EP3904802A1 - A refrigerator comprising an illumination unit - Google Patents

A refrigerator comprising an illumination unit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3904802A1
EP3904802A1 EP21165713.5A EP21165713A EP3904802A1 EP 3904802 A1 EP3904802 A1 EP 3904802A1 EP 21165713 A EP21165713 A EP 21165713A EP 3904802 A1 EP3904802 A1 EP 3904802A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light source
illumination
blue
refrigerator
green
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21165713.5A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Cihat BACAK
Ahmet Ferit Cosan
Emre AKYILDIZ
Samet Ak
Gokhan GOL
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of EP3904802A1 publication Critical patent/EP3904802A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D27/00—Lighting arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a compartment which increases the vitamin values of the vegetables and fruits therein and which keeps the vegetables and fruits fresh.
  • Foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, etc. which are stored in refrigerators for a long time start to lose their freshness in the course of time.
  • the researches show that some foodstuffs subjected to lights especially at certain wavelengths and in colors such as blue, orange, green, etc. can be stored and keep their colors for a longer time with increased vitamin values. It is observed that different types of vegetables and fruits in different colors remain fresh for a longer time under lights at different wavelengths.
  • a refrigerator comprising a plurality of illumination units having a microprocessor which enables the generation of light at constantly-changing wavelength by controlling the application of the PWM signal at different duty cycles.
  • a refrigerator comprising a compartment having an illumination unit wherein two light sources in different colors and at different wavelengths are simultaneously driven.
  • the aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator comprising a compartment having an illumination unit with low power consumption which improves the freshness of the vegetables and fruits and increases the vitamin values thereof.
  • the refrigerator of the present invention comprises a compartment; at least one illumination unit which is positioned in the vicinity of the compartment; a light source which is provided in the illumination unit and which emits blue, red and green lights at a frequency of 50 Hertz and higher; and a control unit which successively operates two light sources in different colors for at least 0.000000000000125 seconds or at the most 0.03 seconds.
  • the illumination unit is preferably positioned on the side and/or rear walls of the compartment.
  • the light sources in the illumination unit of the refrigerator of the present invention operate at a frequency of 50 Hertz.
  • the human eye sees an illumination source operating at 50 Hertz or higher as if it is constantly on.
  • power saving is provided and the light sources in different colors are not simultaneously operated.
  • the light source in the refrigerator of the present invention is preferably an RGB LED.
  • the RGD LED light source contains red, green and blue lights, and in order to simulate the sunlight, the red, blue and green lights are successively turned on such that one color is turned on longer than others at certain hours of the day. For example, in order to provide a mostly bluish light in the morning hours, first the color blue is turned on and after 0.03 seconds at the most, the green light is turned on and after 0.03 seconds at the most, the red light is turned on, thus generating a bluish white light. The red, blue and green lights are not simultaneously turned on at any illumination process.
  • the light source in the illumination unit is obtained by placing three white LED light sources behind three colored glassed in blue, red and green.
  • the illumination unit comprises four cycles which are a first illumination step where a bluish light is generated in order to simulate the sunlight in the morning hours, a second illumination step where the red, green and blue colors are turned on for the same period of time so as to generate a white light in order to the simulate the sunlight of the noon, a third illumination step where a reddish light is generated in order to simulate the afternoon hours, and a dark step in order to simulate the night hours.
  • the total duration of said four illumination steps is 24 hours.
  • the 24-hour illumination time can be adjusted by the control unit according to the needs of the vegetables and fruits.
  • the illumination step of noon can be operated longer than the morning hours or the 12-hour dark step can be adjusted to 10 hours.
  • the illumination unit comprises a control unit which can adjust the brightness of the light sources according to the seasons.
  • an input screen which enables the user to enter information such as season, country, etc.
  • the input screen is preferably a panel provided on the body. The user can enter the climate information related to the region where the refrigerator is installed via said input screen, and thus the control unit can adjust the order and time of the illumination steps in line with the region.
  • a refrigerator comprising a compartment having at least one illumination unit wherein the sunlight is simulated with low power consumption.
  • the refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2); a compartment (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the vegetables and fruits are placed; and at least one illumination unit (4) having a light source (5) which is operated at a frequency of 50 Hertz or higher and which emits light in three separate colors, that is blue, green and red, when supplied with a power source in order to generate light in the compartment (3).
  • the refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises a control unit (6) which operates only one of the blue, green and red light sources (5) at the start and which activates the light source (5) in another color at the most 0.03 seconds after the light source (5) in one color is turned off.
  • the illumination unit (4) has a light source (5) emitting light in blue, green and red colors.
  • the operating frequency of said light source (5) is 50 Hertz or higher.
  • the light source (5) in one color is operated at the start in order to illuminate the compartment (3).
  • the blue light source (5) continues to emit light for a certain time after being activated by the control unit (6).
  • the green or red light source (5) is activated at the most 0.03 seconds after the blue light source (5) is turned off.
  • the blue light source (5) is activated at the start and turned off after 10 seconds, and then after 0.01 seconds the green light source (5) is activated and the green light source (5) is turned off after 6 seconds, and then after 0.01 seconds the red light source (5) is operated for 3 seconds. Since the light sources (5) are operated at a frequency of 50 Hertz or higher, when the light sources (5) are successively activated at certain intervals such that the eye cannot discern the time between the activation and deactivation, the light sources (5) look like operating simultaneously and the user's eye perceives the three colors as active at the same time. Thus, the daylight cycle can be simulated with low power consumption.
  • the control unit (6) operates, in the illumination unit (4), a first illumination step wherein the operating time of the blue light source (5) is longer than the operating times of the red and green light sources (5), a second illumination step after the first illumination step wherein the operating times of the green light source (5), the red light source (5) and the blue light source (5) are the same, a third illumination step following the second illumination step wherein the operating time of the red light source (5) is longer than the operating times of the blue and green light sources (5), and a dark step.
  • the sunlight cycle compatible with the time periods during the day is provided.
  • control unit (6) ensures that in each illumination step, the light sources (5) in different colors are started to operate at 1 millisecond (ms) intervals.
  • ms millisecond
  • the control unit (6) can adjust the order of the first illumination step, the second illumination step, the third illumination step and the dark step depending on the season and location information provided by the user.
  • the refrigerator (1) can be adjusted by the user so as to simulate the duration of night and day or the sunlight suitable for the season according to the climate conditions of the country or region where the refrigerator (1) is installed.
  • the refrigerator (1) comprises a illumination unit (4) wherein the brightness of the blue light source (5) is twice the brightness of the green and red light sources (5) in summer and the brightness of the blue, red and green light sources (5) are the same in winter.
  • the ideal sunlight cycle and power saving is provided.
  • a refrigerator (1) comprising at least one illumination unit (4) wherein the red, green and blue light sources (5) are not simultaneously operated and are successively operated at very short intervals in order to achieve the ideal sunlight cycle.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2); a compartment (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the vegetables and fruits are placed; and at least one illumination unit (1) having a light source (5) which is operated at a frequency of 50 Hertz or higher and which emits light in three separate colors, that is blue, green and red, when supplied with a power source in order to generate light in the compartment (3).

