JPH04203879A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the inside of a refrigerator invisible under a condition that the same is not illuminated by a illuminating device by a method wherein the illuminating device in a case is lighted before a window becomes transparent when a switch is switched so as to make the window transparent while the illuminating device is put off after the window is made non-transparent when the switch is switched so that the window becomes non- transparent. CONSTITUTION:A window 5 for peeping the inside of a refrigerator is constituted of a liquid crystal picture glass capable of switching between transparent condition and non-transparent condition by supplying a power supply, for example. When one desires to see the inside of the refrigerator, a switch 6 is put ON, then, an illuminating device 7 is lighted. Thereafter, the window 5 of liquid crystal glass becomes transparent and it becomes possible to observe the inside of the refrigerator clearly. Next, when the switch 6 is put OFF and operations are effected so that the illuminating device 7 is put OFF previously in an order contrary to the above-mentioned order, the inside of the refrigerator, in which the illuminating device 7 is not lighted, can be seen for a given period of time. Accordingly, when the switch 6 is put OFF, the liquid crystal glass window 5 becomes non-transparent at first contrary to the case when the switch 6 is put ON, and thereafter the illuminating device 7 is put off. Accordingly, the inside of the refrigerator, in which the illuminating device 7 is not lighted, will never be seen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a refrigerator having a door with a transparent window.

[Prior art 1] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional refrigerator disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-144085, and in Fig. 7, (
1) is the refrigerator itself, (2) +3) is the window (
5) is a door, and (6) is a switch that turns on a light (not shown) inside the refrigerator.

Further, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional refrigerator shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-112388. 0) is a hot wire or conductive resin paint.

Or with anti-fog material that is a combination thereof, each door +
It was installed in the window (5) of 2), (3+, and (4)).

Next, the operation will be explained. In the conventional example shown in Fig. 4, windows (5) through which the inside of the refrigerator can be observed are provided on the doors +2+, +3).
When a switch (6) provided outside the refrigerator was turned on, a light (not shown) inside the refrigerator was turned on, allowing the interior of the refrigerator to be observed more clearly. In addition, in the conventional example shown in Fig. 5, the dim transparent window (5) is replaced by (2) and (3).

(4), and a switch (6) outside the refrigerator can be used to light the interior of the refrigerator (7).
) was lit to make it easier to see inside.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Since conventional refrigerators are configured as described above, there is a problem that the food looks dim from the window even before the lights are turned on, although there are differences in degree, which makes it look unattractive. was there.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems. Under normal conditions, the inside of the refrigerator cannot be seen at all, but when two switches are turned on, the window becomes transparent, and the opening device illuminates the inside of the refrigerator, allowing the inside to be seen clearly. The purpose is to obtain a refrigerator that can be seen.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a window formed of a member that can be changed between transparent and non-transparent, a switch for switching the window between transparent and non-transparent, and a switch for switching the window between transparent and non-transparent. When the switch is switched so that the window becomes transparent, the lighting device inside the refrigerator is turned on before the window becomes transparent, and when the switch is switched so that the window becomes non-transparent, the lighting device is turned off after the window becomes non-transparent. The device is equipped with a device control means.

[Function] In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the switch is turned on in the normal state.
It is set to FF, and in this state, the window is non-transparent and the lighting device is off, so it is impossible to see inside the refrigerator.

When the switch is turned on by the lighting device control means, the μs bright device is first turned on, and at the same time or after that, the window becomes transparent, allowing the interior of the refrigerator to be clearly observed without the food being dimly visible. Furthermore, when the switch is turned off, the lighting device is turned off after the window becomes non-transparent, and the food is not visible in the same dim light.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
In Fig. 2, (1) is the refrigerator body, (2L
(3) and (41 respectively refer to the main body) are doors that can be opened and closed from the front, and (5) is a window provided in this door (3) to look into the interior of the refrigerator, which is made of a material that can change between transparent and non-transparent. For example, it is constructed of a liquid crystal display glass that can be switched between transparent and non-transparent by supplying power.

(6) is a switch for switching the window (5) between transparent and non-transparent, and is provided in the front of the door (3). (7) is a lighting device that illuminates the inside of the refrigerator, and is covered by a lamp cover (8). (9) is a lighting device control means constituted by a microcomputer (not shown) or the like.

When the window 15) is switched to be transparent by the switch (6), the lighting device (7) is turned on before the window (5) becomes transparent, and the switch (6) is switched to make the window (5) non-transparent. When the window (5) is made non-transparent, the lighting device (7) is turned off.

Next, the operation by the lighting device control means (9) will be explained. The switch (6) is 6 normally set to OHH, and the door (
The liquid crystal glass window (5) provided in 3) is non-transparent, the lighting device (7) is not lit, and in this state it is not possible to see the inside of the refrigerator body (1). And when you want to see inside the warehouse.

When the switch (6) is turned on, first, the lighting device (7) is energized and the lighting device (7) lights up. After that, the liquid crystal glass window (5) becomes transparent, allowing you to clearly observe the inside of the refrigerator. Next, when the switch (6) is turned to F, the lighting device (7) is turned off first in the reverse order to the above for a certain period of time.

The interior of the refrigerator where the lighting device (7) is not lit can be seen. Therefore, when turning the switch (6), O
Contrary to the case of N, the liquid crystal glass window (5) first becomes non-transparent, and then the lighting device (7) turns off. Therefore, at this time as well, the interior of the refrigerator where the lighting device (7) is not lit is not shown. Note that the delay circuit from the switch (6) to the lighting device (7) is implemented by a timer (not shown) configured by a microcomputer (not shown) or the like.

Next, this relationship will be explained with reference to FIG. In the figure, TI is when the lighting device (7) is turned on and when the liquid crystal glass window (
5) is the time difference at the time of transparency, and Tz is the time difference when the illumination device (7
) is the time difference between when the light is turned off and when the liquid crystal glass window (5) becomes non-transparent. These T and T2 are set to a short time of 0 hours or more.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the ON state of the switch (6) is indicated by a window (
5) has become transparent, but it may also be the case when the leaf is F.

In addition, the lighting device (7) inside the refrigerator is a lighting device (not shown) that lights up when the door (2N3) (4) etc. normally installed in the refrigerator is opened and turns off when the door is closed. The same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a window is formed of a member that can be changed between transparent and non-transparent, a switch for switching the window between transparent and non-transparent, and a switch for switching the window between transparent and non-transparent. A lighting device that turns on the lighting device inside the refrigerator before the window becomes transparent when the switch is switched so that the window becomes transparent, and turns off the lighting device after the window becomes non-transparent when the switch is switched so that the window becomes non-transparent. Since the structure is equipped with a control means, the interior of the refrigerator is not visible when it is not illuminated by the lighting device.
This has the effect of providing a refrigerator with a door with a pleasant window.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing main parts of the refrigerator in FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is a timing chart illustrating the power supply state to the window and lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional refrigerator, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another conventional refrigerator. . (1) is the refrigerator itself, (5) is the window, (6) is the switch,
(7) is a lighting device, and (9) is a lighting device control means. In Figure 1, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a refrigerator equipped with a window, the window is formed of a member that can change between transparent and non-transparent, and there is a switch that changes the window between transparent and non-transparent, and a switch that changes the window so that the window becomes transparent. A lighting device control means is provided that turns on the lighting device in the refrigerator before the window becomes transparent, and turns off the lighting device after the window becomes non-transparent when the switch is switched so that the window becomes non-transparent. A refrigerator characterized by: