JP3507742B2 - Non-contact communication device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a contactless communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a non-contact communication device of this type is provided between an operation section provided on a door and a control section provided on the main body side, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-871. 2. Description of the Related Art There are some which are provided with a transmission / reception means for exchanging signals by non-contact.

[0003]

In the non-contact communication device as described above, it is necessary to cover the communication device in order to prevent dust and moisture from entering the communication device. In some cases, the cover may interfere with the communication. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to reliably send and receive signals by non-contact, and in order to reliably send and receive signals by non-contact, an opening is provided in the cover on the opposite side of the transmitter / receiver unit. There is a possibility that dust and water may enter the inside from the opening of the cover of the transmitter / receiver when the opening is provided, and the intrusion may hinder transmission and reception. There were challenges.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A contactless communication device of the present invention.
The refrigerator equipped with is a solution to the above problems.
A refrigerator of the present invention includes a first light emitting unit for transmitting an optical signal, a first device provided with at least one of a first light receiving unit for receiving an optical signal, and an optical signal from the first light emitting unit. A second light receiving section for transmitting light signals and a second light receiving section for transmitting an optical signal to the first light receiving section.
A second device in which at least one of the light emitting parts is provided corresponding to the first device, and the first light emitting part and the second device.
A light receiving unit or a second light emitting unit and a first light receiving unit perform non-contact transmission / reception of an optical signal, and a cover for covering the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is provided, and the light emitting unit or the light receiving unit of the cover is provided. opposed portions is Ri thin der, the second device door
Above the first device and the first device is connected to the second device.
Provided facing each other, at least a part of the first device is
Floated from the inner surface of the cover is characterized in Rukoto provided space.

The refrigerator of the present invention includes a first light emitting portion for transmitting an optical signal and a first device provided with at least one of the first light receiving portion for receiving an optical signal, and the first light emitting portion. A second light receiving unit for receiving the optical signal of the second optical device, and a second device in which at least one of the second light emitting unit for transmitting the optical signal to the first light receiving unit is provided corresponding to the first device. And transmitting and receiving an optical signal in a non-contact manner between the first light emitting portion and the second light receiving portion, or between the second light emitting portion and the first light receiving portion,
The second device is provided upward above the door, and the first device is provided downward at a position facing the second device,
A cover for covering the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit is provided, and an opening is provided in the cover on the first device side at a position facing the first light emitting unit or the first light receiving unit. It is characterized by.

The refrigerator of the present invention is provided with an oscillation circuit, a first coil connected to the oscillation circuit, a first light emitting portion for transmitting an optical signal, and a first light receiving portion for receiving an optical signal. The first device provided and the second coil that is electromagnetically inductively coupled to the first coil are provided, the second light receiving unit that receives the optical signal from the first light emitting unit is provided, and the optical signal is sent to the first light receiving unit. A second device provided with a second light emitting unit for transmitting, and non-contact power supply from the first device to the second device via the first and second coils, and the first light emitting unit. And the second light receiving section,
In addition, non-contact optical signal transmission / reception is performed between the second light emitting section and the first light receiving section, the second device is provided above the door, and the main body side of the position facing the second device is provided. The first
And a cover for covering the light emitting part and the light receiving part, and at least a part of the first device is provided with the cover.
A space is provided to float from the inner surface of the first device, and an opening is provided in the cover on the first device side at a position facing the first light emitting unit and the first light receiving unit, and the second device is provided. With the device side cover of
The portion facing the second light emitting portion and the second light receiving portion is a thin film.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a non-contact communication device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with the non-contact communication device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the non-contact communication device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a non-contact communication device of the present invention. It is an upper side sectional view of a refrigerator provided with.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a refrigerator body, 2 is a refrigerator compartment door, 3 is a control unit, 4 is an information display / input device, 5 is a protruding member provided on the refrigerator body 1, and 6 is the control unit 3. A lead wire that electrically connects the power supply unit 7 and a lead wire 9 that electrically connects the power reception unit 8 and the information display / input device 4.

The refrigerator body 1 is divided into separate compartments such as a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezer compartment, and a front door of each compartment is provided with an openable / closable door. The refrigerating compartment door 2 is provided on the front surface corresponding to the compartment.

