CN107131713B

CN107131713B - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN107131713B
Application number: CN201710438589.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 真下拓也; 佐伯友康; 上野俊司; 林秀竹; 阿部孝彦; 长坂俊郎; 住广胜志; 武下正宪; 三嵨浩二; 前田一真; 加藤伸喜
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2013-06-25
Filing date: 2014-06-25
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-25
Also published as: CN107178957A; CN107084586A; CN107388706B; CN107166858A; CN107144080A; KR102184333B1; CN107144080B; KR20180023053A; CN107024070A; JP2016014484A; CN107014138A; MY183145A; TWI572837B; WO2014208585A1; CN107152834A; CN107084586B; CN107388705A; KR20210054062A; CN106969578A; CN106949700A

Abstract

The refrigerator of the embodiment of the invention comprises: a refrigerator main body having an opening portion whose front surface is opened; 1 or more heat-insulating doors, the 1 or more heat-insulating doors being mounted to the opening; a door opener installed to the refrigerator main body to open any one of the doors; a door opening operation unit provided to any one of the doors and configured to operate a door opening operation of the door opening device; and a control unit to which an operation signal from the door opening operation unit is input and which controls the door opening operation of the door by the door opening device; the door opening operation unit includes a substrate on which a sensor functioning as a proximity sensor or a contact sensor is provided, and the refrigerator further includes: a guard electrode disposed around the sensor, and a hole formed in an area inside the guard electrode and around the sensor on the substrate; and a light emitting element for emitting light from the door opening operation unit through the hole.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

The application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with the application number of 201480030279.6, the application date of 2014 of 6-25 and the invention name of a refrigerator.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a touch sensor on a front panel of a front surface of a door.

Background

In recent years, refrigerators have appeared in which a front panel as a cosmetic sheet made of glass or plastic is provided on a door. In such a refrigerator, the operation input unit is configured on the front panel by using a capacitance type touch key, and when a user touches a portion of the front surface of the front panel corresponding to the operation key, the user senses an operation input due to a change in capacitance, and transmits a corresponding operation signal to the refrigerator control unit. It is desirable that such a refrigerator can sense a touch operation of a user on a specific portion of the front panel to perform door opening control of the refrigerator.

However, when the door opening control of the refrigerator is automatically performed when a certain specific portion of the front panel is touched, the following malfunction may occur: even if the user inadvertently touches the part without the intention of controlling the door opening of the refrigerator or a part of the user's body unintentionally touches the part, a malfunction occurs in which the door opening of the refrigerator is controlled.

In order to avoid such a malfunction, a technique of controlling the door opening of the refrigerator by the touch detection means may be considered, but the malfunction cannot be avoided.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1 Japanese patent laid-open No. 2009-257627 (JP 2009-257627A)

Patent document 2 Japanese patent No. 4347234 (JP 4347234B)

Patent document 3 Japanese patent laid-open No. 2012-17865 (JP 2012-017865A)

Patent document 4 Japanese patent laid-open No. 2012-17866 (JP 2012-017866A)

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide the following refrigerator: the operation part can be confirmed without printing the operation position of the door opening operation part on the front panel of the refrigerator.

The refrigerator of the present invention has: a refrigerator main body having an opening portion whose front surface is opened; 1 or more heat-insulating doors, the 1 or more heat-insulating doors being mounted to the opening; a door opening device installed to the refrigerator main body to allow any one of the doors to perform a door opening operation; a door opening operation unit provided to any one of the doors and configured to operate a door opening operation of the door opening device; and a control unit to which an operation signal from the door opening operation unit is input and which controls the door opening operation of the door by the door opening device; the door opening operation unit includes a substrate on which a sensor functioning as a proximity sensor or a contact sensor is provided, and the refrigerator further includes: a guard electrode disposed around the sensor, and a hole formed in an area inside the guard electrode and around the sensor on the substrate; and a light emitting element for emitting light from the door opening operation unit through the hole.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 in an open state.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating chamber portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of door opening control of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of an attaching operation of the door opening operation portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing an installation state of a door opening operation part of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 8 is a front view showing a door opening operation unit and a door opening operation display unit of the refrigerator according to embodiment 7.

Fig. 9 is a front view showing a door opening operation unit and a door opening operation display unit of the refrigerator according to embodiment 8.

Fig. 10(a) to 10(e) are explanatory views showing an example of the arrangement of the door opening operation portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 9.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of the arrangement of the touch detection electrodes of the door opening operation portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 10.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of the arrangement of the touch detection electrodes of the door opening operation portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 11.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory view showing another arrangement example of the touch detection electrodes of the door opening operation portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 11.

Fig. 14 is a front view showing a door opening operation unit and a door opening operation display unit of the refrigerator according to embodiment 12.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 15.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 17.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 18.

Fig. 18 is a view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 16.

Fig. 19 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 15.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 20.

Fig. 21 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 19.

Fig. 22 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 22.

Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 24.

Fig. 24 is a view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 16.

Fig. 25(a) and 25(b) are views showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 25.

Fig. 26 is a view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 26.

Fig. 27 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

Fig. 28 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

Fig. 29 is a view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 27.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to embodiment 27 in the door-open state.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating compartment portion of the refrigerator of embodiment 27.

Fig. 32 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator of embodiment 27.

Fig. 33 is a flowchart showing a case where the left and right doors of the refrigerating compartment of embodiment 27 are automatically opened instead of being manually opened by a user.

Fig. 34 is a schematic view of a cross section of, for example, a right door of the refrigerator of embodiment 27.

Fig. 35 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator of embodiment 27.

Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the door opening operation unit having the function of the proximity sensor according to embodiment 27.

Fig. 37 is a front view of the refrigerator of embodiment 28.

Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to embodiment 28 in the door-open state.

Fig. 39 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating chamber portion of the refrigerator of embodiment 28.

Fig. 40 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator of embodiment 28.

Fig. 41(a) to 41(d) are views showing examples in which the door opening operation portion of the door shown in fig. 37 to 39 functions as a human body detection means for detecting a human body of a user of the refrigerator.

Fig. 42 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 29.

Fig. 43 is a block diagram of door opening control including a human body detection mechanism of the refrigerator shown in fig. 42.

Fig. 44 is a sectional view in the front-rear direction of the upper portion of the refrigerator according to embodiment 29.

Fig. 45 is a front-rear sectional view of an upper portion of a refrigerator according to modification 1 of embodiment 29.

Fig. 46 is a sectional view in the front-rear direction of the upper portion of a refrigerator according to modification 2 of embodiment 29.

Fig. 47 is a sectional view of an upper portion of a refrigerator according to modification 3 of embodiment 29 in front-rear direction に.

Fig. 48 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 30.

Fig. 49 is a top view of the refrigerator shown in fig. 48.

Fig. 50 is a side view of the refrigerator shown in fig. 48.

Fig. 51(a) and 51(b) show an example of the structure of the substrate of the door opening operation unit.

Fig. 52 is a view showing a proximity sensor and a guard electrode disposed on the substrate of the door opening operation unit shown in fig. 51.

Fig. 53 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the door opening operation unit.

Fig. 54 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit, the door opening operation unit, the door opening drive unit as the door opening device, and the like.

Fig. 55(a) to 55(c) are views showing examples of the storage structure of the substrates of the left and right doors.

Fig. 56 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 31.

Fig. 57 is a sectional view taken along the Vl-Vl line showing an example of the structure of the left door 21 shown in fig. 56 in the vicinity of the door opening operation portion 651 including the proximity sensor 607 (or in the vicinity of the door opening operation portion 652 including the proximity sensor 608).

Fig. 58 is a sectional view of the control operation portion 650 shown in fig. 56, taken along line V2-V2.

Fig. 59 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit, the control operation unit, the door opening operation unit, and the door opening drive unit as the door opening device.

Fig. 60(a) to 60(d) are views showing an example of a case where the control operation section and the door opening operation section of the left door are turned on when the finger touches the electrode of the touch key of the door opening operation section after the proximity sensor of the left door shown in fig. 56 detects the proximity of the finger of the user.

Fig. 61 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 32.

Fig. 62 is a top view of the refrigerator shown in fig. 61.

Fig. 63 is a side view of the refrigerator shown in fig. 61.

Fig. 64(a) and 64(b) show a structural example of the substrate of the door opening operation portion shown in fig. 61.

Fig. 65 is a view showing a proximity sensor and a guard electrode disposed on the substrate of the door opening operation unit shown in fig. 64.

Fig. 66 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the door opening operation portion.

Fig. 67 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit, the door opening operation unit, the door opening drive unit as the door opening device, and the like.

Fig. 68(a) to 68(c) are views showing an example of a storage structure of the substrates of the left and right doors.

Fig. 69 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 33.

FIG. 70 is a sectional view showing a configuration example of the operation detecting section at the ZR-ZR line shown in FIG. 69.

Fig. 71 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit, the operation detection unit, the door opening drive unit as the door opening device, and the like.

Fig. 72(a) and 72(b) are diagrams showing an example in which the user performs the proximity operation on the proximity sensor in a predetermined specific order by using the operation (posture) of the palm, the side of the hand, the elbow, or the like.

Fig. 73(a) to 73(d) are diagrams showing examples of proximity operations performed on the proximity sensor in other predetermined specific order.

Fig. 74(a) to 74(d) show another embodiment.

Fig. 75 is a circuit diagram showing a principle of detecting a touch of a finger by the proximity sensor.

Fig. 76 is a diagram showing a basic structure of a proximity sensor.

Fig. 77 is a diagram illustrating switching between the proximity mode and the electrostatic touch mode of the proximity sensor.

Fig. 78(a) and 78(b) are diagrams for explaining changes in the proximity range of the proximity sensor.

Detailed Description

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

Embodiment 1

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 1 includes a cabinet 11 as a refrigerator main body. The case 11 has, from the upper layer: a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14 capable of switching a set temperature in the refrigerator, and a freezing chamber 15. Further, an ice making chamber 16 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 14.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, left and

right doors

21 and 22 constituting ー pairs are attached to the top and bottom of the left and right ends of refrigerating room 12 by hinges, respectively, so as to cover the front opening of refrigerating room 12: to open and close the opening part. Further, the vegetable compartment 13, the switching compartment 14, the freezing compartment 15, and the ice making compartment 16 are provided with push-

pull type doors

23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively. A refrigerating evaporator (not shown) for cooling the refrigerating chamber 12 and the vegetable chamber 13 is disposed on the rear surface of the vegetable chamber 13. A freezing evaporator (not shown) for cooling switching room 14, freezing room 15, and ice making room 16 is disposed on the back surface of switching room 14 and freezing room 15. A control unit 56 made of a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 is also disposed on the back surface of the vegetable compartment 13.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are each configured as follows: transparent

glass front panels

21A and 22A are attached to the opening portion of the flat inner panel having the front surface opened, a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity, and a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a polyurethane heat insulating material) or a preformed solid heat insulating material (e.g., EPC) is disposed in the cavity not filled with the vacuum heat insulating material. The degree of coloration of the

front panels

21A and 22A is the concentration of the filler such as the heat insulating material on the back surfaces of the

front panels

21A and 22A which is not visible from the outside when the front panels are irradiated with the external light. At this concentration, in a light-on state of an LED display lamp for transmitting and displaying a name of an operation key, a name of a cooling function, a cooling intensity, and the like, which will be described later, and a 7-segment LED display device for transmitting and displaying a numerical value of a change in temperature value and the like, light is transmitted and visible from the front surface side. Further, the LED is not limited to the 7-segment LED, and may be LCD or EL.

A rotation spacer 31 is provided at the right end portion of the left door 21, i.e., a portion on the open side close to and opposite to the left end portion of the right door 22 in the closed state, and the rotation spacer 31 is used to maintain a sealed state with the left end portion of the right door 22, i.e., the portion on the open side in the closed state. A dew condensation prevention heater for preventing dew condensation is incorporated in the rotary insulating body 31.

A capacitance type control operation portion 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation with respect to the surface of the front panel 22A is provided on the back side of the front panel 22A of the right door 22. The control operation unit 50 is provided with an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental state around the refrigerator, a HOME button, an LED display lamp for detecting a touch to the HOME button and displaying a name of the operation button, a name of a cooling function, a cooling intensity, and the like through the HOME button, a 7-segment LED display device for displaying a value of a change in temperature value and the like through the LED display lamp, and the like.

Door

opening operation portions

51, 52 elongated in the lateral direction are provided on the rear sides near the lower edges of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 and the front panel 22A of the right door 22, respectively. Door opening

operation display portions

51A and 52A indicating the door opening operation portions and indicating the door opening operation directions are provided on the surfaces of the

front panels

21A and 22A. Here, the door opening operation display unit 51A of the left door 21 is provided with a left-facing arrow mark for recognizing that the finger is slid in the left direction in a finger-touched state to perform a door opening operation. The door opening operation display unit 52A of the right door 22 is provided with a right arrow mark for recognizing that the finger is slid to the right side in a finger-touched state to perform a door opening operation.

Door

opening driving portions

54 and 55 are provided at 2 positions on the left and right sides near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11, that is, at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the upper open side end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. The door

opening driving units

54 and 55 push the

movable cores

54A and 55A forward by the electromagnets to push the upper sides near the opening side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, thereby allowing the doors to be automatically opened. In order to open the left door 21, if the finger is slid leftward in a state where the finger touches the right end of the left door opening operation display unit 51A or an arrow mark near the right end, the door opening operation unit 51 senses the continuous touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and when the control unit 56 determines that the touch is a door opening operation command, the door opening driving unit 54 of the left door 21 is operated to automatically open the left door 21, which will be described in detail later. On the other hand, if the finger is slid to the right in a state where the finger touches the left end of the right door opening operation display unit 52A or the arrow mark near the left end in order to open the right door 22, the door opening operation unit 52 senses the continuous touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and when the control unit 56 determines that the command 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.

The cooling control by the control unit 56 of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 is a general control, and is not particularly limited, but for example, a compressor, an operation panel, a dew condensation prevention heater, an ice making device inside an ice making chamber, a refrigerating chamber fan, a freezing chamber fan, and a defrosting heater are connected to the control unit 56 and controlled.

The arrow marks of the door opening

operation display units

51A and 52A are not limited to the display, and the shape and form of the marks are not limited as long as the display that will be operated to open the door if the user touches the marks and slides the marks to the right or left can be easily recognized.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with

handles

61 and 62 at lower end portions thereof below the door opening

operation display portions

51A and 52A, respectively, so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 can be manually opened individually by an operation of inserting fingers into the left door 21 and the right door 22 with the palm facing upward and pulling the left door forward.

Next, the automatic door opening operation of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 will be described. As shown in fig. 4, capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are provided in parallel so as to face each other across the

front panels

21A and 22A at 5 arrow marks arranged laterally on the door opening

operation display units

51A and 52A of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52, respectively. These capacitance type touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are respectively set to detect a change in capacitance due to a touch of a user, and send a touch detection signal to the control unit 56.

Therefore, when the user touches the left arrow mark with a finger in a portion of the door opening operation display unit 52A to open the right door 22 and slides the finger in the right direction in the touched state, the sensors of the capacitance type touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 that detect the change in capacitance each transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56 in the order of touching. Therefore, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the door opening operation is performed based on the logic of the flowchart of fig. 5, and if the door opening operation is determined to be a normal door opening operation, outputs a door opening drive signal to the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door to automatically open the right door 22. In the case of the door opening operation of the left door 21, the same door opening operation of the left door 21 is determined for the door opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21 by an operation of sliding a finger in the left direction in a state where the right end or an arrow mark near the right end is touched.

The door open determination logic here is as follows. When at least 3 of the 5 left and right sensors perform touch detection within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second or 1 second) in the order of arrangement, it is determined that the door is opened, and the corresponding door is automatically opened. Here, the door opening operation of the right door 22 will be described.

When any one of the arrow marks of the door opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is touched, the corresponding capacitance type touch sensor on the door opening operation portion 52 side (normally, the arrow mark touching the left end or close to the left end, and hence, the sensor 52-1 on the left end is assumed here) performs touch detection, and sends a touch detection signal to the control portion 56. The control unit 56 receives the signal and starts a process of determining the door opening operation (step S0). Then, first, the timer is started (step S1).

The right and further right capacitive touch sensors 52-2 and 52-3 then perform touch detection and send detection signals until the timer expires, and the controller 56 receives these signals, and determines that the touched sensors are 3 consecutive sensors in the right direction, and that the touched sensors are in the forward sliding operation as the door opening operation direction of the right door 22 from the left to the right. That is, determination is made in NO in step S2, YES in step S3, YES in step S4, and YES in step S5. As a result, the control unit 56 determines that the normal door opening operation is performed on the right door 22, and outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door, and operates the door opening drive unit 55 to automatically open the right door 22 (step S6).

Further, if the sliding is stopped in the middle, or the sliding speed is slow, or the sliding length is short, it cannot be determined that 3 or more arrow marks are touched in the forward direction within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second or 1 second), and therefore the determination process of the door opening operation is temporarily stopped, and the next touch detection is waited (YES in step S2, jump to step S7, and stop the determination process). In addition, even if the sliding operation is performed from the right end side to the left side on the door opening operation display unit 52A, the right door is not opened (NO is branched to step S5, and the process jumps to step S7 to stop the determination processing).

The same applies to the judgment processing of the door opening operation of the left door 21. However, in the case of the left door 21, when the right end or an arrow mark near the right end of the door opening operation display unit 51A, which is opposite to the direction of the right door 22, is touched and slid to the left, it is determined that the door opening operation is performed. Therefore, even if the sliding operation is performed rightward from the arrow mark at or near the left end, the left door does not open.

In the automatic door opening control, the following procedure is adopted: the control unit 56 determines the door opening operation and drives the door

opening driving units

54 and 55, but the following procedure may be adopted instead: a microcomputer is mounted on the side of the door

opening operation units

51, 52, and capacitance type touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5 detect a change in capacitance due to a touch by a user and input a touch detection signal to the microcomputer, and when the door

opening operation units

51, 52 determine that a sliding operation in a certain direction is performed within a predetermined time, the microcomputer finally determines that a door opening operation is performed and transmits a command signal for opening the left door or the right door to the control unit 56, and when the control unit 56 receives the door opening command, the control unit 54 or the door opening drive unit 55 is driven to open the door.

Next, a method of assembling the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 to the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to fig. 6 and 7. The door opening operation unit 52 of the right door 22 will be described below, but the same applies to the door opening operation unit 51 of the left door 21.

First, the door opening operation portion 52 is configured as follows: capacitive touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 are arranged side by side on an elongated substrate 52P which is short in the W direction and long in the T direction so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction T. The door opening operation portion 52 is provided inside the lower end of the right door 22 in a posture of being closely attached to the back surface of the front panel 22A with the longitudinal direction T thereof being the left-right direction.

Therefore, an operation portion installation space 64 having a lower opening is provided near the left end of the lower end portion of the right door 22. The width of the operation portion installation space 64 in the lateral direction is slightly longer than the length of the door opening operation portion 52 in the longitudinal direction T, so that the door opening operation portion 52 can be inserted slidably upward from the lower surface opening portion in a state where the longitudinal direction T is set to be lateral. Then, the door opening operation unit 52 is inserted directly from the lower surface opening of the operation unit installation space 64 into the operation unit installation space 64 in a posture in which the longitudinal direction T thereof coincides with the left-right direction, and is slid to the upper end of the operation unit installation space 64 and fixed. Thereafter, the door opening operation portion 52 is temporarily fixed with tape or the like in a state of being closely attached to the back surface of the front panel 22A. Then, liquid urethane as the heat insulator 22B is injected into the internal cavity of the right door 22, foamed, and cured, thereby fixing the door opening operation portion 52 in the operation portion installation space 64. The door opening operation portion 51 of the left door 21 is also attached in the same order.

By adopting such an arrangement procedure, particularly, since the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are arranged and fixed in the operation unit arrangement space 64 in a posture in which the left-right lateral direction T is long and the up-down direction W is short, the following states can be avoided: floating at one end in the longitudinal direction L, so that even if the right capacitive touch sensor 52-5 is closely attached to the back surface of the front panel 22A, the left capacitive touch sensor 52-1 is not closely attached to the back surface of the front panel 22A and is fixed in a floating state, or conversely, even if the left capacitive touch sensor 52-1 is closely attached to the back surface of the front panel 22A, the right capacitive touch sensor 52-5 is not closely attached to the back surface of the front panel 22A and is fixed in a floating state; as shown in fig. 7, all the capacitive touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 arranged in the horizontal direction can be reliably fixed in a state of being evenly and closely attached to the rear surface of the front panel 22A.

Other embodiments

As the simplest structure of the refrigerator door, 1 single door that opens left or right is disposed in front of the refrigerating chamber, and as the structure of the door, the following structure may be adopted: a colored and transparent non-conductive front panel is mounted on the front surface of a heat-insulating door body, and a control operation part for changing the cooling control content of a refrigerator and a door opening operation part for operating the door opening action of a door opening device are arranged. That is, the structure of the right door 22 shown in fig. 1 to 3 may be provided in 1 door (embodiment 2).

The control operation unit 50 and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are not limited to capacitance type touch sensors, and may be sensors such as pressure-sensitive sensors and infrared sensors that sense user operations without providing irregularities on the front surfaces of the

front panels

21A and 22A (embodiment 3).

Further, it is preferable that the control operation unit 50 and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are set to be sensitive to an operation input. For example, it may be set that: in the case of controlling the operation unit 50, one operation input is received by sensing a point touch on the part, whereas in the case of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52, the part must be slid by a predetermined distance or more in a touched state to be recognized as a door opening operation input (embodiment 4).

Further, the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 may detect an operation of touching a plurality of portions in a predetermined order or sequentially touching in a predetermined direction, instead of detecting an operation of touching and sliding with a finger (embodiment 5). As another modification, the door opening operation unit may be provided not at the lower end of the door but at the upper end (embodiment 6).

Further, as another embodiment, the following modification may be adopted. As shown in fig. 8, in the refrigerator in which the left and

right doors

21 and 22 are of the side-by-side type, the door opening operation display portions 51A-l and 52A-l of the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 are set at the same height from the floor surface of the

front panels

21A and 22A, and the door opening operation display portions 51A-l of the left door 21 may be set as follows: if the user slides with a finger while touching the left door 21 from the vicinity of the left end to the vicinity of the right end, the door opening operation display portion 52A-l of the right door 22 may be set such that: the user can open the right door 22 by sliding while touching with a finger from near the left end to near the right end. In this case, as shown by an arrow a1 in fig. 8, the left and

right doors

21 and 22 can be opened simultaneously by performing the operation of sliding the finger continuously in one direction from the vicinity of the left end of the door opening operation display portion 51A-l of the left door 21 to the vicinity of the right end of the door opening operation display portion 52A-l of the right door 22 (embodiment 7).

As shown in fig. 9, in the refrigerator in which the left and

right doors

21 and 22 are split, the following may be set: the door opening operation display units 51A-2 and 52A-2 of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are provided near the opening ends of the

front panels

21A and 22A of the

doors

21 and 22, respectively, and the

doors

21 and 22 can be opened by performing a sliding operation in a direction opposite to the opening side of the

doors

21 and 22. In this case, since the right end of the left door 21 is open, the door opening operation display unit 51A-2 performs display by sliding from the right end side to the left. The left end of the right door 22 is open, and the door opening operation display unit 52A-2 performs display sliding from the left end side to the right. By thus setting, the following operations are made: since the user slides the finger in the direction in which the open end of the door is opened by the door opening operation, the user's finger rarely interferes with the open end of the door that has started to be opened, and the opening operation can be smoothly performed (embodiment 8).

As shown in fig. 10, it is possible to set: regardless of whether the refrigerator door is a single door or a two-piece 2-door, the door opening operation unit 52 is provided horizontally, vertically, or obliquely toward a corner in the vicinity of any one of the upper, lower, left, and right corners of the door (here, the door 22), and the door opening operation display unit 52A-3 is also provided at a position corresponding to the front panel 22A of the door 22, and performs a door opening operation when the door opening operation direction is a direction toward the outside of the door (embodiment 9).

