KR20080022440A - Lighting apparatus for refrigerator and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

A lighting device for a refrigerator and a method thereof are provided to illuminate a cavity via light emitting elements formed in a shelf by utilizing the power of the refrigerator, thereby lighting foodstuff on the shelf uniformly and supplying power stably. A lighting device for a refrigerator includes at least one or more light emitting elements(72a-72c), a shelf formed with a first connection part(L1,SW1,R1/L2,SW2,R2/L3,SW3,R3) for supplying power to the light emitting elements, and shelf supporting elements formed with second connection parts for supplying power from a power supply(11a) to the first connection part. The light emitting elements and the first connection part are formed in a molding part of the shelf. The first and second connection parts have induction coil elements respectively and are connected to each other by female/male connectors.

Description

LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATOR AND ITS METHOD}

1 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the prior art.

2 is a partial perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with a lighting device of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

3 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a lighting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the lighting apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

5 is a perspective view of the connector coupling of FIG. 4.

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

20: height 30a, 30b: shelf support

40: switch 50, 50a, 50b: proximity sensor

60: shelf 80: user identification means

90: input means 100: microcomputer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a lighting device of a refrigerator, which allows the interior of the refrigerator to have sufficient brightness by lighting through a shelf.

In general, a refrigerator is a device for storing food and the like freshly for a long time in a low temperature state by keeping the freezer and the refrigerating compartment at a low temperature by using cold air.

Such a refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant into a gas refrigerant having a high temperature and high pressure, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant passing through the compressor into a liquid refrigerant having a high temperature and high pressure, and a refrigerant that has passed through the condenser to reduce the refrigerant through a low temperature and low pressure liquid refrigerant. It consists of an expansion valve and a refrigerating cycle that uses an evaporator as a basic component to absorb the heat inside the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment and keep the temperature inside the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment at a low temperature while evaporating the refrigerant passing through the expansion valve to a low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant. .

Of course, the refrigerator is installed so that the door can be opened and closed in the body formed so that the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment is partitioned therein, a refrigeration cycle is built into the inner wall of the body to maintain the inside of the refrigerator at a low temperature state through heat exchange between the evaporator and the air in the refrigerator. Do it.

Since the interior of the refrigerator or the freezer compartment of the refrigerator is dark because no light is made from the outside, when the user stores or withdraws food from the inside of the refrigerator or freezer compartment, a separate lighting device to illuminate the interior is required.

1 is a block diagram of a lighting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the prior art. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining only the lighting device, and descriptions and illustrations of other components (compressor, cooler, microcomputer, etc.) will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting device 10 includes a power supply 11 for rectifying and converting a commercial AC power supplied to a home or the like into a working voltage used in a refrigerator, and an opening of a refrigerator door (not shown). And a halogen lamp 13 to which a working voltage is supplied by opening and closing the door switch 12 that is opened and closed according to the immersion. Since the halogen lamp 13 is installed on the upper or rear surface of the refrigerator, even if the food or the like is filled to some extent on the shelf or the like, the light does not go to the front side, so that the user has difficulty in finding the food or the like on the shelf.

In addition, in the case of the halogen lamp 13, it occupies a considerable amount of its installation space in the refrigerator, and the volume ratio in the refrigerator is reduced.

In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device and a lighting method of the refrigerator to perform lighting in the refrigerator through the shelf of the refrigerator.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device and a lighting method of the refrigerator to perform a stable power supply by supplying power to the light emitting device formed on the shelf as a power source of the refrigerator.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus and a lighting method for a refrigerator, which forms a light emitting element on a shelf of the refrigerator so as to increase the volume ratio in the refrigerator.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device and a lighting method of the refrigerator to achieve the desired lighting according to the user's access or identified user.

The lighting apparatus of the refrigerator of the present invention includes at least one light emitting element, a shelf having a first connection portion for applying power to the light emitting element, and a detachable support for the shelf, wherein power from a power supply is transferred to the first connection portion. It consists of a shelf support member in which the 2nd connection part to supply is formed.

In this case, the light emitting element and the first connection unit is preferably formed in the molding of the shelf.

In addition, it is preferable that the first connection portion and the second connection portion each include an induction coil element.

In addition, it is preferable that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected by a male / female connector.

In addition, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are preferably covered with a rubber guide.

In addition, the shelf support member is preferably provided with a switch to detect whether the shelf is mounted so that power from the power supply is applied to the second connection.

In addition, the lighting device is preferably further provided with an access detection sensor for detecting the user's access to the shelf.

In addition, the second connection unit preferably includes a resistor unit so that a current corresponding to the light emitting element is applied to the first connection unit.

In addition, the lighting device is preferably further provided with an identification sensor for distinguishing the user.

In addition, the lighting device preferably further includes a control unit for controlling the power supply through the second connection so that the light emitting element is emitted according to the user's approach or the user's identification result.

The lighting apparatus may further include an input unit configured to receive light emission conditions of the light emitting device.

The lighting apparatus may further include a switch to select the second connection part so that the power is applied to the first connection part corresponding to the selected second connection part.

In addition, the lighting method of the refrigerator of the present invention includes the step of identifying the user, and the step of emitting the light emitting element formed on the shelf in accordance with the identification result.

In addition, the lighting method of the refrigerator of the present invention includes the step of detecting the user's access to the shelf in the refrigerator, and the step of emitting a light emitting element formed on the shelf in accordance with the user's approach.

In the following, the invention has been described 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 partial perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with a lighting device of a refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the refrigerator according to the present invention is a shelf support (30a, 30b) for the support of the shelf 60 on the side (20b, 20c) of the interior 20, shelf support (30a, 30b) The shelf 60 is detachably supported at the.

The shelf supports 30a and 30b are fixedly mounted in parallel with the side surfaces 20b and 20c, so as to support the shelf 60 at fixed intervals. The shelf support 30a is provided with a switch 40 for checking whether the shelf 60 is mounted. When the switch 40 is pressed by the shelf 60, the switch 40 is turned on, and when the shelf 60 is not placed, the switch 40 is turned off.

In addition, the interior side surfaces 20b and 20c are provided with access sensors 50a and 50b for detecting a user's approach (particularly, a user's hand or arm) to each shelf 60. The approach detection sensors 50a and 50b may be configured of a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit using infrared rays, or the access detection sensors 50a and 50b may be devices that independently detect a user's approach. The proximity detecting sensors 50a and 50b should be spaced apart from the shelf supports 30a and 30b or the shelf 60 by a predetermined height so as not to detect the objects by the user's approach, and the user's access is a door (not shown). Since it is made from the direction, it should be mounted on the front side of the car. The plurality of approach detection sensors (50a, 50b) is installed in response to the plurality of shelves 60, thereby detecting the user's access to each shelf (60).

Shelf 60 is wrapped around the support portion 62 and the support portion 62 on which the objects are supported and seated, and when the shelf 60 is mounted to the shelf supports 30a, 30b, the shelf supports 30a, And a molding part 64 in contact with 30b). The supporting part 62 is made of a transparent or translucent material, and the molding part 64 may be formed integrally with the supporting part 62.

In addition, the shelf 60 is provided with a light emitting circuit 70, the light emitting circuit 70 is embedded in or attached to the molding portion 64, the light emitted from the side of the shelf 60 of the support portion 62 Illumination in the chamber is achieved through the side, top or bottom. That is, the illumination is made through the side surface, the upper surface and the bottom surface of the shelf 60, the user is more clearly recognized of the object. At least two shelves 60 are mounted in the refrigerator, and each shelf 60 includes at least one light emitting circuit 70.

3 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a lighting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the lighting apparatus includes a power supply device 11a that receives commercial power and rectifies or transforms the power into a power of a predetermined size, and a door detection sensor that supplies power according to opening and closing of the door. 12), the switch 40 to detect the mounting of the shelf 60 to the shelf support (30a, 30b) to be supplied with power, and the access sensor 50 for detecting the user's access to the shelf (60) (Collectively referred to as 50a and 50b), and connecting portions L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3), and connecting portions for supplying power to the light emitting circuit 70. Light emitting circuits 70a, 70b, 70c (collectively referred to as 70 described above) supplied with power from (L1, SW1, R1), (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3), and user identification A user identification means 80, an input means 90 for allowing a user to input light emission conditions of the light emitting circuits 70a, 70b, 70c, and connection portions L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2). , R2), switch of (L3, SW3, R3) Teeth SW1, SW2, SW3 and the microcomputer 100 for controlling the power supply device 11a.

In detail, the power supply device 11a may supply a constant size of power as in the prior art, or may supply a different voltage according to a control command from the microcomputer 100.

The connection parts L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3) and the coils L1, L2, L3 for applying the power supplied by the induced current to the light emitting circuit 70; , The switches SW1, SW2, SW3 for turning on / off according to the opening / closing signal of the microcomputer 100 so that the power is applied to the light emitting circuit 70 by the induced current, and the resistor R1 for determining the size of the applied power. , R2, R3). That is, when the door switches 12 and the switch 40 are turned on and the corresponding switches SW1, SW2, and SW3 are turned on according to the ON control command of the microcomputer 100, the coils L1, L2, Through L3, a current corresponding to the resistors R1, R2, R3 is induced and applied to the corresponding light emitting circuit 70.

