KR20080057474A - A refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided to improve voice recognition performance even though a user is spaced away from the refrigerator, since a voice input unit projects towards from a door to get close to the user. A refrigerator comprises a door, a voice input unit assembly(400), a driving unit(380), a stopper(390), and a display unit(300). The door opens and closes a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. The voice input unit assembly for inputting voice of a user, can be projected from one side of the door, comprising a rotational rod installed to the door, and a voice input unit through which voice is inputted. The driving unit is installed to one side of the door to allow the voice input unit assembly to be projected forward. The stopper is installed to one side of the voice input unit assembly to limit forward projection of the voice input unit assembly. The display unit is provided on one side of the door.

Description

Refrigerator {A refrigerator}

1 is a front view showing the front appearance of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a state diagram showing the operating state of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a front view showing the front appearance of a second embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

5 is a schematic view schematically showing a configuration of a second embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

6 is a state diagram showing an operating state of a second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100. Main body 200. Door

300. Display device 360. Receiving groove

380. Driving part 390. Restraint mechanism

400,500. Voice input means assembly 420,520. road

440,540. Voice input unit 560. Elastic member

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a voice input means assembly protruding forward on one side of the refrigerator door.

In general, a refrigerator is a device for low-temperature storage of food, and stored in a refrigerator or refrigerated according to the state of the food to be stored.

The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is generated by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant, is continuously supplied into the refrigerator while repeatedly performing a cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and the supplied refrigerant is supplied by convection. It is evenly distributed inside the refrigerator to store food in the refrigerator at a desired temperature.

Such refrigerators are becoming larger and more versatile as the dietary changes and user's preferences are diversified.

Representatively, a display for displaying an image on the refrigerator door is provided to allow the user to watch terrestrial and satellite broadcasts, or a refrigerator capable of internet is being developed, and a refrigerator and the like that operate in conjunction with an interphone or a wireless telephone are being developed.

In addition, a refrigerator having a microphone is developed to maximize the convenience of the user. In such a refrigerator, a user's voice is recognized through a microphone so that the basic operation of the refrigerator can be adjusted and various functions described above can be performed. The development of refrigerators are also being actively made.

However, the above conventional technologies have the following problems.

The refrigerators according to the related art all have a problem in that the microphone is recessed inside the main body or the door of the refrigerator, so that the voice recognition rate of the user is significantly reduced.

That is, when the voice recognition function is to be used through the microphone, the voice signal to be transmitted without noise must be input, but when the surrounding environment is exposed to noise, the effective voice signal transmission becomes difficult, and thus normal operation is difficult.

Therefore, there is a problem in that it is impossible to expect the original effect to improve the user's convenience, such as accurate operation is guaranteed only when the user approaches the microphone and speaks loudly for the accurate voice signal transmission.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, to provide a refrigerator having a voice input means assembly protruding forward on one side of the refrigerator door.

Refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the door and shielding the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment; It is mounted so as to protrude forward from one side of the door, it characterized in that it comprises a voice input means assembly for inputting the user's voice.

The voice input means assembly is protruded by translation or rotation.

The voice input means assembly includes a rod rotatably mounted to the door; It is configured to include a voice input unit provided at the tip of the rod is a voice input.

One side of the door is further provided with a driving unit for driving the voice input means assembly protrudes in front of the door.

One side of the voice input means assembly is further provided with a restraining mechanism for limiting the front projection of the voice input means assembly.

The door is provided with a receiving groove for receiving the voice input means assembly.

In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a door for shielding the storage space for storing food at low temperature; A display device provided at one side of the door; It is provided on one side of the display device is mounted to be able to pull out, characterized in that it comprises a voice input means assembly for inputting the user's voice.

One side of the door is provided with a tact switch for selectively restraining the voice input means assembly by the user's operation.

The voice input means assembly forms the same plane as the front surface of the door when the voice input means assembly is not operated.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, even if the user does not approach the refrigerator close to the distance from the voice input unit can be expected to improve the voice recognition rate.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The refrigerator according to the present invention can be applied regardless of the type and shape of the refrigerator, and for convenience of description, only a side by side type refrigerator is described as an example, and the present invention is limited thereto. It does not matter.

1 is a front view showing a front appearance of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the main body 100 of the refrigerator is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having an open front surface, and the main body 100. The inner side of) is divided into left and right sides to form a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, respectively.

The door 200 is provided at an opened front surface of the main body 100. The door 200 shields the opened front surface of the main body 100, and includes a freezing chamber door 220 and a refrigerating chamber door 240 mounted on the open front surface of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment, respectively.

