EP2767786B1

EP2767786B1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2767786B1
Application number: EP12839492.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Osamu Ueno; Yasuyuki Okamoto; Kazuya Nakanishi; Kiyoshi Mori; Masashi Nakagawa; Toyoshi Kamisako; Kenichi Kakita
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp
Priority date: 2011-10-14
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-11
Also published as: WO2013054518A1; CN103874899A; EP2767786A4; EP2767786A1; CN103874899B

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, particularly to a refrigerator that is provided with means for detecting an inside storage state in the refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

In a household refrigerator in recent years, an indirect cooling system that circulates the cooling air in the refrigerator using a fan is generally used. In a refrigerator in the related art, by adjusting and controlling the temperature according to the detection result of the internal temperature, the internal temperature is maintained at an appropriate temperature.
For example, as a refrigerator in which the internal temperature is uniformly maintained, a refrigerator provided with a movable cold air discharge device is known (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).
Fig. 21 is a front view of a refrigerating room of the refrigerator in the related art.
As illustrated in Fig. 21, movable cold air discharge device 102 in refrigerating room 101 supplies cold air to the right and left. As a result, the internal temperature can be uniformly maintained.
However, in such a refrigerator in the related art, even though the internal temperature can be uniformly maintained, the temperature is estimated by a thermistor in the refrigerator, and the influence of a storage state such as the amount and placement of storage items such as stored food, has not been considered. In patent literature 2 a refrigerator is disclosed that uses a light emission and detection mechanism to estimate the storage state of storage items within a storage room. In patent literature 3 an IR sensor for detecting a temperature of food is disposed in a concave portion of the storage room.

Citation List

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 8-247608
PTL 2: International Patent Application No. 2011/111382
PTL 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-025534

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a refrigerator in which the storage state of the storage items in the refrigerator can be estimated.
A refrigerator in the present invention includes a storage room having an opening portion in a front surface, a first light emission unit that is provided on a top surface of the storage room, a first light detection unit that detects a light illuminated from the first light emission unit, and a concave portion that is provided on a side surface of the storage room. The first light detection unit is provided in the concave portion. The refrigerator further comprises a second light emission unit provided on another side surface of the storage room which faces to the side surface, and a second light detection unit configured to detect a light illuminated from the second light emission unit, wherein the second light detection unit is provided on the side surface on which the first light detection unit is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator in a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2A is cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in Fig. 1 taken along line 2A-2A in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator seen from the front in a state of the refrigerating room door being opened in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a front view of a concave portion in which a main light sensor, a sub-light sensor, and a blue LED are disposed in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is cross-sectional view of the concave portion taken along line 4-4 in which a main light sensor, blue light sensor, and a blue LED are disposed in Fig. 3 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram for the control of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating control operations for detecting the storage state in the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a storage state detection operation by a top surface LED in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics by the top surface LED in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a storage state detection operation by a lower side surface LED in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics by the lower side surface LED in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics of detection data C which is the average value of detection data A and detection data B in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a case where an obstacle exists in the vicinity of the light sensor in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of error that occurs due to the existence of the obstacle in the vicinity of the light sensor in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics in a case where the obstacle exists and a case where the obstacle does not exist in the vicinity of the light sensor in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an example of a case where a reflection object is stored in the vicinity of the light sensor in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 16 is a diagram for explaining an example of error that occurs due to the existence of the reflection object in the vicinity of the light sensor in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 17A is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light due to the difference in color of the object and a reflection rate of the light in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 17B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light due to the difference in color of the object and a reflection rate of the light in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 17C is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light due to the difference in color of the object and a reflection rate of the light in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the influence of the error in a case where the reflection object exists in the vicinity of the light sensor and the illumination of the main light sensor when a blue LED is on, in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics after the correction in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a blocking wall of the refrigerator seen from a side surface in the second embodiment not according to the present invention.
Fig. 21 is a front view of a refrigerating room of a refrigerator in the related art.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the below-described embodiments.

(First Embodiment)

