KR20070073124A - User interface apparatus for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A user interface for a refrigerator is provided to activate a temperature setting screen by a single temperature setting button to carry out a plurality of temperature settings in a short period of time. A user interface for a refrigerator includes a display(10) mounted to a front surface of a refrigerator for displaying a temperature setting screen including at least one or more items for a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a special freezing compartment. An input element(20) has a single temperature setting button for displaying a temperature setting screen for user's temperature setting, and a plurality of detail setting buttons for temperature setting or independent function setting. A storing element(30) stores set temperature data and temperature setting screen of at least one of the refrigerating compartment, the freezing compartment and the special freezing compartment. A control element such as a microcomputer(50) determines functions of the detail setting buttons according to prior manipulation of the temperature setting button, and realizes display and temperature setting according to user's input made by the input element.

Description

USER INTERFACE APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATOR}

1 is a block diagram of a display unit of a refrigerator according to the prior art.

2 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

3 is a front view and a partially enlarged view of the refrigerator of FIG. 2.

4 is a control flowchart of a user interface device according to the present invention.

5 is an embodiment of the temperature setting screen displayed on the display means by the operation of the temperature setting button.

6 is an embodiment of a screen for an independent function of a detail setting button.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: display means 20: input means

30: storage means 40: information receiving means

50: micom

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a user interface device of a refrigerator that provides a convenient screen display and user input means for setting a plurality of temperatures.

The conventional refrigerator has a display unit such as an LCD panel for providing information about the refrigerator and controlling the refrigerator. The user interface is displayed through the display unit, which displays the inside temperature of the refrigerator compartment, the inside temperature of the freezer compartment, the service state of the dispenser (water, ice, etc.) in the form of numbers, letters or icons, An input unit (for example, a button or the like) for controlling the inside temperature and the service of the dispenser is provided.

1 is a block diagram of a display unit of a refrigerator according to the prior art. As shown, this display unit displays the service type (eg ice, water, flake ice) of the dispenser, the set temperature of the freezer compartment and the set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and is provided with predetermined input means at the bottom.

The refrigerator according to the related art is provided with a freezer compartment temperature setting button and a refrigerator compartment temperature setting button separately, and each temperature setting is performed by pressing a separate increase / decrease button (not shown) after pressing each button for each temperature setting. do. The freezer compartment temperature setting button and the refrigerating compartment temperature setting button occupy two buttons in the input means despite the frequency set by the user, that is, the frequency of use is quite low. Moreover, when a new function is added, there is a problem that a new setting button must be provided.

In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a user interface device of a refrigerator which enables a temperature setting screen to be activated by a single temperature setting button so as to quickly perform a plurality of temperature settings at the same time.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a user interface device of a refrigerator that allows a variety of functions of the detailed setting button according to the priority operation of the temperature setting button to enable various screen display and temperature setting with fewer buttons.

The user interface of the refrigerator of the present invention is mounted on the front of the refrigerator and displaying means for displaying a temperature setting screen including at least one of a refrigerator compartment item, a freezer compartment item and an express freezer item, and the temperature setting screen for setting a temperature by a user. An input means comprising a single temperature setting button for displaying a display, a plurality of detailed setting buttons for setting a temperature setting or an independent function, at least one set temperature information and a temperature setting screen of a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment and an express freezing compartment; And storage means for storing, and control means for determining the function of the detail setting button according to whether or not the temperature setting button is preferentially operated so that display and temperature setting according to the input from the input means are made.

In this case, it is preferable that the control means displays the temperature setting screen on the display means according to the priority operation of the temperature setting button, and then performs the temperature setting, which is an operation of the detail setting button.

In addition, the temperature setting button and the detailed setting button is preferably mounted on both sides of the display means.

The detailed setting button may include a pair of up and down buttons for sequentially inverting the refrigerator compartment item, the freezer compartment item or the express freezer item, a pair of left and right buttons for increasing or decreasing the current set temperature according to the set temperature information, and the inversion. It is preferable that the selection / confirmation button for confirming the selected item or the increased or decreased set temperature.

In addition, the selection / confirmation button is located in the center, the up and down buttons are located above and below the selection / confirmation button, the left and right buttons are preferably located to the left and right of the selection / confirmation button.

