GB2539099A

GB2539099A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: GB2539099A
Application number: GB1609321.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akiyoshi Koichi; Abe Takahiko
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp; Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp; Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2015-06-05
Filing date: 2016-05-26
Publication date: 2016-12-07
Also published as: CN106288617B; DE102016209407A1; GB201609321D0; CN106288617A

Abstract

A refrigerator (figure 1, 10) comprises a door (11, 12) which includes an outside front plate 30 and an inside plate 31 with an insulating material 32 provided between the two. An electrode 52 of a capacitance sensor is provided between the front plate and the insulation material. A metal film 40 is provided between the front plate and the electrode whereby a parasitic capacitance of the metal film is smaller than a parasitic capacitance of a substrate 54 including the electrode or a parasitic capacitance of the front plate. The metal film may be a discontinuous deposited film 43, laminated on sheet-like base 41 material, have translucency and be formed of tin or a tin alloy. The metal film may also be formed into a concave or convex shape, laminated on the inside of a base material, have a protective layer inside of it and comprise a coloured layer 46 or a plurality of dot-like (figure 3) or belt-like portions (figure 4). The protective layer preferably is formed of polyvinyl chloride and the insulating material contains urethane foam.

Description

REFRIGERATOR

This application is based on and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-114883 (filed on June 5, 2015) and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-185098 (filed on September 18, 2015). This application incorporates the entire contents of this application by reference. [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background Art] There is a refrigerator in which an operation unit (also called an operation panel unit) configured to perform a switchover of operation modes and the like is provided in a door. A plurality of buttons for operation are displayed in the operation unit, and an electrode of a capacitance sensor is provided on the back side of each button display. When a conductor such as a human finger approaches or contacts with the button, an electrostatic capacitance is generated between the conductor and the electrode of the capacitance sensor, an amount of an electric charge accumulated in the electrode of the capacitance sensor is changed, a microcomputer detects the change, and a control unit provided in the refrigerator performs the control corresponding to the button (see, for example, JP-A-2014-40960).

Incidentally, the door of the refrigerator has the 25 structure in which an insulation material is filled between a door front plate provided on a refrigerator outside and a door inside plate provided on a refrigerator inside. The operation unit is provided between the door front plate and the insulation material (see, for example, JP-A-2014-40960).

In such a door of the refrigerator, it is considered that the door is configured to have metallic luster when seen from the refrigerator outside in such a manner that the door front plate is configured to have a translucency, and a meta_ film is provided on the insulation material side of the door front plate.

In this case, in order that the entire door is configured to have the metallic luster, the metal film is provided also between the door front plate and the operation unit including the electrode of the capacitance sensor.

[Summary of the Invention]

However, since a metal film generally has a large parasitic capacitance, only a slight amount of electrostatic capacitance compared to the parasitic capacitance of the metal film is generated between the conductor and the electrode of the capacitance sensor even when the conductor such as the human finger approaches or contacts with the door front plate. For this reason, when the metal film is present between the door front plate and the operation unit, an operability using the capacitance sensor is not excellent.

In this regard, an object of the invention is to provide 25 a refrigerator which has the metallic luster in appearance, and further includes a door having an excellent operability using the capacitance sensor.

A refrigerator of an embodiment includes a door configured to open and close an opening portion of a storage 5 compartment. The door includes a door front plate provided on a refrigerator outside, a door inside plate provided on a refrigerator inside, an insulation material provided between the door front plate and the door inside plate, an electrode of a capacitance sensor provided between the door front plate and the insulation material, and a metal film provided between the door front plate and the electrode of the capacitance sensor. A parasitic capacitance of the metal film is smaller than a parasitic capacitance of a substrate including the electrode of the capacitance sensor or a parasitic capacitance of the door front plate.

In the refrigerator having the above-described features, the door has the metallic luster in appearance, and further, the operability using the capacitance sensor is excellent. [Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of Fig. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a metal film having a small 25 parasitic capacitance according to a fourth modification.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a metal film having a small parasitic capacitance according to the fourth modification.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a refrigerator door according to a fifth modification when taken along line X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a refrigerator door according to the fifth modification when taken along line X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a refrigerator door 10 according to a sixth modification when taken along line Y-Y of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a refrigerator door according to the sixth modification when taken along line Y-Y of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a refrigerator door according to the sixth modification when taken along line Y-Y of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a refrigerator door according to a seventh modification when taken along line Y-Y of Fig. 1.

[Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

A refrigerator 10 of this embodiment will be described on the basis of the drawings. Incidentally, some members may be illustrated exaggeratingly in size and the like for the 25 description in the drawings.

