KR20100061112A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to enable user to intuitively recognize the operation of an input button by varying the amount of light which is emitted from a light source by time while the input button is pressed. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises: an input unit(220) which includes an input button for inputting a predetermined mode; an optical source unit(330) which is arranged around the input button and emits light if the input button is pressed; and a controller(310) which varies the amount of the light which is emitted from the optical source unit according to the time to press the input button which is a locking/unlocking button.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that can increase the user's convenience during operation of the input unit.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device used for storing food fresh for a long time, and includes a freezer compartment for freezing food, a freezer compartment for cold storage of plants, and a freezing cycle for cooling the freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment. The operation control is performed by the controller.

Unlike in the past, the refrigerator is not only a space for food, but also a family room where the family members are gathering and talking and solving the food. In addition, quantitative and qualitative functional changes are required for all family members to use easily.

On the other hand, as the function of the refrigerator becomes more complicated, the input part and the display part of the refrigerator become more complicated. Accordingly, various efforts have been made to increase user convenience.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can increase the convenience of the user during operation of the input unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator includes an input unit including an input button for inputting a predetermined mode, a light source unit disposed around the input button, and configured to display light when the input button is pressed; And a control unit for controlling the amount of light emitted from the light source unit to vary according to the pressed time of the input button.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the amount of light emitted from the light source unit disposed around the input button varies according to the time when the input button is pressed, so that the user can intuitively recognize whether the input button is operated, thereby increasing user convenience. do.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, although not shown, a case 110 having an inner space divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, a freezer compartment 120 that shields the freezer compartment, and a refrigerating compartment. A rough appearance is formed by the refrigerating chamber door 140.

Further, the front surface of the freezing chamber door 120 and the refrigerating chamber door 140 is further provided with a door handle 121 protruding forward, so that the user can easily grip and rotate the freezing chamber door 120 and the refrigerating chamber door 140. Make it work.

On the other hand, the front of the refrigerator compartment door 140 may be further provided with a home bar 180, which is a convenient means for allowing a user to take out a storage such as a beverage contained therein without opening the refrigerator compartment door 140.

In addition, the front side of the freezer door 120 may be provided with a dispenser 160 which is a convenient means for allowing the user to easily take out ice or drinking water without opening the freezer door 120, and such a dispenser 160. An upper side of the control panel 200 may be further provided to control the driving operation of the refrigerator 1 and to show a state of the refrigerator 1 being operated on the screen.

The control panel 200 may include an input unit 220 including a plurality of buttons, and a display unit 230 for displaying a control screen and an operation state.

The display unit 230 displays information such as a control screen, an operation state, and a temperature inside the refrigerator. For example, the display unit 230 may display a service type of the dispenser (eg, ice, water, flake ice), a set temperature of the freezer compartment, and a set temperature of the refrigerator compartment.

The display unit 230 may be implemented in various ways, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. In addition, the display unit 230 may be implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the function of the input unit 220.

The input unit 220 may include a plurality of input buttons. For example, the input unit 220 may include a dispenser setting button (not shown) for setting a service type of the dispenser (ice ice, water, crushed ice, etc.) and a freezer temperature setting button (not shown) for setting a freezer temperature. And a refrigerator compartment temperature setting button (not shown) for setting a freezer compartment temperature. The input unit 220 may be implemented as a touch screen that can also perform the function of the display unit 230.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the double door type illustrated in the drawings, but the one door type, the sliding door type, and the curtain door type. Regardless of its form, such as a (Curtain Door Type), as described later, it is sufficient to simply provide an input button and a light source unit emitting light around the input button.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator 1 includes a compressor 112, a condenser 116 for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 112, and a refrigerant condensed by the condenser 116 to be evaporated. The refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 and the freezer compartment evaporator 124 disposed in the refrigerator compartment (not shown) and the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 116 are transferred to the refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 or the freezer compartment evaporator 124. A three-way valve 130 to supply, a refrigerating chamber expansion valve 132 for expanding the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerating chamber evaporator 122, and a freezing chamber expansion valve 134 for expanding the refrigerant supplied to the freezing chamber evaporator 124. do.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 may further include a gas-liquid separator (not shown) in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporators 122 and 124 is separated into a liquid and a gas.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator compartment fan 142 and a freezer compartment fan that suck cold air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 and the freezer compartment evaporator 124 and blow it into a refrigerator compartment (not shown) and a freezer compartment (not shown), respectively. 144 may be further included.

In addition, the compressor driving unit 113 for driving the compressor 112, the refrigerator compartment fan 142 and the refrigerator compartment fan drive unit 143 and the freezer compartment fan drive unit 145 for driving the freezer compartment 144 may be further included.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the inside of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 includes an input unit 220, a control unit 310, and a light source unit 330. In addition, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 further includes a display unit 230 and a temperature sensor 320. In addition, the refrigerator of FIG. 3 further includes a compressor 112, a compressor driver 113, a refrigerator compartment fan 142, a refrigerator compartment fan driver 143, a freezer compartment fan 144, and a freezer compartment fan driver 145.

