KR20170142260A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator comprises: a cabinet in which a storage chamber is formed; a refrigerator door connected to the cabinet to open and close the storage chamber; a dispenser formed in the front of the refrigerator door, and having at least one of a water discharge unit to extract water and an ice discharge unit to extract ice; a lighting unit arranged to be adjacent to the water discharge unit or the ice discharge unit; and a control unit controlling the lighting unit to be displayed with a predetermined color in accordance with an extraction mode of the dispenser.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device for storing food at a low temperature by low-temperature air.

The refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a storage compartment is formed, and a refrigerator door that opens and closes the storage compartment. The storage room may include a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and the refrigerator door may include a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment door for opening and closing the free compartment.

Also, the refrigerator may include an ice maker for generating and storing ice using cold air. The ice making unit may include an ice maker for generating ice and an ice bin for storing ice separated from the ice maker. The ice maker and the ice bin may be disposed in either the storage room or the refrigerator door.

For convenience of the user, the refrigerator door may be provided with a dispenser for taking out ice or water stored in the ice bin. The dispenser may be provided with a lighting device for illuminating the dispenser.

Prior Art No. 10-2007-0027149 discloses an illumination structure of a dispenser for a refrigerator.

However, the lighting structure of the refrigerator dispenser disclosed in the prior art has the following problems.

First, in order to take out ice through the dispenser, it is necessary to select the dispensing mode of the dispenser as the ice extraction mode, and then take out the ice. However, in spite of the fact that the current extraction mode is the water extraction mode, the user does not change the water extraction mode from the water extraction mode to the ice extraction mode, and uses the dispenser so that unwanted water is taken out.

In order to extract the cylinder ice through the dispenser, the cylinder ice extraction mode must be selected in the ice-extraction mode of the dispenser, and the cylinder ice must be taken out. However, even though the current ice ejection mode is the crushed ice extraction mode, the user does not change the crushed ice extraction mode to the full ice extraction mode and confuses the current ice extraction mode, so that the inconvenience that unwanted kinds of ice is taken out have.

Secondly, in the conventional dispenser, objects (for example, purified water, cold water, vat ice, and crushed ice) set to be discharged from the dispenser are displayed in the same color through the LEDs so that the object set to be discharged from the dispenser is ice It is difficult to grasp at a glance.

The present invention has been proposed to overcome the problems of the prior art presented above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator having a refrigerator door and a dispenser;

Further, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the illumination unit is displayed in various colors based on the temperature of water discharged from the water discharging unit of the dispenser.

Further, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the lighting unit is displayed in various colors according to the elapsed time of the ice stored in the ice-making unit or the satisfaction of the specific condition.

The refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.

First, objects (for example, purified water, cold water, chilled ice, crushed ice) set to be discharged from the dispenser can be expressed through various colors, and thus the object set to be discharged from the dispenser can be grasped at a glance.

Secondly, since the light of each color is emitted according to the temperature of the water discharged from the dispenser, the temperature of the water discharged from the dispenser can be predicted, thereby improving the usability.

Thirdly, the lighting unit is operated only when water or ice is discharged from the dispenser, so that a desired amount of ice or water can be smoothly taken out even at night, and power consumption is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a view illustrating a configuration of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a system block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a lighting unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a lighting unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view for showing a control method of the operation display unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing an operating state of the operation display unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view for showing an appearance of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cabinet 10 having an external shape and refrigerator doors 11 and 14 movably connected to the cabinet 10.

In the cabinet 10, a storage room for storing food is formed. The storage chamber includes a refrigerating chamber (not shown) and a freezing chamber (not shown) located below the refrigerating chamber. That is, in this embodiment, a bottom freeze type refrigerator will be described in which a refrigerating chamber is disposed at an upper portion of a freezing chamber, for example.

The refrigerator doors 11 and 14 include a refrigerating compartment door 11 for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment door 14 for opening and closing the freezing compartment.