The refrigerator 10 of this embodiment includes a cooling cycle apparatus that generates cold air and a control unit such as a microcomputer. The control unit controls the cooling cycle apparatus and sends the cold air generated by the cooling cycle apparatus to a storage compartment to maintain a temperature in the storage compartment at a low temperature. A hole through which the cold air blows into the storage compartment is provided in the back of the storage comoartment.

The main body of the refrigerator 10 is configured by combining an outer casing which forms the exterior of the refrigerator 10 and an inner casing where the storage compartment is formed and filling a space between the outer casing and the inner casing with an insulation material. A vacuum heat insulation panel obtained by filling the inside of the casing with a glass wool and the like and evacuating the inside may be provided between the outer casing and the inner casing.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a plurality of the storage compartments are provided in the main body of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, and the front opening portion of each storage compartment is configured to be able to be opened and closed by a door. Although the number and types of the storage compartments are not limited, the refrigerator 10 of Fig. 1 is provided, in order from the top, with a refrigerating compartment and a vegetable compartment, is provided thereunder with an ice making compartment and a small freezing compartment which are arranged in a right and left direction, and is provided undermost with a freezing compartment, for example.

The opening portion of the refrigerating compartment is closed by two left and right refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12. The left end portion of the left refrigerating compartment door 11 is attached to the left end portion of the main body of the refrigerator 10 by a hinge. The right end portion of the right refrigerating compartment door 12 is attached to the right end portion of the main body of the refrigerator 10 by a hinge. The two left and right refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 are openable in a double-door manner with this structure. The vegetable compartment, the ice making compartment, the small freezing compartment, and the freezing compartment are closed by a vegetable compartment door 13, an ice making compartment door 14, a small freezing compartment door 15, and a freezing compartment door 16 in a drawing manner, respectively.

At least some of those doors are provided with an operation unit 50 including a capacitance sensor. The door provided with the operation unit 50 or the matters which can be operated by the operation unit 50 are not limited, but in this embodiment, an operation unit 50a for opening of the door is provided in the under portion of each of the refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12, and further an operation unit 50b for controll and the like of a cooling cycle is provided in the center portion of the refrigerating compartment door 12 in a vertical direction. The control unit controls the refrigerator 10 on the basis of the operations of the operation units 50.

As an example of the sectional structure of the door of the refrigerator 10, a sectional structure taken along a front and rear direction in a position where the operation unit 50 of the refrigerating compartment door 12 is provided is illustrated in Fig. 2. The exterior of the refrigerating compartment door 12 is formed by combining a door front plate 30 provided on a refrigerator outside (the front side of the refrigerator) and a door inside plate 31 provided on a refrigerator inside (the rear side of the refrigerator) in the front and rear direction. The door front plate 30 has a translucency. Generally, the door front plate 30 is colorless and transparent, and is formed of, for example, a glass with a thickness of about 3 mm. Incidentally, a transparent resin material such as a transparent ABS resin or an acrylic resin may be used. An insulation material 32 is provided between the door front plate 30 and the door inside plate 31. The material of the insulation material 32 is not limited. Examples of the material of the insulation material 32 may include urethane foam, polystyrene foam, and the glass wool.

The operation unit 50 is provided between the door front plate 30 and the insulation material 32. In addition, a metal film having a small parasitic capacitance to be described below is provided between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50. The method of providing the metal film is not limited, but in the case of this embodiment, the metal film is laminated as a part of a film 40, and the film 40 is provided between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50. The structure of the operation unit 50 is not limited as long as the operation unit 50 includes the capacitance sensor. In the case of this embodiment, the operation unit 50 includes a first substrate 54 and a plurality of electrodes 52 of the capacitance sensor provided on the first substrate 54 as illustrated in Fig. 2. In addition, a second substrate 55 including a light source 56 such as a microcomputer 57 or a LED is provided on the refrigerator inside (rear side) of the first substrate 54. The microcomputer 57 detects the change of the capacitance of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor or lights a light source 56. The first substrate 54 and the second substrate 55 are electrically connected through connectors 51 thereof and a relay bundle wire 53. The light of the light source 56 passes through a pore 58 provided in the first substrate 54, and is radiated from the refrigerator inside to the film 40 on the refrigerator outside of the operation unit 50. Since the film 40 is formed of a member having a translucency as will be described below, a letter and the like printed in the film 40 are seen from the outside of the refrigerator.

