KR20080061687A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided to inform a user of the existence or concentration of bacteria in the compartment of the refrigerator as sensed by a bacteria sensor. A refrigerator includes at least one or more bacteria sensor(11) mounted in a compartment for sensing the existence or concentration of bacteria for outputting the information, a controller(14) receiving the information from the sensor and generating a display command, and a display unit(20) connected to the controller via a communication line and displaying a standby screen, wherein the display unit displays an information screen.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

3A, 3B and 4 are flowcharts of first embodiments of a bacterial detection service performed in the refrigerator of the present invention.

5 and 6 are a flow chart of the second embodiment of the bacteria detection service performed in the refrigerator of the present invention.

7A to 7D are exemplary embodiments of a notification screen.

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

10: refrigerator control device 11a, 11b 11c: bacteria detection sensor

20: display device

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator for informing a user of information such as bacteria in a refrigerator refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that can keep food fresh for a certain period of time by lowering the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment while repeating a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant is compressed, condensed, expanded, or evaporated.

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 with a high temperature and high pressure liquid refrigerant, and an expansion valve for reducing the refrigerant passing through the condenser with a low temperature and low pressure liquid refrigerant. And a refrigerating cycle having an evaporator as a basic component that absorbs heat in the freezing compartment or the refrigerating compartment and keeps 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 low-pressure gas refrigerant.

Recently, side-by-side refrigerators are not only to satisfy various needs of the user, but also to prevent cold air loss. An ice extractor capable of extracting cold water or ice is integrally formed on the freezer door side. The home bar is formed so that the stored beverage or water can be easily taken out even if the refrigerator door is not opened or closed.

The conventional refrigerator includes control devices including a main microcomputer (or main controller) mounted on an upper side of a main body and a sub microcomputer included in a display device of a refrigerator door. These display devices only provide information on the state of the refrigerator (for example, the set temperature of the freezer compartment, the set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, the service type of the dispenser (ice ice, flake ice, water), etc.), and the degree of bacterial contamination in the refrigerator refrigerator. It does not provide information about.

In particular, when the user keeps a large number of foods in the refrigerator, it is not easy to remember the storage date, expiration date, state, etc. of the food, and the food is often spoiled in the refrigerator. If such corruption of the food can be confirmed by the user's naked eye, the food is not eaten, but otherwise, the food is eaten, which may cause problems such as food poisoning. In addition, the inside of the refrigerator is easily contaminated by food left on the sidewalls or shelves of the refrigerator, but it may not be easy for the user to check.

In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a bacteria detection sensor in the refrigerator compartment, which can notify the user of the presence or concentration of bacteria in the refrigerator compartment.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that allows the user to intuitively recognize the bacterial information in the refrigerator compartment and the cleaning time accordingly.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator to display a standby screen and a notification screen, to highlight the notification screen for the presence and concentration of bacteria to the user.

The refrigerator of the present invention is installed in the refrigerator, at least one bacteria detection sensor for detecting the presence of bacteria or concentration of bacteria and applying the corresponding bacterial information, and receiving the bacteria information from the bacteria detection sensor, display accordingly And a display unit connected to the refrigerator control unit for generating a command, and connected to the refrigerator control unit through a communication line, displaying a standby screen, and displaying a notification screen according to the received display command.

In this case, the refrigerator control unit may include the location information in which the bacteria detection sensor is installed in the caution display command.

In addition, the display device preferably displays the bacteria concentration in two or more steps on the notification screen.

The refrigerator control unit may include warning information in the display command when the bacterial concentration is equal to or greater than a reference value.

In addition, the notification screen preferably includes information on the cleaning or cleaning time for the refrigerator.

In addition, the refrigerator of the present invention includes an input means for receiving a bacteria detection command from a user, and display means for displaying a standby screen and a notification screen, and transmits the bacteria detection command to a refrigerator control device, and sends the bacteria from the refrigerator control device. Receiving the determination result, and the display device to display a corresponding notification screen, and communication with the display device, when receiving the bacteria detection command, by receiving the bacteria information from the bacteria detection sensor mounted in the refrigerator compartment And a refrigerator control device configured to transmit a bacterium determination result corresponding to the bacterial information to the display device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with an example of a side-by-side refrigerator based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following examples and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram of the refrigerator of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention is formed such that a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment are partitioned at both sides in a refrigerator body 2 having an open front side, and a freezer compartment door at each front side of the refrigerator body 2. 4a) and the refrigerating compartment door 4b are hinged to open and close, and a dispenser 3 and a display device 20 are mounted on the front side of the refrigerating compartment door 4a.

