JP5677604B1 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator that allows a user to select and input whether to open one of a plurality of doors or to open a plurality of doors. When one of a plurality of detection switches a to d of a first door 2a is detected, the first door 2a is opened independently by a door opening device 60, and a plurality of second doors 2b are opened. When any one of the detection switches a to d is detected, the second door 2b is opened independently by the opening device 60, and the detection is sequentially performed in the arrangement direction of the plurality of detection switches a to d of the first door 2a. If the first door 2a is opened by the opening device 60, then the second door 2b is opened, and the detection is sequentially performed in the direction in which the plurality of detection switches a to d of the second door 2b are opened. After the second door 2b is opened by the door device 60, the first door 2a is opened. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  As background art of this technical field, there are Japanese Patent No. 3880821 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent No. 4054338 (Patent Document 2).

  According to claim 1 of Patent Document 1, “a double door opening / closing door provided so that the front opening of the refrigerator main body is divided into right and left and opened, and the main body side in the vicinity of the opposing proximity portion of the opening / closing door. It consists of a drive unit that opens the door by pressing operation by energization, and a switch that is provided on the surface of the door and urges the drive unit by operation to open the door, and the drive unit changes the energization direction to the solenoid The direction of the reciprocating movement of the plunger is changed by means of a movement direction conversion mechanism that is displaced by the movement of the plunger at one end of the plunger, and any of the shafts provided at both ends of the drive unit by the reciprocating movement of the plunger. Describes a door opening device for a refrigerator, wherein the door is protruded in the direction of the door and either of the left and right doors is pressed to open.

  Further, in claim 1 of Patent Document 2, “a plurality of pull-out doors for opening and closing the storage chamber of the storage body are provided, and an opening command is provided corresponding to each door to assist opening the corresponding door. A plurality of opening command generators, and actuators provided corresponding to the respective doors to apply a force to the corresponding doors in the opening direction, and the opening commands are generated almost simultaneously from the plurality of opening command generators. In this case, a storage unit is provided in which control means for driving the actuators corresponding to one door first and then sequentially driving the actuators corresponding to the remaining doors is provided. "

Japanese Patent No. 3880821 Japanese Patent No. 4054338

  Further, in Patent Document 1, “when opening the door, the solenoid (16) is energized by touching the door opening switch (25) provided on the surface of one of the doors, in the direction indicated by the arrow. The shaft (20) protrudes toward the doors (8) and (9) by the movement of the plunger, and both doors are simultaneously opened. "(Paragraph 0027). However, there is no description about means for selecting whether to open both doors of the double door opening / closing doors at the same time, or to open one of the doors, and the user's usability is not fully considered.

  Moreover, in patent document 2, if each of the several independent opening command generation | occurrence | production part is operated and opening command is not performed, a several door cannot be opened, but a user's usability is fully considered. Not.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a refrigerator that allows a user to select and input whether to open one of a plurality of doors or to open a plurality of doors.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.
This application has included a plurality of means for solving the above problems, if the way of example, a first door that pivots by a first hinge, adjacent to the left-right direction for the said first door A second door that is rotated by a second hinge; a door opening device that opens the first door and the second door; and the first door that detects a drive command to the door opening device. A first detection means provided, and a second detection means provided on the second door for detecting a drive command to the door opening device, wherein the first detection means comprises the first detection means. A configuration in which a plurality of detection switches are arranged side by side on the door, wherein the second detection means is a configuration in which a plurality of detection switches are arranged side by side on the second door, and the plurality of the first doors are arranged. When any one of the detection switches detects the first door alone with the opening device, If any of the plurality of detecting switches of the two doors is detected, by opening the second door alone the door opening device, user contact a finger or hand in front of the first door Alternatively, when the plurality of detection switches of the first door are arranged side by side and moved in a state of being close to a predetermined distance, when the predetermined number or more is sequentially detected in the forward direction, the first door is opened by the door opening device. Then, the second door is opened, and the user moves the finger or hand in contact with the front surface of the second door or in the state of being close to a predetermined distance. When a plurality of detection switches are arranged and sequentially detect a predetermined number or more in the forward direction, the first door is opened after the second door is opened by the door opening device, so that the first operation is performed by a single operation. Selectable to open one door and the second door individually or sequentially It characterized in that it is.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the refrigerator which enables a user to select and input whether to open one door among several doors or to open several doors can be provided.

It is a front view of the refrigerator in embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows typically the AA cross section of FIG. It is a control block diagram of the refrigerator in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of the single door opening input and multiple door opening input in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detection switch arrange | positioned at the refrigerator compartment door in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation display part arrange | positioned at the refrigerator compartment door in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the position of the detection switch and operation display part which are arrange | positioned at the refrigerator compartment door in embodiment of this invention. It is a detection pattern which judges whether a door is opened independently in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing an example which one of a plurality of detection switches detected. It is a detection pattern which judges whether a door is opened independently in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing the example which two adjacent detection switches detected. It is a detection pattern which judges whether a door is opened independently in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing an example detected by three adjacent detection switches. It is a detection pattern which judges whether a door is opened independently in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing an example which all a plurality of detection switches detected. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the some door in embodiment of this invention is opened, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example which three adjacent detection switches detected sequentially in one direction. It is a detection pattern which judges whether a plurality of doors are opened in an embodiment of the present invention, Comprising: It is a figure showing an example which three detection switches adjacent detected sequentially in the direction different from Drawing 7a. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the some door is opened in embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example which two adjacent detection switches detected sequentially in one direction. It is a flowchart which shows the conditions which determine the single door open input and multiple door open input in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detection operation of the detection switch in embodiment of this invention. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the some door is opened in embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example which the detection switch of two places which are not adjacent detected simultaneously. It is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in an embodiment of the present invention, and two adjacent detection switches and a detection switch not adjacent to the two detection switches are detected simultaneously. It is a figure which shows an example. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the some door in embodiment of this invention is opened, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example detected simultaneously by two adjacent detection switches. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the several door in embodiment of this invention is opened, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example which the detection switch of three adjacent locations detected simultaneously. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the some door is opened in embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example which detected simultaneously the adjacent detection switch in several places. It is a detection pattern which judges whether the some door in embodiment of this invention is opened, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example which all the some detection switches detected.

