JP2023041898A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator in which communication between a radio communication device and an external apparatus is not disturbed by a hinge part in a case where the external apparatus is located in front of the refrigerator.

SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 comprises: a housing 2; opening/closing doors 3; an antenna part 111 fixed to an opening/closing door 3a; a cooling device 5; a control device 8 which is fixed to the box body 2 and controls the cooling device 5; and a connecting wire 10 communicatively connecting the antenna part 111 and the control device 8. The opening/closing door 3a has a front face plate 31 and a cover 93. The antenna part 111 is fixed at a position at which it overlaps the cover 93 and does not overlap the front face plate 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. The opening/closing door 3 has a case 92 which forms a baseboard accommodation space 94 together with the cover 93. The antenna part 111 is located in the baseboard accommodation space 94. A protruding part 38e protruding to the front of the front face plate 31 is formed on the case 92, and the baseboard accommodation space 94 is surrounded by the protruding part 38e and the cover 93.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present disclosure relates to refrigerators.

Conventionally, like the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, a housing having a storage compartment and a metal hinge provided to the housing so as to be rotatable through the rotation of the opening of the storage compartment. It has a door that opens and closes, a connection line drawn out around the hinge, and an antenna section (corresponding to the wireless communication section of Patent Document 1). There was a refrigerator equipped with a wireless communication means.

JP 2015-17781 A

In the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, the hinge portion is made of metal, and the antenna portion is positioned behind the hinge portion. Therefore, in the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the external device is positioned in front of the refrigerator, a part of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna unit to the external device or the radio wave transmitted from the external device to the antenna unit is It reflects off the metal hinge. Therefore, in the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the external device is positioned in front of the refrigerator, communication between the antenna portion and the external device is blocked by the hinge portion.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator in which communication between an antenna section and an external device is not hindered by a hinge section when the external device is positioned in front of the refrigerator.

A refrigerator according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing in which a storage space for storing an object to be cooled is formed and an opening is formed in front of the storage space; a door provided in front of the storage space and opening and closing the opening; Antenna part that transmits radio waves to or receives radio waves from external equipment and is fixed to the door, a cooling device that supplies cooled air to the storage space, and a cooling device that controls the cooling device and is fixed to the housing A refrigerator comprising a control device and a connection line for communicably connecting an antenna unit and the control device, wherein a door faces a space outside the storage space and is formed of a metal material, and a front panel of the storage space. a cover member facing an external space and formed of a non-conductive material, and the antenna part is fixed at a position overlapping the cover member without overlapping the front panel when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, and the door has a case forming a board storage space together with a cover member, the antenna part is positioned in the board storage space, the case is formed with a projection projecting forward from the front plate, and the board storage space and the projection are formed. It is a space surrounded by a cover member.

In the refrigerator according to one aspect of the present disclosure, since the antenna is fixed to the door, communication between the antenna and the external device is not hindered by the hinge when the external device is positioned in front of the refrigerator.

2 is a diagram showing the front surface of the refrigerator and external devices according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section in FIG. 1 of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1; 1 is a top view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1; FIG. Fig. 2 is a front view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the BB cross section in FIG. 4 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1; 6 is an enlarged view of region C in FIG. 5 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 2 is a rear view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion corresponding to the BB cross section in FIG. 4 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2; 10 is an enlarged view of region D in FIG. 9 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the figure which showed the front surface and external equipment of the refrigerator based on Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3; FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the EE section in FIG. 12 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3; 14 is an enlarged view of region F in FIG. 13 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3; It is a rear view of the opening-and-closing door of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 4; FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the GG cross section in FIG. 17 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 4; FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of region H in FIG. 18 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 4; FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 4; FIG. 12 is a rear view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the upper surface side cap portion of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5; FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the II cross section in FIG. 21 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5;

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to only the following embodiments, and modifications or omissions can be made without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it is also possible to appropriately combine the configurations and additional configurations of the refrigerators according to the respective embodiments and modifications.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the front surface of a refrigerator and external devices according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section in FIG. 1 of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. 3 is a top view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. A refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The refrigerator 1 includes a housing 2, an opening/closing door 3, a plurality of drawer doors 4, a cooling device 5, a plurality of hinge portions 6, a plurality of carrying handles 7, a control device 8, an operation portion 9, A connection line 10 and a wireless communication device 11 are provided.

The housing 2 has an inner box 20 made of resin, an outer box 21 made of metal, and a heat insulating material 22 between the inner box 20 and the outer box 21 . The heat insulating material 22 is made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the inner box 20 and the outer box 21, such as foam insulating material or vacuum insulating material. A storage space 23 and a cooling chamber space 24 are formed inside the housing 2 . Furthermore, one surface of the housing 2 is formed with an opening that allows the storage space 23 and the space outside the housing 2 to communicate with each other. In the following description, the portion of the housing 2 where the opening is formed will be referred to as the front portion. That is, the opening of housing 2 is formed in front of the storage space. Also, the portion of the housing 2 that faces the front portion with the storage space 23 interposed therebetween is referred to as the rear portion. Furthermore, when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front, the portion of the housing 2 located to the right of the storage space 23 is the right side portion, and the portion of the housing 2 located to the left of the storage space 23 is the left side portion. The portion of the housing 2 positioned below the storage space 23 is referred to as the lower surface portion, and the portion of the housing 2 positioned above the storage space 23 is referred to as the upper surface portion.

The storage space 23 of the housing 2 is a space for storing objects to be cooled such as food. The storage space 23 is covered with an inner box 20 , an outer box 21 and a heat insulating material 22 except for openings, and is partitioned into a plurality of storage compartments by one or more partition members 25 . The refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 is divided into five storage compartments: refrigerating compartment 23a, ice making compartment 23b, switching compartment 23c, freezing compartment 23d, and vegetable compartment 23e. The refrigerator compartment 23a is arranged on the uppermost side of the storage compartments. The ice making chamber 23b is arranged on the lower surface portion side of the refrigerating chamber 23a. The switching chamber 23c is arranged adjacent to the side of the ice making chamber 23b. 23 d of freezer compartments are arrange|positioned at the lower surface part side rather than the ice making compartment 23b and the switching compartment 23c. The vegetable compartment 23e is arranged closer to the lower surface than the switching compartment 23c, and is arranged closest to the lower surface among the storage compartments. Refrigerating compartment 23a, ice making compartment 23b, switching compartment 23c, freezing compartment 23d, and vegetable compartment 23e are communicated with each other through an air passage.

The switching chamber 23c has a freezing temperature range (eg, about -18°C), a refrigerating temperature range (eg, about 3°C), a chilled temperature range (eg, about 0°C), a soft freezing temperature range (eg, about -7°C), and the like. can be switched to various temperature zones. The control device 8 controls the cooling device 5 to switch between various temperature zones in the switching chamber 23c.

The cooling chamber space 24 of the housing 2 is a space that accommodates part of the cooling device 5 . The cooling chamber space 24 is formed on the rear side of the vegetable chamber 23e. At least thermal insulation 22 is arranged between the cooling chamber space 24 and the storage space 23 . A compressor 51 of the cooling device 5 to be described later is arranged in the cooling chamber space 24 .

In addition, a recessed control device housing portion 26 for housing the control device 8 is formed on the rear side of the upper surface of the housing 2 . Furthermore, a control device cover 27 is fixed to the rear side of the upper surface of the housing 2 so as to cover the control device housing portion 26 .

