JP2010014379A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator promoting replacement when reaching the end of a service life in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: A storage part stores a cumulative passage time since a power source of the refrigerator 1 is turned on. The passage time stored in the storage part is transmitted to an external server 64 via a communication line 63. The external server 64 calculates a discount rate at the time of replacement based on the received passage time, and transmits the discount rate and future transition of the discount rate to the refrigerator 1 as discount rate information. The discount rate information is displayed on a liquid crystal display 13 provided in the refrigerator 1 together with the passage time stored in the storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Not only refrigerators but machine products are set for useful life, for example, in terms of design and durability. These mechanical products may cause mechanical or electrical malfunctions beyond the service life. Therefore, the refrigerator generally has a function of grasping the operation state by various sensors and notifying the malfunction with a display, a buzzer, or voice when a malfunction occurs. In addition, a method of diagnosing a problem of a refrigerator using a communication line, a method of notifying an inspection time, a useful life, or a so-called life based on an operation time are disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2000-121238 A JP 2007-157018 A

  However, whether or not to perform the inspection at the notified inspection time is left to the user's judgment. Moreover, even if the user is notified of the lifetime, the user tends to continue using the refrigerator while the refrigerator is functioning. That is, there is a problem that simply notifying the inspection time, the service life, and the like is not motivated and cannot be replaced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that prompts replacement of a refrigerator that has approached its useful life.

  In order to achieve the above object, the refrigerator of the present invention comprises a cooling means for cooling a storage room for storing food, a storage means for storing an elapsed period since the power of the cooling means is turned on, and the storage means. Communication means for transmitting the elapsed period stored in the server to an external server, and receiving discount rate information including a discount rate at the time of replacement calculated based on the elapsed period from the server; and storing in the storage means And a display unit for displaying the elapsed time period and the discount rate information received by the communication means.

  According to the present invention, the communication unit transmits an elapsed period from when the power stored in the storage unit is turned on to an external server, and receives discount rate information including a discount rate calculated based on the elapsed period. Receive. The elapsed time and the discount rate are displayed on the display unit. As a result, it is recognized that there is a discount during the elapsed period and replacement, and replacement is considered. Therefore, replacement of the product can be promoted when the product is nearing its useful life.

Hereinafter, refrigerators according to a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in a plurality of embodiments, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
(First embodiment)
1 to 8 show a refrigerator 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the refrigerator 1 is formed with a refrigerator compartment 2, an ice making room 3, a switching room 4, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezer compartment 6 arranged in order from the top to the left. The front of the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3, the switching compartment 4, the vegetable compartment 5 and the freezer compartment 6 is opened and closed by the refrigerator compartment door 7, the ice making compartment door 8, the switching compartment door 9, the vegetable compartment door 10 and the freezer compartment door 11, respectively. Is done. The refrigerator compartment door 7 is a single-opening type, and the other ice making room door 8, the switching room door 9, the vegetable room door 10, and the freezer compartment door 11 are a drawer type. In addition, the refrigerator door 7, ice making door 8, switching chamber door 9, vegetable compartment door 10, and freezer compartment door 11 are provided with packings made of well-known magnet gaskets. The leak of the cold air from the chamber 4, the vegetable compartment 5, and the freezer compartment 6 is prevented. Hereinafter, in this specification, the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3, the switching compartment 4, the vegetable compartment 5 and the freezing compartment 6 are collectively referred to as storage compartments 2 to 6, and the refrigerator compartment door 7, the ice making compartment door 8, and the switching compartment door. 9. The vegetable compartment door 10 and the freezer compartment door 11 are collectively referred to as doors 7 to 11.