Hereinafter, refrigerator 80 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Fig. 1 is a front view of refrigerator 80 in the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2A is cross-sectional view of refrigerator 80 in Fig. 1 taken along line 2A-2A, and Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of refrigerator 80 seen from the front in a state of refrigerating room door 12a being opened in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Refrigerator 80 is configured to include an insulating box body that is refrigerator body 11. Refrigerator body 11 is configured to include an outer box mainly using a steel plate, an inner box molded by resin such as ABS, and a heat insulating material injected between the outer box and the inner box.
The insulating box body that is refrigerator body 11 is heat insulated and divided into a plurality of storage rooms. Specifically, at the uppermost part of refrigerator body 11, refrigerating room 12 is provided, and at the lower part of refrigerating room 12, ice making room 13 and temperature switching room 14 are provided side-by-side. Furthermore, at the lower part of ice making room 13 and temperature switching room 14, freezing room 15 is disposed, and at the lowermost part, vegetable room 16 is disposed.
At the front surface of each storage room, a heat insulating door for separating from the outside air is formed respectively in the front surface opening portion of refrigerator body 11. In the part near the center of double-door-open-type refrigerating room door 12a which is a heat insulating door on refrigerating room 12, display unit 17 is disposed, that includes an operation unit which can perform the setting of internal temperature in each storage room, ice making and fast cooling and the like, and that displays a detection result of the storage state and an operating status of refrigerator 80.
In refrigerating room 12, a plurality of internal storage shelves 18 is provided such that the storage items such as foods are sorted and stored. In the side surface of refrigerating room door 12a in the refrigerator has a heat insulation material inside and frame portion 12b protruding inside the refrigerator is provided. In frame portion 12b, door storage shelf 19 is provided.
Internal storage shelf 18 and door storage shelf 19 are formed of a material having a high transmittance of light such as glass or transparent resin or the like. On the surface of internal storage shelves 18 and door storage shelves 19, processing is performed so that the light is diffused while the constant transmittance is maintained, and the brightness distribution in refrigerating room 12 can be controlled. The transmittance here is preferred to be equal to or higher than 50%, and if the transmittance is lower than 50%, there is a possibility that the accuracy of the storage state detection may be decreased because there may be a place where it is difficult for light to reach in the refrigerator.
Among the plurality of internal storage shelves 18, storage room 40 is provided below bottom storage shelf 18b positioned at the bottom. This storage room 40 is configured to include a storage case that can be pulled-out. A door provided to be opened and closed at bottom storage shelf 18b may be provided in front of the storage case.
Storage room 40 is provided closer to the right side wall surface seen from the opened side of the door of refrigerator 80 (front surface). In the left lower part of the storage room 40, small box 81 for storing small items which are frequently taken out is provided. Furthermore, at the upper part of small box 81, egg container 82 for storing eggs and at the left side of small box 81, water storage tank 41 for supplying water to ice making room 13 are provided respectively.
Among the plurality of door storage shelves 19, bottom door storage shelf 19b positioned at the bottom is protruded to the back side of refrigerating room 12 compared to other door storage shelves 19.
In refrigerating room 12, internal lightings 20 are provided in order to brightly illuminate the storage room inside the refrigerator, and the visibility of foods which are the stored storage items is improved. Internal lightings 20 are provided on the top surface, left side wall surface and right side wall surface seen from the front surface of refrigerator 80.
As a light source of internal lightings 20, a plurality of LEDs such as; top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, lighting LEDs 20c to 20f, and lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h, are used. On the side wall surface, the light sources are disposed in a vertical direction as lighting LEDs 20c to 20f and lower side surface LED 20g. In this way, it is possible to evenly and entirely illuminate refrigerating room 12 which is long in height direction.
Top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are first light emission units and lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h are second light emission unit. Top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are provided on the door side from the half (center) position in the depth direction in the refrigerator, preferably on the door side from a vertical plane which is in contact with a front side end portion of top storage shelf 18a which is the nearest internal storage shelf 18. It is further preferable that top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are provided on the door side from a vertical plane which is in contact with a front side end portion of top storage shelf 18a and the top surface over the space α which is the back side from the vertical plane which is in contact with rear side end portion of top door storage shelf 19a which is the nearest door storage shelf 19.
Top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are disposed on the same substrate as the substrate provided in concave portion 83 which is provided on the top surface. Concave portion 83 is formed in the inner box which configures the inner wall of refrigerating room 12 by a support portion (not illustrated) fixed with hot melt. Concave portion 83 is covered by a cover molded by transparent or translucent resin, after mounting the substrate on the support portion.
On the lower position of one side surface in the refrigerator, main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b that are light sensors 21, are provided. As light sensor 21, an illuminance sensor, specifically a sensor having a peak wavelength of 500 nm to 600 nm which is the highest sensitivity, is generally used. The wave length of peak sensitivity of light sensor 21 may be also good in another peak wavelength band, and can be determined in accordance with the light emission wavelength of the light source.
Main light sensor 21a is a first light detection unit and sub-light sensor 21b is a second light detection unit. Main light sensor 21a is provided on the door side from 1/2 position in the depth direction in the refrigerator, preferably on the door side from a vertical plane which is in contact with a front side end portion of bottom storage shelf 18b which is the nearest internal storage shelf 18. It is further preferable that main light sensor 21a is provided on the door side from a vertical plane which is in contact with a front side end portion of bottom storage shelf 18b and the left side wall surface facing the space β which is the back side from the vertical plane which includes top surface LEDs 20a and 20b. The surface where main light sensor 21a is provided (not limited to the left side wall surface) is the surface where side surface lower LED 20g is provided, and the surface facing the surface where lower side surface LED 20h is provided.
In this way, by providing the first light detection unit in the back side from the storage room of the vertical plane which includes the first light emission unit, it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items on internal storage shelf 18 based on the amount of illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
Main light sensor 21a is provided on the upper surface of storage room 40, over bottom storage shelf 18b in the present embodiment and, preferably, between the upper surface of storage room 40 and internal storage shelf 18 which is on one step over bottom storage shelf 18b.
Sub-light sensor 21b is provided on the door side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the front side end portion of bottom storage shelf 18b which is the nearest internal storage shelf 18. It is preferable that sub-light sensor 21b is provided on the door side from the vertical plane including top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, and the left side wall surface facing the space γ which is the back side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the rear end portion of frame portion 12b. Sub-light sensor 21b is provided on an upper position of main light sensor 21a.
By providing the second light detection unit on the upper position of the first light detection unit, the influence of the shadow of the storage items on the first light detection unit can be more surely corrected, and it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of the illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
By providing the second light detection unit that detects the light irradiated from the second light emission unit on the side surface where the first light detection unit is provided, the influence of the shadow of the storage items on the first light detection unit can be corrected, and it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of the illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
By providing the second light detection unit on the front position from the vertical plane including the first light emission unit, the influence of the shadow of the storage items in door storage shelf 19 on the first light detection unit can be corrected, and it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of the illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
Main light sensor 21a is provided for measuring the state where the illumination light of top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, and lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h repeat the reflection at the wall surface of storage room and the reflection and the attenuation at the storage items, and the brightness distribution in storage room is saturated. Calculation control unit 1 performs the calculation using the measured value and estimates the storage state of the storage items. In addition to this principle, by disposing sub-light sensor 21b, it is possible to detect the storage state with a high accuracy regardless of the arrangement of the storage items (details will be described below).
As methods of detecting the object using light sensor 21, for example, as in the photo-interrupter, a method of digitally detecting the existence of one object using a phenomenon that the light intensity is severely attenuated by shielding, and detecting of the existence of a plurality of objects using a number of sensors, are generally used. However, with this configuration, it is difficult to detect the existence of the storage items in limited area of the storage room, and is difficult to grasp the storage state in the entire storage room. On the other hand, in the configuration in the present embodiment, it is possible to grasp the storage state in the entire space of refrigerating room 12 in an analog manner using a small number of light sources and light sensors 21.
In the system using light sensor 21 and the light source, if direct front of light sensor 21 and the light source is blocked by the storage items, the light level that can be detected is severely decreased and the change rate of the light intensity is also decreased. As a result, it is considered that a complicated process may be required for detecting the storage state. However, in the present embodiment, even in a case where refrigerating room 12 is full of storage items, as illustrated in Fig. 2A, since there exists the space α between internal storage shelf 18 and door storage shelf 19 in the position where top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, lighting LEDs 20c to 20f, and lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h are mounted, the possibility that the light source is blocked by storage items is very low.
Next, blue LED 22a which is an auxiliary light emission unit will be described. Blue LED 22a is provided on the left side wall surface which is same as the wall surface where main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b are provided. Blue LED 22a is provided on the door side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the front side end portion of bottom storage shelf 18b, and on the left side wall surface facing the space β which is the back side from the vertical plane including top surface LEDs 20a and 20b.
Blue LED 22a is provided between the upper surface of storage room 40 and internal storage shelf 18 which is on one step over bottom storage shelf 18b, and preferably, on the upper part of main light sensor 21a and lower part of sub-light sensor 21b.
