JP2015055361A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator in which visibility of a display unit is improved while suppressing thickness of a substrate configuration.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes: a storage room of a refrigerator body; a storage room door for opening/closing a front opening of the storage room; a translucent door front surface plate of a front surface of the storage room door; a substrate 8 at a back surface of the door front surface plate; a display member 7 between the substrate 8 and the door front surface plate; irradiation means for radiating the display member 7 toward the door front surface plate; a detection unit 70 for detecting the change in electrostatic capacitance at the back of the display member 7; a light guide plate 75 between the display member 7 and the detection member 70; and a control unit for controlling the detection unit 70 and the irradiation means. The irradiation means and the detection unit 70 are configured on the substrate 8, and the detection unit 70 is made to be a mutual capacitance system.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  As background art of this technical field, there is JP-A-2007-298242 (Patent Document 1). In this publication, “a heat-insulating door 7 that closes the front opening of the main body so as to be freely opened and closed, a film-type capacitive proximity switch 17 as a function control switch installed on the outer surface of the heat-insulating door, and each function. A display device 16 such as a liquid crystal panel for display and a display panel 12 covering the surface of the display device are provided. The capacitance proximity switch is disposed between the display device and the display panel so as to contact a finger or the like. Or it was made to operate by approaching. "

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-230225 (Patent Document 2) states that “a user's finger is glass in an area including the characters“ frozen ”displayed on the glass 15 in front of the conductive material 49 in the light guide 40. 15, the detection body 30 detects a change in electrolytic capacity via the conductive material 49, the switch connected to the detection body 30 is closed, and the set temperature of the freezer compartment 7 is changed every time the user performs a pressing operation. The changed set temperature is displayed on the display unit 31. When the switch is closed, the LED 36 is turned on, and the illumination light is guided along the rear surface 41A of the peripheral side wall 41, transmitted through the peripheral side wall 41 forward from the rear surface 41A, and guided to the front surface 41B serving as a display surface. The front surface 41B is brightened. At this time, the part of the peripheral side surface close to the LED 36 on the rear surface 41A is the farthest to the front surface 41B, and gradually approaches the front surface 41B as the distance from the LED 36 increases, so that the amount of light reaches the front surface 41B uniformly. Is described.

JP 2007-298242 A JP 2010-230225 A

  However, in patent document 1, it is the structure which laminated | stacked the control board, the display apparatus, and the film-type capacitive proximity switch, and requires the space of the thickness direction. As a result, the insulation thickness of the door is reduced. Further, the film-type capacitive proximity switch is expensive.

  Next, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of independent light guides are arranged. For this reason, the projection size of the light guide when it is installed on the substrate varies depending on the individual differences in the dimensions of the light guide and the mounting state, and the distance from the glass surface varies. Then, when the glass surface and the light guide are separated from each other, there is a risk that the irradiation light of the LED diffuses on the glass surface and irradiates other adjacent operation units.

  Then, this invention provides the refrigerator which improved the visibility of the display part, suppressing the thickness of a board | substrate structure.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.
The present application includes a plurality of means for solving the above-described problems. For example, a storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, a storage chamber door that opens and closes the front opening of the storage chamber, and a front surface of the storage chamber door. A translucent door front plate, a substrate on the back of the door front plate, a display member between the substrate and the door front plate, illumination means for irradiating the display member toward the door front plate, and the display A detection unit that detects a change in capacitance behind the member, a light guide plate between the display member and the detection unit, and a control unit that controls the detection unit and the illumination unit. Means and the detection unit are configured on the substrate, and the detection unit is a mutual capacitance system.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the refrigerator which improved the visibility of the display part can be provided, suppressing the thickness of a board | substrate structure.

It is the refrigerator of one Example of this invention, Comprising: (a) Front view and (b) Cross-sectional side view. It is a partial exploded perspective view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a figure of the display part shown to the P section of FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of the door shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the display part shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the substrate portion shown in FIG. 5, (a) a diagram showing the surface, (b) a diagram showing the back surface, and (c) an enlarged view of the detection unit. It is a control block diagram of the refrigerator of one Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a front view of FIG. 1 (a) and a sectional side view of FIG. 1 (b). The refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment is a relatively large-capacity refrigerator, and the refrigerator compartment 22 is covered with two left and right doors (a left refrigerator compartment door 22a and a right refrigerator compartment door 22b). Each door (the left refrigerator compartment door 22a, the right refrigerator compartment door 22b) is a French type door which can rotate centering on the edge part in the width direction.