  An operation panel 12 is provided on the refrigerator compartment door 7. The operation panel 12 includes a liquid crystal display 13 and various switches 14. The liquid crystal display 13 displays various information such as the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 2, the temperature in the freezer compartment 6, the type of the switching chamber 4, the open / closed state of the doors 7 to 11, or an error message. The switch 14 includes a temperature adjustment switch for the refrigerator compartment 2 and the freezer compartment 6, a room type setting switch for setting the room type of the switching chamber 4, and the like. The switch 14 includes a display changeover switch for switching display items of the liquid crystal display 13. The display items on the liquid crystal display 13 are switched by operating the display changeover switch. The switch 14 is composed of various types of switches such as a push button type or a touch panel type.

  A refrigeration cooler chamber 15 and a refrigeration cooler chamber 16 are provided at the rear of the vegetable compartment 5. A refrigeration evaporator 17 is accommodated in the refrigeration cooler chamber 15. The air cooled by exchanging heat with the freezing evaporator 17 in the freezing cooler room 15 is sent from the freezing cooler room 15 to the ice making room 3 and the freezing room 6 by the freezing circulation fan device 18. The refrigeration cooler chamber 15 is returned again. In this way, the air cooled by the freezing evaporator 17 circulates in the freezing circulation passage 19 constituted by the ice making room 3, the freezing room 6, the freezing cooler room 15, and the like, and the ice making room 3 and the freezing room. 6 is cooled.

  On the other hand, a refrigeration evaporator 20 is accommodated in the refrigeration cooler chamber 16. The air cooled by the refrigerating evaporator 20 in the refrigerating cooler room 16 is sent from the refrigerating cooler room 16 to the refrigerating room 2 and the vegetable room 5 by the refrigerating circulation fan device 21, and is again cooled. Returned to chamber 16. In this manner, the air cooled by the refrigeration evaporator 20 circulates in the refrigeration circulation passage 22 configured by the refrigeration chamber 2, the vegetable compartment 5, the refrigeration cooler chamber 16, and the like. In addition, when the room type is set to “freezing”, “chilled”, or the like, a part of the air circulating through the freezing circulation passage 19 is sent to the switching chamber 4, and the room type is “refrigerated” or “ When set to “vegetable” or the like, a part of the air circulating through the refrigeration circulation passage 22 is sent.

  A machine room 23 is provided at the rear of the freezer compartment 6. The machine room 23 accommodates a compressor 24, a condenser (not shown), a compressor 24 and a machine room fan device 25 for cooling the condenser by air. The compressor 24 constitutes a cooling mechanism for cooling the storage chambers 2 to 6 together with the condenser, the freezing evaporator 17 and the refrigeration evaporator 20. A three-way valve 26 is provided in the machine room 23. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser is supplied to one or both of the refrigeration evaporator 17 and the refrigeration evaporator 20 by the three-way valve 26.

Next, the electrical configuration of the refrigerator 1 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit. In FIG. 5, the control unit 31, the operation unit 32, and the compressor control unit 33 are each constituted by a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

  The control unit 31 is connected to the operation unit 32, the compressor control unit 33, the sensor unit 34 and the heater unit 35, the fan motor unit 36, the storage unit 37, the communication interface 38, and the like. The operation unit 32 is connected to the liquid crystal display 13, the switch 14, the outside air temperature sensor 39, and the buzzer 40. The operation unit 32 displays information on the liquid crystal display 13, detects the operation of the switch 14, detects the outside air temperature, sounds the buzzer 40, and the like. The outside air temperature sensor 39 detects the outside air temperature. The operation unit 32 outputs the operation of the switch 14 and the detected outside air temperature to the control unit 31. The operation unit 32 displays data such as the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the freezer compartment 6 input from the control unit 31 on the liquid crystal display 13. The buzzer 40 rings in conjunction with the switch 14 or when a malfunction occurs, and is used for confirmation of an input operation of the switch 14 or notification of a malfunction.

  The compressor control unit 33 is connected to the compressor 24 and controls the rotation of a motor (not shown) of the compressor 24. The controller 31 outputs the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the freezer compartment 6 to the compressor controller 33. The compressor controller 33 controls the compressor 24 based on the temperature input from the controller 31.