Next, a mounting structure of main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a will be described.
Fig. 3 is a front view of concave portion 84 in which main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a are disposed, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of concave portion 84 taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
In Fig. 3, in order to make the description simple, cover 53 is not illustrated and only the outline of main body portion 53a is illustrated by a dashed line.
Main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a are disposed on the same substrate 51 and accommodated in concave portion 84 provided on the left side wall surface.
In this way, by providing the first light detection unit in concave portion 84, the first light detection unit which is light sensor 21 does not receive the direct light from the first light emission unit which is the light source. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
By providing the first light detection unit and the second light detection unit on the same substrate, the distance between the first light detection unit and the second light detection unit becomes almost constant regardless of the assembly state. The influence to the first light detection unit by the shadow of the storage items can be more surely corrected, and it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of the illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
Concave portion 84 is formed in the inner box which configures the inner wall of refrigerating room 12 by support member 50 fixed with hot melt, so as to protrude to the insulating material side injected between the outer box and the inner box. Support member 50 has a substantially rectangular shape (with round corners), and is disposed such that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the horizontal plane of refrigerating room 12.
Substrate 51 is a flat rectangular plane, and is an epoxy resin based substrate with an excellent heat conductivity or an insulating metal substrate on one or both sides of which a circuit pattern (not illustrated) is formed. Main light sensor 21a is disposed on one end of substrate 51 in the longitudinal direction, and sub-light sensor 21b is disposed on the other end, respectively.
Blue LED 22a is disposed on the side where main light sensor 21a is disposed. Female connector 52a is arrayed on the upper position of the center in the longitudinal direction at the lower part of substrate 51 such that the connector connection direction is bottom-to-top. These electronic components are soldered and mounted on the circuit pattern on substrate 51.
A center axis of the light receiving range of main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b, and a light axis of blue LED 22a are mounted so as to be vertical to the flat plane of substrate 51 respectively. Therefore, the center axis of the light receiving range of main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b, and the light axis of blue LED 22a are disposed so as to be vertical to the side wall of refrigerating room 12 respectively.
Substrate 51 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to horizontal plane of refrigerating room 12 and support member 50 such that the side on which sub-light sensor 21b is disposed becomes the upper position of the other side. For this reason, between support member 50 and substrate 51, a space portion where substrate 51 is not disposed is generated on the lower part of the front side and the upper part of the rear side.
In this way, by providing the longitudinal direction of substrate 51 so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane of storage room, in addition to the ensured improvement of the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of the illumination attenuation at the first light detection unit, it is possible to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of light sensor 21.
To female connector 52a of substrate 51, male connector 52b including connection wire 52c is connected from the lower part. Connection wire 52c is drawn out to support member 50 of the heat insulating material via connection wire hole 50a provided on the space portion on the front side lower part of support member 50. Therefore, even in a case where water penetrates into support member 50 or support member 50 is condensed, the water does not flow along connection wire 52c and is not accumulated on female connector 52a or the like, a failure such as a poor contact does not easily occur.
Cover 53 includes flat plane shaped main body portion 53a formed of transparent resin, a plurality of spacer portion 53b and claw portion 53c molded to be integrated to main body portion 53a and protrudes to the heat insulating material, and a protrusion (not illustrated) for fixing to support member 50.
On each position on main body portion 53a corresponding to main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a respectively, through holes are provided. Around these through holes, a blocking wall for main light sensor (not illustrated) protruded to substrate 51 side, blocking wall 54b for sub-light sensor, and blocking wall 55 for blue LED are provided respectively, which have a vertical tubular shape with respect to substrate 51. The height of blocking wall 55 for blue LED is formed so as to be higher than the height of blocking wall 54a for main light sensor and blocking wall 54b for sub-light sensor.
In this way, by providing blocking wall that blocks the light between the first light detection unit or second light detection unit and the auxiliary light emission unit, since the first light detection unit or second light detection unit does not receive the direct light from the auxiliary light emission unit, it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items on the internal storage shelf based on the amount of the illumination attenuation in the first light detection unit.
By providing the blocking wall that blocks the light around the first light detection unit or second light detection unit and the auxiliary light emission unit respectively, it is possible to surely prevent the first light detection unit and the second light detection unit from receiving the direct light from the auxiliary light emission unit.
Since the height of the blocking wall provided around the auxiliary light emission unit is higher than the height of the blocking wall around the first light detection unit and the second light detection unit, it is possible to surely prevent the first light detection unit and the second light detection unit from receiving the direct light from the auxiliary light emission unit.
Substrate 51 is held in a plurality of spacer portion 53b and claw portion 53c provided on main body portion 53a of cover 53. When assembling, substrate 51 is mounted on cover 53 in advance, and then cover 53 is mounted on support member 50. In this way, compared to the case where substrate 51 is mounted on support member 50 first, and then cover 53 is mounted on support member 50, it becomes easy to determine the position where the blocking wall for the main light sensor, blocking wall 54b for sub-light sensor, and blocking wall 55 for blue LED are disposed respectively around main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a respectively, and the reliable mounting without the displacement can be secured.
On the surface of internal side of main body portion 53a of cover 53, film 56 made of translucent resin is pasted. In this way, the through holes can be covered without reducing the detection performance of main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b or reducing the illumination of blue LED 22a at a low cost, and it is possible to prevent the water or dust from penetrating into support member 50. Furthermore, it becomes difficult to see substrate 51 via main body portion 53a of cover 53, thus, the design can be improved.
Returning to Fig. 2A, in a machine room formed on the back region of the top of refrigerating room 12, components of the refrigeration cycle such as a dryer for removing water including compressor 30 are accommodated.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram for the control of refrigerator 80 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
Refrigerator 80 includes door opening and closing detection sensor 3. Door opening and closing detection sensor 3 is connected to calculation control unit 1. Calculation control unit 1 includes timer 44 and memory 2.
Calculation control unit 1 is connected to light sensor 21 including main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b, internal lighting 20 including top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h, and blue LED 22a.
Calculation control unit 1 is further connected to compressor 30, cooling fan 31, and air amount control damper 32, which are cooling systems.
On the back surface of freezing room 15, a cooling room that generates cooling air is provided. In the cooling room, a cooler and cooling fan 31 is provided, which blows the cooling air which is cooling means cooled by the cooler, to refrigerating room 12, temperature switching room 14, ice making room 13, vegetable room 16 and freezing room 15.
Air amount control damper 32 that controls air amount from cooling fan 31 is installed in the air path. A radiant heater, an evaporating dish such as a drain pan or a drain tube for removing the frost and ice adhering to and around the cooler, are disposed.
The temperature in refrigerating room 12, for cold storage, is usually set to 1°C to 5°C as a lower limit temperature that at which freezing does not occur, and in vegetable room 16 at the bottom is set to 2°C to 7°C which is same to or slightly higher than that of refrigerating room 12. The temperature in freezing room 15 is set to freezing temperature zone, usually -22°C to -15°C for frozen storage. However, in order to improve the frozen storage state, for example, the temperature in freezing room 15 may be set to a low temperature of -30°C to -25°C.
Ice making room 13 makes ice by an automatic icemaker provided on the upper part of the room using water supplied from a water storage tank in refrigerating room 12, and stores the ice in an ice storage container disposed on the lower part of the room.
Temperature switching room 14, besides the refrigerating temperature zone set to 1°C to 5°C, vegetable temperature zone set to 2°C to 7°C, and freezing temperature zone usually set to -22°C to -15°C, can switch the temperature to the predetermined temperature zone between the refrigerating temperature zone to the freezing temperature zone. Temperature switching room 14 is a storage room provided in parallel with ice making room 13, and often has an independent door, for example, a pull-out-type.
Storage room 40 is set to the temperature zone same to that of refrigerating room 12, or is set to the temperature zone -1°C to 1°C as a so-called chilled room, or -4.5°C to -1.5°C as a so-called partial room.
In the present embodiment, temperature switching room 14 is a storage room in which the refrigerating temperature zone and freezing temperature zone can be set. However, temperature switching room 14 may be provided as a storage room which is specialized to switch the temperature zone between the refrigerating temperature zone and the freezing temperature zone by entrusting the refrigerating function to refrigerating room 12 or vegetable room 16, and entrusting the freezing function to freezing room 15 respectively. In addition, temperature switching room 14 may be provided as a storage room that is set to a specific temperature zone, for example, the temperature zone fixed to the freezing temperature according to the fact that the demand for the frozen foods has been increased in recent years.
The operation and the action of refrigerator 80 configured as described above will be described.
In the present embodiment, the storage state of the storage items is detected using top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, and lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h, among internal lightings 20. In addition, in the present embodiment, the storage state is detected using main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b, among light sensors 21.
When it is needed to increase the detection accuracy of the storage state of the storage items, it is sufficient to increase the number of light sources in use such as lighting LEDs 20c to 20f. The number of light sensors 21 may also be increased.
Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating control operations for detecting the storage state in refrigerator 80 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
First, the storage state detection operation (basic data acquisition operation) using top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, lower side surface LEDs 20g, and main light sensor 21a will be described. Since it is usual for refrigerating room 12 to be longer in a height direction, an example of detecting the storage state by a consideration of dividing refrigerating room 12 into two sections of upper and lower will be mainly described.