The capacitance sensor of this embodiment is a self-capacitance type capacitance sensor. When a conductor such as a human finger approaches or contacts with a portion of the door front plate 30 on the refrigerator outside of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, an electrostatic capacitance is generated be:,ween the conductor and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, an amount of an electric charge accumulated in the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor is changed, and the microcomputer 57 detects the approach or the contact of the conductor. Particularly, the capacitance sensor is desirably a proximity sensor that detects that the conductor approaches the portion of the door front plate 30 on the refrigerator outside of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor. The extent of a detectable approach is not limited, but, for example, the extent may be set to be capable of detecting the conductor when the conductor approaches a position separate from the portion of the door front plate 30 on the refrigerator outside of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor by 10 to 20 cm in a direction perpendicular thereto. Herein, the capacitance sensor may be a touch sensor that detects the conductor as a first time when the conductor contacts with the portion of the door front plate 30 on the refrigerator outside of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor. In addition, the capacitance sensor may be capable of performing a switchover between an approach mode of functioning as the proximity sensor and a touch mode of functioning as the touch sensor. The proximity sensor requires a higher sensitivity than that of the touch sensor. The film 40 includes a sheet-like base material 41. The base material 41 has a translucency, and is more desirably colorless and transparent. The material of the base material 41 is not limited, but a synthetic resin is desirable, and particularly, polyethylene terephthalate is desirable in terms of external appearance quality. As illustrated in the drawing, a concavo-convex shape is desirably provided in the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator inside. In addition, the letter and the like may be printed on the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator inside to form a print layer 42. Examples of a printing method may include UV printing in which an ultraviolet ray is radiated to a pattern and the like drawn with an ultraviolet curable ink to instantly cure the ink.

The metal film having the small parasitic caoacitance is laminated on the refrigerator inside (further inside of the refrigerator in a case where the print layer 42 is formed on the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator inside) of the base material 41. The small parasitic capacitance means that the parasitic capacitance is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor or smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the door front plate 30. In addition, the Parasitic capacitance smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor means that the parasitic capacitance is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 in a state where the second substrate 55 including the microcomputer 57 is electrically connected with the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor as in this embodiment. Herein, the parasitic capacitance of the substrate is a sum of the parasitic capacitance generated between a wiring pattern such as a ground disposed in the substrate and the metal of the electrode 52, and the parasitic capacitance, which affects the electrode 52, such as the parasitic capacitance between the element such as the microcomputer of the capacitance sensor mounted in the substrate and the electrode 52, and means the parasitic capacitance of the entire substrate in a state where the wiring pattern and the element are mounted in the substrate.

Incidentally, the capacitance sensor detects the electrostatic capacitance generated between the electrode and the human finger, and the parasitic capacitance such as the parasitic capacitance of the substrate and the Parasitic capacitance of the metal film is desirably small since the parasitic capacitance inhibits the capacitance sensor from detecting the electrostatic capacitance.

Although the metal film having the small oarasitic capacitance is variously exemplified, a discontinuous deposited film 43 is adopted as an example of the metal film having the small parasitic capacitance in this embodiment. The discontinuous deposited film 43 is a metal film which has non-conductivity since the metal particles are not coupled and has the small parasitic capacitance. The discontinuous deposited film 43 is formed by a well-known metal deposition method. Incidentally, the metal deposition method as expressed includes a method of sputtering or the like as well as a vapor deposition method therein. The type of the metal used in the discontinuous deposited film 43 is not limited. Herein, tin or a tin alloy as an alloy including the tin is easily formed to be the discontinuous deposited film 43 in such a manner that oxidized layer is formed around the metal particle by the well-known metal deposition method. The discontinuous deposited film 43 has a translucency. In a case where the concavo-convex shape is provided on the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator inside, the concavo-convex shape is provided also in the discontinuous deposited film 43. When the length between respective apexes of the concave portion and the convex portion in the discontinuous deposited film 43 in the front and rear direction of the refrigerating compartment door 12 is set to the height of the concavo-convex shape, the height of the concavo-convex shape is in a range of several Rm to several mm.

The surface of the discontinuous deposited film 43 on the refrigerator inside may be covered by a sheet-like 5 protective layer 45. The protective layer 45 adheres to the discontinuous deposited film 43 through an adhesive layer 44 including an adhesive. The material of the protective layer 45 is not limited. Herein, in a case where the insulation material 32 includes the urethane foam (that is, the insulation 10 material is formed of the urethane foam or by adding another material to the urethane foam), the protective layer 45 is desirably formed of polyvinyl chloride.