Description

  • The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a compartment which increases the vitamin values of the vegetables and fruits therein and which keeps the vegetables and fruits fresh.
  • Foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, etc. which are stored in refrigerators for a long time start to lose their freshness in the course of time. The researches show that some foodstuffs subjected to lights especially at certain wavelengths and in colors such as blue, orange, green, etc. can be stored and keep their colors for a longer time with increased vitamin values. It is observed that different types of vegetables and fruits in different colors remain fresh for a longer time under lights at different wavelengths.
  • It is known that after being placed into compartments in the refrigerators the vegetables and fruits continue to grow under a light similar to sunlight and remain fresh for a longer time with increased vitamin values. Therefore, in the state of the art refrigerators are developed, comprising compartments wherein light sources in different colors are simultaneously operated to simulate color tones closest to the sunlight.
  • In the state of the art Patent Application No. WO2011080106 , a refrigerator is disclosed, comprising a plurality of illumination units having a microprocessor which enables the generation of light at constantly-changing wavelength by controlling the application of the PWM signal at different duty cycles.
  • In the state of the art Patent Document No. AU2016393557B2 , a refrigerator is disclosed, comprising a compartment having an illumination unit wherein two light sources in different colors and at different wavelengths are simultaneously driven.
  • In the state of the art documents, different light sources are simultaneously driven in order to simulate the sunlight. In this case, more power must be consumed to simultaneously operate the LED light sources.
  • The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator comprising a compartment having an illumination unit with low power consumption which improves the freshness of the vegetables and fruits and increases the vitamin values thereof.
  • The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a compartment; at least one illumination unit which is positioned in the vicinity of the compartment; a light source which is provided in the illumination unit and which emits blue, red and green lights at a frequency of 50 Hertz and higher; and a control unit which successively operates two light sources in different colors for at least 0.000000000000125 seconds or at the most 0.03 seconds.
  • The illumination unit is preferably positioned on the side and/or rear walls of the compartment.
  • The light sources in the illumination unit of the refrigerator of the present invention operate at a frequency of 50 Hertz. The human eye sees an illumination source operating at 50 Hertz or higher as if it is constantly on. Thus, while the light sources in different colors are successively operated, power saving is provided and the light sources in different colors are not simultaneously operated.
  • The light source in the refrigerator of the present invention is preferably an RGB LED. The RGD LED light source contains red, green and blue lights, and in order to simulate the sunlight, the red, blue and green lights are successively turned on such that one color is turned on longer than others at certain hours of the day. For example, in order to provide a mostly bluish light in the morning hours, first the color blue is turned on and after 0.03 seconds at the most, the green light is turned on and after 0.03 seconds at the most, the red light is turned on, thus generating a bluish white light. The red, blue and green lights are not simultaneously turned on at any illumination process.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the light source in the illumination unit is obtained by placing three white LED light sources behind three colored glassed in blue, red and green.
  • The illumination unit comprises four cycles which are a first illumination step where a bluish light is generated in order to simulate the sunlight in the morning hours, a second illumination step where the red, green and blue colors are turned on for the same period of time so as to generate a white light in order to the simulate the sunlight of the noon, a third illumination step where a reddish light is generated in order to simulate the afternoon hours, and a dark step in order to simulate the night hours. The total duration of said four illumination steps is 24 hours.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the 24-hour illumination time can be adjusted by the control unit according to the needs of the vegetables and fruits. For example, the illumination step of noon can be operated longer than the morning hours or the 12-hour dark step can be adjusted to 10 hours.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the illumination unit comprises a control unit which can adjust the brightness of the light sources according to the seasons.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, an input screen is provided, which enables the user to enter information such as season, country, etc. The input screen is preferably a panel provided on the body. The user can enter the climate information related to the region where the refrigerator is installed via said input screen, and thus the control unit can adjust the order and time of the illumination steps in line with the region.