When the opening and closing of refrigerating room door 12a is detected by door opening and closing detection sensor 3 (Yes in S101), calculation control unit 1 determines that there is a possibility that the storage items may be put-in or put-out, and then starts the operation for detecting the storage state after counting a predetermined time from the closing of refrigerating room door 12a by timer 44 (Yes in S102).
Here, in step S102, the reason for counting the predetermined time period will be described.
The first reason is the consideration for the influence on the detection of the storage state due to the minute dew condensation on the surface of internal storage shelf 18 and door storage shelf 19 in which are at a low temperature, and change of the transmittance. It is possible to detect the storage state when the dew condensation is cleared after a predetermined time period by waiting for the predetermined time.
The second reason is the consideration for the influence on the detection of the storage state due to the decrease of luminosity caused by the heat generation by the lighting when refrigerating room door 12a is opened and the LED is turned on as lighting. The object is to start the detection when the temperature increase of the LED is resolved after a predetermined time by waiting for a predetermined time.
As another method for stabilizing the luminosity of the LED, the LED is turned on for a while even when refrigerating room door 12a is closed and daringly generates the heat, and after a predetermined time, when the temperature increase of the LED is saturated to be constant, the detection can be started.
When the operation for detecting the storage state is started, calculation control unit 1 first turns on the light sources of top surface LEDs 20a and 20b disposed on top surface wall which is the upper section of refrigerator 80 (S103).
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a storage state detection operation by top surface LEDs 20a and 20b in the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics by top surface LEDs 20a and 20b in the same embodiment.
For example, as illustrated in Fig. 7, a case is assumed in which foods that are storage items 23a are stored on internal storage shelf 18. Light 24a output from top surface LED 20a (component of light is illustrated in the drawing as arrows. A dotted line indicates that the luminosity is attenuated) is reflected and absorbed at storage items 23a and attenuated, and diffuses to the other directions as lights 24b and 24c.
Light 24b and 24c repeat the reflection at the wall surface of refrigerating room 12 and other foods (not illustrated). Light 24d reflected at storage items 23b on door storage shelf 19 is also attenuated, and diffuses to another direction as light 24e. Then, light 24e is further repeatedly reflected at the wall surface of refrigerating room 12 and other storage items such as foods (not illustrated). After the repeated reflection in this way, the brightness distribution in refrigerating room 12 is saturated to be stabilized.
In general, since the illumination light of the LED is emitted with a predetermined illumination angle, light 24a and 24d indicated by arrows in Fig. 7 are parts of component of light emitted from top surface LED 20a. Hereinafter, the depiction of light is similar to this figure.
Top surfaces LED 20a and 20b are facing the vertically downward direction, and main light sensors 21a is facing the horizontal direction. That is, both are respectively disposed so as not to face each other. As a result, in the configuration, most of the components of light are not directly incident on main light sensor 21a but the light is reflected at the wall surface and storage items and then incident on main light sensor 21a.
One example of storage state detection characteristics detected by main light sensor 21a at this time is illustrated in Fig. 8. As illustrated in Fig. 8, it can be seen that the illuminance detected by main light sensor 21a decreases when the storage amount of storage items 23a and 23b increases. However, in a case where only top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are turned on, an error occurs between the maximum value and the minimum value. A method for the error correction will be described below. Calculation control unit 1 stores the measured illuminance information in memory 2 as detection data A (S104).
In Fig. 8, the vertical axis of the graph represents "illuminance". However, if a relative value such as a "relative illuminance" or an "illuminance attenuation rate" as a reference when storage items 23a and 23b are not stored in the storage room, is used, it is easy to cope with the light intensity variation which is an initial characteristic of the LEDs. An "amount of illuminance attenuation" as the reference when storage items 23a and 23b are not stored in the storage room, may also be used. Hereinafter, a same concept will be used regarding the "illuminance".
Calculation control unit 1 turns on lower side surface LED 20g disposed on the left wall surface in the lower side that is a lower section of refrigerator 80 (S105).
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a storage state detection operation by lower side surface LED 20g in the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics by lower side surface LED 20g in the same embodiment.
For example, a case where the foods which are storage items 23c are stored on internal storage shelf 18 as illustrated in Fig. 9, is assumed. At this time, light 24f output from lower side surface LED 20g (hereinafter, components of light are illustrated in Fig. 9 as arrows. A dotted line indicates that the luminosity is attenuated) is reflected at storage items 23c and attenuated, and diffuses to another direction as light 24g. Light 24g is further repeatedly reflected at the wall surface of refrigerating room 12 and other foods (not illustrated).
Light 24h is reflected at storage items 23d and attenuated, and diffuses to another direction as light 24i and 24j. Light 24h further repeats the reflection at the wall surface of refrigerating room 12 and other foods (not illustrated). In this way, after the repeated reflection, the brightness distribution in refrigerating room 12 is saturated to be stabilized.
When lower side surface LED 20g is turned on, the detection is performed by main light sensor 21a. In the configuration, since the detection is performed by the combination like this in which lower side surface LED 20g and main light sensor 21a are not facing each other, most of the components of light are not directly incident on main light sensor 21a but are incident via the reflection at the wall surface and the storage items. That is, it is possible to detect the indirect illumination light that includes the light reflected at the storage items in the storage room.
An example of storage state detection characteristics by main light sensor 21a at this time is illustrated in Fig. 10. As illustrated in Fig. 10, it can be understood that the illuminance decreases with the increase of the storage amount of storage items 23c and 23d. However, in a case where only lower side surface LED 20g is turned on, an error occurs between maximum value and minimum value. A method for the error correction will be described below. Calculation control unit 1 stores the measured illuminance information in memory 2 as detection data B (S106).
As illustrated in Fig. 8 and Fig. 10, in a case where storage items 23a to 23d are biased in upper section, when top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are turned on, the illuminance attenuation increases (Fig. 8), and when the lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h are turned on, the illuminance attenuation decreases (Fig. 10).
On the other hand, in a case where storage items 23a to 23d are biased in lower section, when top surface LEDs 20a and 20b are turned on, the illuminance attenuation decreases (Fig. 8), and when the lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h are turned on, the illuminance attenuation increases (Fig. 10).
That is, when top surface LEDs 20a and 20b which are in the upper section are turned on, the sensitivity with respect to storage items 23a to 23c in the upper section is high, and when the lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h which are on lower section are turned on, the sensitivity with respect to storage items 23d in the lower section is high.
As described above, the storage state characteristics are calculated by combining the measurement result obtained by sequentially turning on top surface LEDs 20a and 20b in the upper section and lower side surface LED 20g in the lower section. Specifically, calculation control unit 1, for example, calculates an average value of the detection data A (characteristics in Fig. 8) and the detection data B (characteristics in Fig.10) as detection data C (S107).
Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics of detection data C which is the average value of detection data A and detection data B in the first embodiment of the present invention.
When comparing Fig. 11 with Fig. 8 and Fig. 10, error is almost eliminated, and it is understood that the storage state can be detected with high accuracy regardless of the bias in placement of storage items 23a to 23d in the upper and lower section.
Regarding the bias in placement of the storage items in a horizontal direction or back-front direction of storage items 23a and 23b, by the same concept as described above, refrigerating room 12 may be divided into two sections (two sections in horizontal direction or front-back direction) and LEDs or light sensor 21 may be provided respectively.
A method of correcting the errors generated when there is an obstacle in the path of light incident on main light sensor 21a will be described.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a case where an obstacle exists in the vicinity of light sensor 21, Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of error occurred due to the existence of the obstacle in the vicinity of light sensor 21, and Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics in a case where the obstacle exists and a case where the obstacle does not exist in the vicinity of light sensor 21, in the first embodiment of the present invention.
In Fig. 12, since storage item 23e exists in the vicinity of main light sensor 21a, there is possibility that storage item 23e may be an obstacle that narrows the path of light incident on main light sensor 21a. An example of storage state detection characteristics (detection data C) by main light sensor 21a when the obstacle exists like this is illustrated in Fig. 13.
As illustrated in Fig. 13, a maximum value (a) in a case where the obstacle does not exist attenuates to a maximum value (b) in a case where the obstacle exists, thus, an error is generated according to the existence of obstacles. Similar to this, a minimum value (c) in a case where the obstacle does not exist attenuates to a minimum value (d) in a case where the obstacle exists, thus, an error is generated. In order to correct these errors, the storage state of storage item 23e is detected using lower side surface LED 20h that is provided on the right side wall surface and sub-light sensor 21b provided on the left side wall surface (obstacle correction processing).
Specifically, calculation control unit 1 turns on lower side surface LED 20h (S108), and acquires and stores detection data D of sub-light sensor 21b (S109). If the size of storage items 23e is large enough to be at a level of narrowing the path of light incident on main light sensor 21a, since the path of light linking lower side surface LED 20h and sub-light sensor 21b is shielded, and detection data D of sub-light sensor 21b decreases extremely (refer to Fig. 14).
Using this phenomenon, calculation control unit 1 compares detection data D and predetermined threshold value E (S110). When detection data D is smaller than threshold value E, calculation control unit 1 determines that the obstacle exists (No in S110). In this case, calculation control unit 1 determines the storage state using determination characteristics G at the time when the obstacle exists illustrated in Fig. 13 (S111). On the other hand, when detection data D exceeds the threshold value E (Yes in S110), calculation control unit 1 determines that the obstacle does not exist, and determines the storage state using determination characteristics F at the time when the obstacle does not exist illustrated in Fig. 13 (S112).
Next, a method (reflection object correction processing) of correcting the error occurred in a case where storage items 23f (also referred to as reflection object) having a high reflection rate exist in the vicinity of main light sensor 21a will be described.
Generally, the storage items having a high reflection rate are the objects having a white color or a color close to white. An object that has a low diffusion of light and a light-condensing property such as a metal container, is also defined as a reflection object.
Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an example of a case where a reflection object is stored in the vicinity of light sensor 21, and Fig. 16 is a diagram for explaining an example of error occurred due to the existence of the reflection object stored in the vicinity of light sensor 21 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in Fig. 15, in a case where storage items 23f having a high reflection rate are stored, when reflection rate of storage items 23f is high, then the light attenuation is small, or in some case, the light is condensed without being diffused, and thus there is a tendency that the illuminance in the vicinity of storage item 23f increases. Accordingly, the illuminance in the vicinity of main light sensor 21a also increases.
As illustrated in an example of storage state detection characteristics detected by main light sensor 21a (detection data C) in Fig. 16, errors are generated due to the difference in reflection rate of storage item 23f. For example, error J is generated in characteristics (b) at the time when the storage item having a slightly high reflection rate exists, with respect to characteristics (a) at the time when the reflection object does not exist, and error H is generated in characteristics (c) at the time when the storage item having a high reflection rate exists.
In order to correct this error, a reflection influence caused by storage item 23f is detected using blue LED 22a and main light sensor 21a. Generally, a white object has a high reflection rate, and therefore, particularly it is needed to identify a white object.
Fig. 17A to Fig. 17C are diagrams illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light due to the difference in color of the object and a reflection rate of the light in the first embodiment of the present invention.
For example, Fig. 17A is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light reflected from a red object and a reflection rate, and light of peak wavelength band of blue LED 22a having a peak of 400 nm to 500 nm has a low reflection rate at the red object.
Fig.17B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light reflected from a blue object and reflection rate, and light of peak wavelength band of blue LED 22a having a peak of 400 nm to 500 nm has a low reflection rate of 50% or lower at the blue object.
On the other hand, Fig.17C is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a wavelength of the light reflected from a white object and a reflection rate, and light of peak wavelength band of blue LED 22a having a peak of 400 nm to 500 nm has a high reflection rate because the white object has a characteristic of strongly reflecting the light of all the wavelength bands.
That is, since the light of peak wavelength band of blue LED 22a has difficulty in reflecting at the object other than a white object, it is suitable for distinguishing a white object.
For example, it is assumed that light having a wavelength of red color instead of blue is used. In this case, as illustrated in Fig. 17A, light of peak wavelength band having a peak wave length of approximately 650 nm has a high reflection rate at the red object, and has a reflection rate the same as that at the white object illustrated in Fig. 17C.
That is, since the red light reflects at a certain level even at the red object which has a low reflection rate, it is difficult to distinguish the white and red objects. Therefore, in performing the identification of the reflection object, it is preferable to use blue LED 22a.
Since the reflection rate is affected by the color of the object, for example, if a chromaticity sensor using wavelength of RGB is used, it is possible to identify the object with higher accuracy.
An object that has a low diffusion of light such as a metal container condenses the light regardless of the wavelength of the light. Thus, it is possible to detect the reflection object utilizing such characteristics.
Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the influence of the error in a case where the reflection object exists in the vicinity of light sensor 21 and the illumination of main light sensor 21a when blue LED 22a is on, in the first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in Fig. 18, since there is a relationship between the error due to the reflection object and the output of main light sensor 21a when blue LED 22a is turned on, the error component is corrected (reflection object correction processing).
Returning to Fig. 6, calculation control unit 1 turns on blue LED 22a (S113), and stores detection data K detected by main light sensor 21a in memory 2 (S114).
Next, calculation control unit 1 compares threshold value L determined as illustrated in Fig. 18 and detection data K (S115). If detection data K is equal to or smaller than threshold value L (NO in S115), the influence of the reflection is determined to be small, and the correction is not performed (S116).
On the other hand, if detection data K is larger than the threshold value L (YES in S115), calculation control unit 1 determines that the influence of the reflection exists, and performs the correction by estimating the value of the error J or the error H based on the error determination characteristics M due to the reflection object 23f (S117).
As described above, the detection characteristics (after the correction) of the storage amount after performing the acquiring of basic data, obstacle correction and reflection object correction by calculation control unit 1 through the flow in Fig. 6 is illustrated in Fig. 19.
Fig. 19 is a diagram illustrating storage state detection characteristics after the correction in the first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in Fig. 19, the error between the maximum value after the correction (a) and minimum value after the correction (b) is extremely small, thus, it is understood that the storage state can be accurately estimated in an analog manner (S118).
In the estimation of the storage state, the specification is made to determine the storage amount in five steps of one to five by providing a plurality of threshold values P, Q, R, and S. Specifically, when the illuminance after the correction is equal to or greater than threshold value Q, then the storage amount is determined to be level 1, when between the threshold value P and Q, then level 2, when between the threshold value Q and R, then level 3, when between the threshold value R and S, then level 4, and when the illuminance after the correction is equal to or less than threshold value S, then level 5, respectively.
For example, when determining the increase of the storage amount, if the storage amount before being changed is level three, the storage amount is determined so as to move to level four only when the change of illuminance is equal to or greater than difference of "threshold value Q - threshold value R", and is held at level 3 in other cases. As a result of this processing, even a detection error may be generated in several percent due to the external noise or the like, it is possible to prevent the change of the storage state from being erroneously detected. When determining the decrease of the storage amount, the detection can be performed with the same concept.
Intervals between the threshold values P to T in Fig. 19 are set to be wide when the storage amount is small, and to be narrow when the storage amount is large. This setting is set under the consideration that, as the storage amount decreases, the slope of the storage amount detection characteristics (after correction) increases, and as the storage amount increases, the slope decreases. Each of intervals P to S is set such that the intervals between the storage levels one to five be equal.
The determination of the storage amount may be performed in a complete analog manner without performing the step dividing as described above.
As a method of correcting the error generated by the reflection object around main light sensor 21a, the reflection influence by the reflection object may be determined by blue LED 22a and sub-light sensor 21b other than blue LED 22a and main light sensor 21a.
After the estimation of the storage state in S118, calculation control unit 1 controls cooling system such as compressor 30, cooling fan 31, and air amount control damper 32 according to the storage amount, the change of the storage amount or the position of the storage or the like, and performs the optimal cooling operation.
During sequentially turning on the LEDs and detecting the storage state, calculation control unit 1 can also perform notification to the user by causing the lamp of display unit 17 to flicker. Furthermore, calculation control unit 1, after the detection of the storage state, also performs notification to the user by displaying the detection result on display unit 17.
As described above, in the present embodiment, refrigerator 80 includes top surface LEDs 20a and 20b installed inside refrigerating room 12, lower side surface LEDs 20g and 20h, and main light sensor 21a that is the light sensor for detecting the illumination light. Then, the storage state of the storage items is estimated based on the amount of the illumination attenuation at main light sensor 21a. In this way, it is possible to cope with the variations in the initial characteristics of the LED which is the light source, and possible to further accurately estimate the entire storage state in refrigerating room 12.
The illumination light from the light source repeats the reflections in the storage room to go around the entire positions in the refrigerator, and is incident on light sensor 21. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the storage state with a simple configuration in which the number of parts is small.
The illuminance may be detected by disposing another main light sensor on the wall surface facing the wall surface on which main light sensor 21a is provided. In this way, it is possible to further improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state.
The amount of illuminance attenuation measured at main light sensor 21a is the illuminance in a stored state with respect to the illuminance in a state where storage items 23a to 23f are not stored in storage room, and the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f is estimated based on this illuminance. In this way, it is possible to cope not only with the variations in LED which is a light source, but also with the individual variations in the storage room of refrigerator 80. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f.
The amount of illumination attenuation detected at main light sensors 21a detects the indirect illumination light that includes the reflection light at storage items 23a to 23f in the storage room. Therefore, it is possible to easily estimate the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f with high accuracy as the amount of illumination attenuation.
By disposing main light sensor 21a in concave portion 84 provided on the side surface of the storage room, main light sensor 21a does not receive the direct light from top surface LEDs 20a and 20b which are the light sources. Accordingly, only the indirect illumination light including the reflection light reflected from storage items 23a to 23f is detected, and it is possible to easily estimate the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f with high accuracy as the amount of illumination attenuation.
Since main light sensor 21a is provided on the position nearer to refrigerating room door 12a side from the center position in the depth direction in refrigerating room 12, it is possible to surely detect the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f such as foods stored near the door where the influence of inflow of outside air due to the opening and closing of the door is large.
Main light sensor 21a is provided on the door side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the front side end portion of bottom storage shelf 18b which is the nearest internal storage shelf. The upper and lower spaces of refrigerating room door 12a and front end of bottom storage shelf 18b are not likely to be blocked by storage items 23a to 23f, and a stable light path from the light source can be ensured, thus, it is possible to estimate the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f with high accuracy based on the amount of illuminance attenuation due to the existence of storage items 23a to 23f on internal storage shelf 18.
Main light sensor 21a is disposed on the back side from the vertical plane which includes top surface LEDs 20a and 20b. Therefore, it is possible to detect storage items 23a to 23f on internal storage shelf 18 with higher accuracy.
Main light sensor 21a is provided on the upper surface of storage room 40 or upper position of bottom storage shelf 18b. In this way, the pulling out of storage case of storage room 40 is, or the pulling out of water storage tank 41 which is provided on the lower portion of bottom storage shelf 18b are not interfered.
Main light sensor 21a is provided on lower side of internal storage shelf 18 which is on one step over bottom storage shelf 18b. In this way, removing internal storage shelf 18 is not interfered. Main light sensor 21a can be disposed on a position farthest from the lower position from top surface LEDs 20a and 20b as long as main light sensor 21a does not disturb the removal of internal storage shelf 18, storage case, and water storage tank 41. Therefore, it is possible to detect storage items 23a to 23f on all internal storage shelves 18 between main light sensor 21a and top surface LEDs 20a and 20b.