Here, the refrigerator main body 2 is formed so that the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are partitioned on both sides by a partition wall (not shown), and a cold air circulation fan (not shown) for blowing an evaporator (not shown) and cold air may be built into the inner wall thereof. In addition, a cold air supply hole (not shown) is formed to allow the cold air around the evaporator to be supplied to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment for circulation.

At this time, inside the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, a plurality of shelves 6 are installed at regular intervals in the vertical direction to store food and the like separately. At least one bacteria detection sensor 11a to 11c (hereinafter referred to as 11) is mounted to the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment side in the spaces 9a, 9b, 9c partitioned by the shelf 6.

Next, the freezing compartment door 4a and the refrigerating compartment door 4b are installed at one side of the upper and lower ends of the refrigerator body 2 by a hinge cover 30 to be opened and closed to open and close the food compartment. A plurality of door baskets 8 are installed at regular intervals in the vertical direction so as to be spaced apart.

In particular, a rectangular mounting groove (not shown) is formed on the outer front side of the refrigerating compartment door 4a, and the display apparatus 20 is installed in the mounting groove.

Of course, the display device 20 not only displays a control menu for the refrigerator (selection and display of the service type of the dispenser, input and display of the set temperature of the freezer and the refrigerating compartment, etc.), but also displays the current temperature, the current date and time, and the weather. It is configured to include a speaker (not shown) that can display information as well as sound.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 has a refrigerator controller 10 installed in the refrigerator body 2 to control the generation and supply of cold air to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, and is provided with the refrigerator controller 10. And a display device 20 for transmitting data and displaying such data. These refrigerator control apparatus 10 and the display apparatus 20 are connected by the data line which penetrates the hinge 30 containing the hinge axis (not shown) of the refrigerating compartment door 4a, and is communicated. Usually, the refrigerator control apparatus 10 is mounted on the upper side of the main body 2 with less space constraint in the main body 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator control apparatus 10 includes a bacterial detection sensor 11 which measures the presence or concentration of bacteria in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and a state (eg, the present temperature of the freezer compartment) in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. , The current temperature of the refrigerating compartment, the service type of the dispenser, etc., operation information (for example, the set temperature of the freezer compartment, the set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, the service type of the dispenser, etc.), the operation algorithm, and the location where the bacterial sensor 11 is mounted A storage unit 12 for storing information, a reference value for determination of bacteria (for example, a reference value of bacteria concentration), a refrigerating cycle 13 for generating cold air, and freezing and refrigerating the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment; To perform the freezing and refrigeration according to the operation information and the operation algorithm stored in the storage unit 12, receiving the bacterial information from the bacterial sensor 11, comparing with the reference value, to determine the normal or abnormal It consists of the control unit 14. However, the power supply device (not shown) is not described, but the description thereof is omitted since it is simply a technology easily recognized by those skilled in the art.

In detail, the bacterial sensor 11 detects the presence of bacteria, such as food poisoning bacteria, in the refrigerator, or generates and applies bacterial information including the concentration of the bacteria to the controller 14. As the bacterial detection sensor 11, for example, a biosensor may be used. The biosensors include acoustic biosensors, optical biosensors, magnetic biosensors, and electrochemical biosensors. In acoustic wave biosensors, large lumps of bound solparticles affect the oscillation frequency of the crystal crystals, which are used as sensing signals. In addition, an optical biosensor converts an optical signal that can be sensed by bonding and dissociation of the nanoassembly through resonance enhancement of the aggregate acting as a reflector dipole. Alternatively, the bacterial detection sensor 11 may be applied to a sensor provided in the existing bacterial detection device.

The bacterial information generated by the bacterial sensor 11 may be numerical data obtained by quantifying the concentration of bacteria, or data obtained by dividing the concentration of bacteria into levels such as strong, medium, and weak. The bacteria sensor 11 may generate and apply bacteria information to the controller 14 independently, or may generate bacteria information according to a command from the controller 14.

The bacterial sensor 11 may additionally measure the concentration of contaminants. That is, the bacteria sensor 11 is installed in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment to detect gaseous components in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and typically measures the concentration of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, methane gas, nitrogen oxide series, and carbon-containing gases. It may also be provided with a function to. Accordingly, when the food sensor or the like stored in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment is decayed or stuck to the shelf 6 or the like, the bacteria detection sensor 11 may generate the above-described gas and measure the concentration of such gas.

