JP6906455B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Conventionally, a refrigerator is controlled by a control unit housed in an electric box (Patent Document 1).
In recent years, the trend of IoT (Internet of Things), which is a new service and business model realized by connecting electric devices and the like through the Internet, has emerged.

In addition, there is a desire to grasp the state of the refrigerator from the outside. For example, there is a function to grasp a defect at an early stage by preventive maintenance and notify the user before a failure occurs. Alternatively, there is a need to visually check what is in the refrigerator through a camera.

Therefore, at present, there are two types of refrigerators, a conventional refrigerator without a wireless function and a refrigerator having a wireless function.
In a refrigerator with a wireless function, the wireless function is embedded on the front door hinge or on the door as a separate piece from the control unit.

Patent Document 2 describes a technique relating to routing the wiring between the main board and the radio wave module by arranging the main board on the rear side near the top surface and providing the radio wave module on the front door.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-55361 (paragraphs 0019 to 0021, FIGS. 1 (b), 2, etc.) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-17781 (paragraphs 0011 to 0026, FIGS. 1 to 9, etc.)

By the way, as in Patent Document 2, when the main board and the radio wave module are arranged separately, the wiring becomes long, so that there is a problem that noise is likely to be added to the signal. Further, since the main board and the wireless radio wave module are separated, there is an inconvenience that the raw material cost for wiring and the assembly cost are high.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost refrigerator having a wireless function in which signal noise is suppressed.

In order to solve the above problems, the refrigerator of the present invention includes a metal top plate, a circuit board arranged close to the top plate, a radio wave source connected to the circuit board, the circuit board, and the circuit board. A case that accommodates a radio wave source and at least a part of the radio wave of the radio wave source in the direction of direction is made of non-metal, and a case that is arranged at the front end and is made of at least part of non-metal to open and close the inside of the refrigerator. The door and the resin heat insulating material filled under the top plate are provided, and when viewed from the front, the area from the lower part of the top plate to the upper part of the door is equal to or more than half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source. It has a portion having dimensions and is formed of a non-metallic material, and is provided with a vacuum heat insulating material provided below the top plate and in front of the case, and the vacuum heat insulating material and the first radio wave on the directing direction side. The dimension between the side plate and the radio wave source is more than half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a low-cost refrigerator having a wireless function in which signal noise is suppressed.

The front view of the refrigerator of Embodiment 1 which concerns on this invention. The front view of the refrigerator main body of Embodiment 1. The front schematic view which shows the state before filling of the foam insulation material in the upper part of a refrigerator body. Rear view of the refrigerator. (A) is a view of the right door of the refrigerator compartment from the inside, (b) is a right side view of the right door of the refrigerator compartment, and FIG. 5 (c) is a sectional view taken along line I-I of the right door of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. Top view of the refrigerator. A perspective view showing a state in which the top lid of the electric box is removed. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 cut along an I-I cross section. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of II-II of FIG. A schematic top view showing how radio waves are transmitted from the wireless module of the electric box with the top plate of the refrigerator removed. A schematic perspective view seen from diagonally above right in front, showing the progress of radio waves emitted forward from the wireless module. Schematic side view seen from the right side showing the progress of radio waves emitted forward from the wireless module. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the progress of radio waves from the wireless module in the refrigerator of the second embodiment as viewed from diagonally forward right and above. FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of the progress of radio waves from the wireless module in the refrigerator of the second embodiment as viewed from the right side. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the upper lid of an electric box embedded in a concave space that is located on the left-right central side of the top plate of the refrigerator of the third embodiment and is inclined downward toward the rear plate side is removed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator main body 1H of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the doors (2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 6) shown in FIG. 1 are removed from the refrigerator 1.

Refrigerator 1 has a refrigerator body 1H (see FIG. 2) having openings 1h1 to 1h5 in front, and doors (2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 6) (see FIG. 1) that open and close openings 1H1 to 1H5. It is equipped.
In the refrigerator main body 1H shown in FIG. 2, a refrigerating chamber 2r, an ice making chamber 4ar, a quick freezing chamber 4br, a freezing chamber 5r, and a vegetable compartment 6r are defined from top to bottom.

As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerating room left door 2 and a refrigerating room right door 3 are provided in front of the refrigerating room 2r. Similarly, an ice making room door 4a, a quick freezing room door 4b, a freezing room door 5, and a vegetable room door 6 are provided in front of the ice making room 4ar, the quick freezing room 4br, the freezing room 5r, and the vegetable room 6r, respectively. ing.