For example, fig. 10(a) shows the following setting example: a door opening operation unit 52 and door opening operation display units 52A to 31 are provided horizontally at the lower end portion on the open end side of the door 22, and the door can be opened by sliding the door to the left toward the open end side of the door 22. In the case of this modification, the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display units 52A to 31 may be provided at the upper end portion of the open end side of the door 22 in the same manner. Fig. 10(b) gives the following setting example: a door opening operation unit 52 and door opening operation display units 52A to 32 are provided in the vertical direction at the lower end of the open end side of the door 22, and the door can be opened by sliding from the top to the bottom toward the lower end of the door 22. Fig. 10(c) gives the following setting example: the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display units 52A to 33 are provided in the vertical direction at the upper end of the open end side of the door 22, and the door can be opened by sliding operation from the bottom to the top toward the upper end of the door 22. Fig. 10(d) gives the following setting example: a door opening operation portion 52 and door opening operation display portions 52A to 34 are provided in the vertical direction at the lower end of the door 22 on the side of the rotation hinge end, and the door can be opened by performing a sliding operation from the top to the bottom toward the lower end of the door 22. In the case of this modification, it is possible to set: the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display units 52A to 34 are provided at the upper end portion of the door 22 on the side of the rotation hinge end, and are slid from bottom to top to open the door. Further, fig. 10(e) shows the following setting examples: the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display units 52A to 35 are provided in the diagonal direction at 1 of the four corners of the door 22, that is, at the lower corner of the open end side, and the door can be opened by performing a sliding operation from obliquely upward to obliquely downward toward the lower corner of the door 22. In the case of this modification, it is also possible to set: the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display units 52A to 35 are provided at any one of the other 3 corners of the four corners of the door 22, and can be opened by performing a slide operation from obliquely downward to upward or from obliquely upward to downward toward each corner.

As shown in fig. 11, regardless of whether the refrigerator door is a single door or a 2-door split type, the electrostatic capacitance touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 provided in the door opening operation portion 52 provided on the back surface side of the front panel 22A of the door 22 may be configured such that: in a direction A3 different from the slide operation direction a2, adjacent sensors partially overlap each other. With this sensor overlapping structure, insufficient touch does not occur during the sliding operation, and even if adjacent sensors are touched at the same time, the change in capacitance is large in the area of the sensor, and there is an effect that simultaneous detection is not possible (embodiment 10).

As shown in fig. 12 and 13, regardless of whether the refrigerator door is a single door or a split 2-leaf door, the door opening operation portion 52 incorporated in the door (here, the door 22) detects a door opening operation by a sliding operation, and a plurality of touch sensors for slide detection may be arranged in a circular shape or in a matrix shape in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a door opening operation may be detected by a sliding operation in which a plurality of electrodes thereof are drawn in a predetermined pattern (embodiment 11).

In the example of fig. 12, a plurality of slide detection touch sensors 52-1 to 52-8 of a door opening operation unit 52 incorporated in a door 22 are arranged in an annular shape, and a door opening operation is performed when 3 or more adjacent touch sensors are continuously touched so as to draw a circle with respect to the door opening operation unit 52. Therefore, the door opening operation can be performed regardless of the slide operation of any one of the arrows a4 to a6 or the slide operation in the opposite direction thereto. In the example of fig. 13, the plurality of electrodes 5211 to 5244 for detecting sliding of the door opening operation unit 52 incorporated in the door 22 are arranged in a matrix shape in the vertical and horizontal directions, and when 3 or more adjacent electrodes above and below or obliquely above and obliquely below are continuously touched to the door opening operation unit 52 as indicated by arrows a7 to a13, the door opening operation is performed.

As shown in fig. 14, the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 of the

doors

21 and 22 are configured such that, regardless of whether the refrigerator door is a single door or a split 2-door (here, a split door is shown): the door opening operation by the sliding operation in a predetermined one direction is detected, and the door opening detection is performed when the left door 21 slides from the rotating hinge side to the open end side from the left to the right, and the door opening detection is performed when the right door 22 slides from the rotating hinge side to the open end side from the right to the left. In this case, the door opening

operation display portions

51A and 52A are formed with arrow marks toward the open ends, respectively, to indicate the slide operation direction (embodiment 12). The door opening operation by the sliding operation toward the open end is performed, particularly, the user usually performs the door opening operation from the outside of the refrigerator to the center of the refrigerator, and the moving path direction thereof coincides with the sliding operation direction, thereby providing an effect of facilitating the door opening operation.

As another modification, the following configuration may be adopted. A human body detection means (e.g., an infrared sensor, a camera for recognizing a person, etc.) for detecting that a person stands in front of the door of the refrigerator is provided on the door, and the control unit performs control for making the door opening operation effective after the human body detection means detects the person. This can prevent the refrigerator door from being opened unintentionally by water, static electricity, or the like (embodiment 13).

In addition, instead of the rotary

opening type doors

21 and 22 on the front surface of the refrigerating chamber 12, the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 of the refrigerating

chamber doors

21 and 22 may be provided in the push-

pull type doors

23 and 24 of the vegetable compartment 13, the switching compartment 14, and the like (embodiment 14). In this case, the harness is connected to the control unit 56 along the slide rail of the sliding door.

The refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment may be configured as described below in order.

Embodiment 15

As shown in fig. 15, the control operation unit (also referred to as a control operation board) 50 is inserted from an insertion opening 50V formed in a door cover (door cap) which is a longitudinal side surface of the right door 22 and supports the door front panel, and is accommodated in the accommodation portion 50R along the G direction, thereby constituting left and right upper and lower side surfaces of the door. The door opening operation portion (also referred to as a touch-open switch substrate) 52 can be inserted from the insertion opening 52V of the longitudinal side surface portion of the right door 22 along the G direction and stored in the storage portion 52R. The door opening operation portion (touch opening switch board) 51 can be inserted from the insertion opening 51V of the longitudinal side surface portion of the left door 21 in the H direction and stored in the storage portion 51R.

As shown in fig. 15, the handles (grips) 61 and 62 are disposed on the lower surface portion (lower side) of the left door 21 and the lower surface portion (lower side) of the right door 22, respectively, and the

handles

61 and 62 and the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 are disposed at the positions of the lower side corner portions of the left door 21 and the lower side corner portions of the right door 22, respectively, and disposed on different sides of the doors. The door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 and the

handles

61 and 62 may be located at different positions in the vertical direction.

As shown in fig. 19 described later, the right door 22 is configured by, for example, a front panel 22A, an inner panel 22K, and a door cover 72, which are glass plates, and the insertion port 50V may be provided in the door cover 72. The housing 50R may be provided so as to extend from the door cover 72 in the direction of the front panel 22A continuously from the insertion port 50V, and the substrate may be inserted into the housing 50R.

The space between the outer front panel 22A and the inner panel 22K of the housing 50R and the door cover 72 is preferably filled with a foam heat insulator such as urethane or a vacuum heat insulator to insulate heat.

The inserted control operation portion 50 and door opening operation portion 51 may be closely bonded to the front panel 22A by an elastic mechanism that presses the control operation portion and door opening operation portion from the rear side to the front panel 22A after insertion, but may be directly bonded to the back surface of the front panel 22A by an adhesive in the case of a substrate having a long lateral width (such as the door opening operation portion 51). Thus, the operation sensitivity can be improved.

The

LEDs

51M, 52M may be used as arrow marks indicating the positions of the door

opening operation units

51, 52, that is, the door opening

operation display units

51A, 52A. The arrow mark may be printed directly on the glass, or may be printed on a film and then placed on the back surface of the glass so as to be visible with light.

The door

opening operation portions

51, 52 for opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in fig. 15 use electrostatic switches. The left door 21 and the right door 22 as the swing doors are electrically connected to the control unit on the side of the cabinet 11 through the electric wiring, and therefore, the electrostatic switches can be used as the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 because the swing doors are the swing doors of the refrigerating room having a small temperature difference. The electrostatic switch is used in a portion where the temperature difference is small because of poor moisture resistance.

On the other hand, hall IC switches are used as the door opening operation portion 71 for opening the sliding door, for example, the sliding door 25 of the freezing room 15 and the door opening operation portion 77 for opening the sliding door 23. Since the sliding door is configured to be removable from the cabinet 11 (refrigerator main body), the door opening operation unit 77 and the control unit on the cabinet 11 side cannot be connected by using the harness. Therefore, for example, magnets are disposed on the sliding door as the door

opening operation portions

71 and 77, and when the sliding door is pushed in, the position of the magnet changes, and the hall IC switch can detect the change in the position of the magnet in a non-contact manner. The control unit operates a push-pull mechanism for pushing and pulling the sliding door in response to a signal from the hall IC indicating a change in the position of the magnet, thereby opening the sliding door.

Fig. 19 shows a horizontal section of the right door 22 shown in fig. 15. For example, the right door 22 includes a front panel 22A, which is a glass plate, an inner panel 22K, a reinforcing plate 70, a door cover 72, and a base plate 74 of the door opening operation portion 52. A heat insulating urethane member or a vacuum heat insulating material 73 having a thickness of 20mm is disposed inside the right door 22. The gap between substrate 74 and glass plate 22A is zero. The door cover 72 covers an end portion of the front panel 22A as a glass plate. The front panel 22A as a glass plate is a tempered glass, and if the end of the glass plate is exposed, a C-face chamfer is provided at the exposed end of the glass plate in order to protect the exposed end of the glass plate.

With this arrangement, even if the end of the front panel 22A may contact other kitchen furniture or a wall disposed beside the refrigerator by automatically opening the door by operating the door opening operation portion 52, the end face can be prevented from being chipped. Further, a prevention mechanism for preventing contact may be provided at an end portion of the front panel 22A, and the end portion may be covered to protect the end portion. The base plate 74 of the door opening operation portion 52 is disposed so as to have no gap with respect to the inner surface of the front panel 22A. The left door 21 has a left-right symmetrical shape, but has the same structure. Further, the sizes of the substrates of the left and right door opening operation portions 52 may be different. For example, the larger door side substrate may be made larger than the smaller door substrate.

Embodiment 16

As shown in fig. 18, the door opening operation portion 51 is disposed below a position LL of a lower end line of the meat tray top plate inside the left door 21. That is, fig. 24 shows a longitudinal section of the refrigerator main body. As shown in fig. 24, in case 11, a cold air duct through which cold air from the cooler passes is located on the rear surface, and a discharge port is provided from the duct toward the door side, and as shown in fig. 24, the cold air flows in the direction of the arrow.

A meat tray 99T is disposed in the case 11, and a discharge port is provided on the rear side of the meat tray 99T. The left door 21 is provided with a door opening operation part 51 below a lower end line LL of the meat tray top plate. Thus, the cold air passing through the meat tray 99T does not reach the door opening operation portion 51 in the left door 21 due to a wind prevention mechanism such as a front wall constituting the front surface of the meat tray. Therefore, the cooled air does not reach the door opening operation portion 51(52) in the left door 21, and therefore, the dew condensation phenomenon caused by cooling of the door opening operation portion 51(52) does not occur.

As shown in fig. 24, the upper end of the shelf frame is positioned above the upper end of the meat tray 99T so that the cool air does not reach the back of the door. This prevents cold air from directly blowing to the door opening operation portion 51(52), and condensation is likely to occur in this portion because the heat insulating material is thin to house the door opening operation portion 51 (52). Thus, no: the operation of the door opening operation unit 51 due to the dew condensation sends a signal to the control unit, thereby preventing the left door 21 from being opened unintentionally. The same applies to the door opening operation portion 52 of the right door 22 shown in fig. 18.

The meat tray 99T can be used as a fresh food compartment, and has a door and a push-pull container, and can be pulled out forward. The fresh air cooling chamber may be configured by a sealed space that can be sealed by a reinforced storage case for storing the push-pull container and a door, or may be configured by: the space inside the sealed storage space is depressurized by a vacuum pump as a depressurizing mechanism. In this way, the cold air discharged from the cold air discharge ports provided on the back surface of the storage box serving as the meat tray 99T can be prevented from directly reaching the door, and the cold temperature zone of the discharge ports can be insulated by the heat insulating layer in which the pressure of the closed space is reduced, thereby preventing heat transfer. In this case, the storage case may be provided so as to cover the ejection port. Further, the cool air discharged from the discharge port provided on the back surface of the sealed storage portion may be controlled by a damper as an air volume adjusting mechanism, and the cool air may be controlled by: the temperature sensor for measuring the temperature in the refrigerator for preventing dew condensation detects the temperature drop, and the air door is closed to make the cold air hard to reach the door.

Further, a vacuum heat insulating material disposed inside the door behind the substrate having the door opening operation portion 52 may be provided between the substrate and the ejection port disposed behind the meat tray 99T to insulate heat so that condensation does not occur on the substrate. In this case, condensation is particularly likely to occur in the substrate housed in the resin housing portion having the air layer formed inside the door, but since the vacuum heat insulating material is provided to isolate the cooling energy inside the refrigerator, condensation can be prevented and erroneous detection that the door is suddenly opened can be prevented. Further, by disposing a metal member having excellent heat transfer around the housing portion, the housing portion can be warmed by transferring heat of the outside air to the housing portion, thereby preventing condensation.

Further, a vertical partition may be provided, which is disposed between the right door and the left door, and which opens and closes in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of one door, and which accommodates a heat source inside the vertical partition. By disposing the substrate and the housing portion near the heat source of the refrigerator, heat can be conducted to the substrate and the housing portion, and condensation can be further prevented. The heat source may extend in the vertical direction together with the vertical partition, and the heat transfer amount may be increased by increasing the heater density at the position of the substrate or the housing portion. In this heater density, the heater wires may be arranged in double or in a bent manner, or a metal (e.g., aluminum) having good thermal conductivity may be arranged so as to extend from the heater to the substrate side in order to transfer heat to the substrate side in the vertical partition.

As shown in fig. 18, by installing door opening operation portion 51(52) at a position different from the position of discharge port 79R in case 11, the cold air from discharge port 79R can be prevented from reaching door opening operation portion 51(52) in left door 21. Therefore, since the cold air does not reach the door opening operation portion 51(52) in the left door 21, the dew condensation phenomenon due to the cooling of the door opening operation portion 51(52) does not occur, and the following phenomenon does not occur: the dew condensation causes the signal to be sent to the control unit, and the door opening operation unit 51(52) can be prevented from being carelessly operated to open the left door 21 (right door 22) without fail.

17 th embodiment

As shown in fig. 16, the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 51 may be disposed on 1 substrate 99 on the left door 21. The detection unit and the detection signal processing unit of the door opening operation unit 51(52) may be constituted by 1 substrate 99. The detection unit and the detection signal processing unit are housed in the housing unit 50R. The microcomputer MC may be provided on the same substrate.

The control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52 may be disposed on different boards on the right door 22. The control operation unit 50 and the microcomputer MC may be disposed on 1 board 99A, and the door opening operation unit 52 may be disposed on the other board 99B. Thus, by disposing MC that may cause noise on the other board, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the door opening operation unit 52 due to erroneous detection and accidental opening of the door. When the housing section 50R includes different divided housing sections for housing the substrate 99A and the substrate 99B, the control Means (MC) for connecting the electric signal lines of the substrate 99B to the housing section of another portion (for example, the housing section housing the substrate 99A) may be used. In particular, when the connector is extended from the receiving portion of another portion to the receiving portion of the board 99B in advance and the board 99B is received in the receiving portion, if the connection wire of the board 99B is connected to the connector, the assembly and manufacture of the door can be easily performed.

The microcomputer MC may be disposed on the board 99B, or may be disposed on another board 99C disposed at another position. The substrate 99 may have a vertically long shape or a horizontally long shape.

As shown in fig. 18, the control operation unit 50 and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are directly connected by a wire. That is, the control operation unit 50 and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are connected to each other through the power supply board of the control unit 56 by using different harnesses LA and LB. This is done to reliably prevent the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 from performing door opening operation carelessly due to noise generated by the control operation portion 50.

As shown in fig. 15, the handles (grips) of the sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, 26 may be disposed on the left or right side surface portions of the respective sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, 26. The handle (grip) is not disposed on the front surface portion of the sliding door, and for example, the door opening operation portion 77 of the sliding door 23 and the door opening operation portion 71 of the sliding door 25 are disposed on the front surface portion. Therefore, the front surface part of the sliding door is not provided with a handle (a hand grip), so the appearance is beautiful.

18 th embodiment

As shown in fig. 17, the arrangement positions of the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52 on the right door 22 are different in the lateral direction. That is, the control operation unit 50 is located at a position close to the right side surface of the right door 22, and the door opening operation unit 52 is located at a position close to the left side surface of the right door 22. Accordingly, since the control operation unit 50 is not disposed above the door opening operation unit 52, even if water drips from the control operation unit 50 by, for example, wet hand contact of a user, the water does not drip on the door opening operation unit 52 at the lower portion. The distance Wb between the storage portions of the control operation portion 50 and the door opening operation portion 52 is smaller than the distance Wa between the control operation portion 50 and the door opening operation portion 52, and is the minimum separation distance.

In addition, the control operation unit 50 may be configured to: the storage portion for storing the substrate of the door opening operation portion 52 is vertically shifted from the storage portion and is overlapped with the storage portion in the left-right direction. The control operation part 50 may be further configured to: the substrate of the door opening operation portion 52 also overlaps therewith in the left-right direction. As long as the capacitive switches SA and the door opening operation display portions 52A on the respective substrates do not overlap with each other, water does not drip from the capacitive switches SA disposed above to the door opening operation portions 52A disposed below. In addition, the storage section and the substrate are overlapped with each other and arranged in a left-right direction in a small area such as a door, so that the degree of freedom of layout is increased. Further, the substrates may be arranged in the same housing portion in a manner such that the substrates are arranged to overlap in the left-right direction.

The detection sensitivity of the electrodes of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 and the detection sensitivity of the electrodes of the control operation unit 50 may be different from each other when the user operates the door opening operation unit. For example, by making the detection sensitivity of the electrodes of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 higher than the electrodes of the control operation unit 50, the operation sensitivity of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 can be improved. The electrodes of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 may be different in capacitance from the electrodes of the control operation unit 50, or may be different by changing the areas of the electrodes. The door

opening operation units

51 and 52 may be formed of one electrode instead of a plurality of electrodes.

The control operation unit 50 is operated by a different operation method from the operation of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52. As a different operation method, the control operation unit 50 is operated for a long press for 0.5 second, for example, and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are operated for a long press for 1 second, for example, to detect the operation.

Embodiment 19

As shown in fig. 21, when all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off and a switch at a certain position of the control operation unit 50 is pressed, the plurality of LEDs or all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned on. Further, the following configuration may be adopted: during lighting, the switches of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are controlled so as to be invalid even if an operation is detected, and the door opening operation is not accepted by the user and is made invalid (may be valid and operable). During lighting, the LEDs of the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 are OFF (OFF) and are not lit. On the contrary, when all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, the switches of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are enabled and enabled (disabled or disabled). When all the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, the LEDs of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are turned ON (ON), and the lamps are turned ON.

As described above, the present invention is configured such that: the control switch is activated to deactivate the door

opening operation units

51 and 52, and the following effects are obtained: when the control operation part 50 is pressed with a finger, the door is prevented from being inadvertently opened by the door opening

operation parts

51 and 52 being inadvertently hit at the elbow.

Further, the following structure may occur in the case where the LED for controlling the switch is turned on and the LED for turning off the door opening operation portions 51 and 52: when the lights are turned on simultaneously, the door is opened by an impulse that a child wants to press the control operation part 50 and the door opening

operation parts

51 and 52 simultaneously, for example.

Even when both the control operation unit 50 and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are activated and the simultaneous pressing is detected, it is possible to call attention by notifying, for example, by display or voice that the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are deactivated.

As shown in fig. 17, the switch SA and the switch SB having different shapes of the control operation unit 50 can be turned ON (ON) with the same operation method and the same operation sensitivity for a predetermined time. The switch SA and the switch SB of the same operation mode are positioned on one surface of the substrate. The door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 may be operated in the same manner as the switch SA, and this configuration can be applied to each embodiment.

As shown in fig. 18, the harness of the harness LA of the control operation unit 50, the harness of the harness LB of the door

opening operation units

51, 52, and the heater wire are not bundled. That is, they may be disposed with a gap in the door and may be close to each other at a door hinge portion that leads to the case. Also, the AC line and the DC line may be bundled separately. Thereby, noise can be prevented.

As shown in fig. 15, for example, the front panel 22A as a glass plate shown in fig. 19 of the right door 22 is a tempered glass, but a reinforcing plate 70 may be added and a scattering prevention film may be disposed. In order to protect the end of the front panel 22A, a door cover 72 is disposed so as to cover the end of the front panel 22A.

However, unlike fig. 19, when the end of the front panel 22A is not covered with the door cover and the end of the glass plate 22A is exposed, a C-face chamfer or an R-face may be formed as a chamfered surface at the end of the glass plate 22A. The front panel 22A as a glass plate is a tempered glass, but if the end of the glass plate 22A is exposed, a C-face chamfer is provided on the glass plate 22A in order to protect the end of the glass plate 22A, whereby even when the door is inadvertently opened by providing a door opening operation portion, the end can be prevented from hitting a certain place and being broken. The left door 21 has a bilaterally symmetrical shape, but has the same structure.

The door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 shown in fig. 17 need to be free of failure. Therefore, as shown in fig. 19, the vacuum heat insulating material 73 is disposed, and the vacuum heat insulating material 73 has a heat insulating thickness of 20mm or more and is disposed in the vertical direction partition, so that the vacuum heat insulating material 73 does not condense water. Heaters (not shown) are disposed near the door

opening operation portions

51, 52, and vacuum heat insulating materials 73 are disposed on the back surfaces of the door

opening operation portions

51, 52. Thus, the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 can avoid dew condensation due to the influence of the low temperature portion.

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 a setting mechanism for changing the sensitivity and setting the predetermined time. Thus, by using the setting means, the operation sensitivity when the switches SA and SB or the door opening

operation display units

51A and 52A are operated can be set to be different.

Embodiment 20

Fig. 20 is a plan view showing, for example, the sliding

doors

23 and 25 shown in fig. 15. For example, the sliding

doors

23 and 25 shown in fig. 15 have door

opening operation portions

77 and 71, respectively. When the base plates 82 of the door

opening operation portions

77 and 71 are configured to be inserted into the storage portions 81 from the upper surface portions of the sliding

doors

23 and 25 and stored therein, no gap is generated in the front surface portions of the sliding

doors

23 and 25, and therefore, the appearance is beautiful and the appearance of the glass surfaces of the front surface portions of the sliding

doors

23 and 25 is good.

The door

opening operation portions

77 and 71 shown in fig. 20 include: a base plate 82, a battery 83, and an elastic mechanism 84 for pressing the base plate 82 against the inner surface of the front surface portion, and the battery 83 supplies power to the

door operating portions

77, 71. In this way, compared to the case where the electric wiring described below is guided to the door along the metal rail, noise can be prevented from entering the door

opening operation portions

77 and 71, and the door can be prevented from being opened unintentionally.

In the case of a power supply type in which power is obtained from other parts by electric wiring instead of the battery 83 shown in fig. 20, the following configuration may be adopted: the harness is arranged so as to be guided to the door along the metal rail and deformed so that the length of the harness varies according to the distance at which the harness is pulled out to the maximum extent in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the door.

In this case, since there is a possibility that noise may be carried along the metal rail guiding the sliding door on the electric wiring, a noise filter for removing noise entering the door

opening operation unit

77 or 71 or entering the microcomputer instructing the opening operation from the door

opening operation unit

77 or 71 may be provided as the noise removing means. Further, an insulating mechanism (noise removing mechanism) may be provided around the harness disposed along the metal track, and noise may be removed without direct contact with the metal (embodiment 21).

As shown in fig. 16, for example, the push-pull door 25 of the push-

pull doors

23, 24, 25, and 26 having a glass plate is provided with a push button 95 on a door cover (for example, made of resin) made of a different material and located at a position other than the glass front surface portion of the push-pull door 25. By pressing the pressing button 95 made of resin, the sliding door 25 can be opened.

Embodiment 22

Fig. 22 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the sliding door 23(24, 25, 26) and the refrigerator case 11, and the pressing member 120 is disposed between the sliding door 23(24, 25, 26) and the refrigerator case 11. The pressing member 120 is provided with a gap DH between the sliding door 23(24, 25, 26) and the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator. The user presses the sliding door 23(24, 25, 26) in a pressing direction indicated by an arrow against the force of the pressing member 120, so that the transmitting portion 131 of the non-contact distance sensor 130 approaches the receiving portion 132. Thus, the distance sensor 130 detects a distance, and when the detected distance is less than a predetermined distance, the door opening operation unit 77(71) sends a command to the control unit to open the sliding door by the push-out mechanism.

As shown in fig. 17, for example, the left door 21 may be provided with door opening

operation portions

101, 102, 103, and 104 for opening the sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, and 26. The door

opening operation portions

101, 102, 103, and 104 are designed according to the arrangement shape of the sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, and 26. Therefore, the user can easily visually grasp the sliding door and can easily open the sliding door to be opened without changing the posture.

The front surface portions of the left door 21, the right door 22, and the sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, and 26 may be formed to be completely flat (all flat) without providing any handle (grip).

Embodiment 23

As shown in fig. 15, with respect to the gap X, Y between the sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, 26, the gap X > the gap Y. That is, the gap Y between the sliding door 23 having the door opening operation portion 77 and the sliding door 25 having the door opening operation portion 71 is set smaller than the gap X between the sliding

doors

24 and 26 having no door opening operation portion. That is, the gap X between the sliding

doors

24 and 26 having the handle 140 and no door opening operation part is formed larger than the gap Y between the sliding door 23 having the door opening operation part 77 and the sliding door 25 having the door opening operation part 71 so as to allow a hand to be inserted. The sliding door 23 having the door opening operation portion 77 and the sliding door 25 having the door opening operation portion 71 may be provided with handles on left and right side portions of the sliding door. In this case, the handle may be formed by providing a recess in the cover that supports the glass plate.