In addition, the storage unit 12 stores bacteria information including the presence or absence of bacteria in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and the like. The freezer compartment is input and transmitted by the user from the display apparatus 20. And at least a set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, an operation mode, and the like. The storage unit 12 stores a program (for example, an operation algorithm, etc.) for performing refrigeration and refrigeration control and separate functions. In particular, the storage unit 12 stores a reference value for determining the bacterial contamination of the refrigerator, and stores information on the location where the bacterial detection sensor 11 is mounted in order to determine a location contaminated with bacteria in the refrigerator. This location information can be configured such that, for example, the second shelf or the space 9a, 9b, 9c of the refrigerating compartment, the user can easily recognize the location of the bacteria.

In addition, the refrigeration cycle (13) is a device that is made of the refrigeration and refrigeration of the direct cooling or intercooling system, the description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the controller 14 performs the refrigeration and refrigerating operations by controlling the refrigerating cycle 13, and is also capable of communicating with the display apparatus 20. In particular, the control unit 14 receives the bacterial information generated by the bacteria sensor 11, and determines whether the bacteria in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. In the following, the bacterial contamination determination process is described in detail.

Next, the display apparatus 20 includes a user interface for controlling the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, a storage unit 21 storing state and operation information of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, an input unit 23 for receiving an input from a user, A display unit 26 displaying a standby screen including a state or driving information of the refrigerator, a notification screen such as bacterial contamination, and the above-described components, and receiving a user input from the input unit 23 to control the refrigerator; And a control unit 27 which transmits to the display unit 26 and transmits to the display unit 26 a display according to a command received from the refrigerator control apparatus 10. However, the display device 20 also includes a power supply unit (not shown) that receives power from the refrigerator control device 10, but the provision of the power supply unit is merely an easy technical configuration for those familiar with the field to which the present invention pertains. The description is omitted.

In detail, the storage unit 21 includes information (eg, set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, set temperature of the freezer compartment, service type of the dispenser, current date and time, temperature, weather, etc.) included in the standby screen, and user input. Data including a user interface including a menu for storing the data. In addition, the storage unit 21 also stores warning text (eg, “clean”, bacterial contamination, etc.) or sound and warning alarm data.

The input unit 23 is configured to receive not only a means for general refrigerator operation control but also a bacterial detection command. However, the input unit 23 is related to the user interface displayed through the display unit 26 and the like, and is composed of an appropriate number of buttons and the like. That is, the user interface may be configured in various menu forms, and the minimum buttons may be provided.

The display unit 26 includes a standby screen (for example, the set temperature of the refrigerating chamber, the set temperature of the freezer compartment, the service type of the dispenser, the current date and time, the temperature, the weather, etc.), and the notification screen (for example, the result of the determination of bacteria LCD may be applied as a display unit for displaying normal and abnormalities, notification of cleaning time, display of bacterial location information, graphics corresponding to bacterial determination results, graphs, and the like, and a user interface for selecting a menu or the like. . In particular, the notification screen may include a figure, text, etc. indicating the presence or absence of bacteria concentration. In addition, the display unit 26 may include not only the visual display means described above, but also acoustic display means for expressing sound and the like.

Next, the control unit 27 reads the state of the refrigerator stored in the storage unit 21 and the user interface so that the display unit 26 displays the standby screen. In this case, the displayed user interface may be designated as a default, or the control unit 27 may select the user.

In particular, the control unit 27 communicates with the refrigerator control device 10, and when receiving a display command from the refrigerator control device 10, reads the storage unit 21, and the character corresponding to the display command. The notification screen including a figure, a graph, and the like may be displayed on the display unit 26.

In addition, the control unit 27 receives, via the input unit 23, a bacteria detection command for the presence or absence of bacteria in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment from the user, and transmits the bacteria detection command to the refrigerator controller 10. Receiving the bacteria determination result accordingly, and displays a notification screen corresponding to it on the display unit 26. Details of these indications are described in detail below.

3A, 3B and 4 are flowcharts of first embodiments of a bacterial detection service performed in the refrigerator of the present invention. 3A, 3B, and 4 illustrate the presence or absence of bacteria in the refrigerator and the concentration of the bacteria in the refrigerator, in addition to the user's bacteria detection command, the display apparatus 20 displays the determined bacteria information. Initiate. 3A and 3B are performed in the refrigerator control apparatus 10, and FIG. 4 is performed in the display apparatus 20. 3A, 3B, and 4 operate organically with each other.

First, in step S31 of FIG. 3A, the control unit 14 of the refrigerator control apparatus 10 receives the bacteria information detected from the bacteria detection sensor 11.

In step S32, the controller 14 generates a display command for notifying bacteria information in the refrigerator and transmits it to the display device 20. The display command indicates that bacteria exist or not exist in the refrigerator, and when the bacteria exist, the display information may include location information where the bacteria exist (that is, the location where the bacteria detection sensor 11 is mounted). . Alternatively, the display command may include a bacterium concentration or a bacterium concentration for each of the spaces 9a, 9b, and 9c when bacteria exist in the refrigerator.

