finger, and the door opening operation unit 52 does not touch even though the user does not touch with the finger. It is possible to prevent a malfunction such that the control unit 56 operates the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 by reacting to the above. For this reason, it can prevent reliably that the door 22 opens automatically.

  In addition, when a menu button (menu key) of the control operation unit 50 is pressed, other operation buttons in the control operation unit 50 may shine and the operation of the operation button may be enabled. Even in such a case, since the opening operation unit 52 (open switch) is located at a different position (displaced position) with respect to the control operation unit 50, the user operates the flash operation on the control operation unit 50 with a finger. Even if another operation button for which is enabled is touched, the water dripping from the finger does not adhere to the opening operation unit 52. For this reason, it can prevent reliably that the door 22 opens automatically.

  Furthermore, only the opening operation unit 52 and the menu button (menu key) of the control operation unit 50 are printed on the glass front plate 22A, and the other elements except the menu button of the control operation unit 50 are LED lighting. The right door 22 of the refrigerator 1 has a clean appearance.

  In addition, the cooling control performed by the control unit 56 in the refrigerator of the present embodiment is general and is not particularly limited. For example, the compressor, the operation panel, the dew condensation prevention heater, the ice making in the ice making chamber, and the like. An apparatus, a refrigerator compartment fan, a freezer compartment fan, and a defrost heater are connected to this control part 56, and are controlled.

  The arrow mark in the opening operation display portions 51B and 52B shown in FIGS. 37 and 39 is not limited to this display, and if the user touches and slides to the right or left, the opening operation is performed. As long as the display can be easily recognized, the shape and form of the mark are not limited.

  As shown in FIG. 37, handles 61 and 62 are installed on the left door 21 and the right door 22. The grips 61 and 62 are provided on the lower lower end surface portion of the door opening operation display portions 51B and 52B, and the left door is operated by inserting the finger into the grips 61 and 62 with the palm facing upward and pulling it toward the front side. 21 and the right door 22 can be manually opened individually.

  Next, the automatic door opening operation in the refrigerator of the above embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 40 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 40, the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 have door opening operation display parts 51B and 52B, respectively. The opening operation display parts 51B and 52B have five arrow marks arranged in the horizontal direction. Capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are respectively arranged in the opening operation display portions 51 B and 52 B. These capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 each detect a change in capacitance caused by a user's touch, and transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. It is set to.

  Therefore, when the user touches the left arrow mark in the opening operation display section 52B to open the right door 22 and slides the finger in the right direction while touching, the capacitive touch sensor 52 is opened. A sensor that detects a change in capacitance among -1 to 52-5 transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56 in the order of touch. Therefore, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the operation is a door opening operation, and if it is determined that the operation is a normal door opening operation, the control unit 56 outputs a door opening driving signal to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door to turn the right door 22 on. Let the door open automatically. In the case of the opening operation of the left door 21, with respect to the operation of sliding the finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end with respect to the opening operation display portion 51B of the left door 21, The control unit 56 determines the same opening operation of the left door 21.

  FIG. 41 shows an example in which the opening operation part 51 of the left door 21 and the opening operation part 52 of the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 37 to 39 function as human body detection means for detecting the human body of the user of the refrigerator 1. Is shown.

  When the opening operation unit 51 and the opening operation unit 52 detect the human body of the user, the opening operation unit 51 sends a human body detection signal to the control unit 56. Thereby, the control part 56 validates the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation part 51, performs opening control of the left door 21 concerned, and validates the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation part 52, The opening control of the corresponding right door 22 is performed.

  For example, when the opening operation unit 52 serving as a human body detection unit is taken as an example, the control unit 56 turns on the display of the opening operation unit 52 when the opening operation unit 52 detects the human body. The control part 56 can switch the display by lighting of the door opening operation part 52 by the way of the door opening operation of the right door 22.

  The opening operation unit 52 serving as a human body detection unit is an electrostatic switch as described above. When the electrostatic switch detects the human body of the user, the control unit 56 increases the sensitivity of the electrostatic switch. It can be implemented by switching. The opening operation unit 52 that is a human body detection means is a proximity sensor that detects when a human body approaches, and the control unit 56 switches the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52 that is the proximity sensor to contact the opening operation unit 52. The control unit 56 functions as a sensor to enable the opening operation of the right door 22 and detects that the user has touched the opening operation unit 52 as a contact sensor with a finger. The control unit 56 opens the right door 22. The door operation is actually performed.

  As described above, switching the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52 to cause the opening operation unit 52 to function as a contact sensor from the proximity sensor will be described in more detail below with reference to the example of FIG. To do.

  In FIG. 41A, the control unit 56 sets the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52 to “high” so that the opening operation unit 52 that is an electrostatic switch functions as a “proximity sensor”. Thus, the function as the “proximity sensor” is “valid”. For this reason, the control unit 56 sets “open” (opening operation) of the right door 22 which is an original function of the opening operation unit 52 to “invalid”. In addition, the controller 56 indicates that the lighting operation of the opening operation unit 52 is in an off state, as indicated by a broken line.

  Next, in FIG. 41 (B), when the user brings his / her finger HT closer to the opening operation unit 52 as the “proximity sensor”, the door opening operation unit 52 turns on the approach of the hand as the “proximity sensor”. Detect. When the opening operation unit 52 detects the approach of the hand, the control unit 56 switches and sets the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52 as the “proximity sensor” from “large” to “small”. For this reason, since the control unit 56 functions as a “contact sensor” that is the original function of the door opening operation unit 52, the right door 22 opening operation (door opening operation) by touching the door opening operation unit 52 with the finger HT. ) Becomes “valid”. In addition, the control unit 56 turns on the lighting operation of the door opening operation unit 52 from the off state to the on state as indicated by the solid line, and turns on the door opening operation unit 52 by, for example, an LED.

  Next, in FIG. 41C, when the user directly touches (touches) the opening operation unit 52 as the “contact sensor” with the finger HT of the hand, the control unit 56 displays the “contact sensor” of the opening operation unit 52. The sensitivity is maintained in the “small” state, and the “contact sensor” is functioned as it is. Then, the controller 56 remains “valid” when the right door 22 is opened (opening operation), which is the original function of the opening operation unit 52. In addition, the controller 56 indicates that the lighting operation of the opening operation unit 52 is in an ON state as indicated by a solid line, and the opening operation unit 52 is lit by, for example, an LED.

  Thereafter, in FIG. 41D, the control unit 56 indicates that the finger HT of the user's hand has left the state in which the finger opening HT 52 functioning as a “contact sensor (touch sensor)” is in direct contact (touch). When the control unit 56 recognizes, the control unit 56 makes the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation unit 52 valid and operates the door opening driving unit 55 to perform the door opening control of the corresponding right door 22. Thereby, the right door 22 can be opened automatically.

  Thereby, in the state in the middle of the operation in which it is difficult for the user to directly touch (touch) the door opening operation unit 52, for example, in the state where the user is approaching the refrigerator 1, the control unit 56 detects erroneous detection of the door opening instruction. In order to prevent this, it is possible to determine whether direct contact (touch) is valid or invalid.

  Moreover, since the lighting operation display of the opening operation part 52 can be turned on as shown by a solid line and the opening operation part 52 can be lit by, for example, an LED, for the user, for example, by the LED lighting display of the opening operation part 52 The visibility of the opening operation part 52 can be improved.

  Further, when the control unit 56 recognizes that the finger HT of the user's hand has left the state of being in direct contact (touch) with the opening operation unit 52 functioning as a “contact sensor (touch sensor)”, the control unit 56 Is configured to enable the input of an operation signal from the opening operation unit 52 to perform the opening control of the corresponding right door 22. From this, since the right door 22 actually opens after the user's hand leaves the opening operation part 52 of the right door 22, it is possible to prevent the user from making a finger by the opening operation of the right door 22. .

  As a way of lighting display in the opening operation units 51 and 52, for example, display is performed forward from the gaps of the electrostatic capacitance type touch sensors (electrodes) 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to arrange | position light emitting elements, such as LED (light emitting diode) which can be made to make it. In addition, the capacitive touch sensors (electrodes) 51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5 are formed with cutout portions such as characters and marks, and the light from the light emitting element You may make it illuminate ahead through a cut-out part from the back. Or you may make it illuminate the light of a light emitting element ahead from the back surface of an electrode using a light-guide plate.

  In FIG. 41, the opening operation of the right door 22 described can be performed in the same manner for the opening operation of the left door 21 using the opening operation unit 51 arranged on the left door 21 in FIG.

  The lighting display colors in the left and right door operation units 51 and 52 may be the same color or different colors in the left and right door operation units 51 and 52.

  When the left door 21 and the right door 22 are opened slowly and quickly, the lighting display colors in the left and right opening operation units 51 and 52 may be displayed differently.

  When only one of the left door 21 and the right door 22 is opened, and when the left door 21 and the right door 22 are simultaneously opened, the color of the lighting display in the left and right opening operation portions 51 and 52 can be changed. In particular, when the user only needs to operate one of the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 to open both the left door 21 and the right door 22, the inside of the left door 21 and the right door 22. Unlike the case where only one of them is opened, a different display color may be used.

  In this case, for example, when the sensitivity of the opening operation units 51 and 52 is set to “high” to function as the opening operation units 51 and 52 “proximity sensor”, when it is detected that the human body has approached for a predetermined time or more The specification can be changed so that only one of the left door 21 and the right door 22 is opened, and the left door 21 and the right door 22 are simultaneously opened. In addition, at the same time as changing the specifications so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 are opened simultaneously, the opening operation units 51 and 52 may be turned on or the opening operation units 51 and 52 may have different colors. it can. The lighting method of the opening operation parts 51 and 52, such as the blinking display of the opening operation parts 51 and 52, can be changed arbitrarily.

  In the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a user (user) from making a false detection in the middle of an operation of making a touch and prevent a malfunction of opening the door. it can.

[Twenty-ninth embodiment]
FIG. 42 is a front view showing the refrigerator 1 according to the 29th embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 43 is a block diagram of the door opening control including the human body detecting means of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG.

  The human body detection unit 500 includes, for example, a remote detection sensor 100 and a door opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor. The remote detection sensor 100 and the opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor are disposed on the right door 22, for example. The remote detection sensor 100 is positioned above the door opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor.

  The remote detection sensor 100 is, for example, an infrared sensor for detecting a human body when the user's human body is located far from the refrigerator 1. On the other hand, the opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor is an electrostatic detection sensor that detects a human body when the user's human body approaches the refrigerator 1.

  As shown in FIG. 43, the remote detection sensor 100 and the opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor (electrostatic detection sensor) are connected to the control unit 56. A switching means 99 is preferably connected to the control unit 56. When the user operates the switching unit 99, a selection signal is sent from the switching unit 99 to the control unit 56, so that a human body is detected, and a remote detection sensor 100 and a proximity sensor (electrostatic detection sensor). Also, the user can select which one of the opening operation unit 52 that functions as a human body to be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 43, the opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor is an electrostatic detection sensor, and includes a sensitivity adjustment unit 199 that adjusts the sensitivity of the electrostatic detection sensor by arbitrarily changing it. May be. The sensitivity adjustment unit 199 is connected to the control unit 56, and sends a sensitivity adjustment signal to the control unit 56 when the user operates the sensitivity adjustment unit 199. Thereby, the control part 56 can adjust the sensitivity of the opening operation part 52 which is an electrostatic detection sensor between "large" and "small".

  As a method of changing the sensitivity of the door opening operation unit 52 that is an electrostatic detection sensor, the electrostatic detection sensor has a cycle of repeatedly charging and discharging the electrostatic capacity (capacitor capacity) several tens of times per second, for example. Yes. It utilizes the fact that the capacitance of the capacitor is changed by the user bringing his / her finger close to or in contact with the opening operation unit 52 which is an electrostatic detection sensor. Accordingly, when the user brings his / her finger close to or touches the opening operation unit 52, the charge / discharge cycle changes. The control unit 56 checks the degree of change in the charge / discharge cycle, and by setting a threshold value in advance, it is determined whether the user has approached or touched the door opening operation unit 52 based on the threshold value. The control unit 56 can make a determination.

  Further, when detecting when the user lifts his / her finger from the door opening operation unit 52, the control unit 56 can determine that the user has returned to normal after changing to the charge / discharge cycle.

  As described above, the user can change and adjust the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52 that is an electrostatic detection sensor. If the refrigerator 1 is installed, for example, on the back side of the sink in the kitchen, the remote detection sensor 100 will always detect the human body when the user is near the sink. In such a case, when the user operates the switching unit 99, a selection signal is sent from the switching unit 99 to the control unit 56, and the door that functions not as the remote detection sensor 100 but also as a proximity sensor is opened. The operation unit 52 can be selected as a human body detection means. Thereby, the door opening operation part 52 does not detect a human body only if a user exists in the vicinity of a sink. And only when the finger of a user's hand approaches the opening operation part 52 which functions as a proximity detection sensor of the refrigerator 1, the opening operation part 52 can detect a human body. Thereby, erroneous detection when the user is relatively away from the refrigerator 1 can be prevented.

  Since the remote detection sensor 100 is used, as the printing coloring on the back surface of the glass front plate 22A shown in FIG. 42, printing that transmits infrared light is adopted, or the infrared light is passed through the back surface of the glass front plate 22A. It is better not to print.

  In the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a user (user) from making a false detection in the middle of an operation of making a touch and to prevent a malfunction of opening the door. it can.

  By the way, the case arranged on the ceiling of the refrigerator 1 has voice recognition means, and this case has a hole through which voice is transmitted. The control board case is arranged so as to be equal to or less than the height of the solenoid case. The control board is disposed at a location where the back of the ceiling wall is concave, and the support portion of the board is embedded in urethane. The solenoid is also buried. The parts embedded by folding the vacuum heat insulating material are arranged apart from each other, and are arranged so as to cover the lower side of the solenoid and the lower side of the substrate, and the whole part is folded and covered. In addition, the ceiling lighting is arranged buried in the recess of the urethane on the ceiling. The vacuum insulation is placed away from the ceiling lighting.

  The vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in contact with the inner wall of the ceiling, and the LED is disposed outside the ceiling wall. Moreover, it arrange | positions in the location of the bending part of an inner wall.

  The vacuum insulation material is divided and wrapped under a solenoid and a substrate. The LED is separated from the vacuum heat insulating material, and the vacuum heat insulating material under the substrate is in contact with the inner wall.

  It is inclined to the bent part of the ceiling wall, and the LED is embedded in the inclined part so as not to contact the vacuum heat insulating material.

  FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view along the front-rear direction showing the upper part of the refrigerator 1 having the above-described structure.

  As shown in FIG. 44, a case 700 is disposed on the ceiling portion 11 </ b> A of the cabinet (main body) 11. The rear portion 11B of the ceiling portion 11A is provided with a recessed portion 11C, and the case 700 is disposed in the recessed portion 11C. The case 700 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example, and the control board 710 is inclined and disposed in the internal space of the case 700. The control board 710 is disposed so as to be inclined so that the front side of the control board 710 is above the rear side. Voice recognition means 720 is mounted on the front side of the control board 710.

  For example, a microphone is used as the voice recognition means 720. The front portion of the case 700 has a hole 700H so that the voice can be transmitted to the voice recognition means 720. Thereby, even though the voice recognition means 720 is arranged in the case 700, for example, the voice uttered by the user is surely transmitted to the voice recognition means 720 through the hole 700H of the case 700. Can recognize voice and sound.

  As shown in FIG. 44, an opening / closing drive part 54 (55) is provided on the front side of the ceiling part 11A. The open / close drive unit 54 (55) is preferably a solenoid, and the close drive unit 54 (55) includes a case 762 and a telescopic rod 761. When the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55) is driven and the rod 761 comes out, the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55) pushes and opens the inside of the left door 21 (or the right door 22).

  The height of the case 700 is the same as the height of the case 762 of the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55), or the height of the case 700 is only the difference DF compared to the height of the case 762 of the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55). It is low. Thereby, even if it arrange | positions the case 700 in 11 A of ceiling parts, the height of a refrigerator is prevented from becoming larger than the case 762 of the opening-closing drive part 54 (55).

  As shown in FIG. 44, the control board 710 has a plurality of support portions 711, and is supported by being embedded in a heat insulating material 730 such as urethane in an inclined state using the support portions 711. Yes. Thereby, the control board 710 is supported so as not to move using the heat insulating material 730. The opening / closing drive unit 54 (55) includes a plurality of support portions 763, and is supported by being embedded in the heat insulating material 730 using the support portions 763. Accordingly, the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55) is supported by the heat insulating material 730 so as not to move.

  As shown in FIG. 44, a heat insulating material 730 such as urethane and a vacuum heat insulating material 340 are arranged inside the ceiling portion 11A so as to overlap each other. The vacuum heat insulating material 740 is located on the lower side of the heat insulating material 730, and the middle portion of the vacuum heat insulating material 740 is bent and arranged substantially at a right angle. As described above, the middle portion of the vacuum heat insulating material 740 is bent at a substantially right angle, so that the vacuum heat insulating material 740 includes the lower region portion of the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55) and the lower side of the control board 710. The vacuum heat insulating material 740 is separated from the support portion 763 of the opening / closing drive portion 54 (55) and the support portion 711 of the control board 710.

  The ceiling illumination 750 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 44 has, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) lamp, and is embedded in a recess 731 of a heat insulating material 730 such as urethane on the ceiling. For this reason, the ceiling illumination 750 does not protrude downward from the inner wall 755 of the ceiling. The vacuum heat insulating material 740 is separated from the ceiling lighting 750 by an inner wall 755.

  Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 45 to FIG. 47. The location of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 45 to FIG. 47 is the same as that of the refrigerator shown in FIG. When the location is substantially the same, the same reference numeral is used and the description is used.

  45 to 47 are cross-sectional views along the front-rear direction showing the upper part of the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention, similarly to FIG.

  First, in the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 45, the ceiling lighting 750 is disposed in contact with the inner wall 755 of the ceiling, and the LED lamp 750a of the ceiling lighting 750 is disposed outside the inner wall 755 of the ceiling (inside the cabinet). It is exposed in the refrigerated room. In addition, the ceiling illumination 750 is disposed at a bent portion 756 of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling.

  Since the bent portion of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling is positioned on the front side with respect to the bent portion of the concave portion 11C of the ceiling portion 11A of the cabinet (main body) 11, the bent portion of the outer wall of the cabinet and the bent portion of the inner wall 755 are arranged in the front-rear direction. Since a space can be created in the gap, a vacuum heat insulating material can be arranged in the vertical direction between them. Therefore, the bent part of the middle part of the vacuum heat insulating material 740 can be arranged in the space. Note that the vacuum heat insulating material arranged in the vertical direction may be a separate body. Moreover, you may make the vacuum heat insulating material arrange | positioned in the up-down direction thin compared with the vacuum heat insulating material extended in the front-back direction of another place. Then, since the space can be reduced in the front-rear direction gap between the bent portion of the cabinet outer wall and the bent portion of the inner wall 755, the bent portion of the inner wall 755 can be retracted rearward, and the capacity in the warehouse can be increased. it can.

  In addition, the front side corner of the bottom of the recessed portion 11C of the bent portion of the outer wall and the angle and distance dimension of the upper side (the recessed portion 11C side) of the bent portion of the inner wall 755 are the same as those of the ceiling portion 11A having no other bent portion. Since it is smaller than the thickness dimension, the heat insulating property may be deteriorated only with the urethane heat insulating material, but the heat insulating property can be greatly improved by adopting the configuration including the vacuum heat insulating material.

  In the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 46, the vacuum heat insulating material 770 is divided into a plurality of portions, and the vacuum heat insulating material 770 is divided into a first portion 771 and a second portion 772. The first portion 771 covers a lower region portion of the opening / closing drive unit 54 (55), and the second portion 772 covers a lower region portion of the control board 710. The LED lamp 750 a of the ceiling illumination 750 is separated from the first portion 771 of the vacuum heat insulating material 770, and the second portion 772 of the vacuum heat insulating material 770 on the control board 710 side is in contact with the inner wall portion 777.

  Moreover, the vacuum heat insulating material of the 1st part 771 and the 2nd part 772 is arrange | positioned so that it may wrap in the front-back direction. This is because the bent portion of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling is positioned on the front side with respect to the bent portion of the recessed portion 11C of the ceiling portion 11A of the cabinet (main body) 11, so that the bent portion of the outer wall of the cabinet and the bent portion of the inner wall 755 are front and rear. Since a space is formed in the gap in the direction, it can be overlapped.

  In addition, the dimension of the front side corner of the bottom part of the recessed part 11C of the bent part of the outer wall and the corner of the upper part (the recessed part 11C side) of the bent part of the inner wall 755 are the dimensions of the ceiling part 11A having no other bent part. When it is smaller than the thickness dimension, urethane, which is a foam insulation material, may not flow easily during manufacturing. Therefore, by not placing a vacuum insulation material between them, it is possible to secure a space for urethane flow and ensure filling of the urethane. In addition, the filling speed can be improved.

  In the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 47, the bent portion 780 of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling is formed to be inclined. The ceiling illumination 750 is formed in a right triangle shape, for example, in accordance with the shape of the bent portion 780 that is inclined, and the ceiling illumination 750 is disposed so as to be embedded in the bent portion 780. The vacuum heat insulating material 740 is not divided and is a single body. Thus, the LED lamp 750a of the ceiling illumination 750 is disposed in the bent portion 780, and the ceiling illumination 750 is not in contact with the vacuum heat insulating material 740 but is separated.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the user may operate the door opening device by continuously touching the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 shown in FIG.

  For example, the remote detection sensor 100 shown in FIG. 42 is, for example, an infrared sensor for detecting a human body when the human body of the user (user) is located far from the refrigerator 1. About the hole (opening) which cut out the printing paint of the front plate for permeating to the front of a door, you may arrange | position by sticking the infrared rays transparent member of the same color as a printing paint in the hole. Further, it is preferable that the paint is not noticeable by applying paint so that a plurality of small holes (openings) can be formed at the location. This also makes it difficult for the remote detection sensor, which is an infrared sensor disposed on the back surface of the glass plate, to be visually recognized from the front. Further, this paint may be a paint that transmits infrared light, or a semi-transparent means that transmits infrared wavelengths by sputtering or etching and makes it difficult to transmit part of visible light. In that case, it is preferable to use a semi-transparent means that transmits a color having a long wavelength. For example, if it is configured to transmit a red wavelength (for example, 620-750 nm) that is longer than the blue wavelength (450-495 nm), the infrared wavelength (for example, 760 to 830 nm or more) is longer than that. Becomes easy to penetrate. In that case, the color of the display means in the vicinity of the infrared sensor is similarly semi-transparent means by using a light emitting means having a long wavelength (such as green, yellow or red light emitting diode). Can be made visible and can be visually recognized by the user, and the infrared sensor and the components inside the door can be made difficult to visually recognize.

  Moreover, the remote detection sensor which is an infrared sensor may be arrange | positioned at a base | substrate, and may be made to insert with the control operation part 50 or the door opening operation parts 51 and 52. FIG. In that case, it is preferable to cut out a part of the electrode of the control operation unit 50 or the opening operation unit 51, 52 or provide a slit so that infrared rays can be transmitted from the back side of the electrode to the door side. By doing so, a remote detection sensor becomes easy to detect the user who operates. Moreover, you may provide a remote detection sensor between the control operation part 50 and the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 of touch open SW.

[Thirty Embodiment]
FIG. 48 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 showing a thirtieth embodiment of the present invention. 49 is a plan view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 48, and FIG. 50 is a side view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 48 to 50, the pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1. For this purpose, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so that the left and right ends of the cabinet 11 that is the refrigerator main body are opened and closed in a hinged manner at the hinges.

  Both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the opening portion of a flat inner plate that opens to the front surface, and a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity portion to provide vacuum heat insulation. This is a heat insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a urethane heat insulating material) or a pre-molded solid heat insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a material.

  As shown in FIGS. 48 to 50, the opening operation portions 551 and 552 are installed in the vicinity of the lower side of the front plate 21 </ b> A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22 </ b> A of the right door 22. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 are respectively installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end portion of the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 at the left and right locations near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11. Yes.

  These door opening drive units 54 and 55 are door opening devices for forcibly opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by electromagnets, thereby pushing the upper sides near the open end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, The right door 22 is forcibly automatically opened.

  One door operation portion 551 is disposed at the lower right position of the left door 21, and the other door operation portion 552 is disposed at the lower left position of the right door 22. The opening operation unit 551 is disposed inside the glass front plate 21 </ b> A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation unit 552 is disposed inside the glass front plate 22 </ b> A of the right door 22.

  FIG. 51 shows a structural example of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 shown in FIG. FIG. 52 is a diagram showing the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 arranged on the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 shown in FIG. FIG. 53 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the door opening operation portion 551.

  The door opening operation unit 551 and the door opening operation unit 552 shown in FIG. 48 have the same structure, but may have a bilaterally symmetric shape or the same shape on the left and right. FIG. 51 shows an example of the shape of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551. Since the door opening operation portion 552 and the door opening operation portion 551 have substantially the same shape, see FIG. 51 to FIG. Then, the substrate 553 of the door opening operation unit 551 will be described as a representative.

  First, referring to FIG. 53, the opening operation unit 551 includes a board assembly 500M, a plastic storage space member 585 called an open box for storing the board assembly 500M, and a plastic lid member 590. Have. On the back surface 585R of the plastic storage space member 585, for example, an aluminum foil which is preferably a metal body is pasted. A metal body 591 such as an aluminum foil is attached to the inner surface of the plastic lid member 590. Thereby, the electromagnetic waves generated on the main body side of the refrigerator 1 are prevented from affecting the substrate assembly 500M side.

  The substrate assembly 500M includes a plastic shielding plate 599, a substrate 553, an operation name plate 597, and an LED substrate 598 on which a display LED 557 is mounted. The substrate 553 is an electrostatic touch switch substrate, and is supported and fixed on the front surface side of the shielding plate 599. An operation nameplate 597 is disposed on the front side of the substrate 553. An LED substrate 598 for display is supported and fixed on the back side of the shielding plate 599. A plurality of LEDs 577 are mounted on the LED substrate 598. The shielding plate 599 functions as an instruction unit that supports the two substrates 553 and the LED substrate 598 and a separation unit that separates the LED light.

  Left and right slits 574 and 575 (translucent means) are formed at positions corresponding to the substrate 553 and the operation nameplate 597. The positions of the slits 574 and 575 are between the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589. The substrate assembly 500M is stored in the storage space member 585 through the rectangular opening 586 of the storage space member 585. An opening 586 of the storage space member 585 is covered with a lid member 590.

  As shown in FIGS. 51A and 52, the substrate 553 of the opening operation portion 551 is a vertically long rectangle or square, and the substrate 553 is formed on the surface 553A shown in FIG. 51A and FIG. 51B. It has a back surface 553B shown. The substrate 553 is provided with an electronic component mounting portion 571 and an arrangement portion 572 for the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The electronic component mounting portion 571 shown in FIGS. 51A and 52 is mounted with necessary electronic components, connector components, and the like so as to protrude from the back surface and be accommodated in the concave portion of the shielding plate 599 of the separating means. Further, by forming the metal electrical connection portion 571b on the surface of the substrate 553 in a substantially flat state without protruding, the substrate 553 can be brought into contact with the back surface of the glass door.

  Further, the cover means is covered with an operation name plate 597 for concealing the substrate 553, so that it is possible to prevent a malfunction when the user contacts the electrical connection portion 571b and noise when static electricity is accumulated on the glass door. The operation name plate 597 may be colored or vapor-deposited.

  A disposition portion 572 on the surface 553A side illustrated in FIG. 51A includes a proximity sensor 560 that is a first electrode, a guard electrode 570 that is a third electrode, and an intermediate region portion 589 that is a second electrode. Has been placed. The intermediate region portion 589 is provided between the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The proximity sensor 560, the guard electrode 570, and the intermediate region portion 589 are metal electrodes, but are electrically insulated from each other. The intermediate region portion 589 serving as the second electrode assists the proximity sensor 560 and has a function as a proximity sensor. The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of detection by the proximity sensor 560.

  As shown in FIG. 51B, a mesh ground pattern 573 as a fourth electrode is arranged on the back surface 553B corresponding to the arrangement portion 572 of the substrate 553. Accordingly, the ground pattern 573 prevents noise from the refrigerator main body from affecting the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560 and the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570.

  As shown in FIGS. 51 (A) and 52, a through hole 560C is formed at the center position of the proximity sensor 560. As shown in FIG. 51 (B), a conductive wire pattern is formed in the through hole 560C. 560H is connected. Since the action of the user pressing (contacting) the proximity sensor 560 with a finger is usually performed aiming at the middle of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is formed at a position in the middle of the proximity sensor 560. Yes.