A colored layer 46 having a translucency may be provided on the refrigerator outside of the base material 41. The material and the forming method of the colored layer 46 are not limited, but, for example, the colored layer is formed by the printing such as a UV printing on the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator outside. An adhesive layer 47 used to stick the film 40 to the door front plate 30 may be formed on the surface of the colored layer 46 on the refrigerator outside. The adhesive layer 47 has a translucency. The adhesive layer 47 is desirably colorless and transparent in a solidified state. The adhesive layer 47 is desirably formed of a UV curing agent (the resin to be cured by a radical polymerization and a cationic polymerization occurring when the ultraviolet ray is radiated). In a case where the adhesive layer 47 is formed of the UV curing agent, the door front plate 30 and the film 40 can adhere to each other in such a manner that the surface of the film 40 on the adhesive layer 47 is applied to the door front plate 30, and the ultraviolet ray is radiated from the side closer to the door front plate 30. In addition, a logo and the like maybe printed on the surface of the door front plate 30 on the refrigerator inside by a method such as a silk screen.

Incidentally, the layers are in close contact with each other in the film 40. Such a film 40 is provided, for example, on the entire rear side of the door front plate 30 of the refrigerating compartment door 12.

An example of the method of manufacturing the refrigerating compartment door 12 with the above structure will be illustrated. First, each layer is laminated on the base material 41 by the method exemplarily described above, and the film 40 is manufactured. Next, the film 40 is adhered to the door front plate 30. Next, the door front plate 30 where the film 40 is stuck and the door inside plate 31 are fitted into a door cap to be combined to each other. Next, the operation unit 50 is slid through an opening portion which is provided in the door cap in advance and is inserted into the refrigerating compartment door 12, the operation unit 50 is fixed in the refrigerating compartment door 12, and then the opening portion is closed. Finally, the insulation material is injected through a pore open in the door front plate 30 or the door inside plate 31 into a space between the door front plate 30 and the door inside plate 31. In addition, a storage container that stores a storage product is fixed on the surface of the door inside plate 31 on the refrigerator inside. The refrigerating compartment door 12 completed in this manner is attached to the main body of the refrigerator 10 by the hinge and the like.

In the refrigerating compartment door 12 of the refrigerator 10 with the above structure according to this embodiment, the metal discontinuous deposited films 43 are provided between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50 in the front portion of the operation unit 50 and between the door front plate 30 and the insulation material 32 in the portion except for the front portion of the operation unit 50, and thus the entire refrigerating compartment door 12 is configured to have metallic luster in appearance. Further, the discontinuous deposited film 43 between the door front plate 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor has a small parasitic capacitance, and thus when the conductor such as the human finger approaches or contacts with the door front plate 30, the capacitance sensor can detect the approach or the contact without the inhibition by the discontinuous deposited film 43. For this reason, the operability using the capacitance sensor is excellent.

In a case where the parasitic capacitance of the metal film such as the discontinuous deposited film 43 is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the 5 electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, the same substrate can be used even in a case where a design is changed, for example, by the change in the concavo-convex shape of the metal film or thickness of the metal film. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the substrate whenever the design is changed, and 10 it is possible to easily increase the design variation of the door.

In a case where the parasitic capacitance of the metal film such as the discontinuous deposited film 43 is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the door front plate 30, the door front plate 30, which has a larger parasitic capacitance among the door front plate 30 and the metal film, which affect the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, is disposed at a position away from the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor so that the effect of the parasitic capacitance is suppressed, and thus it is possible to accurately perform the detection by the capacitance sensor.

Particularly, in a case where the capacitance sensor is the proximity sensor, it is necessary to increase the sensitivity of the capacitance sensor. Since the metal 25 between the door front plate 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor is the discontinuous deposited film 43 having a small parasitic capacitance in this embodiment, the sensitivity required for the proximity sensor is maintained.

Herein, when the discontinuous deposited film 43 is formed of the tin or the tin alloy, the discontinuous deposited film 43 is easy to manufacture, and further, since the discontinuous deposited film 43 has the small parasitic capacitance, the operability of the capacitance sensor is excellent. In addition, some metals such as the tin or the tin alloy are less likely to deposit on the door front plate 30 made of glass. However, since the discontinuous deposited film 43 is not laminated directly on the back surface of the door front plate 30, but laminated on the base material 41 of the film 40 provided between the door front plate 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor in this embodiment, even the metal, which is difficult to deposit on the door front plate 30 made of glass, can be provided as the discontinuous deposited film 43 between the door front plate 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor.

In addition, since the discontinuous deposited film 43 is not laminated directly on the back surface of the door front plate 30, but laminated on the base material 41 of the film 40 provided between the door front plate 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, it is possible to increase the variation of the door seen from the refrigerator outside by changing the detailed structure of the film 40.

For example, in a case where the concavo-convex shape is provided on the discontinuous deposited film 43 on the refrigerator inside of the base material 41, the concavo-convex shape with the metallic luster is seen from the refrigerator outside since the base material 41 and the door front plate 30 have the translucency. Then, the visual effect of the concavo-convex shape can make the refrigerator 10 have a three-dimensional effect.