The left door 2 of the refrigerator compartment and the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment have double doors on the refrigerator body 1H. The left door 2 of the refrigerator compartment can be rotated in the front direction (the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) by the upper hinge 7a and the lower hinge 8a. Similarly, the refrigerating room right door 3 can be rotated in the front direction by the upper hinge 7b and the lower hinge 8b.
A capacitive touch panel 2t or an operation panel 2p as an example of an electric device is installed in the left door 2 of the refrigerator compartment. The user operates the operation panel 2p to operate the refrigerator 1. The capacitance type touch panel 2t detects the user's operation by changing the capacitance.

Further, the ice making chamber door 4a, the quick freezing chamber door 4b, and the freezing chamber door 5 can be pulled out toward the front side of the paper. Similarly, the vegetable compartment door 6 can also be pulled out toward the front of the paper.
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 exchanges radio waves with a router installed indoors via a wireless module 11c (see FIG. 7) described later. In this way, the refrigerator 1 is connected to the Internet i and connected to the server s connected to the Internet i via the wireless module 11c. As a result, the refrigerator 1 is converted to IoT.

The vegetable compartment 6r shown in FIG. 2 is a storage chamber for storing vegetables, fruits, PET bottled beverages, and the like.
A machine room (not shown) for arranging refrigeration cycle equipment such as a compressor (not shown) is formed on the back side of the vegetable room 6r. Therefore, the bottom wall of the vegetable compartment 6r is formed higher in the rear part than in the front part.

The outside and inside of the refrigerator 1 are separated by a heat insulating box (refrigerator body 1H and doors (2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 6)) filled with the foamed heat insulating material 10. As the foamed heat insulating material 10, for example, foamed polyurethane or the like is used.

<Refrigerator body 1H>
The refrigerator body 1H constituting the heat insulating box body is composed of an outer box 1s, an inner box 1u, vacuum heat insulating materials 13 (13a, 13b) (see FIGS. 8 and 9) and the like. The outer box 1s is made of a thin iron plate, for example, an iron plate having a wall thickness of 0.5 mm to 0.4 mm. The outer box 1s refers to a metal plate such as a steel plate that covers the refrigerator body 1H.

The inner box 1u is made by vacuum forming a synthetic resin, for example, ABS resin.
The refrigerator body 1H is mounted by attaching a plurality of vacuum heat insulating materials 13 having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the foam heat insulating material 10 to the inner surface of the outer box 1s in order to improve the heat insulating performance. The vacuum heat insulating material 13 (13a, 13b) is formed by wrapping laminated glass wool or the like with an outer packaging material (a thin aluminum film or a laminated film having a metal vapor deposition layer) and then evacuating the inside of the outer packaging material. The metal film such as the outer packaging material of the present embodiment is thick, for example, to the extent that the incident radio waves are only partially reflected, although the radio waves can be shielded. That is, the radio wave of the frequency used for the communication of this embodiment that has reached the vacuum heat insulating material 13 can pass through the vacuum heat insulating material 13 while being attenuated. That is, the radio wave of this embodiment does not necessarily pass through the thin aluminum of the vacuum heat insulating material 13a, but it is preferable that the number of times it exists on the path is small in consideration of attenuation.

FIG. 3 is a front schematic view showing a state before filling of the foamed heat insulating material 10 in the upper part of the refrigerator main body 1H. In FIG. 3, the inner box 1u and the vacuum heat insulating material 13 are omitted.
A pair of filling ports 1j of the foamed heat insulating material 10 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper rear portion of the refrigerator body 1H.

After installing the vacuum heat insulating material 13 inside the outer box 1s as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the refrigerator body 1H was moved forward (the refrigerator body 1H was moved forward on the front side of the paper in FIG. 1), and the rear part of the refrigerator body 1H was moved forward. The stock solution of the foamed heat insulating material 10 before foaming is filled between the inner box 1u and the outer box 1s from the filling port 1j located above in the upward posture.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the refrigerator 1.
The rear portion of the refrigerator body 1H is fixed by screwing the rear plate 1s1 forming the outer box 1s to the rear portion of the refrigerator body 1H after filling the foam insulating material 10.

In the outer box 1s on the rear upper part of the refrigerator 1, a pair of resin handle attachment ports 1t, which are gripped when the refrigerator 1 is transported, have a concave shape and are formed on the left and right sides by closing the openings. Filling ports 1j (indicated by broken lines in FIG. 4) are located behind the pair of handle mounting ports 1 (see FIG. 3).

A power cable attachment port 1g, which is an opening for attaching the power cable 1c, is provided on the center side of the outer box 1s at the rear upper part of the refrigerator 1 by being covered with a non-metal such as resin.

<Refrigerator room right door 3>
5 (a) is a view of the refrigerating room right door 3 viewed from the inside, FIG. 5 (b) is a right side view of the refrigerating room right door 3, and FIG. 5 (c) is a view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment.
Inside the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment, a pocket 3p1 for storing seasonings and small items and a pocket 3p2 for storing drinks are formed in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the outer surface plate 3a of the refrigerating room right door 3 is formed of, for example, a glass plate in order to improve the design, and the inner surface plate 3b excluding the outer surface plate 3a of the refrigerating room right door 3 is formed. The outer shell including the outer shell is made of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin. By forming the outer surface plate 3a of the refrigerating room right door 3 with a glass plate, radio waves from the antenna of the wireless module 11c described later can be taken out forward.

A vacuum heat insulating material 13a is attached to the inner surface side of the outer surface plate 3a of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment.
The inside of the outer shell including the outer surface plate 3a and the inner surface plate 3b of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment is filled with the foamed heat insulating material 10a.
Therefore, the radio wave from the radio module 11c described later can be smoothly transmitted above the vacuum heat insulating material 13a in the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment.

<Electric box 9>
FIG. 6 is a top view of the refrigerator 1.
An electric box 9 for storing a control unit such as a main board 11a is provided adjacent to or close to the top plate 1s2 (a part of the outer box 1s) on the upper back surface of the refrigerator 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper lid 9b of the electric box 9 is removed.
The electric box 9 has a resin electric product storage box 9a and a steel plate upper lid 9b.

The electrical product storage box 9a has a box shape having an opening 9o above and is made of resin. The electrical product storage box 9a is formed to have a bottom plate 9a1 and side plates 9a2 to 9a5 extending upward from the edge of the bottom plate 9a1 and surrounding all four sides. Below the bottom plate 9a1, the foam heat insulating material 10 constituting the refrigerator body 1H is filled. Therefore, no hole is provided in the bottom plate 9a1.

The main board 11a, the reactor 11b, and the wireless module 11c are housed in the electrical component storage box 9a. That is, the wireless module 11c is housed in the electrical component storage box 9a like the main board 11a and the reactor 11b.
As a result, the wiring between the wireless module 11c and the main board 11a can be shortened. In addition, noise can be suppressed from being placed on the radio waves from the wireless module 11c.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12 below, the inclined surface of the electric component storage box 9a is configured to incline upward as it goes forward, and the wireless module 11c is located on the front side of the electric component storage box 9a. be able to. As a result, radio waves can be emitted from above. Further, by arranging the wireless module 11c at a height located above the main board 11a, radio waves can be transmitted without being disturbed by the main board 11a.

As shown in FIG. 12 below, the wireless module 11c may be mounted at a height located parallel to the top plate 1s2 forming the top surface and above the main substrate 11a. By mounting the wireless module 11c in parallel with the top plate 1s2 forming the top surface, radio waves can be transmitted in front of the refrigerator 1.
The wireless module 11c may be arranged at substantially the same height as the main board 11a. This facilitates the installation of the wireless module 11c.

The main substrate 11a controls the refrigerator 1. The reactor 11b suppresses a large current when the AC circuit mounted on the main board 11a is switched on. The position of the reactor 11b is not particularly limited, but in the case of the second embodiment described later, if the reactor 11b is arranged at a position different from the rear of the wireless module 11c, the radio wave can easily reach the rear of the refrigerator body 1H.

The wireless module 11c is responsible for wireless communication with a wide area network such as the Internet i, and communication with a relatively short distance such as a wireless LAN (see FIG. 1). For example, wireless radio waves (2.4 GHz band or 5 GHz band) of a wireless module can be used, short-range wireless communication (Bluetooth (registered trademark)), and wireless communication (Wi-) that connects to another network via a relay point. Fi), communication between devices (ZigBee), etc. may be used.

The direction of the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c is not limited to, for example, omnidirectional or a direction having a specific directivity, but in this embodiment, the directivity direction is directed forward (see FIG. 11). ). Therefore, in the electrical component storage box 9a, the side plate 9a2 (see FIG. 7) in the direction direction of the radio wave of the wireless module 11c is formed of a non-metal resin. The wireless module 11c is attached so that the wireless module 11c is positioned downward within the range excluding the steel plate 9c of the metal member arranged in the electrical component storage box 9a. As a result, the radio wave of the wireless module 11c can be transmitted downward.

The radio wave from the radio module 11c can travel if there is a gap of 1/2 (= λ / 2) of the wavelength λ of the radio wave.
The following are taken into consideration when mounting the wireless module 11c.
A signal line 7a2 (see FIG. 1) is routed to the upper hinge 7a of the left door 2 of the refrigerating room of one of the left door 2 of the refrigerating room and the right door 3 of the refrigerating room with double doors. Therefore, the directivity of the wireless module 11c is arranged in the vicinity of the right door 3 side of the refrigerating room where the signal line 7a2 is not routed among the left door 2 of the refrigerating room and the right door 3 of the refrigerating room having double doors.

