JP7330863B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

This specification relates to refrigerators.

The refrigerator disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a communication section that can communicate with a server, and a control section that can communicate with the communication section. Information acquired by the communication unit from the server is transmitted from the communication unit to the control unit. Information is transmitted from the communication unit to the server under the control of the control unit.

JP 2017-142062 A

In a refrigerator having a communication unit capable of communicating with a server, for example, a problem may occur in the control unit due to virus invasion through the communication unit or unauthorized access from a third party. Also, due to the control executed by the control unit in which the problem has occurred, for example, incorrect information may be transmitted from the communication unit to the server, causing further problems.

This specification discloses a technique capable of suppressing further occurrence of a problem due to control executed by a control unit in which a problem has occurred.

The refrigerator disclosed in the present specification includes a main body having a storage compartment, a door closing a front opening of the storage compartment, an operation button provided on the main body or the door and operated by a user, and a server capable of communicating with the A communication unit and a control unit that can communicate with the communication unit are provided. The control unit cuts off communication between the communication unit and the control unit when the operation button is operated.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; It is a perspective view near the lower part of the right door of 1st Example. 1 is a system diagram of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of restoration processing of the first embodiment; It is a perspective view near the left end part of the right door of 2nd Example. It is a perspective view near the upper surface of the right door of 3rd Example. It is a perspective view near the upper surface of the main body of 4th Example.

(First embodiment)
A refrigerator 10 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. As shown in FIG. 1 , the refrigerator 10 includes a main body 12 , multiple doors 14 , 16 , 18 , 20 and 22 , a display section 26 and a communication section 28 . The main body 12 has thermal insulation. The main body 12 has a refrigerator compartment 30, a vegetable compartment 32, a first freezer compartment 34, a second freezer compartment 36, and a third freezer compartment 38 therein. Front openings of each of the refrigerator compartment 30, the vegetable compartment 32, the first freezer compartment 34, the second freezer compartment 36, and the third freezer compartment 38 are connected to the plurality of doors 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, respectively. is closed by The door 14 is a double door with a left door 14a and a right door 14b. A left end portion of the left door 14a is rotatably supported on the main body 12 . A right end portion of the right door 14b is rotatably supported by the main body 12. As shown in FIG. The plurality of doors 16, 18, 20, 22 are drawer type doors.

The communication unit 28 can communicate with the server through wired communication or wireless communication. The server stores information that the user desires to acquire, such as cooking recipes. The communication unit 28 is, for example, a communication module in which a chip is mounted on a substrate. The communication unit 28 is arranged on the front upper surface of the main body 12 . The communication unit 28 is arranged behind the right door 14b when the refrigerator 10 is viewed from the front. The communication unit 28 is arranged closer to the door 14 than the central position of the refrigerator 10 in the depth direction. The communication unit 28 is arranged on a hinge cover (not shown) provided behind the right upper surface of the right door 14b.

The display unit 26 is arranged on the left door 14a. The display unit 26 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel. The display unit 26 displays information about the refrigerator 10 and information received from the server via the communication unit 28 by the control unit 64 (to be described later). The information about the refrigerator 10 includes, for example, the temperature and humidity of each of the storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38, and the temperature and humidity of each of the storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38 if the refrigerator 10 is equipped with an indoor camera. It is the food name and the amount of food contained in the . The information received from the server is, for example, cooking recipes.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the refrigerator 10 further includes a compressor 42 , coolers 46 and 48 , fans 50 and 52 and heaters 54 and 56 . The compressor 42 is arranged at the lower rear portion of the main body 12 . Compressor 42 switches between an on state and an off state. When the compressor 42 is on, the compressor 42 compresses refrigerant circulating between the compressor 42 and the coolers 46,48. Compressor 42 pumps the compressed refrigerant through a condenser (not shown) and capillary tubes (not shown) to coolers 46 and 48 . This cools the air around coolers 46 and 48 . The refrigerant that has passed through the coolers 46 and 48 returns to the compressor 42 via check valves (not shown). On the other hand, when the compressor 42 is in the off state, the compressor 42 does not compress refrigerant and does not pump refrigerant to the coolers 46,48. Therefore, the air around the coolers 46, 48 is not cooled.

The fan 50 pumps the air cooled by the cooler 46 to the refrigerator compartment 30 and the vegetable compartment 32 . Thereby, the refrigerator compartment 30 and the vegetable compartment 32 are cooled. The fan 52 also pumps the air cooled by the cooler 48 to the first freezer compartment 34 , the second freezer compartment 36 and the third freezer compartment 38 . Thereby, the 1st freezer compartment 34, the 2nd freezer compartment 36, and the 3rd freezer compartment 38 are cooled.