The opening/closing door 3 is a door that opens and closes an opening that communicates the refrigerating chamber 23 a and the space outside the housing 2 . The opening/closing door 3 is supported by a hinge portion 6 at one of its left end and right end. The opening and closing door 3 rotates toward the front side of the refrigerator 1 around the hinge portion 6 at the other end that is not supported by the hinge portion 6, thereby forming an opening that communicates between the refrigerator compartment 23a and the space outside the housing 2. be opened. In the refrigerator 1 of Embodiment 1, there are two opening/closing doors 3, an opening/closing door 3a positioned on the left side and an opening/closing door 3b positioned on the right side. The hinge portion 6 supports the right end portion of the opening/closing door 3b which is supported by the portion 6 and located on the right side portion. For this reason, the opening/closing door 3a positioned on the left side can rotate toward the left side within a predetermined angle range around the left end of the opening/closing door 3a, and the opening/closing door 3b positioned on the right side can rotate toward the left side. is rotatable within a predetermined angle range toward the right surface portion around the right end portion of the . That is, the opening/closing door 3 of the refrigerator 1 is a double door. A detailed configuration of the opening/closing door 3a will be described later.

The plurality of drawer doors 4 includes an opening that communicates between the ice making chamber 23b and the space outside the housing 2, an opening that communicates between the switching chamber 23c and the space outside the housing 2, and a freezer compartment 23d and the housing 2. and an opening for communicating between the vegetable compartment 23e and the space outside the housing 2, respectively. The drawer door 4 can be moved to the front side of the refrigerator 1, and the opening is opened by moving the drawer door 4 to the front side. Further, a container for storing food or the like is provided on the rear side of the drawer door 4 . The container is located inside the ice making compartment 23b, the switching compartment 23c, the freezing compartment 23d, or the vegetable compartment 23e when the drawer door 4 is closed. The container moves in conjunction with the drawer door 4, and when the drawer door 4 is moved to the front side, the container is drawn out to the space outside the housing 2 through the opening.

The cooling device 5 is a device for cooling each storage chamber to a predetermined temperature. The cooling device 5 includes a compressor 51 , a cooler 52 , expansion means such as a capillary tube (not shown), a condenser such as a heat radiation pipe (not shown), an internal fan 53 , and a damper 54 . The compressor 51, the cooler 52, the expansion means, and the condenser are connected by refrigerant pipes to form a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circulates. Compressor 51 compresses the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circuit. The condenser condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 51 . The expansion means expands the refrigerant condensed by the condenser. The cooler 52 cools the air passing through the cooler 52 with the refrigerant expanded by the expansion means. The cooler 52 and the internal fan 53 are installed in the air passage inside the housing 2 , and the air cooled by the cooler 52 flows into each storage compartment by the internal fan 53 . Also, by adjusting the amount of air that has been cooled by the cooler 52 flowing into each storage compartment by opening and closing the damper 54, the temperature of each storage compartment is adjusted. After the air has flowed into each storage compartment, it returns to the cooler 52 and is cooled again.

The hinge portion 6 supports the opening/closing door 3 so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range. The hinge portion 6 is composed of a hinge fitting 61 and a hinge cover 62 . The hinge fitting 61 is fixed to the upper surface of the housing 2 so that the cylindrical hinge shaft protrudes from the front surface of the housing 2 . The refrigerator 1 has two hinges 6. The hinge 6a located on the left side supports the opening/closing door 3a from the upper side by a hinge shaft, and the hinge 6b located on the right side opens and closes. The door 3b is supported from the upper side by the hinge shaft. The hinge fitting 61 is made of metal, for example. Also, the hinge fitting 61 is covered with a hinge cover 62 . The hinge cover 62 is non-conductive and made of resin, for example. Also, the hinge cover 62 is attached to the upper surface of the housing 2 .

Although not shown, the refrigerator 1 has cylindrical hinge shafts extending from the front surface of the housing 2 between the refrigerating chamber 23a and the ice making chamber 23b and between the refrigerating chamber 23a and the switching chamber 23c. Each has a hinge fitting fixed to the housing 2 so as to protrude. The hinge axis of the hinge fitting between refrigerator compartment 23a and ice making compartment 23b and the hinge axis of hinge fitting 61 of hinge portion 6a are arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction of refrigerator 1 . A hinge fitting between the refrigerating chamber 23a and the ice making chamber 23b supports the opening/closing door 3a from the lower surface side by a hinge shaft. Also, the hinge axis of the hinge metal fitting between refrigerator compartment 23a and switching compartment 23c and the hinge axis of hinge metal fitting 61 of hinge portion 6b are arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction of refrigerator 1 . A hinge fitting between the refrigerating compartment 23a and the switching compartment 23c supports the opening/closing door 3b from the lower surface side with a hinge shaft.

The carrying handle 7 is a member that a carrier grasps when carrying the refrigerator 1 . The carrying handles 7 are provided at the right rear side end of the upper surface of the housing 2 and the left rear side end of the upper surface. The carrying handle 7 is non-conductive and made of resin, for example.

Control device 8 controls the operation of refrigerator 1 . The control device 8 is communicably connected to the operation unit 9, the wireless communication device 11, the compressor 51, the internal fan 53, and the damper . The controller 8 controls the compressor 51, the internal fan 53 and the damper 54 to control the temperature of each storage compartment. The controller 8 is composed of a microcontroller and a controller board. A microcontroller has a processor and memory. The control and communication performed by the control device 8 are realized by the processor executing processing according to software programs stored in the memory. A microcontroller is also provided on the controller board. In addition to the microcontroller, the control device board includes electronic components necessary for operating the microcontroller, a connector connectable to the connection line 10, and the microcontroller, the electronic components, and the control device side connector. A wiring pattern for connection is provided.

The operation unit 9 receives a user's operation for operating the refrigerator 1 . A user can change the operation of the refrigerator 1 by operating the operation unit 9 . For example, when the user operates the operation unit 9 to change the temperature zone of the switchable chamber 23c, a signal including information for changing the temperature zone of the switchable chamber 23c is transmitted from the operation unit 9 to the control device 8, and the signal The control device 8 that has received this controls the cooling device 5 so as to change the temperature zone of the switching chamber 23c to the temperature zone changed by the user. The operation unit 9 is attached to the opening/closing door 3a, and the detailed configuration thereof will be described later.

The connection line 10 is wiring for transmitting various signals. A detailed configuration of the connection line 10 will be described later.

The wireless communication device 11 is a device capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device 200, which will be described later. A detailed configuration of the wireless communication device 11 will be described later.

Next, the external device 200 that wirelessly communicates with the wireless communication device 11 will be described. The external equipment 200 is equipment other than the refrigerator 1 . Examples of the external device 200 include a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, a home appliance such as an air conditioner or a ventilation fan, or a centralized controller communicably connected to an external network such as the Internet. By communicating between the external device 200 and the control device 8 via the wireless communication device 11, for example, the following can be performed. The control device 8 can acquire information about the operating states of other home appliances and control the refrigerator 1 based on the information. The control device 8 can acquire information from an external network and control the refrigerator 1 based on the information. The control device 8 can transmit information about the operating state of the refrigerator 1 to a cloud server on an external network, and the cloud server can store the information. The control device 8 can transmit information about the operating state of the refrigerator 1 to the mobile terminal, and the control device of the mobile terminal can display the information on the display section of the mobile terminal.

4 is a front view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the BB cross section in FIG. 4 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of region C in FIG. 5 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. For the sake of explanation, illustration of the operation unit 9, the wireless communication device 11, and the heat insulating foam material 35 to be described later is omitted in FIG. 7, and illustration of the back plate 34 and the heat insulating foam material 35 to be described later is omitted in FIG. do. Next, the opening/closing door 3a will be described. The opening/closing door 3a has an operation unit 9, a wireless communication device 11, a front plate 31, an upper surface side cap portion 32, a lower surface portion side cap portion 33, a rear plate 34, and a foam insulation material 35. .