Since the non-contact distance sensor 130 is used as a mechanism for detecting the displacement amount of the door shown in fig. 22 in order to open and close the sliding door having a glass plate, the sliding door having a glass plate can be opened by slightly pressing the sliding door in the direction of the arrow.

As shown in fig. 16, the control operation unit 50 may be disposed on one or both of the left door 21 and the right door 22.

Embodiment 24

As shown in fig. 23, a cover 150 as a decorative portion, which is a frame of the door, is disposed on the upper portions of the glass plates (

front panels

21A and 22A) of the left door 21 and the right door 22. The cover 150 has a projection 151 protruding outward (upward), and the projection 151 abuts against a pressing member 162 of the pushing mechanism 160. The protrusion 151 is provided at a position apart from the

front panels

21A and 22A, which are glass plates, and when the pressing member 162 of the pushing mechanism 160 presses the protrusion 151 and attempts to open the left door 21 or the right door 22, the

front panels

21A and 22A are not affected by the force.

Ribs

161, 163, 164, 165 are formed inside the cover 150, glass plates (

front panels

21A, 22A) are fitted into the

ribs

161, 163, and reinforcing plates 169 having a cross section コ -shaped are fixed to the

ribs

163, 164. The reinforcing rib 165 is provided with an inner plate 170. Between the front panel 21A (22A) and the inner panel 170, which are glass plates, polyurethane is embedded for reinforcement.

The above embodiments are not limited to the refrigerator having the side-by-side combination doors shown in the drawings, and may be applied to a refrigerator having a single door.

Embodiment 25

Fig. 25(a) shows a top view of a sliding door 25 of a refrigerator, for example, having walls 200 on both sides of the sliding door 25. The left and right side surfaces 25S of the sliding door 25 are provided with concave handles 201. In fig. 25(b), the left and right side portions of the sliding door 25 are provided with concave-shaped handles 202, but the left and right side portions are inclined surfaces 25G inclined to the front side. Thus, even if there are left and right walls 200, since the inclined surface 25G is formed, a gap can be formed, and the user can easily put the fingers into the handle 202. In this case, the handle 202 may have a shape that is easy to hold, as shown on the right side of the figure.

Embodiment 26

Fig. 26 shows an example of the sliding

doors

210, 220, and 230, and a concave handle 240 is provided on an upper surface portion of the sliding door 220. The sliding door 230 is provided with a door opening operation part 77 at a front surface part thereof. The sliding door 230 is provided with a door opening operation part 77 at its front surface part, and thus the front surface of the front surface part may be a glass surface. A gap C between the sliding door 230 and the sliding door 220 may be formed smaller than a gap B between the sliding door 210 and the sliding door 220, thereby providing an aesthetic appearance.

Further, instead of opening the left door 21 or the right door 22 when the user brings his hand into contact with, for example, the touch switch type door opening operation portion 51 or the door opening operation portion 52 shown in fig. 15, the left door 21 or the right door 22 may be opened when the user takes his finger off. Further, the left door 21 or the right door 22 may be opened when a predetermined time has elapsed since the user touched the finger to the door opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52.

That is, the control unit may instruct the door to be opened at a timing different from the timing when the user presses the door opening operation unit 51, instruct the door to be opened not by detecting when the user presses the door opening operation unit 51 but by detecting when the user leaves, or instruct the door to be opened after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the door opening operation unit 51 is pressed. Further, the door opening may be instructed after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of leaving the door opening operation unit 51.

The control unit performs the following control: when the door opening control is performed, the door opening control is performed after the touch sensor detects the touch operation and after the touch operation is not detected, or the door opening control is performed: in the door opening control, the door opening control is performed after a predetermined time (for example, within 1 second, preferably 0.3 second) has elapsed after the touch sensor detects the touch operation.

With such a configuration, the hand touching the door opening operation portion 51 or the door opening operation portion 52 can be suppressed from hitting the opened left door 21 or the opened right door 22, as compared with the case where the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened immediately when the user touches the door opening operation portion 51 or the door opening operation portion 52 with a finger.

In particular, when the user presses the door opening operation portion 51 or the door opening operation portion 52 with a finger for a long time, the hand touching the door opening operation portion 51 or the door opening operation portion 52 touches the left door 21 or the right door 22 which is opened, but as described above, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the user touches the door opening operation portion 51 or the door opening operation portion 52 with a finger, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened, and the touched hand can be prevented from hitting the left door 21 or the right door 22 which is opened.

The structure of the door may be configured as follows in detail.

Fig. 27 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing only one door of the side-by-side door of the refrigerating compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 1 in an exploded manner. The left and

right doors

21 and 22 of the side-by-side door constituting the refrigerating compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 1 and the push-pull doors 23 to 25 of the vegetable compartment 13, ice making compartment 16, upper freezing compartment 14 and freezing compartment 15 have substantially the same structure as those shown in fig. 27, and a description will be given of a typical example of the structure of the door 103 b.

The door 103b of the refrigerating compartment 12 shown in fig. 27 has a glass plate 121 of an outer surface, and the glass plate 121 is provided to entirely cover the front surface of the door 103 b. In fig. 27, the side where the glass plate 121 is provided is the front surface side of the door 103b, and the rear side opposite to the glass plate 121 is the rear side of the door 103b facing the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12.

An upper door cover 134, a lower door cover 133, a left door cover 135, and a right door cover 137 are provided on the upper, lower, left, and right outer peripheral portions of the glass plate 121, respectively. The upper, lower, left, and right 4 door covers hold and fix the upper, lower, left, and right side surfaces of the glass plate 121 from the upper, lower, left, and right outer sides. The upper door cover 134, the lower door cover 133, the left door cover 135, and the right door cover 137 are fixed to the 4-side portion of the glass plate 121, and function as a decorative portion that decorates the 4-side portion of the glass plate 121.

As shown in fig. 27, the door 103b is integrally or integrally assembled by attaching a door inner side constituent member 125 constituting an inner panel of the door to a door cover inside the glass plate 121. A gasket 127, which is a rectangular sealing mechanism for sealing the door and the box, is provided on the inner side of the door inner structure 125 facing the inside of the refrigerating chamber 12. Further, the space between the glass panel 121, the door cover, and the door inner forming body 125 is filled with a foam heat insulating material made of foam urethane or the like to improve the heat insulating performance, and the foam heat insulating material is bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel 121 to fix the glass panel 121 so that the glass panel 121 does not fall off and does not bend. The glass plate 121 is coated with a paint, and a scattering prevention plate for preventing glass from being broken and scattered is provided on the back surface side thereof.

Next, a structural example of the relationship between the substrate having the capacitance type switch and the gate will be described with reference to fig. 28.

Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional view of the doors (

doors

21, 22, etc.) having the electrostatic capacitance type switches (corresponding to the switches SA, SB, the door opening

operation display portions

51A, 52A, etc.) constituting the control operation portion 50 and the door

opening operation portions

51, 52 described above.

The left door cover 135 shown in fig. 28 is a decorative portion provided on the left side in the vertical direction of the door 103b (vertical direction perpendicular to fig. 28), and the right door cover 137 is a decorative portion provided on the right side in the vertical direction of the door 103 b. The vertical direction of the door 103b is the Z direction shown in fig. 28.

As shown in fig. 28, the one end portion (left end portion) 155 of the glass plate 121 is not entirely covered with the left side door cover 135, and is an end portion in a substantially exposed state exposed from the left side door cover 135. On the other hand, the other end portion (right end portion) 121f of the glass plate 121 is covered with the clamping portion 137a, and thus becomes an unexposed end portion.

The R-face 156 is formed at the front side of the side face 152 of the one end 155 of the glass plate 121, and is not rectangular. The R-face 156 is, for example, an 1/4 circumferentially shaped R-face. For example, the R-face 156 may be formed by cutting a part of the one end portion 155 and grinding the cut part to have a rounded corner, and the R-face 156 may be formed to be continuous in the Z-direction.

As shown in fig. 28, the side surface 152 of the one end portion 155 of the glass plate 121 does not protrude outward from the side surface 153 of the left door cover 135. Thus, the side surface 152 of the glass plate 121 does not protrude from the side surface 153 of the left door cover 135, and therefore the side surface 152 of the glass plate 121 can be protected.

As shown in fig. 28, a substrate insertion portion 154 is provided on a side surface 153 of the left side door cover 135. The substrate insertion portion 154 is a through hole and is provided to insert the substrate 110 into the housing member 105 from the outside of the left door cover 135. A communication mechanism 106 for transmitting information of the capacitance type switch 101 and the refrigerator to the outside or receiving other information from the outside is mounted on the substrate 110. The housing member 105 is fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 and the inner surface 135M of the left door cover 135, respectively. The housing member 105 is a member constituting a housing portion capable of housing the substrate 110. The substrate insertion portion 154 is provided with a lid, and the housing portion can be sealed by closing the lid.

As described above, by providing a metal such as aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity around the housing portion or disposing a metal for reinforcement inside, condensation can be prevented.

The substrate 110 is held in close contact with the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 by pressing the inner surface 121M from the side of the housing member 105 using an elastic mechanism 103 such as a spring. The base plate 110 is fixed to the left door cover 135 at a position P1 different from the support portion P2. Thereby, the substrate 110 having the capacitance type switch 101 can be fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 in a close-coupled manner avoiding the support portion P2 of the left side door cover 135. Therefore, the capacitance type switch 101 can be configured to be pressed against the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 without a gap, and therefore the user can reliably perform the ON/OFF (ON/OFF) operation of the capacitance type switch 101 from the surface of the glass plate 121.

As a method of pressing the capacitance type switch 101 against the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 without a gap, a guide mechanism for moving the substrate 110 from the rear to the front may be provided without providing an elastic mechanism, and for example, the pressing may be performed by providing an inclination such that the housing portion is narrowed toward the insertion direction of the substrate, or by inserting a protrusion provided on the substrate 110 into a guide groove provided on the housing portion and guiding the protrusion.

The substrate may be configured to be disposed in a support container for supporting the substrate, and the LED serving as the light emitting means may be disposed in the support container so as to emit light from the back surface of the substrate.

The capacitance type switch 101 may be formed integrally by disposing an electrode on the front surface of the LED substrate disposed on the rear surface, or may be provided on a substrate different from the substrate on which the LED is disposed. The substrate may be provided with an electrode of an electrostatic capacity type switch on a film-like transparent film having elasticity. Thus, the LED can be disposed on the back surface of the transparent electrode, and can emit light from the back surface side of the electrode.

Embodiment 27

Fig. 29 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 27, fig. 30 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 in an open state, and fig. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of the refrigerating chamber 12 of the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 29 and 30, in the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 27, a box body 11 as a refrigerator main body is configured from a top layer, and includes a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14 capable of switching a set temperature in the refrigerator, and a freezing chamber 15. An ice making chamber 16 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 14.

As shown in fig. 29 to 31, left and right ー are attached to left and

right doors

21 and 22 at the upper and lower left and right ends thereof, respectively, by hinges so as to be opened and closed in a split manner, so as to cover the front opening of refrigerating room 12. Sliding

doors

23, 24, 25, 26 are provided in the vegetable compartment 13, the switching compartment 14, the freezing compartment 15, and the ice making compartment 16, respectively.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are each configured as follows: transparent colored

glass front panels

21A and 22A are attached to the opening portions of the flat inner panels having the front surfaces opened, a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity, and a polyurethane heat insulating material or a solid heat insulating material is disposed in the cavity not filled with the vacuum heat insulating material. The coloring degree of the

front panels

21A and 22A is the concentration of the filler such as the heat insulating material on the back side of the

front panels

21A and 22A which is not visible from the outside in a state of being irradiated with the external light. The coloring degree of the

front panels

21A and 22A is also a density that can be seen from the front surface side by transmitting light in a lighting state of an LED display lamp that transmits and displays an operation key name, a cooling function name, a cooling intensity, and the like, which will be described later, or a 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays a numerical value that changes in temperature value and the like.

On the back surface side of the front panel 22A of the right door 22, a capacitance type control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the front surface of the front panel 22A is provided. The control operation unit 50 is provided with an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental state around the refrigerator, a HOME button, an LED display lamp for detecting a touch to the HOME button and displaying a name of the operation button, a name of a cooling function, a cooling intensity, and the like through the HOME button, a 7-segment LED display device for displaying a value of a change in a temperature value and the like through the HOME button, and the like.

Door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 elongated in the left-right lateral direction are provided on the back side near the lower edge of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 and the front panel 22A of the right door 22, respectively. Door opening

operation display portions

front panels

21A and 22A. Here, the door opening operation display unit 51A of the left door 21 is provided with a left-facing arrow mark for recognizing that the finger is slid in the left direction in a finger-touched state to perform a door opening operation. The door opening operation display unit 52A of the right door 22 is provided with a right arrow mark for recognizing a door opening operation by sliding a finger to the right in a finger-touched state.

Door

opening driving portions

54 and 55 are provided at positions corresponding to the vicinities of the upper open side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively, at 2 positions on the left and right sides near the front end of the top surface of the top plate of the box 11. These door opening

drive units

54 and 55 can push the upper sides near the opening side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward by pushing the

movable cores

54A and 55A forward by the electromagnets, and can automatically open the doors. Further, in order to open the left door 21, if the hand is slid leftward in a state where the right end of the left door opening operation display unit 51A or an arrow mark near the right end is touched, the door opening operation unit 51 senses the continuous touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and if the control unit 56 determines that the touch is a door opening operation command, the door opening driving unit 54 of the left door 21 is operated to automatically open the left door 21. On the other hand, if the hand is slid rightward while touching the left end of the right door opening operation display unit 52A or the arrow mark near the left end in order to open the right door 22, the door opening operation unit 52 senses the continuous touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and if the control unit 56 determines that the touch is a door opening operation command, the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door 22 is operated to automatically open the right door 22.

The cooling control by the control unit 56 of the refrigerator according to embodiment 27 is a general control, and is not particularly limited, but for example, a compressor, an operation panel, a dew condensation prevention heater, an ice making device inside an ice making chamber, a refrigerating chamber fan, a freezing chamber fan, and a defrosting heater are connected to and controlled by the control unit 56.

The arrow marks of the door opening

operation display units

51A and 52A are not limited to the above display, and the shape and form of the marks are not limited as long as the marks can be easily recognized as a display for performing a door opening operation if the marks are touched and slid to the right or left.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with

handles

61 and 62 at lower end portions below the door opening

operation display portions

51A and 52A, respectively, and the

handles

61 and 62 are provided so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 can be manually opened individually by pulling the hands forward with the palm facing upward and the fingers inserted.

Next, an automatic door opening operation of the refrigerator according to embodiment 27 will be described. Fig. 32 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator 1. As shown in fig. 32, the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are provided with capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 arranged in a manner facing each other across the

front panels

21A and 22A at 5 arrow marks arranged in the lateral direction of the door opening

operation display units

51A and 52A, respectively. The capacitance type touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5 are respectively set to: the change in electrostatic capacitance due to the touch of the user is detected, and a touch detection signal is sent to the control section 56.

Therefore, when the user touches the left arrow mark with a finger at the portion of the door opening operation display unit 52A to open the right door 22 and slides the finger to the right in the touched state, the sensors of the capacitance type touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 that detect the change in capacitance send touch detection signals to the control unit 56 in the order of touching. Therefore, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the door opening operation is performed, and if it is determined that the door opening operation is a normal door opening operation, the control unit outputs a door opening driving signal to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door to automatically open the right door 22. In the case of the door opening operation of the left door 21, the same determination is made as to the door opening operation of the left door 21 with respect to the operation of sliding the finger in the left direction in a state where the right end or the arrow mark in the vicinity of the right end is touched on the door opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21.

The logic of the door open determination here is as follows. At least 3 sensors out of the 5 left and right sensors determine that the door is opened when a touch is detected in the order of arrangement within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 second or 1 second) and the corresponding door is automatically opened. Here, the operation of opening the right door 22 will be described.

When any one of the arrow marks of the door opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is touched, the corresponding capacitance type touch sensor on the door opening operation portion 52 side (normally, the sensor 52-1 on the left end is assumed here because the arrow mark on or near the left end is touched) performs touch detection, and sends a touch detection signal to the control portion 56. The control unit 56 receives the signal, starts a judgment process of the door opening operation, and as a result, the control unit 56 judges that the door opening operation is a normal door opening operation for the right door 22, outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 55 for the right door, and operates the door opening drive unit 55 to automatically open the right door 22. The same applies to the judgment processing of the door opening operation of the left door 21. However, in the case of the left door 21, the door opening operation is determined to be performed when the door is slid to the left after touching the arrow mark at the right end or near the right end of the door opening operation display unit 51A, contrary to the direction of the right door 22.

Next, 2 speech recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, a human body detection sensor HS, and an illuminance sensor LS as speech recognition means will be described with reference to fig. 29 to 31.

As shown in fig. 29 to 30, 1 voice recognition sensor NSl, human body detection sensor HS, and illumination sensor LS are disposed on the upper surface of cabinet 11 of refrigerator 1. Another voice recognition sensor NS2 is disposed at a distance from the 1 voice recognition sensor NSl, for example, at the lower portion of the right door 22. As the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, for example, a condenser microphone can be used without particular limitation.

As shown in fig. 30 and 31, the upper voice recognition sensor NSl is disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator 1, and the lower voice recognition sensor NS2 is disposed, for example, in the lower end portion of the right door 22, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and only one of the 2 voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 may be disposed.

As the human body detection sensor HS shown in fig. 31, for example, an infrared sensor can be used. The upper voice recognition sensor NSl, the human body detection sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS shown in fig. 31 are housed in storage cases CS1, CS2, and CS3, respectively. Thus, the voice recognition sensor NSl, the human body detection sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS may be disposed on the upper surface of the housing 11 in an overlapping manner or in parallel, and may be protected from falling of dust. The storage cases Cl, C2, and C3 are disposed on the upper surface of the box 11 at a position between the door

opening operation units

51 and 52, for example, but the arrangement position of each sensor is not limited to this.

The sensors may be housed in the cases of the door

opening driving units

54 and 55, or may be housed in a case for covering a hinge serving as a fulcrum for opening and closing the door.

Fig. 32 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator. Fig. 33 is a flowchart showing a case where the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerating compartment are automatically opened.

As shown in fig. 32, the 2 voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, the human body detection sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS are electrically connected to the control unit 56. Thus, the voice signals when the 2 voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 receive the voice can be transmitted to the control unit 56. The detection signal of the human body detection sensor HS may be sent to the control section 56. The illuminance signal of the illuminance sensor LS may be sent to the control section 56.

By providing the 2 voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 in this manner, as shown in the flowchart of fig. 33, the user can speak a voice, and thus the user can automatically open the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerating compartment by a different detection (operation) method for detecting a sound, a voice, or the like, instead of manually opening the doors by the user, that is, in addition to opening the doors by holding a handle (hand grip), as will be described later.

As shown in fig. 32, the control unit 56 is connected to a storage unit 300 and a relevance input registration mechanism 305. In the relevance input registration mechanism 305, the user can input and register "the name of food or the like as a stored item", for example, "the name of the storage shelf of the left door 21", "the name of the storage shelf of the right door 22", "the name of the storage location in the refrigerator of the refrigerator 1", and the like. The "food as a storage material" is, for example, "milk", "egg", "butter", "juice", "mustard", "tofu", or the like. The "names of the storage locations in the refrigerator of the refrigerator 1" are, for example, a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14, a freezing chamber 15, an ice making chamber 16, and the like shown in fig. 29.

The control unit 56 shown in fig. 32 stores the above-mentioned "name of food or the like as a stored item" association information of which storage location in the refrigerator of the refrigerator 1 the name is placed "in the storage unit 300. As an example, in the storage part 300, the user may set (store) for example "milk", "egg", and "butter" on the storage shelf on the left door 21 side, and set (store) for example "juice", "mustard", and "bean curd" on the storage shelf on the right door 22 side in step S12.

Here, the case where the user automatically opens the left door 21 and the right door 22 by voice will be described specifically with reference to the flowchart of fig. 33 in the case where the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerating compartment are automatically opened.

In fig. 33, in step S11, the user operates the keyboard, touch panel, or the like of the relevance input registration mechanism 305 in advance, for example, "milk", "eggs", and "butter" are input in association with the storage shelf on the left door 21 side for registration, and "juice", "mustard", and "tofu", for example, are input to the storage shelf on the right door 22 side for registration. Thus, the control unit 56 shown in fig. 32 sets (stores) the storage unit 300 shown in fig. 32 in association with the storage shelf on the left door 21 side, for example, "milk", "egg", and "butter", and in step S12, sets (stores) for example "juice", "mustard", and "bean curd" in relation to the storage shelf on the right door 22 side.

In step S13 of fig. 33, the human body sensor HS or the illuminance sensor LS detects the approach of the user to the refrigerator, and the human body sensor HS transmits a detection signal to the control unit 56 or the illuminance sensor LS transmits an illuminance signal to the control unit 56. Therefore, the control unit 56 triggers the start of the voice recognition function of the control unit 56 by the detection signal or the illuminance signal, that is, the control unit 56 has a timing to perform the voice recognition function, and the voice recognition function of the control unit 56 starts to operate.

Thus, the start of the speech recognition function is triggered by: when the human body detection sensor HS detects a user approaching the refrigerator, a detection signal is transmitted from the human body detection sensor HS to the control unit 56, or when the illuminance sensor LS detects that the user turns on the kitchen lighting in which the refrigerator is placed, an illuminance signal is transmitted from the illuminance sensor LS to the control unit 56.

Next, in step S14 of fig. 33, when the user utters at least 1 of "milk", "egg", and "butter", the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in fig. 32 receive the uttered voice and transmit the voice signal to the control unit 56, and therefore the control unit 56 recognizes the uttered voice. Thus, in step S15, the control unit 56 outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 shown in fig. 32 in which at least 1 of "milk", "egg", and "butter" is stored, and operates the door opening drive unit 54. Therefore, in step S16, the storage shelf 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 utters at least 1 of "juice", "mustard" and "tofu", the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in fig. 32 receive the voice and transmit a voice signal to the control unit 56, and therefore the control unit 56 recognizes the voice. Accordingly, in step S17, the control unit 56 outputs a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 in which at least 1 of "fruit juice", "mustard" and "bean curd" is stored, and operates the door opening drive unit 55. Therefore, in step S18, the storage shelf of the right door 22 can be automatically opened by the operation of the door opening drive unit 55.

In the storage unit 300, for example, a storage shelf on the side of the left door 21 in which "milk" is placed is registered in association with each other in advance, and even if a person who does not know a portion in the refrigerator where "milk" is placed says "milk", the left door 21 can be automatically opened. Thus, a person who does not know the portion of the refrigerator in which the "milk" is put does not erroneously open the right door 22 in which the "milk" is not put. Therefore, the number of times of opening and closing the door is reduced, and the energy saving effect is improved.

In addition, when the water storage tank for ice making is disposed in the refrigerator, the user says "water storage" for example, and the door on the side where the water storage tank is placed, for example, the left door 21 is opened, so that the user can store the water storage tank at a predetermined storage position of the water storage tank in the refrigerator while holding the water storage tank. Thus, even when the user holds the water storage tank with both hands full, the left door 21, for example, which is to be opened to store the water storage tank can be automatically opened without using the handle 61 shown in fig. 29.

The push-

pull type doors

23, 24, 25, and 26 shown in fig. 29 may be automatically opened by voice in the same manner as the left door 21 and the right door 22 by providing a door opening driving unit.

In this way, unlike a manual operation in which the user grips the handle to manually open the left door 21, the right door 22, and the push-

pull type doors

23, 24, 25, and 26, the doors can be automatically opened, which is very convenient when the user holds food or the like with both hands, for example.

In addition, when the voices for opening different doors are recognized at the same time, the doors can be opened by shifting the opening timings of the different doors, and the like, thereby preventing the doors from colliding with the user.

In step S13 shown in fig. 33, as an example of providing the control unit 56 with a trigger for starting speech recognition, speech signals from the speech recognition sensors NSl and NS2 are obtained by recognizing a language (word) uttered by a user with the speech recognition sensors NSl and NS 2. As the predetermined language (word) uttered by the user, for example, "sesame quick-open door" or the like can be employed. That is, as a preferable example of providing the trigger for starting the voice recognition to the control unit 56, a word that does not appear in a normal conversation such as "sesame open door" and further "sesame quick open door" is desirable.