The refrigerator compartment door (11) may include a plurality of doors (12, 13) arranged laterally. The plurality of doors 12 and 13 may include a first refrigerator compartment door 12 and a second refrigerator compartment door 13 disposed on the right side of the first refrigerator compartment door 12. The first refrigerator compartment door (12) and the second refrigerator compartment door (13) can be independently moved.

The first and second refrigerating chamber doors 12 and 13 can rotate and the freezing chamber door 14 can slide. According to the opening operation of the doors, the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment can be opened and closed.

On the other hand, a door of the first and second refrigerating chamber doors is provided with a dispenser 15 for taking out water or ice. 1 shows that the dispenser 15 is provided in the first refrigerator compartment door 12, for example.

And an ice making chamber is formed on a rear surface of one of the first and second refrigerating chamber doors. An ice maker for generating and storing ice is mounted in the ice-making chamber. The ice-making chamber can be opened and closed by the ice-making chamber door. The ice-making chamber door may be rotatably connected to the ice-making chamber.

In this embodiment, the dispenser 15 and the icemaker may be provided in the first refrigerator compartment door 12 or the second refrigerator compartment door 13. The dispenser 15 and the ice making unit are disposed in the refrigerator compartment door 11 collectively referred to as the first refrigerator compartment door 12 and the second refrigerator compartment door 13. [

A water storage tank in which water taken out to the dispenser 15 is stored in the inside of the refrigerating chamber door 11 and a filter for purifying water stored in the water storage tank.

The refrigerator (1) is provided with a compressor for compressing a low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant into a supercritical gaseous refrigerant at a high temperature and a high pressure, and a condenser for condensing the supercritical gaseous refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure, A condenser and an expansion device disposed at an outlet side of the condenser for expanding the high-temperature and high-pressure saturated liquid refrigerant into low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant, and a low-temperature low-pressure two-phase refrigerant disposed at an outlet side of the expansion device, And an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant to a gaseous refrigerant.

Hereinafter, a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

2, a dispenser 15 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an operation display unit 16 for inputting an operation command of the dispenser 15 by a user or displaying an operation state of the dispenser 15, . ≪ / RTI >

The operation display section 16 may mean that an input section for inputting an operation command of the dispenser 15 by the user and a display section for displaying the operation state of the dispenser 15 are composed of one module. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the input unit and the display unit may be independent.

That is, the operation display unit 16 can be understood as a part in which a user inputs an operation command of the dispenser 15 and simultaneously performs an operation state of the dispenser 15. [

The operation display unit 16 may include a plurality of operation buttons 161, 162, and 163 for selecting the type or state of water or ice taken out from the dispenser 15.

For example, the operation display unit 16 may be configured such that a plurality of operation buttons 161, 162, and 163 are provided in the form of a touch screen so that light can be irradiated to each button. That is, when the user presses or touches the button of the operation display unit 16, the selected button is irradiated with light so that it is possible to easily recognize whether or not the button is selected.

More specifically, the plurality of operation buttons 161, 162, and 163 include an ice selection button 161 for selecting the type of ice taken out from the dispenser 15, an amount of water taken out from the dispenser 15 And a takeout mode selection button 163 for selecting a takeout mode of the dispenser 15, as shown in FIG.

Of course, the operation display unit 16 may further include operation buttons for performing additional functions, and some of the buttons may be omitted.

The ice selection button 161 may be a button for providing ice taken out from the dispenser 15 in a cube form or a crushed form.

The crushed ice may be crushed by the blade of the ice making part, and the ice of the cube type may be ice (ice ice) not crushed by the blade of the ice making part.

For example, the user can press the ice selection button 161 to determine the shape of the ice taken out from the dispenser 15 in the form of a cube. Further, the user can press the ice selection button 161 again to depress the ice dispenser 15 The shape of the ice to be taken out can be converted into a crushed form.