  • By means of the present invention, a refrigerator is realized, comprising a compartment having at least one illumination unit wherein the sunlight is simulated with low power consumption.
  • The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
    • Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator.
    • Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the illumination units and a portion of the body related to an embodiment of the present invention.
    • Figure 3 - is the view of AA cross-section in Figure 2.
  • The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
    1. 1. Refrigerator
    2. 2. Body
    3. 3. Compartment
    4. 4. Illumination unit
    5. 5. Light source
    6. 6. Control unit
  • The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2); a compartment (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the vegetables and fruits are placed; and at least one illumination unit (4) having a light source (5) which is operated at a frequency of 50 Hertz or higher and which emits light in three separate colors, that is blue, green and red, when supplied with a power source in order to generate light in the compartment (3).
  • The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises a control unit (6) which operates only one of the blue, green and red light sources (5) at the start and which activates the light source (5) in another color at the most 0.03 seconds after the light source (5) in one color is turned off.
  • In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, the illumination unit (4) has a light source (5) emitting light in blue, green and red colors. The operating frequency of said light source (5) is 50 Hertz or higher. The light source (5) in one color is operated at the start in order to illuminate the compartment (3). For example, the blue light source (5) continues to emit light for a certain time after being activated by the control unit (6). The green or red light source (5) is activated at the most 0.03 seconds after the blue light source (5) is turned off. For example, the blue light source (5) is activated at the start and turned off after 10 seconds, and then after 0.01 seconds the green light source (5) is activated and the green light source (5) is turned off after 6 seconds, and then after 0.01 seconds the red light source (5) is operated for 3 seconds. Since the light sources (5) are operated at a frequency of 50 Hertz or higher, when the light sources (5) are successively activated at certain intervals such that the eye cannot discern the time between the activation and deactivation, the light sources (5) look like operating simultaneously and the user's eye perceives the three colors as active at the same time. Thus, the daylight cycle can be simulated with low power consumption.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (6) operates, in the illumination unit (4), a first illumination step wherein the operating time of the blue light source (5) is longer than the operating times of the red and green light sources (5), a second illumination step after the first illumination step wherein the operating times of the green light source (5), the red light source (5) and the blue light source (5) are the same, a third illumination step following the second illumination step wherein the operating time of the red light source (5) is longer than the operating times of the blue and green light sources (5), and a dark step. Thus, the sunlight cycle compatible with the time periods during the day is provided.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (6) ensures that in each illumination step, the light sources (5) in different colors are started to operate at 1 millisecond (ms) intervals. Thus, a better power saving is provided and an optimum time is left between the activation of the light sources (5) in different colors.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (6) can adjust the order of the first illumination step, the second illumination step, the third illumination step and the dark step depending on the season and location information provided by the user. Thus, the refrigerator (1) can be adjusted by the user so as to simulate the duration of night and day or the sunlight suitable for the season according to the climate conditions of the country or region where the refrigerator (1) is installed.
  • In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a illumination unit (4) wherein the brightness of the blue light source (5) is twice the brightness of the green and red light sources (5) in summer and the brightness of the blue, red and green light sources (5) are the same in winter. Thus, by operating the light sources (5) with the brightness level suitable for the season, the ideal sunlight cycle and power saving is provided.
  • By means of the present invention, a refrigerator (1) is realized, comprising at least one illumination unit (4) wherein the red, green and blue light sources (5) are not simultaneously operated and are successively operated at very short intervals in order to achieve the ideal sunlight cycle.

