JP2018044712A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of suppressing increase of power consumption, and enabling proper display.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 includes: doors (2a-6a) configured to open/close a front opening of a storage chamber; an opening/closing detection unit 11 configured to detect opening/closing states of the doors (2a-6a); an operation panel 7 (display unit) provided at the left door 2a; and a control unit 10 configured to turn the display unit on at timing when the opening/closing detection unit 11 detects change of the opening/closing states of the doors (2a-6a).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

  Conventionally, there is a refrigerator in which a display unit is provided on a door of a storage room. In such a refrigerator, the operation state of the refrigerator is displayed by turning on a light source provided on the rear side of the display unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-40960 A

In recent years, there has been a demand for further power saving of refrigerators. In that case, regarding the display unit, it is considered that power consumption can be reduced by turning off all the light sources.
However, on the display unit, for example, a display that the user wants to positively recognize, such as a display indicating that the cooling load is appropriate, or simply indicating that the stored item is not excessively packed, is performed. For this reason, if all the display units are simply turned off, there is a problem that the display that is positively recognized as described above is not performed.

On the other hand, there is a problem that even if the display is to be positively recognized, if the display is left despite the absence of the user, the power consumption increases.
Therefore, a refrigerator capable of suppressing an increase in power consumption and appropriately displaying can be provided.

  In the refrigerator of the embodiment, the door open / close state is changed by the door that opens and closes the front opening of the storage room, the open / close detection unit that detects the open / close state of the door, the display unit provided in the door, and the open / close detection unit And a control unit that turns on the display of the display unit at a timing when this is detected.

The figure which shows the refrigerator of embodiment typically Diagram showing the operation panel Schematic diagram of the electrical configuration of the refrigerator Diagram showing the flow of display processing

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is comprised by the cabinet which has heat insulation, and the some storage chamber is formed in the inside. In the case of the refrigerator 1, as a storage room, the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 3 are provided in order from the top, and the ice making room 4 and the small freezer compartment 5 are provided side by side under the vegetable compartment 3, and the lowest part The main freezer compartment 6 is provided. Among these, the upper refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 3 are storage rooms in a refrigeration temperature zone, and the ice making chamber 4, the small freezer compartment 5, and the main freezer compartment 6 are storage compartments in a refrigeration temperature zone.

  As is well known, each storage chamber has an open front surface, and the front opening is opened and closed by a door. Specifically, the refrigerator compartment 2 is provided side by side, and the front opening is opened and closed by a left door 2a that rotates about the left end side and a right door 2b that rotates about the right end side. The vegetable room 3, the ice making room 4, the small freezer room 5 and the main freezer room 6 are each opened to the front by a pull-out vegetable room door 3a, ice making room door 4a, small freezer room door 5a and main freezer room door 6a. Is opened and closed. The vegetable compartment door 3a, the ice making compartment door 4a, the small freezer compartment door 5a, and the main freezer compartment door 6a are provided with storage containers that are pulled out together with the door, although not shown.

The left door 2a, the right door 2b, the vegetable compartment door 3a, the ice making compartment door 4a, the small freezer compartment door 5a and the main freezer compartment door 6a are detected by the open / close detector 11 (see FIG. 3) described later. .
Among the doors provided in the refrigerator 1, an operation panel 7 is provided on the left door 2 a. In other words, the refrigerator 1 includes a door provided with a display unit and a door provided with no display unit. The operation panel 7 functions as a display unit that displays the operation state of the refrigerator 1 and the operation mode set by the user. The operation panel 7 is provided with an electrostatic touch pad (not shown), and also functions as an operation unit that receives a user's touch operation.

  Specifically, an operation area 8 and a display area 9 are set on the operation panel 7 as shown in FIG. The operation area 8 is composed of characters “refrigeration”, “frozen”, “cooling mode”, “ice making”, “power saving”, “home” and circles surrounding these characters in order from the top. Buttons B1 to B6 are arranged. The operation buttons B1 to B6 are arranged in a detection area of a touch sensor (not shown) that can detect a touch operation by the user.

Each of the operation buttons B1 to B5 will be described individually below, but the “Home” operation button B6 turns on / off the display of the display unit or locks the operation on the operation panel 7 by long pressing. Etc.
Each of the operation buttons B1 to B6 is provided with a light source (not shown) on the back side. When the light source is turned on, the above letters and circles are displayed so as to be visible to the user. That is, the operation buttons B1 to B function as a display unit, and the operation area 8 in which the operation buttons B1 to B are arranged also functions as an operation detection unit.