At this time, the shape of ice taken out from the dispenser 15 can be displayed on the operation display part 16 through an LED. Accordingly, the user can confirm the shape (crushed ice, cylinder ice) of ice taken out from the dispenser 15 through the operation display unit 16. [

The capacity setting button 162 may be a button for selecting the capacity of the water to be taken out from the dispenser 15.

For example, the user can press the capacity setting button 162 to increase or decrease the amount of water taken out from the dispenser 15 relatively.

At this time, the amount of water extracted from the dispenser 15 may be displayed on the operation display unit 16 through the LED.

The blowout mode selection button 163 may be a button for selecting a blowout mode for taking out water or ice from the dispenser 15.

The extraction mode may include one or more of an integer mode for extracting purified water at normal temperature, a cold water mode for extracting cold water cooled to a set temperature, and an ice mode for extracting stored ice.

For example, the user can press the takeout mode selection button 163 to take out the purified water from the dispenser 15, and further press the takeout mode selection button 163 again to dispense cold water or ice from the dispenser 15 Can be taken out.

At this time, the operation display unit 16 may display an object (any one of purified water, cold water, and ice) currently taken out from the dispenser 15 through the LED.

On the other hand, the dispenser 15 further includes a blowout unit for blowing out water stored in the water storage tank or ice stored in the ice-making section.

The blowout unit includes at least one of a water discharge unit (not shown) through which water stored in the water storage tank is discharged, and an ice discharge unit (not shown) through which ice stored in the ice storage unit is discharged.

In detail, a water channel is formed in the water discharge unit, and water stored in the water reservoir can be discharged to the outside through the water channel. Likewise, an ice channel is formed in the ice discharge unit, so that the ice stored in the ice channel can be discharged to the outside through the ice channel.

The takeout unit may further include a take-out switch (17) for discharging the water or ice by opening the water discharge unit or the ice discharge unit.

The take-out switch 17 opens or closes the water discharging portion or the ice discharging portion by a user's operation.

For example, the user may press or contact the take-out switch 17 by using his / her hand to discharge water from the water discharging portion or allow the ice to be discharged from the ice discharging portion.

As another example, the user may press or touch the take-out switch 17 by using a container containing water or ice so that water or ice is taken out.

At this time, the take-out unit may be provided in a depression 151 formed on the front surface of the refrigerator compartment door 11 so that the container can be placed directly below the water discharge unit or the ice discharge unit.

The blowout unit may further include an illumination unit (18) for indicating the extraction state of the water or ice.

The illumination unit 18 may display the state of water or ice discharged from the water discharging unit or the ice discharging unit with light. For example, the illumination unit 18 may adjust the color or brightness of light based on the temperature of the water discharged from the water discharge unit. In addition, the lighting unit 18 may emit light of various colors or brightness based on the elapsed time of the ice stored in the ice-making unit or a specific criterion.

A specific operation method of the illumination unit 18 will be described below.

3 is a system block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the refrigerator 1 may include the operation display unit 16, the take-out switch 17, the illumination unit 18, and the control unit 23 described above.

The operation display unit 16 may display the operation state of the dispenser 15 or display the state of water or ice taken out from the dispenser 15 as described above. The user can operate the operation display unit 16 to select either the water or the ice from the dispenser 15 or the type of ice (cubic ice or crushed ice) to be taken out.

The take-out switch 17 opens or closes the water discharging portion or the ice discharging portion by a user's operation.

For example, the take-out switch 17 includes a touch sensor for sensing a user's touch, and various methods such as a resistance film type, a capacitive type, an ultrasonic type, and an infrared type can be used.

As another example, the take-out switch 17 can be pressed by the pressure of the user to generate a take-out signal. The generated extraction signal may be provided to the control unit 23 so that the water discharge unit or the ice discharge unit may be opened.

The lighting unit 18 displays the state of water or ice discharged from the water discharge unit or the ice discharge unit by light.

For example, the illumination unit 18 may emit light in a corresponding color depending on a mode of the dispenser 15 taken out.

As another example, the illumination unit 18 may emit light in a corresponding color depending on the temperature of the water taken out from the dispenser 15.