The controller 14 repeatedly performs steps S31 and S32 to continuously check the state of the refrigerator.

In Figure 3b, in step S33, the control unit 14 receives the bacteria information from the bacteria sensor (11).

In step S34, the control unit 14 reads the bacterial information to recognize whether bacteria are present in the refrigerator compartment. If bacteria are present, the process proceeds to step S36, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, the controller 14 generates a display command indicating that no bacteria are present in the refrigerator compartment (that is, a 'normal' state) and transmits the generated display command to the display apparatus 20.

In step S36, the controller 14 determines whether the bacterial concentration in the bacterial information is greater than or equal to the reference value. This threshold is a threshold and may correspond to a number that will seriously affect the user's health. If the bacterial concentration is higher than the reference value, go to step S38, otherwise proceed to step S37.

In step S37, the control unit 14 generates a display command including the presence of bacteria, the concentration of the bacteria and the location information of the bacteria, and transmits the display command to the display apparatus 20.

In step S38, the control unit 14 generates a display command including the presence of bacteria, location information of bacteria concentration and location of bacteria, and warning information indicating that the degree of bacterial contamination in the refrigerator is serious. 20). This warning information includes instructions to the user on when to clean and bacterial contamination warnings.

Steps S33 to S38 of FIG. 3B are repeatedly performed to transmit the bacterial information to the display device 20.

In step S41 of FIG. 4, the control unit 27 of the display apparatus 20 displays the standby screen on the display unit 26.

In step S42, it is determined whether the control unit 27 has received a display command such as the degree of bacteria from the refrigerator control device 10. If the display command has been received, the process proceeds to step S43, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S41.

In step S43, the control unit 27 displays the notification screen on the display unit 26 according to the display command. The notification screen may include phrases, figures, graphs, etc. including the presence or absence of bacteria, concentration of bacteria, location information or warning information of bacteria. In particular, the location where the bacteria are present may be displayed through text, the interior of the refrigerator may be displayed, and the location may be displayed in a separate figure or color. In addition, when the notification screen is displayed, the controller 27 may simultaneously display the standby screen, overlap the standby screen, delete the standby screen, and display only the notification screen.

In step S44, the control unit 27 determines whether the predetermined set time has elapsed. In order to determine the elapse of the predetermined time, the display apparatus 20 may further include temporary calculation means (not shown) for measuring the current date and time or the elapse of time. If the set time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S41, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S45.

In step S45, the control unit 27 proceeds to step S41 if there is an additional input from the user through the input unit 23, otherwise proceeds to step S43.

In the above-described steps S44 and S45, in displaying the notification screen, a configuration for informing the notification screen only for a maximum setting time, and additional setting or input service when the user makes a predetermined button input, etc. For example, a configuration for restoring back to the standby screen state in order to provide a refrigerating chamber temperature reset, conversion of the dispenser service type, and the like.

5 and 6 are a flow chart of the second embodiment of the bacteria detection service performed in the refrigerator of the present invention. 5 and 6, as the user inputs a bacteria detection command through the display device 20, the refrigerator control device 10 determines whether there is a bacterium present in the refrigerator, and displays whether or not the determined bacteria exist. 20) starts the process of displaying. FIG. 5 is performed by the display apparatus 20, and FIG. 6 is performed by the refrigerator control apparatus 10. 5 and 6 operate organically with each other.

In detail, in step S51 of FIG. 5, the control unit 27 of the display apparatus 20 reads the information stored in the storage unit 21 and displays the standby screen on the display unit 26.

In step S52, the control unit 27 determines whether the user inputs the bacteria detection command to the input unit 23. The bacteria detection command may be input by the user through a separate user interface, or the input unit 23 may be provided with a unique bacteria detection command input button. If the bacteria detection command is input, the process proceeds to step S53, otherwise the process proceeds to step S51.

In step S53, the control unit 27 transmits a bacteria detection command of the user to the refrigerator control device 10.

In step S54, the control unit 27 waits until the determination result of the bacterial detection of the refrigerator according to the bacterial detection command is received from the refrigerator control device 10.

In step S55, the control unit 27 displays a notification screen including the determination result as it is on the display unit 26 or displays a notification screen including text, figures, and the like corresponding to the determination result on the display unit 26. . As described above, an avatar character holding a character or a figure corresponding to the normal state in which no bacteria are present, or a cleaning action or a prop, when the bacteria are present or abnormally higher than the reference value, is present. In addition, it can display a message indicating when to clean.