  The sensor unit 34 includes a refrigeration room temperature sensor 41, a refrigeration room temperature sensor 42, a refrigeration defrost sensor 43, and a refrigeration defrost sensor 44. The freezer room temperature sensor 41 detects the temperature of the freezer compartment 6. The refrigerated room temperature sensor 42 detects the temperature of the refrigerated room 2. The freezing defrost sensor 43 detects the temperature of the freezing evaporator 17. The refrigeration defrost sensor 44 detects the temperature of the refrigeration evaporator 20. The refrigeration defrost sensor 43 and the refrigeration defrost sensor 44 are used to determine whether or not frost has adhered to the refrigeration evaporator 17 and the refrigeration evaporator 20, respectively. 20 temperatures are detected. When the temperature of the refrigeration evaporator 17 or the refrigeration evaporator 20 detected by the refrigeration defrost sensor 43 or the refrigeration defrost sensor 44 has reached a predetermined temperature, the control unit 31 determines that the defrost is finished. To do.

  The heater unit 35 includes a pipe heater 45, a DP heater 46, a pre-evacuation heater 47, an R-heater 48, a vegetable room bottom heater 49, and the like. The control unit 31 includes a pipe heater 45, a DP heater 46, and a pre-evacuation The temperature of the storage chambers 2 to 6 is adjusted or defrosted by the heater 47, the R basket heater 48, the vegetable room bottom heater 49, and the like. Further, the control unit 31 controls the freezing circulation fan device 18 and the refrigerating circulation fan device 21 by the freezing room fan motor 50 and the refrigerating room fan motor 51 included in the fan motor unit 36.

The control unit 31 has a timer 52 inside. The timer 52 has a counter function, and starts counting when the power is turned on.
The storage unit 37 stores various setting values. In the storage unit 37, a history of power on / off is written as power source information by the control unit 31. The storage unit 37 stores these various setting values, power supply information, and the like even when the power is turned off. The storage unit 37 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM or a flash memory.

  The communication interface 38 is an input / output interface for communicating with the outside. As shown in FIG. 6, the communication interface 38 is connected to a home LAN 60 to which the refrigerator 1 is connected. The control unit 31 performs communication via the communication interface 38.

  Here, the network to which the refrigerator 1 is connected will be described. The refrigerator 1 is connected to the LAN 60 as shown in FIG. In addition to the refrigerator 1, the personal computer 61 and gateway device 62 of the owner of the refrigerator 1 are connected to the LAN 60. The personal computer 61 has a function of receiving electronic mail. The gateway device 62 is provided between the LAN 60 and the external communication line 63, and performs electrical and physical signal conversion between the LAN 60 and the external communication line 63. The external communication line 63 uses the so-called Internet. The home LAN 60 can use any connection method such as wired or wireless.

  A server 64 is connected to the external communication line 63. In addition, a mobile phone 65 of the owner of the refrigerator 1 is connected to the communication line 63. The server 64 has a function of receiving information from the refrigerator 1 and a function of transmitting information to the refrigerator 1, the personal computer 61, the mobile phone 65, and the like. The server 64 stores information such as an e-mail address of the owner of the refrigerator 1. For this reason, the server 64 can transmit information by e-mail to the personal computer 61 or the mobile phone 65 of the owner of the refrigerator 1. The server 64 and the communication line 63 constitute discount rate information transmitting means in the scope of claims.

Next, operation | movement of the refrigerator 1 by said structure is demonstrated based on FIG.
When the power is turned on, the controller 31 drives the compressor 24 and starts cooling the storage chambers 2 to 6. And the control part 31 reads power supply information from the memory | storage part 37 (S101). The storage unit 37 stores power source information such as a power on / off history. This power supply information includes a power-on flag indicating whether or not power has been previously turned on. The power-on flag is a flag written in the storage unit 37 when the power is turned on for the first time. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the power is turned on for the first time by checking the power-on flag. Here, the time when the power is turned on for the first time may be, for example, the time when the power of the refrigerator 1 is turned on at the time of inspection before shipment. Alternatively, when the refrigerator 1 is installed in a general household, a service man may initialize the storage unit 37 and start using the refrigerator 1 for the first time when the power is turned on.

  When reading the power supply information, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the power supply is turned on for the first time (S102). If the power-on flag is not written in the power information read in step S101, the control unit 31 determines that the power is turned on for the first time, and writes the power-on flag in the storage unit 37 (S103). On the other hand, when the power-on flag is written in the power information, the control unit 31 determines that the power has not been turned on for the first time, and proceeds to step S104.

  Next, the control part 31 calculates elapsed time (S104). Here, the elapsed time is the time elapsed since the power was turned on, that is, the time when the refrigerator 1 was operated. The control unit 31 reads the count value from when the power source counted by the timer 52 is turned on, and calculates the elapsed time. Then, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the update time has elapsed (S105). Here, the update time is an interval at which the power supply information in the storage unit 37 is updated. The update time is set in advance to 24 hours, for example, and stored in the ROM of the control unit 31 or the like. The control unit 31 determines whether or not the elapsed time after the power source calculated in step S104 is turned on exceeds the update time.

  When determining that the elapsed time has passed the update time in step S105, the control unit 31 writes the elapsed time in the storage unit 37 (S106). At this time, the controller 31 writes the elapsed time previously stored in the storage unit 37 by adding the elapsed time calculated in step S104. That is, the accumulated elapsed time since the power is turned on for the first time is written in the storage unit 37. The elapsed time stored in the storage unit 37 is initialized to 0 when the power is turned on for the first time, that is, at the time of inspection before shipment. On the other hand, when the control unit 31 determines in step S105 that the elapsed time from the power-on has not passed the update time, the control unit 31 returns to step S104.

  Next, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the update period has been exceeded (S107). Here, the update period is an interval at which the control unit 31 transmits data to the external server 64. The control unit 31 determines whether or not the accumulated elapsed time written in the storage unit 37 in step S106 has exceeded the update period. In this embodiment, the update period is set to one month. In this case, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the cumulative elapsed time stored in the storage unit 37 has exceeded one month = 24 (hours) × 30 (days) = 720 (hours).

  When determining that the elapsed time exceeds the update period in step S107, the control unit 31 transmits the elapsed time to the server 64 (S108). The control unit 31 transmits the elapsed time to the external server 64 via the communication interface 38 and further via the home LAN 60 and the communication line 63. In addition, when the elapsed time is transmitted in step S108, the control unit 31 sets the next transmission time one month later. That is, when the update period is set to one month, the control unit 31 transmits the elapsed time stored in the storage unit 37 to the external server 64 every month. On the other hand, when determining that the update period has not been reached in step S107, the control unit 31 returns to step S104.

Here, the operation of the external server 64 that receives the elapsed time will be described.
When receiving the elapsed time from the refrigerator 1 (S121), the external server 64 calculates a discount rate based on the received elapsed time (S122). That is, in this embodiment, the discount rate of the refrigerator 1 is calculated based on the accumulated elapsed time since the power is turned on for the first time, that is, the total operation time during which the refrigerator 1 is operated. When the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined discount period, the server 64 reduces the calculated discount rate as the elapsed time becomes longer, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a discount period with a constant discount rate is set to 12 years. The discount rate is fixed at 20% until the lapse of 12 years, decreases by 5% every year from the 12th year, and becomes 0% in the 15th year.

  After calculating the discount rate in step S122, the server 64 transmits discount rate information including the discount rate (S123). At this time, the server 64 transmits, as the discount rate information, together with the discount rate, the relationship between the elapsed time and the discount rate, that is, the decrease in the discount rate according to the length of the elapsed time. Next, the server 64 transmits an e-mail to the owner of the refrigerator 1 (S124). The server 64 transmits an e-mail to the personal computer 61, the mobile phone 65, etc. based on pre-registered information.