That is, in the case where the trigger for starting the voice recognition is provided to the control unit 56 by human voice, it is preferable to use a word that does not appear in the normal conversation in order to prevent the control unit 56 from starting the voice recognition operation by using a word that appears in the normal conversation content. This can prevent the control unit 56 from erroneously starting the voice recognition operation. The voice for providing the trigger for the start of voice recognition to the control unit 56 may be set to a sound different from a noise generated by the refrigerator, for example, a sound of a compressor or the like, a warning sound when the door is opened, a sound of opening and closing the door, a dust collector used in a room, a sound of music played in the room, or the like. Further, when the sound to be recognized is set to a non-voice sound, if it is set to recognize a sound of clapping hands a plurality of times (for example, 2 times), since it is different from the sound generated from the refrigerator, erroneous switching does not occur.

Next, an example of the arrangement of the voice recognition sensor NS2 arranged at the lower portion of the right door 22 shown in fig. 30 will be described with reference to fig. 34. Fig. 34 is a schematic view of a cross section of, for example, the right door 22.

As shown in fig. 34, the voice recognition sensor NS2 is, for example, a condenser microphone, and is disposed at the lower portion of the right door 22. The voice recognition sensor NS2 is disposed in the housing member 105. The housing member 105 is fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 and the inner surface 135M of the left door cover 135. The housing member 105 is a member constituting a housing portion capable of housing the substrate 110. The hole 154 is provided, for example, at the lower portion of the left side door cover 135 of the right door 22. The voice generated by the user or the like reaches the voice recognition sensor NS2 through the hole 154. The hole 154 may be formed of a single hole or a plurality of holes. Thus, the voice recognition sensor NS2 can be disposed so as to be built into the lower portion of the right door 22, and can reliably pick up an external voice or the like through the hole portion 154. The voice recognition sensor NS2 may be mounted on the board 110, or may have a cover that covers the hole 154 and has a small hole formed therein.

As shown in fig. 32, control unit 56 is connected to light emitting unit 330, sound generating unit 340, and voice generating unit 350. The light emitting unit 330, the sound generating unit 340, and the voice generating unit 350 are notifying means for notifying the user that the door is opened for warning when the door is opened by the sound (voice) detected by the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS 2.

Light emitting unit 330 is, for example, an LED light emitting unit, and sound generating unit 340 is, for example, a buzzer. The voice generating section 350 is, for example, a speaker. As described above, at least one of the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in fig. 32 detects the voice of the user, the control unit 56 issues an instruction to open, for example, the left door 21 or the right door 22, and the control unit 56 may cause the light emitting unit 330 shown in fig. 32 to emit light in, for example, "red", or cause the sound generating unit 340 to generate an alarm sound, or cause the voice generating unit 350 to notify the user of the content of warning such as "the door is opened" in voice. Thus, the user can be informed that the door is opened by at least one of light, sound and voice, and therefore, the user can be prevented from being accidentally knocked by the door.

As shown in fig. 32, the human body detection sensor HS is connected to the control unit 56. When the human body detection sensor HS detects that the user approaches the refrigerator, it sends a detection signal to the control unit 56 to notify that the user has detected the human body. In this way, when the control portion 56 detects that the user approaches the refrigerator, the control portion 56 as shown in fig. 32 can ask the user about "do to open the door? "such query contents. In this case, if the user answers "YES", for example, the user is recognized by the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 and notifies the control unit 56 of the voice signal. Thus, the control unit 56 can open the right door 22 by outputting a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22, for example. Similarly, the control unit 56 can open the left door 21 by outputting a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21, for example.

In addition, 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 set to have a gradually slow opening speed by the door

opening driving units

54 and 55, so that the doors are not opened rapidly.

As shown in fig. 35, a height measuring sensor 410 is connected to the control unit 56. The height measuring sensor 410 may measure the approximate height of the user using an optical sensor such as an optical coupling. For example, the height measuring sensor 410 may be configured to distinguish whether the measured height value of the user reaches the values of the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side or does not reach the values. Thus, the control unit 56 can make the opening speeds of the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side different from each other based on the height value of the user measured by the height measuring sensor 410.

For example, when the height value of the user measured by the height measuring sensor 410 is a value that reaches the upper left door 21 and the upper right door 22, the control unit 56 further slows down the operation of the door

opening driving units

54 and 55, and the door

opening driving units

54 and 55 open the upper left door 21 and the upper right door 22 at a speed that is further slower than the normal opening speed of each of the doors.

Thereby, the left and

right doors

21 and 22 can be prevented from hitting the head or body of the user. When the height value of the user measured by the height measuring sensor 410 is not equal to the values of the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side, the door

opening driving units

54 and 55 open the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side at the normal opening speed.

When the control unit 56 shown in fig. 32 or 35 notifies the user of the content of the warning, for example, "right door will be opened" using the voice generation unit 350, the following procedure may be performed when the user again wants to confirm the content of the warning. When the user utters the repeated urging contents such as "again" or "repeat", the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 transmit the voice signal of the repeated urging contents such as "again" or "repeat" to the control unit 56. The control unit 56 uses the speech generation unit 350 to notify the user of the content of the warning "right door will be opened" at least once again by the speech signals from the speech recognition sensors NS1 and NS 2. Thus, the user can easily confirm again even if the user misses the warning content issued by the refrigerator side.

Further, when the user opens the right door 22 of the upper refrigerating compartment and observes the inside of the refrigerator, the control unit 56 does not receive an operation of automatically opening the left door 21 as another door, for example. Thus, when the user opens the right door 22 to observe the inside of the refrigerator and says, "milk is also taken out" for example, 22228, the left door 21 on the side where "milk" is placed can be prevented from being automatically opened by mistake, and the left door 21 can be reliably prevented from hitting against, for example, the face of the user.

Similarly, when the user opens the right door 22 of the upper refrigerating compartment and observes the inside of the refrigerator, it is possible to prevent the door of the vegetable compartment in which "vegetables" are placed from being automatically popped up by mistake and hitting the lower abdomen or knees of the user when the user says "vegetables are also taken out".

In addition to the reception being invalidated as described above, when a certain door is opened, the opening speed of the other door may be set to be slower than the normal speed.

When the sound recognition is not able to be performed properly when the refrigerator emits noise (compressor sound, buzzer sound), an instruction sound to the user such as "please say it again" may be emitted from the speaker.

As shown in fig. 35, a proximity sensor 400 is connected to the control unit 56. The proximity sensor 400 is disposed on, for example, 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 and the control operation unit 50, which are touch switches, emit light using, for example, LED lamps. Thus, even if the place where the refrigerator is placed is a dark place, the user can visually confirm the positions of the door opening

operation parts

51 and 52 and the control operation part 50.

The function of the proximity sensor and the functions of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 may be combined. In this case, as shown in fig. 35, it is not necessary to separately provide the proximity sensor 400.

Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the door opening operation unit having the function of the proximity sensor. In this case, as shown in fig. 36, in step S21, the control unit 56 in fig. 35 can maintain the function as the proximity sensor by increasing and holding the sensitivity of the electrostatic switch of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 that also function as the proximity sensor by software.

Next, when the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors detect the approach of the user' S fingers in step S22 of fig. 36, the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors emit light in response to a command from the control unit 56 in step S23, and the sensitivity of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors is lowered to the original state, whereby the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors function only as door opening operation units. Here, if the sensitivity of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors is not reduced, the touch input is sensed before the touch input is performed on the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors, and thus accurate input cannot be performed.

In this way, the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors sense the approach of the user's fingers, and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors emit light, whereby the positions of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors can be clearly known, and the user can be notified that input can be performed using the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 also serving as proximity sensors. Since the proximity sensor is not required to be additionally provided, the number of parts can be reduced.

On the other hand, the control unit 56 makes it impossible to input using the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 that also function as proximity sensors until the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 that also function as proximity sensors emit light, and prevents erroneous input when the user's fingers touch the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 that also function as proximity sensors, regardless of whether the user is an unintended input or not.

Embodiment 28

Fig. 37 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 of the 28 th embodiment. Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 in the door-open state. Fig. 39 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating chamber portion of the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 37 and 38, the refrigerator 1 of the 28 th embodiment has a cabinet 11 as a refrigerator main body. The case 11 has, from the upper layer: a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14 capable of switching a set temperature in the refrigerator, and a freezing chamber 15. Further, an ice making chamber 16 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 14.

As shown in fig. 37 to 39, left and right ー are attached to left and

right doors

21 and 22 at the upper and lower left and right ends thereof, respectively, by hinges so as to be opened and closed in a split manner, so as to cover the front opening of refrigerating room 12.

Further, push-

pull type doors

23, 24, 25, and 26 are provided in vegetable compartment 13, switching compartment 14, freezing compartment 15, and ice making compartment 16, respectively.

Although not shown, a refrigerating evaporator for cooling refrigerating room 12 and vegetable room 13 is disposed on the rear surface of vegetable room 13, and a freezing evaporator for cooling switching room 14, freezing room 15, and ice making room 16 is disposed on the rear surfaces of switching room 14 and freezing room 15.

As shown in fig. 37 and 38, a control unit 56 formed of a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 is disposed on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 13.

As shown in fig. 37, both the left door 21 and the right door 22 are constructed as follows: transparent colored

glass front panels

21A and 22A are attached to the openings of the flat inner panel having an opening on the front surface, a vacuum heat insulator is disposed in the internal cavity, and a polyurethane heat insulator or a solid heat insulator is disposed in the cavity not filled with the vacuum heat insulator.

The coloring degree of the

glass front panels

21A and 22A is a concentration of a filler such as a heat insulating material on the back side of the

front panels

21A and 22A which is not visible from the outside in a state of being irradiated with external light. The coloring degree of the

glass front panels

21A and 22A was also at the following concentration: in a lighting state of the LED display device that transmits and displays, for example, the name of an operation key of the control operation unit 50, the name of a cooling function, the cooling intensity, and the like, and the 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays a numerical value of a change in temperature value and the like, light can be transmitted and seen from the front surface side.

As shown in fig. 38, a rotation spacer 31 for maintaining a sealed state with respect to a portion on the open side, which is the left end portion of the right door 22 in the door closed state, is provided on the right end portion of the left door 21, that is, a portion on the open side, which is close to and faces the left end portion of the right door 22 in the closed state. A dew condensation prevention heater for preventing dew condensation is incorporated in the rotation insulator 31.

On the back surface side of the front panel 22A of the right door 22, a capacitance type control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by touch operation from the front surface of the front panel 22A is provided. The control operation unit 50 includes: an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental state around the refrigerator, a HOME button, an LED display lamp for detecting a touch to the HOME button and displaying a name of an operation button, a name of a cooling function, a cooling intensity, and the like through the HOME button, a 7-segment LED display device for displaying a value of a change in a temperature value and the like through the HOME button, and the like. The control operation unit 50 is disposed on, for example, the right door 22 in order to change the cooling control content of the refrigerator 1. The HOME key of the control operation unit 50 is: the user (user) can instruct the control unit 56 of the refrigerator 1 to perform a menu key for various operations by touching with a finger.

As shown in fig. 37, on the back side near the lower edge of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 and the front panel 22A of the right door 22, long and narrow door

opening operation portions

51, 52 are provided along the left-right lateral direction, respectively. The door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are also referred to as door opening buttons of the door. Door opening

operation display portions

51B and 52B indicating the door opening operation direction are provided on the surfaces of the

front panels

21A and 22A. The door opening operation display unit 51B of the left door 21 is provided with a left-facing arrow mark that recognizes that the user performs a door opening operation by sliding a finger in the left direction in a touched state. The door opening operation display section 52B of the right door 22 is provided with a rightward arrow mark that recognizes that the user performs a door opening operation by sliding a finger rightward in a touched state.

As shown in fig. 37 and 38, the door

opening driving portions

54 and 55 are provided at positions corresponding to 2 positions on the left and right sides near the front end of the top plate upper surface of the box 11, that is, positions near the upper open side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22.

These door opening

drive units

54 and 55 can push the upper sides near the opening-side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward by pushing the

movable cores

54B and 55B forward with the electromagnets, and can automatically open the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. When the finger is slid leftward while touching the right end of the left door opening operation display unit 51B or the arrow mark near the right end in order to open the left door 21, the door opening operation unit 51 senses the continuous touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. Thereafter, if the control unit 56 determines that the command is a door opening operation command, the door opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 is operated, and the left door 21 can be automatically opened.

Similarly, when the finger is slid to the right while touching the left end of the right door opening operation display unit 52B or an arrow mark near the left end in order to open the right door 22, the door opening operation unit 52 senses the continuous touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. Then, if the control unit 56 determines that the command is a door opening operation command, the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 is operated, and the right door 22 can be automatically opened.

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

The door opening operation portion 52 of the right door 12 is disposed below the control operation portion 50, and the door opening operation portion 52 is not disposed directly below the control operation portion 50 but is disposed at a position shifted in the left-right direction with respect to the control operation portion 50. In other words, the door opening operation portion 52 is disposed at a position below the control operation portion 50 having the menu key in the right door 22, but the door opening operation portion 52 is disposed at a position shifted rightward in the arrow QR direction from the position of the control operation portion 50 having the menu key.

Thus, when the user touches the menu key of the control operation unit 50 with a finger, even if the finger of the user is wetted with water and the water drips from the finger, the water dripping from the finger does not adhere to the door opening operation unit 52. Therefore, the electrostatic touch type door opening operation unit 52 does not react with water dropped from a finger, and can prevent: the door opening operation unit 52 responds to the user's touch with a finger, and causes the controller 56 to operate the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22. Therefore, the door 22 can be reliably prevented from being arbitrarily automatically opened.

Further, when a menu key (menu key) of the control operation unit 50 is pressed, another operation key of the control operation unit 50 may be lighted to enable the operation of the operation key. Even in this case, since the door opening operation portion 52 (door opening switch) is located at a different position (staggered position) with respect to the control operation portion 50, even if the user touches another operation key of the control operation portion 50, which is effective in operation due to light emission, with a finger, water dripping from the finger does not adhere to the door opening operation portion 52. Therefore, the door 22 can be reliably prevented from being automatically opened without trouble.

In addition, when only the menu keys (menu keys) of the door opening operation portion 52 and the control operation portion 50 are printed on the glass front panel 22A and the other elements of the control operation portion 50 except the menu keys are configured to be raised by the LED lighting, the appearance of the right door 22 of the refrigerator 1 becomes clear.

The cooling control by the control unit 56 of the refrigerator according to embodiment 28 is a general control, and is not particularly limited, but for example, a compressor, an operation panel, a dew condensation prevention heater, an ice making device inside an ice making chamber, a refrigerating chamber fan, a freezing chamber fan, and a defrosting heater are connected to and controlled by the control unit 56.

The arrow marks of the door opening

operation display units

51B and 52B shown in fig. 37 and 39 are not limited to the display, and the shapes and forms of the marks are not limited as long as the display can easily recognize that the door opening operation is performed if the user touches the display and slides the display to the right or left.

As shown in fig. 37, handles 61 and 62 are provided on the left door 21 and the right door 22. The

handles

61 and 62 are provided on lower end surface portions of the lower sides of the door opening

operation display portions

51B and 52B, and can be operated to manually open the left door 21 and the right door 22 individually by inserting fingers into the

handles

61 and 62 with the palms facing upward and pulling the fingers forward.

Next, an automatic door opening operation of the refrigerator according to embodiment 28 will be described.

Fig. 40 is a block diagram of door opening control of the refrigerator 1. As shown in fig. 40, the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 include door opening

operation display units

51B and 52B, respectively. The door opening

operation display portions

51B and 52B have 5 arrow marks arranged in the left and right lateral directions, respectively. The door opening

operation display sections

51B and 52B are provided with capacitance type touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5, respectively. These capacitance type touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are set to detect a change in capacitance caused by a touch of a user, respectively, and send a touch detection signal to the control unit 56.

Therefore, when the user touches the left arrow mark with a finger in the door opening operation display portion 52B to open the right door 22 and slides the finger in the right direction in the touched state, the sensor that detects the change in the capacitance among the capacitance type touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 transmits a touch detection signal to the control portion 56 in the order of touching. Then, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the door opening operation is performed, and if it is determined that the door opening operation is a normal door opening operation, outputs a door opening drive signal to the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door to automatically open the right door 22. In the case of the door opening operation of the left door 21, the control unit 56 similarly determines the door opening operation of the left door 21 with respect to an operation of sliding a finger in the left direction in a state where the right end of the door opening operation display unit 51B of the left door 21 or an arrow mark near the right end is touched.

Fig. 41 shows the following example: the door opening operation portion 51 of the left door 21 and the door opening operation portion 52 of the right door 22 shown in fig. 37 to 39 function as a human body detection means for detecting a human body of a user of the refrigerator 1.

The door opening operation unit 51 and the door opening operation unit 52 detect a human body of the user, and then transmit a human body detection signal to the control unit 56. Thus, the control unit 56 enables the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation unit 51 to perform the door opening control of the corresponding left door 21, and enables the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation unit 52 to perform the door opening control of the corresponding right door 22.

For example, in the case of the door opening operation unit 52 serving as a human body detection means, the control unit 56 turns on the display of the door opening operation unit 52 after the door opening operation unit 52 detects a human body of the user. The control unit 56 can switch the display by turning on the door opening operation unit 52 in accordance with the manner of the door opening operation of the right door 22.

As described above, the door opening operation unit 52 as the human body detection means is an electrostatic switch, and when the electrostatic switch detects a human body of a user, the control unit 56 can perform detection by switching to increase the sensitivity of the electrostatic switch. The door opening operation unit 52 as the human body detection means includes: the control unit 56 switches the sensitivity of the door opening operation unit 52 as a proximity sensor when a human body approaches the proximity sensor, and activates the door opening operation of the right door 22 by causing the door opening operation unit 52 to function as a contact sensor, and the control unit 56 actually opens the right door 22 when it is detected that the user touches the door opening operation unit 52 as a contact sensor with a finger.

As described above, the sensitivity of the door opening operation unit 52 is switched to cause the door opening operation unit 52 to function as a contact sensor from the proximity sensor, and this will be described in more detail below with reference to the example of fig. 41.

In fig. 41(a), in order for the control unit 56 to cause the door opening operation unit 52, which is an electrostatic switch, to function as a "proximity sensor", the control unit 56 sets the sensitivity of the door opening operation unit 52 to "high", and thereby "activates" the function as the "proximity sensor". Therefore, the control unit 56 "invalidates" the opening (door opening operation) of the right door 22, which is the own function of the door opening operation unit 52. Then, the controller 56 turns on the door-opening operator 52 to turn off the door as indicated by the broken line.

Next, in fig. 41(b), when the user brings the finger HT close to the door opening operation portion 52 as the "proximity sensor", the door opening operation portion 52 functions as the "proximity sensor" to detect the approach of the hand. When the door opening operation unit 52 detects the approach of the hand, the control unit 56 sets the sensitivity of the door opening operation unit 52 as a "proximity sensor" so as to switch from "high" to "low". Therefore, the control unit 56 "enables" the opening operation of the right door 22 (door opening operation) by the finger touching the door opening operation unit 52 because the door opening operation unit 52 functions as a "touch sensor" as an original function. Then, the controller 56 turns on the door opening operation unit 52 from the off state to the on state as indicated by a solid line, and turns on the door opening operation unit 52 by, for example, an LED.

Next, in fig. 41(c), when the user brings (touches) the door opening operation portion 52 as the "contact sensor" into direct contact with the finger HT, the control portion 56 maintains the state of "low" which is the sensitivity of the door opening operation portion 52 as the "contact sensor" and functions as the "contact sensor" as it is. Then, the control unit 56 makes the opening (door opening operation) of the right door 22, which is the original function of the door opening operation unit 52, remain "valid". Then, the controller 56 turns on the door opening operation unit 52 as described above, and turns on the door opening operation unit 52 by, for example, an LED.

Then, in fig. 41 d, when the control unit 56 recognizes that the finger HT of the user is out of direct contact (touch) with the state of the door opening operation unit 52 functioning as the "contact sensor (touch sensor)," the control unit 56 activates the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation unit 52 to operate the door opening drive unit 55, thereby performing the door opening control of the right door 22 accordingly. Thereby, the right door 22 can be automatically opened.

Thus, in a state where the user is in direct contact with (touches) the door opening operation unit 52, for example, in a state where the user wants to approach the refrigerator 1, the control unit 56 can determine whether the direct contact (touch) is valid or invalid in order to prevent erroneous detection of the door opening instruction.

Further, since the lighting display of the door opening operation portion 52 is in the on state as shown by the solid line, and the door opening operation portion 52 can be lighted by, for example, an LED, it is possible to improve the visibility of the door opening operation portion 52 by, for example, the LED lighting display of the door opening operation portion 52 for the user.

When the control unit 56 recognizes that the finger HT of the user is out of the state of the door opening operation unit 52 functioning as the "contact sensor (touch sensor)" by direct contact (touch), the control unit 56 validates the input of the operation signal from the door opening operation unit 52, and performs the door opening control of the right door 22 accordingly. Accordingly, since the right door 22 is actually opened after the user's hand is separated from the door opening operation portion 52 of the right door 22, the user's finger can be prevented from being pricked by the opening operation of the right door 22.

As a method of lighting up the display of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52, for example, light emitting elements such as LEDs (light emitting diodes) capable of displaying forward from the gaps between the capacitance type touch sensors (electrodes) 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 shown in fig. 40 may be disposed. Further, the electrostatic capacitive touch sensors (electrodes) 51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5 may be formed with a portion where characters, marks, and the like are removed, and light from the light emitting element may be irradiated from the back surface of the electrode to the front through the removed portion. Alternatively, the light of the light emitting element may be irradiated forward from the back surface of the electrode using a light guide plate.

In fig. 41, the opening operation of the right door 22 described above may be performed in the same manner as the opening operation of the left door 21 described below, and the door opening operation unit 51 disposed in the left door 21 in fig. 37 is used for the left door 21.

The left and right door

opening operation units

51, 52 may be of the same color or different colors, as the colors displayed by the lighting of the left and right door

opening operation units

51, 52.

The colors of the lighting display of the left and right door

opening operation units

51, 52 may be displayed in different colors when the left and

right doors

21, 22 are opened slowly and when they are opened quickly.

The color of the lighting display of the left and right door

opening operation units

51 and 52 may be changed when only one of the left and

right doors

21 and 22 is opened or when the left and

right doors

21 and 22 are opened simultaneously. In particular, in the case where the user operates only one of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 to open both the left door 21 and the right door 22, a different display color may be used, unlike the case where only one of the left door 21 and the right door 22 is opened.

In this case, for example, when the sensitivity of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 is set to "high" and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 are caused to function as "proximity sensors", when it is detected that a human body approaches for a predetermined time or more, the manner may be changed so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 are simultaneously opened, instead of opening only one of the left door 21 and the right door 22. Further, when the manner is changed so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 are opened simultaneously, the door

opening operation portions

51, 52 may be lighted at the same time or the door

opening operation portions

51, 52 may be made different in color. The lighting method of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 such as blinking display of the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 can be changed arbitrarily.

In the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 28, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection during a touch operation by a user (user) so that an erroneous operation of opening the door does not occur.

Embodiment 29

Fig. 42 is a front view showing the refrigerator 1 according to the 29 th embodiment. Fig. 43 is a block diagram of door opening control including a human body detection mechanism of the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 42.

The human body detection mechanism 500 includes: such as the remote detection sensor 100 and the door opening operation portion 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor. The remote detection sensor 100 and the door opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor are disposed on, for example, the right door 22. The remote detection sensor 100 is located on the upper portion of the door opening operation portion 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor.

The remote detection sensor 100 is, for example, an infrared sensor for detecting a human body in a case where the human body of the user is located at a position far from the refrigerator 1. The door opening operation portion 52, which also functions as a proximity sensor, is an electrostatic detection sensor that detects a human body when the human body of the user approaches the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 43, the remote detection sensor 100 and the door opening operation portion 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor (static electricity detection sensor) are connected to the control portion 56. A switching mechanism 104 is preferably connected to the control portion 56. By the user operating the switching mechanism 104 and transmitting a selection signal from the switching mechanism 104 to the control unit 56, the user can select one of the remote detection sensor 100 and the door opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor (static electricity detection sensor) to detect a human body.

As shown in fig. 43, the door opening operation unit 52, which also functions as a proximity sensor, is an electrostatic detection sensor, but may be provided with a sensitivity adjustment mechanism 199 for adjusting the sensitivity of the electrostatic detection sensor by arbitrarily changing the sensitivity. The sensitivity adjustment mechanism 199 is connected to the control unit 56, and a user operates the sensitivity adjustment mechanism 199 to transmit a sensitivity adjustment signal to the control unit 56. Thus, the control section 56 can adjust the sensitivity of the door opening operation section 52 as the static electricity detection sensor between "high" and "low".

As a method of changing the sensitivity of the door opening operation portion 52 as the electrostatic detection sensor, the electrostatic detection sensor has a cycle in which charging and discharging of an electrostatic capacity (capacitor capacity) is repeated, for example, several tens times for 1 second. It is utilized that the capacitance of the capacitor is changed by the user bringing a finger close to or into contact with the door opening operation portion 52 as the static electricity detection sensor. Thus, when the user brings a finger close to or into contact with the door opening operation portion 52, the cycle of charge and discharge changes. The control unit 56 detects the degree of change in the charge/discharge cycle, and by setting a threshold value in advance and using the threshold value as a reference, the control unit 56 can determine whether or not the user brings a finger close to or into contact with the door opening operation unit 52.