  The refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of storage rooms. A refrigerator compartment 22 is formed at the top, an ice making chamber 23 is formed on the lower left side of the refrigerator compartment, and an upper freezer compartment 24 is formed on the right side. . A lower freezing room 25 is formed below the ice making room 23 and the upper freezing room 24, and a vegetable room 26 is formed below the lower freezing room 25 and at the bottom of the refrigerator 100.

  The front of each storage room is airtightly covered with a door and a packing 11 attached to the door. As described above, the refrigerator compartment 22 located at the top is covered with the left refrigerator compartment door 22a and the right refrigerator compartment door 22b, and both the doors (the left refrigerator compartment door 22a and the right refrigerator compartment door 22b) are provided. A hinge 3 (left hinge 3a, right hinge 3b) provided at the upper part of the refrigerator 100 main body is pivotally supported. That is, the left refrigerator compartment door 22a and the right refrigerator compartment door 22b constitute a French door configured in a left-right open manner. The open / close state of the left refrigerator door 22a and the right refrigerator door 22b is in the vicinity of the hinge 3 and is located near the upper end of the left refrigerator door 22a and / or the right refrigerator door 22b. It is detected by 22c.

  The front of the ice making chamber 23 and the upper freezing chamber 24 arranged on the left and right are respectively covered with an ice making chamber door 23a and an upper freezing chamber door 24a which are drawer type doors. The open / close states of the ice making room door 23a and the upper freezing room door 24a are determined by the ice making room door opening / closing detection means 23b and the upper freezing room door opening / closing detection means 24b arranged close to each other in the width direction center of the refrigerator 100 main body. Is detected.

  The lower freezer compartment 25 is also a drawer-type door, covers the front of the lower freezer compartment 25, and its open / closed state is detected by the lower freezer compartment door open / close detecting means 25b. The vegetable room 26 arranged at the bottom is also a drawer-type door, covers the front of the vegetable room door 26a, and the open / close state of the vegetable room door 26a is detected by the vegetable room open / close detection means 26b. The lower freezer compartment door open / close detection means 25b and the vegetable compartment door open / close detection means 26b are arranged at the upper portion in the center in the width direction. Arrangement of these detection means (refrigeration room door open / close detection means 22c, ice making room door open / close detection means 23b, upper freezer compartment door open / close detection means 24b, lower freezer compartment door open / close detection means 25b, vegetable room door open / close detection means 26b) However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any known position or configuration of detection means can be adopted as long as the open / closed state of each door can be detected.

  Here, the display part 50 mentioned later for details is provided in the up-down direction intermediate part of the refrigerator compartment door 22a which covers the refrigerator compartment 22. As shown in FIG. The reason why the display unit 50 is provided on the left refrigerator compartment door 22a is to share the width dimension of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a. That is, when manufacturing multiple models with different internal volumes of the refrigerator 100 main body, it is easy to manufacture refrigerators with different internal volumes and external dimensions by changing the length in the width direction of the right refrigerator compartment door 22b. is there. In addition, by providing the display unit 50 in the left refrigerator compartment door 22a whose length in the left-right direction is shorter than the right refrigerator compartment door 22b, the reduction of the insulation area as a whole of the refrigerator compartment door is suppressed, and the insulation performance is lowered. This is to suppress.

  In FIG.1 (b), the refrigerator 100 main body has formed the storage room into the heat insulation division by the heat insulation box 19 formed by filling the heat insulating material between the outer box 21 and the inner box 20. FIG. The outer box 21 has an upper wall 21a on the upper side and a back wall 21b on the back side. The storage chamber is partitioned in the vertical direction by a plurality of partition members 12 to 14 in the vertical direction, in this embodiment, having different height positions, and in the order from the top, the refrigerator room 22, the ice making chamber 23, the upper freezer room 24, and the lower freezer room 25. A vegetable compartment 26 is formed. In order to supply cold air to each of these storage chambers, a cold air passage 18 is formed in the inner side of the heat insulating box 19 inside the cabinet. In this cold air passage 18, cold air exchanged with the cooler 28 is blown by the blower 27, and a storage chamber for supplying cold air and a damper (not shown) for adjusting the supply amount of the cold air are provided in the cold air passage 18. It is provided in the middle. A compressor 30 and a condenser 31 that constitute a refrigeration cycle are disposed in a lower portion on the back side of the refrigerator 100 main body.