Claims (5)

  1. A refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2); a compartment (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the vegetables and fruits are placed; and at least one illumination unit (4) having a light source (5) which is operated at a frequency of 50 Hertz or higher and which emits light in three separate colors, that is blue, green and red, when supplied with a power source in order to generate light in the compartment (3), characterized by a control unit (6) which operates only one of the blue, green and red light sources (5) at the start and which activates the light source (5) in another color at the most 0.03 seconds after the light source (5) in one color is turned off.
  2. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (6) which operates, in the illumination unit (4), a first illumination step wherein the operating time of the blue light source (5) is longer than the operating times of the red and green light sources (5), a second illumination step after the first illumination step wherein the operating times of the green light source (5), the red light source (5) and the blue light source (5) are the same, a third illumination step following the second illumination step wherein the operating time of the red light source (5) is longer than the operating times of the blue and green light sources (5), and a dark step.
  3. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a control unit (6) which ensures that in each illumination step, the light sources (5) in different colors are started to operate at 1 millisecond (ms) intervals.
  4. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a control unit (6) which can adjust the order of the first illumination step, the second illumination step, the third illumination step and the dark step depending on the season and location information provided by the user.
  5. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a illumination unit (4) wherein the brightness of the blue light source (5) is twice the brightness of the green and red light sources (5) in summer and the brightness of the blue, red and green light sources (5) are the same in winter.
EP21165713.5A 2020-04-29 2021-03-29 A refrigerator comprising an illumination unit Pending EP3904802A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TR202006691 2020-04-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3904802A1 true EP3904802A1 (en) 2021-11-03

Family

ID=75277934

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21165713.5A Pending EP3904802A1 (en) 2020-04-29 2021-03-29 A refrigerator comprising an illumination unit

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP3904802A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2005065622A (en) * 2003-08-26 2005-03-17 Mbr:Kk Irradiation device for preserving vegetable
JP2007147101A (en) * 2005-11-24 2007-06-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Refrigerator
WO2011080106A2 (en) 2009-12-30 2011-07-07 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A refrigerator comprising an illuminated vegetable compartment
AU2016393557B2 (en) 2016-02-17 2019-09-12 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Refrigerator

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2005065622A (en) * 2003-08-26 2005-03-17 Mbr:Kk Irradiation device for preserving vegetable
JP2007147101A (en) * 2005-11-24 2007-06-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Refrigerator
WO2011080106A2 (en) 2009-12-30 2011-07-07 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A refrigerator comprising an illuminated vegetable compartment
AU2016393557B2 (en) 2016-02-17 2019-09-12 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Refrigerator

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