As shown, the light emitting circuits 70 (70a, 70b, 70c) are coils L1, L2, L3 of the connection parts L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3). Coils L1 ', L2', L3 'to which an induction current is applied, and light emitting elements 72a, 72b, 72c (collectively 72) which emit light by the induction current. Here, the light emitting device 72 may be applied not only a single LED (for example, red, white, blue, etc.) but also a combination thereof. The current transmission method between the connection parts L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3) and the light emitting circuit 70 does not require any separate wiring, and thus the shelf 60 ) By mounting the shelf support (30a, 30b) to be a simple power supply.

The proximity sensor 50 detects a user's approach, applies a detection signal according to the microcomputer 100, and the microcomputer 100 emits light or a specific light emitting circuit 70 of the shelf 60 corresponding to the detection signal. By selecting the elements 72a, 72b, 72c and supplying power thereto, light is emitted.

The user identification means 80 is a means for identifying a user who currently uses or wants to use the refrigerator. For example, the user identification means 80 is a fingerprint recognition sensor mounted on a door handle (not shown) of the refrigerator. When the recognized fingerprint is transmitted to the microcomputer 100, the microcomputer 100 recognizes the prestored fingerprint data and the recognition. The fingerprints can be compared to identify the user. Alternatively, the user identification means 80 is a camera for capturing the user's appearance, and when the external image of the user is transmitted to the microcomputer 100, the microcomputer 100 compares the previously stored image data with the transmitted image, thereby providing a user with the user. Can be identified.

The input means 90 is a means for receiving a light emitting condition of the light emitting circuit 70 (or the light emitting element 72) from the user. Of course, the input means 90 performs basic functions such as setting the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. Here, the light emitting condition is to control the color, brightness, etc. of the light through the light emitting circuit 70 according to the user, to control the color, brightness, etc. of the light according to the health state of the user, or to suppress the appetite of the user Color 60 (eg, blue) lighting is performed, or a colorful color (eg, 7 colors representing a rainbow) is performed on the user's birthday, or the shelf 60 is accessed by the user. To make the lighting of the light brighter than other shelves.

Next, the microcomputer 100 may be a main microcomputer that directly controls a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator or the like, or may be an auxiliary microcomputer having an interface means with a user separately from the main microcomputer.

The microcomputer 100 stores the light emission conditions input through the input means 90. Of course, the light emission condition may be stored at the time of manufacture instead of the user's input, and may be changed later by the user.

In addition, the microcomputer 100 controls the power supply device 11a so that a constant power supply (voltage and current) is always connected to the connections L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3). The size of the power supply may be controlled so that the controlled power is applied to the connection parts L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3). In the control of such a power source, the microcomputer 100 may be performed when a controlled power source needs to be applied according to the light emission conditions. For example, when illumination of various colors or brightness is made according to the magnitude of the current applied to the light emitting device 72, the microcomputer 100 determines the magnitude of the current or voltage accordingly, and the determined current or voltage is By controlling the power supply 11a to be generated, control of this power supply is used.

In addition, the microcomputer 100 switches SW1 and SW2 of the connection parts L1, SW1 and R1, (L2, SW2 and R2), and (L3, SW3 and R3) according to a detection signal from the proximity detecting sensor 50. , SW3) may be controlled to control illumination by the light emitting circuit 72, and as described above, additionally control power may be performed. That is, according to a detection signal from the approach detection sensor 50 corresponding to the shelf 60 approached by the user, the microcomputer 100 performs illumination by the light emitting circuit 70 of the corresponding shelf 60. .

In addition, the microcomputer 100 identifies the user according to the information from the user identification means 80, and performs illumination by the light emitting circuit 72 of the shelf 60 on the basis of the light emission conditions.

4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of a lighting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connector coupling of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lighting device of FIG. 4 is identical to the lighting device of FIG. 3, but the connections SW1 ', R1', (SW2 ', R2'), and (SW3 ', R3') Unlike the connection parts L1, SW1, R1, (L2, SW2, R2), (L3, SW3, R3) in FIG. 3, the connector 32 and the power supply are not supplied by the coils L1, L2, L3. Power is supplied by the connection between the connectors 74. That is, the connector 32 is connected to receive power from each of the connecting portions SW1 ', R1', (SW2 ', R2'), and (SW3 ', R3'), and is controlled by the microcomputer 100. Switch SW1 ', SW2', and SW3 'are turned on, so that a corresponding power source is supplied to the light emitting circuits 70a', 70b ', 70c' (hereinafter referred to as 70 ') through the connector 74. Supplied.