The freezing compartment door 220 and the refrigerating compartment door 240 are hinged to the main body 100 so as to be rotatable to the left and the right, respectively, thereby allowing the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment to be selectively opened and closed.

The freezer door 220 is provided with a dispenser 222 for taking out purified water and / or ice from the outside, and an operation of the dispenser 222 and the refrigerator in general above the dispenser 222. On the other hand, a control unit 224 showing the overall state of the dispenser 222 and the refrigerator is provided.

In addition, the refrigerating chamber door 240 is provided with a display device 300. The display device 300 can display not only the operation status of the refrigerator but also food storage information inside the refrigerator, and can be connected to a broadcasting cable or an Internet line to perform TV and Internet functions. It is configured to display as.

The display device 300 includes a display unit 320 for displaying information as an image, a voice input unit assembly 400 for receiving user's voice information and using the additional function or a refrigerator, and an image camera capable of capturing an image. 340), and may further include a speaker for outputting voice information, if necessary.

The display unit 320 may be a commonly used LCD panel, and may be replaced with another device capable of outputting an image if necessary.

In addition, the voice input unit assembly 400 may receive a user's voice and perform a specific function. The voice input unit assembly 400 may be provided at one side adjacent to the display unit 320 of the display apparatus 300.

Of course, the voice input means assembly 400 may be provided at a place other than the display apparatus 300 as necessary. In this case, the voice input means assembly 400 is provided at one side of the front side of the refrigerating chamber door 240. It would be desirable to be.

Meanwhile, the voice input unit assembly 400 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a state diagram showing an operating state of a first embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown in these figures, the voice input means assembly 400 is provided on one side of the display apparatus 300 in more detail than one side of the door 200. In addition, the voice input unit assembly 400 is formed in a long bar shape is configured to protrude forward by rotating.

The voice input means assembly 400 is accommodated in the receiving groove 360 formed at one side of the display apparatus 300. The receiving groove 360 is recessed inwardly in a shape corresponding to the voice input means assembly 400 so that the voice input means assembly 400 can be inserted therein, and the voice input means assembly 400 is completely inserted. When formed, one surface of the voice input means assembly 400 is formed to form the same plane as the front surface of the door 200, that is, the front surface of the display apparatus 300.

The voice input unit assembly 400 includes a rod-shaped rod 420 having a predetermined length and a voice input unit 440 provided at an end of the rod 420 to receive a user's voice.

Looking at this in more detail, the rod 420 is formed to have a corresponding shape so as to be accommodated in the receiving groove 360, the lower end of the rod 420 forward from the inside of the receiving groove 360 It is hinged to be rotatable.

On the other hand, the driving unit 380 is further provided on the rotating shaft of the rod 420. The driving unit 380 is to adjust the rotation of the rod 420, consisting of an oil hinge that can be damped so that the rod 420 can be rotated slowly, or the electric motor for generating a rotational power by the applied electricity It consists of a motor.

Of course, the rod 420 may be configured to be manually rotated by the rotation shaft formed at the lower end of the rod 420 without the driving unit 380.

The voice input unit 440 is provided at an upper end of the rod 420. The voice input unit 440 is a user's voice is input, it is preferable that a general voice input unit 440 is employed, it may be formed to be inserted into the upper inside of the rod 420.

On the other hand, one side of the receiving groove 360 is provided with a restraint mechanism 390. The restraint mechanism 390 is for restraining the rotation of the voice input means assembly 400, and more particularly, the rod 420, and the receiving groove 360 and the voice input means assembly 400 corresponding thereto. One side of the) is formed in a corresponding shape will be configured so that the voice input means assembly 400 can be fixed in an interference fit manner.

And, if necessary, the restraint mechanism 390 may be configured to selectively restrain the voice input means assembly 400. For this purpose, one side of the receiving groove 360 is provided with a push switch such as a tact switch. . For example, the restraint mechanism 390 may be provided at an upper portion of the receiving groove 360 to selectively restrain an upper end of the voice input means assembly 400.

Therefore, it is possible to selectively restrain the voice input means assembly 400 by pressing the voice input means assembly 400. When the driving unit 380 is configured as an electric motor, the user's button As the driving unit 380 rotates according to the manipulation, the voice input unit assembly 400 may be selectively restrained.

Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the state in which the refrigerator is not operating for voice recognition, the voice input means assembly 400 is accommodated inside the receiving groove 360 and is restrained and fixed by the restraint mechanism 390.