  The reason why the through hole 560C is formed in the substantially middle position of the proximity sensor 560 is as follows. That is, in the proximity sensor 560, the central area where the through hole 560C is formed has the highest switch sensitivity compared to the other areas. For this reason, the user's finger presses the middle of the proximity switch 560 having the through-hole 560C so that the finger can touch the most sensitive place.

  The proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 is an electrode for electrostatic touch (contact), and is about 100 mm in the front (front) direction of the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, for example. It is a capacitance type detection means for detecting that a human body or an object is approaching. The proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of a finger when a part of the user's human body, specifically, for example, a finger of a hand approaches. The proximity sensor 560 is a capacitive touch sensor, but a mutual capacitance touch sensor or a self-capacitance touch sensor can be used.

  In the mutual capacitance method, it is composed of one transmission electrode and one reception electrode. When a current is supplied to the transmission electrode, an electromagnetic field is generated and the electromagnetic field is received by the reception electrode. For example, when a human finger approaches the detection area of the proximity sensor 560, a part of the electromagnetic field is absorbed and received by the reception electrode, so that the amount of detected energy is reduced, and the proximity sensor 560 approaches the finger. Can be detected.

  In the self-capacitance method, one electrode (proximity sensor 560) having stray capacitance is required. The stray capacitance of the electrode (proximity sensor 560) is affected by the parasitic capacitance between the electrode (proximity sensor 560) and the surrounding conductor (human finger). When a human finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the value of the stray capacitance increases due to the influence of the parasitic capacitance, and the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger by measuring the increased stray capacitance.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 51 and 52, the proximity sensor 560 is, for example, a rectangular switch that is long in the vertical direction, and slits 574 and 575 are formed around the proximity sensor 560 so as to surround the electrodes. Has been. As shown in FIG. 52, the slits 574 and 575 cover the substrate 598 from the back, and a plurality of LEDs 577 functioning as a lighting device are arranged at intervals.

  However, the four LEDs 577 corresponding to the four corners 576R of the slits 574 and 575 among the plurality of LEDs 577 are arranged at positions outside the slit 576 that are out of the slit 576.

  As shown in FIG. 52, one end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is connected to the arrangement portion 572 by a connection portion 560A, and the other end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is connected to the arrangement portion 572 by a connection portion 560B. A through hole 560C for electrical connection is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560. As described above, the through hole 560C is formed in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560 as described above because the region portion of the proximity sensor 560 provided with the through hole 560C has a detection sensitivity compared to other region portions. high. Since the region where the user's finger is in close contact is the central portion of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is provided in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560. The proximity sensor 560 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape by forming electrodes in the dotted line area in the area 572a of the slits 574 and 575 in the arrangement portion of the substrate. The slits 574 and 575 do not surround the entire proximity sensor 560 but are formed in a U shape. In this configuration, a bridge 572ab connected to the peripheral portion 572b around the slit is formed so that the inner side and the outer side are connected and the substrate is kept as one substrate without being divided.

  The guard electrode 570 shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 is formed in a rectangular frame shape around the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 in the arrangement portion 572. The guard electrode 570 is a metal body and includes a pair of short side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long side electrode portions 570B. The guard electrode 570 generates an electromagnetic field in a direction opposite to the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560.

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is suppressed from being spread by the electromagnetic field in the opposite direction generated by the guard electrode 570. Therefore, the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570 suppresses the spread of the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560, so that the guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the human body detection range. Acts as a means of change.

  The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by narrowing and changing the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 when detecting the approach of a human body, for example, a finger. Specifically, as a result of the guard electrode 570 changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560, as shown in FIG. 49, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the door opening operation portion 551 of the left door 21. Is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the door opening operation unit 552 of the right door 22 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 49, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is narrowed so as not to expand in the X direction, which is the left-right direction.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation unit 551 of the left door 21 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the door opening operation unit 552 of the right door 22 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. For this reason, in FIG. 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is narrowed so as not to expand in the Z direction, which is the vertical direction.

  That is, the electromagnetic field 560P of the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 49 and 50 indicates the effective range of the human body detection range, and the effective range of the human body detection range is different from the front of the proximity sensor 560. It corresponds to a range different from the range (range extending up and down and left and right). In other words, the effective range of the human body detection range is that at least the operation direction of the user of the proximity sensor 560 is the effective range, and the effective range is limited by changing the range in a direction different from the operation direction. Specifically, it is a range excluding at least a part of a range in a direction different from the front (at least a part such as a range extending up and down, left and right, and rearward).

  FIG. 54 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connections of the control unit 556, the door opening operation units 551 and 552, and the door opening drive units 54 and 55 that are door opening devices.

  As shown in FIG. 54, the control unit 556 is electrically connected to the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the door opening operation units 551 and 552, the door opening driving units 54 and 55, and the LED 577 serving as a plurality of lighting devices. Has been.

  The proximity sensor 560 is controlled by the control unit 556, and the control unit 556 holds the proximity sensor 560 in the “high sensitivity” state. When the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P shown in FIG. 49 and FIG. 50 which is the detection region of the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 in FIG. 54 sends a signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560 from the proximity sensor 560. To receive.

  54 receives the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, determines that the finger has approached the proximity sensor 560, stops energization of the guard electrode 570, and closes the proximity sensor 560. The sensitivity is changed from "High sensitivity" to "Low sensitivity". In addition, when the control unit 556 receives the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 turns on the LED 577 to illuminate the vicinity of the proximity switch 560, so that the position of the proximity switch 560 is raised by illumination. Thus, the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

  Further, as an effect that the LED 577 is turned on, since the LED 577 is turned on, the operation location can be visually recognized by the user, and the operation position of the operation unit with respect to the front plate 21A (or 22A) of the glass plate. There is no need to perform printing or the like.

  When the finger touches the proximity sensor 560 from a state where the finger is close to the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact switch, and the proximity sensor 560 makes contact with the control unit 556 when the finger contacts the proximity sensor 560. Send signal SH. Thereby, the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, for example, enables the opening operation of the left door 21, and the control unit 56 operates the door opening driving unit 54 to operate the left door 21. The door opening operation can be actually performed. The operation procedure described above is the same for the right door 22.

  Accordingly, the user touches the position of the proximity switch 560 disposed inside the glass surface of the left door 21 or the right door 22 while visually confirming with the help of illumination by the LED 577, and the left door 21 or the right door is touched. The door 22 can be opened.

  As described above, the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor by switching the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “high sensitivity” to “low sensitivity” when the finger approaches. Yes. When the finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to “high” so that the electrostatic switch 560 functions as a “proximity sensor”. The function as “proximity sensor” is “valid”. For this reason, since the control unit 556 does not cause the proximity sensor 560 to function as a “contact sensor”, the proximity sensor 560 opens (opens) the left door 21 and the right door 22, which are the original functions of the door opening operation units 551 and 552. “Door operation” is “invalid”.

  As described above, when the user's finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 and the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 controls the approach of the finger of the hand. 556 is notified. When the proximity sensor 560 notifies the control unit 556 of the approach of the finger of the hand, the control unit 556 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “large” to “small” and sets it. In addition, the controller 556 switches the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 from the off state to the on state, and the position of the proximity sensor 560 can be clearly indicated by the LED 577. Therefore, the user can securely touch the proximity sensor 560 with a finger while visually confirming the position of the proximity sensor 560. Since the control unit 56 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a “contact sensor”, which is the original function, the opening operation (opening operation) of the left door 21 or the right door 22 is performed by touching the proximity sensor 560 with a finger. "validate.

  Since the opening operation (opening operation) of the left door 21 described above is the same as the opening operation (opening operation) of the right door 22, the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 51 and FIG. 52, by disposing a guard electrode 570 around the proximity sensor 560, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, For example, it is detected that a person's hand or finger approaches a range of about 100 mm in the front direction (forward direction) of the door 22. At this time, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, is restricted so as not to expand in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by disposing the guard electrode 570.

  As shown in FIG. 49, by restricting the expansion of the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 in the left-right direction (X direction), as shown in FIG. 49, the left door 21 has a locus indicated by an arrow 21K. When the finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 so as to open along, the finger can be prevented from being detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the closed right door 22. Similarly, when the finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 so as to open the right door 22 along the locus indicated by the arrow 22K, the finger is not detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the closed left door 21. can do.

  For this reason, the electromagnetic field 560P which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 does not enter the locus when the left door 21 as the moving means is opened. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, does not enter the trajectory when the right door 22 as the moving means is opened.

  Accordingly, when the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened, the right sensor 22 or the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 that is closed without being opened does not prepare the user's finger or the left door 21 or the right door 22. It is possible to prevent erroneous detection.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 50, by restricting the expansion of the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 in the vertical direction (Z direction), when pulling out the pull-out door 23 as the moving means in the arrow direction Furthermore, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, and the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22, are the drawer type door 23. Do not enter the path when opening.

  As a result, when the drawer-type door 23 is opened, the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 inadvertently detect the user's finger or the drawer-type door 23 inadvertently. Can be prevented.

  By the way, the size of the guard electrode 570 shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 can be set to 30 mm × 30 mm or more in vertical and horizontal sizes, for example. By setting the size of the guard electrode 570 in this way, when the user tries to open the left door 21 or the right door 22 by touching the proximity sensor 560 with the elbow instead of the finger, for example, the elbow approaches The sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 can be prevented from touching at the same time. Thereby, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 with a finger or an elbow.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 55, an example of a storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described. FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22. 55A is a front view of the left door 21 and the right door 22, and FIG. 55B is an inner end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 showing the storage structure of the substrate 553 (the inner end surface portion of the right door 22). 22T) is a perspective view showing a structure. FIG. 55C is a diagram illustrating an example of the lid member 590.

  As shown in FIG. 55A, when the left door 21 and the right door 22 are closed, the inner end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 and the inner end surface portion 22T of the right door 22 face each other. In each inner end face 21T, a rectangular opening 586 of the storage space member 585 is positioned, and the storage space member 585 of the board assembly 500M is positioned inside the left door 21 and the right door 22. The board assembly 500M is inserted and stored in the storage space member 585 from the opening 586.

  The opening portion 586 is closed by the lid member 590 after the substrate assembly 500M is accommodated. A metal body 591 such as an aluminum foil tape or an iron plate is disposed on the inner surface of the lid member 590. The metal body 591 is a changing unit that changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by limiting the electromagnetic field as the effective range of the human body detection range generated by the proximity sensor 560. The metal body 591 as the effective range changing means of the detection range is disposed between the left door 21 and the right door 22 which are adjacent moving means.

  By disposing the metal body 591 on the lid member 590 in this way, the metal body 591 blocks the electromagnetic field between the left door 21 and the right door 22. Therefore, the electromagnetic field of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic field side of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the right side 22. Further, the electromagnetic field from the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic field side of the proximity sensor 560 and guard electrode 570 on the left side 21.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 48 to 50 and FIG. 54, an example of an operation when the user opens the left door 21, for example, will be described.

  When the user brings his / her finger close to the proximity sensor 560 on the left door 21 side shown in FIG. 49 and FIG. 50 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range shown in FIG. 49 and FIG. The proximity sensor 560 detects that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560. 54 receives signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching proximity sensor 560.

  54 stops the energization of the guard electrode 570 by the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, and the control unit 556 decreases the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “high sensitivity” to “low”. Change to "Sensitivity". In addition, the control unit 556 lights the LED 577 to illuminate the proximity switch 560, thereby clearly indicating the position of the proximity switch 560 so that the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

  When the finger touches the proximity sensor 560, the low-sensitivity proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch switch (contact switch) for opening the left door 21, and the finger is moved to the control unit 556 in FIG. The contact signal SH that has been touched is sent. As a result, the control unit 556 validates the opening operation of the left door 21 and the control unit 556 operates the door opening drive unit 54, so that the left door 21 can be opened.

  Note that the operation example when the user opens the right door 22 is the same as the operation example when the left door 21 described above is opened, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor with a finger, the control unit 556 can automatically open the left door 21 or the right door 22.

  When the user touches only the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a touch sensor (contact sensor) and “opens” the opening operation of the left door 21, whereby the left door 21. Open the door. The same applies to the right door 22.

  When the user carelessly touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 51, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor and opens the left door 21. By disabling the door operation, the left door 21 is not opened. As a result, when the user's elbow or the like carelessly touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570, the control unit 556 sets the opening operation of the left door 21 to “invalid” and sets the left door 21 The door opening operation can be prohibited. Moreover, even when water droplets adhere to both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIGS. 54 and 51, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, and opens the left door 21. By making the operation “invalid”, the opening operation of the left door 21 is not performed. The prohibition of the opening operation described above is the same for the right door 22.

  Further, for example, when the user's elbow touches both the guard electrode 570 and the intermediate region portion 589 shown in FIG. 54 and FIG. Opening operation can be performed. The same applies to the right door 22.

  As described above, the double-open left door 21 and the right door 22 having the glass front plates 21A and 22A each have an electrostatic touch type contact sensor. It is used as a proximity sensor 560 that detects that a human finger or the like has approached. As shown in FIG. 51, on the substrate 553, a guard electrode 570 is disposed around the proximity sensor 560 that is an electrode for electrostatic touch so as to surround the proximity sensor 560 with a space therebetween.

  The guard electrode 570 is a detection range effective range changing means for changing the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 when the human body approaches. The guard electrode 570 generates an electromagnetic field in a direction opposite to the electromagnetic field generated when the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the human body.

  Thereby, the guard electrode 570 restricts the electromagnetic field generated when the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the human body in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, The range of the electromagnetic field for proximity detection generated by 560 is limited. Therefore, the electromagnetic field 560P (proximity detection range) generated by the proximity sensor 560 can be limited only to the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

  For this reason, in the case of a double-open refrigerator including the left door 21 and the right door 22, for example, the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 is prevented from being erroneously detected by opening and closing the left door 21, and the right door By opening and closing the door 22, it is possible to prevent the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 from being erroneously detected.

  In addition, in the case of a single-open refrigerator, not a double-open refrigerator, when a human body or object comes to the side of the refrigerator, the proximity sensor of the door inadvertently detects the human body or object inadvertently. You can prevent it.

[Thirty-first embodiment]
FIG. 56 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 showing a thirty-first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 56, a pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 so as to be openable and closable. For this purpose, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so that the left and right ends of the cabinet 11 that is the refrigerator main body are opened and closed in a hinged manner at the hinges.

  Both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the opening portion of a flat inner plate that opens to the front surface, and a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity portion, thereby providing vacuum heat insulation. This is a heat insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a urethane heat insulating material) or a pre-molded solid heat insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a material.

