JPH0536708B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with recording and playback functions.

(b) Conventional Technology With the recent advances in electronic technology, refrigerators have become increasingly electronically controlled and equipped with a variety of functions.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-62379 is equipped with a voice synthesis circuit and a speaker, and is configured to issue warnings and warnings regarding the use of the refrigerator using words prepared in advance.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention With such a configuration, only the words written in advance in the speech synthesis circuit at the time of manufacture of the refrigerator can be pronounced, and there is no means for writing in arbitrary words.
For example, in order to send a message to children who come home while a housewife is away about what is currently stored in the refrigerator, it is necessary to write it on a piece of paper and paste it on the refrigerator door. It was hoped that the usability would be improved.

Therefore, it would be convenient to use semiconductor memory or magnetic tape to be able to record and play back arbitrary words, and furthermore, to provide multiple memories and use them for door alarms, messages, fixed time warnings, etc. There was a problem that when the above-mentioned fixed time came during memory playback, playback at the fixed time would not be performed.

It is an object of the present invention to solve such problems and provide a refrigerator that can smoothly reproduce a plurality of memories.

(d) Means for Solving Problems The present invention provides a microphone that converts audio information such as door information, time information, and arbitrary information issued by a user into electrical signals, and a microphone that converts the electrical signals into audio information. It consists of a speaker for converting, a control device for recording and reproducing the audio information, and this control device includes a first memory for storing an electric signal of door information, a second memory for storing an electric signal for time information, and a control device for recording and reproducing the audio information. operating means for performing recording and reproducing operations for each memory of the third memory that stores electrical signals of arbitrary information; a recording switch; a door switch that detects opening and closing of the refrigerator door; a clock unit that measures time; The control means operates the operating means based on signals from a time setting switch that sets the time and a playback switch that plays back information stored in the third memory. The audio information is stored in each memory by a signal, the information in the first memory is played back by a signal from the door switch, and the information is stored in the second memory when the current time in the clock section matches the time set in the time setting switch. To provide a refrigerator in which information in a third memory is reproduced and information in a third memory is reproduced by operating a reproduction switch.

(E) Effects According to the present invention, door information, time information, and arbitrary information (for example, a message, etc.) can be arbitrarily recorded in the user's words in each memory through the microphone based on the operation of the recording switch, and The information in the first memory (i.e. door information) is retrieved based on the door opening/closing operation, the information in the second memory (i.e. time information) is retrieved when the current time and the set time match, and the information in the second memory (i.e. time information) is retrieved based on the operation of the playback switch. The information in the third memory (that is, any information) can be played back from each speaker.

(F) Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of the recording/playback circuit 2 of the refrigerator 1.
Further, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the freezer compartment door 12. In Fig. 2, 3 is a heat insulating box body that opens at the front, and its interior is divided into upper and lower parts by a heat insulating partition wall 4, with a freezer compartment 5 at the top that is cooled to freezing temperature, and a freezer compartment 5 at the bottom that is kept above the freezing point. A refrigerator 6 is formed.
Inside the partition wall 4 is a cooler 7 included in the refrigeration cycle.
is housed, and a blower 8 is provided behind it.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a duct 9 installed across the freezer compartment 5 and refrigerator 6 behind the partition wall 4. The cold air cooled by the cooler 7 is accelerated by the blower 8, and the duct 9
through the discharge ports 10 and 11, both chambers 5,
6 and cooled.

Reference numerals 12 and 13 designate a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door that independently open and close the front openings of the freezer compartment 5 and refrigerator 6, respectively. Reference numeral 14 denotes an operation panel formed across the left and right at the bottom of the freezer compartment door 12, half of which is covered by a cover 15 which is rotatably supported on its upper side so as to be openable and closable. A clock display section 16, which is a clock section that measures the time, is provided in a part that is not hidden by the clock display section 15, and audio information that the user wants to memorize by operating a recording switch 24 (described later) (for example, door information that warns the user to open the door, or when a certain time has arrived). A microphone 17 that converts arbitrary information such as time information that you want to notify and messages to people around you) into electrical signals, a speaker 18 that outputs audio specified by a control device to be described later, and a first playback switch 19. The first, second and third selection switches 20, 2 are arranged in a portion hidden by the cover 15.
1, 22, second playback switch 23, recording switch 24, erase switch 25, and time setting switch 2
6 is placed. FIG. 3 shows the cover 15 in an open state. This cover 15 prevents a large number of switches from being exposed on the front surface of the refrigerator 1, thereby improving the design effect and preventing accidents in which the switches are accidentally hit by something.