In addition, in a case where the discontinuous deposited film 43 is laminated on the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator inside, and the colored layer 46 with the translucency is laminated on the surface of the base material 41 on the refrigerator outside, the discontinuous deposited film 43 on the back side of the colored layer 46 looks transparent when seen from the refrigerator outside, and the door has the gloss originated from the metallic luster, and further, looks colored.

In addition, when the fluid insulation material is injected between the door front plate 30 and the door inside plate 31 in the manufacturing process of the door, the insulation material and the discontinuous deposited film 43 contact with each other, and then, when the insulation material contracts, there is a risk that wrinkles are generated in the discontinuous deposited film 43. However, in a case where the protective layer 45 is provided on the refrigerator inside of the discontinuous deposited film 43, it is possible to prevent the insulation material and the discontinuous deposited film 43 from contacting, and to prevent the wrinkles from being generated in the discontinuous deposited film 43. Further, in a case where the insulation material 32 includes the urethane foam, and the protective layer 45 is formed of the polyvinyl chloride, the adhesiveness between the insulation material 32 and the film 40 is excellent.

In addition, when the film 40 including the discontinuous deposited film 43 is provided on the entire rear side (refrigerator inside) of the door front plate 30 of the refrigerating compartment door 12, the entire appearance of the refrigerating compartment door 12 is excellent. Further, when the film 40 including the discontinuous deposited film 43 is provided on each rear side of the door front plates of all the doors of the refrigerator 10, the entire appearance of the refrigerator 10 is excellent.

The embodiment can be variously modified without 20 departing from the spirit of the invention. Modifications will be enumerated below.

(First Modification) In a case where a film is provided between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50, the film may include at 25 least the sheet-like base material and the metal film which is laminated thereon and has the small parasitic capacitance. Accordingly, the film may be formed of only the base material and the metal film having the small parasitic capacitance, or may include another layer different from the layer described in the embodiment. In addition, the metal film having the small parasitic capacitance may be provided on the refrigerator outside of the base material.

(Second Modification) The metal film having the small parasitic caoacitance may be provided in a door including at least the caoacitance sensor. For this reason, for example, the film which includes the metal film having the small parasitic capacitance may be provided in the door including the capacitance sensor, and the film including the film of the metal having a large parasitic capacitance (for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy as an alloy including the aluminum) maybe provided in the other door. (Third Modification) In a case where the metal film which is provided with the concavo-convex shape and has the small parasitic capacitance (herein, the discontinuous deposited film as an example) is provided in aplurality of (for example, all) doors, the height of the concavo-convex shape, which is provided in the discontinuous deposited film, in some doors thereamong may be different from that in the other doors. That is, some doors and the other doors may be different in the height of the concavo-convex shape provided in the discontinuous deposited film. For example, in the refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 positioned at a height of human eyes, the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous deposited film may be low, and in the other doors, the height of the concavo-convex shape may be higher than that of the refrigerating compartment doors.

Herein, in order to apply a three-dimensional effect to the door, it is desirable that the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous deposited film is high. However, when the height of the concavo-convex shape is high, there is a risk that the interference pattern of light is easy to generate, and a sense of beauty is damaged. Herein, the interference pattern is easy to generate when a person looks at the door in a normal direction thereof. That is, the interference pattern is easy to generate at the height of human eyes.

In this regard, when the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous deposited film is low in the refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 which are doors positioned at the height of human eyes as exemplarily described above, the risk that a person visually recognizes the interference pattern is reduced. Then, when the height of the concavo-convex shape is high in the other doors, a three-dimensional effect is applied to the entire refrigerator.

In addition, the door may have a plurality of regions which are different from each other in the height of the concavo-convex shape provided in the discontinuous deposited 5 film. That is, the plurality of regions which are different from each other in the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous deposited film may be provided in a door. For example, in the center portion and the under portion (for example, the under two-third portion of the door) of the door positioned at the height of human eyes in the refrigerating compartment door 12, the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous deposited film may be low, and in the upper portion (for example, the upper one-third portion of the door) of the door positioned above the height of human eyes, the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous deposited film may be higher than that in the lower portion of the door. Also in the case, the risk that a person visually recognizes the interference pattern is reduced, and further a three-dimensional effect is applied to the entire refrigerator.

(Fourth Modification) Fig. 3 illustrates another example of the metal film having a parasitic capacitance smaller than the Parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 25 52 of the capacitance sensor.