The front plate 31 is a member that constitutes the front and side portions of the opening/closing door 3a. When the opening/closing door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the front plate 31 faces the space outside the storage space 23 . The front plate 31 is a plate-like member made of a metal material such as iron. The front plate 31 is formed in a substantially U shape by bending the left side end and the right side end toward the rear side. Of the front plate 31, the portions on the bent end side and facing each other are referred to as front plate side portions 31a. A portion connecting the front plate side portions 31a is referred to as a front plate base portion 31b. A hole portion 31c is formed in the front plate base portion 31b.

The upper surface portion side cap portion 32 is a member that constitutes the upper surface portion of the opening/closing door 3a. The upper surface portion side cap portion 32 is attached to the end portion of the front plate 31 on the upper surface portion side. When the opening/closing door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the upper surface side cap portion 32 faces the space outside the storage space 23 . A support portion 32a supported by a hinge shaft of a hinge fitting 61 provided on the upper surface of the housing 2 is provided on the left side of the upper surface portion side cap portion 32 . In the vicinity of the support portion 32a, although not shown, a hole is formed for drawing the connection wire 10 into a door inner space 36, which will be described later.

The lower surface portion side cap portion 33 is a member that constitutes the lower surface portion of the opening/closing door 3a. The lower surface portion side cap portion 33 is attached to the end portion of the front plate 31 on the lower surface portion side. When the opening/closing door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the lower surface side cap portion 33 faces the space outside the storage space 23 . A support portion 33a supported by a hinge shaft of a hinge metal fitting 61 provided between the refrigerating chamber 23a and the ice making chamber 23b is provided on the left side of the lower surface side cap portion 33. As shown in FIG. A handle 33b that a user grips when opening and closing the open/close door 3a is provided on the lower surface portion side cap portion 33. As shown in FIG.

The rear plate 34 is a member that constitutes the rear portion of the opening/closing door 3a. It is attached to the end portion of the front plate side portion 31a on the back portion side. When the open/close door 3a closes the opening of the housing 2, the rear plate 34 is a member that faces the refrigerator compartment 23a. The rear plate 34 is made of a material having lower rigidity than the front plate 31, such as resin. That is, the front plate 31 has higher rigidity than the rear plate 34 .

The operating portion 9 is attached to the front plate base portion 31b so as to close the hole portion 31c. The operation unit 9 includes an operation unit substrate 91 , an operation unit case 92 and an operation unit cover 93 .

The operation unit substrate 91 is a substrate on which electronic components are arranged so that the operation unit 9 can accept the operation of the refrigerator 1 by the user. Such electronic components include, for example, a display LED (Light Emitting Diode), a capacitive touch sensor that detects a user's operation based on a change in capacitance, and an LED and a capacitive touch sensor. and electronic components for operating the Further, the operation unit substrate 91 has wiring patterns for electrically connecting the electronic components.

The operation portion case 92 has a shape in which a central portion 92 a of the operation portion case 92 is recessed toward the back side compared to end portions 92 b of the operation portion case 92 . Further, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the operation portion case 92 are longer than the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the hole portion 31c. For this reason, the operation part case 92 is attached to the front plate base part 31b so as to close the hole part 31c from the rear part side. An end portion 92b of the operating portion case 92 attached to the front plate base portion 31b is in contact with the back side surface of the front plate base portion 31b.

The operating portion cover 93 is attached to the front plate base portion 31b so as to cover the hole portion 31c from the front portion side. By attaching the operation unit case 92 and the operation unit cover 93 to the front plate base portion 31b, the operation unit case 92 and the operation unit cover 93 form a board storage space 94 surrounded by the operation unit case 92 and the operation unit cover 93. Form. The operating section board 91 is located in the board storage space 94 . Further, the operating section board 91 is fixed to the operating section case 92 .

Characters or icons indicating the operating state of the refrigerator 1, such as a temperature display, are written on the operation unit cover 93, for example. The characters or icons written on the operation unit cover 93 can be visually recognized by the user by being irradiated with light from the LEDs arranged on the operation unit substrate 91 . Some of the characters or icons written on the operation part cover 93 are written at a position overlapping the capacitive touch sensor arranged on the operation part board 91 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Therefore, when the user touches the characters or icons written on the operation unit cover 93, the capacitance detected by the capacitance touch sensor changes. The capacitive touch sensor detects that the user has selected a function associated with written characters or icons by a change in capacitance. Furthermore, the operation section cover 93 is non-conductive, and is made of resin or glass, for example. Note that the operation section cover 93 corresponds to the cover member.

The radio communication device 11 has an antenna section 111 , a modem section 112 and a radio communication board 113 . The antenna unit 111 transmits radio waves to the external device 200 . Also, the antenna unit 111 receives radio waves from the external device 200 . A modulation/demodulation unit 112 demodulates a modulated signal included in the radio wave acquired by the antenna unit 111 . Also, the modulation/demodulation unit 112 modulates a signal including information about the refrigerator 1 so that it can be transmitted from the antenna unit 111 . Antenna section 111 and modulation/demodulation section 112 are provided on wireless communication board 113 . In addition to the antenna section 111 and the modulation/demodulation section 112, the wireless communication board 113 includes electronic components necessary for operating the antenna section 111 and the modulation/demodulation section 112, a connector connectable to the connection line 10, and the antenna section 111. A wiring pattern is provided for electrically connecting the modulation/demodulation unit 112, the electronic component, and the connector. Also, the wireless communication device 11 is located in the board storage space 94 . Furthermore, the wireless communication device 11 is fixed to the operation unit case 92 .

Furthermore, the operation unit board 91 and the wireless communication board 113 are provided with wiring for electrically connecting the respective boards to each other.

The front side of the open/close door 3a is covered with the front plate base 31b and the operation unit case 92, the rear side is covered with the rear plate 34, and the left and right sides are covered with the front plate side portions 31a, A door inner space 36 is formed in which the upper surface portion side is covered with the upper surface portion side cap portion 32 and the lower surface portion side is covered with the lower surface portion side cap portion 33 . A foam heat insulating material 35 is arranged in the door inner space 36 . A material having a lower thermal conductivity than the front plate 31 , the upper cap portion 32 , the lower cap portion 33 and the rear plate 34 is used for the foamed heat insulating material 35 . The foam heat insulating material 35 is formed by injecting a chemical solution into the door inner space 36 and foaming the injected chemical solution. Examples of such foamed heat insulating materials include urethane heat insulating materials.

The front panel 31, the upper cap section 32, the lower cap section 33, the rear panel 34, the operating section case 92, and the operating section cover 93 may be attached by existing mounting means. . Examples thereof include a method of forming a screw hole and screwing, a method of forming a fitting portion and fitting the fitting portions together, and a method of adhering with an adhesive member such as hot-melt or double-sided tape.

Here, the positional relationship among the antenna section 111, the front panel 31, and the operation section cover 93 will be described. The antenna portion 111 is fixed at a position overlapping the hole portion 31c formed in the front plate 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Therefore, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position not overlapping the front panel 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Further, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position overlapping the operation section cover 93 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Note that the refrigerator 1 viewed from the front is, in other words, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front plate base portion 31b of the front plate 31 .

Next, the connection line 10 will be described in detail. The connection line 10 includes a wireless communication device connection line 101 and a defrosting heater connection line 102 .

The wireless communication device connection line 101 is wiring that connects the control device 8 and the wireless communication device 11 so as to be able to communicate with each other. In other words, the wireless communication device connection line 101 connects the antenna section 111 and the control device 8 so as to be communicable. One end of the wireless communication device connection line 101 is connected to the control device 8 and the other end is connected to a connector of the wireless communication board 113 . Since wiring for electrically connecting the respective substrates is provided on the operation unit substrate 91 and the wireless communication substrate 113, the operation unit 9 is communicably connected to the control device 8 via the wireless communication device connection line 101. be.