  As shown in FIG. 56, a pair of opening operation portions 651 and 652 are installed in the vicinity of the lower side on the back side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22A of the right door 22, respectively. The opening operation units 651 and 652 can be touch-operated from the front surface of the front plate 21A by the user's fingers. The opening operation unit 651 includes a capacitive proximity sensor 607 and a capacitive touch button electrode 633. The opening operation unit 652 includes a capacitance type proximity sensor 608 and a capacitance type touch button electrode 633. The proximity sensor 607 is disposed above the touch button electrode 633, and the proximity sensor 608 is disposed above the touch button electrode 633.

  In addition, on the back side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21, a capacitance type control operation unit 650 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the front of the front plate 21A with a user's finger is installed.

  The control operation unit 650 includes, for example, an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental condition around the refrigerator, a control button (control switch) 650CS, a home button (home switch) 650HS, and a touch on the home button 650HS. There are provided an LED indicator for transparently displaying button names, cooling function names, cooling intensity, etc., a 7-segment LED display device for transparently displaying changing numerical values such as temperature values, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 56, the door opening drive portions 54 and 55 are located at the left and right locations near the front end of the top surface of the top plate of the cabinet 11 and correspond to the vicinity of the open side end portions of the upper sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22. It is installed at each position.

  These door opening drive units 54 and 55 are door opening devices for forcibly opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by electromagnets, thereby pushing the upper sides near the open end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, The right door 22 is forcibly automatically opened.

  As shown in FIG. 56, the opening operation unit 651 including one proximity sensor 607 is disposed at the lower right position of the left door 21, and the opening operation unit 652 including the other proximity sensor 608 is the right door 22. It is arranged at the lower left position. The opening operation unit 651 including the proximity sensor 607 is disposed inside the glass front plate 21A of the left door 21, and the opening operation unit 652 including the proximity sensor 608 is the glass front plate 22A of the right door 22. Is placed inside.

  57 shows a structural example in the vicinity of the opening operation portion 651 including the proximity sensor 607 in the left door 21 shown in FIG. 56 (or in the vicinity of the opening operation portion 652 including the proximity sensor 608 in the right door 22). It is sectional drawing in the V1 line. A structural example in the vicinity of the door opening operation unit 652 shown in FIG. 56 is the same as the structural example in the vicinity of the door opening operation unit 651 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 57, a shielding sheet material 621 is disposed on the inner surface side of the glass front plates 21A and 22A by printing or the like. The sheet material 621 is arranged to prevent the inside from being seen through the front plates 21A and 22A.

  As shown in FIG. 57, the first substrate 631 and the second substrate 632 are arranged in parallel to the front plates 21A and 22A on the inner surface side of the front plates 21A and 22A at an interval.

  A proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) and a connector 629 are disposed on the back surface of the first substrate 631 disposed on the front side, and a plurality of capacitive touch buttons (electrodes) are disposed on the surface of the first substrate 631. 633 is arranged. A plurality of through holes 634 are formed in the first substrate 631, and each hole 634 is disposed at a back position corresponding to the touch button 633. The proximity sensors 607 and 608 are microcomputers having a proximity sensor function.

  As shown in FIG. 57, a plurality of LEDs 635 and connectors 636 are arranged on the surface of the second substrate 632 arranged on the rear side of the first substrate 631. The connector 636 of the second substrate 632 is connected to the connector 629 of the first substrate 631 by a relay bundle wire 628.

  Each LED 635 is disposed at a position facing each hole 634 of the first substrate 631. Thus, the illumination light LLT generated by each LED 635 can illuminate the touch button 633 from the back toward the front plate 21A (22A) through each hole 634. Thus, the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity sensor 607 (608) and the position of each touch button 633 through the front plate 21A (or the front plate 22A) and the sheet material 621.

  58 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V2-V2 of control operation unit 650 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 58, a shielding sheet material 621 is arranged on the inner surface side of the glass front plate 21A by printing or the like. The sheet material 621 is arranged to prevent the inside from being seen through the front plate 21A. An operation name plate 661, a diffusion film 662, a transparent electrode 663, and a substrate 664 are disposed inside the front plate 21A. An operation name plate 661, a diffusion film 662, and a transparent electrode 663 are arranged in parallel in this order from the front plate 21A toward the substrate 664. The diffusion film 662 diffuses the illumination light LLS generated by the plurality of LEDs 665 mounted on the substrate 664 to the front plate 21A side.

  A plurality of LEDs 665, a light guide shielding plate 666, and a flexible printed circuit board connector 667 are mounted on the surface of the substrate 664. The connector 667 is connected to the transparent electrode 663 by a flexible printed circuit board 668. Each LED 665 is disposed between the adjacent shielding plates 666, and the light LLS for illumination of each LED 665 is irradiated to the transparent electrode 663 side by the shielding plate 666, passes through the transparent electrode 663, and then diffuses. 662 diffuses into the front plate 21A. Accordingly, the user can visually confirm the position of the transparent electrode 663 through the front plate 21A and the sheet material 621.

  FIG. 59 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit 656, the control operation unit 650, the opening operation units 651 and 652, and the opening drive units 54 and 55 which are door opening devices.

  As shown in FIG. 59, the control unit 656 is electrically connected to the control operation unit 650, the first substrate 631, the second substrate 632, and the door opening drive units 54 and 55.

  In the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 56, when the user opens the left door 21 (or the right door 22) of the refrigerator 1, the position of the proximity switch 607 (608) of the opening operation units 651 and 652 is It is difficult to visually recognize the position of the touch button 633. Thus, in order to improve the difficulty of operating the door opening operation portions 651 and 652, as shown in FIG. 57, the back surface of the touch button 633 of the door opening operation portions 651 and 652, and the proximity sensor 607 (608). An LED 635 is mounted on the back surface of the LED as illumination means for supplying illumination light.

  For this reason, when the user wants to touch the touch buttons 633 of the door opening operation portions 651 and 652 with a finger, the capacitive proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person is approaching. To do. Since the control unit 656 receives a signal from the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) notifying that a person has approached, the illumination LED 635 is turned on by a command from the control unit 656.

  Accordingly, the user can easily recognize the position of the proximity switch 607 (608) of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 and the position of the touch button 633 even in a dark environment, and easily use the touch buttons 633 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652. The left door 21 (or the right door 22) can be opened.

  When the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person is approaching, the control unit 656 receives a signal from the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) to notify that a person is approaching. The LED 665 for illumination of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 58 is turned on by a command from the unit 656.

  Thus, the user can easily operate the control operation unit 650 by visually recognizing the position of the control operation unit 650 even in a dark environment.

  When the user wants to touch and operate the touch buttons 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 without touching the glass front plates 21A and 22A with the finger, the control unit 656 of FIG. The lighting brightness can be set in multiple stages.

  That is, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person is approaching, the control unit 656 in FIG. 59 slightly turns on the LED 635. When the user touches the touch buttons 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 with a finger in a non-contact manner to open the left door 21 (or the right door 22), the control unit shown in FIG. 656 turns on the LED 635 completely to increase the amount of light.

  Thereafter, when the user releases his / her finger from the touch button 633, the control unit 656 operates the door opening drive unit 54 (or the door opening drive unit 55) to open the left door 21 (right door 22). Yes.

  Accordingly, when the user touches the touch buttons 633 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 with the finger and the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is established, the LED 635 is completely lit from the low light. Therefore, the user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established by changing the light amount, that is, preferably by increasing the light amount.

  The control operation unit 650 illustrated in FIG. 59 is operated, for example, for the user to change the cooling control content. 58, the operation start time (lighting timing) for turning on the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 58 is the operation start time (lighting timing) for turning on the LED 635 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 shown in FIG. It can be set to be delayed by a predetermined delay time. That is, the timing of how the LED 665 lights up in the control operation unit 650 and the timing of how the LED 635 lights up in the door opening operation units 651 and 652 can be changed.

  For example, the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 can be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650. However, conversely, the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 may be earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652.

  Accordingly, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person is approaching, not only the LED 635 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652, but also the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 can be turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 56, in the left door 21 and the right door 22, the positions of the proximity sensors 607 and 608 are arranged below the position of the control operation unit 650, and the proximity sensors 607 and 608 are operated to open the door. Arranged near the touch buttons 633 of the parts 651 and 652.

  As a result, after the user brings his / her finger close to the proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) and touches the proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608), the door opening operation unit 651 is moved by lowering the slight finger as it is. , 652 is easy to use for the user.

  Next, FIG. 60 illustrates the control of the left door 21 when the finger touches the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 after the proximity sensor 607 of the left door 21 illustrated in FIG. The example of a mode that the operation part 650 and the door opening operation part 651 light is shown.

  In FIG. 60A, the user's finger is not yet approaching the proximity sensor 607 at all. In this state, the control unit 656 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 607 to “high” and increases the sensitivity so that the proximity sensor 607 that is an electrostatic switch functions as a “proximity sensor”. Thus, the function as the “proximity sensor” is “valid”.

  In this case, the control unit 656 sets “open” (opening operation) of the left door 21 which is a function of the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651 to “invalid”. In addition, the control unit 656 sets the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 to the “off state” as indicated by a broken line. And the operation (door opening operation) function of the control switch (control button) 650CS and the home switch (home button) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 is “invalid”.

  Next, FIG. 60B shows a state in which the finger HT is approaching the proximity sensor 607. In this state, since the proximity sensor 607 detects the approach of the finger HT, the control unit 656 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 607 as the “proximity sensor” from “large” to “small” and decreases the sensitivity. Lower the function.

  For this reason, since the control unit 656 causes the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 to function, the opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 when the finger HT touches the touch button 633 from the front surface of the front plate. ) The function changes from “invalid” to “valid”.

  Moreover, the control unit 656 turns on the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 as shown by the solid line, and the LED 635 shown in FIG. For example, the LED 665 shown in 58 is slightly lit. That is, the LED 665 shown in FIG. 58 is slightly lit to illuminate the control operation unit 650 from behind, and the LED 635 shown in FIG. 57 is lit to illuminate the door opening operation unit 651 from behind. .

  Preferably, the lighting display time is set to light only for a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds. If the finger HT does not touch the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 during the 10 seconds, the LED 635 is again displayed. 665 may be turned off.

  However, the operation start point (lighting timing) at which the control unit 656 turns on the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 58 is the operation start point (lighting timing) at which the LED 635 of the door opening operation unit 651 shown in FIG. It can be set to be delayed by a predetermined delay time. That is, the control unit 656 can change the timing of how the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shines and the timing of the LED 635 of the door opening operation unit 651.

  For example, the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the door opening operation unit 651 can be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650. However, conversely, the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 may be earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the door opening operation unit 651. By making the lighting timing different in this way, the position of the control operation unit 650 and the position of the door opening operation unit 651 can be distinguished and displayed for the user.

  Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on and change from “invalid” to “valid”.

  Next, FIG. 60C shows a state where the finger HT is in contact with the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651. In this state, the control unit 656 maintains the proximity sensor 607 in the “small” state, which is the sensitivity as the “contact sensor”. The control unit 656 keeps the open operation (opening operation) function of the left door 21 that is the function of the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651 as “valid”.

  Then, the operation functions of the control button (control switch) 650CS and the home button (home switch) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on and “valid”, and can be operated.

  Moreover, the control unit 656 maintains the “ON state” of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 as indicated by a solid line.

  In this case, preferably, the light amount of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the light amount of the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 in FIG. However, when the finger HT in FIG. 60 (C) is touched, the light amount of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the light amount of the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 are increased from the fine lighting to complete lighting with a larger light amount. Light up with.

  Accordingly, when the user touches the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 with the finger and the door opening operation of the left door 21 is established, the LED 635 increases the light amount from the low lighting to the complete lighting. The user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established by increasing the lighting amount. Moreover, the user can more reliably visually recognize the display of the control operation unit 650 and the display of the door opening operation unit 651, and can increase the energy saving effect of power consumption.

  As described above, when the finger HT is brought close to the proximity sensor 607 as shown in FIG. 60B and when the finger HT is brought into contact with the touch button 633 shown in FIG. In order to perform illumination of the control operation unit 650 and illumination of the door opening operation unit 651, the amount of light at the time of lighting can be changed and increased as described above.

  Thereafter, FIG. 60D shows a state in which the finger HT of the user's hand is separated from the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 52. In this state, the control unit 656 performs the door opening control of the corresponding left door 21 by operating the door opening driving unit 54 by enabling the input of the operation signal from the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651. . Thereby, the left door 21 can be opened automatically.

  Moreover, the control unit 656 maintains the “ON state” of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 as indicated by a solid line. Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned off and change from “valid” to “invalid”.

  As described above, the opening operation of the right door 22 using the opening operation portion 652 of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 56 is also performed in the same manner as the opening operation of the left door 21 described with reference to FIG. Can do.

  Note that when the left door 21 is opened by the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651 of the left door 21, the function of the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 652 of the right door 22 is switched, and the switch of the opening operation unit 652 is switched. The function can be disabled so that the right door 22 does not open. The same applies to the reverse case.

  By the way, when the user wants to touch the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 without touching with a finger, the control unit 656 in FIG. 59 can preferably change the lighting color when the LED 635 is lit. it can. That is, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person is approaching, the control unit 656 of FIG. 59 turns on the LED 635 with the first emission color, for example, blue. When the user touches the touch buttons 633 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 with the finger to open the left door 21 (or the right door 22), the control unit 656 in FIG. The LED 635 is lit in the second emission color, for example, red.

  Thereafter, when the user releases his / her finger from the touch button 633, the control unit 656 operates the door opening drive unit 54 (or the door opening drive unit 55) to open the left door 21 (right door 22).

  Accordingly, when the user touches the touch buttons 633 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 with the finger and the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is established, the LED 635 is lit from red to blue. Therefore, the user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established by changing the lighting color. Note that the types of the first emission color and the second emission color can be arbitrarily selected.

  60B, when the finger HT is brought close to the proximity sensor 607, the LEDs 635 and 665 blink, and when the finger HT is brought into contact with the touch button 633 shown in FIG. , 665 can be always lit. The user can visually confirm that the door opening operation has been established.

  Also, the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIG. 56 are provided with a double door opening type. When the left door 21 is open, the control unit 656 is a touch button of the opening operation unit 652 of the right door 22. The LED 635 633 may be constantly lit. Similarly, when the right door 22 is open, the control unit 656 may cause the LED 635 of the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651 in the left door 21 to be constantly lit. Thereby, even in a dark environment, the user can visually check the position of the opening operation unit of the right door 22 on the unopened side (or the left door 21 on the unopened side), and easily open the opening operation unit. Can be operated.