A film 140a of Fig. 3 is provided between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50 similarly with the film 40. A plurality of dot-like metal portions 143a are arranged on the one surface of a sheet-like base material 141 in the film 140a so that the film becomes a metal film. Although the material of the dot-like metal portion 143a is not limited, for example, the aluminum or the aluminum alloy is used as the material. A diameter p of one dot-like metal portion 143a is desirably 500 pm or less, and an interval q between two neighboring dot-like metal portions 143a is desirably 100 pm or less. In addition, a ratio of total area of all the dot-like metal portions 143a to the area of the base material 141 is more desirably 80 or more. Such as metal film can be produced using, for example, the well-known photographic technology.

The film 140a may be provided with the colored layer, the protective layer, and the like similarly with the film 40 of the embodiment in addition to the base material 141 and the metal film.

Since one dot-like metal portion 143a of the metal film has the small diameter p, for example, 500 pm or less, and further the dot-like metal portions 143a are not coupled to each other, the metal film has non-conductivity, and further, the parasitic capacitance is smaller than the Parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor. For this reason, when the conductor such as the human finger approaches or contacts with the door front plate 30, the capacitance sensor can detect the approach or the contact without the inhibition by the metal film, which is similar with the case in the embodiment. When 5 the plurality of the dot-like metal portions 143a are arranged in the metal film, even the metal such as the aluminum or the aluminum alloy, of which the parasitic capacitance is likely to increase in the state of the successive metal particles, can be used as the material of the metal film which is provided 10 between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50 and has the small parasitic capacitance.

In addition, since the interval q between two neighboring dot-like metal portions 143a is narrow, for example, 100 Fun or less, and further, total area of all the dot-like metal portions 143a is large, it cannot be found by human sight that the metal is formed in a dot shape. For this reason, the refrigerating compartment door 12 has the metallic luster in appearance, which is similar with the case in the embodiment.

In addition, the film 140b of Fig. 4 also is provided between the door front plate 30 and the operation unit 50 similarly with the film 40. A plurality of belt-shaped metal portions 143b are arranged in a stripe shape on the one surface of the sheet-like base material 141 in the film 140b so that the film becomes a metal film. Although the material of the belt-shaped metal portion 143b is not limited, for example, the aluminum or the aluminum alloy is used as the material. A width r of one belt-shaped metal portion 143b is 500 pm or less, an interval s between two neighboring belt-shaped metal portions 143b is desirably 100 pm or less. In addition, a ratio of total area of all the belt-shaped metal portions 143b to the area of the base material 141 is more desirably 80:, or more. Such as metal film can be produced using, for example, the well-known photographic technology. The film 140b may be provided with the colored layer, the protective layer, and the like similarly with the film 40 of the embodiment in addition to the base material 141 and the metal film.

The metal film of Fig. 4 also does not inhibit the capacitance sensor from detecting the conductor, and further, makes the appearance of the refrigerating compartment door 12 15 excellent.

(Fifth Modification) In a case where the metal film, which has a parasitic capacitance smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the caoacitance 20 sensor, is provided in at least front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, a metal layer having aparasitic capacitance larger than that of the metal film may be provided in the portion except for the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor.

An example thereof is illustrated in Fig. 5.

Incidentally, the same reference numerals are given to the portions which are illustrated commonly in Figs. 2 and 5. In this modification, a metal layer 243b having a parasitic capacitance larger than the parasitic capacitance cf a metal film 243a is laminated on the front of the metal film 243a which has the parasitic capacitance smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor. Both the metal film 243a and the metal layer 243b is provided over a wide range (desirably, the entire rear side of the door front plate 30) of the rear side of the door front plate 30. Herein, the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor of the metal layer 243b is cut out. The cut-out portion may be only the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, or may be the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor and the periphery thereof (for example, the entire front portion of the operation unit 50). The material of the metal layer 243b is not limited. Incidentally, although the layer corresponding to the print layer 42 of the embodiment is not illustrated in Fig. 5, the print layer 42 may be present practically.

In the case of this modification, the layer of the metal (for example, the aluminum or the aluminum alloy) which has a large parasitic capacitance but preferable in appearance is 25 provided as the metal layer 243b in the portion except for the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, which can make the refrigerating compartment door 12 excellent in appearance. On the other hand, the metal layer 243b having a large parasitic capacitance is not provided in the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, and only the metal film 243a having a small parasitic capacitance is provided therein, and thus, when the conductor such as the human finger approaches or contacts with the door front plate 30, the approach or the contact can be detected by the capacitance sensor without the inhibition by the metal layer 243b.