The defrosting heater connection line 102 is a wiring for transmitting a signal for the control device 8 to drive or stop the defrosting heater of the opening/closing door 3a (not shown). One end of the defrosting heater connection line 102 is connected to the control device 8, and the other end is connected to the defrosting heater.

A part of the wireless communication device connection line 101 and a part of the defrosting heater connection line 102 are laid between the inner box 20 and the outer box 21 on the upper surface side of the housing 2 . Portions of the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 located on the other end side of the portion laid between the inner box 20 and the outer box 21 on the upper surface side of the housing 2 are located on the other side of the housing. It is pulled out of the body 2 . The portions of the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 that are drawn out of the housing 2 are drawn into the door inner space 36 through holes in the top side cap portion 32 of the opening/closing door 3a. The portions of the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 that are drawn into the interior of the door space 36 are laid inside the interior of the door space 36 .

Of the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 , part of the section laid inside the door inner space 36 is fixed to the front plate 31 by the fixing member 12 . Adhesive tape is used as the fixing member 12 in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment.

As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment includes the housing 2 in which the storage space 23 for storing the object to be cooled is formed and the opening is formed in front of the storage space 23, and the storage space 23 provided in front of the storage space 23. A door (opening/closing door 3a corresponds to this) that opens and closes the opening, an antenna part 111 that transmits radio waves to the external device 200 or receives radio waves from the external device 200 and is fixed to the door, and is cooled in the storage space 23. A cooling device 5 that supplies air, a control device 8 that controls the cooling device 5 and is fixed to the housing 2, and a connection line 10 that communicably connects the antenna unit 111 and the control device 8, and a door is a front plate 31 facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a metal material and a cover member facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a non-conductive material (corresponding to the operation unit cover 93) , and the antenna part 111 is fixed at a position where it does not overlap with the front plate 31 but overlaps with the cover member when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. In refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, since antenna section 111 is fixed to the door, communication between antenna section 111 and external device 200 is not hindered by the hinge section when external device 200 is positioned in front of the refrigerator. Effective. Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, when the antenna portion 111 is viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1, the front plate 31 formed of a metal material does not overlap the cover formed of a non-conductive material. Since the front plate 31 is fixed at a position overlapping the member, even if the front plate 31 is made of a metal material in order to increase the rigidity of the door, it is possible to prevent the front plate 31 from blocking the transmission or reception of radio waves by the antenna part 111. have the effect of

In addition, the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 has an additional configuration in which the door (corresponding to the opening/closing door 3a) has an operation unit 9 for receiving the user's operation of operating the refrigerator 1, and the cover member (operation unit An operation part case 92 forms a board storage space 94 together with a cover 93 , and an operation part board 91 in which electronic components are arranged and positioned in the board storage space 94 . It has a configuration located within the space 94 . With this additional configuration, the antenna section 111 can be accommodated inside the existing operation section 9, and there is no need to construct a new cover member for covering the antenna section 111, thereby reducing the cost. Play.

Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 has an additional configuration in which hole 31c is formed in front panel 31, and antenna 111 is located at a position overlapping hole 31c when refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. has a configuration that is fixed to This additional configuration has the effect of obtaining a structure in which the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position that does not overlap with the metal front panel 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front.

Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 also has a door (corresponding to opening/closing door 3a) having rear plate 34 located behind front plate 31 and facing storage space 23 as an additional configuration. A door inner space 36 is formed between 34 and the front plate 31, a connecting wire 10 fixed to the front plate 31 is laid in the door inner space 36, a foamed heat insulating material 35 is arranged, and the front plate 31 is a rear plate. It has a more rigid construction than 34. When the foamed heat insulating material 35 foams, stress is applied to the back plate 34 and the front plate 31 due to the expansion of the foamed heat insulating material 35 . In particular, the member to which the connecting wire 10 is fixed may be deformed due to uneven stress due to the expansion of the foamed heat insulating material 35 due to the thickness of the connecting wire. With this additional configuration, the connection wires 10 are fixed to the front plate 31 which is more rigid than the rear plate 34, so that the connection wires 10 are fixed more easily than when the connection wires 10 are fixed to the rear plate 34. There is an effect that it is possible to suppress deformation of the member.

A modification of refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

In refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, storage space 23 is partitioned into a plurality of storage compartments by partition member 25, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, it may be a refrigerator that does not have a partition member and that has only one storage compartment.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, the opening/closing door 3 is a double door, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be a refrigerator with a single door in which the opening of the housing 2 is closed by either one of an opening/closing door whose right end is supported by a hinge or an opening/closing door whose left end is supported by a hinge. do not have. In this case, the configuration of the single-opening door is substantially the same as the configuration of the opening/closing door 3a according to the first embodiment.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, the operation unit 9 and the wireless communication device 11 are provided on the opening/closing door 3a. I don't mind.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, the connection line 10 is laid between the inner case 20 and the outer case 21 on the upper surface side of the housing 2, but is not limited to this. For example, a section from one end of the connection wire 10 to a hole in the upper cap portion of the opening/closing door may be laid along the outer surface of the outer casing 21 .

Furthermore, in refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, adhesive tape is used as fixing member 12 for fixing connection line 10 to front plate 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connecting wire may be fixed to the front plate by forming a claw portion on the surface of the front plate facing the inner space of the door and hooking the connecting wire on the claw portion.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, all components of the wireless communication device 11 are located in the board storage space 94, but this is not the only option. At least the antenna section 111 for transmitting and receiving radio waves should be located in the substrate housing space 94 .

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, all components of the wireless communication device 11 are fixed in a position where they do not overlap the front plate 31 but overlap the operation unit cover 93 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. However, it is not limited to this. At least the antenna portion 111 for transmitting/receiving radio waves should be fixed at a position where it does not overlap the front plate 31 but overlaps the operation portion cover 93 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, the operation unit 9 is communicably connected to the control device 8 via the wireless communication device connection line 101, but the configuration is not limited to this. A connection line may be newly provided to connect the operation unit and the control device so as to be communicable without the wireless communication device.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1, the wireless communication device 11 and the operation portion board 91 are fixed to the operation portion case 92, but the present invention is not limited to this. The wireless communication device and the operating section board may be fixed to the operating section cover as long as the operating section board and the wireless communication device are located in the board storage space surrounded by the operating section case and the operating section cover.

Embodiment 2.
Next, refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 2 differs from refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the configuration of opening/closing door 3a. Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 2 has the same configuration as that of refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 except for opening/closing door 3a, and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a portion corresponding to the BB section in FIG. 4 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of region D in FIG. 9 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. The opening/closing door 3a includes an operation unit 9, a wireless communication device 11, a front plate 31, an upper surface side cap portion 32, a lower surface side cap portion 33, a rear plate 34, a foam insulation material 35, and vacuum insulation. material 37; A door inner space 36 is formed inside the opening/closing door 3a. The operation unit 9, the wireless communication device 11, the front plate 31, the upper surface side cap portion 32, the lower surface side cap portion 33, the rear plate 34, and the foam insulation material 35 are the same as those of the first embodiment. Since the configuration is the same as that of the same name, the description is omitted.

A foam heat insulating material 35 and a vacuum heat insulating material 37 are arranged in the door inner space 36 . The vacuum heat insulating material 37 is a heat insulating material that has a core surrounded by a film and the inside of the film is in a vacuum state. In addition, the vacuum heat insulating material 37 is positioned closer to the back plate 34 than the foam heat insulating material 35 is. That is, the foam heat insulating material 35 is arranged between the vacuum heat insulating material 37 and the front panel 31 .