  The interior light 45 is attached to the upper surface inside the refrigerator 100 main body, and the refrigerator compartment door detection means 22c detects that the refrigerator compartment doors (the left refrigerator compartment door 22a and the right refrigerator compartment door 22b) are opened. Then it lights up. A recess 40 is formed above the heat insulating box 19 and on the upper rear side of the main body of the refrigerator 100, and the main control unit 41 is disposed in the recess 40. The outside of the main control unit 41 is covered with a cover 42. The main control unit 41 controls the compressor 30 and the like that form the refrigeration cycle.

  In FIG. 2, the upper part of the refrigerator 100 main body is shown with an exploded perspective view. Hinges 3 (left hinge 3a and right hinge 3b) are provided at both the left and right ends of the front side of the refrigerator 100 main body, and the cylindrical part 15a faces downward on the lower surface side of the tip of the hinge 3. Provided. Although only the left refrigerator compartment door 22a is shown in FIG. 2, the right refrigerator compartment door 22b is also locked to the right hinge 3b. Sealing means 16 incorporating a heater (not shown) is attached to the right end side of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a. Electric power is supplied to the heater via a lead wire 41a shown below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a hole 15b is formed in the upper left end portion of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a, and the cylindrical portion 15a of the left hinge 3a is fitted into this hole 15b, so that the left refrigerator compartment door 22a is fitted. Can be rotated. Further, the main control unit 41 and the display unit 50 disposed on the left refrigerator door 22a are electrically connected to the hole 15b, and the display unit 50 has a sub-control unit 68 (see FIG. 6A). A plurality of lead wires 41a for preferential communication between them are inserted.

  Next, the display unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram of the display unit shown in part P of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the display of the first display section 54 (indicated by “menu” as an example) surrounded by a broken line is displayed directly on the back surface or the front surface of the glass plate 6a. Further, in accordance with the input by the operation of the first display unit 54 described above, the display content of the second display unit 52 enclosed in a rectangular shape with virtual lines (for example, “power saving, freezing, refrigeration, ice making, cooling mode, vacuum “Chilled, operation unit lock (pressed for 3 seconds), electric drawer (pressed for 3 seconds), and cleansing (pressed for 5 seconds)” is displayed on the glass plate 6a. The second display unit 52 is illuminated from behind by a plurality of LEDs 79 (see FIG. 6B) described later. Normally, when no operation is continued for a certain time, the light is turned off in consideration of power saving. In FIG. 3, a portion surrounded by a virtual line in a rectangular shape above the first display unit 54 and the second display unit 52 is provided with various functions in accordance with the input by the operation of the second display unit 52 described above. It is the 3rd display part 53 which shows the setting state. The third display unit 53 (for example, “going out, saving electricity”, “strong, medium, weak”, “rapid ice making, ice making, ice making stop”, “rapid refrigeration, quick freezing, vegetable room strong”, “ice The characters “warm, chilled” and the display content of the second display unit 52 are displayed on the display member 7 to be described later by printing or the like. The characters and symbols printed on the display member 7 are turned on by turning on LEDs 79 and 82 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) on the substrate 8 to be described later, so that the front side of the left refrigerator door 22a is turned on. Display and / or operation.

  The said display member 7 is attached to the back surface of the glass plate 6a which is the door front plate 6 so that the adhesion or the gap is very small. The glass plate 6a which is the door front plate 6 is colored by printing the base color on the back. When the operation unit 52 is not operated for a certain time, the display content of the second display unit 52 and the display content of the third display unit 53 are turned off, and only the first display unit 54 is displayed. That is, in order to prevent the display member 7 from being hidden and displayed behind the colored layer of the glass plate 6a when not operated, the flat surface of the glass plate 6a is utilized to improve the design, and a flat glass plate is used for the outside. It has a door with an excellent appearance with a surface.