Further, a temperature detecting means 7a1 is installed on the hinge 7a on the left door 2 of the refrigerating room of one of the left door 2 of the refrigerating room and the right door 3 of the refrigerating room having double doors. Therefore, the directivity of the wireless module 11c is set in the vicinity of the right door 3 side of the refrigerating room where the temperature detecting means 7a1 (see FIG. 1) is not installed among the left door 2 and the right door 3 of the refrigerating room with double doors. It is arranged.
As a result, the radio wave from the wireless module 11c is not affected by the signal of the signal line 7a2 or the temperature detecting means 7a1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a capacitive touch panel 2t and an operation panel 2p are installed on the left door 2 of the refrigerator compartment.
In the wireless module 11c, the directivity of the antenna of the wireless module 11c is arranged on the side of the other refrigerating room right door 3 opposite to the refrigerating room left door 2 provided with the capacitive touch panel 2t and the operation panel 2p. ing. As a result, the radio waves from the antenna of the wireless module 11c are not affected by the signals of the capacitive touch panel 2t and the operation panel 2p.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a refractory steel plate 9c is installed below the power semiconductor or the like of the main substrate 11a and the large current portion of the reactor.
Since the wireless module 11c can be driven with a relatively small amount of current, the steel plate 9c may not be arranged. From this point of view, from the viewpoint of suppressing the reflection of radio waves, it is possible not to provide the steel plate 9c below the wireless module 11c.

The electric box 9 is assembled as follows. After the fireproof steel plate 9c, the main substrate 11a, the reactor 11b, the wireless module 11c, and the like are mounted inside the electrical product storage box 9a, the opening 9o of the electrical product storage box 9a is covered with the upper lid 9b (FIG. 7 arrow α1) Then, the screw n1 is screwed into the female screw m1 of the electrical product storage box 9a through the insertion hole t1 of the upper lid 9b. Further, the screw n2 is screwed into the female screw m2 of the top plate 1s2 through the insertion hole t2 of the upper lid 9b. As a result, the electric box 9 is fixed to the refrigerator 1 (see FIG. 6).

<Peripheral structure of electric box 9>
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 1 of FIG. 1 cut along an I-I cross section. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. FIG. 9 shows an approximate cross-sectional structure of the upper part of the refrigerator 1.

A vacuum heat insulating material 13b having a stepped shape is installed on the upper part of the refrigerator 1. The vacuum heat insulating material 13b has an upper flat portion 13b1 at the front, a lower flat portion 13b2 at the rear, and an inclined portion 13b3 at an intermediate portion between the upper flat portion 13b1 and the lower flat portion 13b2.
The upper surface of the upper flat portion 13b1 of the vacuum heat insulating material 13b is installed in contact with the top plate 1s2 of the outer box 1s via an adhesive (not shown). Then, the foam heat insulating material 10 is filled between the outer box 1s and the inner box 1u.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the electric box 9 is also installed above the lower flat portion 13b2 of the vacuum heat insulating material 13b via an adhesive in the same manner as described above.
The upper part of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment is rotatably supported by a metal hinge 1h (see FIG. 8).

The dimension s0 between the metal hinge 1h and the vacuum heat insulating material 13a inside the refrigerating chamber right door 3 has a relationship of s0> = λ / 2 with respect to the wavelength λ of the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c.
Therefore, the radio waves emitted from the antenna of the wireless module 11c toward the front are transmitted from between the vacuum heat insulating material 13a inside the refrigerating room right door 3 and the metal hinge 1h to the foam heat insulating material 10a of the refrigerating room right door 3. It can pass through the glass outer surface plate 3a (arrow α2 in FIG. 8) and proceed forward outside the refrigerator.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view showing how radio waves are transmitted from the antenna of the wireless module 11c of the electric box 9 with the top plate 1s2 of the refrigerator 1 removed.
The width dimension s1 of the vacuum heat insulating material 13b is smaller than the dimension s2 between the side plates 1s3 and 1s4 forming the outer box 1s of the refrigerator 1. Further, there is a relationship between s3> = λ / 2 between the dimension s3 between the vacuum heat insulating material 13b and the side plate 1s4 and the wavelength λ of the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c.

Therefore, the radio wave emitted obliquely forward from the antenna of the wireless module 11c can pass between the vacuum heat insulating material 13b and the side plate 1s4 and travel forward (arrows α32 in FIGS. 8 and 10). Then, as described above, the process proceeds to the front of the refrigerator 1 from between the vacuum heat insulating material 13a inside the refrigerating room right door 3 and the metal hinge 1h (arrow α2 in FIG. 8).