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

  In each figure, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Further, in the following description, the vertical and horizontal directions are based on the vertical and horizontal directions shown in FIG. 1, and the front and rear directions are based on the front and rear directions shown in FIG.

≪Overall configuration of refrigerator≫
First, before describing the door opening device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the overall configuration of a refrigerator including the door opening device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator in an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment includes, from above, a refrigerating room 2, ice making rooms 3 and upper freezing rooms 4 arranged side by side, a lower freezing room 5, and a vegetable room 6. doing. In addition, as an example, the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 6 are storage rooms in a refrigerator temperature zone of about 3 to 5 ° C. Further, the ice making room 3, the upper freezer room 4, and the lower freezer room 5 are storage rooms in a freezing temperature zone of approximately −18 ° C.

  The refrigerating room 2 is divided into left and right parts, so-called French-type refrigerating room doors 2a (first door) and refrigerating room doors 2b (second doors), which are spread in front (front side in FIG. 1). It has. The refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b rotate around the hinges 17a and 17b. In order to close the gap between the left and right refrigerating room doors 2a and 2b, a rotation threshold 18 is provided along the side of the refrigerating room door 2a close to the refrigerating room door 2b. The configuration will be described in detail later.

  The ice making room 3, the upper freezing room 4, the lower freezing room 5, and the vegetable room 6 include a drawer type ice making room door 3a, an upper freezing room door 4a, a lower freezing room door 5a, and a vegetable room door 6a, respectively. . In the following description, left and right refrigerator compartment doors 2a and 2b, ice making compartment door 3a, upper freezer compartment door 4a, lower freezer compartment door 5a, and vegetable compartment door 6a are simply door 2a, door 2b, door, respectively. 3a, door 4a, door 5a, and door 6a.

  The refrigerator 1 includes door sensors (not shown) that detect the open / closed states of the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a, and the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, When a state in which it is determined that at least one of the doors 6a is open is continued for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute or more), the buzzer 62 that notifies the user to that effect, the refrigerator compartment 2, and the upper freezing A temperature setter (such as a control panel 40 shown in FIG. 1 having a predetermined operation unit and a display unit) is provided for setting the temperature of the chamber 4 and the lower freezing chamber 5.

  The first door 2a is provided with a first door opening switch 48a, and the second door 2b is provided with a second door opening switch 48b.

  Moreover, the glass plate which is a light transmissive member is each arrange | positioned in the front surface of the door 2a, the door 2b, the door 3a, the door 4a, the door 5a, and the door 6a. The glass plate can be fixed using a structure that is supported by a frame member at each door end or a structure that is fixed to urethane foam inside the door.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing the AA section of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outside of the refrigerator 1 and the inside of the refrigerator 1 are separated by a heat insulating box 10 formed by filling a foam heat insulating material (foamed polyurethane) between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b. ing. Moreover, the heat insulation box 10 of the refrigerator 1 is mounted with a plurality of vacuum heat insulating materials 14.

  In the warehouse, a plurality of storage chambers arranged in different vertical directions in different temperature zones are adiabatically partitioned by heat insulating partition walls 11a and 11b. That is, the upper heat insulating partition wall 11a separates the refrigerating room 2 that is a refrigerating temperature zone storage room from the upper freezing room 4 and the ice making room 3 (see FIG. 1) that are refrigerating temperature zone storage rooms. . Further, the lower heat-insulating partition wall 11b separates the lower freezing room 5 that is a storage room in the freezing temperature zone and the vegetable room 6 that is a storage room in the refrigerating temperature zone.

  A plurality of door pockets 13 are provided on the inner side of the doors 2a and 2b. The refrigerator compartment 2 is partitioned into a plurality of storage spaces in the vertical direction by a plurality of shelves 12.

  In the upper freezer compartment 4, the lower freezer compartment 5, and the vegetable compartment 6, storage containers 4b, 5b, 6b are respectively provided behind the doors 4a, 5a, 6a provided in front of the respective storage compartments. The storage containers 4b, 5b, and 6b can be pulled out by placing a hand on a handle portion (not shown) of the doors 4a, 5a, and 6a and pulling it out toward the front side. Similarly, in the ice making chamber 3 shown in FIG. 1, a storage container (indicated by reference numeral 3b in FIG. 2) is provided behind the door 3a, and the handle 3 (not shown) of the door 3a is put on a hand and pulled out to the front side. Thus, the storage container 3b can be pulled out.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a are provided with door packings 15 around the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a. The inside of the storage space (the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, the lower freezer compartment 5, and the vegetable compartment 6) is closed and sealed by closely adhering to the peripheral edge of the front opening of the refrigerator 1. This prevents the leakage of cold air from the storage space.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cooler 7 is disposed in a cooler storage chamber 8 provided substantially at the back of the lower freezing chamber 5. The cooler 7 is configured by attaching a large number of fins (not shown) to the cooler pipe 7d so that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant and the air in the cooler pipe 7d.