  The contents described in each of the above-described embodiments can be adopted for household appliances other than the refrigerator, such as laundry appliances and cooking appliances, and are also effective as an invention as an operation unit.

[Thirty-second embodiment]
FIG. 61 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 showing a thirty-second embodiment of the present invention. 62 is a plan view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 61, and FIG. 63 is a side view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 61 to 63, the pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1. For this purpose, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so that the left and right ends of the cabinet 11 that is the refrigerator main body are opened and closed in a hinged manner at the hinges.

  Both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the opening portion of a flat inner plate that opens to the front surface, and a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity portion to provide vacuum heat insulation. This is a heat insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a urethane heat insulating material) or a pre-molded solid heat insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a material.

  As shown in FIGS. 61 to 63, the opening operation portions 551 and 552 are installed in the vicinity of the lower side of the front plate 21 </ b> A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22 </ b> A of the right door 22. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 are respectively installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end portion of the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 at the left and right locations near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11. Yes.

  These door opening drive units 54 and 55 are door opening devices for forcibly opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by electromagnets, thereby pushing the upper sides near the open end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, The right door 22 is forcibly automatically opened.

  As shown in FIG. 61, one door operation portion 551 is disposed at the lower right position of the left door 21, and the other door operation portion 552 is disposed at the lower left position of the right door 22. The opening operation unit 551 is disposed inside the glass front plate 21 </ b> A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation unit 552 is disposed inside the glass front plate 22 </ b> A of the right door 22.

  Further, inside the front plate 21A of the left door 21, a capacitance type control operation unit 650 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the front of the front plate 21A with a user's finger is installed. The control operation unit 650 is disposed at the upper position of the opening operation unit 551 in the left door 21.

  The control operation unit 650 includes, for example, an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental condition around the refrigerator, a control button (control switch) 650CS, a home button (home switch) 650HS, and a touch on the home button 650HS. There are provided an LED indicator for transparently displaying button names, cooling function names, cooling intensity, etc., a 7-segment LED display device for transparently displaying changing numerical values such as temperature values, and the like.

  FIG. 64 shows a structural example of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 shown in FIG. FIG. 65 is a diagram showing the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 arranged on the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 shown in FIG. FIG. 66 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the door opening operation portion 551.

  The door opening operation portion 551 and the door opening operation portion 552 shown in FIG. 61 have the same structure, but have a symmetrical shape. 64 shows an example of the shape of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551. Since the door opening operation portion 552 and the door opening operation portion 551 have substantially the same shape, see FIGS. 64 to 66. Then, the substrate 553 of the door opening operation unit 551 will be described as a representative.

  First, referring to FIG. 66, the opening operation unit 551 includes a board assembly 500M, a plastic storage space member 585 called an open box for storing the board assembly 500M, and a plastic lid member 590. Have. On the back surface 585R of the plastic storage space member 585, for example, an aluminum foil which is preferably a metal body is pasted. A metal body 591 such as an aluminum foil is attached to the inner surface of the plastic lid member 590. Thereby, the electromagnetic waves generated on the main body side of the refrigerator 1 are prevented from affecting the substrate assembly 500M side.

  The substrate assembly 500M includes a plastic shielding plate 599, a substrate 553, an operation name plate 597, and an LED substrate 598 on which a display LED 557 is mounted. The substrate 553 is an electrostatic touch switch substrate, and is fixed to the front side of the shielding plate 599. An operation nameplate 597 is disposed on the front side of the substrate 553. A display LED substrate 598 is fixed to the back side of the shielding plate 599. A plurality of LEDs 577 are mounted on the LED substrate 598.

  Left and right slits 574 and 575 are formed at positions corresponding to the substrate 553 and the operation nameplate 597. The board assembly 500M is stored in the storage space member 585 through an opening 586 that is a rectangular insertion port of the storage space member 585. An opening 586 of the storage space member 585 is covered with a lid member 590.

  As shown in FIGS. 64A and 65, the substrate 553 of the opening operation portion 551 is rectangular or square, and the substrate 553 has a front surface 553A shown in FIG. 64A and a back surface shown in FIG. 64B. 553B. The substrate 553 is provided with an electronic component mounting portion 571 and an arrangement portion 572 for the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The substrate 553 of the door operation unit 551 and the substrate 553 of the door operation unit 552 shown in FIG.

  The electronic component mounting portion 571 on the back surface 553B side shown in FIG. 64B has a first step portion 553M and a second step portion 553N at the lower end portion. The lower end portion of the electronic component mounting portion 571 on the back surface 553B side is formed in a step shape.

  Moreover, two connector parts CC1 and CC2 and an electronic part such as a microcomputer (not shown) are mounted on the mounting part 571 for the electronic part on the back surface 553B side. The connector component CC1 is disposed on the first step portion 553M, and the connector component CC2 is disposed on the second step portion 553N.

  That is, the connector part CC1 and the connector part CC2 are not horizontally arranged, and the position where the connector part CC1 is attached to the back surface 553B of the board 553 of the connector part CC1 is attached to the back face 553B of the board 553 of the connector part CC2. It is a lower position in the Z direction (up and down direction) compared to the position that is provided. The connector component CC1 is disposed along the first step portion 553M, and the connector component CC2 is disposed along the second step portion 553N.

  Thereby, since the positions of the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are shifted in the vertical direction, the connector parts CC1 and CC2 can be easily attached and detached using a tool when the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are removed or attached during maintenance.

  Further, since the positions of the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are shifted with respect to the vertical direction, the water due to condensation is likely to flow down between the connector parts CC1 and CC2, so the water due to condensation at the connector parts CC1 and CC2. Can be prevented from accumulating. In addition, since the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are separated from the back surface of the board, the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are not wetted even when water is accumulated in the storage portion.

  In addition, two connector parts CC1 and CC2 and an electronic component (not shown) are mounted on the electronic component mounting portion 571 on the back surface 553B side of the substrate 553 so that the electronic component is not mounted on the front surface 553A of the substrate 553. It has become. Examples of the electronic component include a noise removing capacitor, a signal processing capacitor, a transistor, and a microcomputer. As described above, since the electronic component is arranged not on the front surface 553A of the substrate 553 but on the back surface 553B side, as shown in FIG. 66, the inner surface of the operation name plate 597 is not affected by the electronic component, and the surface of the substrate 553 It can be placed in close contact with 553A.

  Moreover, although the two connector parts CC1 and CC2 are arranged on the electronic part mounting portion 571 on the back surface 553B side of the substrate 553, the connector parts CC1 and CC2, the proximity sensor 560, and the guard electrode 570 are arranged apart from each other. This prevents noise from the connector parts CC1 and CC2 from affecting the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570.

  A disposition portion 572 on the surface 553A side of the substrate 533 illustrated in FIG. 64A includes a proximity sensor 560 that is a first electrode, a guard electrode 570 that is a third electrode, and an intermediate region that is a second electrode. A portion 589 is disposed. The proximity sensor 560 is located at the center of the placement portion 572, and the guard electrode 570 is located at the outermost side of the placement portion 572. The intermediate region portion 589 is provided between the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The proximity sensor 560, the guard electrode 570, and the intermediate region portion 589 are metal electrodes, but are electrically insulated from each other. The intermediate region portion 589 serving as the second electrode assists the proximity sensor 560 and has a function as a proximity sensor. The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of detection by the proximity sensor 560. The proximity sensor 560 is not composed of a plurality of electrodes, but is composed of a single rectangular electrode. Thereby, the user can adopt a shape that is easy to touch with fingers.

  As shown in FIG. 64B, a mesh ground pattern 573 as a fourth electrode is arranged on the back surface 553B corresponding to the arrangement portion 572 of the substrate 553. Accordingly, the ground pattern 573 prevents noise from the refrigerator main body from affecting the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560 and the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570.

  As shown in FIGS. 64A and 65, a through hole 560C is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560. A conductive wire pattern 560H is connected to the through hole 560C as shown in FIG. The conductive wire pattern 560H is connected to the through hole 560C through the connecting portion 560A. Conductive pattern 560H is arranged through the back side portion of connecting portion 560A, which is a place other than slits 574 and 575. This connecting portion 560A will be described later.

  Since the action of the user pressing (contacting) the proximity sensor 560 with a finger is usually performed aiming at the middle of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is formed at a position in the middle of the proximity sensor 560. Yes.

  Thus, the through hole 560C is formed at the center position of the proximity sensor 560 for the following reason. That is, in the proximity sensor 560, the central area where the through hole 560C is formed has the highest switch sensitivity compared to the other areas. For this reason, the user's finger presses the middle of the proximity switch 560 having the through-hole 560C so that the finger can touch the most sensitive place.

  The proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 64 and 65 is an electrode for electrostatic touch (contact), and is about 100 mm in the front (front) direction of the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, for example. It is a capacitance type detection means for detecting that a human body or an object is approaching. The proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of a finger when a part of the user's human body, specifically, for example, a finger of a hand approaches. The proximity sensor 560 is a capacitive touch sensor, but a mutual capacitance touch sensor or a self-capacitance touch sensor can be used.

  In the mutual capacitance method, it is composed of one transmission electrode and one reception electrode. When a current is supplied to the transmission electrode, an electromagnetic field is generated and the electromagnetic field is received by the reception electrode. For example, when a human finger approaches the detection area of the proximity sensor 560, a part of the electromagnetic field is absorbed and received by the reception electrode, so that the amount of detected energy is reduced, and the proximity sensor 560 approaches the finger. Can be detected.

  In the self-capacitance method, one electrode (proximity sensor 560) having stray capacitance is required. The stray capacitance of the electrode (proximity sensor 560) is affected by the parasitic capacitance between the electrode (proximity sensor 560) and the surrounding conductor (human finger). When a human finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the value of the stray capacitance increases due to the influence of the parasitic capacitance, and the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger by measuring the increased stray capacitance.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 64 and 65, the proximity sensor 560 is, for example, a rectangular switch that is long in the vertical direction, and slits 574 and 575 are formed around the proximity sensor 560 so as to surround the electrode. Has been. That is, the slits 574 and 575 are formed along the Z direction so as to surround the proximity sensor 560. Thereby, the position of the proximity sensor 560 is easily understood by providing the slits 574 and 575. As shown in FIG. 65, the slits 574 and 575 are covered with a transparent film body 576, for example, and the transparent film body 576 is provided with a plurality of LEDs 577 which are light emitting elements functioning as an illumination device. Has been placed.

  However, as shown in FIG. 65, the four LEDs 577 corresponding to the four corners 576R of the slits 574 and 575 among the plurality of LEDs 577 are arranged at positions outside the slits 574 and 575. . In this way, the illumination light generated by the four LEDs 577 corresponding to the four corners 576R can be irradiated without causing a shadow on the slits 574 and 575.

  As shown in FIG. 65, one end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is connected to the arrangement portion 572 by a connection portion 560A, and the other end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is connected to the arrangement portion 572 by a connection portion 560B. These connecting portions 560A and 560B are connected so as to connect the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 which is the peripheral portion thereof, and are also referred to as “bridges”. The connecting portions 560A and 560B are provided avoiding the positions other than the place where the LED 577 is disposed. Accordingly, the connecting portions 560A and 560B do not disturb the illumination light of the LED 577.

  A through hole 560C for electrical connection is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560. As described above, the through hole 560C is formed in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560 as described above because the region portion of the proximity sensor 560 provided with the through hole 560C has a detection sensitivity compared to other region portions. high. Since the region where the user's finger is in close contact is the central portion of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is provided in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560.

  Next, the guard electrode 570 shown in FIGS. 64 and 65 will be described.

  The guard electrode 570 is formed in a rectangular frame shape around the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 in the arrangement portion 572. The guard electrode 570 is a metal body and includes a pair of short side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long side electrode portions 570B. The guard electrode 570 generates an electromagnetic field in a direction opposite to the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is suppressed from being spread by the electromagnetic field in the opposite direction generated by the guard electrode 570. Therefore, the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570 suppresses the spread of the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560, so that the guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the human body detection range. Acts as a means of change.

  The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by narrowing and changing the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 when detecting the approach of a human body, for example, a finger. Specifically, as a result of the guard electrode 570 changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560, as shown in FIG. 62, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation portion 551 of the left door 21 is shown. Is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the door opening operation unit 552 of the right door 22 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 62, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is narrowed so as not to expand in the X direction, which is the left-right direction.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation unit 551 of the left door 21 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the door opening operation unit 552 of the right door 22 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. For this reason, in FIG. 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is narrowed so as not to expand in the Z direction, which is the vertical direction.

  That is, the electromagnetic field 560P of the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 62 and 63 indicates the effective range of the human body detection range, and the effective range of the human body detection range is different from the front of the proximity sensor 560. It corresponds to a range different from the range (range extending up and down and left and right).

  Next, FIG. 67 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit 556, the door opening operation units 551 and 552, and the door opening drive units 54 and 55 which are door opening devices.

  As shown in FIG. 67, the control unit 556 is electrically connected to the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the door opening operation units 551 and 552, the door opening driving units 54 and 55, and the LED 577 serving as a plurality of lighting devices. Has been.

  Under the control of the control unit 556, the proximity sensor 560 is held in the “high sensitivity” state. When the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P shown in FIG. 62 and FIG. 63, which is the detection area of the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 in FIG. 67 sends a signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560 from the proximity sensor 560. To receive.

  67 receives signal SG from proximity sensor 560, determines that the finger has approached proximity sensor 560, stops energization of guard electrode 570, and proximity sensor 560. The sensitivity is changed from "High sensitivity" to "Low sensitivity". In addition, when the control unit 556 receives the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 turns on the LED 577 to illuminate the vicinity of the proximity switch 560, so that the position of the proximity switch 560 is raised by illumination. Thus, the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

  When the finger touches the proximity sensor 560 from a state where the finger is close to the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact switch, and the proximity sensor 560 makes contact with the control unit 556 when the finger contacts the proximity sensor 560. Send signal SH. Thereby, the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, for example, enables the opening operation of the left door 21, and the control unit 56 operates the door opening driving unit 54 to operate the left door 21. The door opening operation can be actually performed. The operation procedure described above is the same for the right door 22.

  Accordingly, the user touches the position of the proximity switch 560 disposed inside the glass surface of the left door 21 or the right door 22 while visually confirming with the help of illumination by the LED 577, and the left door 21 or the right door is touched. The door 22 can be opened.