As correction means for correcting the amount of illumination attenuation measured by the combination of top surface LEDs 20a and 20b and main light sensor 21a by the storage state, the amount of illuminance of attenuation measured by the combination of main light sensor 21a and lower side surface LED 20g provided on the wall surface at the same side with main light sensor 21a is used. In this way, variation factors due to the deviation of storage items 23a to 23f in the storage room, particularly, the deviation of the storage state in the vertical direction can be absorbed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the estimation accuracy of the storage amount caused by the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f.
In the present embodiment, as correction means for correcting the amount of illumination attenuation at main light sensor 21a by the storage state, sub-light sensor 21b is included, which is correction means for correcting the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f in the vicinity of main light sensor 21a, particularly the storage state of storage item 23e on bottom door storage shelf 19b. In this way, it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the storage amount caused by the generation of a shadow due to storage items 23e with respect to main light sensor 21a.
It is desirable to dispose sub-light sensor 21b on the side surface of the same side where main light sensor 21a is disposed, and around main light sensor 21a within 120 mm in correcting the influence of a shadow due to the storage items on main light sensor 21a.
By disposing sub-light sensor 21b in concave portion 84 provided on the side surface of the storage room, sub-light sensor 21b does not receive the direct light from lower side surface LED 20g which are the light sources. Therefore, only the indirect illumination light including the reflection light reflected from storage items 23a to 23f is detected, and thus, it is possible to correct the influence of storage items 23a to 23f with high accuracy.
Sub-light sensor 21b is disposed on the upper position of main light sensor 21a. Therefore, sub-light sensor 21b becomes to be disposed between top surface LEDs 20a and 20b or lower side surface LED 20g and main light sensor 21a, and it is possible to accurately correct the influence of storage items 23a to 23f that cast shadows on main light sensor 21a.
It is desirable to dispose sub-light sensor 21b with a height of 130 mm to 170 mm from the bottom surface of bottom door storage shelf 19b in correcting the influence of storage item 23d such as a bowl with a height of 190 mm to 230 mm which has a high possibility of being stored in bottom door storage shelf 19b.
Sub-light sensor 21b is provided on the door side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the front side end portion of bottom storage shelf 18b which is the nearest internal storage shelf. Therefore, it is possible to correct the influence of storage items 23a to 23f on door storage shelf 19 with high accuracy. Sub-light sensor 21b is provided on the front position from the vertical plane including top surface LEDs 20a and 20b, and in the region γ which is in the back side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the rear end portion of frame portion 12b. Therefore, it is possible to correct the influence of storage item 23d on bottom door storage shelf 19b with high accuracy.
In the present embodiment, correction means for correcting the amount of illumination attenuation at main light sensor 21a by storage state includes blue LED 22a, which is the auxiliary light emission unit that emits the light with different color from those of top surface LED 20a and 20b and lower side surface LED 20g that are the correction means for correcting the reflection rate of storage items 23a to 23f in the storage room. In this way, it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the amount of storage caused by reflection rate of storage items 23a to 23f. Particularly, by detecting the blue light from blue LED 22a, which is the auxiliary light emission unit, and reflected at storage items 23a to 23f at main light sensor 21a, it is possible to surely detect the existence of storage items 23a to 23f having a high reflection rate which influences the illumination around main light sensor 21a. Therefore, it is possible to surely improve the estimation accuracy of the amount of storage caused by main light sensor 21a.
In this way, by installing the auxiliary light emission unit that emits the light with the color different from that of the first light emission unit, the estimation accuracy of the amount of storage caused by the reflection rate of storage items 23a to 23f is surely improved, and it is possible to improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f based on the amount of illumination attenuation at the first light emission unit which is light sensor 21.
It is desirable to dispose blue LED 22a on the side surface of the same side where main light sensor 21a is disposed, and around main light sensor 21a within 120 mm, in determining the influence of reflection at storage items 23a to 23f that influences the illumination around main light sensor 21a.
By disposing blue LED 22a in concave portion 84 provided on the side surface of the storage room, main light sensor 21a does not receive the direct light from blue LED 22a which is the light source. Therefore, only the indirect illumination light including the reflection light reflected from storage items 23a to 23f can be detected by main light sensor 21a, and thus, it is possible to surely determine the influence of the reflection from storage items 23a to 23f which influences the illumination around main light sensor 21a.
By making the center direction of the optical axis of blue LED 22a be vertical with respect to the side surface of the storage room, main light sensor 21a does not receive the direct light from blue LED 22a which is the light source. Therefore, only the indirect illumination light including the reflection light reflected from storage items 23a to 23f can be detected by main light sensor 21a, and thus, it is possible to surely determine the influence of the reflection from storage items 23a to 23f which influences the illumination around main light sensor 21a.
In the configuration, the center direction of the optical axis of blue LED 22a and a center axis of the light receiving range of the light detection unit of main light sensor 21a do not intersect with each other in the storage room. In this way, main light sensor 21a does not receive the direct light from blue LED 22a which is the light source. Therefore, only the indirect illumination light including the reflection light reflected from storage items 23a to 23f can be detected by main light sensor 21a, and thus, it is possible to surely determine the influence of the reflection from storage items 23a to 23f which influences the illumination around main light sensor 21a.
Blue LED 22a is provided between bottom storage shelf 18b and internal storage shelf 18 which are on one step over bottom storage shelf 18b. Therefore, it is possible to surely determine the influence of the reflection from storage item 23d on bottom storage shelf 18b which influences the illumination around main light sensor 21a. Since blue LED 22a is provided on the upper position of main light sensor 21a, even in a case where a plurality of storage items 23a to 23f having high reflection rate are stacked on bottom storage shelf 18b, it is possible to surely determine these influence of the reflections.
Blue LED 22a is disposed on the rear side of the vertical plane which includes top surface LEDs 20a and 20b. Therefore, it is possible to surely determine the influence of the reflection from storage items 23a to 23f on internal storage shelf 18 which have a high possibility of influencing the illumination around main light sensor 21a.
Blue LED 22a is disposed on the door side from the vertical plane which is in contact with the end portion of the front side from bottom storage shelf 18b. Therefore, among storage items 23a to 23f on internal storage shelf 18, it is possible to surely determine the influence of the reflection from storage items 23a to 23f on internal storage shelf 18 which have a high possibility of influencing the illumination around main light sensor 21a.
Main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b are disposed on the lower part than top surface LEDs 20a and 20b which are the light sources and lower side surface LED 20g. In this way, the influence of the condensation due to the inflow of outside air due to the opening and closing of the door in light sensor 21 can be reduced, and therefore, it is possible to estimate the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f based on the amount of the illuminance attenuation at light sensor 21 with high accuracy.
Among the light sources used in detecting the storage state, lower side surface LED 20g is also used as internal lighting 20. Therefore, it is possible to detect the storage state by a simple configuration without providing a new light source.
In the present embodiment, main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b are mounted on the same substrate 51. In this way, the distance between main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b becomes constant regardless of the assembly state. Therefore, the correction of the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f can be performed by sub-light sensor 21b with a high accuracy.
Main light sensor 21a and blue LED 22a are mounted on the same substrate 51. In this way, the distance between main light sensor 21a and blue LED 22a becomes constant regardless of the assembly state. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the influence of the reflection from storage items 23a to 23f having a high reflection rate by blue LED 22a.
Among main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a, at least two, or all of them are mounted on the same substrate 51. In this way, light sensor 21 and the auxiliary light emission unit can be provided at a low cost and the position of each is surely determined. Therefore, it is possible to improve the correction accuracy of the storage state of storage items 23a to 23f based on the amount of the illuminance attenuation at main light sensor 21a. Upon assembly, the position of main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b and blue LED 22a, and the through hole of cover 53 can be easily aligned. Since blue LED 22a is provided between main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b, by providing light sensors 21 on both ends, it is possible to easily mount all the components on the same substrate 51.
In the present embodiment, a blocking wall is provided around each of main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a respectively. In this way, it is possible to surely prevent the light of blue LED 22a from being directly incident on main light sensor 21a and sub-light sensor 21b in support member 50. Upon assembly, the position of main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b and blue LED 22a, and the through hole of cover 53 can be easily aligned.
If the blocking wall is provided around any one of main light sensor 21a and blue LED 22a, it is possible to surely prevent the light of blue LED 22a from being directly incident on main light sensor 21a in support member 50.
If the blocking wall is provided around any one of sub-light sensor 21b and blue LED 22a, it is possible to surely prevent the light of blue LED 22a from being directly incident on sub-light sensor 21b in support member 50.
Since the height of blocking wall for blue LED 55 is configured to be higher than the height of blocking wall 54a for main light sensor or blocking wall for sub-light sensor 54b, it is possible to surely prevent the light of blue LED 22a from leaking in support member 50.
The blocking wall has a vertical cylindrical shape with respect to substrate 51. In this way, the light receiving range of light sensor 21 can be squeezed or the diffusion range of the light from the auxiliary light emission unit can be squeezed by the blocking wall. Therefore, it is possible to improve the light receiving sensitivity of light sensor 21, and to surely detect storage items 23a to 23f in a specific range. Since the size of the through hole provided on cover 53 can be reduced, the design can be improved.
In the present embodiment, substrate 51 is installed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane of the storage room. In this way, the area of substrate 51 is reduced, and the cost can be reduced due to the decrease of the materials used. Even when substrate 51 is condensed, moisture can be moved to the lower part of the lower end of substrate 51, thus, it is possible to immediately cut the water. Therefore, there is no cause of troubles such as insulation defect.