The compressor 112, the refrigerating compartment fan 142, and the freezing compartment fan 144 are described with reference to FIG. 2.

The input unit 220 may include a plurality of input buttons for inputting a predetermined mode. For example, a dispenser mode input button, a freezing temperature input button, a cold storage temperature input button, a lock / unlock input button, and the like may be provided.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit 330 is disposed around the input button so that the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 330 varies according to the time when the input button is pressed. Accordingly, the user can easily recognize the operation of the input button, thereby increasing user convenience. Here, the input button in which the light source unit 330 is disposed may be a lock / unlock input button. Detailed description thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

The predetermined mode signal input from the input unit 220 is input to the controller 310 to perform a corresponding control operation.

The controller 310 controls the amount of light emitted by the light source unit 330 to vary according to the time when the input button in the input unit 220 is pressed. For example, when the light source unit 330 is disposed around the lock / unlock input button, the amount of light is controlled to vary according to the time when the lock / unlock input button is pressed. On the other hand, when the lock / unlock input button is pressed for a predetermined time, it is set to the lock mode or the unlock mode. This operation will be described later with reference to FIG. 4 and below.

Meanwhile, the controller 310 controls the on / off operation of the compressor 112 and the fan 142 or 144, as shown in the drawing, the compressor driver 113 and the fan driver 143 or 145. Direct control, it is possible to finally control the compressor 112, and the fan 142 or 144.

The compressor drive unit 113, the refrigerator compartment fan drive unit 143, and the freezer compartment fan drive unit 145 each use a compressor motor (not shown), a refrigerator compartment fan motor (not shown), and a freezer compartment fan motor (not shown), respectively. Each motor (not shown) is operated at a target rotational speed under the control of the controller 310. When the electric motor is a three-phase electric motor, it may be controlled by a switching operation in an inverter (not shown) or constant speed control using an AC power source as it is. Herein, each motor (not shown) may be any one of an induction motor, a BLDC (Blush less DC) motor, a synchronous reluctance motor (synRM) motor, and the like.

On the other hand, as described above, the controller 310 can control the overall operation of the refrigerant cycle in accordance with the set temperature from the input unit 220. For example, in addition to the compressor driver 113, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 143, and the freezer compartment fan driver 145, the three-way valve 130, the refrigerator compartment expansion valve 132, and the freezer compartment expansion valve 134 may be further controlled. Can be. In addition, the operation of the condenser 116 can also be controlled.

In addition, the controller 310 may control the operation of the display unit 230.

The temperature detector 320 detects a temperature in the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment. Alternatively, the temperature of each room in the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment may be sensed. Accordingly, the temperature sensing unit 320 may be a plurality. The sensed temperature may be input to the controller 310 to be used for on / off control of the compressor 115.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the evaporators 122 and 124 are used in the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, respectively, and thus, the fans 142 and 144 and the driving units 143 and 145 are used. However, the evaporators common to the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are described. It is also possible to use a common fan (not shown), a common driving unit (not shown), and a common defrost heater. In this case, a damper (not shown) may be installed between the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and the fan (not shown) may forcibly blow cold air generated by one evaporator to be supplied to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment.

4 is a diagram illustrating the control panel of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 4 illustrates the control panel 200 of FIG. 1. The control panel 200 may be largely divided into an input unit 220 and a display unit 230.

The input unit 220 includes a dispenser mode input button 310 for setting a service type of the dispenser (ice ice, water, ice, etc.), a freezing temperature input button 320 for setting a freezer temperature, and a freezer temperature setting. The refrigerator may include a refrigeration temperature input button 330 and a lock / unlock input button 325 for changing a lock / unlock mode.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit 330 may be disposed on all of the input buttons 310, 315, 320, and 325. Hereinafter, the light source unit 330 is mainly described around the lock / unlock input button 325. do.

For example, the light source unit 330 may be arranged in a structure surrounding the lock / unlock input button 325.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 230 may display a service type of the dispenser (ice ice, water, flake ice), a set temperature of the freezer compartment, and a set temperature of the refrigerator compartment. In addition, the present temperature of the freezer compartment, the present temperature of the refrigerating compartment, etc. may be displayed.

5 is a diagram referred to describe an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the state in which the release mode is set, when the user presses the lock / unlock input button 325, the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 330 increases in proportion to the time pressed. Herein, the light quantity may mean a brightness or illuminance.

In the drawing, the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 330 is increased to 3/3 through 1/3 and 2/3 in proportion to the time pressed, but the present invention is not limited thereto. have.

When the lock / unlock input button 325 is pressed for a predetermined time, it is set to the lock mode from the unlock mode. In this case, as shown in the figure, the lock-shaped light source may emit light inside the lock / unlock input button 325.

As such, as the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 330 varies according to the time when the lock / unlock input button 325 is pressed, the user can intuitively recognize the operation of the lock / unlock input button 325. do.