As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment is a housing in which a storage space 23 for storing an object to be cooled is formed inside and an opening is formed in front of the storage space 23, similarly to the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. a body 2, a door provided in front of the storage space 23 for opening and closing the opening (opening/closing door 3a corresponds to this), and an antenna fixed to the door for transmitting radio waves to or receiving radio waves from the external device 200. 111, the cooling device 5 that supplies cooled air to the storage space 23, the control device 8 that controls the cooling device 5 and is fixed to the housing 2, and the antenna section 111 and the control device 8 can communicate with each other. The front plate 31 facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a metal material and the door facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a non-conductive material. The antenna part 111 is fixed at a position where it does not overlap the front plate 31 but overlaps the cover member when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. With this configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment has the same effects as those described in the first embodiment.

In the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 2, as an additional configuration, the connecting wire 10 fixed to the front plate 31 is laid in the door inner space 36, and the foam heat insulating material 35 and the vacuum heat insulating material 37 are arranged. The vacuum heat insulating material 37 is located closer to the back plate 34 than the foam heat insulating material 35 is. Here, in order to compare with the additional configuration, a case where the connecting wire is fixed to the front plate and the vacuum heat insulating material is positioned closer to the front plate than the foam heat insulating material will be described. When the connecting wire is fixed to the front plate and the vacuum heat insulating material is positioned closer to the front plate than the foam heat insulating material, the connecting wire is fixed between the vacuum heat insulating material and the front plate. When the foamed heat insulating material is foamed with the connecting wire fixed between the vacuum heat insulating material and the front plate, the stress due to the expansion of the foamed heat insulating material concentrates on the portion where the vacuum heat insulating material and the connecting wire are in contact with each other due to the thickness of the connecting wire. Concentration of stress may damage the vacuum heat insulating material and impair the heat insulation performance of the vacuum heat insulating material. On the other hand, in the additional configuration, the vacuum heat insulating material 37 is positioned closer to the back plate 34 than the foam heat insulating material 35, so the foam heat insulating material 35 is positioned in the space between the vacuum heat insulating material 37 and the connection line 10. , the stress concentration due to the thickness of the connection line and the expansion of the foamed heat insulating material 35 is suppressed. Therefore, by having the additional configuration, damage to the vacuum heat insulating material can be suppressed compared to the case where the vacuum heat insulating material is positioned closer to the front plate than the foam heat insulating material.

Embodiment 3.
Next, refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 3 will be described. Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 3 differs from refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the configuration of opening/closing door 3a. Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 3 has the same configuration as that of refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 except for opening/closing door 3a, and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the front surface of a refrigerator and external devices according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 12 is a front view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the EE cross section in FIG. 12 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment. 14 is an enlarged view of region F in FIG. 13 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 16 is a back view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3. FIG. For the sake of explanation, illustration of the heat insulating foam material 35 is omitted in FIG. 15 , and illustration of the back plate 34 and the heat insulating foam material 35 is omitted in FIG. 16 . The opening/closing door 3a includes an operation unit 9, a wireless communication device 11, a front plate 31, an upper surface side cap portion 32, a lower surface side cap portion 33, a rear plate 34, a foam insulation material 35, and side portions. and a side cap portion 38 . Here, the upper surface side cap portion 32, the lower surface side cap portion 33, the back plate 34, and the foamed heat insulating material 35 are the same as the upper surface portion side cap portion 32 and the lower surface portion side cap portion 32 described in the first embodiment. Since it is the same as the cap part 33, the back plate 34, and the foamed heat insulating material 35, the description thereof is omitted.

The front panel 31 is a member that forms part of the front surface and the left side surface of the opening/closing door 3a. When the open/close door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the front plate 31 is a member that faces the space outside the storage space 23 . The front plate 31 is formed in a substantially L shape by bending the end of the metal plate on the left side toward the back side. The front plate 31 is a member that faces the space outside the storage space 23 when the open/close door 3a closes the opening of the housing 2 . A portion of the front plate 31 that is bent up and constitutes the left side portion of the opening/closing door 3a is referred to as a front plate side portion 31a. A portion of the front panel 31 that is not bent and forms the front surface of the opening/closing door 3a is referred to as a front panel base 31b. Unlike the front plate 31 of the first embodiment, the hole 31c is not formed in the front plate base 31b.

The side cap portion 38 is a member that constitutes a part of the front portion and the right side portion of the opening/closing door 3a. The side cap portion 38 is attached to the end portion of the front plate base portion 31 b of the front plate 31 on the right side portion side. When the opening/closing door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the side cap portion 38 faces the space outside the storage space 23 . A concave portion 38a recessed toward the back side is provided in a portion of the side cap portion 38 that constitutes the front portion of the opening/closing door 3a. Also, the side cap portion 38 is provided with a handle 38b that the user grips when opening and closing the opening/closing door 3a.

The front side of the opening/closing door 3a is covered with the front plate base 31b and the side cap portion 38, the rear side is covered with the rear plate 34, and the left side is covered with the front plate side portion 31a. , the right side is covered with the side side cap portion 38, the top side is covered with the top side cap portion 32, and the bottom side is covered with the bottom side cap portion 33, forming a door inner space 36. be. A foam heat insulating material 35 is arranged in the door inner space 36 in the same manner as in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.

The operation portion 9 is integrated with the side portion side cap portion 38 . Further, the operating section 9 has an operating section substrate 91 and an operating section cover 93 . Note that the operation part board 91 and the operation part cover 93 are the same as the operation part board 91 and the operation part cover 93 of Embodiment 1 except for the shape and the mounting position, so the description of the same parts is omitted. do.

The operating portion cover 93 is attached to the side portion side cap portion 38 so as to cover the concave portion 38a. The operation section cover 93 is shaped so that when it is attached to the side cap section 38 , it becomes flat with no difference in level with the side cap section 38 . Further, by attaching the operating portion cover 93 to the side portion side cap portion 38, a board storage space 94 surrounded by the concave portion 38a and the operating portion cover 93 is formed.

The operating section board 91 is located in the board storage space 94 . Also, the operation section substrate 91 is fixed to the recess 38a. Therefore, the concave portion 38a of the side cap portion 38 corresponds to the operation portion case.

The radio communication device 11 has an antenna section 111 , a modem section 112 and a radio communication board 113 . Note that the antenna section 111, the modulation/demodulation section 112, and the wireless communication board 113 are the same as the antenna section 111, the modulation/demodulation section 112, and the wireless communication board 113 of Embodiment 1 except for the fixed positions. Description of the parts is omitted.

A wireless communication board 113 provided with an antenna section 111 and a modulation/demodulation section 112 is positioned in the board housing space 94 . Also, the wireless communication board 113 is fixed to the recess 38a. Furthermore, the front side of the antenna section 111 is covered with the operation section cover 93 . Therefore, the operation section cover 93 corresponds to the cover member.

Further, the operation unit board 91 and the wireless communication board 113 are provided with wiring for electrically connecting the respective boards.

Here, the positional relationship among the antenna section 111, the front plate 31, and the operation section cover 93 will be described. The antenna section 111 is positioned in the substrate housing space 94 of the side cap section 38 . Therefore, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position not overlapping the front panel 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Further, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position overlapping the operation section cover 93 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Note that the refrigerator 1 viewed from the front is, in other words, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front plate base portion 31b of the front plate 31 .

Next, the connection line 10 will be described. The connection line 10 is composed of a wireless communication device connection line 101 and a defrosting heater connection line 102 . Regarding the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrost heater connection line 102, the length of the wireless communication device connection line 101 is shortened due to the change in the mounting position of the wireless communication device 11. It is similar to the device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 . Therefore, also in the refrigerator of the third embodiment, the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 are laid inside the inner door space 36 . Also, the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 are fixed to the front plate 31 by the fixing member 12 .