(Second Embodiment)

Next, the second embodiment not according to the present invention will be described.
Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the blocking wall in refrigerator 80 seen from a side surface in the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, only the points different from those of the first embodiment will be described, and the descriptions for the same configurations, operations, and actions will not be repeated.
As illustrated in Fig. 20, in the embodiment of the present invention, a blocking wall for main light sensor (not illustrated), blocking wall for sub-light sensor 64b, and blocking wall for blue LED 65, which are provided around the through hole of main light sensor 21a, sub-light sensor 21b, and blue LED 22a of main body portion 53a respectively are toward cover 53 from substrate 51, and resultantly have a truncated cone shape extending in a tapered shape. For this reason, even cover 53 is provided, the light receiving range of light sensor 21 is not squeezed, or the diffusion range of the light from the auxiliary light emission unit is not squeezed by cover 53. Therefore, it is possible to detect the storage items in a wide range.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to refrigerator 80 described above, it is possible to improve the estimation accuracy of the storage state of the storage items based on the amount of illuminance attenuation of the light sensors. By performing control in accordance with the storage state, the freshness preservation is improved and the overcooling can be prevented, and then the power consumption can be suppressed. Accordingly, by providing the functions of detecting the storage amount in the refrigerators for home use or industrial use, it is useful since it is possible to use in controlling the switching of the operation mode to power saving operation mode, or the like using the result of the detection.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

