JP2004286333A - Refrigerator-freezer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the temperature in a cooling chamber by a color of a storage inside lamp. <P>SOLUTION: The storage inside lamp 15 is composed of a color light source 33 composed of a three primary color LED, and when opening a door, a color of the color light source 33 of the storage inside lamp 15 is changed according to the temperature detected by a temperature sensor 13. In more detail, a different color is allocated to respective temperature zones by partitioning a temperature range detected by the temperature sensor 13 into a plurality of temperature zones, and the color of the color light source 33 of the storage inside lamp 15 is discretely changed according to the temperature zone detected by the temperature sensor 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigerator which displays the temperature in a cooling room by a color change of a light inside the refrigerator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the refrigerator-freezer has a refrigerating room 1 (about 3 ° C.) at the top, a switching room 2 and an ice making room 3 (about −19 ° C.) beside it, and a vegetable room 4 (about 19 ° C.) below. The freezer compartment 5 (about -19 ° C.) is arranged at the lowest stage. The switching room 2 is used as a soft freezing room (about −8 ° C.), a partial room (about −3 ° C.), a chilled room (about 0.5 ° C.), a wine room (about 10 ° C.), etc. by switching a cooling temperature setting. You. The refrigerator / freezer of the type that displays the temperature of the cooling chamber is provided with a display / operation unit 6, where the internal temperature of each cooling chamber is detected by a temperature sensor such as a thermistor and displayed numerically. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the display / operation unit 6, where 7 is a temperature numerical value display unit such as an LCD (liquid crystal), and 8 is an operation unit including buttons for temperature setting and other operations.
[0003]
Temperature control is performed with hysteresis in accordance with the temperature range (differential: the difference between the target temperature and the current temperature), so there is a possibility that the temperature may become too high or too low, and the temperature may be adjusted in real time. When displayed, it is displayed as it is, which may give a misunderstanding such as failure.
[0004]
On the other hand, when the display is performed using the integrated average or the moving average value of the detected temperature, the fluctuation is smaller than that in the real-time display, but the display temperature does not change rapidly even when the door of the cooling chamber is opened, for example. For this reason, the relationship between the numerical display by numerical values and the actual cooling condition becomes ambiguous, and specifying the temperature of the cooling room with a value obtained from such an average value indicates the cooling condition in the cooling room at that time. Is left to the judgment (imagination) of the user, and sometimes leads to a user's complaint even though there is no problem with the temperature.
[0005]
In some cases, a thermo tape is attached to a protective tube of an illumination lamp in a storage room in a storage of a showcase to display the temperature of the storage room in color (Patent Document 1). However, the color of this thermotape does not change noticeably unless there is a certain large temperature change, so it cannot be used in refrigerators and refrigerators where a slight change in temperature affects the quality of stored foods. There is a problem that can not be set to.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 63-120084
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when the temperature of the cooling chamber is displayed as a numerical value, there is a problem in displaying the temperature in real time or in displaying the average value, and there is also a problem in a method of displaying the temperature of the thermo tape in a color.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator-freezer that solves the above-described problems and displays a temperature inside a refrigerator when a door is opened.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1, at least one cooling chamber, a door switch that is activated when the opening of the door of the cooling chamber is detected, an interior light that is installed in the cooling chamber and is turned on when the door switch is activated, A refrigerator having a temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature of the cooling chamber, wherein the interior light is constituted by a color light source composed of a three-primary color LED or a three-primary color LCD, and the interior of the refrigerator is controlled in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A refrigerator is provided with control means for changing the color of the color light source of the inner lamp.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator-freezer according to the first aspect, the temperature range detected by the temperature sensor is divided into a plurality of temperature zones, and different colors are assigned to the respective temperature zones, and the control is performed. The refrigerator is characterized in that the means changes the color of the color light source of the interior lamp discretely according to a temperature band detected by the temperature sensor.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 3 is the refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control means causes the color light source of the interior lamp to be turned off when the door switch is operated for more than a first predetermined time. The refrigerator was characterized by the following.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator-freezer according to the first aspect, the control means blinks the color light source of the interior light when the door switch is operated for more than a second predetermined time. It was a freezer-refrigerator that was the feature.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 5 is the refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the interior light when the door switch is operated for a time equal to or more than a first predetermined time and equal to or less than a second predetermined time. The refrigerator is characterized in that the color light source is turned off and the color light source of the interior light is turned on and off when the color light source is operated for more than the second predetermined time.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 6 is the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit uses the color light source of the interior light when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is low. The refrigerator is characterized by displaying cool colors and displaying warm colors when it is high.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 7 is the refrigerator according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the blinking of the color light source of the interior light is a warm color system regardless of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A freezer-refrigerator characterized by being performed in color.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 8 is the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the color light source is a turntable on which a plurality of the three primary color LEDs or three primary color LCDs are installed, and the turntable. And a light diffusing cover for covering the surface of the three-primary-color LED or the three-primary-color LCD.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the present embodiment, in a refrigerator in which the interior light is turned on by a door switch that operates in conjunction with the opening of a cooling room such as a refrigerator compartment or a freezing room, the interior light is illuminated by the interior light. In addition to the role and purpose, a function to change the color of the interior light according to the temperature in the interior is provided. A temperature sensor, such as a thermistor, is installed in the refrigerator, and according to the temperature in the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor, the color is changed to a warm color when the temperature is high, and to a cool color when the temperature is low. To change the color linearly or discretely. The interior light at this time is constituted by a color light source such as a three-primary color LED or a three-primary color LCD, and sets the relationship between temperature and color to a desired relationship.