Steps S56 and S57 perform the same functions as steps S44 and S45 of FIG. 4.

In step S61 of FIG. 6, the controller 14 of the refrigerator control apparatus 10 determines whether a bacteria detection command is received from the display apparatus 20. If the bacteria detection command is received, the flow proceeds to step S62.

In step S62, the control unit 14 receives bacteria information in the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment from the contamination detection sensor 11.

In step S63, the controller 14 performs step S34 or S35 of FIG. 3B to confirm the presence of bacteria, the concentration of bacteria and the location information where the bacteria are present.

In step S64, the controller 14 controls the normal state (the state in which no bacterium exists, etc.) or abnormal state (the state in which the bacterium exists, the state of the bacterium concentration is higher than the reference value, the positional information of the bacterium, etc.) according to the bacterial information. Generate a determination result including a) and transmit the result to the display apparatus 20.

7A to 7D are exemplary embodiments of a notification screen.

The notification screen shown in FIG. 7A displays the determination result according to the bacteria detection command by the user through the input unit 23 of the display apparatus 20. When the bacteria detection result is 'normal', The case does not exist in the refrigerator. This alert screen displays the result of judgment of 'normal' or 'abnormal', or 'abnormal' according to the concentration of bacteria, such as 'strong', 'medium', 'weak' or 'weak' or 'severe'. It may be.

The notification screen shown in FIG. 7B displays the bacteria detection result using a figure according to a display command received by the display apparatus 20 from the refrigerator control apparatus 10. This notification screen is a bacterium present in the refrigerator, the concentration of bacteria corresponds to 'medium', the degree of bacteria can be displayed in two or more levels.

The notification screen shown in FIG. 7C displays whether bacteria are contaminated in each of spaces 9a, 9b, and 9c of the refrigerator. The space 9a of the refrigerator is displayed as' normal 'and no bacteria are present, the space 9b of the refrigerator is displayed as a medium concentration of bacteria in an' abnormal 'state, and the space 9c of the refrigerator is' 'Abnormal' status is indicated by a mild bacterial concentration. Accordingly, the user can check whether the bacteria are present in the specific portions of the refrigerator spaces 9a to 9c and check the bacterial concentration to perform cleaning or disinfection.

In the notification screen illustrated in FIG. 7D, when bacteria grow further in FIG. 7C, and the bacteria concentration in the space 9b of the refrigerator exceeds a reference value or a threshold value, the second screen bacteria risk (cleaning request) and The same warning text is displayed. Such warning information may be composed of not only warning phrases but also an acoustic expression such as an alarm.

The present invention of such a configuration is provided with a bacteria detection sensor in the refrigerator, there is an effect that can inform the user of the presence or concentration of bacteria in the refrigerator.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of allowing the user to intuitively recognize the bacteria information in the refrigerator and the resulting cleaning time.

In addition, the present invention is to display the standby screen and the notification screen, to highlight the user notification screen for the presence and concentration of bacteria, there is an effect that allows the user to create a clean environment.

Claims (8)

At least one bacteria detection sensor installed in the refrigerator to detect presence of bacteria or concentration of bacteria and apply bacteria information corresponding thereto; A refrigerator controller configured to receive bacteria information from the bacteria detection sensor and generate a display command according to the bacteria information; And a display device connected to the refrigerator control unit through a communication line and displaying a standby screen, and displaying a notification screen according to receiving the display command. The method of claim 1, The refrigerator control unit, characterized in that including the location information, the bacteria detection sensor is installed in the caution display command. The method of claim 1, The display device is a refrigerator, characterized in that to display the bacteria concentration in two or more steps on the notification screen. The method according to claim 1 or 3, And the refrigerator control unit includes warning information in the display command when the bacterial concentration is equal to or greater than a reference value. The method of claim 1, The notification screen, characterized in that the refrigerator comprises information on the cleaning or cleaning time for the inside of the refrigerator. Input means for receiving a bacteria detection command from a user, and display means for displaying a standby screen and a notification screen, and transmits the bacteria detection command to the refrigerator control device, and receives the bacteria determination result from the refrigerator control device, A display device for displaying a notification screen corresponding thereto; A refrigerator control capable of communicating with the display device and receiving the bacteria detection command, receiving bacteria information from a bacteria detection sensor mounted in the refrigerator compartment, and transmitting a bacterium determination result corresponding to the bacteria information to the display device; Refrigerator characterized in that the device.  The method of claim 6, The bacterium determination result is a refrigerator, characterized in that showing a normal or abnormal state. The method of claim 6, The bacterium determination result comprises a refrigerator comprising position information of the bacterial sensor.

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