As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment is a housing in which a storage space 23 for storing an object to be cooled is formed inside and an opening is formed in front of the storage space 23, similarly to the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. a body 2, a door provided in front of the storage space 23 for opening and closing the opening (opening/closing door 3a corresponds to this), and an antenna fixed to the door for transmitting radio waves to or receiving radio waves from the external device 200. 111, the cooling device 5 that supplies cooled air to the storage space 23, the control device 8 that controls the cooling device 5 and is fixed to the housing 2, and the antenna section 111 and the control device 8 can communicate with each other. The front plate 31 facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a metal material and the door facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a non-conductive material. The antenna part 111 is fixed at a position where it does not overlap the front plate 31 but overlaps the cover member when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. With this configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment has the same effects as those described in the first embodiment.

Further, as an additional configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment has a door (corresponding to the opening/closing door 3a), which is an operation unit for receiving the operation of the refrigerator by the user, as in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. 9, an operation unit case (corresponding to the recess 38a) forming a board storage space 94 together with a cover member (corresponding to the operation unit cover 93); , and the antenna section 111 is positioned in the substrate housing space 94 . This additional configuration can provide the same effect as the similar additional configuration described in the first embodiment.

As an additional configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 3 has a door (corresponding to the opening/closing door 3a) that faces the space outside the storage space 23 and is attached to the side of the front plate 31. The cap portion 28 is provided, and the operating portion case (corresponding to the recessed portion 38 a ) has a configuration that is a part of the side portion side cap portion 38 . With this additional configuration, there is no need to form the hole 31c, so that compared with the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment, the cost for processing the front panel can be reduced.

A modification of refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 3 will be described.

In the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 3, the operation unit 9 and the wireless communication device 11 are provided on the opening/closing door 3a. I do not care. For example, when the operation unit 9 and the wireless communication device 11 are provided on the opening/closing door 3b, the configurations of the front plate and the side cap portion are different in the following parts. The front plate is a member that constitutes a part of the front portion and the right side portion of the opening/closing door 3b, and is formed into a substantially L shape by bending the end portion of the metal plate on the right side portion toward the rear portion side. . The side cap portion is a member that forms part of the front portion and the left side portion of the open/close door 3b, and is attached to the end portion of the front plate on the left side portion side.

Embodiment 4.
Next, refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4 will be described. Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4 differs from refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the configuration of opening/closing door 3a. Note that the configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4 is the same as that of the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 except for the opening/closing door 3a, so the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a GG cross section in FIG. 17 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of region H in FIG. 18 of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of an opening/closing door of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 4. FIG. For the sake of explanation, illustration of the heat insulating foam material 35 is omitted in FIG. 20 . The opening/closing door 3a includes an operation unit 9, a wireless communication device 11, a front plate 31, an upper surface side cap portion 32, a lower surface side cap portion 33, a rear plate 34, a foam insulation material 35, and side portions. and a side cap portion 38 . Here, the upper surface side cap portion 32, the lower surface side cap portion 33, the back plate 34, and the foamed heat insulating material 35 are the same as the upper surface portion side cap portion 32 and the lower surface portion side cap described in Embodiment 1. Since it is the same as that of the part 33, the back plate 34, and the foamed heat insulating material 35, description is abbreviate|omitted.

The front panel 31 is a member forming part of the front surface of the opening/closing door 3a. When the open/close door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the front plate 31 is a member that faces the space outside the storage space 23 . Unlike the front panel 31 of the first embodiment, the front panel 31 is not bent at the right side end and the left side end. Therefore, the front plate side portion 31a is not formed on the front plate 31. As shown in FIG. The hole 31c is formed at the end of the front plate 31 on the right side.

The opening/closing door 3 a has two side cap portions 38 . Here, the side cap portion 38, which is a member attached to the right side end of the front plate 31 and constitutes a part of the front portion and the right side portion of the opening/closing door 3a, is replaced with the right side cap portion 38c. called. The side cap portion 38 attached to the left side end of the front plate 31 and constituting the left side portion of the opening/closing door 3a is referred to as a left side cap portion 38d. When the opening/closing door 3 a closes the opening of the housing 2 , the right side cap portion 38 c and the left side cap portion 38 d face the space outside the storage space 23 .

A portion of the right side cap portion 38c that constitutes the front portion of the opening/closing door 3a is provided with a concave portion 38a recessed toward the rear portion side. Further, a protruding portion 38e protruding toward the front side is formed at the edge of the recessed portion 38a. The recessed portion 38a and the projecting portion 38e are fixed at positions overlapping with the hole portion 31c when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. In other words, the concave portion 38a and the projecting portion 38e are fixed at positions that do not overlap the front panel 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Further, when the right side cap portion 38 c is attached to the front plate 31 , the protruding portion 38 e protrudes forward from the front plate 31 .

The opening/closing door 3a is covered with a front plate base 31b and a right side cap portion 38c on the front side, a rear plate 34 on the back side, and a left side cap portion 38d on the left side, The right side is covered with the right side cap portion 38c, the top side is covered with the top side cap portion 32, and the bottom side is covered with the bottom side cap portion 33 to form a door inner space 36. . A foam heat insulating material 35 is arranged in the door inner space 36 as in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.

The operation portion 9 is integrated with the side portion side cap portion 38 . Further, the operating section 9 has an operating section substrate 91 and an operating section cover 93 . Note that the operation part board 91 and the operation part cover 93 are the same as the operation part board 91 and the operation part cover 93 of Embodiment 1 except for the shape and the mounting position, so the description of the same parts will be omitted. .

Further, the operating portion cover 93 is attached to the right side cap portion 38c so as to cover the concave portion 38a from the front. The operation section cover 93 has a shape such that when it is attached to the right side cap section 38c, it becomes flat without a step from the protrusion 38e of the right side cap section 38c. Further, by attaching the operating portion cover 93 to the side portion side cap portion 38, a board storage space 94 surrounded by the concave portion 38a, the projecting portion 38e, and the operating portion cover 93 is formed. Therefore, a portion of the substrate storage space 94 is located forward of the front plate 31 .

The operating section board 91 is located in the board storage space 94 . Also, the operation section substrate 91 is fixed to the recess 38a. The concave portion 38a of the side cap portion 38 corresponds to the operation portion case.

The radio communication device 11 has an antenna section 111 , a modem section 112 and a radio communication board 113 . Note that the antenna section 111, the modulation/demodulation section 112, and the wireless communication board 113 are the same as the antenna section 111, the modulation/demodulation section 112, and the wireless communication board 113, except for the positions where they are fixed. do.

A wireless communication board 113 provided with an antenna section 111 and a modulation/demodulation section 112 is positioned in the board housing space 94 . Also, the wireless communication board 113 is fixed to the recess 38a. Furthermore, the front side of the antenna section 111 is covered with the operation section cover 93 . Therefore, the operation section cover 93 corresponds to the cover member.

Further, the operation unit board 91 and the wireless communication board 113 are provided with wiring for electrically connecting the respective boards.

Here, the positional relationship among the antenna section 111, the front plate 31, and the operation section cover 93 will be described. The antenna section 111 is positioned inside the substrate housing space 94 . Further, the antenna portion 111 is fixed at a position overlapping the hole portion 31c formed in the front plate 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Therefore, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position not overlapping the front panel 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Further, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position overlapping the operation section cover 93 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Note that the refrigerator 1 viewed from the front is, in other words, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front plate base portion 31b of the front plate 31 .

Further, the antenna section 111 is located forward of the front plate 31 . That is, the antenna section 111, the front panel 31, and the operation section cover 93 are arranged in the order of the operation section cover 93, the antenna section 111, and the front panel 31 from the front side.

Next, the connection line 10 will be described. The connection line 10 is composed of a wireless communication device connection line 101 and a defrosting heater connection line 102 . Regarding the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrost heater connection line 102, the length of the wireless communication device connection line 101 is shortened due to the change in the mounting position of the wireless communication device 11. It is similar to the device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 . Therefore, also in the refrigerator of the fourth embodiment, the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 are laid inside the inner space 36 of the door. Also, the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 are fixed to the front plate 31 by the fixing member 12 .