[0018]
In this way, the temperature in the refrigerator is displayed not by numerical values but by color, so it is possible to give a strong impression to the vague color emotional effect (temperature sensation) of each individual, rather than quantitative numerical display. Also, the user can easily feel the cooling content, and the frequency of opening and closing the door by the user and the time during which the door is opened can be easily suppressed. Further, since the relationship between the temperature and the color of the color light source can be set arbitrarily, it is also possible to represent a subtle temperature change with a large color change, and it is suitable for a refrigerator freezing where a slight temperature change affects the quality of stored food. Become.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a relationship between a reference temperature of each cooling room of a refrigerator and a reference color corresponding thereto. In this way, by assigning a color with a higher degree of coldness as the temperature is lower and assigning a color with a higher degree of warmness as the temperature is lower, the temperature can be visually recognized.
[0020]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment in the case of displaying the temperature of the refrigerator compartment in the refrigerator will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator compartment. Reference numeral 11 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer, etc., 12 denotes an operation unit for performing temperature setting and the like, 13 denotes a temperature sensor including a thermistor provided in the refrigerator compartment 1, and 14 operates in conjunction with opening the door of the refrigerator compartment 1. Door switch, 15 is an interior light having a color light source composed of three primary color LEDs (light emitting diodes), 16 is a refrigeration cycle, and 17 is cold air generated by an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle in the refrigerator compartment 1 through a duct. A blower fan that blows out, 18 is a memory that stores a set temperature and the like, and 19 is another electric system. FIG. 3 is a control system diagram. The refrigeration cycle 16 includes a compressor 21, a condenser 22, a capillary 23, and an evaporator 24. The compressor 21 is controlled by the control unit 11.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for controlling the interior light 15. First, it is determined whether or not the door of the refrigerator compartment 1 is opened. When the door is opened, the interior light 15 is turned on. After the interior lamp 15 is turned on, the color of the interior lamp 15 is set to 0 according to the temperature Ts detected by the temperature sensor 13 every time the repetition symbol I is incremented by one. Control and repeat this until I = 10. In the case of the refrigerator compartment 1, the color control is performed by preliminarily dividing a plurality of temperature zones in a temperature range of 0 ° C. <Ts <10 ° C. and assigning a specific color to each temperature zone. At this time, the color of the specific temperature zone is also distinguished between light and dark. Also, a warm color is assigned to a high temperature zone, and a cool color is assigned to a low temperature zone.
[0022]
If the time during which the door is open is 1 minute or more and less than 2 minutes at the time when I = 10, the brightness of the interior light 15 displayed in a specific color at that time is darkened (light down). Then, the repetition symbol I is set to 0 again, and the color of the interior lamp 15 is controlled according to the temperature Ts detected by the temperature sensor 13 until I = 10. When the time during which the door is open becomes two minutes or more, the interior light 15 flashes.
[0023]
The interior light 15 expresses one color by a combination of light of three primary colors of red, blue and green. When these three primary colors are combined, a large number of colors can be represented, for example, as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the interior light 15 constitutes a color light source 33 composed of three primary color LEDs by accommodating red, green, and blue LEDs 32 R, 32 G, and 32 B in a tubular body 31. A total of nine light sources 33 are arranged at the center of the surface of the rotating pedestal 34 and eight around the periphery, and the surface side is covered with a cover (not shown) made of a material having a large light diffusion effect such as ground glass. Constitute. When the color light source 33 is attached to the rotating pedestal 34, the blue LED 32B having a short wavelength is positioned on the outer peripheral side. The rotary base 34 is configured to be rotated by a motor or the like when the door switch 27 is operated by opening the door. The rotating pedestal 34 is made of a plastic plate or the like, such as a white ABS plate, which easily reflects light diffusely, and has a random scratch as needed to enhance the diffuse reflection effect. The mounting position of such an interior light 15 is a wall surface near the cold air duct discharge port of the refrigerator compartment 1, another wall surface, a ceiling, or the like, and is buried in that location.