6 is a diagram referred to describe an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, unlike FIG. 5, in contrast to FIG. 5, when the user presses the lock / unlock input button 325 in a state in which both locks are set, the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 330 is proportional to the time pressed. Will decrease.

When the lock / unlock input button 325 is pressed for a predetermined time, it is set to the unlock mode from the lock mode. At this time, as shown in the figure, the lock-shaped light source may be turned off inside the lock / unlock input button 325.

7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light source unit of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, the light source unit 330 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722, 724 (LEDs) surrounding the lock / unlock input button 325. Although the drawings show seven as the number of light emitting diodes, the present invention is not limited thereto and may include various numbers.

According to the time when the lock / unlock input button 325 is pressed, the plurality of light emitting diodes 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722, and 724 emit light to increase the amount of light.

Meanwhile, in the drawing, the light emitting diodes 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722 and 724 are disposed to surround the light source unit 330 in one circular shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible.

8 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator 800 of FIG. 8 is a kimchi refrigerator and may include kimchi storage rooms 810 and 820.

Kimchi storage room (810, 820) is a storage space for storing kimchi, is formed by the body wall and the bottom surface. In the drawing, the kimchi storage rooms 810 and 820 are shown to be partitioned to the left and right, but is not limited thereto, and each of the kimchi storage rooms 810 and 820 may be divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, and may be formed in total of four.

The kimchi storage rooms 810 and 820 are opened and closed by doors 805 installed in the main body. The kimchi storage room 810 accommodates kimchi storage containers 811 and 813. On the other hand, the lower kimchi storage room (not shown) can be opened and closed in a sliding manner.

The front of the refrigerator 800 is provided with a control panel 840 for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 800, the input unit 830 having a plurality of input buttons in the vicinity of the control panel 840 is provided.

Through the input unit 830, a mode for the kimchi fermentation degree of the kimchi storage rooms 810 and 820 may be set. Although not shown in the drawings, the refrigerator 800 further includes a heater (not shown) for supplying heat to the kimchi storage rooms 810 and 820 for the ripening of kimchi.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit and the input button as shown in FIGS. 5 to 6 may also be applied to the kimchi refrigerator 800 of FIG. 8.

9 is a diagram illustrating an input unit of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the input unit 830 of the kimchi refrigerator 800 of FIG. 8 is, as shown in the figure, the announcement mode input button 935 for setting the fermentation mode, the storage mode input for setting the storage mode Button 945 and a lock / unlock input button 925 for setting the lock / unlock mode.

Meanwhile, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit 930 may be disposed on all of the input buttons 925, 935, and 945. Hereinafter, the light source unit 930 is described as being disposed around the lock / unlock input button 925. .

For example, the light source unit 930 may be disposed in a structure surrounding the lock / unlock input button 925.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the user presses the lock / unlock input button 925 while the release mode is set, the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 930 increases in proportion to the pressed time.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when the user presses the lock / unlock input button 925 while the lock mode is set, the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 930 is reduced in proportion to the time pressed.

The light source unit 930 may include a plurality of light emitting diodes as shown in FIG. 7.

As such, as the amount of light emitted from the light source unit 930 varies according to the time when the lock / unlock input button 925 is pressed, the user can intuitively recognize the operation of the lock / unlock input button 925. do.

On the other hand, unlike the kimchi refrigerator of Figure 8, the refrigerator compartment is opened and closed by a door that is rotatably installed in the main body, the kimchi storage room is disposed in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment, the upper and lower kimchi storage room is also opened and closed in the refrigerator by the drawer-type door An embodiment of is applicable.

While the above has been shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, it is usually in the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the inside of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

4 is a diagram illustrating the control panel of FIG. 1.

5 is a diagram referred to describe an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram referred to describe an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a light source unit of FIGS. 5 and 6.

8 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram illustrating an input unit of FIG. 8.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

1 ....... Refrigerator 112 ..... Compressor

220 ..... Input 230 ..... Display

310 ..... Control part 320 ..... Temperature sensing part

325 ..... Enter Button 330 ..... Light Source

712,714,716,718,720,722,724 ..... Light Emitting Diode

Claims (7)

An input unit having an input button for inputting a predetermined mode; A light source unit disposed around the input button and configured to display light when the input button is pressed; And And a control unit controlling the amount of light emitted from the light source unit to vary according to the time when the input button is pressed. The method of claim 1, The input button is a refrigerator, characterized in that the lock / release button. The method of claim 1, The control unit, When the input button is pressed for a predetermined time, the refrigerator characterized in that the control to set to the lock mode or the unlock mode. The method of claim 3, The control unit, When the input button is pressed in the lock mode, the refrigerator is controlled to increase the amount of light emitted from the light source in proportion to the time when the input button is pressed. The method of claim 3, The control unit, When the input button is pressed in the release mode, the refrigerator is controlled to reduce the amount of light emitted from the light source in proportion to the time when the input button is pressed. The method of claim 1, The light source unit, And a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged to surround the input button. The method of claim 1, The refrigerator is a refrigerator characterized in that the kimchi refrigerator.

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