As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment is a housing in which the storage space 23 for storing the object to be cooled is formed inside and the opening is formed in front of the storage space 23, similarly to the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. a body 2, a door provided in front of the storage space 23 for opening and closing the opening (opening/closing door 3a corresponds to this), and an antenna fixed to the door for transmitting radio waves to or receiving radio waves from the external device 200. 111, the cooling device 5 that supplies cooled air to the storage space 23, the control device 8 that controls the cooling device 5 and is fixed to the housing 2, and the antenna section 111 and the control device 8 can communicate with each other. The front plate 31 facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a metal material and the door facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a non-conductive material. The antenna part 111 is fixed at a position where it does not overlap the front plate 31 but overlaps the cover member when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. With this configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment has the same effects as those described in the first embodiment.

Further, as an additional configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment has a door (corresponding to the opening/closing door 3a), which is an operation unit for receiving the operation of the refrigerator by the user, as in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. 9, an operation unit case (corresponding to the recess 38a) forming a board storage space 94 together with a cover member (corresponding to the operation unit cover 93); , and the antenna section 111 is positioned in the substrate housing space 94 . This additional configuration produces the same effect as the similar additional configuration described in the first embodiment.

As an additional configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4 has a door (corresponding to the opening/closing door 3a) that faces the space outside the storage space 23 and is attached to the side of the front plate 31. It has a cap portion 28 , and the operation portion case (corresponding to the recessed portion 38 a ) has a configuration provided on the side portion side cap portion 38 . With this additional configuration, there is no need to form the hole 31c, so that compared with the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment, the cost for processing the front panel can be reduced.

Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4 has an additional configuration in which projecting portion 38e projecting forward from front plate 31 is formed in operation portion case (corresponding to recessed portion 38a), and circuit board storage space 94 is provided for operation. It is a space surrounded by a case, a protrusion 38e, and a cover member (which corresponds to the operation section cover 93). With this additional configuration, the antenna section 111 can transmit and receive radio waves over a wider range than when the wireless communication device 11 is positioned behind the front panel 31 .

A modification of the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4 will be described.

In the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4, the operation unit 9 and the wireless communication device 11 are provided on the opening/closing door 3a. I do not care. For example, when the operation unit 9 and the wireless communication device 11 are provided on the opening/closing door 3b, the configurations of the front plate and the side cap portion are different in the following parts. The front plate is provided with a hole at the end on the left side. Further, the side cap portion has a concave portion and a projecting portion formed in the left side cap portion.

Furthermore, in the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 4, the right side cap portion 38c is provided with the recessed portion 38a, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the right side cap portion 38c, only the protruding portion that protrudes toward the front side may be provided in a portion forming the front portion of the opening/closing door, and the recess portion 38a may not be provided. In this case, the operating section cover is attached to the protruding section, and a board storage space is formed surrounded by a portion of the right side cap section, the protruding section, and the operating section cover. For this reason, a part of the right side cap portion forming a circuit board storage space together with the projecting portion and the operating portion cover corresponds to the operating portion case.

Furthermore, the operation part case, which is an additional configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment, is formed with a projecting part 38e projecting forward from the front plate, and the board storage space 94 is formed by the operation part case, the projecting part, and the cover. The configuration in which the antenna section 111 is located in front of the front plate may be added not only when a part of the side section side cap section is the operation section case. For example, the additional configuration may be added even when the operation portion case is provided separately from the side portion side cap portion as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 5.
Next, refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 5 will be described. Refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 5 differs from refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the configuration of opening/closing door 3a. Note that the configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 5 is the same as that of the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 1 except for the opening/closing door 3a, so the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 21 is a rear view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5. FIG. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the upper surface side cap portion of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5. FIG. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the opening/closing door of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5, taken along the line II in FIG. The opening/closing door 3a includes an operation unit 9, a wireless communication device 11, a front plate 31, an upper surface side cap portion 32, a lower surface side cap portion 33, a rear plate 34, a foam insulation material 35, and side portions. and a side cap portion 38 . Here, the lower surface side cap portion 33, the rear plate 34, and the foam insulation material 35 are the same as the lower surface portion side cap portion 33, the rear plate 34, and the foam insulation material 35 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the explanation is omitted. Further, the operation portion 9, the front plate 31, and the side portion side cap portion 38 are the same as the operation portion 9, the front plate 31, and the side portion side cap portion 38 described in the third embodiment. omitted.

A concave portion 32b recessed toward the lower surface portion is formed in the upper surface portion side cap portion 32 . The concave portion 32b has a surface on the lower surface portion side and a surface on the front surface portion side, and has a substantially L-shaped cross section along the cross section line II. Here, the surface of the recess 32b on the front side is referred to as a recess front surface 32c, and the surface of the recess 32b on the bottom side is referred to as a recess bottom surface 32d. Further, a through hole 32e passing through the upper cap portion 32 is formed in the recessed lower surface portion 32d.

An upper cap portion cover 32f, which is a part of the upper cap portion 32, is attached to the upper cap portion 32 so as to cover the recess 32b. By attaching the upper cap section cover 32f to the upper cap section 32, an antenna housing space 32g surrounded by the recess 32b and the operation section cover 93f is formed. Here, the upper surface portion side cap portion 32 and the upper surface portion side cap portion cover 32f are each non-conductive and made of resin, for example.

In addition, the opening/closing door 3a is formed with a door inner space 36 in which a foam insulating material 35 is arranged. The door inner space 36 and the antenna portion storage space 32g communicate with each other through the through hole 32e.

The radio communication device 11 has an antenna section 111 , a modem section 112 and a radio communication board 113 . Note that the antenna section 111, the modulation/demodulation section 112, and the wireless communication board 113 are the same as the antenna section 111, the modulation/demodulation section 112, and the wireless communication board 113 of Embodiment 1 except for the position where the antenna section 111 is fixed. , the description of the same parts will be omitted.

The antenna section 111 is located in the antenna section storage space 32g. Further, the antenna portion 111 is fixed to the concave front portion 32c. Furthermore, the front part of the antenna part 111 is covered forward by the concave front part 32c. For this reason, the concave front surface portion 32c corresponds to the cover member.

Also, the modulation/demodulation section 112 is provided on the wireless communication board 113 , but the antenna section 111 is not provided on the wireless communication board 113 . The wireless communication board 113 provided with the modulation/demodulation section 112 is located in the board storage space 94 of the side cap section 38 . Also, the wireless communication board 113 is fixed to the recess 38a.

Further, the operation unit board 91 and the wireless communication board 113 are provided with wiring for electrically connecting the respective boards.

Here, the positional relationship among the antenna portion 111, the front plate 31, and the concave front portion 32c will be described. The antenna section 111 is located in the antenna section storage space 32g. Therefore, the antenna section 111 is fixed at a position not overlapping the front panel 31 when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Further, the antenna portion 111 is fixed at a position overlapping the concave front portion 32c when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. Note that the refrigerator 1 viewed from the front is, in other words, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the front plate base portion 31b of the front plate 31 .

Next, the connection line 10 will be described. The connection line 10 includes a wireless communication device connection line 101 , a defrosting heater connection line 102 , and an antenna section connection line 103 . Regarding the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrost heater connection line 102, the length of the wireless communication device connection line 101 is shortened due to the change in the mounting position of the wireless communication device 11. It is similar to the device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 . Therefore, also in the refrigerator of the fourth embodiment, the wireless communication device connection line 101 and the defrosting heater connection line 102 are laid inside the inner space 36 of the door.