Each of heaters 54 and 56 removes frost adhering to each of coolers 46 and 48 . Each of the heaters 54,56 is attached to each of the coolers 46,48. The heaters 54, 56 are, for example, electric heaters.

As shown in FIG. 3, a groove 62 is formed in the lower end of the right door 14b pivotally supported by the main body 12. As shown in FIG. The groove portion 62 is arranged on the front surface of the right door 14b. The groove portion 62 is recessed rearward from the front surface of the right door 14b.

As shown in FIG. 3 , refrigerator 10 further includes operation buttons 58 and a cover 60 . The operation button 58 is provided on the right door 14b. The operation button 58 is arranged in the groove portion 62 . The operation button 58 is arranged forward (on the right door 14b side) of the central position in the depth direction of the refrigerator 10 . The operation button 58 is a hardware operation button operated by the user. The operation button 58 is, for example, a push-type operation button or a switch-type operation button. That is, the operation button 58 is not a touch panel type operation button.

The upper end of the cover 60 is rotatably supported by the right door 14b. The cover 60 can be opened and closed. When the cover 60 is closed, the front opening of the groove 62 is closed. That is, the cover 60 covers the operation button 58 . Therefore, the user cannot press the operation button 58 . On the other hand, when the cover 60 is open, the front opening of the groove 62 is open. That is, the cover 60 does not cover the operation button 58 . Therefore, the user can press the operation button 58 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , refrigerator 10 further includes control unit 64 and memory 66 . The control unit 64 is arranged on the upper surface of the main body 12 (see FIG. 2). Note that, in a modified example, the control unit 64 may be arranged on the rear surface of the main body 12 or may be arranged inside the main body 12 . The control unit 64 is connected to the display unit 26 , the communication unit 28 , the compressor 42 , the fans 50 and 52 , the heaters 54 and 56 , the operation button 58 and the memory 66 . The control unit 64 controls driving of the display unit 26 , the compressor 42 , the fans 50 and 52 , and the heaters 54 and 56 . The control unit 64 can communicate with the communication unit 28 . The control unit 64 acquires the operation signal when the operation button 58 is operated.

Memory 66 is, for example, an HDD, SSD, or memory card. Note that, in a modified example, the memory 66 may be a built-in memory or a memory removable from the refrigerator 10 like a memory card. The memory 66 stores information that the control unit 64 receives from the server via the communication unit 28 . The memory 66 also stores a cooling program.

A cooling program is a program for cooling each storage compartment 30,32,34,36,38. The cooling program is normally run while refrigerator 10 is powered by an external power source. In the cooling program, the controller 64 controls the driving of the compressor 42, the heaters 54 and 56, and the like. Specifically, the control unit 64 controls the timing of switching the compressor 42 between the ON state and the OFF state, and the timing and driving period of driving the fans 50 and 52 . Further, the control unit 64 controls the timing and drive period for driving the heaters 54 and 56 .

The control unit 64 can execute the restoration process shown in FIG. The restoration process is executed when the user operates the operation button 58 (see FIG. 3). The operation button 58 is normally covered with a cover 60 and is not operated. When it is determined that the refrigerator 10 is abnormal, for example, when the display displayed on the display unit 26 is abnormal, the user opens the cover 60 and operates the operation button 58 . The recovery process when the control unit 64 is executing the cooling program will be described below. Also, a recovery process when the control unit 64 initializes the cooling program will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, in S2 of the restoration process, the control unit 64 cuts off communication with the communication unit 28. FIG. That is, when the operation button 58 is operated, communication between the control section 64 and the communication section 28 is cut off. Also, the cutoff state of communication between the control unit 64 and the communication unit 28 is maintained. As a result, information is no longer transmitted and received between the control unit 64 and the communication unit 28 .

In subsequent S4, the control unit 64 stops driving the display unit 26, the fans 50 and 52, and the heaters 54 and 56 according to the driving states of the display unit 26, the fans 50 and 52, and the heaters 54 and 56. do. In subsequent S6, the control unit 64 determines whether the compressor 42 is off. That is, the control section 64 determines the driving state of the compressor 42 . If the compressor 42 is not off, that is, if the compressor 42 is on (NO in S6), the controller 64 waits until the compressor 42 is switched from on to off according to the cooling program. On the other hand, if the compressor 42 is off (YES in S6), the controller 64 keeps the compressor 42 off in S8. As a result, execution of the cooling program by the control unit 64 is stopped.

In S10 that follows, the control unit 64 initializes the memory 66 . Specifically, the control unit 64 initializes the cooling program of the refrigerator 10 stored in the memory 66 and restores it to a state in which no problem has occurred. Also, the control unit 64 deletes the information received from the server via the communication unit 28 from the memory 66 . As a result, the memory 66 returns to the initial state when the refrigerator 10 was manufactured.