In addition, the light emitting circuit 70 'formed on the shelf 60a does not have a coil, but only a connector 74. Each light emitting circuit 70 'includes light emitting elements 72a', 72b ', 72c', respectively, and is composed of a connector 74 for supplying power to each light emitting element 72a ', 72b'.72c'. . The coupling by the male and female connectors 32 and 74 allows power to be supplied to the light emitting circuit 70 'of the shelf 60a through fewer wires.

As shown in FIG. 5, the connector 32 is mounted at the center of one side edge of the shelf 60a (eg, the molding portion 64a which is the edge facing the inner side surface 20a). A rubber guide 66 is formed on the main surface of the connector 32 to prevent the pin 32a of the connector 32 from being damaged, and when the connector 32 is engaged with the connector 74, moisture in the air is released to the connector 32. , 74) can be prevented.

The connector 74 is mounted in the accommodating groove 21 of the inner side surface 20a, and the rubber guide 76 is fixedly mounted inside the accommodating groove 21 so that the connector 32 and the connector of the shelf 60a are fixed. When the 74 is not engaged, moisture in the refrigerator is prevented from entering the connector 74. In addition, the rubber guide 76 has a groove 76a formed at the center thereof, and the pin 32a of the connector 32 penetrates through the groove 76a so as to be inserted into the connection groove 74a of the connector 74. do. Here, the rubber guide 76 is not only fixed but also detachable.

The present invention of such a configuration is to perform the illumination in the interior of the refrigerator through the shelf of the refrigerator, there is an effect that the illumination is made uniformly on the storage on the shelf.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a stable power supply by performing a power supply to the light emitting device formed on the shelf as a power source of the refrigerator.

In addition, the present invention is to form a light emitting device on the shelf of the refrigerator to increase the volume ratio in the refrigerator, there is an effect that the mounting of the shelf is simple.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of considering the sensitivity or taste and health of various users by making the desired illumination according to the user's approach or identified user.

Claims (18)

A shelf provided with at least one light emitting element and a first connection portion for applying power to the light emitting element; And a shelf supporting member which supports the shelf so as to be detachable and has a second connection part for supplying power from a power supply to the first connection part. The method of claim 1, And the light emitting element and the first connection part are formed in a molding part of the shelf. The method of claim 1, And the first connection part and the second connection part are provided with induction coil elements, respectively. The method of claim 1, And the first and second connectors are connected to each other by a male / female connector. The method of claim 4, wherein And the first and second connection portions are covered by a rubber guide. The method of claim 1, The shelf supporting member is a lighting device of a refrigerator, characterized in that the switch is provided so that the power from the power supply to the second connection to detect the mounting of the shelf. The method of claim 1, The lighting device is a lighting device of a refrigerator, characterized in that further comprising an access sensor for detecting the user's access to the shelf. The method of claim 1, And the second connector comprises a resistor unit so that a current corresponding to the light emitting element is applied to the first connector. The method of claim 1, The lighting device is a lighting device of the refrigerator, characterized in that further comprises an identification sensor for distinguishing the user. The method of claim 1, The lighting apparatus further comprises a control unit for controlling the power supply through the second connection so that the light emitting element is emitted in accordance with the user's approach or the user's identification result. The method of claim 1, The lighting apparatus further comprises an input unit for receiving the light emission conditions of the light emitting device. The method of claim 1, The lighting apparatus may further include a switch to select the second connecting portion and to apply the power to the first connecting portion corresponding to the selected second connecting portion. Identifying a user; Illuminating the light emitting element formed on the shelf according to the identification result. The method of claim 13, The light emitting step may further include determining a current or voltage supplied to the light emitting device according to the identification result, and supplying the determined current or voltage to the light emitting device. The method of claim 13, The light emitting step may further include selecting the light emitting device according to the identification result, and applying power to the selected light emitting device. Detecting a user's access to the shelves in the warehouse; Illuminating the light emitting device formed on the shelf according to the user's approach. The method of claim 16, The light emitting step is a lighting method of the refrigerator, characterized in that the brightness of the light emitting device of the shelf is higher than the brightness of the light emitting device of the other shelf. The method of claim 16, The light emitting step may further include determining a current or voltage supplied to the light emitting device, and supplying the determined current or voltage to the light emitting device.

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