  Above the cooler 7, an internal fan 9 (for example, a motor-driven fan) is provided. The air cooled by heat exchange in the cooler 7 (hereinafter, this cooled low-temperature air is referred to as “cold air”) is blown into the refrigerator compartment air duct 22, the vegetable compartment air duct 25, and the ice making room by the internal fan 9. Via the duct 26a, the upper freezer compartment air duct 26b, and the lower freezer compartment air duct 27, it is sent to the storage rooms of the refrigerator compartment 2, the vegetable compartment 6, the ice making room 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5. It has become.

  Below the cooler 7, a defrost heater 35 that is a defrosting means is installed, and above the defrost heater 35, in order to prevent defrost water from dripping onto the defrost heater 35, An upper cover (not shown) is provided.

  The defrost water generated by the defrosting (melting) of the frost attached to the wall of the cooler 7 and the surrounding cooler storage chamber 8 flows into the gutter 32 provided at the lower part of the cooler storage chamber 8. It reaches the evaporating dish 34 disposed in the machine room 50 via the drain pipe 33, is evaporated by the heat of the compressor 51 and the condenser (not shown), and is discharged outside the refrigerator 1. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, a door opening device 60 is provided adjacent to the front surface of the upper surface of the ceiling wall of the refrigerator 1, that is, the doors 2 a and 2 b. The opening device 60 includes projecting members 61a and 61b corresponding to the first door 2a and the second door 2b, respectively. The protruding members 61a and 61b operate so as to protrude toward the first door 2a and the second door 2b from the state housed in the main body of the opening device 60, and the first door 2a is projected by the protruding member 61a. By pushing the vicinity of the upper end of the second door and pushing the vicinity of the upper end of the second door 2b by the projecting member 61b, the doors are respectively pushed open.

  In addition, the 1st door opening switch 48a and the 2nd door opening switch 48a which were each provided in the front surface of the 1st door 2a and the 2nd door 2b are means to detect the drive command of the door opening apparatus 60. Therefore, in the following, it may be referred to as “detecting means”.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface side of the ceiling wall of the refrigerator 1, a control board 41, which is a control unit on which a CPU, a memory such as a ROM or a RAM, an interface circuit, and the like are mounted as a control unit. The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator temperature sensor 44 that detects the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2, a vegetable compartment temperature sensor 45 that detects the temperature of the vegetable compartment 6, a freezing temperature zone (the ice making chamber 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment). Temperature sensors such as a freezer temperature sensor 46 that detects the temperature of 5) and a cooler temperature sensor 47 that detects the temperature of the cooler 7 are provided, and the detected temperature is input to the control board 41. .

  The control board 41 includes a door sensor (not shown) that detects the open / closed state of the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a, and the control panel 40 (see FIG. 1) provided on the door 2a. The left opening switch 48a (see FIG. 1) provided on the doors 2a and 2b and the right opening switch 48b (see FIG. 1) are connected.

  The control board 41 individually drives the ON / OFF of the compressor 51 and the control of the rotational speed, the refrigeration temperature zone cool air control means 20 and the refrigeration temperature zone cool air control means 21 by the program previously installed in the ROM. Control of each drive motor (not shown), control of ON / OFF of internal fan 9 and rotation speed, control of ON / OFF of external fan (not shown), rotation speed, etc., notification of door open state The operation of the entire refrigerator can be controlled by controlling ON / OFF of an alarm (not shown) to be performed, operation of the door opening device 60, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a control board, which is used to input and open each door opening switch such as a first door opening switch 48a, a second door opening switch 48b, a freezer compartment lower door opening switch 48c, and a vegetable compartment door opening switch 48d. An operation command to the door device 60, an output to the buzzer 62, and the like are controlled. 40 is a control panel installed on the surface of the first door 2a of the refrigerator 1, an input unit 40b for switching a cooling temperature, a quick freezing operation stop, and the like, and a set cooling temperature and a quick freezing operation state. The display unit 40a indicates the open state of each door.

  The front surfaces of the first door 2a and the second door 2b are each composed of a light-transmitting glass plate, and a capacitive touch detection switch is brought into contact with or close to a predetermined position on the back surface of the glass plate. It is arranged. With this configuration, the functions of the refrigerator described above can be switched by the user touching from the front surface of the glass plate within the detection range of the touch detection switch.

≪Door opening control flow≫
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of single door opening input and multiple door opening input in the embodiment of the present invention. That is, it is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when the refrigerator door (first door 2a, second door 2b) is opened by the opening device 60.

  In input waiting S100 of the door opening switch (detection means) which is the first door opening switch 48a and the second door opening switch 48b, the input of the first door opening switch 48a or the second door opening switch 48a is waited for. . If there is a switch input, that is, detection by the detection means, it is determined whether or not the door opening device 60 can operate to open the refrigerator compartment door. For example, the ice making chamber door 3a adjacent to the first door 2a is being opened to take out ice, or the upper freezing chamber 4 adjacent to the second door 2b is being opened to take out stored items. When there is an input from the door opening switch (the first door opening switch 48a or the second door opening switch 48a), the refrigerator door (the first door 2a, the second door 2b) ) Is not preferable in terms of safety. Therefore, while the ice making room door 3a and the freezer upper door 4a adjacent to the refrigerating room door (first door 2a, second door 2b) are open, the refrigerating room door (first door 2a, second door). The opening operation by the opening device 60 of 2b) is prohibited. Further, when the opening operation by the door opening device 60 is prohibited, to indicate to the user that the operation of the door opening switch (the first door opening switch 48a or the second door opening switch 48a) is accepted but the opening operation is not performed. In step S109, the buzzer 62 is output (for example, 0.1 [s] ON, 0.1 [s] OFF, 0.1 [s] ON). Note that not only a buzzer but also a notification means of any configuration that can be recognized by the user, such as a notification by a voice guide, a notification by an illumination unit, a notification by the display unit 40a of the control panel 40, and the like can be adopted.

  If the door opening operation is possible, it is determined in S103 whether to open only the door that has been switched on or to open both doors based on the switch input, that is, the content detected by the detection means. Details of the method will be described later). If it is determined that an input for opening the door alone is detected, the buzzer 62 is output (for example, 0.1 [s] ON) in S104 to indicate to the user that the door is opened alone, and S106 is displayed. Only the door (for example, the first door 2a when the input of the first door opening switch 48a is detected) is opened, and the process returns to the waiting for the door opening switch input in S100 again. On the other hand, if it is determined in S103 that an input for opening a plurality of doors (first door 2a and second door 2b) is detected, a buzzer 62 indicating that the plurality of doors are opened is output in S105. (For example, 0.8 [s] ON), and after opening the door (for example, the first door 2a when the input of the first door opening switch 48a is detected) that is first input in S106, the process proceeds to S108. Then, the other door (second door 2b) is opened, and the process again returns to S100 door opening switch input waiting.

  In this manner, before opening the refrigerator compartment door, the user is informed in advance of the difference in how the buzzer 62 sounds, whether the door is opened alone or both doors are opened. Therefore, the user can determine the content of the opening operation from the contents of the notification, and even if an operation input different from the user's intention is detected, the user can recognize in advance that the door opening operation is entered. Can improve safety.

  In addition, as an alerting | reporting means, the illumination means (not shown) arrange | positioned at the display part 40a of the control panel 40, the illumination means (not shown) installed in each of the 1st door 2a and the 2nd door 2b. The user may be notified.

≪Configuration of door opening detection means≫
Next, detection means for opening a door alone or opening a plurality of doors will be described.

  FIG. 5a is a diagram showing a detection switch arranged on the refrigerator door according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, it is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of each detection switch each arrange | positioned in the part corresponding to the 1st door opening switch 48a and the 2nd door opening switch 48b.

  FIG. 5 b is a diagram illustrating an operation display unit disposed on the refrigerator compartment door according to the embodiment of the present invention. In other words, the operation display units respectively displayed on the surfaces of the first door 2a and the second door 2b to indicate the positions (operating positions) of the first door opening switch 48a and the second door opening switch 48b, respectively. FIG.

  FIG. 5 c is a diagram illustrating the positions of the detection switch and the operation display unit arranged on the refrigerator compartment door according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, it is a schematic view in which the operation switch 201 and the positions of the detection switches a, b, c, and d are overlapped and the detection switch is seen through.

  In FIG. 5a, the arrangement of each detection switch arranged in the first door opening switch 48a will be described. The second door opening switch 48b has a configuration that is arranged symmetrically with the first door opening switch 48a, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The door opening switch 48 (the first door opening switch 48a or the second door opening switch 48b, which is described as the first door opening switch 48a in FIGS. 5a to 5c), which is a detection means, is an electrostatic capacitance type. The four touch switches (detection switch a to detection switch d) are arranged in a straight line on the substrate, and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction with the first door 2a being assembled. The front surface of the first door 2a is made of a light transmissive glass plate, and a substrate having detection switches a, b, c, and d is disposed on the back surface of the glass plate.

  Note that the arrangement of the detection switches a, b, c, and d is not limited to the left-right direction, and may be a configuration in which the first door 2a is installed in the up-down direction or the oblique direction. Further, the configuration is not limited to the linear arrangement on the substrate, but may be a curved shape or a parallel arrangement of top and bottom or left and right. The first door opening switch 48a and the second door opening switch 48b are not limited to the left-right symmetrical arrangement, and one detection switch is arranged in the left-right direction, and the other detection switch is plural. An asymmetrical arrangement, such as a configuration arranged in the vertical direction, may be used. Furthermore, the configuration is not limited to the doors arranged on the left and right, and may be configured such that the detection switches are arranged on the doors arranged on the top and bottom. Further, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the detection switch is disposed on the rotary door, and the configuration in which the detection switch is disposed on the drawer-type door may be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 5b, the front surface of the glass plate constituting the first door 2a is operated on the front surface facing the detection switches a, b, c, d in order to make the user recognize the location of the detection means. A display unit 201 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 5c, the operation display unit 201 has an outer shape that almost covers the front of the detection switches a, b, c, and d, or a shape arranged slightly inside the detection switches a, b, c, and d. is there.

  Here, when the operation display unit 201 is arranged larger than the area of the detection switches a, b, c, and d, the operation display unit 201 is included in addition to the detection range of the detection switches a, b, c, and d. If the detection switches a, b, c, and d are not detected, there is a risk of misunderstanding that they are malfunctioning. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the operation display unit 201 is disposed within the detection range of the detection switches a, b, c, and d.