The antenna section connection line 103 is wiring that connects the antenna section 111 and the modulation/demodulation section 112 so as to be able to communicate with each other. One end of the antenna section connection line 103 is connected to the control device 8 and the other end is connected to a wiring pattern electrically connected to the modem section 112 of the wireless communication board 113 or to the modem section 112 . The antenna section connection line 103 is laid inside the antenna section storage space 32g, the through hole 32e, and the interior space 36 of the door.

Also, the wireless communication device connection line 101 , the defrosting heater connection line 102 and the antenna section connection line 103 are fixed to the front plate 31 by the fixing member 12 .

As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment is a housing in which a storage space 23 for storing an object to be cooled is formed inside and an opening is formed in front of the storage space 23 in the same manner as the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. a body 2, a door provided in front of the storage space 23 for opening and closing the opening (opening/closing door 3a corresponds to this), and an antenna fixed to the door for transmitting radio waves to or receiving radio waves from the external device 200. 111, the cooling device 5 that supplies cooled air to the storage space 23, the control device 8 that controls the cooling device 5 and is fixed to the housing 2, and the antenna section 111 and the control device 8 can communicate with each other. The front plate 31 facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a metal material and the door facing the space outside the storage space 23 and formed of a non-conductive material. The antenna part 111 is fixed at a position where it does not overlap the front plate 31 but overlaps the cover member when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. With this configuration, the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment has the same effects as those described in the first embodiment.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 5 has, as an additional configuration, an upper surface side cap portion 32 facing the space outside the storage space 23 and provided above the front plate 31, and the antenna portion 111 is positioned inside the upper cap portion 32 . With this additional configuration, the front panel 31 is not positioned above the antenna section 111, unlike the case where the antenna section 111 is positioned inside the side cap section 38 as in the third embodiment. This has the effect of enabling transmission and reception of radio waves over a wider range.

A modification of refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 5 will be described.

In the refrigerator 1 according to Embodiment 5, the antenna section 111 is positioned in the antenna section storage space 32g, and the modem section 112 and the wireless communication board 113 are positioned in the board storage space 94, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the modulation/demodulation unit and the wireless communication base unit may be accommodated in the antenna unit accommodation space as well as the antenna unit. For example, when the modulation/demodulation unit and the wireless communication board are housed in the antenna unit housing space, the configuration of the refrigerator 1 differs in the following parts. The antenna section connection line 103, the wiring for electrically connecting the operation section board 91 and the wireless communication board 113, and the through hole 32e are eliminated. The refrigerator includes an operation unit connection line that communicably connects the operation unit and the control unit. The operation unit connection line is laid between the inner box 20 and the outer box 21 on the upper surface side of the housing 2 and inside the door inner space 36 . The wireless communication device connection line is not laid inside the door inner space 36 , but is laid inside the upper cap portion 32 .

In Embodiments 1 to 5, an example in which the cover member corresponds to the operation portion cover 93 and the concave front portion 32c has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any member that faces the space outside the storage space, is made of a non-conductive material, and is positioned to overlap the antenna section when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, corresponds to the cover member.

Hereinafter, various forms of the present disclosure will be collectively described as appendices.

(Appendix 1)
a housing in which a storage space for storing a cooling target is formed and an opening is formed in front of the storage space;
a door provided in front of the storage space for opening and closing the opening;
An antenna unit that transmits radio waves to an external device or receives radio waves from the external device and is fixed to the door;
a cooling device that supplies cooled air to the storage space;
a control device that controls the cooling device and is fixed to the housing;
a connection line that communicably connects the antenna unit and the control device;
a refrigerator comprising
The door has a front plate facing the space outside the storage space and made of a metal material, and a cover member facing the space outside the storage space and made of a non-conductive material. ,
The antenna unit is fixed at a position overlapping the cover member without overlapping with the front panel when the refrigerator is viewed from the front,
The door has a case that forms a board storage space together with the cover member,
the antenna unit is positioned in the board storage space,
the case is formed with a protruding portion that protrudes forward from the front plate,
The substrate storage space is a space surrounded by the protrusion and the cover member,
refrigerator.
(Appendix 2)
Having a hinge metal fitting and a hinge cover covering the hinge metal fitting,
The door is rotatably supported around the hinge fitting,
an upper surface side cap portion facing the space outside the storage space and provided above the front plate and formed with a hole;
The connection line communicably connects the antenna section and the control device via the hole in the cap section on the upper surface side and the portion of the upper surface section of the housing covered by the hinge cover. The refrigerator according to Supplementary Note 1.
(Appendix 3)
The door has an operation unit that receives a user's operation of operating the refrigerator,
3. The refrigerator according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the operation unit includes the case, and an operation unit substrate in which electronic components are arranged and located in the substrate storage space.
(Appendix 4)
4. The refrigerator according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the antenna section is located forward of the front panel.

Reference Signs List 1 refrigerator, 2 housing, 3 opening/closing door, 3a opening/closing door, 3b opening/closing door, 4 drawer door, 5 cooling device, 6 hinge portion, 7 transportation handle, 8 control device, 9 operation portion, 10 connection line, 11 wireless communication Apparatus 12 Fixing member 20 Inner box 21 Outer box 22 Heat insulating material 23 Storage space 23a Refrigerator compartment 23b Ice making compartment 23c Switching compartment 23d Freezer compartment 23e Vegetable compartment 24 Cooling compartment space 25 Partition member , 26 control device storage portion, 27 control device cover, 31 front plate, 31a front plate side portion, 31b front plate base portion, 31c hole portion, 32 upper surface portion side cap portion, 32a support portion, 32b concave portion, 32c concave front portion, 32d recess lower surface portion 32e through hole 32f upper surface portion side cap portion cover 32g antenna portion storage space 33 lower surface portion side cap portion 33a support portion 33b handle 34 rear plate 35 foam insulation material 36 door interior Space 37 Vacuum insulation material 38 Side cap portion 38a Recessed portion 38b Handle 38c Right side cap portion 38d Left side cap portion 38e Protruding portion 51 Compressor 52 Cooler 53 Interior Fan 54 Damper 61 Hinge metal fitting 62 Hinge cover 91 Operation unit board 92 Operation unit case 92a Center part 92b End 93 Operation unit cover 94 Board storage space 101 Wireless communication device connection line 102 Defrost Heater connection line 103 Antenna section connection line 111 Antenna section 112 Modem section 113 Wireless communication board 200 External device.

Claims (4)

a housing in which a storage space for storing a cooling target is formed and an opening is formed in front of the storage space;
a door provided in front of the storage space for opening and closing the opening;
An antenna unit that transmits radio waves to an external device or receives radio waves from the external device and is fixed to the door;
a cooling device that supplies cooled air to the storage space;
a control device that controls the cooling device and is fixed to the housing;
a connection line that communicably connects the antenna unit and the control device;
a refrigerator comprising
The door has a front plate facing the space outside the storage space and made of a metal material, and a cover member facing the space outside the storage space and made of a non-conductive material. ,
The antenna unit is fixed at a position overlapping the cover member without overlapping the front panel when the refrigerator is viewed from the front,
The door has a case that forms a board storage space together with the cover member,
The antenna section is positioned in the board storage space,
The case is formed with a protruding portion that protrudes forward from the front plate,
The substrate storage space is a space surrounded by the protrusion and the cover member,
refrigerator. Having a hinge metal fitting and a hinge cover covering the hinge metal fitting,
The door is rotatably supported around the hinge fitting,
an upper surface side cap portion facing the space outside the storage space and provided above the front plate and formed with a hole;
The connection line communicably connects the antenna section and the control device via the hole in the cap section on the upper surface side and the portion of the upper surface section of the housing covered with the hinge cover. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The door has an operation unit that receives a user's operation for operating the refrigerator,
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit has said case and an operation unit substrate on which electronic components are arranged and located in said substrate storage space. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said antenna portion is located forward of said front plate.

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