In FIG. 1, 28 is a control IC, and this control IC 28 includes the freezer compartment door 12 and the refrigerator compartment door 1.
3, the output of the door switch 29 that detects the opening/closing of the door switch 29, the first playback switch 19, the first to third selection switches 20, 21, 22, the second playback switch 23, the recording switch 24, the erasure switch 25, and the time setting switch 26. Each output is input. Control IC2
The output of 8 is input to the clock display section 16, and the control IC 28 further exchanges output with the operation IC 30. Microphone 1 for operation IC30
The output from 7 is input, and the first memory 3
1. Output is exchanged between the second memory 32 and the third memory 33. Furthermore, IC30 for operation
The output of is connected to the speaker 18 via an amplifier 34. The control device of the present invention includes a control IC 28 as a control means and an operation IC as an operation means.
30.

First, the recording and erasing operations of the recording/reproducing circuit 2 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained. To record in the first memory 31, open the cover 15 and operate the first selection switch 20, then operate the recording switch 24 and speak into the microphone 17. Similarly, in the case of the second memory 32 and the third memory 33, the second selection switch 21 or the third selection switch 22 is operated, respectively, and then the recording switch 24 is operated. The control IC 28 generates an output to the operation IC 30 so as to record to the memory 31, 32, 33 selected by the selection switch 20, 21, 22, and the operation IC 30
inputs the information input from the microphone 17 into the selected memories 31, 32, and 33 and stores them therein. The information in each memory 31, 32, 33 is reproduced from the speaker 18 via the amplifier 34 by the operation IC 30 based on a command from the control IC 28, which will be described later.

Also, when erasing the information in each memory 31, 32, 33, use the selection switches 20, 21,
By selecting one of the memories 31, 32, and 33 using 22 and then operating the erase switch 25, the control IC 28 prohibits reproduction of the information in the memory and enables recording by replacing the information in the memory. Unless this erasing operation is performed, new information cannot be recorded.

Further, the control IC 28 generates an output on the clock display section 16 to display the current time, and also sets an arbitrary time by operating the time setting switch 26 and stores it.

Next, the reproducing operation of the recording/reproducing circuit 2 will be explained based on the flowchart of the control IC 28 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In step _S1 , it is determined whether recording is currently in progress, and if recording is not in progress, the process proceeds to step _S2 , where it is determined whether any of the memories 31, 32, and 33 is currently being played back. If the playback is in progress, proceed to step _S12 and switch the first playback switch 19 or the second playback switch 23.
Determine whether the is operated and if it is operated, step
Proceed to S ₁₃ and stop playback. Therefore, if you want to interrupt playback, press the first or second playback switch 1.
All you have to do is operate 9 and 23.

If it is determined in step _S2 that playback is not in progress, the process proceeds to step _S3 , where it is determined whether the first playback switch 19 has been operated.If it has not been operated, the process proceeds to step _S4 , and if any of the selection switches 20, 21, 22 has been operated. If the operation is performed, the memory 31, 32,
Accept 33 choices. Next, in step _S5 , the second
It is determined whether the playback switch 23 has been operated, and if it has been operated, the process proceeds to step _S6 , and it is determined whether the memory 31, 32 or 33 selected in step _S4 has been recorded, and if it has been recorded, the process proceeds to step _S7 . Go ahead and start playing the selected memory. As will be described later, the first memory 31 is used as a door alarm, and the second memory 32 is used as a set time warning, so the above operations allow you to confirm the information in the memories 31 and 32. 3rd memory 33
can be used as a message. Therefore, when a housewife is away from home, by storing in the third memory 33 where snacks are stored in the refrigerator 1, she can leave a message for her child when she returns home while she is away. . The child can listen to the message from the mother by opening the cover 15, operating the third selection switch 22, and operating the second playback switch 23, thereby eliminating the need for the child to search inside the refrigerator 1.

When the first playback switch 19 is operated in step _S3 , the process proceeds to step _S10 , where it is determined whether or not the third memory 33 has been recorded, and if it has been recorded, the process proceeds to step _S11.
Then, the playback of the third memory 33 is started. That is, the message in the third memory 33 can be played by opening the cover 15, operating the third selection switch 22, and then operating the first playback switch 19 without further operating the second playback switch 23. This saves time and effort during playback.

Next, in step _S8 , it is determined whether the current time matches the set time set by the time setting switch 26, and if they match, the set time flag is set in step _S9 . Next, the freezer compartment door 12 or the refrigerator compartment door 1
3 are open, and if they are all closed, in step _S17 the control IC 28 sets a timer of 20 seconds as its function, and in step _S16.
Proceed to the current memory 31, 32, 33
It is determined whether recording or reproduction is in progress, and if not, the process advances to step _S22 and it is determined whether the set time flag is set. Here, the set time flag is set to
Since it has been set in _S9 , the process proceeds to step _S23 to reset the set time flag, and in step _S24 the second time flag is reset.
If the memory 32 has already been recorded, the process advances to step _S25 and playback of the second memory 32 is started. Therefore, by storing an errand that must be done at a certain time in the day in the second memory 32, the information stored at that time will be announced, eliminating the risk of forgetting it. Also, using the above example, if you set the time when the child will come home and leave a message for the child in the second memory 32, the child can change the position of the snacks in the refrigerator 1, etc. by operating the switch. You can automatically notify without having to do anything. Also, if you want to defrost frozen food in the refrigerator compartment 6 while you are sleeping, set the next day's wake-up time as the set time and store "Defrosting completed" in the second memory 32, and the next morning the food will be thawed. Since the message is reproduced from the speaker 18, even if the user has forgotten it, the user can confirm it, and good thawing is achieved without spoiling the flavor.

In step _S14 , open the freezer compartment door 12 or refrigerator compartment door 1.
If 3 is open, it is determined in step _S15 whether recording or playback is currently in progress, and if not, step S15 is performed.
At S ₁₈ , the above-mentioned timer is subtracted, and then the step
In _S19 , it is determined whether or not the subtraction has been completed, and if it has not been completed, the process proceeds to step _S16 , and any door 12,
If 13 is open, you can repeat this. door 1
As a general rule, when 20 seconds have elapsed from the start of opening of 2 or 13, the subtraction ends in step S ₁₉ , and then in step S _20.
Set the door alarm flag with , then set the timer to 10 seconds and proceed to step _S16 . Step S ₁₆ ,
If not in _S22 , proceed to step _S26 , determine whether the door alarm flag is set, and since it is set, reset the door alarm flag in step _S27 ,
Next, in step _S28 , it is determined whether the first memory 31 has been recorded, and if it has been recorded, playback of the first memory 31 is started in step _S29 . Therefore, by storing, for example, "Close the door" in the first memory 31, this warning will be reproduced from the speaker 18 20 seconds after the door 12 or 13 is opened, and the user will be prompted to close the door 12 or 13. , 13 to warn against long-term opening and encourage early closure, reducing leakage of cold air. If this door alarm is not recorded in the first memory 31, proceed from step _S28 .
If the warning is not required because it does not proceed to S ₂₉ , it is not necessary to record it.

After this regeneration ends, as long as the door 12 or 13 continues to be opened, steps S ₁₄ to S ₁₅ , S ₁₈ ,
The timer is decremented by executing S ₁₉ , so 10 seconds after the end of playback, proceed from step S ₁₉ to S ₂₀ again and set the door alarm flag, so proceed again from steps S ₂₆ to S ₂₇ , S ₂₈ , and S ₂₉ . The alarm in the first memory 31 will be played back, and this will be repeated thereafter. When doors 12 and 13 are closed, step _S14
Since the process advances to _S17 , the first memory 31 is no longer reproduced and the warning stops.

In the above control, even if the current time matches the set time in step _S8 and the set time flag is set in step _S9 , when the other memories 31, 32, and 33 are being played back in step _S16 , Or, when recording to the memories 31, 32, and ₃₃ is in progress, the process does not proceed to step S22, so playback of the second memory 32 does not start, and after the recording is completed, the process proceeds from step _S16 to _S22 . , steps S ₂₃ , S ₂₄ , S ₂₅
Then, reproduction of the second memory 32 is started. Therefore, since the current time becomes the set time, the playback of the memory currently being played will not be stopped, and the playback of the second memory 32 will not be stopped, and both can be reliably played. You can finish it.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the electric signal from the microphone is used as door information, time information, and arbitrary information (for example, a message) in each of the first to third memories by operating the recording switch. In addition, the control means records the information in the first memory (i.e., door information) based on the opening/closing operation of the door, and the information in the second memory (i.e., door information) when the current time and the set time match. In other words, based on the operation of the playback switch, information in the third memory (such as arbitrary information such as a message) can be played back from the speaker. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator equipped with a voice recording and playback function. , the usability of the refrigerator is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a recording/reproducing circuit of a refrigerator, Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the freezer compartment door, and Figure 4 and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the program of the control IC. 2...Recording/playback circuit, 17...Microphone, 18...Speaker, 23...Second playback switch, 26...Time setting switch, 28...For control
IC, 29... Door switch, 30... Operation IC,
31, 32, 33...first to third memories.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A microphone that converts audio information such as door information, time information, and arbitrary information issued by the user into electrical signals, a speaker that converts the electrical signals into audio information, and a control that records and plays the audio information. This control device consists of a first memory that stores an electric signal for door information, a second memory that stores an electric signal for time information, and a third memory that stores an electric signal for arbitrary information. Operating means for performing recording and playback operations for each memory, a recording switch, a door switch that detects opening and closing of the refrigerator door, a clock unit that measures the time, a time setting switch that sets the time, and a third memory that stores the information. and control means for operating the operating means based on signals from a playback switch that reproduces the recorded information, and the control means stores audio information in each of the memories in response to signals from the recording switch, The information in the first memory is played back by a signal from the second memory, and when the current time on the clock matches the time set on the time setting switch, the information in the second memory is played back.
A refrigerator characterized by reproducing information stored in its memory.