  The operation display unit 201 displays the front or back surface of the light transmissive glass plate constituting the front surface of the first door 2a in a state visible from the front surface of the glass plate by processing such as silk printing, screen printing, or resist. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the operation display unit 201 has a horizontally long line shape having a predetermined width. However, the operation display unit 201 is not limited to this, and is vertically long, circular, dot, or character according to the arrangement of the detection switches a, b, c, and d. Alternatively, any shape such as a symbol can be adopted.

  In addition, the operation display unit 201 can adopt a configuration that is always visible from the outside, or a configuration that is not visually recognized when not being operated but is raised by illuminating with illumination means during operation.

  Since the operation display unit 201 is at least visible from the front of the refrigerator compartment door (first door 2a) during operation, the user opens the door using the operation display unit 201 as a mark. In addition, the 2nd door opening switch 48b arrange | positioned at the 2nd door 2b is also the same structure.

≪Single door opening detection≫
Next, FIG. 6a, FIG. 6b, FIG. 6c, and FIG. 6d show detection patterns when the door is opened alone. FIG. 6 a is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a door alone in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example detected by one of a plurality of detection switches. FIG. 6b is a detection pattern for determining whether to open the door alone in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example detected by two adjacent detection switches. FIG. 6c is a detection pattern for determining whether to open the door alone in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example detected by three adjacent detection switches. FIG. 6d is a detection pattern for determining whether to open the door alone in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which all of the plurality of detection switches are detected.

  Any one of the detection switches a, b, c, and d or a plurality of adjacent detection switches detect an input that is longer than a predetermined time (for example, 0.08 [s]) and less than a predetermined time (for example, 1 [s]). If the detection of opening a plurality of doors to be described later is not established, the door on the side where the input is performed is opened alone. The reason why the predetermined time (for example, 0.08 [s]) or longer is used to prevent malfunction due to chattering or noise when the detection switch is input. Also, the reason why the time is less than a predetermined time (for example, 1 [s]) is that the input when the user has unintentionally touched at least one of the detection switches a, b, c, and d for a long time is invalidated. It is what. FIG. 6a shows a case where only the detection switch a is detected. In FIG. 6b, the case where the detection of the adjacent detection switch a and the detection switch b occurs simultaneously is shown. 6c and 6d show a case where a detection switch is touched over a wide range with an elbow or an arm instead of a fingertip, and FIG. 6c shows an example where adjacent detection switches b, c, d detect simultaneously, FIG. 6d shows an example in which adjacent detection switches a, b, c, and d detect simultaneously. In any of the cases shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, it is detected that the opening of the door alone is input. In addition, when all the detection switches are detecting like FIG. 6d, it may be judged that the user has input unintentionally and the input may be invalidated.

≪Multiple door opening detection≫
Next, FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, and 7 c are diagrams for explaining detection patterns of detection means (detection switches a, b, c, and d) when a plurality of doors are opened. FIG. 7A is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which three adjacent detection switches are sequentially detected in one direction. FIG. 7b is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing an example in which three adjacent detection switches are sequentially detected in a different direction from FIG. 7a. . FIG. 7c is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which two adjacent detection switches are sequentially detected in one direction.

  7a to 7c show an operation in which the user moves his / her finger to trace the detection switches a, b, c and d in the arrangement direction (configuration in which the detection switches are sequentially detected in the arrangement direction). Here, the operation is not limited to the expression of tracing, as long as the user moves the finger or hand in a predetermined direction after contacting the finger or hand with the glass plate on the front of the door or bringing it close to a predetermined distance. Suppose that it is included in the detection pattern of this embodiment. For example, a flick operation or a swipe operation in which any part of the operation display unit 201 is tapped with a finger or hand and then moved within a predetermined range without releasing the finger or hand is included. Moreover, the operation | movement which blocks the front of one part of the operation display part 201 with a finger | toe or a hand, and moves a finger | toe or a hand within a predetermined range as it is is included.

  In FIG. 7a, when three or more detection switches adjacent in the order of the detection switch b and the detection switch c in one direction (rightward) from the detection switch a sequentially detect the input, it is determined that there is an input. A plurality of doors (first door 2a and second door 2b) are opened simultaneously or sequentially.

  FIG. 7b shows an example in which the detection switch b and the detection switch a are operated in this order from the detection switch c in the direction opposite to the one direction described above (leftward). Also in this case, since three or more adjacent detection switches sequentially detect inputs, it is determined that there is an input, and a plurality of doors (first door 2a and second door 2b) are simultaneously or Release sequentially.

  FIG. 7c shows a case where the switches b to c are sequentially detected. In this case, since the detection distance is short and the user intends to open a single door, it is assumed that the operating finger or hand has slipped or the position has shifted. It is determined that the input to open the door is invalid. And the door (when the first door opening switch 48a detects the first door 2a, the second door opening switch 48a or the second door opening switch 48a) is detected. When the door opening switch 48b detects, the second door 2b) is opened alone.

  The reason why the number of detection switches requiring detection among the plurality of detection switches a, b, c, and d is at least three is that operability is taken into consideration. That is, usability is improved by recognizing that there is an input without having to trace all of the operation display unit 201 facing the plurality of detection switches a, b, c, and d with a finger. This is to make it happen. On the other hand, when priority is given to prevention of erroneous operation, a configuration may be adopted in which when all of the plurality of detection switches a, b, c, and d are detected, it is recognized that there are a plurality of door opening inputs.

