KR20100062183A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to improve user convenience by controlling the sensitivity of an input button by controlling the electrostatic capacity of a variable capacitance part which is connected to the input button. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises: an input unit which includes a variable electrostatic capacity(420) which includes a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switching elements and is electrically connected to the input button and a capacitance sensor which senses the varied electrostatic capacity; and a controller which controls the variable electrostatic capacity. The capacitance value of the variable electrostatic capacity is varied according to the ON/OFF operation of the switching elements.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of adjusting the sensitivity of an input button.

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.

Meanwhile, as the functions of the refrigerator become more complicated, various efforts have been made to increase user convenience with respect to the input unit and the display unit of the refrigerator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of adjusting the sensitivity of the input button.

The refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, is electrically connected to the input button, and provided with a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switching elements, the capacitance value is variable according to the on / off operation of the switching element And an input unit having a variable capacitance unit, a capacitance detection unit detecting a variable capacitance, and a control unit controlling the variable capacitance unit.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the sensitivity of the input button can be adjusted by varying the capacitance of the variable capacitance unit electrically connected to the input button. Therefore, user convenience is increased.

On the other hand, when all the capacitors used for the variable capacitance part use the same thing, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

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, it may include a refrigerator compartment temperature setting button (not shown) for setting the 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 include an input unit having an 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 and a controller 310. 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.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, the input button in the input unit 220 is electrically connected to a variable capacitance unit having a variable capacitance value, characterized in that sensitivity can be adjusted in accordance with the variable correction capacitance value. The description thereof will be described later with reference to FIG. 4. The sensitivity adjustable input button may be at least one of the above-described dispenser mode input button, freezing temperature input button, cold temperature input button, lock / unlock input buttons.

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

The control unit 310 controls the variable capacitance unit in the input unit 220. That is, by controlling the on / off of the switching element in the variable capacitance unit including the plurality of capacitors and the plurality of switching elements, the capacitance value of the variable capacitance unit may be varied. This operation will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

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 such an electric motor is a three-phase electric motor, it may be controlled by a switching operation in an inverter (not shown), or may be controlled at a constant speed by 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 block diagram schematically illustrating an input unit of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the input unit 220 includes an input button 410, a variable capacitance unit 420, and a capacitance sensing unit 430.

The input button 410 is pressed by the user's finger, and may have a predetermined capacitance C0 as the user's finger approaches. Meanwhile, as described above, the input button 410 may be at least one of a dispenser mode input button, a freezing temperature input button, a cold storage temperature input button, and a lock / unlock input button.

Next, the variable capacitance unit 420 includes a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switching elements, is electrically connected to the input button 410, and has a variable capacitance value according to an on / off operation of the switching element. .

The on / off operation control of the switching element is performed by the controller 310. The controller 310 may control the on / off operation of the switching element according to the target capacitance value.

For example, in the variable capacitance unit 420, at least some of the plurality of capacitors may be connected in parallel with each other, and a switching element may be connected to each of the capacitors connected in parallel with each other.

In addition, in the variable capacitance unit 420, at least some of the plurality of capacitors may be connected in series with each other, and a switching element may be connected to both ends of each of the capacitors connected in series with each other.

On the other hand, a plurality of capacitors used in the variable capacitance unit 420 may be used as the same, in this case, manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Next, the capacitance detecting unit 430 detects the capacitance value of the variable capacitance unit 420.

For example, when the user's finger is close to the input button 410, a predetermined capacitance generated when the user's finger is close to the capacitance value of the variable capacitance unit 420 and the input button 410. (C0) is detected.

On the other hand, when the user's finger is not close to the input button 410, it detects the capacitance value of the variable capacitance unit 420.

The sensed capacitance value is input to the controller 310 in the form of a signal. The signal input to the controller 310 may vary in level in proportion to the sensed capacitance. That is, the greater the sensed capacitance, the greater the level value of the signal.

The signal level output from the capacitance detecting unit 430 may be compared with a predetermined reference value by the controller 310 to determine whether the input button 410 is touched.

On the other hand, the difference between the total capacitance value detected by the capacitance detecting unit 430 when the user's finger is not close to the proximity, may be relatively large according to the capacitance value of the capacitance detecting unit 430. It may be smaller. In the present invention, the sensitivity can be adjusted using this. As a result, the sensitivity is adjusted as the capacitance value of the capacitance detecting unit 430 is changed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the variable capacitance unit of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the variable capacitance unit 420 may be disposed between a-b stages between the input button 410 and the capacitance sensing unit 430.

The variable capacitance unit 420 includes a plurality of capacitors C1 to C6 and a plurality of switching elements S1 to S6. In the drawing, the first to third capacitors C1 to C3 are connected in parallel to each other. The switching elements S1 to S3 are respectively connected to one end of each of the capacitors C1 to C3. In addition, the fourth to sixth capacitors C4 to C6 are connected to each other in series, and the switching elements S4 to S6 are respectively connected to both ends of the capacitors C4 to C6.

For example, when the first to third switching elements S1 to S3 are turned on and the fourth to sixth switching elements S4 to S6 are turned off, the first to third capacitors are used. Since C1 to C3 are connected in parallel to each other, the capacitance value of the variable capacitance unit 420 becomes C1 + C2 + C3.

For example, when the first to third switching elements S1 to S3 are turned off and the fourth to sixth switching elements S4 to S6 are turned on, the fourth to sixth capacitors. Since C4 to C6 are connected in series with each other, the capacitance value of the variable capacitance unit 420 becomes C1 // C2 // C3.

As described above, the capacitance value is changed by the on / off operation of the switching elements S1 to S6 of the variable capacitance unit 420, and the capacitance value detected by the capacitance detection 430 is also changed. As a result, the sensitivity of the input button 410 is changed. Accordingly, the user's convenience is increased.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned plurality of capacitors (C1 ~ C6) may all have the same capacitance, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and the like.

The controller 310 may set a target capacitance value according to the target sensitivity, thereby controlling the on / off operation of the switching elements S1 to S6.

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 block diagram schematically illustrating an input unit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the variable capacitance unit of FIG. 4.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

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

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

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

410 ..... Input button 420 ..... Variable capacitance

430 ..... Capacitive detector

Claims (6)

A variable capacitance unit electrically connected to an input button and having a plurality of capacitors and a plurality of switching elements, the capacitance of which varies in capacitance according to an on / off operation of the switching element, and a capacitance for sensing the variable capacitance An input unit having a capacitive sensing unit; And And a control unit for controlling the variable capacitance unit. The method of claim 1, The variable capacitance unit, At least some of the plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel with each other, the refrigerator characterized in that the switching element is connected to each of the capacitors connected in parallel with each other. The method of claim 2, The variable capacitance unit, A refrigerator, characterized in that the other part of the plurality of capacitors are connected in series with each other. The method of claim 3, And a switching element is connected to each of both ends of the capacitor connected in series with each other. The method of claim 1, Refrigerator, characterized in that the capacitance of the capacitors are all the same. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And controlling the on / off operation of the switching element according to a target capacitance value.

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