  Then, the control unit 31 receives the discount information transmitted from the server 64 (S109). At this time, in addition to the discount rate calculated based on the elapsed time, the control unit 31 receives the transition of the discount rate, that is, the relationship between the elapsed time and the discount rate. The control unit 31 extracts a discount rate from the discount rate information received in step S109 and outputs the discount rate to the operation unit 32.

  The operation unit 32 to which the elapsed time and discount rate information is input from the control unit 31 displays the elapsed time and the discount rate on the liquid crystal display 13 (S110). At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 32 displays the transition of the future discount rate in addition to the elapsed time and the discount rate. In FIG. 1, the relationship between the elapsed time and the discount rate shown in FIG. 8 described above is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13. The elapsed time is converted to years and displayed as “use period”. Then, when the display is completed, the control unit 31 returns to step S104.

In the first embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
The storage unit 37 stores the accumulated elapsed time since the power is turned on for the first time. This elapsed time is transmitted to the external server 64 via the communication interface 38. The external server 64 calculates a discount rate based on the elapsed time and transmits it as discount rate information. The elapsed time and the discount rate are displayed on the liquid crystal display 13. Thereby, it is recognized that there is a discount at the elapsed time and replacement, and replacement is considered. Therefore, replacement of the product can be promoted when the product is nearing its useful life.

  In the first embodiment, the discount rate calculated by the external server 64 decreases as the elapsed time becomes longer after the discount period. In addition to the discount rate, the liquid crystal display 13 displays that the discount rate decreases after the discount period. As a result, replacement by purchase is considered before a period with a higher discount rate, that is, before the end of the useful life. Therefore, replacement by purchase can be further promoted.

  In the first embodiment, the external server 64 transmits the discount rate information to the user's e-mail address when transmitting the discount rate information. Thereby, the user who received the discount rate information can receive a discount at the time of purchase by printing the discount rate information or bringing the mobile phone 65.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the elapsed time includes the time when the power is off.

  The configuration of the refrigerator of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment. When the power is turned on, the control unit 31 reads power supply information from the storage unit 37 (S201). Then, the control unit 31 transmits a time information request to the external server 64 (S202). The control unit 31 transmits a time information request in order to acquire the current time and date. Upon receiving the time information request, the server 64 transmits time information (S221).

  When receiving time information from the server 64 (S203), the controller 31 determines whether or not the power is turned on for the first time (S204). When determining that the power is turned on for the first time, the control unit 31 writes the time information received in step S203 into the storage unit 37 as an initial time (S205). As a result, the date and time when the power is turned on for the first time, that is, the date and time when the use is started is written in the storage unit 37. On the other hand, when determining that the power is not turned on for the first time, the control unit 31 writes the received time information in the storage unit 37 as the current time (S206).

  Then, the control unit 31 calculates the elapsed time from the count value of the timer 52 (S207), and determines whether or not the elapsed time exceeds the update time (S208). When determining that the update time has elapsed, the control unit 31 writes the elapsed time in the storage unit 37 (S209). At this time, the control unit 31 writes the time elapsed since the power was turned on in the storage unit 37. That is, in the control unit 31 and step S209, the elapsed time after the power is turned on and the cumulative elapsed time when the refrigerator 1 is turned on are written separately. On the other hand, when determining that the update time has not elapsed in step S208, the control unit 31 returns to step S207.

  Next, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the elapsed time has exceeded the update period (S210), and when determining that the elapsed time has exceeded the update period, that is, one month, transmits the elapsed time to the external server 64. (S211). At this time, the control unit 31 calculates, as the usage time, the time that has elapsed since the start of use, based on the initial time stored in the storage unit 37 and the current time written in the storage unit 37 in step S206. Then, the control unit 31 transmits to the server 64 the sum of the elapsed time and the usage time since the power source calculated in step S207 is turned on as the elapsed time. On the other hand, when determining that the update period has not been reached in step S210, the control unit 31 returns to step S207.