  The display area 9 is provided with a cooling strength display part D1, a refrigeration function display part D2, an ice making function display part D3, a power saving function display part D4, a moisture display part D5, and an eco mode display part D6 in order from the top. . Each display unit (D1 to D6) is provided with a light source (not shown) on the back side, and when the light source is turned on, the operating state of the refrigerator 1 is displayed so as to be visible to the user. That is, each display part (D1-D6) functions as a display part.

  Specifically, the cooling strength display unit D1 displays the cooling strength of the storage room in the refrigerated temperature zone or the storage room in the freezing temperature zone. The cooling strength display part D1 is composed of five bars arranged on the circumference, and the number of bars to be displayed according to the touch operation on the operation button B1 for “refrigeration” and the operation button B2 for “freeze”. The intensity of cooling is displayed by increasing or decreasing. That is, the cooling strength display unit D1 functions as a second display unit in which display content is switched by a user operation.

  The refrigeration function display unit D2 responds to a touch operation on the operation button B3 of the "freezing function" among a plurality of refrigeration functions by using, for example, the characters "freezing at once", "freezing hot", "freezing vegetables", and "dry" Display the set function. That is, the refrigeration function display unit D2 functions as a second display unit in which the display content is switched by a user operation. In addition, a light source is individually provided for each display position of each function.

  The ice making function display unit D3 displays, for example, a function set according to a touch operation on the operation button B4 of the “ice making” among a plurality of ice making functions by the characters “Ice ice making”, “Ice making off”, and “Ice making”. . That is, the ice making function display unit D3 functions as a second display unit in which display contents are switched by a user operation. In addition, a light source is individually provided for each display position of each function.

  The power saving function display unit D4 displays a function set according to a touch operation on the “power saving” operation button B1 among a plurality of power saving functions by, for example, “power saving”, “going out”, and “peak shift”. . That is, the power saving function display unit D4 functions as a second display unit in which display contents are switched by a user operation. In addition, a light source is individually provided for each display position of each function. Although detailed explanation is omitted, “power saving” is an operation mode in which power is saved without performing defrosting operation, etc., “outing” is an operation mode in which cooling capacity is reduced when the user is out, etc., and “peak shift” "" Indicates an operation mode in which the cooling operation is performed while avoiding the time period in which the power consumption peaks.

  The moisture display unit D5 displays that the refrigerator 1 is in a moisture operation by the characters “moisture”. Moisture operation is an operation mode in which frost attached to an evaporator (not shown) is blown to supply moisture to the storage room, and is automatically controlled by the refrigerator 1. That is, the moisture display unit D5 functions as a first display unit that switches whether the display content, that is, “moisture” is displayed according to the operation state of the refrigerator 1.

  The eco mode display unit D6 displays that the refrigerator 1 is operating in the eco mode by using the characters “eco mode” and a symbol indicating the eco mode. Here, the eco mode is an operation mode that indicates that the cooling load is appropriate, that is, that the stored items are not excessively packed. In other words, when the eco mode is not displayed, the user can improve the power consumption by reducing the amount of food, etc. stored in the storage room, or storing it so that the cold air outlet is not blocked. Means that it is possible to achieve.

  For this reason, it can be said that it is a display which wants to show to a user positively whether it is eco mode. The determination of whether or not the eco mode is in effect is automatically performed by the refrigerator 1. That is, the eco mode display unit D6 functions as a first display unit that switches whether or not display content, that is, “eco mode” is displayed according to the operation state of the refrigerator 1. The eco mode display unit D6 is provided with one light source for characters and symbols.

  The display of the operation panel 7 and the control of the entire refrigerator 1 are performed by the control unit 10 as shown in FIG. The control unit 10 is composed of a microcomputer (not shown). The control unit 10 is connected to the operation panel 7 and controls the operation panel 7 by detecting a touch operation on the operation area 8 and controlling turning on / off of the light source, that is, turning on / off the display.

  Moreover, the control part 10 is connected to the open / close detection part 11, and the open / close state of the left door 2a, the right door 2b, the vegetable compartment door 3a, the ice making door 4a, the small freezer compartment door 5a, and the main freezer compartment door 6a, Specifically, it detects that the door is opened and that the door is closed. Although FIG. 2 shows one functional block for simplification of description, the open / close detection unit 11 is configured to be able to individually detect the open / closed state of each door.