Another example is illustrated in Fig. 6. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are given to the portions which are illustrated commonly in Figs. 2 and 6. In this modification, the metal film 343a having a parasitic capacitance smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor and the metal layer 343b having the parasitic capacitance larger than that of the metal film 343a are provided on the same plane. Specifically, the metal film 343a having a small parasitic capacitance is provided in the front portion (may be only the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, or may be the portion including the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor and the periphery thereof) of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, and the metal layer 343b having a parasitic capacitance larger than that of the metal film 343a is provided in the other portion. Then, the metal film 343a and the metal layer 343b are provided on the same plane. That is, the same plane is divided into the portion of the metal film 343a and the portion of the metal layer 343b.

Also in the case of this modification, the layer of the metal (for example, the aluminum or the aluminum alloy) which has the large parasitic capacitance but preferable in appearance is provided as the metal layer 343b in the portion except for the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, which can make the refrigerating compartment door 12 excellent in appearance. On the other hand, the metal layer 343b having a large parasitic capacitance is not provided in the front portion of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, and only the metal film 343a having the small parasitic capacitance is provided therein, and thus, when the conductor such as the human finger approaches or contacts with the door front plate 30, the approach or the contact can be detected by the capacitance sensor without the inhibition by the metal layer 343b. In addition, the usage of the metal film 343a can be reduced compared with the case of Fig. S. Incidentally, since the parasitic capacitance varies according to the thickness even in the same metal, the metal film 343a and the metal layer 343b may be formed of the same metal and have different thicknesses.

Incidentally, in Figs. 5 and 6, the concavo-convex portion is not formed in the metal film and the like having the small parasitic capacitance, but the concavo-convex portion may be formed similarly with the embodiment of Fig. 2.

(Sixth Modification) The periphery of the substrate (first substrate 54 or second substrate 55) of the operation unit 50 is configured to be an air layer, and thus when the low temperature of the inside of the storage compartment is transmitted to the substrate, a dew condensation occurs in the substrate so that there is a risk that the operation unit 50 malfunctions. In this regard, an effort to prevent the dew condensation of the substrate may have been made. The example of such an effort is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9. Incidentally, in Figs. 7 to 9, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those of the other drawings.

In the example of Fig. 7, a vacuum heat insulation panel 432 is provided on the refrigerator inside of the operation unit 50. The vacuum heat insulation panel 432 is obtained by evacuating the inside of a casing filled with the glass wool and the like. The thickness of the vacuum heat insulation panel 432 in the front and rear direction is desirably 20 mm or more. In the case of the example, since the vacuum heat insulation panel 432 is provided on the refrigerator inside of the operation unit 50, the low temperature of the inside of the storage compartment is less likely to be transmitted to the substrate of the operation unit 50 so that the dew condensation of the substrate is less likely to occur.

Another example is illustrated in Fig. 8. In this example, a metal member 532 having excellent thermal conductivity is disposed in a portion configured to store the operation unit 50 in the door. Specifically, the metal member 532 (for example, a metal foil such as an aluminum foil or a metal plate) is provided to contact with the surface of the operation unit 50 on the refrigerator inside. The metal member 532 further extends toward the refrigerator outside to enfold the operation unit 50 from the refrigerator inside. In the case of the example, the heat on the refrigerator outside is transmitted to the metal member 532, and thus the surface, which contacts with the metal member 532, of the operation unit 50 on the refrigerator inside is maintained at a relatively high temperature. For this reason, the substrate in the operation unit 50 is less likely to be at the low temperature, and the dew condensation of the substrate is less likely to occur.

Another example is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this example, a heater 601 is provided in the door. The position where the heater 601 is provided is not limited. For example, the position is in a rotation partition body 602 (a member which is provided in the right side portion of the left refrigerating compartment door 11, and maintains the close-contact state of the left and right refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 by being in close contact with the left side portion of the right refrigerating compartment door 12 in a door closed state) or the position is close to the operation unit 50 in the door.

In this example, the substrate is maintained at a relatively high temperature by the heat of the heater 601, and thus the dew condensation of the substrate is less likely to occur. Incidentally, in a case where the heater 601 is separated from the operation unit 50, the metal member (for example, a metal foil such as the aluminum foil or the metal plate) may be provided from the heater 601 to the operation unit 50. Accordingly, the heat of the heater 601 is effectively transmitted to the substrate of the operation unit 50, and thus the dew condensation of the substrate of the operation unit 50 is less likely to occur. In a case where the heater 601 and the operation unit 50 are close to each other, such a metal member may not be provided.

In a case where the hole through which the cold air blows into the storage compartment is provided on the rear side of the operation unit 50, the operation unit 50 is likely to be at the low temperature, and thus the above-described effort is particularly effective. Al least two configurations may be combined among the above-described three examples.