In addition, when it is detected that the user has disengaged the finger from the door opening operation unit 52, the control unit 56 can also determine that the state has returned to the normal state when the cycle of charge and discharge has changed.

As described above, the user can change and adjust the sensitivity of the door opening operation unit 52 as the static electricity detection sensor. If the refrigerator 1 is disposed on the back side of a sink in, for example, a kitchen, the remote detection sensor 100 will always detect a human body when the user is near the sink. In this case, the user operates the switching mechanism 104 to transmit a selection signal from the switching mechanism 104 to the control unit 56, and the door opening operation unit 52, which also functions as a proximity sensor, can be selected as the detection mechanism of the human body, instead of the remote detection sensor 100. Thus, the door opening operation unit 52 does not detect a human body only when the user is near the water tank. Further, the door opening operation part 52 can detect a human body only when the user's finger approaches the door opening operation part 52 functioning as the proximity detection sensor of the refrigerator 1. This can prevent erroneous detection when the user is relatively far from the refrigerator 1.

Since the remote detection sensor 100 is used, printing that transmits infrared rays may be used as printing coloring on the back surface of the glass front panel 22A shown in fig. 42, or printing may be performed on a portion of the back surface of the glass front panel 22A that transmits infrared rays.

The refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 29 can prevent erroneous detection during a touch operation by a user (user), and can prevent erroneous operation of opening the door.

A voice recognition mechanism is provided in a casing disposed on the ceiling of the refrigerator 1, and the casing has a hole through which voice propagates. The housing of the control substrate is disposed at the same height as or below the housing of the solenoid. The control substrate is arranged at the concave part at the rear part of the top wall, and the supporting part of the substrate is embedded in the polyurethane. The solenoid is also embedded therein. The vacuum heat insulating material is bent and arranged at a distance from the embedded components so as to cover the lower side of the solenoid and the lower side of the substrate, and the vacuum heat insulating material is bent and then covers the whole body. The ceiling light is disposed in a polyurethane recess embedded in the ceiling. The vacuum insulation material is disposed a distance from the overhead lighting.

The vacuum heat insulation material is arranged in contact with the inner wall of the top part, and the LED is arranged outside the top wall. And is disposed at the inner wall bending part.

The vacuum heat insulating material is divided and disposed under the solenoid and the substrate, and is overlapped. The LED is spaced from the vacuum insulation material, and the vacuum insulation material under the substrate is in contact with the inner wall.

The bent portion of the top wall is inclined, and the LED is buried in the inclined portion and is not in contact with the vacuum heat insulation material.

Fig. 44 is a sectional view showing an upper portion of the refrigerator 1 having the above-described configuration in a front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 44, a housing 700 is disposed on a ceiling portion 11A of the case (main body) 11. A concave portion 1lC is provided in the rear portion 11B of the top portion 11A, and the housing 700 is disposed in the concave portion 11C. The casing 700 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the control board 710 is disposed in an inclined manner in the internal space of the casing 700. The control board 710 is disposed obliquely so that the front side of the control board 710 faces upward. A voice recognition unit 720 is mounted on the front side of the control board 710.

The voice recognition means 720 is, for example, a microphone. The front portion of the housing 700 has a hole 700H to allow speech to travel to the speech recognition mechanism 720. Thus, for example, a voice uttered by the user can be reliably transmitted to the voice recognition means 720 through the hole 700H of the housing 700 regardless of whether the voice recognition means 720 is disposed in the housing 700, and thus, the voice or sound of the user can be recognized.

As shown in fig. 44, a door opening drive portion 54(55) is provided on the front side of the ceiling portion 11A. The door opening drive portion 54(55) is preferably a solenoid, and the door opening drive portion 54(55) has a housing 762 and a rod 761 which can be freely extended and retracted, respectively. The door opening driving portion 54(55) drives to extend the rod 761, and thereby the door opening driving portion 54(55) pushes the inside of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) to open.

The height of the housing 700 is the same as the height of the housing 762 of the door opening driving part 54(55), or the height of the housing 700 is lower than the height of the housing 762 of the door opening driving part 54(55) by a height difference DF. Therefore, even if the housing 700 is disposed on the ceiling portion 11A, the entire height of the refrigerator is not higher than the housing 762 of the door opening driving portion 54 (55).

As shown in fig. 44, the control board 710 has a plurality of support portions 711, and is embedded in a heat insulating material 730 such as urethane in an inclined state by using the support portions 711. Thereby, the control board 710 is immovably supported by the heat insulating material 730. The door opening drive portion 54(55) has a plurality of support portions 763, and is supported by being embedded in the heat insulating material 730 by using the support portions 763. Thereby, the door opening drive portion 54(55) is immovably supported by the heat insulating material 730.

As shown in fig. 44, a heat insulator 730 such as polyurethane and a vacuum heat insulator 740 are arranged to overlap on the inside of the ceiling portion 11A. The vacuum insulation material 740 is located under the insulation material 730, and is arranged such that the vacuum insulation material 740 is partially bent at a substantially right angle on the way. In this way, since the vacuum heat insulating material 740 is disposed so as to be bent at a substantially right angle in the middle portion thereof, the vacuum heat insulating material 740 may be disposed so as to cover the lower region portion of the door opening driving unit 54(55) and the lower region portion of the control board 710, and the vacuum heat insulating material 740 may be spaced apart from the support portion 763 of the door opening driving unit 54(55) and the support portion 711 of the control board 710.

A ceiling light 750 of the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 44 includes, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) lamp, and is disposed in a concave portion 733 of a heat insulating material 730 such as urethane buried in the ceiling. Thus, the top illumination 750 does not protrude downward from the inner wall 755 of the top. The vacuum insulation material 740 is isolated from the top illumination 750 by the inner wall 755.

Next, a modification of the 29 th embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 45 to 47, and when the parts of the refrigerator according to the modification of the 29 th embodiment shown in fig. 45 to 47 are substantially the same as those of the refrigerator according to the 29 th embodiment shown in fig. 44, the description will be given using the same reference numerals.

Fig. 45 to 47 are sectional views in the front-rear direction of the upper part of the refrigerator showing other modifications, like fig. 44.

First, in the refrigerator 1 according to modification 1 shown in fig. 45, the ceiling light 750 is disposed in contact with the inner wall 755 of the ceiling portion, and the LED lamp 750a of the ceiling light 750 is disposed outside the inner wall 755 of the ceiling portion (inside the refrigerator), and is exposed to the inside of the refrigerating chamber. The ceiling illumination 750 is disposed at the bent portion 757 of the ceiling inner wall 755.

Further, since the bent portion of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling portion is located on the front side with respect to the bent portion of the concave portion 11C of the ceiling portion 11A of the housing (main body) 11, a space can be formed at a gap in the front-rear direction between the bent portion of the housing outer wall and the bent portion of the inner wall 755, and thus the vacuum heat insulating material can be disposed in the up-down direction therebetween. Therefore, the bent portion of the vacuum insulation material 740 at the intermediate portion can be disposed in the space. The vacuum heat insulating material disposed in the vertical direction may be a separate material. The vacuum heat insulating material disposed in the vertical direction may be made thinner than the vacuum heat insulating material extending in the front-rear direction at other portions. Thus, the space between the bent portion of the outer wall of the housing and the bent portion of the inner wall 755 in the front-rear direction can be reduced, and therefore, the bent portion of the inner wall 755 can be retracted rearward, and the capacity in the refrigerator can be increased.

Further, since the distance between the corner on the front side of the bottom of the concave portion 11C of the outer wall and the corner on the upper side of the bent portion (concave portion 11C side) of the inner wall 755 is smaller than the thickness of the other top portions 11A having no bent portion, the heat insulating property may be deteriorated if only the polyurethane heat insulating material is used.

In the refrigerator 1 of the 2 nd modification shown in fig. 46, the vacuum insulation material 770 is divided into a plurality of portions, and the vacuum insulation material 770 is divided into the 1 st portion 771 and the 2 nd portion 772. The 1 st portion 771 covers a lower area portion of the door opening driving part 54(55), and the 2 nd portion 772 covers a lower area portion of the control substrate 710. The LED lamp 750a of the top illumination 750 has a space from the 1 st part 771 of the vacuum insulation material 770, and the 2 nd part 772 of the vacuum insulation material 770 on the control substrate 710 side contacts the inner wall part 776.

In addition, the vacuum insulation materials of the 1 st part 771 and the 2 nd part 772 are arranged to overlap in the front-rear direction. This is constituted as follows: by positioning the bent portion of the inner wall 755 of the top portion on the front side with respect to the bent portion of the concave portion 11C of the top portion 11A of the housing (main body) 11, a space is formed in the gap in the front-rear direction between the bent portion of the housing outer wall and the bent portion of the inner wall 755, and therefore, the folded portions can overlap each other.

Further, since the dimension between the corner on the front side of the bottom portion of the concave portion 11C of the bent portion of the outer wall and the corner on the upper side of the bent portion (concave portion 11C side) of the inner wall 755 is smaller than the thickness dimension of the other top portion 11A having no bent portion, polyurethane as a foam heat insulating material sometimes hardly flows during production, a space in which polyurethane flows can be secured by not disposing a vacuum heat insulating material therebetween, polyurethane can be reliably filled, and the filling speed can be increased.

In the refrigerator 1 of the 3 rd modification shown in fig. 47, the bent portion 780 of the inner wall 755 of the top portion is formed obliquely. The top illumination 750 is formed in a right-angled triangular shape, for example, corresponding to the shape of the inclined bent portion 780, and the top illumination 750 is disposed so as to be buried in the bent portion 780. The vacuum insulation material 740 is not divided, and is an integral body. In this way, the LED lamp 750a of the top illumination 750 is disposed in the bent portion 780, and the top illumination 750 has a space without contacting the vacuum insulation material 740.

In embodiment 29, the user may operate the door opener by continuously touching the door

opening operation portions

51 and 52 shown in fig. 1 with a finger for a predetermined time or more.

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 a user (user) is located at a position far from the refrigerator 1, but a hole (opening) formed by removing a front panel print medium for transmitting the infrared ray of the remote detection sensor to the front of the door may be disposed so that an infrared transmitting member or the like of the same color system as the print paint is attached to the hole. Further, the removal of the paint can be made less conspicuous by applying the paint or the like so as to form a plurality of small holes (openings) in the portion. In addition, this makes it possible to make the remote detection sensor, which is an infrared sensor, disposed on the rear surface of the glass plate difficult to see from the front surface. The coating material may be a coating material that transmits infrared rays, or may have: a semi-permeable mechanism that transmits infrared light and makes it difficult to transmit a part of visible light by sputtering, etching, or the like. In this case, a mechanism that transmits a color having a long wavelength can be used as the semi-permeable mechanism. For example, when the red light having a longer wavelength than the blue light (450-. In this case, the color of the display means located near the infrared sensor is also displayed by the light emitting means (green, yellow, red light emitting diodes, etc.) using a color having a long wavelength, so that the light can be transmitted through the semi-permeable means, and the infrared sensor and the components inside the door are difficult to recognize.

A remote detection sensor, which is an infrared sensor, may be disposed on the substrate and inserted together with the control operation unit 50 or the door

opening operation units

51 and 52. In this case, a part of the electrode of the control operation unit 50 or the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 may be removed, or a slit may be provided so that infrared rays can be transmitted from the back side of the electrode to the door side. In this way, the remote detection sensor easily detects the user who is performing the operation. The remote detection sensor may be provided between the control operation unit 50 and the door

opening operation units

51 and 52 that touch the open SW.

Embodiment 30

Fig. 48 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 30. Fig. 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. 48.

As shown in fig. 48 to 50, the pair of left and

right doors

21 and 22 cover the front surface opening of the refrigerating compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached to the upper and lower sides of the left end and the right end of the cabinet 11 as the refrigerator main body by hinge portions so as to be opened and closed in a side-by-side manner.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are each the following heat insulating structural members: the colored transparent

glass front panels

21A and 22A are attached to the opening portions of the flat inner panels having the front surfaces opened, the vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity, and the foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as polyurethane heat insulating material) or the preformed solid heat insulating material (e.g., EPC) is disposed in the cavity not filled with the vacuum heat insulating material.

As shown in fig. 48 to 50, the door

opening operation portions

551 and 552 are provided in the vicinity of the lower edges of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 and the front panel 22A of the right door 22, respectively. The door

opening driving portions

54 and 55 are provided at left and right positions near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11, respectively, and at positions corresponding to the upper open side end portions of the left and

right doors

21 and 22.

These

door opening drivers

54 and 55 are door opening devices that forcibly open the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. The door

opening driving units

54 and 55 push the

movable cores

54A and 55A forward by the electromagnets to push the upper sides near the opening-side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, thereby forcibly and automatically opening the left door 21 and the right door 22.

One door opening operation portion 551 is disposed at a lower right position of the left door 21, and the other door opening operation portion 552 is disposed at a lower left position of the right door 22. The door opening operation portion 551 is disposed inside the glass front panel 21A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation portion 552 is disposed inside the glass front panel 22A of the right door 22.

Fig. 51 shows a configuration example of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation part 551 shown in fig. 48. Fig. 52 is a diagram showing the proximity sensor 560 and the protective electrode 570 disposed on the substrate 553 of the door opening operation part 551 shown in fig. 51. Fig. 53 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. 48 have the same structure, but may have a bilaterally symmetrical shape or the same shape. Fig. 51 shows an example of the shape of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551, but the door opening operation portion 552 has substantially the same shape as the door opening operation portion 551, and therefore, the description will be made with reference to fig. 51 to 53 by taking the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 as a representative example.

First, referring to fig. 53, the door opening operation portion 551 includes: a substrate assembly 500M, a plastic housing space member 585 called an open case for housing the substrate assembly 500M, and a plastic cover member 590. A metal, for example, aluminum foil is preferably bonded to the back surface 585R of the plastic housing space member 585. A metal member 591 such as aluminum foil is bonded to the inner surface of the plastic cover member 590. Thus, the electromagnetic wave generated on the main body side of the refrigerator 1 does not affect the substrate assembly 500M side.

The board assembly 500M includes: a plastic shield plate 599, a substrate 553, an operation signboard plate 597, and an LED substrate 598 on which the display LED557 is mounted. The substrate 553 is an electrostatic touch switch substrate, and is supported and fixed on the front surface side of the shield plate 599. Operation sign plate 597 is disposed on the front surface side of base plate 553. A display LED substrate 598 is supported and fixed on the rear surface side of the shield plate 599. A plurality of LEDs 577 are mounted on the LED substrate 598. The shield plate 599 functions as an indication mechanism for supporting the 2 substrates 553 and the LED substrate 598, and a spacing mechanism for spacing the LED lights.

Left and right slits 574, 575 (light transmission means) are formed at positions corresponding to the base plate 553 and the operation dial plate 597. The

slits

574, 575 are located between the proximity sensor 560 and the middle zone portion 589. The substrate assembly 500M is received in the housing space member 585 through the rectangular opening 586 of the housing space member 585. The opening portion 586 of the housing space member 585 is covered with the cover member 590.

As shown in fig. 51(a) and 52, the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 is vertically long rectangular or square, and the substrate 553 has a front surface 553A shown in fig. 51(a) and a back surface 553B shown in fig. 51 (B). The substrate 553 is provided with an electronic component mounting portion 571, a proximity sensor 560, and a protective electrode 570 placement portion 572. In a mounting portion 571 of the electronic component shown in fig. 51(a) and 52, a desired electronic component, a connector component, and the like are mounted so as to be accommodated in a recess of a shielding plate 599 as a spacing means so as to protrude to the back. Further, by forming the metal electrical connection portion 571b in a substantially flat state without protruding on the front surface of the substrate 553, the substrate 553 can be brought into contact with the back surface of the glass door.

Further, by covering the operation panel 597 for shielding the substrate 553 as a cover mechanism, it is possible to prevent malfunction when the user touches the electrical connection portion 571b and noise from being generated when static electricity accumulates in the glass door. The operation label plate 597 may be a colored plate or a vapor-deposited plate.

In the arrangement portion 572 on the front surface 553A side shown in fig. 51(a), there are arranged: a proximity sensor 560 as a 1 st electrode, a guard electrode 570 as a 3 rd electrode, and a middle area portion 589 as a 2 nd electrode. The middle area portion 589 is disposed between the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The proximity sensor 560, the guard electrode 570 and the middle area portion 589 are metal electrodes, but are electrically insulated from one another. The middle area portion 589 as the 2 nd electrode assists the proximity sensor 560 to have a function as a proximity sensor. The guard electrode 570 changes the detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560.

As shown in fig. 51(B), a mesh ground pattern 573 as a 4 th electrode is disposed on the back surface 553B corresponding to the disposed portion 572 of the substrate 553. Thus, the ground pattern 573 prevents noise from the refrigerator body from affecting the electromagnetic field generated from the proximity sensor 560 and the electromagnetic field generated from the guard electrode 570.

As shown in fig. 51(a) and 52, a through hole 560C is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560, and a lead pattern 560H is connected to the through hole 560C as shown in fig. 51 (b). Since the user presses (touches) the proximity sensor 560 with a finger, the user usually aims at the center of the proximity sensor 560, and the through hole 560C is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560.

The reason why the through hole 560C is formed at the substantially central position of the proximity sensor 560 in this manner is as follows. That is, in the proximity sensor 560, the central region where the through hole 560C is formed has the highest switching sensitivity compared to the other regions. Accordingly, the user's finger can press the center of the proximity switch 560 having the through hole 560C, thereby bringing the finger into contact with the position having the highest sensitivity.

The proximity sensor 560 shown in fig. 51 and 52 is an electrode for electrostatic touch (contact), and is: an electrostatic capacitance type detection mechanism for detecting the approach of a human body or an object at, for example, about 100mm in the front (front surface) direction of the left and

right doors

21 and 22 shown in fig. 49 and 50. The proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of a finger when a part of the human body of the user, specifically, for example, the finger is in proximity. The proximity sensor 560 is a capacitance type touch sensor, but may be an interactive capacitance type touch sensor or a self-capacitance type touch sensor.

In the case of the mutual capacitance method, which is composed of 1 transmitting electrode and 1 receiving electrode, when a current is supplied to the transmitting electrode, an electromagnetic field is generated and received by the receiving electrode. For example, when a finger of a human body approaches the detection region of the proximity sensor 560, a part of the electromagnetic field is absorbed and received by the receiving electrode, and thus the detected energy is reduced, whereby the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger.

For the self-capacitance approach, 1 electrode (proximity sensor 560) with stray capacitance is required. The stray capacitance of an electrode (proximity sensor 560) is affected by the parasitic capacitance between the electrode (proximity sensor 560) and the conductive object (human finger) around it. When a finger of a human body approaches the proximity sensor 560, the value of the stray capacitance increases due to the influence of the stray capacitance, and the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger by measuring the increased stray capacitance.

As shown in fig. 51 and 52, the proximity sensor 560 is a switch formed in a rectangular shape, for example, which is long in the longitudinal direction, and the

slits

574 and 575 are formed so as to surround the electrodes around the proximity sensor 560. As shown in fig. 52, the

slits

574 and 575 are covered with a substrate 598 from the back surface, and a plurality of LEDs 577 functioning as an illumination device are arranged with an interval therebetween.

Among the plurality of

LEDs

577, 4 LEDs 577 corresponding to the 4 corner portions 576R of the

slits

574 and 575 are disposed at positions outside the slit 576 separated from the inside of the slit 576.

As shown in fig. 52, one end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is coupled to the placement portion 572 via a coupling portion 560A, and the other end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is coupled to the placement portion 572 via a coupling portion 560B. A through hole 560C for electrical connection is formed in 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, and the detection sensitivity of the region of the proximity sensor 560 where the through hole 560C is provided is higher than that of the other region. Since the area portion that the user's finger approaches and contacts is the central portion of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is disposed at the central portion of the proximity sensor 560. The proximity sensor 560 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape by forming electrodes in the broken line regions in the regions 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 an コ shape. This results in the following constitution: by forming the bridge 572ab connecting to the peripheral portion 572b around the slit, the inside and the outside are connected, and the substrate is held as 1 substrate without being divided.

The guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 51 and 52 is formed in a rectangular frame shape in the arrangement portion 572 and around the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589. The guard electrode 570 is a metal body, and is composed of 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 an opposite direction to the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560.

As a result, as shown in fig. 49 and 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is suppressed from spreading by the electromagnetic field in the opposite direction generated by the guard electrode 570. Therefore, the extension of the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is suppressed by the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570, and the guard electrode 570 functions as an effective range changing mechanism of a detection range that changes the effective range of the detection range of the human body.

The guard electrode 570 changes the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 when detecting the approach of a human body, for example, a finger, in a narrowed manner, thereby changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560. Specifically, the guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560, and as a result, 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 portion 552 of the right door 22 is directed only in the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

Therefore, 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.

As shown in fig. 50, 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 portion 552 of the right door 22 is directed only in the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560. Therefore, 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 up-down direction.

That is, the electromagnetic field 560P of the proximity sensor 560 shown in fig. 49 and 50 shows the effective range of the detection range of the human body corresponding to a range different from the range in the different direction in front of the proximity sensor 560 (range extending vertically and horizontally). That is, the effective range of the detection range of the human body is limited by setting at least the operation direction of the user of the proximity sensor 560 as an effective range and changing the range in the direction different from the operation direction by narrowing or the like, specifically, the effective range is a range other than at least a part of the range in the direction different from the front (at least a part of the range extending in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the rear direction, or the like).

Fig. 54 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit 556, the door

opening operation units

551 and 552, the door opening

drive units

54 and 55 as the door opening devices, and the like.

As shown in fig. 54, the controller 556 is electrically connected to the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the door

opening operation portions

551 and 552, the door

opening driving portions

54 and 55, and a plurality of LEDs 577 as lighting devices.

The control section 556 keeps the proximity sensor 560 in the "high sensitivity" state. When a finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P shown in fig. 49 and 50 as the detection region of the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 of fig. 54 receives the signal SG of the finger proximity to the proximity sensor 560 from the proximity sensor 560.

When receiving the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 in fig. 54 determines that the finger is in proximity to the proximity sensor 560, stops the energization of the guard electrode 570, and changes the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity" to lower the sensitivity. When receiving the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the controller 556 turns on the LED577 to illuminate the vicinity of the proximity switch 560, thereby raising the position of the proximity switch 560 by illumination and allowing the user to visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

Further, since the lighting of the LED577 is displayed by the lighting of the LED577, the user can confirm the operation portion, and it is not necessary to perform printing or the like indicating the operation position of the operation portion on the front panel 21A (or 22A) which is a glass plate.

When the state of the finger approaching the proximity sensor 560 is shifted to the contact proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact switch, and the proximity sensor 560 transmits a contact signal SH indicating that the finger has contacted the proximity sensor 560 to the control unit 556. Accordingly, the controller 556 enables the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, for example, to enable the door opening operation of the left door 21, and the controller 56 can actually perform the door opening operation of the left door 21 by operating the door opening driving unit 54. The same applies to the right door 22.

Thus, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 by visually checking the position of the proximity switch 560 disposed on the inner side of the glass surface of the left door 21 or the right door 22 by the illumination of the LED 577.

As described above, the control unit 556 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity" when a finger approaches, so that the proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch sensor. Since the control unit 556 causes the electrostatic switch 560 to function as a "proximity sensor" when a finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 "activates" the function as a "proximity sensor" by setting the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to "high". Therefore, the control unit 556 does not cause the proximity sensor 560 to function as a "contact sensor", and therefore the proximity sensor 560 "invalidates" the opening (door opening operation) of the left and

right doors

21, 22, which are the original functions, of the door

opening operation units

551, 552.

As described above, when the user's finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 notifies the controller 556 of the proximity of the finger. When the proximity of the finger is notified from the proximity sensor 560 to the control unit 556, the control unit 556 switches the sensitivity as the proximity sensor 560 from "high" to "low". The controller 556 turns 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 reliably touch the proximity sensor 560 with a finger while visually checking the position of the proximity sensor 560. Since the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a "contact sensor" which is an original function, the opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 or the right door 22 is "enabled" by touching the proximity sensor 560 with a finger.

The opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 is the same as the opening operation (door opening operation) of the right door 22, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 51 and 52, by disposing the 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, detects the approach of the human hand or finger in the front direction (forward direction) of the left door 21 and the right door 22 and within a range of, for example, about 100 mm. At this time, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is an effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, is restricted so as not to spread in the up-down direction and the left-right direction because of the arrangement of the guard electrodes 570.