In the following, the invention is explained in detail based on the embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

2 is a configuration diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a front view and a partially enlarged view of the refrigerator of FIG.

In detail, the refrigerator 100 includes an atmosphere including weather information and standby screen information (for example, avatar and basic information (freezer compartment set temperature, refrigerator compartment set temperature, express freezer set temperature, dispenser service type, etc.), etc.). Display means 10 for displaying information on the screen), the temperature setting screen and the detailed setting screen (including the independent function setting screen), the temperature setting button 21, and the detailed setting buttons 24 to 28 at least. And an input means 20 for receiving a command from the user, a storage means 30 for storing setting information about standby screen information, temperature setting screen information, detailed setting screen information, and other functions, and weather information from the outside. The information receiving means 40 and the components described above are controlled to receive the weather information through the information receiving means 40, and reads the standby screen information from the storage means 30 to the display means 10. Display, temperature setting button The microcomputer 50 determines the function of the detail setting buttons 24 to 28 according to the priority operation of 21 to display or set predetermined information and functions. The refrigerator 100 may further include a main microcomputer (not shown) that performs a refrigeration control operation, and the like, and a communication line is connected between the main microcomputer and the microcomputer 50 to perform data communication. Alternatively, the refrigerator 100 may perform a refrigeration refrigeration control operation through the microcomputer 50. In addition, the refrigerator 100 includes a power supply unit (not shown) to supply power required for each component.

In detail, the display means 10 is preferably a color TFT LCD to display a standby screen, weather information, a temperature setting screen, a detailed setting screen, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the display means 10 displays an avatar (bear picture) and basic information 11 of a refrigerator on a standby screen, and additionally displays weather information (or weather conditions of the day) 12. do.

In addition, the input means 20 is a means for acquiring a selection input of a background image (avatar) as well as a means for controlling a general refrigerator operation, and transmitting a corresponding command to the microcomputer 50, which is a kind of a button type or a touch pad. It is made electrostatic or electrostatic.

As shown in Figure 3, the input means 20 is a temperature setting button 21 for setting the temperature of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, the dispenser setting for setting the service type of the dispenser (ice, water, flake ice, etc.) A menu setting button 23 for activating a button 22 and a menu setting screen displayed on the display means 10 to display items of these information or functions for setting of information or functions provided by the refrigerator 100; And detailed setting buttons 24 to 28 for selecting one of these items of information or function to display the detailed setting screen, and to make detailed information or detailed setting.

In particular, the temperature setting button 21 and the detailed setting buttons 24 to 28 of the input means 20 are mounted on both sides of the display means 10, so that the user sets the temperature setting screen or the detailed setting displayed on the display means 10. While watching the screen, it is possible to operate the temperature setting button 21 and the detailed setting buttons (24 to 28).

Here, the detail setting buttons 24 to 28 are a pair of up and down buttons 24 and 26 for sequentially inverting the displayed information or function items, and a pair of left and right for increasing and decreasing a predetermined value for detailed setting of the displayed function. Buttons 27 and 25, and a selection / confirmation button 28 for confirming the selection of inverted information or function items or the setting and detailed setting of the increased or decreased temperature. In addition, the upper button 24 is the request function of the weather forecast information, the lower button 26 is the on / off setting function of the dispenser light, the right button 25 is the setting function of the refrigerator 100 door open alarm, The button 27 has an independent unlocking function of the input means 20 (where the left button 27 is excluded).

In detail, the request function of the weather forecast information means a function of displaying weather information stored in the storage means 30 immediately on the display means 10. In the on / off setting function of the dispenser light, the light on the inside of the dispenser is turned on when the user presses the operation lever of the dispenser at the initial on setting. The setting for turning the dispenser light on or off by one operation of the lower button 26 is performed. A screen (independent function screen) is displayed to display the current setting state, and is set to the state opposite to the current setting state by the next one-time operation of this lower button 26 (eg, set to off). ). In addition, in the setting function of the door open alarm of the refrigerator 100, as the initial alarm-on setting, when the user opens the door for a predetermined time or more, the built-in alarm will be sounded. The setting state of the door open alarm is displayed (for example, the alarm on state), and then the alarm is set to be turned off by one operation. In addition, in the unlocking function of the input means 20, the user may operate all the buttons 21 to 28 of the input means 20 to generate a command according to the initial release setting, the left button 27 By a single operation, a lock function for the input means 20 (at this time, the left button 27 is excluded) is set (in this case, an independent function screen displaying a lock state can be displayed). In addition to the above-described operation, there may be various operation methods for setting the independent function, and in addition to the independent function, other functions may be set by the above-described detailed setting buttons 24 to 28.