<Propagation of radio waves from the antenna of the wireless module 11c to the outside of the refrigerator>
Next, the propagation of the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c to the outside of the refrigerator will be described.

The wireless module 11c is housed inside an electric box 9 arranged in the upper part of the back surface of the refrigerator 1.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view seen from diagonally above the front right showing the progress of the radio wave emitted forward from the antenna of the wireless module 11c. FIG. 12 shows a schematic side view seen from the right side showing the progress of radio waves emitted forward from the antenna of the wireless module 11c. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the outer box 1s, the foamed heat insulating material 10, the refrigerating room left door 2, the refrigerating room right door 3, and the like are omitted. Further, in FIGS. 11 and 12, only the wireless module 11c in the electric box 9 is shown, and other components related to the electric box 9 are omitted.

The wireless module 11c is arranged at the upper right back when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front. The antenna of the wireless module 11c emits radio waves toward the front (arrows α31 and α32 in FIGS. 11 and 12).
As shown in FIG. 12, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c has directivity in a range of an angle θ = approximately 60 degrees in the traveling direction. The directivity direction of the radio wave of the wireless module 11c is set to be forward and gradually away from the top plate. Radio waves can be easily taken out from the front of the refrigerator 1 by advancing through the transmission of the vacuum heat insulating material 13 rather than by reflecting through the relatively thick metal top plate and transmitting through the vacuum heat insulating material 13.

The radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c travels to the front and the outside of the refrigerator 1 through the following two routes.
As the first path, as shown by the arrow α31 in FIG. 11, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c is transmitted while attenuating the vacuum heat insulating material 13b arranged in front of and below the electric box 9. As shown in 8, the process proceeds to the front of the refrigerator 1 from between the vacuum heat insulating material 13a of the refrigerating room right door 3 and the metal hinge 1h (a portion formed of a non-metal material) (arrow α2 in FIG. 8).

As the second path, as shown by the arrows α32 in FIGS. 10 and 12, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 11c passes between the vacuum heat insulating material 13b and the side plate 1s4 and travels forward to the side plate 1s4. It reflects and travels in front of the refrigerator 1 from between the vacuum heat insulating material 13a inside the refrigerating room right door 3 and the metal hinge 1h (arrow α2 in FIG. 8).

According to the above configuration, there is a portion formed of a non-metal material having a dimension of more than half the wavelength of the radio wave of the wireless module 11c in the region from the lower side of the top plate 1s2 to the upper part of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment. Therefore, the radio wave of the wireless module 11c can pass through the portion and travel outside the refrigerator. If a portion formed of a non-metallic material having a dimension equal to or more than half the wavelength of the radio wave of the wireless module 11c is provided in the region below the top plate 1s2 and above the refrigerator compartment door, the refrigerator compartment right door 3 can be used. Without limitation, the arrangement of the wireless module 11c, the direction of the antenna (not limited to the upper side, the lower side, the front, back, left and right), the mounting angle, and the like may be changed so that the radio wave can travel from the left door 2 of the refrigerator compartment.

Since the wireless module 11c is housed inside the electric box 9, the wireless module 11c and the main board 11a are arranged in the same area. However, the high-frequency circuit (for example, a power semiconductor circuit for driving a compressor or a switching power supply circuit) of the main board 11a and the low-frequency circuit (control signal, etc.) can be connected to a connector with a relatively short wiring length. Therefore, the influence of self-noise due to high frequency can be suppressed in the control signal between the wireless module 11c and the main board 11a.

Further, since the wireless module 11c is housed inside the electric box 9, it is not necessary to newly provide the installation structure of the wireless module 11c on the door or the like. Therefore, the wiring cost and the assembly cost are low, and the cost of the refrigerator 1 can be reduced.
Further, since the large current portion of the power semiconductor or the like of the electric box 9 including the wireless module 11c is closed by the sheet metal such as the steel plate 9c or the upper lid 9b, it has a non-combustible structure and has a high degree of safety.

Since the wireless module 11c is mounted on the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 1 can be converted to IoT. Therefore, the constituent devices of the refrigerator 1 can be monitored for preventive maintenance, and the information in the refrigerator can be notified to the user and the service person.

Instead of the configuration of the first embodiment described above, the refrigerating chamber right door 3 may be provided with a portion formed of a non-metal material having a dimension of half or more of the wavelength of the radio wave of the wireless module 11c.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the progress of radio waves from the wireless module 21c in the refrigerator 21 of the second embodiment as viewed from diagonally forward right and above. FIG. 14 is a side schematic view of the progress of radio waves from the wireless module 21c in the refrigerator 21 of the second embodiment as viewed from the right side. In FIGS. 13 and 14, the outer box 1s and the foamed heat insulating material 10 are omitted. In FIGS. 13 and 14, only the wireless module 21c in the electric box 9 is shown, and other components related to the electric box 9 are omitted.