≪Single / open opening judgment flow≫
Next, a control flow for determining whether to open a door alone or to open a plurality of doors simultaneously or sequentially will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing conditions for determining the single door opening input and the multiple door opening input in the embodiment of the present invention. That is, depending on the user's way of operating the switch, an operation of opening the door alone or an operation of moving a finger or hand so as to trace the arrangement direction of the detection switches a, b, c, d (each detection switch This is a flowchart showing an example of determining whether or not an operation has been performed in which the doors are sequentially detected in the arrangement direction and a plurality of doors are opened).

  First, in the door open switch (detection means) input wait (S200), the input of the first door open switch 48a or the second door open switch 48a is waited for. When switch input, that is, detection by the detection means is detected (YES in S201), each variable is initialized (S202). Here, each variable means timer A (time for preventing malfunction due to chattering or noise at the time of switch input described above, 0.08 [s] in the embodiment), timer B (long time, detection switches a to d). The time for invalidating the input when at least one of the touches is touched, in the embodiment, 1 [s]) is set. In addition, the adjacent switch simultaneous detection count for determining that adjacent detection switches have simultaneously detected is initialized to zero. If all switch inputs are turned off (NO in S204) before the timer A time expires (in the embodiment, 0.08 [s] has elapsed) (NO in S204), chattering at the time of switch input or It is determined that the operation is erroneous due to noise or the like, and the operation is confirmed (S209). When the switch input continues for the timer A time or longer (YES in S204), it is determined whether or not adjacent switch simultaneous detection for detecting simultaneous input in the order in which the adjacent detection switches are arranged has occurred (S207). As a result, all the switch inputs are turned off (finger or hand is released) before the simultaneous detection of adjacent switches (NO in S207) and before the timer B time (1 [s] in the embodiment) elapses (NO in S208). When the condition (YES in S205) is satisfied, the operation of opening the door alone is determined (S210).

  Then, the door having the operated door opening switch is opened by the door opening device 60 (when the first door opening switch 48a is operated, the first door 2a and the second door opening switch 48a are operated). In the case of the second door 2b).

  When the timer B time (1 [s] in the embodiment) has elapsed (when the detection switch has been detected for a long time) (YES in S208), it is determined that the operation is not intended, and the erroneous operation is determined (S209).

  When it is determined that there is simultaneous detection of adjacent switches that simultaneously detect adjacent detection switches in the arrangement direction (YES in S207), timer C (time limit for detection switches a to d, 5 [s] in the embodiment) is set. (S213), the number of simultaneous detections of adjacent switches is updated (add 1) (S214). At this time, since the adjacent switch simultaneous detection count = 1, the determination of the adjacent switch simultaneous detection count (two or more in the embodiment) in S215 is NO. Until there is a new switch input (while S211 is NO), all switch inputs are turned off (finger or hand is released) (YES in S216) or the timer C expires (in the embodiment, 5 [ s] Elapsed) (YES in S217), the operation of opening the door independently is determined (S210).

  When there is a new switch input (YES in S211), in S212, it is determined whether or not adjacent switch simultaneous detection in which adjacent switches are simultaneously detected in the arrangement direction has occurred. Here, a case where an input to an undetected detection switch adjacent to a detection switch that has already detected an input among a plurality of detection switches is detected. When there is no simultaneous detection of adjacent switches (NO in S212), the door opening by itself is confirmed (S210).

  If there is simultaneous detection of adjacent switches (YES in S212), timer C (the input time limit of detection switches a to d at the time of switch order detection, 5 [s] in the embodiment) is set again (S213). The switch simultaneous detection count is updated (add 1) (S214). Since the adjacent switch simultaneous detection count = 2 at this time, the determination of the adjacent switch simultaneous detection count (two or more in the embodiment) in S215 is YES, and simultaneous or sequential opening of a plurality of doors is determined (S218).

  Also, if you want to cancel the door opening input, after moving the detection switches in one direction, the detection switch is moved back to the opposite direction, that is, the traced position. Follow the action. Thereby, you may comprise so that it may determine with the input having been canceled.

≪Detection operation by detection switch≫
Next, the detection operation by the detection switch will be described based on FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a detection operation of the detection switch according to the embodiment of the present invention. In pattern 1, only switch a is ON. When the finger is moved in the right direction in the figure (pattern 2), the detection switch b is newly turned on, both the detection switch a and the detection switch b are turned on, that is, adjacent detection switches are simultaneously turned on. When the finger is further moved to the right in the figure (pattern 3), only the detection switch b is turned on.

  When the finger is further moved to the right in the figure (pattern 4), the detection switch c is newly turned on, the detection switch b and the detection switch c are turned on, that is, the adjacent detection switches are simultaneously turned on again. At this point, opening of multiple doors is confirmed. After the pattern 3, when the finger moves in the reverse direction (left direction in the figure) and returns to the pattern 1 again, the movement direction of the detection switch input is not “sequential”, which is not established. Even in the right direction (forward direction), only the detection switch c is turned on without passing through the pattern 4 (pattern 5), and both the detection switch c and the detection switch d are turned on (pattern 6). ), And when three or more adjacent detection switches are turned on (pattern 7), etc., the detection of the detection switches is not “sequential”, and therefore, the input of a plurality of doors is not established. In FIG. 8, the new switch input is not determined before S207 as in S212, considering the case where adjacent switch simultaneous detection has occurred from the beginning.