As another example, the illuminating unit 18 may emit light in various colors according to the elapsed time of the ice stored in the ice-making unit 20 or the satisfaction of a specific condition.

The controller (23) manages and controls the overall operation of the refrigerator (1). That is, the control unit 23 controls the operation of the operation display unit 16 and the illumination unit 18 and controls the operations of the temperature sensor 19, the ice making unit 20, the ice-cube detecting unit 21, The operation of the sensing unit 22 can be controlled.

The control unit 23 may control the illumination unit 18 to emit light in a corresponding color according to the take-out mode of the dispenser 15.

For example, the control unit 23 may adjust the color of the illumination unit 18 differently when the dispensing mode of the dispenser 15 is an integer mode, a cold water mode, or an ice mode.

The refrigerator (1) may further include a temperature sensor (19).

The temperature sensor 19 measures the temperature of water taken out from the dispenser 15. The temperature sensor 19 may be installed adjacent to the water discharge unit to measure the temperature of water flowing in the water discharge unit. The temperature of the water measured by the temperature sensor 19 may be provided to the controller 23.

The control unit 23 may control the display unit 20 to display the color of the illumination unit 18 differently based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 19.

For example, the controller 23 may compare the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 19 with a predetermined reference temperature, and display the hue of the illumination unit 18 according to the comparison result.

The refrigerator 1 may further include a freezing unit 20, a freeze sensing unit 21, and an opening / closing door sensing unit 22.

The ice making unit 20 may include an ice maker disposed in the ice making chamber to form ice, and an ice bin for storing the ice produced in the ice maker.

The ice maker can generate ice by receiving water from a water supply pipe provided in the refrigerator compartment door (11).

In the ice bin, the ice separated from the ice maker is stored.

The ice separated from the ice maker may be dropped and stored in the ice bin, or the ice separated from the ice maker may be crushed by a rotating blade, and the crushed ice may be dropped and stored.

The ice making unit 20 may be configured to discharge ice to the outside by a control signal of the take-out switch 17 or the control unit 23. [

The ice-full ice sensing unit 21 senses ice cubes stored in the ice bin.

For example, the full ice detector 21 may include a transmitter for transmitting signals and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter. The transmitter may be installed at one side of the ice bin, and the receiver may be installed at the other side of the ice bin.

The transmitter may generate a signal when the height of the ice stored in the ice bin reaches a predetermined height, and may transmit the generated signal to the receiver. When receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitter, the receiver can provide the signal to the controller 23.

The ice tray door opening / closing detection unit 22 senses whether or not the ice tray door for opening / closing the ice tray is opened.

The ice tray door opening / closing detector 22 may be installed at one side of the ice tray door to determine whether the ice tray door is opened. For example, the ice tray door opening / closing detector 22 may include a known reed switch or a proximity sensor.

The control unit 23 controls the operation of the illumination unit 18 based on the signals detected by the take-out switch 17 and the ice-sensing unit 21 and the door opening / Can be displayed.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling a lighting unit according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

4 is a flowchart showing a control method of the controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a method for displaying different colors of the illumination unit according to the dispensing mode of the dispenser will be described.

4, in step S41, the control unit 23 selects a takeout mode of the dispenser 15 from the user. That is, the control unit 23 selects one of the integer mode, the cold water mode, and the ice mode through the blowout mode selection button 163.

Thereafter, in step S42, when the controller 23 detects that the take-out switch 17 is turned on, it determines in step S43 whether the current take-out mode is an integer mode, a cold water mode, or an ice mode.

If the current extraction mode is the integer mode in step S43, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the first color in step S44. The first color may be white. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit white light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in white, and the purified water can be discharged from the water discharge unit.

If it is determined in step S43 that the current extraction mode is not the integer mode, the control unit 23 determines whether the current extraction mode is the cold water mode in step S45.

If the current take-out mode is the cold water mode in step S45, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the second color in step S46. The second color may be blue. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit blue light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in blue, and cold water may be discharged from the water discharge unit.

If it is determined in step S45 that the current extraction mode is not the cold water mode, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the third color in step S47. The third color may be green. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit green light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in green, and ice can be discharged from the ice discharge unit.

Here, the first color, the second color, and the third color may be white, blue, and green, respectively, but are not limited thereto, and may be various colors. That is, the colors corresponding to the respective extraction modes can be set to a color preferred by the user.

According to the configuration of the present invention, light corresponding to each color is emitted according to the take-out mode set in the dispenser, so that the user can grasp the currently set take-out mode at a glance.

5 is a flowchart showing an operation method of a lighting unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a method for displaying the color of the illumination unit differently according to the temperature of the water taken out from the dispenser is described.

5, in step S51, the control unit 23 selects a takeout mode of the dispenser 15 from the user. That is, the control unit 23 selects one of the integer mode, the cold water mode, and the ice mode through the blowout mode selection button 163.

Thereafter, in step S52, when the controller 23 detects that the take-out switch 17 is turned on, it determines in step S53 whether the current takeout mode is the integer mode, the cold water mode, or the ice mode.

As one embodiment, in step S53, the control unit 23 first determines whether the current extraction mode is the integer mode.

If it is determined in step S53 that the current extraction mode is the integer mode, the control unit 23 controls the temperature of water taken out from the dispenser 15 to be sensed in step S54.

The temperature of the water taken out from the dispenser 15 may be slightly different depending on the external temperature or the position of the water tank. Therefore, the temperature of the water taken out from the dispenser 15 may vary in real time.

At this time, the water can be discharged from the water discharging part, and the temperature of the water flowing through the water discharging part can be measured by the temperature sensor 19 provided adjacent to the water discharging part.

In step S55, the controller 23 determines whether the sensing temperature T1 of the flowing water is higher than the first reference temperature Ta. Here, the first reference temperature Ta may be about 7 degrees, but is not limited thereto.

If the sensed temperature T1 is higher than the first reference temperature Ta in step S55, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the first color in step S56.

The first color may be yellow. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit yellow light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in yellow, and the purified water can be discharged from the water discharge unit.

If the sensed temperature T1 is lower than the first reference temperature Ta in step S55, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the second color in step S57.

The second color may be white. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit white light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in white, and the purified water can be discharged from the water discharge unit.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the current extraction mode is not the integral mode, the control unit 23 determines whether the current extraction mode is the cold water mode in step S58.

If the current take-out mode is the cold water mode in step S58, the control unit 23 controls the temperature of the water taken out from the dispenser 15 to be sensed in step S59. At this time, cold water can be discharged from the water discharging part, and the temperature of water flowing through the water discharging part can be measured by the temperature sensor 19 provided adjacent to the water discharging part.

In step S60, the control unit 23 determines whether the sensed temperature T2 of the flowing water is higher than the second reference temperature Tb. Here, the second reference temperature Tb may be about 5 degrees, but is not limited thereto.

If the sensed temperature T2 is higher than the second reference temperature Tb in step S60, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the third color in step S61.

The third color may be sky blue. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit light of a sky blue color. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in sky blue, and cold water can be discharged from the water discharge unit.

If the sensed temperature T2 is lower than the second reference temperature Tb in step S60, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the fourth color in step S62.

The fourth color may be blue. That is, the illumination unit 18 may emit blue light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in blue, and cold water may be discharged from the water discharge unit.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S58 that the current extraction mode is not the cold water mode, the control unit 23 controls the illumination unit 18 to display the fifth color in step S63. If the current extraction mode is determined not to be the integer mode or the cold water mode, the control unit 23 recognizes that the current extraction mode is the ice mode, and controls the illumination unit 18 to display the fifth color.

The fifth color may be green. That is, the illumination unit 18 can emit green light. At this time, the illumination unit 18 is displayed in green, and ice can be discharged from the ice discharge unit.

In the present embodiment, the first color, the second color, the third color, the fourth color, and the fifth color may be yellow, white, sky blue, blue, and green, but are not limited thereto. . That is, the color corresponding to each temperature may be set to a color preferred by the user.

The first reference temperature Ta and the second reference temperature Tb used in the present embodiment can also be set to various temperatures.

According to the configuration of the present invention, light of a hue corresponding to the temperature of the water taken out from the dispenser is emitted, so that the user can intuitively grasp the temperature of the water currently taken out.

6 is a flowchart showing a control method of the operation display unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a method for displaying the color of the operation display part differently according to whether or not the ice is stored in the ice making part and the specific reference is explained.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S71, the controller 23 drives the full ice level sensing unit 21 to detect whether the ice is full.

If it is determined in step S72 that the full bleed is not performed, the control unit 23 controls the operation display unit 16 to display the first color in step S73, and then, in step S74, To perform ice-making.

The first color may be white. Accordingly, the user can confirm that the ice-making is currently being performed through the white light displayed on the operation display unit 16. [

If it is determined in step S72 that full ice has been reached, the control unit 23 controls the operation display unit 16 to display the second color in step S75.

The second color may be blue. Accordingly, the user can confirm that the ice-making state is in the full ice making state through the blue light displayed on the operation display unit 16. [

In step S76, the control unit 23 may count a predetermined reference time. Here, the reason why the predetermined reference time is counted is that when the ice produced in the ice-making section 20 is not discharged and a predetermined time or more elapses, the ice may be smelled or contaminated. That is, when the ice has not been discharged and a certain period of time has elapsed, the user can inform the user of using the operation display unit 16 to empty the ice.

If the specific condition is satisfied before the reference time elapses, it is possible to detect again whether or not the full ice is present.

Specifically, in step S77, the control unit 23 determines whether or not ice is taken out within the reference time. For example, the control unit 23 can recognize that the ice is taken out when the take-out mode of the dispenser 15 is in the ice mode and it detects that the take-out switch 17 is turned on.

If ice is taken out within the reference time in step S77, the controller 23 may return to step S72 and determine whether or not it is full. That is, when the ice is taken out within the reference time, the full ice state is released and the operation display unit 16 is displayed in the first color, and then ice can be performed. (Steps S73 and S74)

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S77 that no ice is taken out within the reference time, the control unit 23 determines whether the ice making chamber door is opened within the reference time in step S78. The reason for determining whether or not the ice making chamber door is opened is that when the user opens the ice making chamber door and empties the ice stored in the ice making chamber 20, it is not necessary to empty the ice again.

In step S78, if the ice making chamber door is opened within the reference time, the controller 23 may return to step S72 to determine whether or not the ice is full. That is, if the ice tray door is opened within the reference time and the ice stored in the ice tray is emptied, the operation display unit 16 can perform ice-making after being displayed in the first color. (Steps S73 and S74)

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S78 that the ice making chamber door is not opened within the reference time, the controller 23 determines whether the reference time has been reached in step S79.

If the reference time is not reached in step S79, the control unit 23 returns to step S77 and determines whether or not the ice is taken out.

On the other hand, if the reference time is reached in step S79, the control unit 23 controls the operation display unit 16 to display the third color in step S80.

That is, the controller 23 displays the operation display unit 16 in the third color when ice is taken or the ice making chamber door is not opened from the time when the reference time is counted until the reference time reaches And inform the user to empty the ice stored in the ice-making unit 20. [ The third color may be red.

Therefore, the user recognizes that the ice is stored in the ice-making section 20 for a long time through the red light displayed on the operation display section 16, and opens the ice-making chamber door accordingly, You can empty stored ice.

In step S81, the control unit 23 determines whether or not the ice making chamber door is opened. The control unit 23 may determine whether the ice making chamber door is opened, that is, whether the user has emptied ice stored in the ice making chamber.

If it is determined in step S81 that the ice making chamber door has been opened, the controller 23 may return to step S72 to determine whether or not the ice is full. That is, when the ice making chamber door is opened, the controller 23 displays the operation display unit 16 in the first color and can perform ice making. (Steps S73 and S74)

In this embodiment, the first color, the second color, and the third color may be white, blue, and red, respectively, but are not limited thereto, and may be set to various colors.

According to the configuration of the present invention, light of a hue corresponding to the state and elapsed time of the ice stored in the dispenser is emitted, so that the user can grasp whether the generated ice is old or not at a glance, thereby improving usability.

7 is a view for showing an operation state of the operation display unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the operation display unit 16 includes an ice selection button 161 for providing ice taken out from the dispenser 15 in a cube shape or a crushed shape.

For example, when the ice selection button 161 is pressed by a user, cubic ice is taken out from the dispenser 15, and when the ice selection button 161 is pressed again, It can be taken out.

At this time, the operation display unit 15 may include an LED 164 for displaying a kind of ice selected by a user. That is, the LED 164 may emit light in any one of the first to third hues according to the third embodiment. Accordingly, the user can check the state of the ice stored in the dispenser 15 and the elapsed time at a glance through the color of light emitted from the LEDs 164.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. .

Claims (11)

A cabinet in which a storage room is formed;
A refrigerator door connected to the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment;
A dispenser formed on a front surface of the refrigerator door, the dispenser including at least one of a water discharge portion for taking out water and an ice discharge portion for taking out ice;
An illumination unit disposed adjacent to the water discharge unit or the ice discharge unit; And
And a control unit for controlling the illumination unit to display a set color in accordance with the dispensing mode of the dispenser. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a takeout mode selection button for selecting the takeout mode,
The extraction mode includes an integer mode for extracting purified water of normal temperature, a cold water mode for extracting cold water cooled to a set temperature, and an ice mode for extracting stored ice,
Wherein the controller controls to display the illumination unit in a color corresponding to the extraction mode when any one extraction mode is selected through the extraction mode selection button. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a take-out switch for opening the water discharging portion or the ice discharging portion to discharge water or ice,
Wherein the controller controls to display the illumination unit in a color corresponding to the extraction mode when the extraction switch is turned on after the extraction mode is selected. A cabinet in which a storage room is formed;
A refrigerator door connected to the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment;
A dispenser formed on a front surface of the refrigerator door and including a water discharge portion for taking out water;
An illumination unit disposed adjacent to the water discharge unit; And
And a controller for controlling the display unit to display the illumination unit based on the temperature of the water discharged from the water discharging unit. 5. The method of claim 4,
And a temperature sensor installed in the water discharging portion,
Wherein the control unit controls the temperature of the water flowing through the water discharging unit to be measured through the temperature sensor. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the control unit compares the temperature of the water measured by the temperature sensor with a predetermined reference temperature and controls the lighting unit to display the lighting unit according to a result of the comparison. A cabinet in which a storage room is formed;
A refrigerator door connected to the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment;
An ice making chamber formed on a rear surface of the refrigerator door;
A ice maker installed in the ice making chamber to generate and store ice;
A dispenser formed on a front surface of the refrigerator door for taking out the ice stored in the ice making unit;
An operation display unit disposed on one side of the dispenser for displaying a state of ice stored in the ice making unit; And
And controlling the operation display unit to change from the first color to the second color when the full ice of the ice making unit is sensed. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the control unit counts the reference time from the time when the ice making unit is fully sensed and controls the operation display unit to display the operation display unit in the second color from the third color when the reference time reaches the reference time. 9. The method of claim 8,
And an ice making chamber door for opening and closing the ice making chamber,
Wherein the controller counts the reference time again from the beginning when the ice making chamber door is opened within the reference time. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the controller counts the reference time from the beginning when ice is taken out within the reference time. 9. The method of claim 8,
And an ice making chamber door for opening and closing the ice making chamber,
Wherein the control unit determines whether the ice making unit is full or not when the ice tray door is opened after the operation display unit is displayed in the third color so as to change the operation display unit from the third color to the first color or the second color Controlled refrigerator.

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