  As described above, the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor by switching the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “high sensitivity” to “low sensitivity” when the finger approaches. Yes. When the finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to “high” so that the electrostatic switch 560 functions as a “proximity sensor”. The function as “proximity sensor” is “valid”. For this reason, since the control unit 556 does not cause the proximity sensor 560 to function as a “contact sensor”, the proximity sensor 560 opens (opens) the left door 21 and the right door 22, which are the original functions of the door opening operation units 551 and 552. “Door operation” is “invalid”.

  As described above, when the user's finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 and the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 controls the approach of the finger of the hand. 556 is notified. When the proximity sensor 560 notifies the control unit 556 of the approach of the finger of the hand, the control unit 556 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “large” to “small” and sets it. In addition, the controller 556 switches the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 from the off state to the on state, and the position of the proximity sensor 560 can be clearly indicated by the LED 577. Therefore, the user can securely touch the proximity sensor 560 with a finger while visually confirming the position of the proximity sensor 560. Since the control unit 56 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a “contact sensor”, which is the original function, the opening operation (opening operation) of the left door 21 or the right door 22 is performed by touching the proximity sensor 560 with a finger. "validate.

  Since the opening operation (opening operation) of the left door 21 described above is the same as the opening operation (opening operation) of the right door 22, the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 64 and 65, by arranging a guard electrode 570 around the proximity sensor 560, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, For example, it is detected that a person's hand or finger approaches a range of about 100 mm in the front direction (forward direction) of the door 22. At this time, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, is restricted so as not to expand in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by disposing the guard electrode 570.

  As shown in FIG. 62, by restricting the expansion of the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 in the left-right direction (X direction), as shown in FIG. 62, the left door 21 has a locus indicated by an arrow 21K. When the finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 so as to open along, the finger can be prevented from being detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the closed right door 22. Similarly, when the finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 so as to open the right door 22 along the locus indicated by the arrow 22K, the finger is not detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the closed left door 21. can do.

  For this reason, the electromagnetic field 560P which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 does not enter the locus when the left door 21 as the moving means is opened. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, does not enter the trajectory when the right door 22 as the moving means is opened.

  Accordingly, when the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened, the right sensor 22 or the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 that is closed without being opened does not prepare the user's finger or the left door 21 or the right door 22. It is possible to prevent erroneous detection.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 63, when the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 is restricted in the vertical direction (Z direction), the pull-out type door 23 as the moving means is pulled out in the arrow direction. Furthermore, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, and the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22, are the drawer type door 23. Do not enter the path when opening.

  As a result, when the drawer-type door 23 is opened, the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 inadvertently detect the user's finger or the drawer-type door 23 inadvertently. Can be prevented.

  As described above, the guard electrode 570 shown in FIGS. 64A and 65 is a metal body and includes a pair of short-side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long-side electrode portions 570B. For example, moisture adheres to the front plate 21A of the left door 21 shown in FIG. 61, the moisture adheres to the front plate 21A at the position of the guard electrode 570, and the guard electrode 570 detects a change in capacitance due to moisture. Then, the control unit 556 shown in FIG. 67 invalidates the door opening operation of the door opening drive units (door opening devices) 54 and 55 by the proximity sensor 560.

  Specifically, for example, when the guard electrode 570 detects moisture when the user wipes the surface of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 or the surface of the front plate 22A of the right door 22 with a wet cloth, the proximity sensor Even if 560 senses a wet cloth and is turned on, the control unit 556 shown in FIG. 67 “invalidates the opening operation of the door opening drive units (door opening devices) 54 and 55 by the proximity sensor 560. By doing so, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is prevented from being opened without permission. Thereby, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is prevented from being opened carelessly.

  In addition, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 after touching the guard electrode 570 with a finger, the control unit 556 “invalidates” the door opening operation of the door opening drive units (door opening devices) 54 and 55 by the proximity sensor 560. To do. Furthermore, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 at the same time as the user touches the guard electrode 570 with the finger, the control unit 556 “invalidates” the door opening operation of the door opening drive units (door opening devices) 54 and 55 by the proximity sensor 560. To do.

  Thereby, when the guard electrode 570 mistakenly detects a human body, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is prevented from being opened carelessly.

  As shown in FIG. 61, a control operation unit 650 is provided inside the front plate 21 </ b> A of the left door 21, and a door opening operation unit 551 is provided below the control operation unit 650. Accordingly, the short-side electrode portion 570A of the guard electrode 570 of the door opening operation unit 551 is disposed at a position between the control operation unit 650 and the proximity sensor 551 of the door opening operation unit 551. The short side electrode portion 570A is also shown in FIGS.

  Thereby, for example, when the user wipes the control operation unit 650 on the surface of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 with a wet cloth, the water hangs down along the front plate 21A and reaches the guard electrode 570. In this case, when the short-side electrode portion 570A of the guard electrode 570 detects moisture, even if the proximity sensor 560 senses a wet cloth and is turned on, the control unit 556 shown in FIG. By making the door opening operation of the door opening drive unit (door opening device) 54 by the sensor 560 “invalid”, the left door 21 is prevented from being opened without permission. This prevents the left door 21 from being opened carelessly.

  Incidentally, the horizontal electrode gap interval DF and the vertical electrode gap interval RF of the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 65 are larger than the width MF of the human finger HT. The lateral electrode gap interval DF and the vertical electrode gap interval RF of the guard electrode 570 can be selected preferably in the range of 15 mm to 75 mm. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the finger HT from inadvertently touching the guard electrode 570 when the user touches the finger HT close to the proximity sensor 560.

  In addition, the lateral electrode gap interval DF and the vertical electrode gap interval RF of the guard electrode 570 are large enough not to touch the guard electrode 570 even if the elbow that is bent by the human body hits. The electrode gap interval DF in the horizontal direction and the electrode gap interval RF in the vertical direction of these guard electrodes 570 can be selected within a range of 30 mm to 75 mm, for example. By setting the size of the guard electrode 570 in this way, the user holds a pan, a dish, or the like with both hands, contacts the proximity sensor 560 using a bent elbow instead of a finger, and the left door 21 or the right Even when the door 22 is to be opened, it is possible to prevent the elbow from touching both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 at the same time. Thereby, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 with a finger or an elbow.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 68, an example of a storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described. FIG. 68 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22. 68A is a front view of the left door 21 and the right door 22, and FIG. 68B is an inner end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 showing the storage structure of the substrate 553 (the inner end surface portion of the right door 22). 22T) is a perspective view showing a structure. FIG. 68C is a diagram illustrating an example of the lid member 590.

  As shown in FIG. 68 (A), when the left door 21 and the right door 22 are closed, the inner end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 and the inner end surface portion 22T of the right door 22 face each other. In each inner end face 21T, a rectangular opening 586 of the storage space member 585 is positioned, and the storage space member 585 of the board assembly 500M is positioned inside the left door 21 and the right door 22. The board assembly 500M is inserted and stored in the storage space member 585 from the opening 586.

  However, when the board assembly 500M is inserted and stored in the storage space member 585 in this way, as shown in FIG. 66, the arrangement portion 572 side of the board 553 is located on the lid member 590 side, The electronic component mounting portion 571 side is inserted into the opening portion 586 so that the electronic component mounting portion 571 side reaches the back side of the storage space member 585.

  As described above, the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 are arranged on the front surface of the substrate 553, the component mounting portion 571 is provided on the back surface of the substrate 553, and in the state where the substrate 553 is held in the left door 21, The mounting portion 571 is positioned on the side opposite to the portion 572 of the substrate 553 that is positioned on the opening portion 586 side that is an insertion port.

  Thus, when the board assembly 500M is inserted and stored in the storage space member 585, the operator visually confirms the positions of the first step portion 553M and the second step portion 553N of the component mounting portion 571. However, since the board assembly 500M can be inserted into the storage space member 585, the board assembly 500M is prevented from being inserted in the wrong insertion direction.

  The opening portion 586 is closed by the lid member 590 after the substrate assembly 500M is accommodated. A metal body 591 such as an aluminum foil tape or an iron plate is disposed on the inner surface of the lid member 590. The metal body 591 is a changing unit that changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by limiting the electromagnetic field as the effective range of the human body detection range generated by the proximity sensor 560. The metal body 591 as the effective range changing means of the detection range is disposed between the left door 21 and the right door 22 which are adjacent moving means.

  By disposing the metal body 591 on the lid member 590 in this way, the metal body 591 blocks the electromagnetic field between the left door 21 and the right door 22. Therefore, the electromagnetic field of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic field side of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the right side 22. Further, the electromagnetic field from the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic field side of the proximity sensor 560 and guard electrode 570 on the left side 21.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 61 to 63 and FIG. 67, an example of operation when the user opens the left door 21 will be described.

  When the user brings his / her finger close to the proximity sensor 560 on the left door 21 side shown in FIG. 62 and FIG. 63 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range shown in FIG. 62 and FIG. The proximity sensor 560 detects that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560. Thereby, control unit 556 in FIG. 67 receives signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching proximity sensor 560.

  67 stops the energization of the guard electrode 570 by the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, and the control unit 556 decreases the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “high sensitivity” to “low”. Change to "Sensitivity". In addition, the control unit 556 lights the LED 577 to illuminate the proximity switch 560, thereby clearly indicating the position of the proximity switch 560 so that the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

  When the finger touches the proximity sensor 560, the low-sensitivity proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch switch (contact switch) for opening the left door 21, and the finger is moved to the control unit 556 in FIG. The contact signal SH that has been touched is sent. As a result, the control unit 556 validates the opening operation of the left door 21 and the control unit 556 operates the door opening drive unit 54, so that the left door 21 can be opened.

  Note that the operation example when the user opens the right door 22 is the same as the operation example when the left door 21 described above is opened, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Thus, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor with a finger, the control unit 556 can automatically open the left door 21 or the right door 22.

  When the user touches only the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a touch sensor (contact sensor) and “opens” the opening operation of the left door 21, whereby the left door 21. Open the door. The same applies to the right door 22.

  Incidentally, when the user carelessly touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 64, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, and opens the left door 21. By disabling the door operation, the left door 21 is not opened. As a result, when the user's elbow or the like carelessly touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570, the control unit 556 sets the opening operation of the left door 21 to “invalid” and sets the left door 21 The door opening operation can be prohibited.

  Moreover, even when both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 64 are detected due to adhesion of water droplets, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, and opens the left door 21. By making the operation “invalid”, the opening operation of the left door 21 is not performed. The prohibition of the opening operation described above is the same for the right door 22.

  In addition, in the case of a single-open refrigerator, not a double-open refrigerator, when a human body or object comes to the side of the refrigerator, the proximity sensor of the door inadvertently detects the human body or object inadvertently. You can prevent it.

  By the way, the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIG. 64 detects the proximity of the user's finger HT, and the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact sensor that detects the contact of the user's finger HT. The “mode” can be switched as follows.

  As illustrated in FIG. 64, a proximity sensor 560 as a first electrode and an intermediate region portion 589 as a second electrode are connected to a microcomputer 599C of the control unit 556.

  When switching the mode, there are a time when the “proximity detection mode” is switched to the “electrostatic touch mode” and a time when the “electrostatic touch mode” is switched to the “proximity detection mode”.

  When switching from the “proximity detection mode” to the “electrostatic touch mode”, if the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the finger HT, the microcomputer 599C detects the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode and the intermediate as the second electrode. Only the proximity sensor 560 functions as an electrostatic touch sensor in the “electrostatic touch mode” by disconnecting the internal connection with the region portion 589.

  Conversely, when switching from the “electrostatic touch mode” to the “proximity detection mode”, the finger HT moves away from the proximity sensor 560 and a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds elapses from the “electrostatic touch mode”, or the door When reset from open to closed door, the microcomputer 599C makes an internal connection between the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode and the intermediate region portion 589 as the second electrode.

  Next, FIG. 74 shows the first electrode when the left door 21 is opened by bringing the finger HT into contact with the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 in the embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region 589 as the second electrode are switched, and the control operation unit 650 and the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 are turned on. The situation is the same for the right door 22.

  In FIG. 74A, the user's finger is not yet approaching the proximity sensor 560 at all. In this state, in order for the control unit 556 to function the proximity sensor 560 that is an electrostatic switch as a “proximity sensor”, the control unit 556 turns on the proximity sensor 560 and sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to “high”. By setting and increasing the sensitivity, the function as “proximity sensor” is “valid”. Moreover, the function as the “proximity sensor” is “valid” by the control unit 556 turning on the intermediate region portion 589 and setting the sensitivity of the intermediate region portion 589 to “high” to increase the sensitivity. .

  In this case, the control unit 556 sets the opening (opening operation) of the left door 21 which is a function of the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651 to “invalid”. In addition, the control unit 556 sets the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 to the “off state”. And the operation (door opening operation) function of the control switch (control button) 650CS and the home switch (home button) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 is “invalid”.

  Next, FIG. 74B shows a state in which the finger HT is approaching the proximity sensor 560. In this state, since the proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of the finger HT, the control unit 556 turns on the proximity sensor 560 and changes the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “large” to “small”. The sensitivity is lowered by switching to lower the function of the proximity sensor, but the intermediate region portion 589 is turned off.

  For this reason, since the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, the opening operation (opening) of the left door 21 by touching the proximity sensor 560 with the finger HT functioning as a contact sensor from the front panel is performed. The “door operation” function changes from “invalid” to “valid”.

  In addition, the control unit 556 turns on the LED lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the LED lighting display of the proximity sensor 560, and the LED lighting state of both LEDs is, for example, slightly lighted. That is, when the LED 665 shown in FIG. 58 is slightly lit, the control operation unit 650 is illuminated and illuminated from behind, and when the LED 577 shown in FIG. 52 is lit slightly, the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor is slit. Illuminated from behind through 574,575. In this case, preferably, the lighting display time is set to light for a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds, and when the finger HT does not touch the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor during the 10 seconds, The LEDs 635 and 577 may be turned off again.

  However, in the control unit 556, the operation start point (lighting timing) for turning on the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 58 is compared with the operation start point (lighting timing) for turning on the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIG. It can be set to be delayed by a predetermined delay time. That is, the control unit 556 can change the timing of how the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shines and the timing of how the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560 shines. For example, the lighting timing of the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560 can be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650. However, conversely, the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 may be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560. By making the lighting timing different in this way, the position of the control operation unit 650 and the positions of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589 can be distinguished and displayed for the user.

  Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on and change from “invalid” to “valid”.