  When receiving the elapsed time (S223), the server 64 calculates a discount rate based on the elapsed time (S224). The elapsed time received by the server 64 in step S223 includes the time that has elapsed since the power was turned on and the usage time that has elapsed since the start of use. That is, in the second embodiment, the discount rate is calculated based on the total time that has elapsed since the start of use, that is, the use period. After calculating the discount rate, the server 64 transmits discount rate information including the discount rate (S225). Then, the server 64 transmits the discount rate information to the user's personal computer 61 or mobile phone 65 (S226).

  When receiving discount information from the server 64 (S213), the control unit 31 extracts a discount rate from the discount rate information and outputs the discount rate to the operation unit 32. Then, the operation unit 32 displays the elapsed time, the discount rate, and the future transition of the discount rate on the liquid crystal display 13 (S214). Thereafter, the control unit 31 returns to step S207.

  Thus, in 2nd Embodiment, the control part 31 acquires the discount rate information calculated by the external server 64 based on the elapsed time memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 37, This elapsed time and discount rate information Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, the effect of promoting replacement by purchase can be obtained as in the first embodiment.

  Particularly in the second embodiment, the storage unit 37 stores the date and time when the power is turned on for the first time and the current time. As a result, even when there is a period during which the power supply is turned off, or even when a power failure occurs, the elapsed time, that is, the usage period after the start of use can be calculated.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be expanded or changed as follows.

The update time and update period may be arbitrarily set regardless of the values of the above-described embodiment.
In the above embodiment, the discount period is set to 12 years in consideration of the average service life of the refrigerator. However, the discount period is not limited to this and may be set arbitrarily. Further, the discount rate and the rate at which the discount rate decreases may be arbitrarily set.

Schematic which shows the screen of the liquid crystal display of the refrigerator by 1st Embodiment of this invention. Vertical side view of the left side of the refrigerator Vertical side view of the right side of the refrigerator Front view of refrigerator Block diagram showing electrical connection of refrigerator Schematic showing the network configuration to which the refrigerator is connected Schematic diagram showing the flow of discount rate information acquisition Diagram showing the relationship between elapsed time and discount rate Schematic showing the flow of acquisition of discount rate information according to the second embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

In the drawing,
1 is a refrigerator, 2 is a refrigerator room (storage room), 3 is an ice making room (storage room), 4 is a switching room (storage room), 5 is a vegetable room (storage room), 6 is a freezing room (storage room), 13 Is a liquid crystal display (display unit), 17 is a refrigerating evaporator (cooling means), 18 is a refrigerating circulation fan device (cooling means), 20 is a refrigerating evaporator (cooling means), and 21 is a refrigerating circulation fan device. (Cooling means), 24 is a compressor (cooling means), 31 is a control section (communication means, discount rate information acquisition means), 37 is a storage section (storage means), 38 is a communication interface (communication means), and 63 is a communication line. (Discount rate information transmitting means), 64 indicates a server (discount rate information transmitting means).

Claims (5)

Cooling means for cooling a storage room for storing food;
Storage means for storing an elapsed time since the power of the cooling means is turned on;
Communication means for transmitting the elapsed period stored in the storage means to an external server, and receiving discount rate information including a discount rate at the time of replacement calculated based on the elapsed period from the server;
A display unit for displaying the elapsed period stored in the storage unit and the discount rate information received by the communication unit;
A refrigerator comprising:   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores an elapsed time including a time during which the power of the cooling unit is turned off.   When the elapsed period stored in the storage unit exceeds a preset discount period, it includes a discount rate information acquisition unit that acquires discount rate information with a reduced discount rate via the communication unit. The refrigerator according to claim 1.   4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the discount rate calculated by the server based on the elapsed period decreases as the elapsed period becomes longer. It is comprised by the refrigerator as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4, and the said server,
The server transmits discount rate information to the refrigerator owner when the elapsed time stored in the storage means and the discount rate information received from the server are displayed on the display unit. A replacement promotion system comprising a transmission means.

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