The refrigerator body 1 is provided with the control section 3 for controlling the operation of the refrigerator. The control unit 3 controls the temperature of the refrigerator compartment, the vegetable compartment, the freezer compartment, etc. by controlling the operation of the compressor and the fan motor (not shown) in the refrigerator. Moreover, the power supply operation to the refrigerating compartment door 2 and the control relating to the signal transmission to and from the refrigerating compartment door 2 are also performed.

The information display / input device 4 is provided on the front surface of the refrigerating compartment door 2 at a height that is easy for the user to operate. The information display / input device 4 includes an information display unit 4
It has a and an information input section 4b. The information display section 4
In a, information obtained from the refrigerator body 1 side or the like (for example: temperature and humidity in the refrigerator, residual water amount in a cold water machine or an ice making water tank provided in the refrigerator body 1, the amount of ice in an automatic ice making machine, the inside of the refrigerator) It is possible to display the type and storage period of the stored item, the content of the message, the presence or absence of the message, etc., if the message is stored.

By operating the information input section 4b, the user can set the target value of the inside temperature and automatically turn on / off.
The setting of the FF timer, the setting of the rapid cooling mode, the input of a message, etc. can be performed without opening the refrigerating compartment door 2.

The height of the information display / input device 4 is such that a woman can easily perform an input operation and a man, a woman, and a child can view and operate the device together,
The height from the floor is preferably set to 850 mm to 1200 mm, and it is generally preferable to set the center of the operating portion to be about 1120 mm from the floor.

Further, since power is supplied from the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerating compartment door 2 and signals are transmitted between the refrigerator body 1 and the refrigerating compartment door 2 in a non-contact manner, the power feeding section 7 and the power receiving section 8 are provided. And the power feeding unit 7 is attached downward below the projecting member 5 provided in the refrigerator main body 1, and the power receiving unit 8 faces the power feeding unit 7 so that the refrigerator compartment door 2 is provided. Is provided above. When the refrigerating compartment door 2 is in the closed state, the power feeding portion 7 and the power receiving portion 8 face each other with a slight gap therebetween, and the refrigerating compartment door 2 is provided so as to be openable and closable. There is.

The power feeding unit 7 is connected to the control unit 3 by a lead wire 6, and power transmission and signal transmission between the power feeding unit 7 and the control unit 3 are performed by wire. The power receiving unit 8 is connected to the information display / input device 4 by a lead wire 9, and power transmission and signal transmission between the power receiving unit 8 and the information display / input device 4 are also performed by wire.

In FIG. 2, optical communication is used as signal transmission means between the refrigerator body 1 and the refrigerator compartment door 2. The power feeding unit 7, which is the power feeding side, has a power feeding oscillation unit 10, a first coil 11, a first light emitting unit 12, and a first light receiving unit 13.

The control unit 3 which receives power from the commercial power supply controls the oscillation operation of the power supply oscillation unit 10 to supply power to the refrigerating compartment door 2 on the power receiving side. First light emitting unit 12 and first light receiving unit 13
To transmit and receive optical signals to and from the refrigerator compartment door 2. The control unit 3 also has a function of rectifying alternating current from a commercial power source.

Further, the power receiving section 8 provided on the refrigerating compartment door 2 on the power receiving side has a second coil 14, a constant voltage section 15, a second light receiving section 16, and a second light emitting section 17. And
The information display / input device 4 is driven by an output from the constant voltage unit 15 to perform an operation such as information display and controls the second light receiving unit 16 and the second light emitting unit 17,
Optical signals are transmitted / received to / from the refrigerator body 1.

The second coil 14, the second light receiving section 16,
The second light emitting unit 17 is the first coil 1 provided in the power feeding unit 7.
1, first light emitting unit 12, first light receiving unit 13 and the refrigerator compartment door 2
Are provided at positions facing each other when the door is closed.

When electric power is supplied from the control unit 3 to the power feeding oscillation unit 10 with the refrigerating compartment door 2 closed, the power feeding oscillation unit 10 oscillates at a predetermined frequency. The first coil 11 is connected to the power feeding oscillator 1
By receiving the high frequency oscillated at 0, the AC magnetic flux is emitted to the outside of the refrigerator body 1.