  Next, FIG. 74C illustrates a state in which the finger HT is in contact with the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor. In this state, the control unit 556 maintains the “small” state, which is the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 as the “contact sensor”. The control unit 556 keeps the open operation (opening operation) function of the left door 21 that is a function of the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor as “valid”. In addition, the control unit 556 changes the lighting state from the fine lighting to the normal lighting as the lighting state of the LED lighting display of the proximity sensor 560.

  That is, when the LED 665 shown in FIG. 58 is normally lit, the control operation unit 650 is illuminated and illuminated from behind, and the LED 577 shown in FIG. The functioning proximity sensor 560 is illuminated and illuminated through the slits 574 and 575 so as to be brighter from behind. That is, when the finger HT in FIG. 74 (C) is touched, the light amount of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the light amount of the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 are increased from the fine lighting to the normal lighting, and the complete light quantity is increased. By making it light by lighting, the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 becomes brighter. The control unit 556 changes the light of the LED of the control operation unit 650 from normal lighting to normal lighting.

  Then, the operation functions of the control button (control switch) 650CS and the home button (home switch) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on and “valid”, and can be operated.

  As a result, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 with a finger and the opening operation of the left door 21 is established, the LED 577 is turned on from light to complete lighting to increase the amount of light. By the increase, it can be visually confirmed that the door opening operation has been established. Moreover, the user can more reliably visually recognize the display of the control operation unit 650 and the display of the LED 577, and can increase the energy saving effect of power consumption.

  As described above, when the finger HT is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 as shown in FIG. 74B and when the finger HT is brought into contact with the touch button 633 shown in FIG. In order to illuminate the control operation unit 650 and the proximity sensor 560, as described above, the amount of light at the time of lighting can be changed and increased.

  Thereafter, FIG. 74D shows a state in which the finger HT of the user's hand is separated from the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor. In this state, the control unit 556 performs the door opening control of the corresponding left door 21 by operating the door opening driving unit 54 by enabling the input of the operation signal from the proximity sensor 560. Thereby, the left door 21 can be opened automatically. Then, the control unit 556 “invalidates” the function of the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor.

  In addition, the control unit 556 maintains the “ON state” of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the LEDs 577 in the slits 574 and 575 of the proximity sensor 560 as indicated by solid lines. Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned off and change from “valid” to “invalid”.

  As described above, the opening operation of the right door 22 using the opening operation portion 652 of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 56 is performed in the same manner as the opening operation of the left door 21 described with reference to FIG. Can do.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 75, the principle that the proximity sensor 560 detects a finger contact will be described. FIG. 75 is a circuit diagram showing the principle that the proximity sensor 560 detects the contact of the finger HT.

  75 includes a proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor (Cx), an adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889, a clock generation source 890, an IDAC (current output digital analog converter) 891, and a latch 892. , A timer 893, an AND circuit 894, and a counter 895. The IDAC 891 causes the same current to flow through the proximity sensor (Cx) 560 and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 as a contact sensor a plurality of times each time, and the proximity sensor (Cx) 560 and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) as a contact sensor. ) Accumulate charges in 889 little by little. The proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor (Cx) and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 continuously accumulate charges until the same potential is reached, and the counter 895 is a pulse until the prescribed charge is accumulated in the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889. Count the number of times.

  When the finger HT touches the proximity sensor 560 serving as the contact sensor (Cx), the capacitance of the proximity sensor (Cx) 560 serving as the contact sensor increases, so that the charge that flows through the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 is reduced. Therefore, since it takes time until the charge is completely accumulated in the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889, the number of pulses counted by the counter 895 is large (gradient slope), and as a result, the displacement of the slope changes. The presence / absence of a finger is determined from the difference in displacement of the tilt. That is, when the count number of pulses counted by the counter 895 becomes a value exceeding a certain threshold value from the normal count number (base count), the control unit 556 causes the finger HT to function as the contact sensor (Cx). It is determined that the proximity sensor 560 has been touched.

  Next, a method for changing the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 in which the finger HT is the contact sensor (Cx) will be described.

  As a method of changing the sensitivity, if the current value of the IDAC 891 is decreased, if the amount of charge accumulated in the proximity sensor (Cx) 560 is the same, the time to finish charging becomes longer and becomes slower. When it becomes moderate, the sensitivity becomes high when judging with the same threshold.

  In the state where the inclination is gentle (the current value is small), when detecting the state where the finger is in contact from the state where the finger is not in contact, the change of the inclination becomes large, and the sensitivity is likely to exceed the threshold and the sensitivity is high. Further, in a state where the inclination is not gentle (the current value is large), when detecting a state where the finger is in contact from a state where the finger is not in contact, a change in the inclination is small, and the sensitivity is difficult to exceed the threshold value.

  In other words, compared to a state where the threshold is exceeded and detected for the first time when touching with the entire palm of the hand, it is possible to detect even when touching only with the tip of the finger by increasing the current value, thereby increasing sensitivity. be able to. Further, although the sensitivity can be increased by reducing the threshold value, there is a problem that noise is also detected. Therefore, the sensitivity is changed by the above-described sensitivity changing method.

  Next, FIG. 76 is a diagram showing a basic structure of the proximity sensor.

  As shown in FIG. 76, the proximity sensor 560 and the copper ground 569 are positioned between the covering layer 560R and the dielectric layer 560D, and the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself and the capacitance CF of the finger HT. Is the capacitance CX of the proximity sensor 560 when a finger touches it.

  In the operation in which the finger HT electrostatically touches the proximity sensor 560, a change in the capacitance CX of the proximity sensor 560 when the finger HT touches is detected. In the operation of detecting the proximity of the finger HT to the proximity sensor 560, a change in the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself when the finger approaches is detected. When the finger is in proximity, the proximity distance (sensitivity) is changed by changing the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself. At the time of proximity, a slight change in the capacitance CP due to the proximity of the finger is detected. The capacitance CP is an electric field in a three-dimensional direction, and changes slightly when the finger is in the electric field. Therefore, the capacitance CX of the entire proximity sensor changes, and the finger can be detected by the above-described detection. .

  Next, FIG. 77 shows switching between the proximity mode and the electrostatic touch mode for the proximity sensor 560 functioning as the contact sensor that is the first electrode shown in FIG. 74 and the intermediate region portion 589 that is the second electrode. It is a figure explaining operation.

  As shown in FIG. 77, the proximity sensor 560 that functions as a contact sensor that is the first electrode and the intermediate region portion 589 that is the second electrode are connected to the multiplexer 556R. The multiplexer 556R can internally connect or disconnect the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 in accordance with a command from the microcomputer 556M of the control unit 556.

(1) At the time of switching operation from the proximity mode to the electrostatic touch mode When performing the switching operation from the proximity mode to the electrostatic touch mode, as shown in FIGS. 74 (A) to 74 (B), the finger HT When the proximity sensor 560 approaches the proximity sensor 560 and the proximity sensor 56 detects the finger HT, the proximity mode is switched to the electrostatic touch mode. That is, in response to an instruction from the microcomputer 556M in FIG. 77, the multiplexer 556R disconnects the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 from the internal connection state to the internal connection release state by changing the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 from the internal connection state. . As a result, only the proximity sensor 560 functions and functions as an electrostatic contact sensor, and the intermediate region portion 589 is turned off and is not used.

(2) Switching operation from the electrostatic touch mode to the proximity mode Conversely, when switching operation from the electrostatic touch mode to the proximity mode is performed, for example, 10 seconds have elapsed from the electrostatic touch mode or the door This is the case when it is reset from opening to closing the door. In this case, in response to an instruction from the microcomputer 556M, the multiplexer 556R returns the internal connection between the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589 from the internal connection release state, and connects the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589. be able to.

  Further, reference is made to FIGS. 48 to 50. FIGS. 48 to 50 show examples of changing the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 that is the first electrode and the intermediate region portion 589 that is the second electrode.

  The proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 is a range of a small circle HC1 when only the proximity sensor 560 that is the first electrode is used. In addition to the proximity sensor 560, the intermediate region portion 589, which is the second electrode, is used in combination, so that the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 can be expanded from a small circle HC1 to a large circle HC2. .

  However, if the proximity detection effective range is to be expanded in this way, the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor of the large circle HC2 enters the adjacent door 21 (or 22) as a moving means or the door pocket on the back side of the door. There is a possibility that a plastic bottle or the like reacts to the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560, a command to open the door is issued, and the door on the side that is not to be opened opens carelessly.

  Therefore, in order to change the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560, as a proximity detection effective range changing means, a ground pattern 573, which is the fourth electrode shown in FIGS. 78 and 51B, and FIG. A guard electrode 570 which is the third electrode shown in A) is provided.

  FIG. 78 is a diagram for explaining the change of the proximity range in the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 78, as shown in FIG. 51B, a mesh ground pattern 573 as a fourth electrode is arranged on the back surface 553B corresponding to the arrangement portion 572 of the substrate 553. The ground pattern (mesh electrode) 573 covers the proximity sensor 560 and the substrate 553 on the back side of the intermediate region portion 589. By setting the same voltage as that of the ground pattern 573 and the proximity 560, an electric field is not formed from the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 to the ground pattern 573. Thereby, the electric field range can be changed, and the range that the proximity sensor 560 does not want to detect can be excluded. The electric field from the ground pattern 573 is generated only in the direction of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589, and the electric field directed from the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 toward the ground pattern 573 is canceled, and the substrate The electric field in the reverse direction of 553 is eliminated (cancelled).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 78A, when the ground pattern 573 as the fourth electrode is arranged on the back of the substrate 553, the proximity detection range DL1 between the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region 589 is changed to FIG. It can be made larger than the proximity detection range DL2 shown in (B). The ground pattern 573 is a mesh metal shield electrode. When FIG. 78A and FIG. 78B are compared, due to the arrangement of the ground pattern 573, FIG. 78A corresponds to the range A shown in FIG. The backward electric field decreases or disappears.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 51A, a frame-shaped guard electrode 570 is arranged on the substrate 553, and the guard electrode 570 surrounds the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589, so that the range B shown in FIG. The electric field in the left-right direction is reduced by this amount. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 48 to 50, the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 can be changed from the large circle HC2 to the small shape HC3, and as shown in FIG. Decrease by the amount of.

  Then, as shown by the small shape HC3 in FIG. 50, the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 generally extends only in the forward direction of the proximity detection range DL1 of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589, and the distance is long. Proximity detection is possible within a range. 53 also has a function to prevent the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor from exceeding the metal body 591 by applying an electric field to prevent erroneous detection by the proximity sensor. it can.

[Thirty-third embodiment]
FIG. 69 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 showing a thirty-third embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 69, the refrigerator 1 has a refrigerator compartment 12, a vegetable compartment 13, a switching room 14, a freezer compartment 15, and an ice making room 16. A pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12. For this purpose, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so that the left and right ends of the cabinet 11 that is the refrigerator main body are opened and closed in a hinged manner at the hinges. In this example, the width of the right door 22 is larger than the width of the left door 21.

  Both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the opening portion of a flat inner plate that opens to the front surface, and a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity portion to provide vacuum heat insulation. This is a heat insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a urethane heat insulating material) or a pre-molded solid heat insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a hollow portion that cannot be filled with a material.

  As shown in FIG. 69, one operation detection unit 701 is installed at a position below the front plate 22 </ b> A of the right door 22, for example, which is larger than the left door 21.

  The door opening drive units 54 and 55 are respectively installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end portion of the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 at the left and right locations near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11. Yes.

  These door opening drive units 54 and 55 are door opening / closing devices (door opening devices) for forcibly opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by electromagnets, thereby pushing the upper sides near the open end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, The right door 22 is forcibly automatically opened.

  FIG. 70 is a cross-sectional view showing a structural example of the operation detection unit 701 along the ZR-ZR line shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 70, the operation detection unit 701 shown in FIG. 69 has a shielding sheet material 721 disposed on the inner surface side of the glass front plate 22A by printing or the like. The sheet material 721 is arranged to prevent the inside from being seen through the front plate 22A.

  A first substrate 731 and a second substrate 732 are disposed on the inner surface side of the front plate 22A. The first substrate 731 and the second substrate 732 are arranged in parallel to the front plate 22A with a space therebetween.

  For example, four capacitive proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, 714 as non-contact sensors are arranged on the surface of the first substrate 631, and a connector 729 is arranged on the back surface. These proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 are arranged two-dimensionally (on a plane) on the first substrate 631 in the right door 22, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 69, the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 are respectively disposed at the corners of the square, the proximity sensor 711 is disposed at the upper left corner, and the proximity sensor 712 is Arranged in the upper right corner, the proximity sensor 713 is arranged in the lower right corner, and the proximity sensor 714 is arranged in the lower left corner.

  These proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, 714 are not in contact with the user's (human body) fingers, but also the state of moving the palm (the palm, the back of the hand), the side of the hand, the elbow, etc. Can be detected. Thus, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened by driving the opening drive unit 54 or the opening drive unit 55.

  The proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 are electrodes for electrostatic touch (contact), and the fact that the user's hand, elbow, etc. are approaching in the front (front) direction of the right door 22 through the front plate 22 </ b> A. For example, it is a capacitance type detection means that detects without contact. The proximity sensors 711 to 714 detect the approach of a part of the user's human body, specifically, for example, when a palm (a palm, the back of the hand), a side of the hand, an elbow, or the like approaches. The proximity sensors 711 to 714 are capacitive touch sensors, and a mutual capacitance touch sensor or a self-capacitance touch sensor can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 70, a plurality of LEDs 735 and connectors 736 are arranged on the surface of the second substrate 732. The connector 736 of the second substrate 732 is connected to the connector 729 of the first substrate 731 by a relay bundle wire 728.

  Each LED 735 is disposed at a position corresponding to each hole 734 of the first substrate 731. Thereby, the light generated by each LED 635 can illuminate the proximity sensors 711 to 714 from the back through each hole 734. Thereby, even in a dark environment, the user can visually confirm the positions of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 through the front plate 22A and the sheet material 721.

  FIG. 71 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connections of the control unit 756, the operation detection unit 701, and the door opening drive units 54 and 55 that are door opening devices.

  As shown in FIG. 71, the control unit 756 is electrically connected to the operation detection unit 701, the door opening drive units 54 and 55, the plurality of LEDs 735, and the distance measurement unit 777.

  In the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 69, when the user opens the left door 21 (or the right door 22) of the refrigerator 1, the user performs an operation by non-contact of the operation detection unit 701 with a finger in a dark environment. The positions of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are difficult to see. Thus, in order to improve that it is difficult to operate each proximity sensor 711-714, LED735 is each mounted in the back surface of each proximity sensor 711-714.