  The control unit 10 is connected to the function unit 12. Although this functional unit 12 is shown as one functional block in FIG. 2 for the sake of simplicity of explanation, it is required for the refrigerator 1 such as a refrigeration cycle, an interior light, a temperature sensor, an automatic ice making device, and the like. There are various functions.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
In order to save power in the refrigerator 1, it is considered that unnecessary power consumption may be reduced. And it is considered that displaying when the user is absent is one of unnecessary power consumption. However, the display unit also displays information that the user wants to positively recognize, such as the eco mode display unit D6 described above. Therefore, the display that you want to recognize if all the display units are simply turned off will not be displayed, but the information that you want to be positively recognized is displayed despite the absence of the user If left unattended, power consumption will increase.

  Therefore, in the refrigerator 1, the display process shown in FIG. 4 is executed to achieve both the suppression of the increase in power consumption and the display of information to be positively recognized. Although the display process shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the control unit 10, for the sake of simplification of description, the following description will be made mainly with the refrigerator 1.

  In the display process shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator 1 determines whether any door opening has been detected (S1) and whether any door closing has been detected (S2). The opening / closing detection of the door is performed by the opening / closing detection unit 11. That is, the refrigerator 1 detects whether or not the door open / close state has changed in steps S1 and S2.

  When the refrigerator 1 detects the opening of any of the doors (S1: YES), it is determined whether or not the door has a display portion. In the present embodiment, the left door provided with the operation panel 7 is provided. It is further determined whether it is 2a (S8). And when the refrigerator 1 determines with it not being a door with a display part (S8: NO), a display is turned ON (S10). In step S10, display control for turning on the light sources of the display units corresponding to the operation buttons B1 to B6 and the current setting state or operation state among the display units provided on the operation panel 7 is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the refrigerator 1 is a door with a display unit (S8: YES), the process proceeds to step S2. That is, when it is detected that the door is opened, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a display unit on the opened door based on whether or not the user can visually recognize the operation panel 7. Whether or not to perform display control is selected based on whether or not the display control is performed. This is because when the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened and closed, the user is generally considered to be located in front of the refrigerator 1, and thus the user cannot see the operation panel 7 with the left door 2 a opened. This is because there is a possibility.

  On the other hand, when the refrigerator 1 detects the closing of any of the doors (S2: YES), the refrigerator 1 further determines whether or not the door has a display unit (S9), and the door has a display unit. In the case of (S9: YES), the display is turned on (S10). That is, when the left door 2a is opened and closed, display control is performed at the timing when it is detected that the left door 2a is closed. On the other hand, when the refrigerator 1 is not a door with a display unit (S9: NO), step S10 is omitted.

  Thus, display control is performed based on whether or not the door is provided with a display unit at the timing when a change in the open / closed state of the door is detected. Thereby, it is possible to display information such as an operation panel 7, that is, an operation state of the refrigerator 1 so as to be visible to a user who is considered to be located in front of the refrigerator 1.

  The operation area 8 is provided on the operation panel 7 as described above. In the case of the refrigerator 1, the details will be described later, but the display is turned off (S7: YES) when a predetermined time has elapsed since the door was closed (S6: YES). Therefore, when the user wants to operate the operation panel 7, the display is turned off, and the positions of the operation buttons B1 to B6 may be difficult to understand.

  Therefore, the refrigerator 1 turns on the display when the touch operation on the operation area 8 is detected (S3: YES) when the door open / close state has not changed (S1: NO, S2: NO) (S3: YES). S4). Thereby, the light sources corresponding to the operation buttons B1 to B6 are turned on, and the positions of the operation buttons B1 to B6 can be easily grasped. That is, the refrigerator 1 turns on the display of the display unit regardless of the change in the open / closed state of the door when the user's touch operation on the operation region 8 is detected as the operation detection unit.

  Then, the refrigerator 1 determines whether an operation is being accepted (S5). Specifically, in step S <b> 5, the refrigerator 1 determines that the operation is being accepted for a period from when the most recent touch operation is input until a predetermined input standby time elapses. Then, when it is determined that the operation is being accepted (S5: YES), the refrigerator 1 stands by.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation is not being accepted (S5: NO), the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since it was detected that the door of the refrigerator 1 was closed (S6). Here, the predetermined time is a time during which it is considered that the user can recognize the display on the operation panel 7, and is set in advance to about 30 seconds, for example.