[0024]
As described above, the light emitted from the plurality of color light sources 33 is mixed by the constant speed rotation of the rotary pedestal 34 in the cover, diffused by the cover, and emitted into the refrigerator compartment 1, and thus functions as a surface light source of one color. .
[0025]
The voltages applied to the LEDs 32R, 32G, and 32B are, for example, DC 0V, 2V, and 4V. 0V is off, 2V is half light, and 4V is all light. Then, LEDs 32R = R, 32G = G, and 32B = B are written, and the voltages applied to the LEDs are set as subscripts, and 0V = 0, 2V = 0.5, and 4V = 1. For example, red LED32R that 2V is _applied, represented as _{B 0.5.} With regard to the synthesis of colors, an arithmetic notation such as R _0.5 + G _0.5 + B _0.5 is used. Note that R ₀ = G ₀ = B ₀ = 0. Since the number of color combinations in the above case is 3 ³ −1 = 26, excluding no color, it is possible to sufficiently express from a cool color system to a warm color system. FIG. 7 shows an example of a display color expressed by a combination of three colors of light.
[0026]
In addition, although the interior light of the refrigerator compartment 1 has been described above, it is needless to say that the same can be applied to the interior light of the other refrigerator compartments. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a refrigerator having only a freezer compartment and a refrigerator having only a refrigerator compartment. Although the name of the invention is "freezer-refrigerator", this is a concept including any of a refrigerator-freezer, a freezer, and a refrigerator. In the above description, three primary color LEDs are used as the color light source 33, but a three primary color LCD (liquid crystal) can be used. Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the case where the color light source of the interior light 15 blinks in a color corresponding to the temperature detected at the time when the door is opened for 2 minutes or more has been described. At this time, if a color (for example, red) indicating the maximum temperature is displayed and blinks regardless of the temperature, it is possible to give a stronger emergency warning.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a three-primary color LED or a three-primary color LCD that changes color according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is used as the color light source of the interior light. Not only can it be displayed by the color of the lamp, but also the relationship between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the color display can be set arbitrarily, so that even a slight temperature change can increase the color change, There is an advantage that the temperature change in the refrigerator when the door is opened can be strongly appealed to the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a reference temperature and a reference color of each cooling chamber of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator room of the refrigerator.
FIG. 3 is a control system diagram of a refrigerator room of the refrigerator.
FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of a light inside the refrigerator in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of three primary colors of light.
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a color light source, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of the interior light when a cover is removed.
FIGS. 7A to 7C are explanatory diagrams of display colors by three primary color LEDs.
FIG. 8 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator-freezer.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional display / operation unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: refrigeration room, 2: switching room, 3: ice making room, 4: vegetable room, 5: freezing room, 6: display / control unit, 7: display unit, 8: operation unit 11: control unit, 12: operation unit , 13: Temperature sensor, 14: Door switch, 15: Interior light, 16: Refrigeration cycle, 17: Blow fan, 18: Memory, 19: Other electric system 21: Compressor, 22: Condenser, 23: Capillary , 24: evaporator, 25: blower fan 31: cylindrical body, 32R, 32G, 32B: LED, 33: color light source, 34: rotating base

Claims (8)

At least one cooling chamber, a door switch that operates when opening of a door of the cooling chamber is detected, an interior light that is installed in the cooling chamber and is turned on when the door switch is operated, and detects an internal temperature of the cooling chamber. A refrigerator having a temperature sensor that performs
The interior light is constituted by a color light source composed of three primary color LEDs or three primary color LCDs, and a control means for changing the color of the color light source of the interior light according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is provided. A refrigerator-freezer characterized by: The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1,
Dividing the temperature range detected by the temperature sensor into a plurality of temperature zones and assigning different colors to each temperature zone,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit discretely changes a color of the color light source of the interior light according to a temperature band detected by the temperature sensor. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns off the color light source of the interior light when the door switch is operated for more than a first predetermined time. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit blinks the color light source of the interior light when the door switch is operated for more than a second predetermined time. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1,
The control means causes the color light source of the interior light to be turned off when the door switch is operated for a time equal to or longer than a first predetermined time and equal to or less than a second predetermined time, and is operated beyond the second predetermined time. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the color light source of the interior light is turned on and off. The refrigerator-freezer according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The refrigerator is characterized in that when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is low, a cool color is displayed by the color light source of the interior light, and when the temperature is high, a warm color is displayed. . The refrigerator-freezer according to any one of claims 4 or 5,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the blinking of the color light source of the interior light is performed in a warm color irrespective of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The refrigerator-freezer according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The color light source includes a turntable on which a plurality of the three primary color LEDs or three primary color LCDs are installed, and a light diffusing cover that covers the surface of the turntable. The rotation of the turntable causes the plurality of three primary colors to rotate. A refrigerator comprising light from an LED or three-primary color LCD as a surface light source.

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