  When the non-contact sensors 711 to 714 detect not only the fingers in the specific order determined in advance but also the approach of the palm (the palm, the back of the hand), the side of the hand, and the elbow, the control unit 756 Since the proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714 receives a signal notifying that a person has approached, the control unit 756 controls the left door 21 or the right by the opening drive unit 54 or the opening drive unit 55 that is a door opening device. The door 22 is operated to open.

  At this time, the control unit 756 receives signals from the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 that indicate that a person is approaching, so that the LED 735 can be turned on by a command from the control unit 756. .

  Accordingly, the user can visually check the positions of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 even in a dark environment, and can easily operate the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714, and The door 21 (or the right door 22) can be opened.

  As described above, the operation detection unit 701 of the present embodiment does not detect a human operation by contact detection, but opens the left door 21 or the right door 22 by non-contact detection. When the door is opened by contact detection, it is necessary to touch the contact detection part with a finger. When the user has something in his hand, it is difficult to open the door or to open it with an elbow. On the other hand, the operation detection unit 701 can employ a non-contact operation that does not need to touch the contact detection part, thereby suppressing a user's unintentional opening operation due to a change in the user's operation or surrounding environment. .

  Each of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 shown in FIGS. It is possible to open the left door 21 or the right door 22 in a non-contact manner by performing a so-called gesture, which is an operation of moving the user. The opening operation of the door not intended by the user due to changes in the surrounding environment can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 69, the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are two-dimensionally arranged in the vertical direction (VT direction) and the horizontal direction (HL direction) at the same interval. Preferably, it is located at each of the four corners of the square. By moving the user's hand, elbow, etc. in a specific order (vertical direction, horizontal direction, diagonal direction) with respect to each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714 of the operation detection unit 701, The control unit 756 in FIG. 71 recognizes the movement of the palm (the palm, the back of the hand), the side of the hand, and the elbow, as well as the fingers detected by the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714. . Thereby, for example, the control unit 756 drives the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 to open the left door 21, or the control unit 756 drives the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 to drive the right door 22. The function to open is to be demonstrated.

  The operation detection unit 701 can be attached to any partition of the right door 22. Thereby, the operation detection part 701 can be arrange | positioned irrespective of the presence or absence of a glass-made front plate, irrespective of the design of a door, and various operation | movement displays.

  Each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714 of the operation detection unit 701 is structured to be provided on one sheet of the first substrate 731, and thus can be easily manufactured. Further, the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 can be provided on a plurality of substrates instead of being provided on the single first substrate 731. Thereby, the freedom degree in arrangement | positioning of each proximity sensor 711,712,713,714 of the operation detection part 701 improves more.

  Next, the usage example of the refrigerator 1 mentioned above is demonstrated.

  In the usage example described below, the proximity sensors 711 to 714 shown in FIG. 69 are used when the user uses the fingers of both hands to hold an article, for example, a dish or a pan, and the hands are closed. For example, a case where the left door 21 (or the right door 22) cannot be opened by touching will be described.

  In this case, a part of the user's human body that can operate the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a non-contact manner is a palm (a palm, the back of the hand), a side part of the hand, an elbow, or the like.

  As described above, when the user causes the proximity sensors 711 to 714 to be detected in a predetermined specific order using the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow, the control unit 756, for example, opens the left door 21. The door driving unit 54 can be driven to open the left door 21, or the control unit 756 can drive the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door 22 to open the right door 22.

  FIG. 72 shows an example in which the user performs an approaching operation in a specific order determined in advance with respect to the proximity sensors 711 to 714 by the operation (gesture) of the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow.

  This specific order refers to a route in which the user's palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow moves in proximity to at least two of the proximity sensors 711 to 714, and is determined in advance. .

  The specific order shown in FIG. 72 (A) is that the two non-contact sensors 711 and 712 are placed on the human body by movement along the first direction DD1 indicated by the right arrow of the user's palm or hand or the elbow. The two non-contact sensors 712 and 711 are sequentially detected (the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow) and moved along a second direction (opposite direction) DD2 indicated by a left arrow different from the first direction DD1. Is obtained by sequentially detecting the human body (the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow).

  In this case, the first direction DD1 and the second direction DD2 constitute a first specific direction F1, and the specific order of the first specific direction F1 is, for example, a door opening drive with respect to the control unit 756. A function for opening the left door 21 is instructed by the unit 54.

  Another specific order shown in FIG. 72 (B) includes two non-contact sensors 711 and 712 due to movement along the first direction DD1 indicated by the right direction arrow of the user's palm or hand or the elbow. Detects the human body (the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow) and moves along the third direction DD3 indicated by the downward arrow different from the first direction DD1 to cause the two non-contact sensors 712 and 713 to move to the human body. It is obtained by sequentially detecting (palm, hand side, or elbow).

  In this case, the first direction DD1 and the third direction DD3 constitute the second specific direction F2, and the specific order of the second specific direction F2 is, for example, the storage room of the refrigerator 1, for example The control unit 756 is instructed to perform a so-called “one-time freezing” function of rapidly freezing the inside of the switching chamber 14 that can switch the internal set temperature shown in 69. This “freezing” function is a function that passes through the temperature range of −1 ° C. to −5 ° C. where the water content of the food freezes at once, suppresses cell damage during freezing, and maintains umami.

  As described above, the user performs a predetermined order with respect to at least two of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 by the operation (gesture) of the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow. By performing the approaching operation, for example, the left door 21 or the right door 22 can be opened as a predetermined function.

  Thereby, even if the proximity sensors 711 to 714 are arranged on the left door 21 or the right door 22, it is possible to prevent the left door 21 or the right door 22 from opening if the user simply passes in front of the refrigerator 1. Can do.

  FIG. 73 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the proximity operation is performed on the proximity sensor in another predetermined specific order.

  As illustrated in FIG. 73, when the user is holding the plate or pan using both fingers and the hands are closed and the fingers of both hands cannot be used for the proximity operation on the proximity sensors 711 to 714, By using the palm of the hand (the palm, the back of the hand), the side of the hand, the elbow, etc., the proximity sensors 711 to 714 are detected in a predetermined specific order in a non-contact manner. This function can be instructed to the control unit 756.

  The direction of gesturing and moving the palm (the back of the hand, the back of the hand), the side of the hand, and the elbow can be used in any combination of two or more in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the diagonal direction. .

  For example, FIG. 73A shows a combination of the first direction (right direction) DD1 and the fourth direction (diagonal downward direction) DD4, and FIG. 73B shows the fifth direction (downward direction) DD5 and the sixth direction. A combination of directions (upward) DD6 is shown.

  73C shows a combination of the third direction (downward) DD3 and the seventh direction (upward) DD7, and in FIG. 73D, the eighth direction (rightward) DD8 and the ninth direction (left) are shown. Direction) A combination of DD9 is shown.

  By combining these gestures in a plurality of directions, the control unit 756 can exhibit various functions such as opening the left door 21 and opening the right door 22.

  In the illustrated example, the operation detection unit 701 includes four proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation detection unit 701 can also be composed of two proximity sensors, three proximity sensors, and five or more proximity sensors. These proximity sensors can be arranged two-dimensionally (on a plane) at the door.

  The above-described refrigerator 1 includes a left door 21 and a right door 22 that are open and close, and front plates 21 </ b> A and 22 </ b> A of glass plates are arranged on the front side of the left door 21 and the right door 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the front side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 may be not a glass plate but a metal plate such as a steel plate. Moreover, as a refrigerator, you may have one door of a single opening type.

  Each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714 of the operation detection unit 701 is a capacitance type, but is not limited thereto, and a method of detecting a user's finger in a non-contact manner by infrared rays may be adopted.

  Further, the refrigerator includes distance measuring means 777 illustrated in FIGS. 69 and 71, for example, on the back side of the glass front plate 21A of the left door 21 or on the back side of the glass front plate 22A of the right door 22, and on the refrigerator frame. Or it can arrange | position in the partition part etc. which have divided each store room.

  This distance measuring means 777 measures the distance from the refrigerator 1 to the user's human body. For example, depending on the size of the room in which the refrigerator is installed, the distance of the human body measured by the distance measuring unit 777 may be changed. If the refrigerator is installed in a large room, the distance between the refrigerator 1 and the human body increases. If the refrigerator is installed in a narrow room, the distance between the refrigerator 1 and the human body decreases.

  Therefore, based on the fact that the distance to the human body measured by the distance measuring unit 777 is changed, the control unit 756 can effectively operate the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 that are non-contact sensors to detect the human body. The range can be configured to be changeable. That is, the sensitivity at the time of detection by the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, 714 can be adjusted between high sensitivity and medium sensitivity.

  The proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 can be attached to, for example, the right door 22 made of a steel plate having a normal structure that does not have a glass front plate. By adopting such a structure, the operation detection unit 701 can be arranged at any position on the door.

  The operation detection unit 701 can be installed inside the urethane heat insulating material inside the front plate 22A shown in FIG. Thereby, the operation detection part 701 can be arrange | positioned in the arbitrary positions of a door.

  The operation detection unit 701 can be attached on or under a plastic cap disposed on the edge portion of the right door 22. Thereby, the operation detection part 701 can be arrange | positioned irrespective of the presence or absence of the design of a door, and various operation display parts irrespective of the presence or absence of a glass-made front board.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, can be combined with various embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It can be carried out. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In addition, you may perform the printing etc. which show an operation position according to the display of LED. This printing is preferably translucent printing through which LED light is transmitted.

1 refrigerator 11 cabinet 12 refrigerator compartment 21 left door 21A front plate 22 right door (door)
22A Front plate 31 Rotating partition 50 Control operation part 51, 52 Door opening operation part 51A, 52A Arrow mark (door opening operation display part)
52-1 to 52-8, 5221 to 5244 Touch sensors 54, 55 Door drive unit 56 Control units 61, 62 Handle NS 1, NS 2 Voice recognition sensor (voice recognition means)
HS Human sensor LS Illuminance sensor 100 Remote detection sensor (infrared sensor)
300 Storage Unit 310 Relevance Input Registration Unit 330 Light Emitting Unit 340 Sound Generation Unit 350 Audio Generation Unit 410 Height Measurement Sensor 500 Human Body Detection Unit 700 Case 700H Hole 710 Control Board 711 Support Unit 720 Voice Recognition Unit 740 Vacuum Heat Insulation Material 750 Ceiling Light 750a LED
755 Inner wall 763 Supporting part 770 Vacuum heat insulating material 771 First part 772 Second part 777 Inner wall part 780 Bent part

Claims (16)

A refrigerator body with an open front,
A heat insulating door attached to the front opening of the refrigerator body;
A door opening device attached to the refrigerator body and forcibly opening the door;
An opening operation unit provided on the door for operating the opening operation of the opening device;
A control unit that inputs an operation signal from the opening operation unit and performs door opening control,
The part that gives the opening operation input to the opening operation part is a part of the front plate of the door and is continuous with the front plate,
The door opening operation unit includes a plurality of operation detection units provided in the door, and outputs an operation detection signal from the plurality of operation detection units to the control unit, and the control unit receives from the plurality of operation detection units. It is determined whether or not the operation detection signal is a predetermined operation, and when it is the predetermined operation, it is determined as a door opening operation, the door opening control is performed on the door opening device,
After the control unit receives an operation detection signal for one operation detection unit among the plurality of operation detection units, an operation detection signal for another operation detection unit among the plurality of operation detection units within a predetermined time. When not receiving , the refrigerator which does not perform door opening control with respect to the said door opening apparatus . The opening operation unit includes three or more operation detection units provided on the door,
The control unit determines that the door opening operation is performed when at least two or more of the plurality of operation detecting units output operation detection signals in order, and opens the door opening device. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the door is controlled. The control unit determines that a door opening operation is performed when at least three operation detection units among the three or more operation detection units sequentially output operation detection signals, and controls the opening of the door opening device. The refrigerator according to claim 2 . The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the plurality of operation detection units are arranged in a horizontal direction on the left and right. A plurality of the heat insulating doors are attached to the front opening of the refrigerator body,
The opening operation unit is installed in each of the plurality of doors,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the control unit detects an operation different for each of the plurality of doors, determines that the operation is an opening operation, and controls the opening of the door. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the opening operation unit is a capacitive touch sensor. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the plurality of operation detection units are arranged in a horizontal direction on the left and right in the vicinity of an upper side or a lower side of the door. The plurality of operation detection units are arranged on a single board that is elongated in the left and right lateral direction,
The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the substrate is inserted and fixed in the vicinity of the upper side or the lower side of the door in a state that is long in the lateral direction from the upper end surface or the lower end surface of the door. The heat-insulating door is attached to the front opening of the refrigerator main body so as to open and close in a double-spreading manner on the left and right sides,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the opening operation unit is installed on each of the two left and right doors and at the same height from the ground. The opening operation part is installed in the left-right direction in the vicinity of the open end of the door,
The said control part detects the sliding operation which moves to the opposite direction from the said open end side with respect to the said door opening operation part, judges that it is a door opening operation, and controls door opening . The refrigerator according to any one of 8 . The opening operation part is installed at any end of the four corners of the door,
Wherein the control unit is configured to determine an open operating when the door opening operation direction is the direction toward the outside of the door against the door opening operation portion, one of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the door opening control The refrigerator of Claim 1. The refrigerator shown in any one of Claims 1-11 provided with the mark shown in the door opening operation direction in the applicable position of the front plate corresponding to the installation place of the door opening operation part in the door. . The opening operation is a sliding operation in one direction with respect to the opening operation unit,
In the opening operation section, a plurality of slide detection touch sensors are arranged in the direction of the slide operation, and the plurality of touch sensors are adjacent to the slide direction in a direction different from the direction of the slide operation. 13. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the matching touch sensors are partially overlapped with each other. The opening operation is a sliding operation on the opening operation unit,
In the opening operation section, a plurality of touch sensors for slide detection are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions,
The said control part judges that it is a door opening operation when a touch operation is carried out so that the some touch sensor of the said door opening operation part may draw a fixed pattern, and it controls door opening . The refrigerator according to any one of 3 and 6 . The control unit is to determine a door opening operation with respect to a sliding operation in one direction with respect to the door opening operation unit, and when it is determined to be a sliding operation in a direction toward the open end side of the door, Opening control is performed, The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , 6, 8, and 12. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein a handle for manually opening and closing the door is provided at a location different from the installation location of the door operation unit.

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