  Note that the first display unit 54 serves as an activation operation unit for turning on the second display unit 52 and the third display unit 53, so that the front surface of the door front plate 6 can be recognized even in the off state. Alternatively, it may be printed on the rear surface so as to be visible at all times. In particular, in the case of front printing, the user can specify the position of the first display unit 54 by tactile sensation based on the difference in material between the printing unit and the glass surface, and the position can be easily grasped even in a dark environment.

  Further, the second display unit 54 serves as a function switching operation unit for switching various functions of the refrigerator 100. Further, the third display unit 53 switches the display so that it is in accordance with the current setting state of the various functions of the refrigerator 100 based on the input from the second display unit 54 that is a function switching operation means. .

  Further, the second display unit 52 and the third display unit 53 are provided side by side as shown in FIG. In the third display unit 53, as a function of the refrigerator 100 main body, in addition to the set temperature (for example, “strong, medium, weak”) of each storage room, When the various functions are in the on state, the display is turned on.

  Further, by operating the first display unit 54, the display contents of the second display unit 52 and the third display unit 53 are illuminated by LEDs 79, 82 and the like on the substrate 8 described later, and the glass plate 6a. By projecting to the front, the display of the second display unit 52 and the third display unit 53 (contents described in the display member 7) is lifted up.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the display unit 50 is arranged on the left refrigerator compartment door 22a. FIG. 5 shows the display unit 50 in an exploded perspective view. The display unit 50 includes a film (display member) 7 on which the contents of the second display unit 52 and the third display unit 53 are described, a substrate 8 provided with a plurality of touch electrodes 70 for operation switches, and a substrate 8, a third display light guide plate 76 disposed further rearward, a second display light guide plate 75 provided between the film 7 and the touch electrode 70 of the substrate 8, and a second display guide. A light shielding plate 78 is provided above the light plate 75 for shielding light from each portion of the third display portion light guide plate 76 corresponding to the plurality of third display portions 53. These are laminated in this order from the film 7, the vertically arranged light shielding plate 78, the second display light guide plate 75, the substrate 8, and the third display light guide plate 76. This laminated body is held by a case 9 as holding means to constitute a substrate assembly.

  The left refrigerator compartment door 22a is filled with a foam heat insulating material 22d in a space between the door front plate 6 (glass plate 6a) and the inner wall member 22f. In addition, a substrate placement member 22e is provided behind the door front plate 6 in order to isolate the substrate 8 and the like from the foam heat insulating material 22d. The board placement member 22e has a concave shape that forms a predetermined space for placing the board 8 and the like between the door front plate 6 and the foam heat insulating material 22, and the end of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a (on the anti-hinge side) (The right end portion or the left end portion on the hinge side) is formed with an opening connected to the substrate placement member 22e. Then, with the film 7, the second display light guide plate 75, the light shielding plate 78, the substrate 8, and the third display light guide plate 76 held by the case 9, the end of the left refrigerator compartment door 22 a (anti-hinge) From the opening formed on the right side end on the side or the left side end on the hinge side), the board is positioned and arranged at a predetermined position of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a by sliding in the board placement member 22e leftward or rightward. .

  The front surface of the film (display member) 7 and the surface of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a is covered with a glass plate 6a (door front plate 6). Therefore, the user of the refrigerator 100 performs an input operation by touching the second display unit 42 to the main body of the refrigerator 100 through the glass plate 6a.

  Here, the multifunction of the refrigerator 100 allows the user of the refrigerator 100 to perform various function settings. The function of the refrigerator 100 is, for example, when the degree of cooling is set to three levels (strong, medium, weak) according to the number of stored items in each storage room and the frequency of use, or when ice is suddenly needed and the ice is rapidly When storing meat under reduced pressure in an ice temperature range of about -1 ° C, storing vegetables under reduced pressure in a chilled temperature range of about + 1 ° C, and turning on the electrical opening function of the drawer door For example, when switching to / off, or when setting to a predetermined power saving mode or going-out mode.