In addition, the storage means 30 stores the standby screen information and weather information. Here, the standby screen information includes an avatar as a background screen and basic information 11 of the refrigerator as shown in FIG. 3, and the standby screen information includes a microcomputer (in a standby state without a separate use by a user). 50) corresponds to information to be read and displayed.

In addition, the weather information corresponds to weather information, and includes weather forecast information about the future on the basis of the present, and information about weather conditions that have been measured or observed about weather conditions that have already occurred. Here, the weather forecast information includes information on the upcoming weather situation (weather) based on weather and other data. Here, the weather forecast is divided into short-term and long-term forecasts according to the forecast period. Short-term forecasts are forecasts for today, tomorrow, and the day, up to 72 hours, with more detailed forecasts for three and six hours. Long-term forecasts include weekly forecasts, cyclical forecasts, one-month forecasts, seasonal forecasts, and six-month forecasts. In the short-term forecast, the movement and development of high pressure, low pressure, and electric wire can be specifically predicted, but the long-term forecast shows only a rough weather forecast. Seasonal forecasts forecast weather conditions in advance, including forecasts for summer heat, winter cold and snow, rainy season, and typhoon activities. A forecast longer than the seasonal forecast is a six-month forecast.

Here, it is defined that weather conditions (weather) or weather refers to various phenomena of the atmosphere. In addition, the specific range of the weather (factor) includes air pressure, temperature (highest temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature), wet bulb temperature, vapor pressure, dew point temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, wind speed, precipitation, cloud, evaporation, sunshine time, insolation, Rainfall frequency and other phenomena.

In addition, the storage means 30 stores the temperature setting screen information and the detailed setting screen information. The temperature setting screen information is displayed by the operation of the temperature setting button 23, and includes at least one or more of a refrigerator compartment temperature information, a freezer compartment temperature information, and an express freezer compartment temperature information, and includes an inverting unit for selecting this item. do. The inverting portion may be sequentially moved by the above-described up and down buttons 24 and 26 to overlap with an item so that the user selects or increases or decreases the set temperature.

Further, the detailed setting screen information includes a vertical screen of the temperature setting screen and a screen for setting independent functions. That is, the vertical screen includes the lower contents of the temperature setting screen, and the independent function screen is displayed in response to the operation of the above-described buttons 24 to 27 irrespective of the input of the temperature setting button 21 (described above). Screen for setting independent functions).

In addition, the storage means 30 stores setting information for other functions. For example, the setting information may include setting temperatures of the refrigerating compartment, the freezer compartment and the express freezer compartment, the service type of the dispenser, the alarm setting for the door opening of the refrigerator 100, the setting of the power saving function (off time of the LCD window), It includes information such as lock setting, on / off setting of the dispenser illumination, and the following microcomputer 50 performs control according to the setting information.

In addition, the storage means 30 stores the background image data so that the avatar or the background included in the idle screen information can be selected.

In addition, the information receiving means 40 is, for example, a communication port that can be connected to a wired network such as a kind of internet, and means for receiving weather information from a weather information providing server (not shown) through the Internet, and connecting to the Internet. The modem may be, or may be built in or external to the refrigerator 100. Alternatively, the information receiving means 40 is a wireless receiving module for receiving a radio signal (including weather information) of the weather information providing server transmitted through the wireless communication network, the wireless signal built-in or external to the refrigerator 100 It is also possible to receive and extract the weather information contained in this wireless signal to transmit to the microcomputer 50, in this case, the refrigerator 100 may be additionally provided with a separate communication means (not shown) for Internet communication. As described above, the information receiving means 40 means a means for receiving data from the weather information providing server through wired or wireless communication, extracting weather information from this data, and transmitting it to the microcomputer 50.