As shown in fig. 49, by limiting the expansion of the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 in the left-right direction (X direction), when the left door 21 is opened along the trajectory indicated by the arrow 21M and a finger approaches the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, the proximity sensor 560 of the closed right door 22 cannot detect the finger, as shown in fig. 49. Similarly, when the finger is approached to the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 by opening the right door 22 along the trajectory indicated by the arrow 22M, the finger cannot be detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the closed left door 21.

Therefore, 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 trajectory when the left door 21, which is the moving mechanism, is opened. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is an 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, which is the moving mechanism, is opened.

Thus, when the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened, the proximity sensor 560 of the one side right door 22 or left door 21 that is closed without being opened can be prevented from inadvertently and erroneously detecting the finger of the user or the left door 21 or right door 22.

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 with respect to the up-down direction (Z direction), when the push-pull type door 23 as the moving mechanism is pulled out in the arrow direction, the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 do not enter the trajectory when the push-pull type door 23 is opened.

This prevents the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 from inadvertently and erroneously detecting a finger of the user or the push-pull type door 23 when the push-pull type door 23 is opened.

The size of the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 51 and 52 may be, for example, 30mmx30mm or more in the vertical and horizontal directions. By setting the size of the guard electrode 570 in this way, when the user wants to open the left door 21 or the right door 22 by touching the proximity sensor 560 with, for example, an elbow instead of a finger, it is possible to prevent the elbow from simultaneously touching both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. Thereby, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 with the fingers and also with the elbows.

Next, an example of the housing structure of the substrate 553 of the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to fig. 55. Fig. 55 is a diagram showing an example of a storage structure of the substrate 553 of the left door 21 and the right door 22. Fig. 55(a) is a front view of the left door 21 and the right door 22, and fig. 55(b) is a perspective view showing the structure of the inner end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 (the inner end surface portion 22T of the right door 22) showing the storage structure of the substrate 553. Fig. 55 (c) shows an example of the lid member 590.

As shown in fig. 55(a), in a state where the left door 21 and the right door 22 are closed, the inner side end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 and the inner side end surface portion 22T of the right door 22 are closed to face each other. The rectangular opening 586 of the housing space member 585 is located in each inner end surface 21T, and the housing space member 585 of the board assembly 500M is located inside the left door 21 and the right door 22. The substrate assembly 500M is inserted into the housing space member 585 from the opening 586 and housed.

After the substrate assembly 500M is stored, the opening 586 is closed with the lid member 590. A metal member 591 such as an aluminum foil tape or an iron plate is disposed on the inner surface of the lid member 590. The metal member 591 is a changing mechanism that limits the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560, which is the effective range of the human body detection range, and changes the effective range of the detection range of 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 as the adjacent moving means.

By disposing the metal body 591 in the cover member 590 in this manner, the metal body 591 cuts off 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 fields of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the right door 22. Also, 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 fields of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the left door 21.

Next, an operation example in the case where the user opens, for example, the left door 21 will be described with reference to fig. 48 to 50 and 54.

When the user brings a finger close to the proximity sensor 560 on the left door 21 side shown in fig. 49 and 50 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P which is the effective range of the human body detection range shown in fig. 49 and 50, the proximity sensor 560 in the high-sensitivity state detects that the finger is in proximity to the proximity sensor 560. Thus, control unit 556 in fig. 54 receives signal SG indicating that the finger approaches proximity sensor 560.

Then, the control unit 556 in fig. 54 stops the energization of the guard electrode 570 in accordance with the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, and the control unit 556 decreases the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to change from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity". Further, the controller 556 illuminates the proximity switch 560 by lighting the LED577, so that the position of the proximity switch 560 is clearly indicated, and the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

When a finger touches the proximity sensor 560, the low-sensitivity proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch switch (touch switch) for opening the left door 21, and transmits a touch signal SH indicating that the finger touches the proximity sensor 560 to the control unit 556 of fig. 54. Accordingly, the controller 556 enables the door opening operation of the left door 21, and the controller 556 operates the door opening driving unit 54, so that the left door 21 can be opened.

The operation example when the user opens the right door 22 is the same as the operation example when the user opens the left door 21, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

In this way, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a touch 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 performs the door opening operation of the left door 21 by "enabling" the door opening operation of the left door 21. This is also true for the right door 22.

When the user inadvertently touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 51, the control unit 556 does not "invalidate" the door opening operation of the left door 21 without causing the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, and thus does not perform the door opening operation of the left door 21. Accordingly, when the user inadvertently touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570, for example, at his or her elbow, the controller 556 can "invalidate" the door opening operation of the left door 21 and prohibit the door opening operation of the left door 21. In other words, when water droplets are attached to both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 54 and 51, the control unit 556 does not "invalidate" the door opening operation of the left door 21 by causing the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, and does not perform the door opening operation of the left door 21. The same applies to the right door 22.

For example, when the elbow of the user simultaneously contacts both the guard electrode 570 and the middle area portion 589 shown in fig. 54 and 51, the door opening operation of the left door 21 can be performed by "enabling" the door opening operation of the door 21. This is also true for the right door 22.

As described above, the split left door 21 and the split right door 22 having the

glass front panels

21A and 22A each have an electrostatic touch type contact sensor serving as the proximity sensor 560 for detecting the proximity of a finger or the like of a human body. As shown in fig. 51, in the substrate 553, the guard electrode 570 is disposed so as to surround the proximity sensor 560 at a distance from the proximity sensor 560 around the proximity sensor 560 as the electrostatic touch electrode.

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

Thus, the guard electrode 570 restricts the electromagnetic field generated when the proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of a human body in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, and restricts the extended range of the proximity detection electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560 as shown in fig. 49 and 50. Therefore, the electromagnetic field 560P (proximity detection range) generated by the proximity sensor 560 is limited only to the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

Therefore, in the case of a side-by-side refrigerator having the left door 21 and the right door 22, for example, the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 can be prevented from being erroneously detected by the open/close of the left door 21, and the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 can be prevented from being erroneously detected by the open/close of the right door 22.

In addition, in the case of a single-door type refrigerator, which is not a side-by-side type refrigerator, when a human body or an object comes to a side surface of the refrigerator, it is possible to prevent the proximity sensor of the door from inadvertently and erroneously detecting the human body or the object.

Embodiment 31

Fig. 56 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 31.

As shown in fig. 56, the pair of left and

right doors

21 and 22 openably and closably cover the front opening of the refrigeration compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached to the upper and lower portions of the left end portion and the right end portion of the box 11 as the refrigerator main body by hinge portions so as to be opened and closed in a side-by-side manner.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are both the following heat insulating construction components: the colored transparent

glass front panels

As shown in fig. 56, the pair of door opening

operation portions

651, 652 are provided in the vicinity of the lower edges of the rear surfaces of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 and the front panel 22A of the right door 22, respectively. The

door operator sections

651, 652 can be operated by touching the front surface of the front panel 21A with a finger of the user. The door opening operation unit 651 has a capacitance type proximity sensor 607 and an electrode 633 of a capacitance type touch key. The door opening operation section 652 includes a capacitance type proximity sensor 608 and an electrode 633 of a capacitance type touch key. The proximity sensor 607 is disposed above the electrode 633 of the touch key, and the proximity sensor 608 is disposed above the electrode 633 of the touch key.

Further, a capacitance type control operation portion 650 is provided on the rear surface side of the front panel 21A of the left door 21, and the control operation portion 650 is used to operate the refrigerator by a touch operation with a finger of a user from the front surface of the front panel 21A.

The control operation unit 650 is provided with: for example, an infrared light receiving unit for detecting an environmental state around a refrigerator, a control button (control switch) 650CS and a HOME button (HOME switch) 650HS, an LED display lamp for detecting a touch to the HOME button 650HS and displaying a transmission of an operation button name, a cooling function name, a cooling intensity, and the like, a 7-segment LED display device for displaying a value of a change in temperature value and the like through the transmission, and the like.

As shown in fig. 56, the door

opening driving portions

54 and 55 are provided at left and right positions near the front end of the top surface of the top plate of the box 11, respectively, and are positions corresponding to the vicinity of the upper open side ends of the left door 21 and the right door 22.

These door opening

driving units

opening driving units

54 and 55 push the

movable cores

54A and 55A forward by the electromagnets, thereby pushing the upper sides near the opening-side ends of the left and

right doors

21 and 22 forward, and forcibly opening the left and

right doors

21 and 22 automatically.

As shown in fig. 56, the door opening operation portion 651 including one proximity sensor 607 is disposed at a lower right position of the left door 21, and the door opening operation portion 652 including the other proximity sensor 608 is disposed at a lower left position of the right door 22. The door opening operation portion 651 including the proximity sensor 607 is disposed inside the glass front panel 21A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation portion 652 including the proximity sensor 608 is disposed inside the glass front panel 22A of the right door 22.

Fig. 57 is a sectional view taken along line V1-V1 showing an example of the structure of the left door 21 shown in fig. 56 in the vicinity of the door opening operation portion 651 including the proximity sensor 607 (or in the vicinity of the door opening operation portion 652 including the proximity sensor 608). The structure example in the vicinity of the door opening operation portion 652 shown in fig. 56 is the same as the structure example in the vicinity of the door opening operation portion 651 shown in fig. 56.

As shown in fig. 57, a shielding sheet 621 is disposed on the inner surface side of the

glass front panels

21A and 22A by printing or the like. The sheet 621 is disposed to prevent the inside from being viewed through the

front panels

21A and 22A.

As shown in fig. 57, on the inner surface side of the

front panels

21A and 22A, a 1 st substrate 631 and a 2 nd substrate 632 are arranged in parallel with the

front panels

21A and 22A with a gap therebetween.

A proximity sensor 607 (or a proximity sensor 608) and a connector 629 are disposed on the back surface of the 1 st substrate 631 disposed on the front side, and a plurality of capacitive touch keys (electrodes) 633 are disposed on the front surface of the 1 st substrate 631. The 1 st substrate 631 has a plurality of through holes 634 formed therein, and each hole 634 is disposed at a rear position corresponding to the touch key 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 disposed on the surface of the 2 nd substrate 632 disposed on the rear side of the 1 st substrate 631. The connector 636 of the 2 nd substrate 632 is connected to the connector 629 of the 1 st substrate 631 by the relay harness 628.

The LEDs 635 are disposed at positions of the 1 st substrate 631 opposite to the holes 634. Thus, illumination light LLT generated by each LED635 can illuminate the touch key 633 from the back toward the front panel 21A (22A) side through each hole 634. Thus, the user can visually confirm the positions of the

proximity sensors

607 and 608 and the positions of the touch keys 633 through the front panel 21A (or the front panel 22A) and the sheet 621.

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

A plurality of LEDs 665, a light guide shield plate 666, and a connector 667 of a flexible printed circuit board are mounted on a surface of the substrate 664. The connector 667 is connected to the transparent electrode 663 via a flexible printed board 668. Each LED665 is disposed between two adjacent shielding plates 666, and illumination light LLS of each LED665 is irradiated toward the transparent electrode 663 side by the shielding plates 666, passes through the transparent electrode 663, and is diffused toward the front panel 21A by the diffusing film 662. Thus, the user can visually confirm the electrode position of the transparent electrode 663 through the front panel 21A and the sheet 621.

Fig. 59 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections of the control unit 656, the control operation unit 650, the door

opening operation units

651 and 652, and the door

opening driving units

54 and 55 as the door opening devices.

As shown in fig. 59, the controller 656 is electrically connected to the control operation unit 650, the 1 st substrate 631, the 2 nd substrate 632, and the

door opening drivers

54, 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, if the environment is dark, it is difficult to recognize the positions of the

proximity sensors

607 and 608 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 and the position of the touch key 633. In order to improve the difficulty of operating the door

opening operation units

651 and 652, as shown in fig. 57, LEDs 635 as an illumination means for supplying illumination light are mounted on the back surfaces of the touch buttons 633 and the

proximity sensors

607 and 608 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652.

Therefore, when the user touches the touch key 633 of the side-by-side

door operation units

651 and 652 with a finger, the capacitance type proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects the approach of a person. The controller 656 receives a signal notifying the approach of a person from the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608), and the illumination LED635 is turned on in accordance with an instruction from the controller 656.

Thus, even in a dark environment, the user can recognize the position of the

proximity sensors

607 and 608 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 and the position of the touch key 633, and can easily operate the touch key 633 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652, and open the left door 21 (or the right door 22).

When proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) detects the approach of a person, controller 656 receives a signal notifying the approach of the person from proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608), and therefore, illumination LED665 of control operation unit 650 shown in fig. 58 is turned on in response to an instruction from controller 656.

This allows the user to recognize the position of the control operation unit 650 even in a dark environment, and thus the user can easily operate the control operation unit 650.

When the user wants to touch the touch key 633 of the

door operator

651 or 652 with a finger from above the

glass front panels

21A and 22A in a non-contact manner, the controller 656 in fig. 59 is preferably capable of dividing the brightness of the LED635 when it is turned on into a plurality of levels.

That is, when proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) detects the approach of a person, controller 656 in fig. 59 slightly turns on LED 635. Then, when the user touches the touch key 633 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 with a finger in a non-contact manner and the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is established, the control unit 656 in fig. 59 completely turns on the LED635 to increase the light amount.

Thereafter, the user disengages the finger from the touch key 633, and the controller 656 operates the door opening driver 54 (or the door opening driver 55) to open the left door 21 (the right door 22).

Thus, when the user touches the touch key 633 of the

door operator

651 or 652 with a finger to establish the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22), the LED635 is turned from the low-intensity lighting to the full lighting to increase the light amount, and therefore the user can visually confirm establishment of the door opening operation by changing the light amount, that is, preferably, increasing the light amount.

The control operation unit 650 shown in fig. 59 is operated in order for the user to change the cooling control content, for example. The controller 656 can be set so that the operation start time (lighting timing) for lighting the LED665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in fig. 58 is delayed by a predetermined delay time from the operation start time (lighting timing) for lighting the LED635 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 shown in fig. 57, that is, different from each other. That is, the timing of the emission pattern of the LED665 in the control operation unit 650 and the timing of the emission pattern of the LED635 in the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 can be changed.

For example, the timing of turning on the LED635 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 may be set to be earlier than the timing of turning on the LED665 of the control operation unit 650. However, conversely, the timing of turning on the LED665 in the control operation unit 650 may be set to be earlier than the timing of turning on the LED635 in the door

opening operation units

651 and 652.

Thus, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects the approach of a person, not only the LED635 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652 but also the LED665 of the control operation unit 650 can be turned on.

As shown in fig. 56, the

proximity sensors

607 and 608 are disposed at positions lower than the position of the control operation unit 650 in the left door 21 and the right door 22, and the

proximity sensors

607 and 608 are disposed in the vicinity of the touch keys 633 of the door

opening operation units

651 and 652, respectively.

Thus, the user can easily operate the door

opening operation unit

651 or 652 by moving the finger slightly downward as it is after bringing the finger into proximity with the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) and contacting the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608).

Next, fig. 60 shows an example of a case where the control operation unit 650 and the door opening operation unit 651 of the left door 21 are turned on when the finger touches the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 after the proximity sensor 607 of the left door 21 shown in fig. 56 detects the proximity of the user's finger.

In fig. 60(a), the user's finger is in a state of not yet being completely close to the proximity sensor 607. In this state, the control unit 656 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 607 to "high" to increase the sensitivity so that the proximity sensor 607 as the electrostatic switch functions as "proximity sensor", thereby "enabling" the function as "proximity sensor".

In this case, the control unit 656 "invalidates" the opening (door opening operation) of the left door 21, which is the function of the touch key 633, of the door opening operation unit 651. The controller 656 then turns on 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 broken lines. The control switch (control button) 650CS and the HOME switch (HOME button) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 have their operation (door opening operation) functions "disabled".

Next, fig. 60(b) shows a state where the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 607. In this state, the proximity sensor 607 detects the approach of the finger HT, and therefore the control unit 656 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 607 from "high" to "low" to lower the sensitivity, thereby reducing the function of the proximity sensor.

Therefore, the control unit 656 activates the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651, so that the function of opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 by the finger HT contacting the touch key 633 from the front panel surface changes from "invalid" to "valid".

The controller 656 controls the lighting display of the operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 so that the operation units are turned on as indicated by solid lines, and the

LEDs

635 and 665 shown in fig. 57 and 58 are, for example, slightly lit. That is, the control operation unit 650 is illuminated by the slight lighting of the LED665 shown in fig. 58 and is illuminated from behind, and the door operation unit 651 is illuminated by the lighting of the LED635 shown in fig. 57 and is illuminated from behind.

Preferably, the lighting display time is a predetermined lighting time, for example, 10 seconds, and when the finger HT does not touch the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 during the 10 seconds, the

LEDs

635 and 665 may be turned off again.

The control unit 656 may be set so that the operation start time (lighting timing) for lighting the LED665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in fig. 58 is delayed by a predetermined delay time from the operation start time (lighting timing) for lighting the LED635 of the door opening operation unit 651 shown in fig. 57, that is, different from the operation start time. That is, the controller 656 may change the timing of controlling the emission pattern of the LED665 of the operation unit 650 and the timing of controlling the emission pattern of the LED635 of the door opening operation unit 651.

For example, the timing of turning on the LED635 of the door opening operation unit 651 may be made earlier than the timing of turning on the LED665 of the control operation unit 650. However, conversely, the timing of turning on the LED665 of the control operation unit 650 may be set to be earlier than the timing of turning on the LED635 of the door opening operation unit 651. By differentiating the lighting timing in this manner, the position of the control operation unit 650 and the position of the door opening operation unit 651 can be displayed separately for the user.

Next, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the HOME switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on, and the state changes from "invalid" to "valid".

Next, fig. 60(c) shows a state where the finger HT has touched the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651. In this state, the controller 656 maintains the proximity sensor 607 in a low state, which is the sensitivity of the "contact sensor". The controller 656 maintains the opening operation (door opening operation) function of the left door 21, which is the function of the touch key 633, of the door opening operation unit 651 as "valid".

Next, the operation functions of the control key (control switch) 650CS and the HOME key (HOME switch) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on, and become "valid", and thus can be operated.

Then, the controller 656 maintains the "on state" as indicated by the solid line by controlling the lighting display of the operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607.

In this case, it is preferable that the amount of light of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 in fig. 60(b) is smaller than the amount of light of the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607, and the lighting is slightly performed. However, when the finger HT in fig. 60(c) touches, the light amount of the lighting display of the control operation portion 650 and the light amount of the lighting display of the door opening operation portion 651 increase from slight lighting, and light is emitted with full lighting performed with a larger light amount.

Thus, when the user touches the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 with a finger to establish a door opening operation of the left door 21, the LED635 is turned from a slightly on state to a fully on state to increase the amount of light, and therefore the user can visually confirm that the door opening operation is established by the increase in the amount of light. Further, the user can more reliably recognize the display of the control operation unit 650 and the display of the door opening operation unit 651, and the energy saving effect of power consumption can be improved.

As described above, when the finger HT is brought close to the proximity sensor 607 as shown in fig. 60(b) and when the finger HT is brought into contact with the touch key 633 as shown in fig. 60(c), the controller 656 can change the light amount at the time of lighting up and increase the light amount as described above to illuminate the control operation unit 650 and illuminate the door opening operation unit 651.

Next, fig. 60(d) shows a state where the finger HT of the user is separated from the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 52. In this state, the controller 656 activates the input of the operation signal from the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651, and operates the door opening driving unit 54, thereby performing door opening control of the left door 21. Thereby, the left door 21 can be automatically opened.

Then, the controller 656 maintains the "on state" as indicated by the solid line by controlling the lighting display of the operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607. Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the HOME switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned off, and the state changes from "active" to "inactive".

As described above, the same operation as the opening operation of the left door 21 described with reference to fig. 60 can be performed for the opening operation of the right door 22 using the door opening operation portion 652 of the right door 22 shown in fig. 56.

When the left door 21 is opened by the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 of the left door 21, the function of the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 652 of the right door 22 can be switched, and the opening and closing function of the door opening operation unit 652 can be deactivated without opening the right door 22. The same is true in the opposite case.

When the user touches the touch key 633 of the

door operator

651, 652 with a finger in a non-contact manner, the controller 656 in fig. 59 is preferably capable of changing the lighting color when the LED635 is lit. That is, when proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) detects the approach of a person, controller 656 in fig. 59 turns on LED635 to emit light of, for example, blue as the 1 st emission color. When the user touches the touch key 633 of the

door operator

651 or 652 with a finger to establish a door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22), the controller 656 in fig. 59 turns on the LED635 in, for example, red, which is the 2 nd emission color.

Thereafter, when the user disengages the finger from the touch key 633, the controller 656 causes the door opening driver 54 (or the door opening driver 55) to operate, thereby opening the left door 21 (the right door 22).

Thus, when the user touches the touch key 633 of the two-

door operation units

651 and 652 with a finger to establish the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22), the LED635 changes the lighting color from blue to red, and therefore the user can visually confirm that the door opening operation is established by the change in the lighting color. In addition, the types of the 1 st emission color and the 2 nd emission color can be arbitrarily selected.

Further, as shown in fig. 60(b), when the finger HT is brought close to the proximity sensor 607, the

LEDs

635 and 665 may blink, or when the finger HT is brought into contact with the touch key 633 shown in fig. 60(c), the

LEDs

635 and 665 may be constantly turned on. The user can visually confirm that the door opening operation is established.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in fig. 56 are provided in a split type, and the controller 656 may constantly turn on the LED635 of the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 652 of the right door 22 when the left door 21 is open. Similarly, when the right door 22 is being opened, the controller 656 may constantly turn on the LED635 of the touch key 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 of the left door 21. Thus, even in a dark environment, the user can visually confirm the position of the door opening operation unit of the right door 22 on the unopened side (or the left door 21 on the unopened side), and can easily operate the door opening operation unit.

The description of the above embodiments can be applied to home appliances other than refrigerators, for example, laundry appliances, cooking appliances, and the like, and the invention is also effective as an operation unit.

Embodiment 32

Fig. 61 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 32. Fig. 62 is a plan view showing the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 61, and fig. 63 is a side view of the refrigerator 1 shown in fig. 61.

As shown in fig. 61 to 63, the pair of left and

right doors

21 and 22 cover the front surface opening of refrigerating compartment 12 of refrigerator 1. Therefore, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached to the upper and lower sides of the left end and the right end of the cabinet 11 as the refrigerator main body by hinge portions so as to be opened and closed in a side-by-side manner.

The left door 21 and the right door 22 are each the following heat insulating structural members: transparent colored

glass front panels

21A and 22A are attached to the opening portions of the flat inner panels having the front surfaces opened, a vacuum heat insulating material is disposed in the internal cavity, and a foamed polyurethane heat insulating material (hereinafter also simply referred to as a polyurethane heat insulating material) or a preformed solid heat insulating material (e.g., EPC) is disposed in the cavity not filled with the vacuum heat insulating material.

As shown in fig. 61 to 63, the door

opening operation portions

opening driving units

54 and 55 are disposed at left and right positions near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11, respectively, and at positions corresponding to the upper open side ends of the left and

right doors

21 and 22.

These door opening

driving units

opening driving units

54 and 55 forcibly and automatically open the left door 21 and the right door 22 by pushing the

movable cores

54A and 55A forward by the electromagnets to push the upper sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22 in the vicinity of the opening side ends thereof forward.

As shown in fig. 61, one door opening operation portion 551 is disposed at a lower right position of the left door 21, and the other door opening operation portion 552 is disposed at a lower left position of the right door 22. The door opening operation portion 551 is disposed inside the glass front panel 21A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation portion 552 is disposed inside the glass front panel 22A of the right door 22.

Further, a capacitance type control operation portion 650 is provided inside the front panel 21A of the left door 21, and the capacitance type control operation portion 650 is used to operate the refrigerator by a touch operation with a finger of a user from the surface of the front panel 21A. The control operation unit 650 is disposed at an upper position of the door opening operation unit 551 on the left door 21.

Fig. 64 shows a structural example of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation part 551 shown in fig. 61. Fig. 65 is a diagram showing the proximity sensor 560 and the protective electrode 570 disposed on the substrate 553 of the door opening operation part 551 shown in fig. 64. 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 configuration, but have a bilaterally symmetrical shape. Although fig. 64 shows an example of the shape of the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551, the door opening operation portion 552 and the door opening operation portion 551 have substantially the same shape, and therefore, the description will be given with reference to fig. 64 to 66, with the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 as a representative example.

First, referring to fig. 66, the door opening operation portion 551 includes: a substrate assembly 500M, a plastic housing space member 585 called an open case for housing the substrate assembly 500M, and a plastic cover member 590. A metal body, for example, aluminum foil is preferably attached to the back surface 585R of the plastic housing space member 585. A metal member 591 such as aluminum foil is attached to the inner surface of the plastic cover 590. Accordingly, the electromagnet generated on the main body side of the refrigerator 1 does not affect the substrate assembly 500M side.

The board assembly 500M includes: a plastic shield plate 599, a substrate 553, an operation signboard plate 597, and an LED substrate 598 on which the display LED557 is mounted. The substrate 553 is an electrostatic touch switch substrate and is fixed to the front surface side of the shield plate 599. An operation dial plate 597 is disposed on the front surface side of the base plate 553. A display LED substrate 598 is fixed to the rear surface side of the shield plate 599. A plurality of LEDs 577 are mounted on the LED substrate 598.

Left and

right slits

574, 575 are formed in the base 553 at positions corresponding to the operation marker plate 597. The board assembly 500M is accommodated in the accommodating space member 585 via an opening 586 which is a rectangular insertion port for the accommodating space member 585. The opening portion 586 of the housing space member 585 is covered with the cover member 590.

As shown in fig. 64(a) and 65, the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 is rectangular or square, and the substrate 553 has a front surface 553A shown in fig. 64(a) and a back surface 553B shown in fig. 64 (B). A mounting portion 571 for electronic components, and a placement portion 572 for proximity sensor 560 and protection electrode 570 are provided on substrate 553. The substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 551 and the substrate 553 of the door opening operation portion 552 shown in fig. 1 are preferably bilaterally symmetrical, and can be manufactured as a common member.

A mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the back surface 553B side shown in fig. 64(B) has a 1 st step portion 553M and a 2 nd step portion 553N at a lower end portion. The lower end portion of the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the back surface 553B side is formed in a step shape.

Further, 2 connector components CC1, CC2, an electronic component such as a microcomputer not shown, and the like are mounted on the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the back surface 553B side. The connector component CC1 is disposed at the 1 st step 553M, and the connector component CC2 is disposed at the 2 nd step 553N.

That is, the connector component CC1 and the connector component CC2 are not arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and the position where the connector component CC1 is attached to the back surface 553B of the board 553 is lower in the Z direction (vertical direction) than the position where the connector component CC2 is attached to the back surface 553B of the board 553. Connector component CC1 is disposed along 1 st step portion 553M and connector component CC2 is disposed along 2 nd step portion 553N.

Accordingly, since the positions of the connector components CC1 and CC2 are shifted in the vertical direction, the connector components CC1 and CC2 can be easily attached and detached with a tool at the time of maintenance.

Further, since the positions of the connector components CC1 and CC2 are shifted in the vertical direction, water due to dew condensation easily flows down between the connector components CC1 and CC2, and therefore, it is possible to prevent: water due to condensation remains in the connector components CC1 and CC 2. Further, since the connector components CC1 and CC2 are spaced apart from the back surface of the substrate, the connector components CC1 and CC2 are not wetted with water even when water is stored in the housing portion.

Further, 2 connector components CC1, CC2, electronic components not shown, and the like are mounted on the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the back surface 553B side of the board 553, and no electronic component is mounted on the front surface 553A of the board 553. Examples of the electronic component include a noise removal capacitor, a signal processing capacitor, a transistor, and a microcomputer. Since the electronic components are arranged on the front surface 553A and the back surface 553B of the substrate 553 as described above, the inner surface of the operation label plate 597 can be arranged to be in close contact with the front surface 553A of the substrate 553 without affecting the electronic components, as shown in fig. 66.

In addition, 2 connector components CC1 and CC2 are disposed in the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the back surface 553B side of the board 553, and the connector components CC1 and CC2, the proximity sensor 560, and the protective electrode 570 are disposed separately from each other, whereby noise from the connector components CC1 and CC2 is prevented from affecting the proximity sensor 560 and the protective electrode 570.

A proximity sensor 560 as a 1 st electrode, a guard electrode 570 as a 3 rd electrode, and an intermediate area portion 589 as a 2 nd electrode are arranged on an arrangement portion 572 on the front surface 553A side of the substrate 533 shown in fig. 64 (a). The proximity sensor 560 is located at the midpoint of the placement portion 572, and the guard electrode 570 is located at the outermost side of the placement portion 572. The middle area portion 589 is disposed between the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The proximity sensor 560, the guard electrode 570, and the middle area portion 589 are metal electrodes, but are electrically insulated from each other. The middle area portion 589 as the 2 nd electrode assists the proximity sensor 560 to have 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 constituted by a plurality of electrodes, but is constituted by 1 rectangular electrode. This makes it possible to adopt a shape that allows the user to easily perform a touch operation with a finger.

As shown in fig. 64(B), a mesh-like ground pattern 573 as a 4 th electrode is disposed on a back surface 553B of the substrate 553 corresponding to the disposed portion 572. Thus, 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 fig. 64(a) and 65, a through hole 560C is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560. As shown in fig. 64(b), a conductive line pattern 560H is connected to the through hole 560C. The wiring pattern 560H is partially connected to the via 560C through the link portion 560A. The lead pattern 560H is arranged to pass through the back side portion of the coupling portion 560A, which is a portion other than the

slits

574, 575. The connecting portion 560A is described later.

The action of the user pressing (contacting) the proximity sensor 560 with a finger is generally performed with the aim of the center of the proximity sensor 560, and therefore, the through hole 560C is formed at the center position of the proximity sensor 560.

The reason why the through hole 560C is formed at the midpoint of the proximity sensor 560 in this manner is as follows. That is, the proximity sensor 560 has the highest switching sensitivity in the central region where the through hole 560C is formed, compared with other regions. Therefore, when the user's finger presses the center of the proximity switch 560 having the through hole 560C, the finger can be brought into contact with the position having the highest sensitivity.

The proximity sensor 560 shown in fig. 64 and 65 is an electrostatic touch (contact) electrode, and is an electrostatic capacitance type detection mechanism for detecting the approach of a human body or an object at, for example, about 100mm in the front (front surface) direction of the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in fig. 62 and 63. The proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of a finger when a part of the human body of the user, specifically, the finger is in proximity. The proximity sensor 560 is an electrostatic capacitive touch sensor, and may use an interactive capacitive type touch sensor or a self capacitive type touch sensor.

In the case of the mutual capacitance method, which is composed of 1 transmitting electrode and 1 receiving electrode, when a current is supplied to the transmitting electrode, an electromagnetic field is generated and received by the receiving electrode. For example, when a finger of a human body approaches the detection region of the proximity sensor 560, a part of the electromagnetic field is absorbed and received by the receiving electrode, and the amount of detected energy decreases, so that the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger.

As shown in fig. 64 and 65, the proximity sensor 560 is a switch formed in a rectangular shape, for example, which is long in the vertical direction, and slits 574 and 575 are formed around the proximity sensor 560 so as to surround the electrodes. That is, the

slits

574 and 575 are formed along the Z direction so as to surround the periphery of the proximity sensor 560. Thus, by providing the

slits

574 and 575, the position of the proximity sensor 560 can be easily known. As shown in fig. 65, the

slits

574 and 575 are covered with, for example, a transparent film body 576, and a plurality of LEDs 577 serving as a light emitting element are formed on the transparent film body 576 with a space therebetween.

As shown in fig. 65, 4 LEDs 577 corresponding to the 4 corner portions 576R of the

slits

574 and 575 out of the plurality of LEDs 577 are arranged at outer positions apart from the inside of the

slits

574 and 575. With this arrangement, the illumination light generated by the 4 LEDs 577 corresponding to the 4 corner portions 576R is irradiated so as not to affect the

slits

574 and 575.

As shown in fig. 65, one end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is coupled to the placement portion 572 through a coupling portion 560A, and the other end portion of the proximity sensor 560 is coupled to the placement portion 572 through a coupling portion 560B. These connecting

portions

560A and 560B are connected to each other so as to connect the proximity sensor 560 to a central area portion 589, which is a peripheral portion thereof, and are also referred to as a "bridge". The connecting

portions

560A and 560B are provided so as to avoid positions other than the position where the LED577 is arranged. Thus, the

coupling portions

560A, 560B do not interfere with the illumination light of the LED 577.

An electrical connection through hole 560C is formed in 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, and as described above, the detection sensitivity is higher in the area portion of the proximity sensor 560 where the through hole 560C is provided than in the other area portions. An area portion that the user's finger approaches and contacts is a central portion of the proximity sensor 560, and thus, the through hole 560C is disposed at the central portion of the proximity sensor 560.

Next, the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 64 and 65 will be explained.

The guard electrode 570 is formed in a rectangular frame shape around the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589 in the arrangement portion 572. The guard electrode 570 is a metal body, and is composed of 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 an opposite direction to the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560.

Thereby, as shown in fig. 62 and 63, the spread of electromagnetic field 560P generated by proximity sensor 560 is suppressed by the electromagnetic field in the opposite direction generated by protective electrode 570. Therefore, the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570 suppresses the expansion of the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560, and the guard electrode 570 functions as an effective range changing mechanism that changes the detection range of the effective range of the human body detection range.

The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by changing the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 in a narrowed manner 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 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 portion 552 of the right door 22 is guided only to the front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 62, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 narrows so as not to expand in the left-right direction, that is, the X direction.

As shown in fig. 63, 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 portion 552 of the right door 22 is guided only to the front direction of the proximity sensor 560. Therefore, in fig. 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 narrows so as not to expand in the up-down direction, that is, the Z direction.

That is, the electromagnetic field 560P of the proximity sensor 560 shown in fig. 62 and 63 shows the effective range of the detection range of the human body corresponding to a range different from the range in the direction different from the front of the proximity sensor 560 (a range extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction).

Next, fig. 67 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit 556, the door

opening operation units

551 and 552, the door opening

drive units

54 and 55 as door opening devices, and the like.

As shown in fig. 67, the controller 556 is electrically connected to the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the door

opening operation portions

551 and 552, the door

opening driving portions

54 and 55, and a plurality of LEDs 577 as lighting devices.

The proximity sensor 560 is maintained in the "high sensitivity" state under the control of the control unit 556. When a finger enters electromagnetic field 560P shown in fig. 62 and 63 as a detection area of proximity sensor 560, control unit 556 in fig. 67 receives signal SG of proximity sensor 560 from proximity sensor 560.

When receiving the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 in fig. 67 determines that the finger is in proximity to the proximity sensor 560, stops the energization of the guard electrode 570, and changes the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity" to lower the sensitivity. When receiving the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the controller 556 illuminates the LED577 to illuminate the vicinity of the proximity switch 560, and the position of the proximity switch 560 is raised by the illumination, so that the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

When a finger touches the proximity sensor 560 from a state of being in proximity to the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch switch, and the proximity sensor 560 transmits a touch signal SH indicating that the finger touches the proximity sensor 560 to the control unit 556. Accordingly, the controller 556 enables the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, for example, to enable the door opening operation of the left door 21, and the controller 56 can actually perform the door opening operation of the left door 21 by operating the door opening drive unit 54. The same applies to the operation sequence for the right door 22.

Thus, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 by touching the proximity switch 560 disposed inside the glass surface of the left door 21 or the right door 22 while visually checking it by illumination of the LED 577.

As described above, the control unit 556 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity" when a finger approaches, thereby causing the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor. When a 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", and thereby the control unit 556 "activates" the function as a "proximity sensor". Therefore, the control unit 556 does not cause the proximity sensor 560 to function as a "contact sensor", and therefore the proximity sensor 560 "invalidates" the opening (door opening operation) of the left and

right doors

21, 22, which are the original functions, of the door

opening operation units

551, 552.

As described above, when the user's finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 notifies the controller 556 of the proximity of the finger. Then, when the proximity sensor 560 notifies the control unit 556 of the proximity of the finger, the control unit 556 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to be switched from "high" to "low". The controller 556 changes 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 indicated by the LED 577. Therefore, the user can reliably touch the proximity sensor 560 with a finger while visually checking the position of the proximity sensor 560. Since the control unit 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a "touch sensor" which is an original function, the opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 or the right door 22 is "enabled" by touching the proximity sensor 560 with a finger.

The opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 is the same as the opening operation (door opening operation) of the right door 22, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 64 and 65, by disposing the guard electrodes 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, detects the approach of a human hand or a finger in the range of, for example, about 100mm in the front direction (forward direction) of the left door 21 and the right door 22. At this time, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is an effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, is restricted by disposing the guard electrodes 570 so as not to be expanded in the up-down direction and the left-right direction.

By limiting 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, when the left door 21 is opened along the trajectory indicated by the arrow 21K and the finger approaches the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 as shown in fig. 62, the closed proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 cannot detect the finger. Similarly, when the finger is approached to the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 by opening the right door 22 along the trajectory indicated by the arrow 22K, the finger cannot be detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the closed left door 21.

Therefore, 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 trajectory when the left door 21, which is the moving mechanism, 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, which is the moving mechanism, is opened.

This can prevent the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 or the left door 21 that is closed without being opened from inadvertently detecting the finger of the user or the left door 21 or the right door 22 when the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened.

Further, as shown in fig. 63, by restricting the expansion of the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 in the up-down direction (Z direction), when the sliding door 23 as the moving mechanism is pulled out in the arrow direction, the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 do not enter the trajectory when the sliding door 23 is opened.

This prevents the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 from inadvertently and erroneously detecting the finger of the user or the push-pull door 23 when the push-pull door 23 is opened.

As described above, the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 64(a) and 65 is a metal body, and is composed of a pair of short-side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long-side electrode portions 570B. For example, when moisture adheres to the front panel 21A of the left door 21 shown in fig. 61 and the moisture adheres to the front panel 21A at the position of the guard electrode 570, and the guard electrode 570 detects a change in capacitance due to the moisture, the controller 556 shown in fig. 67 disables 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 a user wipes the surface of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 or the surface of the front panel 22A of the right door 22 with a wet wipe, if the protective electrode 570 detects moisture, the proximity sensor 560 senses the wet wipe and turns on, and even in this case, the control unit 556 shown in fig. 67 can prevent the left door 21 or the right door 22 from being opened randomly by "invalidating" the door opening operation of the door opening driving unit (door opening device) 54, 55 by the proximity sensor 560. This prevents the left door 21 or the right door 22 from being opened carelessly.

When the user touches the proximity sensor 560 after touching the guard electrode 570 with a finger, the control unit 556 "disables" the door opening operation of the door opening drive units (door opening devices) 54 and 55 by the proximity sensor 560. Further, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 while touching the guard electrode 570 with a finger, the control unit 556 "invalidates" the door opening operation of the door opening drive unit (door opener) 54, 55 by the proximity sensor 560.

This prevents the left door 21 or the right door 22 from being opened carelessly when the guard electrode 570 detects a human body by mistake.

As shown in fig. 61, a control operation portion 650 is provided inside the front panel 21A of the left door 21, and a door opening operation portion 551 is provided below the control operation portion 650. Therefore, the short-side electrode portion 570A of the guard electrode 570 of the door opening operation portion 551 is disposed at a position between the control operation portion 650 and the proximity sensor 560 of the door opening operation portion 551. This short side electrode portion 570A is also shown in fig. 64 and 65.

Thus, when the user wipes the control operation unit 650 on the surface of the front panel 21A of the left door 21 with a wet wipe, for example, the water drops along the front panel 21A and reaches the guard electrode 570. In this case, even if the proximity sensor 560 senses the wet cloth and turns on when the short-side electrode 570A of the guard electrode 570 detects moisture, the controller 556 shown in fig. 67 can "disable" the door opening operation of the door opening drive unit (door opener) 54 by the proximity sensor 560, thereby preventing the left door 21 from being opened unintentionally. This prevents the left door 21 from being opened inadvertently.

In addition, the distance HF between the lateral electrode gaps and the distance RF between the vertical electrode gaps of the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 65 are larger than the width MF of the finger HT of the human body. The transverse electrode gap spacing HF and the longitudinal electrode gap spacing RF of the guard electrode 570 can preferably be selected in the range from 15mm to 75 mm. Thus, when the user brings the finger HT close to and in contact with the proximity sensor 560, the finger HT can be prevented from inadvertently coming into contact with the guard electrode 570.

The interval HF between the transverse electrode gaps and the interval RF between the longitudinal electrode gaps of the guard electrode 570 are such a size that the guard electrode 570 is not touched even when the bent elbow of the human body hits. The transverse electrode gap spacing HF and the longitudinal electrode gap spacing RF of the guard electrodes 570 can be selected, for example, in the range from 30mm to 75 mm. By setting the size of the guard electrode 570 in this way, even when the user holds a pot, a plate, or the like with both hands and attempts to open the left door 21 or the right door 22 by touching the proximity sensor 560 with a bent elbow, not with a finger, the elbow can be prevented 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 the fingers and also with the elbows.

Next, an example of a housing structure of the substrate 553 of the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to fig. 68. Fig. 68 is a view showing an example of a storage structure of a substrate 553 of the left door 21 and the right door 22. Fig. 68(a) is a front view of the left door 21 and the right door 22, and fig. 68(b) is a perspective view showing the structure of the inner end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 (the inner end surface portion 22T of the right door 22) of the storage structure of the board 553. Fig. 68(c) shows an example of the cover member 590.

As shown in fig. 68(a), in a state where the left door 21 and the right door 22 are closed, the inner side end surface portion 21T of the left door 21 and the inner side end surface portion 22T of the right door 22 face each other. The rectangular opening 586 of the housing space member 585 is located in each inner end surface 21T, and the housing space member 585 of the board assembly 500M is located inside the left door 21 and the right door 22. The substrate assembly 500M is received so as to be inserted into the receiving space member 585 from the opening portion 586.

When the substrate assembly 500M is inserted into the housing space member 585 and housed, as shown in fig. 66, the arrangement portion 572 of the substrate 553 is positioned on the lid member 590 side, and the electronic component mounting portion 571 is inserted from the electronic component mounting portion 571 side into the opening portion 586 and reaches the back side of the housing space member 585.

In this way, the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 are disposed on the front surface of the board 553, the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component is provided on the back surface of the board 553, and the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component is located on the opposite side of the disposition portion 572 of the board 553 located on the opening portion 586 side as the insertion port in a state where the board 553 is held in the left door 21.

Thus, when the board assembly 500M is inserted into the housing space member 585 and housed therein, the worker can insert the board assembly 500M into the housing space member 585 while visually checking the positions of the 1 st stepped portion 553M and the 2 nd stepped portion 553N of the electronic component mounting portion 571, and therefore, erroneous insertion of the board assembly 500M into the insertion direction can be prevented.

After the substrate assembly 500M is stored, the opening 586 is closed with the lid member 590. A metal member 591 such as an aluminum foil tape or an iron plate is disposed on the inner surface of the cover member 590. The metal member 591 is a changing mechanism for limiting an electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560, which is an effective range as a human body detection range, and changing the effective range of the detection range of 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 as the adjacent moving means.

By disposing the metal body 591 in the cover member 590 in this manner, the metal body 591 blocks an 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 sides of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the right door 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 sides of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the left door 21.

Next, an operation example in the case where the user opens, for example, the left door 21 will be described with reference to fig. 61 to 63 and 67.

When the user brings a finger close to the proximity sensor 560 on the left door 21 side shown in fig. 62 and 63 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the human body detection range shown in fig. 62 and 63, the proximity sensor 560 in the high sensitivity state detects that the finger is in proximity to the proximity sensor 560. Thus, control unit 556 in fig. 67 receives signal SG indicating that the finger is in proximity to proximity sensor 560.

Then, the control unit 556 in fig. 67 stops the energization of the guard electrode 570 in accordance with the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, and the control unit 556 changes the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity". Further, the controller 556 illuminates the proximity switch 560 by lighting the LED577, so that the position of the proximity switch 560 can be clearly indicated, and the user can visually confirm the position of the proximity switch 560.

Then, when a 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 transmits a touch signal SH in which the finger touches the proximity sensor 560 to the control section 556 of fig. 67. Accordingly, the controller 556 enables the door opening operation of the left door 21, and the controller 556 operates the door opening driving unit 54, so that the left door 21 can be opened.

In this way, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a touch sensor with a finger, the control section 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) to "enable" the door opening operation of the left door 21, thereby performing the door opening operation of the left door 21. This is also true for the right door 22.

When the user inadvertently touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in fig. 64, the control unit 556 does not "invalidate" the door opening operation of the left door 21 without causing the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, and thus does not perform the door opening operation of the left door 21. Accordingly, the control unit 556 can "invalidate" the door opening operation of the left door 21 and prohibit the door opening operation of the left door 21 when the user inadvertently touches both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570, for example, at an elbow or the like.

Even when both the proximity sensor 560 and the protective electrode 570 shown in fig. 64 detect water droplets adhering thereto, the controller 556 does not "invalidate" the door opening operation of the left door 21 without causing the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, and thus does not perform the door opening operation of the left door 21. The prohibition of the door opening operation described above is also the same for the right door 22.

In addition, in the case of a refrigerator which is not a side by side refrigerator but a single-open type, when a human body or an object comes to a side of the refrigerator, it is possible to prevent the proximity sensor of the door from inadvertently and erroneously detecting the human body or the object.

In addition, the "proximity detection mode" in which the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the finger HT of the user shown in fig. 64 and the "electrostatic touch mode" functioning as a contact sensor in which the proximity sensor 560 detects the contact of the finger HT of the user can be switched as follows.

As shown in fig. 64, the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode and the middle area portion 589 as the 2 nd electrode are connected to a microcomputer 599C of the control unit 556.

The case as the switching mode includes: the "proximity detection mode" is switched to the "electrostatic touch mode" and the "electrostatic touch mode" is switched to the "proximity detection mode".

When the "proximity detection mode" is switched to the "electrostatic touch mode", the microcomputer 599C disconnects the internal connection between the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode and the middle area portion 589 as the 2 nd electrode after the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the finger HT, and only the proximity sensor 560 functions as the electrostatic touch sensor of the "electrostatic touch mode".

On the other hand, when the "electrostatic touch mode" is switched to the "proximity detection mode", the finger HT is separated from the proximity sensor 560, and when a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds, has elapsed from the "electrostatic touch mode", or when the microcomputer 599C is reset by closing the door from the door open, the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode and the intermediate area portion 589 as the 2 nd electrode are connected to each other.

Next, fig. 74(a) and 74(b) show examples of the following cases: when the left door 21 is opened by touching the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode shown in fig. 51 and 52 of embodiment 32 with a finger HT, the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode and the middle area 589 as the 2 nd electrode are switched, and the control operation unit 650 and the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 are turned on. The same is true for the right door 22.

In fig. 74(a), the user's finger is not yet in full proximity to the proximity sensor 560. In this state, in order for the proximity sensor 560 as the electrostatic switch to function as a "proximity sensor", the control unit 556 turns on the proximity sensor 560 to set the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to "high" to increase the sensitivity, thereby "enabling" the function as a "proximity sensor". The controller 556 turns on the middle area 589 to set the sensitivity of the middle area 589 to "high" to increase the sensitivity, thereby "enabling" the function of the "proximity sensor".

In this case, the control unit 556 "invalidates" the opening (door opening operation) of the left door 21 of the door opening operation unit 651 as a function of the touch key 633. The controller 556 controls the lighting display of the operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 to be in the "off state". Then, the operation (door opening operation) functions of the control switch (control button) 650CS and the HOME switch (HOME button) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are "disabled".

Next, fig. 74(b) shows a state where the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560. In this state, since the proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of the finger HT, the control unit 556 turns the proximity sensor 560 on, switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 as the "proximity sensor" from "high" to "low" to lower the sensitivity, weakens the function of the proximity sensor, and turns off the middle area 589.

Accordingly, the control section 556 causes the proximity sensor 560 to function as a contact sensor, and therefore, the finger HT contacts the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor from the surface of the front panel, whereby the activated opening operation (door opening operation) function of the left door 21 is changed from "invalid" to "valid".

The controller 556 turns on the LEDs for controlling the operation unit 650 and the LEDs for controlling the proximity sensor 560 to be in the "on state", and for example, slightly lights the LEDs for both the on states. That is, the LED665 shown in fig. 58 is slightly lit to illuminate the control operation unit 650 from behind and emit light, and the LED577 shown in fig. 52 is slightly lit to illuminate the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor from behind through the

slits

574 and 575 and emit light. In this case, the lighting display time is preferably 10 seconds, for example, which is a predetermined time for lighting, and the

LEDs

635 and 577 may be turned off again when the finger HT does not contact the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor during the 10 seconds.

The controller 556 may be configured to: the operation start timing (lighting timing) for lighting the LED665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in fig. 58 is delayed by a predetermined delay time from the operation start timing (lighting timing) for lighting the LED577 of the proximity sensor 560 shown in fig. 52, that is, is different from each other. That is, the controller 556 can change the timing of controlling the light emission method of the LED665 of the operation unit 650 and the timing of controlling the light emission method of the LED577 of the proximity sensor 560. For example, the lighting timing of the LED577 of the proximity sensor 560 may be earlier than the lighting timing of the LED665 of the control operation unit 650. However, on the contrary, the timing of lighting the LED665 in the control operation unit 650 may be set to be earlier than the timing of lighting the LED577 in the proximity sensor 560. By varying the lighting timing in this manner, the position of the control operation unit 650, the proximity sensor 560, and the position of the intermediate area 589 can be displayed separately 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 the state changes from "invalid" to "valid".