In the refrigerator 21 of the second embodiment, the outer surface plates 23a of the doors 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5 and 6 (that is, including the right door 23 of the refrigerator compartment) for opening and closing the refrigerator body 1H shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 5 (c)). (See) can be made of metal instead of glass, for example steel plate. Further, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 21c is configured to travel backward.
Since the other components are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the outer surface plate 23a of the right door 23 of the refrigerator compartment shown in FIG. 5C is made of a steel plate instead of the glass of the first embodiment. Therefore, radio waves do not pass through the right door 23 of the refrigerator compartment. Further, in this embodiment, two Kannon doors (right door 3, left door 2) are not indispensable, and even if a so-called one-sided door (right door only, left door only, not shown) having only one is configured. good.
Therefore, the wireless module 21c of the second embodiment is set so that the directivity of the radio wave is rearward. An omnidirectional antenna may be provided instead of the directional antenna.

As a result, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 21c is transmitted through the filling port 1j (see FIG. 3) or the handle mounting port 1t (see FIG. 4) or the power cable mounting port 1g (see FIG. 4) of the foam insulation material 10. , Taken out of the refrigerator 21.
Here, at least a part of the filling port 1j, the handle mounting port 1t (see FIG. 4), or the power cable mounting port 1g has a dimension larger than the wavelength λ / 2 of the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 21c, respectively.

Alternatively, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 21c is configured to be reflected by the side plate 1s4 and propagate through the filling port 1j, the handle mounting port 1t, or the power cable mounting port 1g.

13 and 14 show a case where the directivity of the radio wave from the wireless module 21c is configured to face the filling port 1j. The radio wave from the wireless module 21c passes through the filling port 1j and travels outside the refrigerator (arrow α41).
Alternatively, by configuring the directivity of the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 21c to face the handle mounting port 1t and the power cable mounting port 1g, the radio wave from the wireless module 21c is configured to face the handle mounting port 1t and the power cable mounting port 1g. Pass through and proceed to the outside of the warehouse.

According to the above configuration, the wireless module 21c can be housed inside the electric box 9 even when the outer surface plate 23a (see FIG. 5C) of the right door 23 of the refrigerator compartment is made of metal. Then, the radio wave from the antenna of the wireless module 21c can be taken out to the outside of the refrigerator 21 through the filling port 1j, the handle mounting port 1t, and the power cable mounting port 1g.

Therefore, the wireless module 21c can be mounted on the refrigerator 21 by suppressing high-frequency self-noise from being placed on the signal of the wireless module 21c. Therefore, it is possible to realize an inexpensive refrigerator 21 having a wireless function and low noise.
The outer surface plates 23a of the refrigerating chamber right door 23 and the left door (not shown) may be glass plates instead of metal plates.

Instead of the configuration of the second embodiment, the directivity of the radio wave is configured to face near the filling port 1j, the handle mounting port 1t, or the power cable mounting port 1g, and is reflected by the outer box 1s to reflect these ports. It may be configured so that the radio wave travels from (1j, 1t, 1g) to the outside of the refrigerator.
When the directivity of the radio wave faces near the filling port 1j, the handle mounting port 1t, or the power cable mounting port 1g, the radio wave is reflected on the outer box 1s and is stored from these ports (1j, 1t, 1g). The position where radio waves travel outside.
In summary, a non-metallic material having a dimension (> = λ / 2) of at least half of the wavelength λ of the radio waves from the antennas of the wireless modules 11c and 21c in at least one of the refrigerating chamber right door 3 or the outer box 1s. By having a portion formed by, the radio wave can be taken out of the refrigerator.

<< Embodiment 3 >>
FIG. 15 shows the outside of the upper lid 9b of the electric box 9 which is located on the left-right central side of the top plate 1s2 of the refrigerator of the third embodiment and is embedded in a concave space which is inclined downward toward the rear plate 1s1 side. It is a figure which shows the state (the inside of the electric article storage box 9a).
The configuration of the third embodiment can be the same as that of the first or second embodiment except for the following points.
As described above, it is preferable to shorten the wiring length of the signal line 11a3 connecting the wireless module 11c and the control signal circuit 11a2. However, when the drive circuit 11a1 that emits relatively strong noise and the wireless module 11c are close to each other, the influence of self-noise is likely to appear. In view of this, the third embodiment examines the layout of the electric box 9.