Finally, the microcomputer 50 initially reads the standby screen information from the storage means 30 to read the standby screen information including the avatar selected by the user or the avatar automatically set (the default avatar) and the basic information of the refrigerator. To display the standby screen on the display means 10 (see FIG. 3).

In addition, when the microcomputer 50 obtains the weather information through the information receiving means 40, the wireless communication may be used to passively receive the weather information obtained from the information receiving means 40, as in wired communication When it is necessary to access a predetermined weather information providing server, such weather connection step is performed to obtain weather information. The microcomputer 50 obtains weather information from the information receiving means 40 and stores the weather information in the storage means 30.

At this time, when the microcomputer 50 is in a standby state such as when there is no use of the refrigerator at least by the user (for example, the input of the temperature setting button 21 by the user, the internal temperature reset of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, etc.), The standby screen as described above is displayed on the display means 10. In addition, the microcomputer 50 reads the weather information from the storage means 30, reads the weather condition of the day from the weather information, and displays it on the display means 10 together with the standby screen. Hereinafter, matters relating to the control of the user interface according to the present invention will be described in detail.

4 is a control flowchart of a user interface device according to the present invention.

In detail, in step S41, the microcomputer 50 determines whether the temperature setting button 21 has been operated, that is, whether the user has pressed the temperature setting button 21. If the temperature setting button 21 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S42, otherwise the process proceeds to step S46. In the present specification, the matters for the dispenser setting button 22 and the menu setting button 23 are omitted.

In step S42, the microcomputer 50 reads the temperature setting screen information stored in the storage means 30, and displays the temperature setting screen accordingly on the display means 10. At this time, the microcomputer 50 displays the inverted part superimposed on a specific item (freezer compartment item, freezer compartment item, express freezer compartment item). The microcomputer 50 displays the current set temperature of each refrigerator compartment, freezer compartment, and express freezer compartment according to the temperature setting screen information and the set temperature information, and displays how much cooling power this set temperature has in a separate graphic or figure. . At this time, the microcomputer 50 displays the increase and decrease by the left and right buttons 27 and 25 together.

In step S43, the microcomputer 50 determines whether the detailed setting buttons 24 to 28 have been operated, and if so, proceeds to step S44, otherwise proceeds to step S45.

In step S44, the microcomputer 50 performs the display and the detailed setting according to the operation of the detail setting buttons 24 to 28. FIG. Here, when the user operates the up and down buttons 24 and 26 to select the inverting unit so as to be placed on the set item, and subsequently increases or decreases the displayed current set temperature by operating the left and right buttons 27 and 25, Numeral 50 indicates the increased or decreased set temperature, where the degree of cooling power according to the increased or decreased set temperature is displayed.

Alternatively, when the user operates the up / down buttons 24, 26 to set the inverting section, and operates the selection / confirmation button 28, the microcomputer 50 displays the vertical screen of the set item. In this case, the vertical screen may include a function of the current setting temperature of the set item, the display of cold power, and the left and right buttons 27 and 25. In this vertical screen state, the microcomputer 50 acquires the input of the user's left and right buttons 27 and 25 to increase or decrease the set temperature.

In step S45, the microcomputer 50 determines whether the setting is completed. In the temperature setting screen, when the temperature setting button 21 or the selection / confirmation button 28 is operated, the microcomputer 50 may determine that the temperature setting is completed. Alternatively, when the temperature setting button 21 is operated in the vertical screen, the microcomputer 50 may determine that the temperature setting is completed. However, when the selection / confirmation button 28 is operated in the vertical screen, the microcomputer 50 displays the temperature setting screen, which is the previous screen, and thus is not determined to be completed.

When it is determined that such setting is completed, the microcomputer 50 stores the setting temperature information set in step S44 in the storage means 30.

In step S46, the microcomputer 50 determines whether there has been an operation for the detail setting buttons 24 to 27 (except the selection / confirmation button 28). If there was an operation, the flow proceeds to step S47, otherwise the operation is terminated since no button is operated.

In step S47, the microcomputer 50 displays the detailed setting screen (independent function screen) according to the operated detailed setting buttons 24 to 27, and displays or sets accordingly.