1: calculation control unit
2: memory
3: door opening and closing detection sensor
11: refrigerator body
12: refrigerating room
12a: refrigerating room door
12b: frame portion
13: ice making room
14: temperature switching room
15: freezing room
16: vegetable room
17: display unit
18: internal storage shelf
18a: top storage shelf
18b: bottom storage shelf
19: door storage shelf
19a: top door storage shelf
19b: bottom door storage shelf
20: internal lighting
20a, 20b: top surface LED
20c to 20f: lighting LED
20g, 20h: lower side surface LED
21: light sensor
21a: main light sensor
21b: sub-light sensor
21d to 21q: light sensor
22a: blue LED
23a to: 23h storage items
24a to 24j: light
30: compressor
31: cooling fan
32: air amount control damper
40: storage room
41: water storage tank
44: timer
50: support member
50a: connection wire hole
51: substrate
52a: female connector
52b: male connector
52c: connection wire
53: cover
53a: main body portion
53b: spacer portion
53c: claw portion
54b, 64b: blocking wall for sub-light sensor
55, 65: blocking wall for blue LED
56: film
80: refrigerator
81: small box
82: egg container
83. 84: concave portion

Claims

A refrigerator comprising:
a storage room (12) having an opening portion in a front surface;

a first light emission unit (20a, 20b) provided on a top surface of the storage room (12);

a first light detection unit (21a) configured to detect a light illuminated from the first light emission unit (20a, 20b); and

a concave portion (84) provided on a side surface of the storage room (12),

wherein the first light detection unit (21a) is provided in the concave portion (84),
wherein the refrigerator further comprises;

a second light emission unit (20h) provided on another side surface of the storage room (12) which faces to the side surface; and

a second light detection unit (21b) configured to detect a light illuminated from the second light emission unit (20h),

wherein the second light detection unit (21b) is provided on the side surface on which the first light detection unit (21a) is provided.
The refrigerator of claim 1,
wherein the first light detection unit (21a) is provided in a back side of the storage room (12) from a vertical plane which includes the first light emission unit (20a, 20b).
The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2,
wherein the second light detection unit (21b) is provided on an upper position of the first light detection unit (21a).
The refrigerator of claim 3,
wherein the second light detection unit (21b) is provided on a front position from a vertical plane which includes the first light emission unit (20a, 20b).
The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the first light detection unit (21a) and the second light detection unit (21b) are provided on a same substrate (51).
The refrigerator of claim 5,
wherein a longitudinal direction of the substrate (51) is provided to be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the storage room (12).