In subsequent S12, the control unit 64 determines whether or not a predetermined period of time has elapsed after switching the compressor 42 to the OFF state. The predetermined period is a period during which the load applied to the compressor 42 can be suppressed and the compressor 42 can be switched from the OFF state to the ON state. When determining that the predetermined period has not elapsed (NO in S12), the control unit 64 waits until the predetermined period has elapsed. If the control unit 64 determines that the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in S12), in S14, the compressor 42 is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, and the display unit 26, the fans 50 and 52, and the heaters 54 and 56 are turned on. to drive. This causes the cooling program to be run again to cool each of the storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, 38. Also, when the cooling program is executed, communication between the control unit 64 and the communication unit 28 becomes possible.

(effect)
The refrigerator 10 according to the first embodiment has been described above. As noted above, the refrigerator 10 includes a body 12 having storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, doors 14, 16, 18, 20 closing front openings of the storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, 38; 22, an operation button 58 provided on the right door 14b and operated by the user, a communication unit 28 capable of communicating with the server, and a control unit 64 capable of communicating with the communication unit 28. When the operation button 58 is operated, the control section 64 cuts off communication between the communication section 28 and the control section 64 (see S2 in FIG. 5). In this configuration, communication between the communication unit 28 and the control unit 64 is cut off. Therefore, even if a problem occurs in the control unit 64 due to, for example, virus invasion or unauthorized access by a third party, unauthorized information may be transmitted. There is no transmission from the control unit 64 to the communication unit 28, and no further viruses enter the control unit 64.例文帳に追加As a result, it is possible to prevent further problems from occurring due to the control executed by the control unit 64 in which the problem has occurred.

Further, when the operation button 58 is operated, the control unit 64 restores the program related to the refrigerator 10 while the communication between the communication unit 28 and the control unit 64 is cut off. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the program related to refrigerator 10 from being restored while control unit 64 is able to communicate with communication unit 28 . As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of further problems.

The refrigerator 10 further includes a compressor 42 that cools the storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38 by switching between an on state and an off state based on a cooling program. The control unit 64 controls switching of the compressor 42 between an ON state and an OFF state. Further, when the operation button 58 is operated, the control unit 64 maintains the compressor 42, which has been switched from the ON state to the OFF state according to the cooling program, in the OFF state, and restores the cooling program (see S8 and S10 in FIG. 5). . When the compressor 42 is forcibly switched from the ON state to the OFF state, an excessive load is applied to the compressor 42 . In the above configuration, the compressor 42 that has been switched from ON to OFF according to the cooling program is maintained in the OFF state, and the cooling program is restored. Therefore, the cooling program in which the malfunction has occurred can be restored while the load applied to the compressor 42 is suppressed when switching from the ON state to the OFF state.

The refrigerator 10 further includes coolers 46, 48 for cooling the storage compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, and heaters 54, 56 for removing frost adhering to the coolers 46, 48. ing. When the operation button 58 is operated, the control unit 64 stops driving the heaters 54 and 56, and then restores the cooling program (see S8 and S10 in FIG. 5). If the driving of the heaters 54 and 56 is stopped after the program (cooling program in this embodiment) is restored, an excessive load may be applied to the heaters 54 and 56 due to malfunction in the driving of the heaters 54 and 56. be. In the above configuration, the program is restored after the heaters 54 and 56 are stopped. Therefore, the load applied to the heaters 54 and 56 can be suppressed.

The above operation button 58 is arranged closer to the door 14 than the central position of the refrigerator 10 in the depth direction. In general, the refrigerator 10 is often arranged with the side surfaces and the rear surface, excluding the front surface, facing the wall. With the above configuration, the user can easily operate the operation buttons 58 even when the refrigerator 10 is arranged with the side surfaces excluding the front surface and the rear surface facing the wall.

The operation button 58 described above is provided on the right door 14b. With this configuration, the user can operate the operation button 58 more easily.

The refrigerator 10 described above further includes a cover 60 that can be opened and closed and covers the operation button 58 . In this configuration, the cover 60 can prevent the operation button 58 from being erroneously operated.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.

(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the points different from the first embodiment will be explained, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same points as in the first embodiment, and the explanation will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the groove portion 62 is formed on the left side surface of the right door 14b. When the left door 14a and the right door 14b are closed, the left side surface of the right door 14b faces the right side surface of the left door 14a. The operation button 58 is arranged in the groove portion 62 . That is, the operation button 58 is arranged on the left side surface of the right door 14b. The upper end of the cover 60 is rotatably supported by the right door 14b. When the left door 14a and the right door 14b are closed, even if the refrigerator 10 is viewed from the front, the operation button 58 and the cover 60 are hidden and cannot be seen.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, the points different from the first embodiment will be explained, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same points as in the first embodiment, and the explanation will be omitted. In the third embodiment, the groove 62 is formed on the upper surface of the right door 14b. The operation button 58 is arranged in the groove portion 62 . That is, the operation button 58 is arranged on the upper surface of the right door 14b. A rear end portion of the cover 60 is rotatably supported by the right door 14b.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, the points different from the first embodiment will be explained, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same points as in the first embodiment, and the explanation will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the groove 62 is formed on the front side of the upper surface of the main body 12 . The groove portion 62 is arranged close to the left side of the communication portion 28 . The operation button 58 is provided on the main body 12 . The operation button 58 is arranged on the front side of the upper surface of the main body 12 . The operation button 58 is arranged in the groove portion 62 . A rear end portion of the cover 60 is rotatably supported on the main body 12 .

(effect)
In the configuration described above, the operation button 58 is provided on the main body 12 . With this configuration, the user can press the operation button 58 more easily.

(Other examples)
(1) In the first embodiment described above, the control unit 64 initializes the cooling program by executing the recovery process shown in FIG. In another embodiment, the control unit 64 may restore the cooling program in which the problem occurred to the cooling program before the problem occurred by executing the repair process. The cooling program before the failure occurred is acquired when the control unit 64 can communicate with the server via the communication unit 28, and is stored in the memory 66 separately from the actually executed cooling program. Only when the operation button 58 is operated, the control unit 64 uses the cooling program before the failure occurred to restore the cooling program in which the failure occurred.

(2) The refrigerator 10 may include an automatic opening/closing operation button for automatically opening/closing the left door 14a and the right door 14b. The control unit 64 does not need to execute the repair process even when the operation button 58 is operated by the user while the left door 14a and the right door 14b are automatically opened and closed. The control unit 64 may perform the restoration process after the left door 14a and the right door 14b are closed.

(3) Refrigerator 10 may include a light arranged in refrigerator compartment 30 . The lights may be on while the left door 14a and right door 14b are open. The control unit 64 does not have to perform the restoration process while the light is on. The control unit 64 may perform the restoration process after the left door 14a and the right door 14b are closed.

(4) The operation button 58 may be provided on the left door 14a.

(5) The display unit 26 may be arranged on the right door 14b.

(6) Refrigerator 10 may not have cover 60 .

(7) If a problem occurs in the control unit 64 , the display unit 26 may display that fact. Thereby, the user can easily grasp that the control unit 64 has a problem.

(8) The restoration process executed by the control unit 64 is not limited to the process related to the cooling program. may be combined.

The technical elements described in this specification or in the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims as of the filing. In addition, the techniques exemplified in this specification or drawings can simultaneously achieve a plurality of purposes, and achieving one of them has technical utility in itself.

10: Refrigerator 12: Main body 14, 16, 18, 20, 22: Door 14a: Left door 14b: Right door 26: Display unit 28: Communication units 30, 32, 34, 36, 38: Storage room 42: Compressor 46, 48: Coolers 50, 52: Fans 54, 56: Heaters 58: Operation buttons 60: Cover 62: Grooves 64: Control section 66: Memory

Claims (9)

a refrigerator,
a body having a storage chamber;
a door that closes the front opening of the storage room;
an operation button provided on the main body or the door and operated by a user;
a communication unit capable of communicating with a server;
and a control unit capable of communicating with the communication unit,
When the operation button is operated, the control unit cuts off communication between the communication unit and the control unit, and when the communication between the communication unit and the control unit is cut off, the refrigerator Repair program about the refrigerator. The program is a cooling program for cooling the storage chamber,
The refrigerator further comprises a compressor that cools the storage compartment by switching between an on state and an off state based on the cooling program,
The control unit controls switching between the ON state and the OFF state of the compressor,
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit restores said cooling program according to the driving state of said compressor when said operation button is operated. 3. The control unit according to claim 2 , wherein when the operation button is operated, the controller maintains the compressor switched from the on state to the off state in the off state according to the cooling program, and restores the cooling program. refrigerator. a cooler for cooling the storage chamber;
a heater for removing frost adhering to the cooler,
4. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said control unit restores said program according to the driving state of said heater when said operation button is operated. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein said control unit restores said program after stopping driving said heater when said operation button is operated. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein said operation button is arranged closer to said door than a central position in the depth direction of said refrigerator. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein said operation button is provided on said door. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein said operation button is provided on said main body. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , further comprising a cover that can be opened and closed and covers the operation button.

Images