In such a state, one surface of the voice input unit assembly 400 has the same surface as the front surface of the door 200, that is, the display apparatus 300, to have a sense of unity of design.

In order for a user to perform an operation for voice recognition, first, when a user presses the voice input means assembly 400 fixedly accommodated in the accommodation groove 360, the voice input means by the restraint mechanism 390 is performed. Constraints of the assembly 400 are released to rotate the voice input means assembly 400.

When the voice input means assembly 400 is rotated, the voice input unit 440 located at the top of the voice input means assembly 400 consequently protrudes, and the voice input means assembly 400 is approximately 90 degrees. By rotating, the voice input unit 440 may be in the most protruding state.

In this state, the user may be in a state close to the voice input unit 440 to transmit a voice signal through the voice input unit assembly 400 with a voice having a proper size, and a control unit (not shown) provided in the refrigerator. The voice signal received from the control unit can control the operation by the voice recognition.

When the input of the voice signal through the voice input unit 440 is completed, the user rotates the voice input means assembly 400 again in the opposite direction, so that the voice input means assembly 400 of the receiving groove 360 It can be fixed on the inside.

In this case, when the voice input means assembly 400 is rotated again and the voice input means assembly 400 is pressed again while receiving the inside of the receiving groove 360, the voice input means assembly 400 is connected to the restraint mechanism. 390 is restrained again inside the receiving groove 360.

On the other hand, when the voice input means assembly 400 is operated by the electric motor constituting the drive unit 380, a user manipulates a button on the display 320 without direct manipulation of the voice input means assembly 400. Alternatively, the electric motor may be driven to operate the voice input means assembly 400 only by operating a button provided separately. In this case, the motor is automatically returned to its original position by the electric motor at the end of the voice recognition operation. It would be desirable to be configured to be able to return.

The refrigerator according to the present invention may have other embodiments in addition to the above-described first embodiment, which will be described below with reference to the drawings. Other embodiments to be described below will be substantially similar in overall configuration to the above-described first embodiment, the same parts will be omitted in the detailed description will be described using the same reference numerals.

4 is a front view showing a front appearance of a second embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the refrigerator main body 100 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the inner sides of the main body 100 are left and right, respectively. It is divided into to form a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment.

In addition, the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are selectively shielded by the refrigerating compartment door 240 and the freezing compartment door 220 that rotate left and right, respectively. The dispenser 222 and the control unit 224 may be installed in the freezer door 220, and the display device 300 displaying an image is provided in the refrigerating chamber door 240.

On the other hand, the refrigerating chamber door 240, more specifically, one side of the display device 300 is provided with a voice input means assembly 500 for receiving a user's voice in order to perform a voice recognition operation.

The voice input means assembly 500 is configured to protrude forward from the front of the door 200 so that a user's voice input can be more smoothly, and is completely completed when the voice input means assembly 500 is not operated. Inserted to form the same plane as the front of the display device 300.

Hereinafter, the voice input unit assembly 500 will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a second embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a state diagram showing an operating state of a second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

As shown in these figures, the voice input means assembly 500 includes a rod 520 and a voice input unit 540.

The rod 520 is to allow the voice input unit 540 to sufficiently protrude toward the front of the door 200. The rod 520 is formed in a rod shape having a predetermined length and is provided at one side of the display apparatus 300. It is formed by being inserted into the recessed receiving groove 360.

The receiving groove 360 is formed recessed inward from one side of the display device 300, is formed to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the rod 520, the rod 520 and the front of the door 200 It is recessed so that it can be inserted completely in a vertical state.

On the other hand, the elastic member 560 is provided at the rear of the rod 520. The elastic member 560 is provided to provide an elastic force for the rod 520 to protrude forward, is built in contact with the rear end of the rod 520 inside the receiving groove (360).

The voice input unit 540 is formed at the front end of the rod 520. The voice input unit 540 is a microphone that is generally used as a part of the user's voice is adopted, is formed to be exposed to the front end of the rod 520, or is formed is inserted into the upper portion of the rod 520.

On the other hand, the voice input means assembly 500 is selectively restrained by a restraint mechanism 390 provided on one side of the receiving groove 360. The restraint mechanism 390 may be restrained / released by selective pressing of the voice input means assembly 500, and may be configured as a push switch such as a tact switch.

For example, the restraint mechanism 390 is formed at the front end of the receiving groove 360 and is mounted to be engaged with the restraint mechanism 390. The restraint mechanism 390 is adapted to the selective pressing operation of the voice input means assembly 500. It would be desirable to be configured to selectively release the restraint.