Next, in fig. 74(c), a state in which the finger HT contacts the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor is shown. In this state, the control unit 556 maintains the state of "low" as the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560, i.e., the "contact sensor". The controller 556 keeps the function of the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor, that is, the function of the opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21, active. Further, as a lighting state of the lighting indication of the LED of the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 changes the light emission mode from the slight lighting to the normal lighting.

That is, the LED665 shown in fig. 58 is normally turned on to illuminate the control operation unit 650 from behind and emit light, and the LED577 shown in fig. 52 is normally turned on to illuminate the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a touch sensor from behind through the

slits

574 and 575 and emit light. That is, when the finger HT in fig. 74(c) touches, 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 slight lighting to the normal lighting, and the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 becomes brighter by the full lighting performed based on a larger light amount. The controller 556 controls the operation unit 650 so that the lighting state of the LED is changed from slight 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 are "active", and thus can be operated.

Thus, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 with a finger to establish the door opening operation of the left door 21, the LED577 is turned from slightly on to fully on to increase the light amount, and therefore the user can visually confirm that the door opening operation is established by increasing the light amount. Further, the user can more reliably recognize the display of the control operation unit 650 and the display of the LED577, and the energy saving effect of high power consumption can be improved.

As described above, when the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560 as shown in fig. 74(b), the controller 556 controls the lighting of the operation unit 650 and the lighting of the proximity sensor 560 when the finger HT contacts the touch key 633 shown in fig. 74(c), and thus the amount of light at the time of lighting can be changed as described above.

Thereafter, in fig. 74(d), the state where the finger HT of the user is detached from the proximity sensor 560 functioning as the contact sensor is shown. In this state, the controller 556 enables the input of the operation signal from the proximity sensor 560 to operate the door opening driver 54, thereby performing door opening control of the corresponding left door 21. Thereby, the left door 21 can be automatically opened. Next, the control unit 556 "invalidates" the function of the proximity sensor 560 functioning as the contact sensor.

The controller 556 controls the lighting display of the operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the LED577 at the

slits

574 and 575 of the proximity sensor 560 to maintain the "on state" as indicated by the 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 the state changes from "active" to "inactive".

As described above, the opening operation of the right door 22 using the door opening operation portion 652 of the right door 22 shown in fig. 56 can be performed similarly to the opening operation of the left door 21 described with reference to fig. 74.

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

The touch detection circuit 888 shown in fig. 75 has: a proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor (Cx), a tuning capacitor (Cmod)889, a clock generation source 890, an IDAC (current output digital-to-analog converter) 891, a latch 892, a timer 893, an AND circuit 894, AND a counter 895. The IDAC891 causes the same current to flow back to the proximity sensor (Cx)560 and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod)889 as the contact sensor in a pulse manner a plurality of times at a time, and causes electric charges to gradually accumulate in the proximity sensor (Cx)560 and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod)889 as the contact sensor. The counter 895 counts the number of pulses until the proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor (Cx) and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod)889 accumulate a predetermined charge, while continuing to accumulate the charge until the same potential is reached by the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889.

When the finger HT contacts the proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor (Cx), the electrostatic capacitance of the proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor increases, and therefore, the electric charge flowing to the adjustment capacitor (Cmod)889 and accumulated decreases, and it takes time until the electric charge is completely accumulated in the adjustment capacitor (Cmod)889, and therefore, the number of pulses counted by the counter 895 increases (the slope becomes gentle), and as a result, the displacement of the slope changes. The presence or absence of the finger is determined by the difference in the displacement of the slope. That is, when the count number of pulses counted by the counter 895 reaches a value exceeding a predetermined threshold value from the normal count number (base count), the control unit 556 determines that the finger HT has touched the proximity sensor 560 as the touch sensor (Cx).

Next, a method of changing the sensitivity when the finger HT contacts the proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor (Cx) will be described.

As a method of changing the sensitivity, if the amount of charge accumulated in the proximity sensor (Cx)560 is the same when the current value of the IDAC891 is decreased, the time for ending the charge is lengthened and becomes gentle. When the level is reduced, the sensitivity is increased when the same threshold value is used for the determination.

In a state where the slope is gentle (the current value is small), when a state where a finger is in contact is detected from a state where the finger is not in contact, the change in the slope increases, and the sensitivity increases because the change easily exceeds the threshold. In addition, in a state where the slope is not gentle (the current value is large), when a state where the finger is in contact is detected from a state where the finger is not in contact, the change in the slope is small, and it is difficult to exceed the threshold value, and the sensitivity is small.

That is, by reducing the current value as compared with a state in which the current value is detected by first exceeding the threshold value when the entire finger is touched, the finger can be detected even when only the finger is touched, and the sensitivity can be improved. Although the sensitivity can be improved by reducing the threshold, since noise is also detected, 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 located between the coating layer 560R and the dielectric layer 560D, and the capacitance obtained by adding the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 to the capacitance CF of the finger HT is the capacitance CX of the proximity sensor 560 when the finger is in contact.

In the operation of the proximity sensor 560 being electrostatically touched by the finger HT, a change in the electrostatic capacitance CX of the proximity sensor 560 at the time of contact by the finger HT is detected. In addition, 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 approaches, the proximity distance (sensitivity) is changed by changing the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself. At the time of the approach, a slight change in the capacitance CP due to the approach of the finger is detected. The capacitance CP is an electric field in a 3-dimensional direction, and when a finger is in the electric field, the capacitance CX of the entire proximity sensor changes slightly, and the finger can be detected by the detection.

Next, fig. 77 is a diagram for explaining a switching operation in the proximity mode and the electrostatic touch mode with respect to the proximity sensor 560 functioning as the contact sensor that is the 1 st electrode shown in fig. 74 and the middle area portion 589 that is the 2 nd electrode.

As shown in fig. 77, a proximity sensor 560 functioning as a 1 st electrode, that is, a contact sensor, and a middle area portion 589 functioning as a 2 nd electrode are connected to the multiplexer 556R. The multiplexer 556R allows the proximity sensor 560 to be connected to or disconnected from the middle area 589 in response to a command from the microcomputer 556M of the controller 556.

(1) In the switching operation from the proximity mode to the electrostatic touch mode

In the case of performing a switching operation from the proximity mode to the electrostatic touch mode, as shown in fig. 74 (a) to 74(b), the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560, and when the proximity sensor 560 detects the finger HT, the proximity mode is switched to the electrostatic touch mode. That is, in response to a command from the microcomputer 556M of fig. 77, the multiplexer 556R changes the state of internal connection between the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589 to the state of disconnection of internal connection, and disconnects the proximity sensor 560 from the intermediate area portion 589. Thus, only the proximity sensor 560 is used as an electrostatic contact sensor, and the intermediate area 589 is disconnected and not used.

(2) In the switching operation from the electrostatic touch mode to the proximity mode

Conversely, the case where the switching operation from the electrostatic touch mode to the proximity mode is performed is a case where 10 seconds have elapsed from the electrostatic touch mode, or the case where the switching operation is reset by closing the door from the opening of the door, for example. In this case, the multiplexer 556R returns from the released state of the internal connection between the proximity sensor 560 and the middle area portion 589 to the internal connection state in accordance with an instruction from the microcomputer 556M, and the proximity sensor 560 can be connected to the middle area portion 589.

Further, fig. 48 to 50 are shown. Fig. 48 to 50 show examples of modifications of the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode and the intermediate area portion 589 as the 2 nd electrode.

The proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 is the range of the small circle HC1 when only the proximity sensor 560 as the 1 st electrode is used. Then, by being based on the proximity sensor 560 and serving as the middle area portion 589 of the 2 nd electrode, the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 can be expanded in a manner of expanding from the small circle HC1 to the large circle HC 2.

However, when the proximity detection effective range is expanded as described above, under the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor of the large circle HC2, the adjacent door 21 (or door 22) as the moving mechanism, the water bottle of the door shelf placed on the back side of the door, or the like issues a command to open the door in response to the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560, and there is a possibility that the door on the side that is not intended to be opened is inadvertently opened.

Therefore, in order to change the effective range of proximity detection of the proximity sensor 560, the ground pattern 573 as the 4 th electrode shown in fig. 78 and 51(b) and the guard electrode 570 as the 3 rd electrode shown in fig. 51(a) are provided as a mechanism for changing the effective range of proximity detection.

Fig. 78 is a diagram illustrating a change in the proximity range of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589.

As shown in fig. 78, a mesh-like ground pattern 573 as a 4 th electrode is disposed on the back surface 553B of the substrate 553 corresponding to the disposed portion 572, as shown in fig. 51 (B). The ground pattern (mesh electrode) 573 covers the proximity sensor 560 and the substrate 553 on the back side of the intermediate area portion 589. By making the ground pattern 573 the same voltage as the proximity sensor 560, an electric field is not formed from the proximity sensor 560 and the middle area portion 589 to the ground pattern 573. This allows the electric field range to be changed and the range that is not desired to be detected by the proximity sensor 560 to be eliminated. The electric field from the ground pattern 573 generates an electric field only in the direction of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589, cancels the electric field from the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 toward the ground pattern 573, and disappears (cancels) the electric field in the direction toward the back surface of the substrate 553.

Thus, as shown in fig. 78(a), when the ground pattern 573 as the 4 th electrode is disposed on the rear surface of the substrate 553, the proximity detection range DL1 of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region 589 can be larger than the proximity detection range DL2 shown in fig. 78 (b). The ground pattern 573 is a mesh-shaped metal shield electrode, and by disposing the ground pattern 573, the electric field at the rear side is reduced or eliminated in fig. 78(a) by an amount corresponding to the range a shown in fig. 49, as compared with fig. 78(a) and 78 (b).

Further, as shown in fig. 51(a), by disposing the frame-shaped guard electrode 570 on the substrate 553 and surrounding the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area portion 589 with the guard electrode 570, the electric field in the left-right direction is reduced by an amount corresponding to the range U shown in fig. 49. Thus, as shown in fig. 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 the range V is decreased by the amount corresponding to the range V in the vertical direction as shown in fig. 50.

As shown in the small shape HC3 of fig. 50, the proximity sensor 560 as a whole only protrudes forward of the proximity detection range DL1 of the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate area 589, and proximity detection can be performed in a long distance range. Even if the metal body 591 shown in fig. 53 is provided, an electric field is applied, and the proximity sensor has a function of preventing the effective proximity detection range from exceeding that of the metal body 591, thereby further preventing erroneous detection by the proximity sensor.

Embodiment 33

Fig. 69 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to embodiment 33.

As shown in fig. 69, the refrigerator 1 includes: refrigerating chamber 12, vegetable chamber 13, switching chamber 14, freezing chamber 15, and ice-making chamber 16. The pair of left and

right doors

21 and 22 cover a front surface opening portion of the refrigerating compartment 12. For this purpose, left and

right doors

21 and 22 are attached to the upper and lower portions of the left and right ends of cabinet 11 as a refrigerator main body by hinges so as to be opened and closed in a side-by-side manner. In this example, the width of the right door 22 is larger than the width of the left door 21.

glass front panels

As shown in fig. 69, 1 operation detection unit 701 is provided: a lower position of the front panel 22A of the right door 22 having a size larger than that of, for example, the left door 21.

The door

opening driving units

54 and 55 are disposed at left and right positions near the front end of the top plate upper surface of the box 11, respectively, and are disposed at positions corresponding to the upper open side end portions of the left and

right doors

21 and 22.

These door opening

drive units

54 and 55 are door opening/closing devices (door opening devices) that forcibly open the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. The door

opening driving units

54 and 55 push the

movable cores

Fig. 70 is a sectional view showing a configuration example of the operation detecting section 701 at the ZR-ZR line shown in fig. 69.

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

On the inner surface side of front panel 22A, a 1 st substrate 731 and a 2 nd substrate 732 are arranged. The 1 st substrate 731 and the 2 nd substrate 732 are arranged in parallel to the front panel 22A with a gap therebetween.

For example, 4

capacitive proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714, which are non-contact sensors, are disposed on the front surface of the 1 st substrate 731, and a connector 729 is disposed on the rear surface. These

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, 714 are arranged in two dimensions (on a plane) on, for example, the 1 st substrate 731 in the right door 22.

As shown in fig. 69, the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 are disposed at the respective corners of a square, the proximity sensor 711 is disposed at the upper left corner, the proximity sensor 712 is disposed at the upper right corner, the proximity sensor 713 is disposed at the lower right corner, and the proximity sensor 714 is disposed at the lower left corner.

These

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 can detect the state of the fingers, palms (palms, backs), sides, and elbows of the moving user (human body) in a non-contact manner. Thus, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened by driving the door opening driving unit 54 or the door opening driving unit 55.

The

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 are electrodes for electrostatic touch (contact), and are, for example, capacitance type detection mechanisms that detect proximity of a hand, an elbow, or the like of a user in a front surface (front surface) direction of the right door 22 via the front panel 22A in a non-contact manner. The proximity sensors 711 to 714 detect proximity of a part of a human body of a user, specifically, for example, a palm (palm, back), a side of a hand, an elbow, and the like, when the part approaches. The proximity sensors 711 to 714 are electrostatic capacitance type touch sensors, and an interactive capacitance type touch sensor or a self capacitance type touch sensor may be used.

As shown in fig. 70, a plurality of LEDs 735 and a connector 736 are disposed on the surface of the 2 nd substrate 732. The connector 736 of the 2 nd substrate 732 is connected to the connector 729 of the 1 st substrate 731 by the relay harness 728.

The LEDs 735 are disposed at positions corresponding to the holes 734 of the 1 st substrate 731. Thus, light generated by each LED635 can pass through each hole 734 to illuminate the proximity sensors 711 to 714 from the back. Thus, even in a dark environment, the user can visually confirm the positions of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 through the front panel 22A and the sheet 721.

Fig. 71 is a block diagram showing electrical connections of the control unit 756, the operation detection unit 701, the door opening

drive units

54 and 55 as the door opening devices, and the like.

As shown in fig. 71, the control unit 756 is electrically connected to the operation detection unit 701, the door

opening driving units

54 and 55, the plurality of LEDs 735, and the distance measurement mechanism 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, if the user is in a dark environment, it is difficult to see the positions of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 of the operation detection unit 701 when the user performs an operation by non-contact of the operation detection unit 701 with a finger. In order to improve the difficulty in operating the proximity sensors 711 to 714, the LEDs 735 are mounted on the rear surfaces of the proximity sensors 711 to 714.

When the proximity sensors 711 to 714 detect the approach of the fingers, the palm (palm, back of hand), the side of the hand, and the elbow in a predetermined specific order, the controller 756 receives a signal notifying the approach of the person from each of the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714, and therefore, the controller 756 causes the left door 21 or the right door 22 to perform the door opening operation by the door opening driver 54 or the door opening driver 55, which is a door opening device.

At this time, the controller 756 receives a signal notifying the approach of the person from each of the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714, and therefore the LED735 can be turned on in response to a command from the controller 756.

Thus, even in a dark environment, the user can visually confirm the positions of the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701, can easily operate the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714, and can open the left door 21 (or the right door 22).

As described above, the operation detection portion 701 of the 33 rd embodiment does not detect the operation of a person by contact detection, but opens the left door 21 or the right door 22 by non-contact detection. In the case of opening the door by the contact detection, it is necessary to touch the contact detection portion with a finger, and it is difficult to open the door in a state where the user holds an object in his hand, or it is necessary to open the door with an elbow. In contrast, the operation detection unit 701 can suppress an unintentional door opening operation of the user due to the user's operation or a change in the surrounding environment by adopting a non-contact operation that does not require a contact detection portion.

The

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 shown in fig. 69 and 70 can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 in a non-contact manner by performing an operation of moving the fingers, palms (palms, backs), sides of the hands, elbows, and the like of the user, that is, a so-called gesture, and can suppress an unintentional door opening operation of the user due to the user's operation and a change in the surrounding environment by a non-contact operation that does not require contact with the contact detection unit.

As shown in fig. 69, the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are arranged two-dimensionally at the same interval in the vertical direction (VT direction) and the horizontal direction (HL direction), and preferably at 4 corners of a square. The user's hand, elbow, or the like moves in a non-contact manner in a specific order (up-down direction, left-right direction, oblique direction) with respect to the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, 714 of the operation detection unit 701, and the control unit 756 in fig. 71 recognizes the movement of the finger, palm, side of the hand, or elbow, which is detected by the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, 714. Thereby, the control 756 functions as follows: the door opening driving part 54 of the left door 21, for example, is driven to open the left door 21, or the control part 756 drives the door opening driving part 55 of the right door 22 to open the right door 22.

The operation detection unit 701 may be attached to any one of the partitions of the right door 22. Thus, the operation detection unit 701 can be disposed regardless of the presence or absence of the glass front panel, the design of the door, and various operation displays.

The

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are provided on the 1 st substrate 731, and thus are easily manufactured. Further, the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 may be provided on a plurality of substrates instead of the 1 st substrate 731. This further increases the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701.

Next, an example of use of the refrigerator 1 described above will be described.

In the use example described below, a case will be described in which, in a state in which a user holds an article, for example, a plate, a pot, or the like with the fingers of both hands and fills both hands, the proximity sensors 711 to 714 shown in fig. 69 cannot be operated by touching with the fingers, and, for example, the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is performed.

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

As described above, when the user causes the proximity sensors 711 to 714 to detect them in a predetermined specific order using the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow, etc., the control 756 can drive, for example, the door opening driver 54 of the left door 21 to open the left door 21, or the control 756 can drive the door opening driver 55 of the right door 22 to open the right door 22.

Fig. 72 shows an example in which the user performs the proximity operation of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a predetermined specific order using the motion (posture) of the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow, or the like.

The specific sequence is a predetermined path for moving the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow of the user to approach at least 2 or more proximity sensors among the proximity sensors 711 to 714.

The specific sequence shown in fig. 72(a) is obtained by sequentially detecting a human body (palm, side of hand or elbow) by the 2

proximity sensors

711, 712 moving in the 1 st direction DD1 indicated by a rightward arrow, and sequentially detecting a human body (palm, side of hand or elbow) by the 2

nd proximity sensors

712, 711 moving in the 2 nd direction (anti-direction) DD2 indicated by a leftward arrow different from the 1 st direction DD 1.

In this case, the 1 st direction DD1 and the 2 nd direction DD2 constitute the 1 st specific direction F1, and the specific order of the 1 st specific direction F1 is: for example, the controller 756 is instructed to perform a function of opening the left door 21 by the door opening driver 54.

Another specific sequence shown in fig. 72(b) is: the human body (palm, side of hand or elbow) is sequentially detected by the 2

proximity sensors

711, 712 by moving the palm, side of hand or elbow of the user in the 1 st direction DD1 shown by the arrow to the right, and the human body (palm, side of hand or elbow) is sequentially detected by the 2

proximity sensors

712, 713 by moving in the 3 rd direction DD3 shown by the downward arrow different from the 1 st direction DD 1.

In this case, the 1 st direction DD1 and the 3 rd direction DD3 constitute the 2 nd specific direction F2, and the specific sequence of the 2 nd specific direction F2 instructs the control unit 756 to perform a so-called "one-shot freezing" function, that is, to instruct: a function of rapidly freezing the inside of a switching chamber 14 capable of switching a set temperature inside a refrigerator shown in fig. 69, for example, which is a storage chamber of the refrigerator 1. The 'one-gas freezing' function is a function of restraining cell damage during freezing and keeping good taste by the temperature of-1 ℃ to-5 ℃ when food moisture is frozen in a gas.

As described above, by the user performing the proximity operation in a predetermined specific order on at least 2 proximity sensors among the proximity sensors 711 to 714 with the motion (posture) of the palm, the side of the hand, the elbow, or the like, it is possible to open, for example, the left door 21 or the right door 22 as a predetermined function.

Thus, even if the proximity sensors 711 to 714 are disposed on the left door 21 or the right door 22, the left door 21 or the right door 22 can be prevented from being opened when a user passes just before the refrigerator 1.

Fig. 73 is a diagram showing an example in which the proximity sensor is subjected to a proximity operation in another predetermined specific order.

As shown in fig. 73, when the user holds a dish, a pot, or the like with fingers of both hands and cannot perform an approach operation on the proximity sensors 711 to 714 using the fingers of both hands, the proximity sensors 711 to 714 are detected in a predetermined specific order by a palm (palm, back of hand), side of hand, elbow, or the like in a non-contact manner, and thus a predetermined arbitrary function can be instructed to the controller 756.

The direction in which the palm (palm, back), side of the hand, or elbow is moved may be 2 or 3 or more directions selected from up-down, left-right, and diagonal directions.

For example, fig. 73(a) shows a combination of the 1 st direction (right direction) DD1 and the 4 th direction (obliquely lower direction) DD4, and fig. 73(b) shows a combination of the 5 th direction (lower direction) DD5 and the 6 th direction (upper direction) DD 6.

In fig. 73(c), a combination of the 3 rd direction (lower) DD3 and the 7 th direction (upper) DD7 is shown, and in fig. 73(d), a combination of the 8 th direction (right) DD8 and the 9 th direction (left) DD9 is shown.

By combining the postures in the plurality of directions, the control unit 756 can perform various functions such as opening the left door 21 or the right door 22.

In the illustrated example, the operation detection unit 701 is configured by 4

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714. However, the operation detection unit 701 is not limited to this, and may be configured by 2 proximity sensors, 3 proximity sensors, or 5 or more proximity sensors. These proximity sensors may be arranged in two dimensions (in a plane) on the door.

The refrigerator 1 described above includes the left door 21 and the right door 22 which are split, and the

front panels

21A and 22A which are glass plates are disposed on the front surfaces of the left door 21 and the right door 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the front surfaces of the left door 21 and the right door 22 may be made of a metal plate such as a steel plate instead of a glass plate. Further, as the refrigerator, a single-opening type 1 door may be provided.

The

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are capacitance type sensors, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a method of detecting a finger of a user in a non-contact manner using infrared rays may be employed.

In the refrigerator, for example, the distance measuring means 777 shown in fig. 69 and 71 may be disposed on the back side of the glass front panel 21A of the left door 21 or the back side of the glass front panel 22A of the right door 22, a frame of the refrigerator, a partition for dividing each storage room, or the like.

The distance measuring means 777 measures the distance from the refrigerator 1 to the user's body. For example, the distance of the human body measured by the distance measuring means 777 is changed according to the size of the room in which the refrigerator is installed. If the refrigerator is installed in a large room, the distance between the refrigerator 1 and the human body is large, and if the refrigerator is installed in a narrow room, the distance between the refrigerator 1 and the human body is small.

Therefore, based on the distance to the human body measured by the distance measuring mechanism 777 being varied, the controller 756 may be configured to be able to change: the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714, which are non-contact sensors, can detect a range in which the motion of the human body is effective. That is, the sensitivity of the

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 in detection can be adjusted between the high sensitivity and the medium sensitivity level.

The

proximity sensors

711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 may be mounted in an embedded manner on, for example, the right door 22 made of a steel plate having a normal structure and not having a glass front panel. With such a structure, the operation detection unit 701 can be disposed at any position of the door.

The operation detection unit 701 may be provided in a urethane heat insulating material inside the front panel 22A shown in fig. 70. Thus, the operation detection unit 701 can be disposed at any position of the door.

The operation detection unit 701 may be mounted on or under a plastic door cover disposed at an edge portion of the right door 22. Thus, the operation detection section 701 can be disposed regardless of the presence or absence of the glass front panel, the design of the door, and whether or not various operation display sections are disposed.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments may be implemented in other various manners, may be combined with various embodiments, and may be variously omitted, replaced, or modified within a scope not departing from the gist of the invention. 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 equivalent scope thereof.

Further, printing or the like indicating the operation position may be performed based on the display of the LED. The printing is preferably translucent printing through which LED light passes.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized by having:

a refrigerator main body having an opening portion whose front surface is opened,

1 or more heat-insulating doors, the 1 or more heat-insulating doors being mounted to the opening,

a door opener installed to the refrigerator main body to open any one of the doors,

a door opening operation part provided to any one of the doors for operating a door opening action of the door opening device, an

A control unit to which an operation signal from the door opening operation unit is input and which controls the door opening operation of the door by the door opening device,

the door opening operation unit has a substrate on which a sensor functioning as a proximity sensor or a contact sensor is provided,

the refrigerator further has:

a guard electrode disposed around the sensor,

a hole formed in a region inside the guard electrode and around the sensor of the substrate, an

And a light emitting element for emitting light from the door opening operation portion through the hole.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the aperture is disposed along a periphery of the sensor of the substrate.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein:

the holes are slits, and 2 slits are provided so as to surround the periphery of the sensor on the substrate.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the sensor of the substrate is coupled to a peripheral region surrounding the door opening operation portion outside the hole by a coupling portion.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein:

the light emitting element is disposed in the hole except for a position on the back surface side of the coupling portion on the back surface side of the substrate.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein:

the light emitting element is also disposed at an outer corner of the hole.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

and a guard electrode disposed around the sensor,

the hole is formed between the guard electrode and the sensor.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

The hole is formed in a slit shape.