  Therefore, operation from the front of the door of the refrigerator 100 is enabled, and the setting state (corresponding to the third display unit 53) and the setting switching operation unit (corresponding to the second display unit 52) of the various functions are displayed on the front of the door. By displaying on the face plate 6 when necessary, usability is improved. However, as a result of various operations, the number of operation units (input sensors) increases. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, seven touch electrodes 70 for input operation are provided side by side in the left-right direction. The plurality of switch electrodes 70 are respectively positioned on the back surface of the second display unit 52, and the display content of the second display unit 52 is described on the film 7. The second display section 52 described in the film 7 has a plurality of sections so as to correspond to the plurality of switch electrodes 70, and covers the front surface of the second display section 52 partitioned into the plurality. A second display light guide plate 75 is disposed. An LED (second display unit) is provided on the substrate 8 so that the second display unit 52 described on the film 7 is projected and displayed on the front surface of the door front plate 6 through the second display unit light guide plate 75. (Illuminating means) 79 is arranged.

  Although the second display unit 52 is divided into a plurality of sections, all the display sections are in a display state when lit. Therefore, the entire second display unit 52 is configured to be irradiated and displayed by a plurality of LEDs 79 via a single second display unit light guide plate 75.

  The display content of the third display unit 53 is described on the film 7. The display content of the third display unit 53 related to the display content of the second display unit 52 is arranged on the film 7 above the display content of the second display unit 52.

  The third display unit 53 is irradiated and displayed toward the front surface of the door front plate 6 via a plurality of light guides 76 b provided on the third display unit light guide plate 76. Moreover, the light guide part 76b which irradiates the 3rd display part 53 is light direction of LED (3rd display part illumination means) 82 (refer FIG.6 (b)) arrange | positioned at the case 9 side of the board | substrate 8. FIG. The display content described on the film 7 is irradiated to the front of the door front plate 6 by changing from about 180 degrees to the front. The light guides 76 b have a plurality of locations, and are arranged in the light guide unit arrangement unit 63 formed on the substrate 8. In addition, the light guide part 76b in the state of being arranged in the light guide part arranging part 63 is in a state of protruding forward from the front surface of the touch electrode 70 of the substrate 8. In addition, the front end position of the light guide portion 76b is in a range that is equal to or less than or equal to the thickness of the second display portion light guide plate 75. However, since the light guide portion 76b protrudes forward from the front surface of the touch electrode 70 of the substrate 8, light leakage between a plurality of displays of the third display portion 53 and LEDs (second display portion illumination means). Light leakage from 79 is considered. Therefore, the light guide part 76b that guides the light to the third display part 53 has a portion that protrudes forward from the front surface of the substrate 8 is disposed on a light shielding part 78a formed on the light shielding plate 78, so that specific illumination means is provided. The structure is shielded from light.

  The case (holding means) 9 is formed with a plurality of concave and convex portions corresponding to the shape of the electronic component such as the LED (third display unit illumination means) 82 and the light guide portion 76b. Any electronic component is arranged.

  Next, details of the substrate 8 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 is a front view of the substrate 8 (FIG. 6A), a rear view (FIG. 6B), and an enlarged view of a switch electrode of the touch sensor (B portion of FIG. 6A) (FIG. 6C). )). The upper portion of the substrate 8 is provided with a plurality of light guide portion arrangement portions 63 formed by horizontally long rectangular holes for fitting the light guide portion 76 b, thereby forming a light guide portion arrangement region 56. Below the substrate 8, touch electrodes 70 (touch sensors 70a to 70g) of a plurality of touch sensors constituting a so-called touch panel are arranged in a row in the left-right direction, and the capacitance of each touch electrode 70 is changed. To detect. A plurality of LEDs 79 are arranged around each of the switch electrodes 70 (touch sensors 70b to 70g) on the same surface of the touch electrode 70.

  The touch electrodes (touch sensors 70a to 70g) have an appearance that combines sawtooth shapes whose details will be described later. A touch sensor IC 71 (arranged on the back surface of the substrate 8 as shown in FIG. 6B) is arranged on the right side of the rightmost switch electrode 70g in FIG. 6A, and wiring patterns 67 (67a to 67f) are arranged. Thus, the touch sensors 70a to 70g are electrically connected to the touch sensor IC 71.