Meanwhile, although not shown, a driving unit (not shown) such as an electric motor is provided at one side of the receiving groove 360 to allow the voice input unit assembly 500 to selectively move back and forth by a combination of a rack and a gear. It may be configured, in this case, the operation of the voice input means assembly 500 may be configured to be operated in conjunction with the operation of the separately provided buttons and other operations for voice recognition.

Hereinafter, the operation of the second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

In the state where the refrigerator is not performing the voice recognition operation, the voice input means assembly 500 is restrained and fixed by the restraint mechanism 390 while being accommodated inside the accommodation groove 360.

In this state, one surface of the voice input unit assembly 500 has the same surface as the front surface of the door 200, that is, the display apparatus 300, thereby having a sense of unity of design.

In order for a user to perform an operation for voice recognition, first, when a user presses the voice input means assembly 500 fixed in a state accommodated in the receiving groove 360, the voice input means by the restraining mechanism 390 is performed. The restraint of the assembly 500 is released, and the voice input means assembly 500 protrudes forward by the restoring force of the elastic member 560 that has been compressed.

When the voice input unit assembly 500 protrudes, the voice input unit 540 located at the front end of the voice input unit assembly 500 is in the most protruding state, and in this state, the user inputs the voice input unit ( It becomes close to the state 540 and can transmit a voice signal through the voice input means assembly 500 with a voice of a suitable size, and processes the voice signal received from a control unit (not shown) provided in the refrigerator. It is possible to control the operation by the voice recognition.

When the input of the voice signal through the voice input unit 540 is completed, the user presses the front surface of the voice input unit assembly 500 so that the voice input unit assembly 500 is inserted into the receiving groove 360. The elastic member 560 is compressed again by the insertion of the voice input means assembly 500.

In this case, when the voice input means assembly 500 is pressed while the voice input means assembly 500 is completely pushed back into the receiving groove 360, the voice input means assembly 500 includes the restraining mechanism 390. Is constrained again inside the receiving groove 360.

On the other hand, when the voice input means assembly 500 is operated by the electric motor, a user manipulates a button on the display 320 or a button provided separately without direct manipulation of the voice input means assembly 500. Only by the electric motor is driven the voice input means assembly 500 may be pulled out / in, in this case is configured to automatically return to the original position by the electric motor at the end of the operation for voice recognition Would be preferred.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and many other modifications based on the present invention will be possible to those skilled in the art within the above technical scope.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the voice input means assembly 500 is provided on one side of the display apparatus 300, but the voice input means assembly 500 is not one side of the display apparatus 300. It may be formed on any of the door 200, it will be apparent that the refrigerator compartment door 240 or the freezer compartment 220 may be provided anywhere with or without the display apparatus 300.

In the refrigerator according to the present invention as described above in detail, the voice input means assembly for inputting the user's voice is configured to protrude toward the front of the refrigerator door, so that the voice input unit may be close even if the user does not approach the refrigerator. .

Therefore, the voice signal can be effectively input even if the user does not command loudly, and even if there is noise around the voice recognition operation, the voice signal for voice recognition can be effectively extracted, thereby increasing the recognition rate for the voice recognition operation. You can expect the effect.

Through this, it is possible to expect the effect of ensuring the operational reliability of the refrigerator as well as the convenience of use.

Claims (9)

A door that shields the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment; Refrigerator comprising a voice input means assembly is mounted so as to protrude forward from one side of the door, the user's voice is input. The method of claim 1, The voice input means assembly is a refrigerator protruding by translation or rotation. The method of claim 1, The voice input means assembly, A rod rotatably mounted to the door; And a voice input unit provided at a tip of the rod to input a voice. The method of claim 1, One side of the door further comprises a drive unit for driving the voice input means assembly to protrude in front of the door. The method of claim 1, One side of the voice input means assembly, the refrigerator further comprises a restraint mechanism for limiting the front projection of the voice input means assembly. The method of claim 1, And a receiving groove in the door to accommodate the voice input means assembly. A door shielding a storage space for storing food at low temperature; A display device provided at one side of the door; And a voice input means assembly provided at one side of the display apparatus so as to be able to be pulled forward and input a user's voice. The method of claim 7, wherein One side of the door is provided with a tact switch for selectively restraining the voice input means assembly by the user's operation. The method of claim 7, wherein And the voice input means assembly forms the same plane as the front surface of the door when the voice input means assembly is not operated.

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