In step S48, the microcomputer 50 determines whether the setting is completed. That is, when the user wants to confirm (or save) the displayed or set function (when the selection / confirmation button 28 is operated), the operation of the additional detailed setting buttons 24 to 27 is performed. If so, the process proceeds to step S47.

In the above-described steps S45 and S48, judging whether or not such a final selection / confirmation selection is generally performed in a detailed setting in a temperature setting or a submenu or independent function of this temperature setting, As it progresses to the screen, it is a required process to complete the display and setting of the whole temperature setting or independent function.

5 is an embodiment of a screen displayed on the display means by the operation of the temperature setting button. As shown in FIG. 5, the temperature setting screen 13 includes a refrigerator compartment temperature item 14a, a freezer compartment temperature item 15a, and an express freezer compartment temperature item 16a. It is indicated in the refrigerator compartment temperature item 14a. Each item includes a current set temperature section 14b, 15b, 16b, a display section 14c, 15c, 16c of the degree of cooling power according to the set temperature, and a function display section 14d, 14e of the left and right buttons 27, 25. ), (15d, 15e), (16d, 16e).

Here, the temperature setting screen includes at least one of a refrigerator compartment temperature item 14a, a freezer compartment temperature item 15a, and an express freezer compartment temperature item 16a, and the above-described vertical screen includes a current set temperature part 14b, 15b, 16b, the display portions 14c, 15c, 16c of the degree of cooling force according to the set temperature, and the function display portions 14d, 14e, 15d, 15e, 16d, of the left and right buttons 27, 25. 16e). However, when the vertical screen is not used, the entirety of FIG. 5 is included in the temperature setting screen.

6 is an embodiment of a screen for an independent function of a detail setting button.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the microcomputer 50 receives an operation of the lower button 26 of the detail setting button instead of the temperature setting button 21 from the user, the detailed setting from the storage means 30 is performed. The screen 18 (independent function screen) is read and displayed, that is, the setting state 18a of the dispenser illumination off function which is the present state is displayed, and the off function is released according to the operation of the additional lower button 26. (Steps S46, 47). Thereafter, the microcomputer 50 stores the state set at this time in the storage means 30 according to the input of the selection / confirmation button 28, and switches from the current detailed setting screen 18 to the standby screen (step S48). )).

The present invention of such a configuration is provided with a minimum input button for setting the temperature, there is an effect that allows the user to conveniently set the temperature.

In addition, the present invention has the effect that it is possible to quickly perform a plurality of temperature settings at the same time by activating the temperature setting screen with a single temperature setting button.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a user interface device of a refrigerator that allows a variety of functions of the detailed setting button according to the priority operation of the temperature setting button to enable various screen display and temperature setting with fewer buttons.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing convenience for use by allowing the user to directly display and set the detailed functions often used without input of the menu button.

Claims (5)

Display means mounted to the front of the refrigerator to display a temperature setting screen including at least one of a refrigerator compartment item, a freezer compartment item and an express freezer item; Input means comprising a single temperature setting button for displaying the temperature setting screen for setting a temperature by a user, and a plurality of detailed setting buttons for setting a temperature setting or an independent function; Storage means for storing at least one set temperature information and a temperature setting screen of the refrigerating compartment, the freezer compartment and the express freezer compartment; And a control means configured to determine the function of the detail setting button according to whether the temperature setting button is preferentially operated so that the display and the temperature setting according to the input from the input means are made. The method of claim 1, And the control means displays the temperature setting screen on the display means in accordance with a priority operation of the temperature setting button, and performs the temperature setting, which is an operation of the detail setting button. The method of claim 1, And the temperature setting button and the detail setting button are mounted on both sides of the display means. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The detailed setting button includes a pair of up and down buttons for sequentially inverting the refrigerator compartment item, the freezer compartment item or the express freezer item, a pair of left and right buttons for increasing or decreasing the current set temperature according to the set temperature information, and the inverted item. The user interface device of the refrigerator, characterized in that consisting of a selection / confirmation button for selecting or confirming the increased or decreased set temperature. The method of claim 4, wherein The selection / confirmation button is located at the center, the up and down buttons are located above and below the selection / confirmation button, and the left and right buttons are located at the left and right of the selection / confirmation button. Device.

Images