  The wiring patterns 67a to 67f include transmission side wiring patterns 67a and 67b and reception side wiring patterns 67c to 67f. Receiving-side wiring patterns 67c to 67f are arranged above the touch electrode 70 on the surface of the substrate 8, and transmitting-side wiring patterns 67a and 67b are arranged below the surface of the substrate 8 relative to the switch electrode 70. The wiring pattern 67 is wired on the back surface of the substrate 8, that is, on the surface opposite to the front surface of the substrate 8 on which the touch electrode 70 is provided, in order to avoid interference due to operation and noise interference.

  The substrate 8 has a sub-control unit 68 disposed at the right end. In the sub-control unit 68, a microcomputer 72 is mainly disposed on the back surface of the substrate 8 for controlling the light emission and communication of each LED 82. The touch sensor IC 71 detects a change in capacitance of the touch electrode 70, performs output processing as a signal, and transmits the signal to the microcomputer 72. The microcomputer 72 transmits operation information from the touch sensor IC 71 to the main control unit 41 (see FIG. 1), and controls to switch the display of the third display unit 53. In addition, a connector 73 is disposed as a communication unit of the sub-control unit 68 and functions as a terminal when performing wired communication with the main control unit 41.

  The capacitance detection method of the touch sensor IC 71 adopts a mutual capacitance method instead of the self-capacitance method that is generally widely used in this technical field. In FIG. 6C, the mutual capacitance method includes a transmission side electrode 80 for applying a pulse voltage and a reception side electrode 81 for detecting capacitance. The transmission side electrode 80 and the reception side electrode 81 are configured such that the transmission side electrode 80 is disposed on both sides of the reception side electrode 81 with the reception side electrode 81 as a boundary. The external shape is a shape in which the transmission side electrode 80 and the reception side electrode 81 have a sawtooth-shaped interval within a predetermined range, and are symmetrical with respect to the vicinity of the center of the reception side electrode 81.

  In the structure as in this embodiment, that is, the LED 79, the light guide plate 75 (about 1.0 to 2.5 mm thick), and the film 7 are arranged on the glass plate 6a side of the substrate 8, and the self-capacitance method is used. When the touch electrode is employed, the thickness of the glass plate 6a that can be detected by the touch electrode is generally about 4 mm. When a resin material (such as an acrylic plate) is used instead of the glass plate 6a, the plate thickness is about 2 mm. This is because the relative permittivity of glass is about 6.0 to 7.0, and the relative permittivity of acrylic is 2.7 to 4.5, and glass has a touch electrode sensitivity about twice that of acrylic. Because it can.

In the configuration of the present embodiment, when the glass thickness that can be detected by the touch electrode is converted as a plate thickness of 3 mm of the glass plate 6a and a plate thickness of 1.0 mm of the light guide plate 75,

Glass 3 mm + acrylic resin 2 mm (glass equivalent dielectric constant) = 5 mm

It becomes. As described above, since the thickness of the glass plate 6a that can be detected by the self-capacitance type touch electrode is generally about 4 mm, when the glass thickness is 5 mm, the performance of the touch sensor IC 71 is satisfied. Can not do it.

  Here, since the self-capacitance method is a method of detecting an increase in capacitance with respect to the touch electrode, if the stray capacitance existing in the touch electrode when there is no operation is large, the capacitance when the user operates the touch electrode It becomes difficult to detect a change (increase). On the other hand, the mutual capacitance method is a method for detecting a decrease in the capacitance with respect to the touch electrode, and therefore, if the capacitance existing in the touch electrode when there is no operation can be sufficiently secured, the user can remove the touch electrode. It is possible to detect a decrease in capacitance when operated.

  From the above, by adopting the mutual capacitance type touch electrode 70 (touch sensors 70a to 70g) as the detection unit, the touch electrode 70 is disposed on the substrate 8, and the touch electrode 70 and the glass plate 6a are arranged. Even if it is the structure which has arrange | positioned the 2nd display part light-guide plate 75 of resin, the detection of the touch electrode 70 is possible.