At this time, the first coil 11 and the second coil 1
Electromagnetic inductive coupling is generated between 4 and 4. This makes the second
By rectifying the alternating current induced in the coil 14 by the constant voltage unit 15 to obtain a constant voltage, it can be used as a power source for the refrigerating compartment door 2. Then, the information display / input device 4
When it detects that a constant voltage is supplied, it operates as the information display / input device 4 such as information display and various operations.

The optical signal transmission from the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerating compartment door 2 is performed by the first light emitting portion 12 provided in the power feeding portion 7.
And the second light receiving section 16 provided in the power receiving section 8. That is, the light energy emitted by the first light emitting unit 12 is detected by the second light receiving unit 16 and the presence / absence of the light energy detection is discriminated from the H / L signal, so that the refrigerator body 1 is cooled by the refrigerating room. Optical signal transmission to the door 2 can be performed without contact.

Similarly, the power receiving unit 8 is provided with a second light emitting unit 17
Since each of the first light receiving portions 13 is provided in the power feeding portion 7, the optical signal transmission from the refrigerating compartment door 2 to the refrigerator main body 1 can be performed without contact.

Then, the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerator compartment door 2
By supplying power to the refrigerator and transmitting optical signals between the refrigerator main body 1 and the refrigerator compartment door 2 in a non-contact manner, it is possible to reduce the number of components and reduce the cost. Since it is not necessary to directly connect the refrigerator body and the door via the hinge part of the door, it can be used for refrigerators that can be opened and closed from both sides of the door. Further, since there is no need for a member such as a contact-type power supply terminal or a communication terminal that is exposed to the outside, there is no fear of connection failure due to participation of the terminal surface or corrosion.

Although optical communication is used as the non-contact signal transmission means in the above, the signal transmission means may use radio waves or electromagnetic waves.

In FIG. 3, the power feeding unit 7 is attached downwardly of the protruding member 5 provided in the refrigerator main body 1, and the power receiving unit 8 is opposed to the power feeding unit 7 in the refrigerating chamber. It is provided above the door 2. When the refrigerating compartment door 2 is closed to the refrigerator body 1, the power feeding section 7 and the power receiving section 8 face each other with a slight gap therebetween so that the refrigerating compartment door 2 can be opened and closed. Each is provided.

The refrigerator body 1 and the refrigerator compartment door 2
Packing 1 so that cold air in the refrigerator does not leak from between
8 is attached around the refrigerating compartment door 2, and the packing 18 is brought into close contact with the front opening of the refrigerator main body 1 when the door is closed.

Then, a power supply cover 19 for covering the lower surface of the projecting member 5 provided with the power supply section 7 and power reception for covering the upper surface of the refrigerating compartment door 2 provided with the power reception section 8 are provided. The cover 20 includes at least the first coil 11, the first light emitting unit 12, the first light receiving unit 13 of the power feeding unit 7, the second coil 14, the second light receiving unit 16, the second light emitting unit 17, and the periphery of the power receiving unit 8. Each has a predetermined angle θ with respect to the horizontal direction (eg: θ
= 10 °).

Therefore, the power feeding cover 19 and the power receiving cover 2
Even if a foreign object enters between 0 and 0, it does not stay on the inclined surface 20a and slides downward, supplying power from the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerator compartment door 2 and transmitting signals between the refrigerator body 1 and the refrigerator compartment door 2. Can be prevented, and especially when the foreign matter is metallic, the first coil 11 and the second coil 14 can be prevented.
Since the foreign matter does not stay near, the first coil 11
Since there is no fear of abnormal heat generation due to the short-circuit current due to the metallic foreign matter due to the second coil 14, the safety of the product can be improved.

The power feeding cover 19 and the power receiving cover 20 are at least the first coil 1 of the power feeding portion 7.
1, a thin film (for example, thickness = 0.5-) around the first light emitting unit 12, the first light receiving unit 13, the second coil 14 of the power receiving unit 8, the second light receiving unit 16, and the second light emitting unit 17. The thickness is 2.5 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, and the thin film portions 19b and 20b are provided respectively. Therefore, the power supply from the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerating compartment door 2 and the signal transmission between the refrigerator body 1 and the refrigerating compartment door 2 are facilitated.

The thin film portion 20b is formed as a thin film by recessing the lower surface of the inclined surface 20a so that the upper surface of the inclined surface 20a is not uneven. Therefore, it is less likely that foreign matter will remain on the upper surface of the inclined surface 20a, and the power supply from the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerator compartment door 2 and the signal transmission between the refrigerator body 1 and the refrigerator compartment door 2 may be hindered. It can be prevented further.

Moreover, the power supply cover 19 has a hole 19c (for example: hole diameter = φ2) centered on the central axis 21 connecting the centers of the transmitting and receiving portions of the first light emitting portion 12 and the second light receiving portion 16 facing the first light emitting portion 12. 0.5 mm) is provided as an opening, and the power receiving cover 20 is semitransparent, so that signal transmission is further facilitated.

The hole 1 is formed in the power receiving cover 20.
Since the opening corresponding to 9c is not provided, even if dust accumulates in the vicinity of the power receiving cover 20 or if water droplets accumulate around the power receiving cover 20 due to dewing due to cold air leakage, dust or water will enter the inside. There is no fear, and there is no fear that transmission and reception will be hindered by the intrusion.

In the figure, the first light receiving portion 1
3 and the second light emitting portion 17 are located in the shadows of the first light emitting portion 12 and the second light receiving portion 16, respectively, the lead lines are drawn by dotted lines, and the outlines of these lines are omitted because the drawing is complicated. is there. Then, the first light receiving portion 13 and the second light receiving portion facing the first light receiving portion 13
Similarly, regarding the light emitting portion 17, a hole corresponding to the hole 19c is provided in the power supply cover 19 as an opening.

Although the opening is a round hole, the same effect can be obtained as long as the opening has the same shape but a different shape.

Further, the thin film portion 20 of the power receiving cover 20.
b is made of a material that transmits light and infrared rays, which is used for signal transmission, and is located at the top of the door, so it is resistant to shocks, fluorescent lamps and sunlight to withstand opening and closing of the door and falling of objects. It must be formed of a weather-resistant material that does not discolor or deteriorate, and is more impact resistant than AS (SAN, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer) resin, and transparent A
It is advisable to use, for example, an ASA resin obtained by adding acrylic rubber to an AS resin that does not yellow and deteriorate due to ultraviolet rays such as BS resin. A PC (polycarbonate) resin is generally known as an alternative to the ASA resin, but the cost is high because the components are of a certain size.

Further, like the power receiving cover 20, the power feeding cover 19 may be made of the same material and semitransparent.

Further, the coating material of the power supply cover 19 and the power reception cover 20 and the additive for adjusting the color by kneading may cause the short current, and the electromagnetic induction coupling and the signal transmission / reception. Substances that inhibit (for example:
It is even better to use a material that avoids iron-based, copper-based, aluminum-based materials, etc.

Further, the periphery of the power feeding portion 7 and the power receiving portion 8 on the door cap 22 fitted with the power feeding cover 19 and the power receiving cover 20 is surrounded by protrusions 19d and 22a such as ribs. 7 and the surroundings of the power receiving unit 8 are further prevented. Furthermore, the protrusion 19
Groove-shaped passages 19e, 22b are circulated around the outer sides of d, 22a, and even if water invades the outer periphery, the intruded water flows to a low portion, and the water content of the moisture flows to the outside from the openings 19f, 22c. Is more likely to flow out, which further prevents the power supply unit 7 and the power receiving unit 8 from being flooded, prevents the power feeding unit 7 and the power receiving unit 8 from being damaged by the flooding, and further helps prevent electric shock to the user. .

Further, the power feeding unit 7 is provided with the power feeding cover 19
It may be floated from the inner surface to provide a space for flooding. Moreover, a low portion is provided near the power feeding portion 7 and the power receiving portion 8 side of the projection portions 19d and 22a, and the projection portion 19 near the low portion is provided.
The d and 22a may be provided with an opening communicating with the outside to prevent the power feeding unit 7 and the power receiving unit 8 from being flooded.

The upper door cap 22, the door plate 23, the back plate 24, and the door heat insulating material 25 are all members of the refrigerating compartment door 2.