  When the refrigerator 1 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed since the door was closed (S6: YES), the refrigerator 1 turns off the display (S7). And if a display is turned off, the refrigerator 1 will transfer to step S1, and will repeat determination of the change of the opening-and-closing state of a door, and whether the touch operation was input.

  As described above, when the door is closed after the door open / close state is changed and the display is turned on in step S10, the refrigerator 1 continues to turn on the display until the predetermined time elapses. The display is turned off at the elapsed time.

  When only the operation panel 7 is operated without opening / closing the door, it is determined in step S6 that the predetermined time has passed immediately, but in step S5 it is determined whether or not the operation is being accepted. Therefore, in other words, a time for waiting for the user's operation is provided, so that the display is prevented from being turned off during input.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
The refrigerator 1 turns on the display of the display unit, that is, the operation panel 7 at a timing when it is detected that the door open / close state has changed. The fact that the open / closed state of the door has changed indicates that a user is present in front of the refrigerator 1. Further, even if the user is in front of the refrigerator 1, it is considered that the user is not paying attention to the refrigerator 1 when the open / closed state of the door is not changed. In other words, if the open / closed state of the door has not changed, the user may not recognize even if the display is turned on.

  Therefore, when the display unit is turned off, the user who is in front of the refrigerator 1 and is conscious of the refrigerator 1 by turning on the display unit at the timing when the open / close state of the door changes. In addition, the display is not turned on when it is considered that the consciousness is not directed to the refrigerator 1. Therefore, an increase in power consumption can be suppressed and display can be performed appropriately.

The refrigerator 1 turns on the display of the display unit when it is detected that the door is opened. When opening the door, it is considered that the user is viewing the refrigerator 1. Thereby, a display can be performed in a state recognizable to the user.
The refrigerator 1 turns on the display of the display unit at a timing when it is detected that the door is closed. When closing the door, it is considered that the user is viewing the refrigerator 1. Thereby, a display can be performed in a state recognizable to the user.

The refrigerator 1 turns on display of the display unit at the timing when it is detected that the door is closed for the door provided with the display unit, while the door is opened for the door not provided with the display unit. The display on the display unit is turned on at the timing when it is detected.
When the left door 2a provided with a display unit such as the operation panel 7 of the embodiment is opened, the operation panel 7 provided on the front surface of the left door 2a in a state where the left door 2a is renovated. May not be in view of the user. Therefore, by turning on the display at the timing when the left door 2a is closed, the display can be performed in a state that the user can visually recognize.

  On the other hand, in the case of doors other than the left door 2a such as the right door 2b and the vegetable compartment door 3a that are not provided with a display unit, the user can visually recognize the operation panel 7 at the timing when the door is opened. Conceivable. For this reason, the door that is not provided with the display unit can be displayed in a state that the user can visually recognize the display by turning on the display when the door is opened.

  The refrigerator 1 includes a first display unit that automatically switches display contents according to an operating state, such as a moisture display unit D5 and an eco mode display unit D6, a cooling strength display unit D1, a refrigeration function display unit D2, and the like. As shown in FIG. 5, the display content is switched by the user's operation. Then, the refrigerator 1 turns on the display at the timing when the door open / close state changes for both the first display unit and the second display unit. That is, the refrigerator 1 does not turn on the display in the state where the user is considered absent even for the first display unit whose display contents are automatically switched according to the operation state. Thereby, it can suppress that power consumption increases.

  The refrigerator 1 includes an operation detection unit that is provided corresponding to the display unit and detects a user operation, like the operation region 8 of the embodiment. And when the user's touch operation is detected by the operation detection part, the refrigerator 1 turns on the display of a display part irrespective of the change of the door open / closed state. This eliminates the need to bother to open and close the door to turn on the display when operating the operation panel 7.

  At this time, the refrigerator 1 turns on the display when a touch operation is input to the operation detection unit such as the operation region 8 in which a certain large range is set as in the embodiment. Accordingly, for example, the display can be turned on without operating a fixed and specific position such as the “Home” operation button B1, and the usability can be improved.

  The refrigerator 1 turns off the display of the display unit at a timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after detecting that the door is closed. At this time, the predetermined period can be set to a time that allows the user to grasp the display contents as in the embodiment. Accordingly, the display can be performed in a state that can be recognized by the user, and the display is automatically turned off, so that it is possible to prevent the power consumption from being increased by forgetting to turn it off.