  Further, by configuring the detection unit (touch electrode 70) and the illumination unit (LEDs 79 and 82) on the same substrate 8, the thickness of the substrate 8 including the mounting components (illumination unit and detection unit) constituting the touch panel. Can be designed thin. Moreover, since the space dimension (dimension between the door front plate 6 and the foam heat insulating material 22d) required for disposing the mounted substrate 8 can be suppressed thin, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the thickness of the foam heat insulating material 22d. Thus, deterioration of the heat insulation performance can be suppressed. Further, in the state of the board assembly held by the holding means 9 in a state where the detection unit (touch electrode 70) and the illumination means (LEDs 79 and 82) are mounted on the board 8, it is incorporated into a predetermined position of the left refrigerator compartment door 22a. Therefore, it becomes easy to arrange the board assembly at a predetermined position, and the assemblability is improved.

  In addition, since the touch electrode 70 and the sub-control unit 68 can be provided on the same substrate 8, the assembly of the substrate is improved, and a touch panel component can be obtained at a low cost.

  The display unit 50 in this embodiment is provided with a second display unit light guide plate 75 between the touch electrode 70 and the glass plate 6a (film 7) because of the specification for illuminating the touch electrode 70. In order to obtain the operability of the touch switch and the sensitivity of the touch electrode, it is desirable to reduce the thickness of the second light guide plate 75 as much as possible. The second display light guide plate 75 has a structure in which a plurality of LEDs (second display light illuminating means) 79 are diffused by a single light guide member. However, if the thickness of the second light guide plate 75 is reduced and the distance between the glass plate 6a and the plurality of LEDs 79 on the substrate 8 is reduced, the light guide property of the light guide plate becomes insufficient, and the display 50 is spotted. It becomes easy to do. Therefore, in this embodiment, the light intensity is adjusted by adjusting the current limiting resistance (not shown) of each LED 79, and control is performed so as to suppress irradiation spots. In the present embodiment, the unevenness between the plurality of LEDs is suppressed by adjusting the current limiting resistance, but in addition, the drive control is duty control (for example, 1 ms drive, 1 ms stop control). Thus, it is also possible to suppress irradiation spots between the plurality of LEDs.

  Next, operation | movement of the control part of the refrigerator of a present Example is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the present embodiment. The user of the refrigerator 100 operates each touch switch 70 (touch electrode (detection unit)) of the second display unit 52 to set the temperature of each storage room. The second display unit 52 functions as a touch panel including a plurality of touch electrodes 70. In the second display section (switch display) 52, the LED 79 of the touch switch 70 performs irradiation display. In the 3rd display part 53, the setting of various functions and the driving | running state of the present refrigerator 100 are irradiated with LED, and the function display 92 is carried out. The brightness of the LEDs is individually controlled by the light control means 93.

  On the other hand, as described above, the main control unit 41 is provided in the upper part of the refrigerator 100, and includes a third display unit 53, a second display unit (switch display) 52, and door opening / closing detection means 22c and 23b for each storage room. 24b, 25b, 26b, and a control target device 10 such as a compressor 30 and a blower 27 (cooling fan) for cooling the inside of the storage.

  The main control unit 41 activates / starts the compressor 30 and the cooling fan 27 based on the set temperature information of each storage room input from the communication microcomputer 72 of the sub control unit 68 or information such as a temperature sensor (not shown). Stop or control the rotation speed. The main control unit 41 also displays information indicating the current control state and the open / closed state of each door detected by the door open / close detecting means of each storage room on the third display unit 53 or the second display unit ( The information operated from the switch display 52 is invalidated. In this way, by transmitting information from the sub-control unit 68 to the main control unit 41, the refrigerator can be operated optimally for the user.

  As mentioned above, according to the Example of this invention, there exist the following effects.

  That is, the storage chamber 22 of the refrigerator 100 main body, the storage chamber door 22a for opening and closing the front opening of the storage chamber 22, the translucent door front plate 6 on the front surface of the storage chamber door 22a, and the rear surface of the door front plate 6 The substrate 8, the display member 7 between the substrate 8 and the door front plate 6, the illumination unit 79 that irradiates the display member 7 toward the door front plate 6, and the change in capacitance behind the display member 7 is detected. And a control unit 68 for controlling the detection unit 70 and the illumination unit 79. The illumination unit 79 and the detection unit 70 are connected to the substrate 8 by the detection unit 70, the light guide plate 75 between the display member 7 and the detection unit 70. Configured above, the detector 70 is a mutual capacitance method.