Although the above is an example of the refrigerator compartment door of the refrigerator, the same effect can be obtained even when other doors are used, and if the transmitter / receivers are in a substantially vertical positional relationship with each other. Even if it is not a door, the same effect as described above can be obtained. Further, as the transmitting / receiving means, the one using light for carrying a signal is used, but it may be replaced with one using an electromagnetic wave other than an ultrasonic wave or light.

The left-right direction means the left-right direction when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, and the front-back direction means the front-back direction when the refrigerator is viewed from the front. Further, in this figure, hatching is omitted for a portion showing a thin cross section such as a plate thickness.

[0047]

Since the onset light according to the present invention is the like structure,
According to the present invention, together with reliable exchanges signals of non-contact, there is no possibility <br/> to internal entry dust or moisture of the transceiver, can cause trouble in transmission and reception by their intrusion small Ku, is safe.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a refrigerator including a non-contact communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a non-contact communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an upper portion of a refrigerator provided with the non-contact communication device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Refrigerator body 2 Refrigerator door (door) 7 Power supply unit (first device) 8 Power receiving unit (second device) 11 first coil 12 First light emitting unit 13 First light receiving part 14 Second coil 16 Second light receiving section 17 Second light emitting unit 19 Power supply cover (cover) 19b Thin film part 19c hole (opening) 20 Power receiving cover (cover) 20a inclined surface 20b thin film part

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-260339 (JP, A) JP-A-7-75257 (JP, A) JP-A-4-98081 (JP, A) Jitsukohei 7-871 (JP , Y2) Jikkou Hei 7-47957 (JP, Y2) Jikkou Hei 6-20067 (JP, Y2) Jitsukoku Sho 62-44293 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB) Name) F25D 11 / 00,23 / 00,29 / 00 H02J 7 / 00,17 / 00 H04B 9/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first device provided with at least one of a first light emitting section for transmitting an optical signal and a first light receiving section for receiving an optical signal, and receiving an optical signal from the first light emitting section. The second light receiving unit and the second device in which at least one of the second light emitting units for transmitting an optical signal to the first light receiving unit is provided corresponding to the first device, Section and the second light receiving section or between the second light emitting section and the first light receiving section for transmitting and receiving an optical signal in a non-contact manner, providing a cover for covering the light emitting section and the light receiving section, and emitting light from the cover. parts or portions facing the light receiving portion is Ri thin der, the second device on the door
The first device faces the second device.
And at least a portion of the first device covers the cover.
Refrigeration, characterized in Rukoto provided space floated from the inner surface
Warehouse . 2. A first device provided with at least one of a first light emitting section for transmitting an optical signal and a first light receiving section for receiving an optical signal, and receiving an optical signal from the first light emitting section. The second light receiving unit and the second device in which at least one of the second light emitting units for transmitting an optical signal to the first light receiving unit is provided corresponding to the first device, Part and the second light receiving part, or between the second light emitting part and the first light receiving part, the optical signal is transmitted and received by non-contact, and the second device is installed above the door.
Upwardly provided, provided the first device downward to a position opposed to the second device, a cover for covering the light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is provided, the cover of the first device side,
A position facing the first light emitting unit or the first light receiving unit
Refrigerator, characterized in that an opening is provided in the location. 3. A first device comprising an oscillating circuit, a first coil connected to the oscillating circuit, a first light emitting section for transmitting an optical signal, and a first light receiving section for receiving an optical signal. When,
A second coil that is electromagnetically coupled with the first coil is provided, and the first coil
A second light receiving portion for receiving an optical signal from the light emitting portion is provided, and a first light receiving portion is provided.
A second device provided with a second light emitting portion for transmitting an optical signal to the light receiving portion, and the first device via the first and second coils.
Power is supplied from the device to the second device in a non-contact manner, and optical signals are transmitted and received in a non-contact manner between the first light emitting unit and the second light receiving unit and between the second light emitting unit and the first light receiving unit. Done,
Provided the second device above the door, the said first device provided on the main body side of the position opposed to the second device, provided covering for covering said light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, said first Outfit
At least a part of the container floats from the inner surface of the cover
The cover of the first device side provided, the openings provided in the first light emitting portion and opposed to the first light receiving portion position, in covering the second device side, the second A refrigerator characterized in that a portion facing the light emitting portion and the second light receiving portion is a thin film.