A steel plate 9c is arranged on the lower surface of the electric component storage box 9a, and a drive circuit 11a1, a control signal circuit 11a2, a wireless module 11c, and a reactor are placed on the steel plate 9c in this order from the end in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the electric box 9. 11b is arranged. The wireless module 11c and the reactor 11b are arranged at substantially the same position in the left-right direction. That is, they are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and which one is in front in consideration of whether the radio wave is to be taken out from the front door (refrigerator room right door 3 etc.) or the rear filling port 1j etc. You can decide whether to do it. By arranging the wireless module 11c and the reactor 11b in close proximity to each other, it is possible to prevent the wireless module 11c from being electrically affected. In addition, a compact layout inside the electric box 9 becomes possible.

The steel plate 9c is not arranged in the electric box 9 except for the main substrate 11a and the lower part of the reactor 11b (the region of the broken line 11c1).
The drive circuit 11a1 can supply electric power to a device that requires a large amount of electric power, such as a compressor that forms a part of a refrigeration cycle. The control signal circuit 11a2 has a control microcomputer that generates control signals for a compressor, an interior light, and the like. Therefore, electromagnetic noise is generated more in the drive circuit 11a1 than in the control signal circuit 11a2 side. The drive circuit 11a1 and the control signal circuit 11a2 are grouped on the main board 11a. Further, the main substrate 11a and the reactor 11b are fixed to the substrate case 9d1 mounted on the steel plate 9c.
The material of the substrate case 9d1 is formed of an insulating material such as ABS resin, and the steel plate 9c is in a state of being electrically insulated from the main substrate 11a and the reactor 11b.

The drive circuit 11a1 is arranged on the side of the main board 11a far from the wireless module 11c. Since a switching isolation transformer circuit or the like is mounted on this, electromagnetic noise is generated relatively large. For example, high-frequency switching (for example, one driven at 4 to 4.1 kHz or one driven at 80 to 100 kHz) is used with a large current (for example, AC 3 to 5 A) and a high voltage (for example, DC 141 to 282 V). Be done.
The control signal circuit 11a2 is arranged between the drive circuit 11a1 and the wireless module 11c, and is connected to the wireless module 11c by the signal line 11a3 of the main board 11a. Specifically, the signal line 11a3 connected to the connection portion 11a9 such as the connector of the main board 11a is connected to the connection portion 11c1 such as the connector of the wireless module 11c.

By providing the wireless module 11c with a connecting portion 11c2 such as a connector, the signal line 11a3 drawn from the main board 11a side can be connected via the connecting portion 11c2 of the wireless module 11c and can be attached and detached.
Further, by providing the connecting portion 11a9 such as a connector on the main board 11a, the signal line 11a3 drawn from the side of the wireless module 11c can be attached and detached via the connecting portion 11a9 of the main board 11a.

The wireless module 11c was obtained by analyzing and acquiring the operation history information of the compressor and the like, the log of the error history, etc. from the control signal circuit 11a2 via the signal line 11a3, and the image and the storage state of food when the camera was mounted. You can receive signs of failure. Since the signal line 11a3 does not pass above the drive circuit 11a1 and moves away from the drive circuit 11a1 of the high frequency circuit as it goes from the control signal circuit 11a2 to the wireless module 11c, the influence of self-noise can be suppressed.
A ground wire 11a7 is provided on the connection wire 11a8 drawn out from the main board 11a side. The ground wire 11a7 is pulled out from the electric box 9 and connected to the ground mounting portion 1e (see FIG. 4) near the power cable mounting port 1g on the back side of the refrigerator 1. As a result, even when the signal line 11a3 picks up the noise of the drive circuit 11a1, its influence can be reduced.

<< Other Embodiments >>
1. 1. In the first and second embodiments, the case where at least a part of the electric box 9 is made of metal has been described, but the whole electric box 9 may be made of a non-metal such as resin.

Alternatively, the electric box may be made of metal, have a wavelength of λ / 2 or more of the radio waves from the antennas of the radio modules 11c and 21c, and have a slit through which the radio waves pass.

2. The outer surface plate 3a of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment of the first embodiment may be a resin other than a glass plate, an insulator such as rubber, or a non-metal such as wood. As described above, if the outer surface plate 3a of the right door 3 of the refrigerator compartment is non-metal, a material other than glass may be used.

3. 3. In the first and second embodiments, the case where the electric box 9 is arranged in the upper part on the back side of the refrigerators 1 and 21 has been described, but the wireless modules 11c and 21c inside the electric box 9 and the external space of the refrigerators 1 and 21 have been described. If there is a hole made of a non-metallic material having a dimension larger than the wavelength λ / 2 of the radio waves of the wireless modules 11c and 21c, the position of the electric box 9 is other than the upper part on the back side of the refrigerators 1 and 21. It may be arranged in other places such as the back side of the refrigerators 1 and 21 and the front upper part of the refrigerators 1 and 21.