≪Door opening operation and detection switch detection operation≫
The order in which the plurality of doors open may be set differently depending on the direction in which the user traces the detection means directly or in the vicinity with a finger or hand (direction detected by the plurality of detection switches sequentially). For example, as shown in FIG. 7a, when the detection switch detects sequentially from one end side to the other end side (from left to right), the first door 2a (left refrigerator compartment door) is opened, and then Open the second door 2b (right refrigerator door). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7b, when the detection switch detects sequentially from the other end side to the one end side (from right to left), the second door 2b (right refrigerator door) is opened and then the second Open one door 2a (left refrigerator door).

  That is, the arrangement of the detection switches a, b, c, d in the left-right direction constituting the detection means 48 and the arrangement of the left and right rotary doors (first door 2a, second door 2b) are made to correspond to each other. It is possible to select the opening order of the doors by an operation input that traces the detection means 48 in the direction from the door side to be opened to the door side to be opened later.

  For example, when the first door 2a is opened by first operating the first door opening switch 48a and then the second door 2b is to be opened, the first door opening switch 48a is traced from left to right. (See FIG. 7a). In addition, when the first door 2a is opened after the second door 2b is opened by operating the first door opening switch 48a, the first door opening switch 48a is traced from right to left. (See FIG. 7b).

  On the other hand, when the first door 2a is opened first and then the second door 2b is opened by operating the second door opening switch 48b, the second door opening switch 48b is similarly changed from the left to the right. (See FIG. 7a). Similarly, when the user wants to open the first door 2a after opening the second door 2b first by operating the second door opening switch 48b, the second door opening switch 48b is changed from right to left. Operate by tracing (see FIG. 7b).

  With this, regardless of the user's dominant hand or the positional relationship between the user and the refrigerator, it is possible to select whether to open one of the plurality of doors alone or to open the plurality of doors with a single operation. When opening a plurality of doors, the order of opening the plurality of doors can be selected, and operability with improved usability can be obtained.

≪Other examples of multiple door opening detection≫
10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f are diagrams for explaining an example of the operation of another detection switch when a plurality of doors are opened. FIG. 10 a is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which two non-adjacent detection switches are simultaneously detected. FIG. 10b is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and includes two adjacent detection switches and detection switches that are not adjacent to the two detection switches. It is a figure which shows the example detected simultaneously. FIG. 10c is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which two adjacent detection switches detect simultaneously. FIG. 10d is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which three adjacent detection switches are detected simultaneously. FIG. 10e is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which adjacent detection switches are detected simultaneously at a plurality of locations. FIG. 10f is a detection pattern for determining whether to open a plurality of doors in the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which all of the plurality of detection switches are detected.

  FIGS. 10a, 10b, and 10c show operations for simultaneously detecting two detection switches among a plurality of detection switches a, b, c, and d. When detection switches that are not adjacent to each other detect an input for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 [s]) or less than a predetermined time (for example, 1 [s]), an operation in which two detection switches are input simultaneously is effective. Judge.

  As shown in FIG. 10a, when the inputs of the detection switch a and the detection switch c are detected across the detection switch b, it is determined that two detection switches are input simultaneously. In this case, a plurality of doors are opened simultaneously or sequentially.

  Similarly, in FIG. 10b, since the detection switches a, c, and d detect the detection switch b with no input, it is determined that two detection switches are input at the same time, and a plurality of doors are simultaneously opened. Or open sequentially.

  FIGS. 10c and 10d show a case where a plurality of adjacent detection switches continuously detect inputs, such as detection switch a, detection switch b, and detection switch c. In this case, since it is assumed that the elbow or the like touches the detection switch without the intention of the user, it is determined that the input of the opening operation of the plurality of doors is invalid. In this case, the door having the detecting means that detects the input is opened alone, or the door is also prohibited from being opened alone in consideration of safety.

  FIG. 10e shows a state where all four detection switches have been detected. As shown in FIG. 10f, it is assumed that there is an input that is unintentionally touched by an arm or the like. The input of the door opening operation is determined to be invalid. Also in this case, the door having the detecting means that detects the input is opened alone, or the door is prohibited from being opened alone in consideration of safety.

  Although not shown in the drawing, as another operation of the detection switch when a plurality of doors are opened, multiple detections by a single detection switch may be adopted. This is because when a single detection switch detects an input for a predetermined time (for example, 0.3 [s]) a plurality of times (for example, 0.3 [s]) within a predetermined time (for example, 1 [s]), a plurality of input operations It is an operation to determine that In this case, the cost can be reduced because only one detection switch is required for the detection means.

  In addition, when the detection means composed of a single detection switch is arranged on any one of a plurality of doors and there is a single input, the door provided with the detection means is opened independently, and It is also possible to open a door that does not have a detection means when there is an input for a certain time, and open multiple doors simultaneously or sequentially if a different input (for example, a long press input for a predetermined time) is detected. It is. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a detection means for each door, and the cost can be further reduced.

  According to the present invention described in the above embodiments, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, a plurality of doors, a door opening device that opens the doors, and a detection unit that detects a drive command to the door opening device, the detection pattern of the detection unit is one of the plurality of doors The case where the door is opened independently and the case where the plurality of doors are opened simultaneously or sequentially are set differently. Thereby, since it is possible to select whether to open the door alone or to open a plurality of doors with a single operation, a refrigerator with high usability can be provided.

  Further, the detection means has a configuration in which a plurality of detection switches are arranged side by side, and when any of the plurality of detection switches is detected, the door opening device opens any of the plurality of doors independently. When the plurality of detection switches sequentially detect in the direction in which the plurality of detection switches are arranged, the plurality of doors are simultaneously or sequentially opened by the door opening device. As a result, the user can select whether to open the door alone or to open a plurality of doors with a single operation by simply changing the input operation to the detection means, so that a refrigerator with high usability can be provided.

  Further, the order in which the plurality of doors are opened by the door-opening device according to the case in which the plurality of detection switches are sequentially detected in one direction and the case in which the detection switches are sequentially detected in the opposite direction. To be different. Accordingly, the user can open the plurality of doors by selecting the opening order of the plurality of doors by a simple operation.

  The detection means opens the plurality of doors simultaneously or sequentially when detecting a plurality of inputs in a predetermined time. Thereby, even when the detection means is constituted by a single detection switch, it is possible to select whether the door is opened individually or opened.

  Further, the detection means has a configuration in which a plurality of detection switches are arranged side by side, and when the detection switches other than the adjacent detection switches are simultaneously detected, the plurality of doors are simultaneously or sequentially opened. As a result, the user can easily select whether the door is to be opened individually or a plurality of doors by simply changing the touch operation means.

  Further, the detection means is provided in one or a plurality of the plurality of doors, and when the plurality of doors are opened simultaneously or sequentially, the door provided with the detection means detecting the drive command is opened. Then open the other door. As a result, the door that is close to the user's hand or finger, that is, the door that is more likely to attract the user's attention is opened first. It is possible to increase the safety and usability by suppressing the opening.

  Further, when any of the plurality of doors is in an open state, the door is not opened by the door opening device even if the detection means detects. As a result, even when the user touches the detection means unintentionally, the door can be prevented from opening against the user's intention, and safety and usability can be improved.

  Further, when the door cannot be opened when detected by the detecting means, a non-opening notification means for notifying that the door is not opened (for example, any of a buzzer, a voice guide, an illumination means, or these) Combination). As a result, the door opening input from the user is accepted on the refrigerator side, but some conditions, for example, when other doors are open or an input error occurs, the opening operation is invalidated. That the user can recognize that the detection means is faulty.

  Further, when all of the plurality of detection switches detect simultaneously, the door is not opened by the door opening device. Thereby, even when the detection means is touched for cleaning, the door can be prevented from opening against the user's intention, and safety and usability can be improved.

  In addition, when the detection means detects, different notification means (for example, buzzer of the buzzer) when opening any of the plurality of doors alone and when opening the plurality of doors simultaneously or sequentially. Frequency, scale, length, voice guide, lighting pattern of lighting means). As a result, the user can know how the door will open before the door opens, and can confirm in advance whether or not the input intended by the user has been recognized. Can improve the performance and usability.

In addition, although the door was demonstrated to the example of the Kannon type door, it is applicable also to the combination of a drawer type door and the Kannon type and the drawer type door. Moreover, the detection switch is not limited to the touch sensor type. It is also applicable to tact type switches.

  According to the present invention, in a refrigerator having a device that opens a plurality of doors, the refrigerator has an input means that can select whether the door opening device opens the doors individually or opens a plurality of doors simultaneously or sequentially. Therefore, for example, in a refrigerator in which a double door is present in the refrigerator compartment, even when the left and right doors of the refrigerator compartment door are opened, both doors are opened by a single operation. Therefore, the door opening operation can be selected and input by a simple operation. In this case, even when the user has an object in his / her hand, the door can be easily opened or a plurality of doors can be easily opened, so that an easy-to-use refrigerator can be provided.

  Note that the door opening device or the door opening operation of the present embodiment is not limited to the refrigerator, and can be applied to a structure including a plurality of doors. For example, building doors and windows, system kitchen storage doors, automobile doors and windows, household electrical appliances with doors, lids and windows, medical equipment with doors, lids and windows, doors and lids It can be applied to all structures such as office equipment equipped with windows and windows, various racks and cabinet doors.

1 Refrigerator 2 Refrigeration room 2a First door (refrigeration room door)
2b Second door (refrigerator door)
40 control panel 41 control board 48 detection means 48a first door opening switch (detection means)
48b Second door opening switch (detection means)
60 Opening device a, b, c, d detection switch

Claims (1)

A first door pivoted by a first hinge ;
A second door that pivots by a second hinge adjacent the lateral direction against the said first door,
An opening device for opening the first door and the second door;
First detection means provided on the first door for detecting a drive command to the door opening device;
Second detection means provided on the second door for detecting a drive command to the door opening device;
With
The first detection means has a configuration in which a plurality of detection switches are arranged side by side on the first door,
The second detection means has a configuration in which a plurality of detection switches are arranged side by side on the second door,
When any one of the plurality of detection switches of the first door detects, the first door is opened independently by the opening device,
When any of the plurality of detection switches of the second door detects, the second door is opened independently by the door opening device,
When the user moves his / her finger or hand in contact with the front surface of the first door or in the state of being close to a predetermined distance, the plurality of detection switches of the first door are lined up and sequentially more than a predetermined number in the forward direction. If detected, open the first door with the opening device, then open the second door,
When the user moves his / her finger or hand in contact with the front surface of the second door or in the state of being close to a predetermined distance, the plurality of detection switches of the second door are lined up and sequentially more than a predetermined number in the forward direction. If it is detected, by opening the first door from opening the second door in the door opening device,
A refrigerator capable of selecting whether the first door and the second door are opened individually or sequentially by a single operation .