The operation unit 50 less malfunctions and has excellent 25 operability by the synergetic effect of the method, in which the dew condensation of the substrate is prevented as above, and the method, in which the metal film having the small parasitic capacitance is provided between the door front plate 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor.

(Seventh Modification) The door of the refrigerator is opened and closed many times and is impacted whenever the door is opened and closed. For this reason, there is a risk that the first substrate 54 of the operation unit 50 is deviated from the original position, and thus the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor is deviated from the film 40. In this case, although the button is displayed on the film 40, since the position of the button display and the position of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor are deviated from each other, there is a risk that the capacitance sensor does not respond even when the human finger and the like approach and contact with the button display. As the countermeasure thereof, an effort to prevent the deviation of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor may have been made.

An example of such an effort is illustrated in Fig. 10.

In this example, the operation unit 50 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor provided therein are pushed toward the door front plate 30 and the film 40 to prevent the deviation from the film 40. A structure for the pushing is not limited, but an elastic means 703 is used in the example of Fig. 10.

In this example, a storage member 701 is fixed inside the refrigerating compartment door 12. The storage member 701 is fixed in the inside (for example, a door cap 702 which is provided in the end portions of the refrigerating compartment door 12 in the vertical and horizontal directions and integrates the door front plate 30 and the door inside plate 31) of the refrigerating compartment door 12. The operation unit 50 is surrounded by the storage member 701 inside the refrigerating compartment door 12.

Then, one end portion of the elastic means 703 such a spring or a rubber is fixed to the storage member 701, the other end portion of the elastic means 703 is fixed to a portion of the operation unit 50. Then, the operation unit 50 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor fixed thereto are pushed toward the door front plate 30 and the film 40 by the force of the elastic means 703.

Accordingly, the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor provided in the operation unit 50 is less likely to be deviated from the film 40, and thus in a case where the human finger and the like approach and contact with the button display, the capacitance sensor corresponding to the button correctly responds.

In addition, the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor may be pushed toward the door front plate 30 and the film 40 25 by a means different from the elastic means 703. For example, an opening for inserting the operation unit 50 into the refrigerating compartment door 12 is provided in the door cap 702, and the guide member such as a rail for moving the operation unit 50 may be provided from the opening to the fixed position of the operation unit 50 inside the refrigerating compartment door 12. Then, when the operation unit 50 is moved along the guide member, the operation unit 50 may be configured to be gradually pushed toward the door front plate 30 to move to and reach the fixed position of the operation unit 50, and be pushed to the film 40.

In addition to the above-described modifications, various changes, substitutions, omissions, and the like may be performed without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above description is examples, and the invention is not limited thereto. The above-described embodiment and the modifications thereof are within the invention, and are also within the equivalent range of the subject matter as described in appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A refrigerator comprising: a door configured to open and close an opening portion of a storage compartment, wherein the door includes a door front plate provided on a refrigerator outside, a door inside plate provided on a refrigerator inside, an insulation material provided between the door front plate and the door inside plate, an electrode of a capacitance sensor provided between the door front plate and the insulation material, and a metal film provided between the door front plate and the electrode of the capacitance sensor, and a parasitic capacitance of the metal film is smaller than a parasitic capacitance of a substrate including the electrode 15 of the capacitance sensor or a parasitic capacitance of the door front plate.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the metal film is a discontinuous deposited film.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal film is laminated on a sheet-like base material which is provided between the door front plate and the electrode of the capacitance sensor, and has a translucency.
4. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the metal film is formed of tin or a tin alloy.
5. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a concavo-convex shape is provided in the metal film.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the metal film is laminated on a refrigerator inside of the base material, and a colored layer having a translucency is laminated on a refrigerator outside of the base material.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the metal film is laminated on a refrigerator inside of 10 the base material, and a protective layer is laminated on a refrigerator inside of the metal film.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the protective layer is formed of polyvinyl chloride, and the insulation material contains urethane foam.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 5, comprising: a plurality of the doors, wherein some doors among the plurality of the doors are different from the other doors in a height of the concavo-convex shape provided in the metal film.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the door has a plurality of regions which are different from each other in a height of the concavo-convex shape provided in the metal film.
11. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the capacitance sensor is a proximity sensor configured to detect a conductor approaching the door front plate.
12. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a metal layer having a parasitic capacitance larger than the parasitic capacitance of the metal film is provided in a portion except for a front portion of the electrode of the capacitance sensor.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the metal film and the metal layer are provided on the same plane.
14. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of dot-like metal portions are arranged in 15 the metal film.
15. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of belt-shaped metal portions are arranged in a stripe shape in the metal film.
16. A refrigerator as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.