(Other embodiments)
The configuration of the refrigerator 1 exemplified in the embodiment is an example, and the number, arrangement, type, size, and the like of the storage rooms may be different. For example, the small freezer compartment 5 may be a so-called multipurpose room or the like whose temperature zone can be changed. Moreover, although the example which provided what is called a double door 2a and the door 2b in the refrigerator compartment 2 was shown in embodiment, it can apply also to what provided the single door.
The operation panel 7 illustrated in the embodiment is an example, and the number, arrangement, type, size, and the like of buttons and display units may be different.

  Further, a button (display unit, operation detection unit) having a function of turning on and off the display like the operation button B1 of the “home” in the embodiment, that is, a function that is supposed to be touched first when the operation panel 7 is operated. About, it can be set as the structure which makes a display visually recognizable irrespective of the open / closed state of a door. In other words, the display unit can be provided with a constant display unit. In this case, a light source can be provided and always lighted. However, in view of power consumption, it can be configured to be always visible by printing or the like.

  It is also possible to change the timing for turning off the display on the display unit, that is, the length of the predetermined time. In this case, the setting by the user can be made possible. In addition, when a plurality of display units (D1 to D6) are provided as in the embodiment, the predetermined time is collectively set for the plurality of display units (D1 to D6) or each display unit ( D1 to D6) can be individually changed.

For example, for the first display unit such as the eco mode display unit D6 of the embodiment, the predetermined time can be set longer than that of the second display unit such as the cooling strength display unit D1, for example. Thereby, even if the display of the second display unit is turned off, the eco-mode display unit D6 is turned on for a while, and the display content that the user wants to actively present to the user is displayed in a manner that makes it easier for the user to recognize. can do.
The letters, numbers, symbols, etc. shown in the embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to them.

  Each embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawings, 1 is a refrigerator, 2 is a refrigerator compartment (storage room), 2a is a left door (door), 2b is a right door (door), 3 is a vegetable room (storage room), 3a is a vegetable room door (door), 4 is an ice making room (storage room), 4a is an ice making room door (door), 5 is a small freezer room (storage room), 5a is a small freezer room door (door), 6 is a main freezer room (storage room), 6a is Main freezer compartment door (door), 7 operation panel (display unit, operation detection unit), 8 operation region (display unit, operation detection unit), 9 display region (display unit, operation detection unit), 10 control , 11 is an open / close detection unit, B1 to B6 are operation buttons (display unit, operation detection unit), D1 is a cooling strength display unit (display unit, operation detection unit), and D2 is a refrigeration function display unit (display unit, operation detection unit). Detection unit), D3 is an ice making function display unit (display unit, operation detection unit), D4 is a power saving function display unit (display unit, operation detection unit), and D5 is a moisture display unit (display unit, operation detection unit). , D6 denotes eco-mode display section (display unit, the operation detecting unit), a.

Claims (9)

A door that opens and closes the front opening of the storage room;
An open / close detector for detecting the open / closed state of the door;
A display provided on the door;
A control unit that turns on the display of the display unit when the opening / closing detection unit detects that the opening / closing state of the door has changed,
Refrigerator.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns on the display of the display unit at a timing when it is detected that the door is opened.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit turns on the display of the display unit at a timing when it is detected that the door is closed. The door is provided with the display part and the door is not provided with the display part,
The control unit turns on the display of the display unit at a timing when it is detected that the door is closed for the door provided with the display unit, while the door is not provided with the display unit. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein display of the display unit is turned on at a timing when it is detected that the door is opened. The display unit includes a first display unit whose display content is switched according to an operating state of the refrigerator, and a second display unit whose display content is switched by a user operation.
5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns on display of the display unit at a timing when an open / close state of the door is changed for both the first display unit and the second display unit. 6. refrigerator. An operation detection unit that is provided corresponding to the display unit and detects a user operation;
6. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns on display of the display unit regardless of a change in an open / closed state of the door when a user's touch operation is detected by the operation detection unit. refrigerator.   The said control part is a refrigerator as described in any one of Claim 1 to 6 which turns off the display of the said display part at the timing which predetermined time passed after detecting that the said door was closed.   The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the control unit can change the predetermined time. A plurality of the display units;
The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the control unit can change the predetermined time individually for each of the display units.

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