4. Although the case where metal is used for a part of the electric box 9 of the first and second embodiments has been described as an example, all or a part of the electric box is made of resin, and the radio module 11c is formed on the top plate 1s2 of the outer box 1s. , A hole having a wavelength of λ / 2 or more of the radio wave from 21c or more may be formed at least in a part thereof.

5. The above-described embodiment is described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to the one including all the configurations described. Further, it is possible to add / delete / replace a part of the configuration of the embodiment with another configuration.

6. Further, the present invention is capable of various modified forms and specific forms within the scope of claims, and is not limited to the described embodiments and examples.

1,21 Refrigerator 1g Power cable attachment port (parts made of non-metal material, holes)
1j Filling port (location formed of non-metal material, hole)
1s outer box 1s1 rear plate (second side plate)
1s2 Top plate 1s4 Side plate (1st side plate)
1t handle mounting port (places made of non-metal material, holes)
2 doors (one side of the left door of the refrigerator compartment and the double door)
2p operation panel (electrical equipment)
2t capacitive touch panel (electrical equipment)
3 doors (the right door of the refrigerator compartment, the other side of the double doors)
7a1 Temperature detection means (electrical equipment)
7a2 signal line 9 case (electric box)
10 Resin heat insulating material (foamed heat insulating material)
11a Main board (circuit board)
11a1 Drive circuit 11a2 Control signal circuit 11a3 Signal line (connection line)
11c, 21c wireless module (radio radio source)
13b Vacuum heat insulating material

Claims (8)

With a metal top plate
A circuit board arranged close to the top plate and a radio wave source connected to the circuit board,
A case in which the circuit board and the radio wave source are housed, and at least a part in the direction of the radio wave of the radio wave source is made of non-metal.
A door that is placed at the front end and is made of at least a part of non-metal to open and close the inside of the refrigerator,
A resin heat insulating material filled under the top plate is provided.
When viewed from the front, there is a portion formed of a non-metallic material having a dimension of more than half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source in the region from the lower side of the top plate to the upper part of the door .
A vacuum heat insulating material provided below the top plate and in front of the case is provided.
A refrigerator characterized in that the dimension between the vacuum heat insulating material and the first side plate on the directivity direction side of the radio wave is at least half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source. With a metal top plate
A circuit board arranged close to the top plate and a radio wave source connected to the circuit board,
A case in which the circuit board and the radio wave source are housed, and at least a part in the direction of the radio wave of the radio wave source is made of non-metal.
A door that is placed at the front end and is made of at least a part of non-metal to open and close the inside of the refrigerator,
A resin heat insulating material filled under the top plate is provided.
When viewed from the front, there is a portion formed of a non-metallic material having a dimension of more than half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source in the region from the lower side of the top plate to the upper part of the door .
A refrigerator characterized in that the directivity direction of the radio wave of the radio wave source is a direction in which the radio wave is not reflected and is gradually separated from the top plate. In the refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.
A refrigerator in which a portion formed of the non-metal material above the door is formed including a glass plate. In the refrigerator according to claim 1,
A refrigerator characterized in that the directivity direction of the radio wave of the radio wave source is a direction that is forward and gradually away from the top plate. The circuit board and the radio wave source connected to the circuit board,
A case in which the circuit board and the radio wave source are housed, and at least a part in the direction of the radio wave of the radio wave source is made of non-metal.
A door that is placed at the front end and opens and closes inside the refrigerator,
Equipped with an outer box that forms the outer shell,
At least one of the door or the outer box has a portion formed of a non-metallic material having a dimension of at least half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source .
A vacuum heat insulating material provided below the top plate of the outer box and in front of the case is provided.
A refrigerator characterized in that the dimension between the vacuum heat insulating material and the first side plate on the directivity direction side of the radio wave is at least half the wavelength of the radio wave of the radio wave source. In the refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.
The radio wave source is located on the front side of the case.
The case is a refrigerator characterized in that it is inclined upward as it goes forward. In the refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.
The case has a drive circuit that supplies electric power to the compressor and a control signal circuit that generates a control signal.
The radio wave source and the control signal circuit are connected by a signal line.
A refrigerator characterized in that the drive circuit is located on one side of the control signal circuit and the radio wave source is located on the other side. In the refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.
As the door, it has two double doors.
An electric device or a signal line is provided on one side of the double door.
The radio wave source is a refrigerator in which the directivity direction of the radio wave is set on the other side of the double door.

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