  Thereby, the detection part 70 and the illumination means 79 can be arrange | positioned on the same board | substrate 8, and even in the structure which has arrange | positioned the light-guide plate 75 between the detection part 70 and the display member 7 (door front plate 6), it is the door front. The user's operation from the front surface of the face plate 6 can be detected by the detection unit 70, and the substrate 8 component assembly can be thinned. Moreover, the reduction | decrease in the thickness of the foam heat insulating material 22 in the storage chamber door 22a can be suppressed because the board | substrate 8 component assembly can be made thin.

  The door front plate 6 is a glass plate 6a, and the light guide plate 75 is a resin material. Thereby, with the structure which has arrange | positioned the light-guide plate 75 between the detection part 70 and the display member 7 (door front plate 6), the fall of the detection accuracy in the detection part 70 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, the display member 7 includes a plurality of display units 50, and the illumination unit 79 includes a plurality of LEDs, and relative irradiation spots of the plurality of display units 50 are restricted by restricting current values to be supplied to the plurality of LEDs, respectively. Suppress it.

  As a result, the visibility of the plurality of display units as a whole can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, Various modifications are included. For example, each of the above-described embodiments has been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to one having all the configurations described. For example, although the display part 50 is provided in the left refrigerator compartment door 22a, you may provide in another door.

  Moreover, although the 2nd display part 52 and the 3rd display part 53 are provided side by side as shown in FIG. 3, they may be provided side by side or may not be provided side by side.

  Further, when not operated, the display member 7 is hidden from being displayed behind the colored layer of the glass plate 6a. However, by removing or thinning the colored layer of the glass plate 6a, the display member 7 is always visible. It is also good.

  It is also possible to replace a part of the configuration of the embodiment with a known configuration, and it is possible to add, delete, or replace another known configuration with respect to a part of the configuration of the embodiment.

3 Hinge 6 Door front plate 6a Glass plate 7 Display member (film)
8 Substrate 9 Case (holding means)
10 Controlled equipment 22 Refrigerated room (storage room)
22a Left refrigerator compartment door (storage compartment door)
22b Right refrigeration room door (storage room door)
22c Refrigeration room door opening / closing detection means 22e Substrate placement member 22f Inner wall member 40 Recess 41 Main control part 41a Lead wire 50 Display part 52 Second display part (switch display)
53 3rd display part 54 1st display part 56 Light guide part arrangement | positioning area | region 63 Light guide part arrangement | positioning part 67 Wiring pattern 67a, 67b Wiring pattern (transmission side wiring pattern)
67c, 67d, 67e, 67f Wiring pattern (receiving side wiring pattern)
68 Sub-control unit (control unit)
70 Touch electrode (detection unit, touch switch)
70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f, 70g Touch sensor 71 Touch sensor IC
72 Microcomputer 75 Second light guide plate (light guide plate)
76 3rd display part light-guide plate 76b Light guide part 78 Light-shielding plate 78a Light-shielding part 79 LED (illuminating means, 2nd display-part illumination means)
80 Transmission-side electrode 81 Reception-side electrode 82 LED (third display unit illumination means)
92 Function display 93 Light control means 100 Refrigerator

Claims (3)

A storage room of the refrigerator body,
A storage room door for opening and closing the front opening of the storage room;
A translucent door front plate on the front surface of the storage room door;
A substrate on the back of the door front plate;
A display member between the substrate and the door front plate;
Illumination means for irradiating the display member toward the door front plate;
A detection unit for detecting a change in capacitance behind the display member;
A light guide plate between the display member and the detection unit;
A control unit for controlling the detection unit and the illumination means,
The illuminating means and the detection unit are configured on the substrate, and the detection unit is a mutual capacitance system.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door front plate is made of glass and the light guide plate is made of a resin material.   The display member includes a plurality of display units, and the illuminating unit includes a plurality of LEDs, and the irradiation spots of the plurality of display units are relatively suppressed by restricting current values to be supplied to the plurality of LEDs, respectively. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein