KR20180025045A - Refrigerator and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and a method for controlling the same, comprising: a main body having a storage room; a door coupled to the main body to be formed to open and close the storage room; a touch screen disposed on one surface of the door and formed to be reciprocally switched from one state to another state among a transparent first state and an opaque second state; and a control unit responding to touch applied to the touch screen for at least predetermined period of time while the touch screen is in the transparent first state so as to control the touch screen for a management menu related to management of foods stored in the storage room to be printed. Moreover, the control unit can control the touch screen in order to enable a graphic object related to a selected menu to be printed to an area, to which the touch is applied, among the touch screen when one of the management menu is selected.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator,

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method of the refrigerator.

Generally, a refrigerator discharges cold air generated by a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, etc. to lower the temperature of the inside of the refrigerator and freeze or refrigerate food or the like.

In recent years, the functions of refrigerators have been diversified in their original function of storing foods in refrigeration or freezing. That is, a dispenser is installed on the door of the refrigerator to provide purified water and ice, and a display is installed on the front of the door to show and manage the state of the refrigerator.

Generally, the door of the refrigerator is made opaque and is provided to open and close the storage room of the main body. Such a door may be configured to be openable and closable for the user to access the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment. Therefore, it is general that the user can not grasp the type and location of the food stored in the refrigerator before opening the door.

A display area capable of displaying image information may be formed outside the door of the refrigerator which is made opaque. Therefore, a menu and various information for controlling the function of the refrigerator can be displayed through the display area, and various functions of the refrigerator can be controlled according to the input of the user through the display area.

Meanwhile, when the door of the refrigerator is made opaque, the user can not confirm the food stored in the refrigerator without opening the door of the refrigerator. In order to solve such a problem, a refrigerator has been developed in which the door is formed transparently so that the user can check the food in the compartment without opening the door. However, when the door of the refrigerator is transparent, it is possible to confirm the state of stored food without opening the door. However, it is difficult to display information related to the function of the refrigerator due to the absence of the display area.

Accordingly, there is a great deal of research on the possibility of having all the advantages of the display area provided through the door, while maintaining the advantage of using a transparent door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which can display various image information through a display area formed on the door and identify food stored in the refrigerator without opening the door, And a control method of the refrigerator.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator and a method of controlling the refrigerator which can display a user's input corresponding to food or each storage space stored in the refrigerator through a display area formed on the door.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator and a control method of the refrigerator which enable users to use the food stored in the refrigerator more efficiently by providing various information related to the specific food selected by the user.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a door coupled to the main body and configured to open and close the storage chamber; A touch screen disposed on one side of the door and configured to switch from one of a transparent first state and an opaque second state to another state, And a control unit for controlling the touch screen so that a management menu related to the management of food stored in the storage room is output in response to a touch being performed on the touch screen for a predetermined time or more, If any one is selected, a graphic object associated with the selected menu is displayed on the touch area of the touch screen And the touch screen is controlled to be output.

In one embodiment, the control unit controls the touch screen such that when the touch screen is switched from the transparent first state to the opaque second state, the graphic object disappears on the touch screen, Wherein the touch screen controls the touch screen so that the graphic object is located again in the touched area of the touch screen when the touch screen switches back from the opaque second state to the transparent first state do.

In one embodiment, the display position of the graphic object output to the touch screen is changed based on a predetermined type of touch applied to the graphic object, the predetermined type of touch includes a drag touch, And the graphic object is moved on the touch screen along with a drag touch applied to the graphic object.

In one embodiment, the portable terminal further includes at least one camera disposed inside the storage room, wherein the controller uses the image input through the camera, And the management menu is constituted by a management menu related to the specific food.

In one embodiment, the controller monitors the state of the specific food in an image input through the camera at a predetermined time interval, and when the state of the specific food changes, And controls the touch screen so that the touch screen is reflected on the graphic object.

In one embodiment, the controller controls the touch screen such that the graphic object disappears when the specific food is no longer located in the storage room as a result of the monitoring.

In one embodiment, the control unit controls the touch screen such that, when the placement position of the specific food is changed as a result of the monitoring, the display position of the graphic object is changed according to the changed position of the specific food. .

In one embodiment, the graphical object includes management information associated with the selected management menu.

In one embodiment, when the management information is information related to at least one of the shelf life and storage, the control unit updates the management information based on the passage of time, And controls the touch screen to be included in the touch screen.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage chamber; a door coupled to the main body and configured to open and close the storage chamber; A touch screen disposed on one side of the door and configured to switch from one of the transparent first state and the opaque second state to the other state and based on a user request, Wherein the control unit controls the touch screen so that a graphic object corresponding to a timer function is output on a touch screen of the graphic object, And a control unit for setting a counting target time and performing time counting corresponding to the counting target time, Counting the target time is characterized in that the drag from the one touch point has started is determined on the basis of the distance to the point the drag touch is released.

In one embodiment, the graphic object corresponds to a circular shape, and the predetermined path corresponds to a peripheral area of the graphic object corresponding to the circular shape.

In one embodiment, the graphic object includes information related to the time counting.

In one embodiment, the control unit controls the touch screen so that, when the time counting corresponding to the counting target time is completed, notification information indicating that the time counting is completed is output.

In one embodiment, when the time counting is completed while the touch screen is in the opaque second state, the touch screen switches to the transparent first state and outputs the notification information .

In one embodiment, when the time counting is completed while the touch screen is in the opaque second state, only the region of the touch screen corresponding to the output position of the graphic object is displayed in the transparent first state .

In one embodiment, the touch screen is switched to the opaque second state when the touch input is not applied to the touch screen for a preset time in the transparent first state.

In one embodiment, the portable electronic device further includes at least one camera disposed in one area of the door, wherein, when a user located near the door is not detected through the camera, In a transparent first state, into the opaque second state.

In one embodiment, the user request corresponds to a touch input for selecting the timer function through the touch screen, and the control unit controls the touch screen such that the graphic object is output at a point where the touch input is applied, And the like.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage chamber including at least one storage space; A touch screen disposed on one side of the door and being formed to be transparent so that food stored in the storage space can be identified; and a graphic object corresponding to the food stored in the storage space, And a control unit displaying on the transparent display unit and executing a purchasing function for purchasing a specific food corresponding to the at least one graphic object, corresponding to a predetermined manner of touching at least one of the graphic objects , The control unit determines whether or not the at least one graphic object When the user drags a predetermined area on the touch screen, performs a purchasing function of the food corresponding to the at least one graphic object that is dragged.

In one embodiment, when the at least one graphic object is dragged to a predetermined area on the touch screen according to an input of a user, the control unit controls the display of the food corresponding to each of the dragged graphic objects on the touch screen Displaying a purchase list including information, performing a purchasing function for at least one of the foods included in the purchase list, and displaying screen information related to purchase on the touch screen.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body having a storage chamber divided into a plurality of storage spaces; A first state in which the interior of the storage compartment, which is disposed on one side of the door and is divided into the plurality of storage spaces, is displayed in a transparent manner so as to be discernible; A memory for storing recipes for a plurality of different foods, and a memory for storing recipes for a plurality of different foods, wherein when the recipes are selected, Analyzing a food material of the food corresponding to the recipe; Related information is characterized in that a control unit for displaying on the touch screen.

In one embodiment, the controller divides the touch screen into a plurality of areas corresponding to each of the plurality of storage spaces, and stores information related to the storage space in which the material foods are stored, Is displayed in one area corresponding to the stored storage space.

Effects of the refrigerator and its control method according to the present invention will be described as follows.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the display area formed on the refrigerator door is controlled to be switched to a transparent state according to a function to be used or a user's selection, so that the food stored in the refrigerator So that various information can be provided to the user through the display area formed on the door.

In addition, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention allows a user to display a specific food or a specific storage space set by a user through a display area formed on the door, So that it can be managed more easily and efficiently.

In addition, according to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention provides a higher convenience in utilizing the food stored in the refrigerator by providing the remaining amount information and recipe information related to the food stored in the refrigerator have.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram for explaining the structure of a refrigerator according to the present invention. FIG.
1B and 1C are illustrations showing a refrigerator according to the present invention.
1D is an exemplary view showing a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A to 2E are cross-sectional views illustrating a door of a refrigerator according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of displaying a graphic object selected by a user in a position according to a touch input of a user in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of performing a time counting function according to a timer set by a user in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of dividing time counting according to an object to which a timer is set in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation process of outputting recipe information according to a selected food item in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of displaying information related to a food item according to a user's selection from a list of food items of a selected recipe in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an exemplary view illustrating an example in which tag information generated and generated according to a touch input of a user is displayed in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example in which tag information is generated by a single touch input by a user in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a touch screen formed on a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is changed in accordance with a user's selection.
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of displaying an image of a storage space according to a user's selection through the touch screen in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
FIG. 12 is an exemplary view showing an example in which, in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, tag information corresponding to a specific food item is changed in accordance with positional movement of food.
13A and 13B illustrate examples of generating tag information indicating a predetermined time limit set by a user in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention and examples in which information displayed on the tag information is changed over time These are just some examples.
13C is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which a graphic object displayed on a touch screen is moved according to a drag input of a user in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate examples in which a timer function is set for a specific food or a specific storage room in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an exemplary view illustrating an example in which remaining amount information of food stored in a specific storage room is displayed in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which a purchasing function for at least one food item is performed in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
17 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which recipe information for a specific food is displayed in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is an exemplary view showing an example in which information relating to any one of the food ingredients of the selected recipe is displayed in the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar elements are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of related arts will be omitted when it is determined that the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein may be blurred. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. , ≪ / RTI > equivalents, and alternatives.

The description of the following drawings is based on a clockwise order starting from the upper left figure, and the upper left figure is a second drawing, the upper right drawing is a second drawing, Third drawing ", and the lower left figure is referred to as" fourth drawing ".

First, referring to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a refrigerator 100 related to the present invention.

The refrigerator 100 may include a communication unit 130, a sensing unit 140, a display unit 150, a user input unit 160, and a memory 170. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential for implementing the refrigerator 100, so that the refrigerator 100 described in this specification can have more or less components than the components listed above.

The communication unit 130 may be provided between the refrigerator 100 and a predetermined communication system or between the refrigerator 100 and at least one external device or between the refrigerator 100 and a specific external server Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > wireless < / RTI > In addition, the communication unit 130 may include one or more modules that connect the refrigerator 100 to one or more networks.

The sensing unit 140 may include one or more sensors for sensing at least one of information in the refrigerator 100, surrounding environment information surrounding the refrigerator 100, and user information. For example, the sensing unit 140 may include a camera 141 for sensing an image of foods stored in the storage room of the refrigerator 100 and the storage room. For example, the image may be an image sensed from the refrigerator door toward the inside of each storage room. For example, the camera 141 may be provided at a front portion of the refrigerator 100 having the door or the door, and may be configured to sense an image in a direction in which the inside of each storage room is viewed from the front surface of the refrigerator.

The sensing unit 140 includes a weight sensor 142 for sensing the weight of each of the at least one storage space in the refrigerator 100, a proximity sensor 143 for sensing a user adjacent to the refrigerator 100, a pressure sensor 144 capable of measuring a pressure applied through the touch input when the touch input of the user is sensed through the touch sensor, an infrared sensor (IR sensor), a finger scan sensor sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, ultrasonic sensors, microphones, environmental sensors such as hygrometers, thermometers, odor sensors, and iris recognition sensors. Meanwhile, the refrigerator 100 disclosed in the present specification can combine and use information sensed by at least two of the sensors.

Meanwhile, the display unit 150 may be implemented as a transparent liquid crystal display panel. The display unit 150 may have a mutual layer structure with the touch sensor or may be integrally formed to realize a touch screen. The touch screen may function as a user input 160 that provides an input interface between the refrigerator 100 and a user and may provide an output interface between the refrigerator 100 and a user.

The user input unit 160 may include a microphone for inputting an audio signal or an audio input unit and at least one key for inputting information from a user. These keys are composed of a virtual key, a soft key, or a visual key displayed on the touch screen through software processing, or a touch key (touch key) disposed on a portion other than the touch screen key). Meanwhile, the virtual key or the visual key can be displayed on a touch screen having various forms, for example, a graphic, a text, an icon, a video, As shown in FIG.

In addition, the memory 170 stores data supporting various functions of the refrigerator 100. The memory 170 may store a plurality of application programs (application programs or applications) driven by the refrigerator 100, data for operation of the refrigerator 100, and commands. At least some of these applications may be downloaded from an external server via wireless communication. Also, at least some of these applications may reside on the refrigerator 100 from the time of dispatch for basic functions of the refrigerator 100 (e.g., a temperature management function for each storage area).

On the other hand, the controller 180 controls the overall operation of the refrigerator 100. The control unit 180 may process or process signals, data, information, and the like input or output through the above-mentioned components, or may drive an application program stored in the memory 170 to provide or process appropriate information or functions to the user.

In addition, the controller 180 may control at least some of the components illustrated in FIG. 1A in order to drive an application program stored in the memory 170. FIG. Further, the controller 180 may operate at least two of the components included in the refrigerator 100 in combination with each other for driving the application program.

In addition, the controller 180 may divide the touch input into different inputs based on the time at which the touch input is held or the pressure measured through the touch input, even though the touch input is applied to the same point on the touch screen . That is, when the first touch input (first touch input) is applied to one point on the touch screen, the controller 180 performs a function corresponding to the applied touch input, and the touch input is maintained for a predetermined time or longer, When the pressure applied through the touch input is changed, the touch input can be sensed as the second touch input. And perform other functions corresponding to the second touch input.

On the other hand, when a plurality of touch inputs continuously applied in a predetermined time are applied, the controller 180 determines that the plurality of touch inputs are predetermined touch inputs for controlling one or more functions of the refrigerator 100 . That is, when a plurality of touch inputs continuously applied within a predetermined time are sensed, the controller 180 can detect a predefined pattern matching a pattern formed by points on the touch screen where the touch input is sensed. If there is a pattern matching the pattern formed from the plurality of touch inputs, the controller 180 controls the refrigerator 100 such that at least one function is executed according to a specific pattern corresponding to the plurality of touch inputs, Can be controlled.

 At least some of the components may operate in cooperation with each other to implement the method of operation, control, or control of the refrigerator 100 according to the various embodiments described below. Also, the operation, control, or control method of the refrigerator 100 may be implemented on the refrigerator 100 by driving at least one application program stored in the memory 170.

1B and 1C are diagrams for explaining a refrigerator 100 related to the present invention.

The refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 200 including a storage room and at least one door formed on at least one side of the main body 200 for selectively opening and closing the storage room .

Here, the door 210 of any one of the doors can adjust the transparency from the completely opaque state to the transparent state through the transparency adjustment. In addition, the door 210 may be formed with a display area 201 including a transparent liquid crystal display so that various image information such as characters, images, and moving pictures can be displayed. As described above, the transparent display region 201 may have a mutual layer structure with the touch sensor or may be integrally formed to form a touch screen. In the following description, it is assumed that the transparent display area 201 forms a touch screen.

The touch screen 201 may be formed on a front surface of the door 210 or on a front surface of the door 210. A plurality of touch screens 201 may be formed on the door 210 or a plurality of touch screens 201 formed on a front surface of the door 210 may be divided into a plurality of May form different touch screens.

Meanwhile, when a plurality of touch screens are formed, the plurality of touch screens may correspond to a front area of each of the storage areas partitioned by shelves in the storage compartment. That is, the vertical width of any one of the plurality of touch screens corresponds to the height between the shelves vertically adjacent to each other in the one storage area, and the width of one of the touch screens corresponds to the height of the door 210, The width of the door 210 can be reduced. However, it is needless to say that the touch screen may be formed to be smaller than the front surface area of the specific storage space or correspond to the combined area of the front surface areas of the plurality of storage areas.

Meanwhile, when the predetermined touch input is applied to the touch screen 201, the controller 180 can sense the touch input as a touch input for changing the state of the touch screen 201. Here, the predetermined touch input may be a touch input applied to a specific area of the touch screen 201, a touch input that maintains a touch state for a predetermined period of time, or a touch input whose applied pressure is equal to or higher than a certain level. Or a plurality of touch inputs applied in a predetermined pattern.

On the other hand, when the predetermined touch input is applied to the touch screen 201, the controller 180 can change the state of the touch screen 201. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, if the touch screen 201 is in a state where the food stored in the corresponding storage space is identifiably transparent, the controller 180 controls the touch screen 201, It is possible to switch the state of the stored food to a state in which the identification of the stored food is impossible and is displayed in an opaque state. On the contrary, if the touch screen 201 is displayed in an opaque state, the controller 180 may switch the touch screen 201 to a transparent state based on the predetermined touch input.

Meanwhile, the predetermined touch input may be a touch input in which a plurality of touch inputs continuously input as described above form a specific pattern. In this case, the controller 180 may perform at least one function of the refrigerator 100 corresponding to the plurality of touch inputs. For example, the controller 180 may change the touch screen transparency of a specific door to which the plurality of touch inputs are applied, according to a pattern formed from a plurality of touch inputs. Alternatively, the control unit 180 may display specific information corresponding to a pattern formed from the plurality of touch inputs, among various information related to the food stored in the refrigerator 100, on the touch screen. For example, the various information related to the food may include information on the remaining amount of the food stored in the specific storage space, information on the effective period of the food, and the like. The remaining amount measurement information and the valid period information may be information corresponding to different patterns.

Meanwhile, the predetermined touch input may be a touch input for displaying a management menu for controlling various functions of the refrigerator 100. In this case, the control unit 180 may display a management menu on the touch screen to control various functions provided by the refrigerator 100 around the point where the touch input is applied. And may cause a specific function to be performed based on another input of the user to the management menu.

1B to 1C, the touch screen is formed on any one of the doors formed in the refrigerator 100. Alternatively, the touch screen may be formed on each door formed in the refrigerator 100 Of course. FIG. 1D shows an example of a refrigerator 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

1D, when a refrigerator 100 including a plurality of doors 210, 220, 230, and 240 formed on at least one side of the main body 200 is formed, the doors 210, 220, and 230 The touch screens 201, 221, 231, and 241 may be formed independently of the touch screens 240 and 240. The control unit 180 may control the touch screens 201, 221, 231, and 241 independently of each other. That is, the controller 180 controls the touch screens 221, 231, and 241 formed on the other doors 220, 230, and 240 to be transparent or opaque like the door 210 shown in FIG. 1B Respectively. The storage spaces corresponding to the respective doors 201, 221, 231, and 241 are connected to the respective doors 201, 221, 231, and 241 so that various functions related to the foods in the storage spaces corresponding to the respective doors 201, Can be controlled. In this case, the control unit 180 can display the management menu on the touch screen formed on each door, and the function that can be performed in each storage space can be selected from the user through the displayed management menu.

2A to 2E are cross-sectional views illustrating a door 210 in which a touch screen is formed in the refrigerator 100 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, when a specific voltage V3 is applied to the first electrode 211b and the second electrode 212b, all three lights 210a, 210b, and 210c may be reflected. Accordingly, when the second electrode substrate 212a is flat, the touch screen 201 of the door 210 can be seen as a mirror. In particular, when the electric field dependent layer 217 is made of a photonic crystal, the touch screen of the door 210 can have a higher reflectance.

On the other hand, the electric field dependent layer 217 can be formed by charging each cell with an electric field dependent substance.

The electric field dependent material to be filled in the electric field dependent layer 217 is a substance that changes its characteristic by an electric field formed between the first electrode 211b and the second electrode 212b and includes a liquid crystal material, , Photonic crystal material, electrophoresis material, and electrowetting material.

Here, the electrophoretic material refers to a material exhibiting electrophoresis, the electro wetting material refers to a material exhibiting electro wetting phenomenon, and the photochromic material may mean a material exhibiting a photochromic phenomenon. A brief description of some electric field dependent materials is that a photonic band gap is formed due to the regular arrangement of fine structures repeated spatially, and only a specific wavelength is reflected from outside incident light. The color expressed by the structure is called the structure color.

The formation of the photonic bandgap depends on the size, spacing, refractive index difference, etc. of the particles constituting the photonic crystal. Therefore, if the intensity or direction of the electric field is controlled to change the characteristics of the photonic crystal, the color developed can be controlled.

Electrophoresis is a phenomenon in which charged particles move by an electric field formed between two electrodes. When charged particles having high resistance and color are dispersed in a fluid having low viscosity and voltage is applied to two electrodes, charged particles can move and display color.

The electrowetting type display adopts the principle that the conductive fluid (water) and the nonconductive fluid (oil) are not mixed. When the external tension is controlled to control the surface tension of the conductive fluid, the contact angle of the conductive fluid and the interface The wavelength of the reflected light changes.

In the description of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, any of the electric field dependency materials can be used. However, for convenience of explanation, the following description will be made by way of example of using a cholesteric liquid crystal material among liquid crystal materials capable of realizing excellent light transmittance.

On the other hand, Fig. 2B shows a liquid crystal arrangement in homeotropic state. Liquid crystals in homeotropic state are untwisted, meaning that the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the direction of the electric field. The arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the homeotropic state is an arrangement when a high electric field is formed between the first electrode 211b and the second electrode 212b, and has a property of transmitting light. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2B, incident light is transmitted as it is, and the touch screen 201 of the door 210 can be seen transparently. Therefore, in this case, the user can identify the foods stored in the door via the door 210.

2C shows a liquid crystal array in a planar state. The planar state means a state in which the helical axis of the cholesteric liquid crystal is arranged substantially perpendicular to the substrate, for example, the first electrode substrate 211a. The liquid crystal layer 217 in the planar state is formed when the high electric field applied to the liquid crystal in the homeotropic state is abruptly lowered. When the cholesteric liquid crystal is in the planar state, light of a specific wavelength Can be reflected.

At this time, the specific wavelength is determined according to the helical pitch in the helical structure of the cholesteric liquid crystal. That is, since the wavelength of the reflected light can be determined by adjusting the pitch of the helical line, the color of the reflected light can be adjusted by controlling the pitch of the helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal. Therefore, a desired color can be displayed without having a separate color filter.

2D shows a liquid crystal array in a focal conic state. The focal conic state may mean that the spiral axis of the cholesteric liquid crystal is arranged substantially parallel to the first electrode substrate 211a. The liquid crystal structure in the focal conic state is an arrangement formed when the high electric field applied to the liquid crystal of the homeotropic state is slowly lowered and has the property of scattering or diffusing light. Accordingly, when the liquid crystal is in the focal conic state, the touch screen 201 may become opaque.

For example, when an electric field is applied to the cholesteric liquid crystals in the planar state, the spiral axis perpendicular to the first electrode substrate 211a may be changed to be parallel to the first electrode substrate 211a and may be in a focal conic state . Here, the electric field applied to the cholesteric liquid crystal may be 10-20V.

When a larger electric field is applied to a cholesteric liquid crystal in a focal conic state, the helical structure may be untwisted and become a homeotropic state in which liquid crystal molecules are arranged in the electric field direction. Here, the electric field applied to the cholesteric liquid crystal may be 30-50V. When the electric field is gradually removed from the homeotropic state, it can return to the focal conic state, and if the electric field is abruptly removed, it can become the planar state.

On the other hand, in order to convert the cholesteric liquid crystal in the focal conic state into the planar state, a larger electric field is applied to the cholesteric liquid crystal to enter the homeotropic state as described above, and then the electric field is rapidly removed. .

Accordingly, when the user applies a preset touch input, the controller 180 may apply a high voltage to the first electrode 211b and the second electrode 212b to make the cholesteric liquid crystal homeotropic. Then, the touch screen 201 can transmit light and be displayed transparently.

In this state, the controller 180 can receive another touch input from the user. Here, another touch input may be a touch input having a different holding time or a touch input having a different applied pressure. When the other touch input is applied, the control unit 180 may gradually remove or rapidly remove the high electric field formed in the cell, thereby making the focal conic state or the planar state. Then, the liquid crystal can be switched from a transparent state to an opaque state or a state in which image information such as a graphic object can be displayed.

2E illustrates an example in which the door 210 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a stacked structure of PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crustal) and a transparent display panel (T-LCD).

2E, a door 210 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a PDLC layer 260 stacked between first and second toughened glass layers 250a and 250b, On structure in which a T-LCD layer 270 and a touch film 280 are stacked between the third glass layer 250a and the third glass layer 250c.

Hereinafter, embodiments related to a control method that can be implemented in the refrigerator 100 configured as above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

In the following description, the touch screen 201 is formed on the door 210 for convenience of explanation. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the touch screen may be formed on any one of the other doors 220, 230 and 240 of the refrigerator 100, or the touch screen may be formed on each of the other doors 220, 230 and 240 Of course. In this case, it is needless to say that the touch screen formed on any one of the other doors or each of the other doors can be controlled similarly to the following description.

Meanwhile, the touch screen 201 formed on the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be switched between a transparent state or an opaque state depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. Here, the preset conditions may be set variously. For example, the predetermined condition may be satisfied when there is a person within a predetermined distance from the refrigerator 100. The control unit 180 may detect a person near the refrigerator 100 through the camera 141 or the proximity sensor included in the sensing unit 140. [

On the other hand, the predetermined condition may be satisfied when a predetermined touch input is sensed. For example, while the display unit of the touch screen 201 is kept in a deactivated state, the control unit 180 may be configured such that a minimum amount of current or power is consumed to detect a touch input of a user applied on the touch screen 201 And can be driven in a doze mode. When the user's predetermined touch input is applied in the state of being driven in the doze mode, the display panel of the touch screen 201 can be activated. In this case, the display panel may output predetermined image information or may be switched to a transparent state. In the following description, the display panel is transparently switched according to the touch input. When the display panel is switched to the transparent state, the touch screen 201 is transparent, so that the food inside the storage room corresponding to the door, i.e., the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is formed, The touch screen 201 can be displayed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of displaying a graphic object selected by a user in a position corresponding to a touch input of a user in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can sense a touch input (first touch input) of a user applied on the touch screen 201 (S300 ). If the first touch input is detected in step S300, the controller 180 may switch the touch screen 201 to a transparent state as described above. In response to the first touch input, the control unit 180 may display a management menu on the touch screen 201 that allows the user to select various functions that the refrigerator 100 can perform S302).

The management menu 800 may include items corresponding to a plurality of different functions. For example, the management menu may include an item corresponding to a function of displaying various information related to a food or a specific storage room stored in a refrigerator. Here, the information related to the specific food or the specific storage room may be information related to the name of the specific food or the expiration date, information related to the remaining amount or composition of the food or the food stored in the specific storage room. For example, such information may be displayed on at least one point on the touch screen 201 according to the user's selection as a graphic object in the form of a sticker corresponding to each information.

On the other hand, the management menu may include an item corresponding to a function of generating tag information including text information or voice information created by a user in a storage space in which specific foods or specific foods are stored. Alternatively, the management menu may include an item corresponding to a timer function for setting a time or a period that the user desires to arbitrarily set a specific food or a storage space in which a specific food is stored. In addition, the management menu may include a memo function that allows a user to memorize useful information by using the touch screen.

Meanwhile, the management menu displayed according to the user's touch input may be configured differently depending on whether the touch input is applied to the specific food or not. For example, the control unit 180 senses food corresponding to the area to which the touch input is applied from the sensed image from each storage room of the refrigerator 100, and determines whether the touch input is authorized for the specific food have. As a result of the determination, if the touch input is applied to the specific food, a management menu including functions related to the currently selected specific food may be displayed in response to the touch input.

The management menu may be displayed in a predetermined area on the touch screen 201. For example, the control unit 180 may display the management menu in one area of the touch screen 201 previously designated. Or the control unit 180 may display the management menu according to a touch input point applied on the touch screen 201. [ In this case, the management menu may be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201 based on the touch input, that is, the point where the first touch input is applied.

Meanwhile, when the management menu is displayed in step S302, the controller 180 can select one of the items included in the management menu. The control unit 180 may identify any one function selected by the user according to another touch input (second touch input) applied to any one of the items included in the management menu.

The second touch input may be a touch input different from the first touch input. For example, the second touch input is different from the first touch input when the time for which the touch is maintained or the pressure sensed through the touch input is different from the pressure sensed from the first touch input by more than a predetermined level Lt; / RTI > If the touch holding time or the touch pressure time is different, the controller 180 may classify the currently input touch input into a touch input different from the first touch input, i.e., a second touch input, It can be determined that the user has selected any one of the management menus.

On the other hand, if any one of the management menus displayed in step S302 is selected according to the second touch input, the controller 180 can display a graphic object related to the selected function in one area on the touch screen 201 (S304). Here, one area on the touch screen 201 may be an area corresponding to one point on the touch screen 201 to which the first touch input is applied. That is, the controller 180 may display the graphic object related to the selected function on the touch screen 201 to which the first touch input is applied (S304). Accordingly, the user can display the graphic object related to the specific function selected by the user at one point on the touch screen 201 to which the user initially applies the touch input.

Meanwhile, as described above, the second touch input may be classified according to the time during which the first touch input and the touch input are held or the touch pressure applied. Accordingly, even if the touch input point is the same, if the pressure to which the touch input is maintained is changed by more than a predetermined level, or if the touch input is maintained for a predetermined time or more, It may be recognized as the second touch input.

The user can set items included in the management menu such that a specific item of the management menu displayed by the first touch input, i.e., the first touch input, is displayed at a position corresponding to the first touch input. Accordingly, when the user applies the first touch input to a specific point, a management menu in which a specific item preset by the user is displayed on the first touch input point may be displayed. In this state, if the user keeps the first touch input for a predetermined time or makes a different applied pressure, the controller 180 can determine that the second touch input is applied to the specific item, A function corresponding to a specific item can be executed. Accordingly, a graphic object according to a function corresponding to the specific item can be displayed at the first touch input point. Therefore, the user can perform a function according to any one of the items included in the management menu by only one touch input.

8 and 11, examples of displaying a management menu according to the first touch input of the user and displaying a graphical object according to one of the functions included in the displayed management menu will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 11 .

Meanwhile, if the graphic object according to the function selected by the user is displayed on the touch screen 201 in step S304, the controller 180 may store the location where the graphic object is displayed on the touch screen 201. [ Accordingly, it is needless to say that the control unit 180 can display the graphic object again at the same position even if the display unit included in the touch screen 201 is activated again after the display panel is deactivated.

Of course, the position of the graphic object can be changed according to the user's input. For example, when the graphic object is displayed, the controller 180 may detect a drag input of a user to be applied to the graphic object. The position of the graphic object may be changed according to the direction and length of the drag input.

Meanwhile, the location where the graphic object is displayed may correspond to a particular food item in the storage room currently displayed through the touch screen 201. For example, when the user inputs information related to any one of the food items to one point on the touch screen 201 corresponding to any of the food items recognizable through the touch screen 201, the controller 180 May determine that the graphic object corresponds to any one of the foods. Alternatively, the control unit 180 may display the measured remaining amount information when the function of displaying information relating to any one of the foods (for example, remaining amount information) is selected by the user, and may display the remaining amount information when the displayed information corresponds to any one of the foods .

In this case, the graphic object including information input from the user or information related to the one food may be displayed at a position corresponding to the one food. In this case, the controller 180 may detect a change in the state of the food corresponding to the graphic object, and may reflect the change in the sensed state of the food in the graphic object. For example, such a change in the state of the food may include a movement of the food or the like.

For example, the control unit 180 can track the position of the food corresponding to the graphic object every time the predetermined condition is satisfied, and change the display position of the graphic object according to the tracked position. Also, when the food is no longer detected, the controller 180 may not display the graphic object any more.

Here, the preset condition may be a state transition of the touch screen 201 (for example, from a transparent state to an opaque state, or from an opaque state to a transparent state), or when one of the doors of the refrigerator 100 is open ), And when close is detected, or a predetermined period of expiration. An example of a refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a graphic object corresponding to a specific food is displayed is changed according to the position of the corresponding food, Let's take a closer look.

In the above description, the touch screen 201 is changed to a transparent state so that the interior of the storage room corresponding to the door 210 can be identified. However, even when the touch screen 201 is opaque Of course, the foods stored in the refrigerator 100 may be displayed visibly through the touch screen 201. For example, the control unit 180 may control the camera 141 to display the sensed image from the inside of the specific storage room through the touch screen 201. [ That is, the controller 180 may sense an image of the storage room corresponding to one of the doors 220, 230, and 240 according to the user's selection, and may display the sensed image on the touch screen 201 . The user can then check the image of the storage room corresponding to any one of the other doors 220, 230 and 240 through the touch screen 201. Thus, without opening the doors 220, 230 and 240, And the food stored in the storage room can be confirmed through the touch screen 201.

Meanwhile, when the image of the other storage room is displayed as described above, it goes without saying that the process of FIG. 3 can be similarly performed on the specific touch screen 201 in which the internal image is displayed on the touch screen 201. That is, the control unit 180 may display a management menu corresponding to the touch input of the user while the image of the food stored in the other storage room is displayed on the touch screen 201. One of the functions can be selected from the user through the management menu, and the graphic object according to the selected function can be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201.

Meanwhile, the graphic object to be displayed may correspond to the storage room currently displayed through the touch screen 201. That is, when the user selects the storage room other than the storage room where the internal display is currently on the touch screen 201, the controller 180 stores the location information of the currently displayed graphic object, The display can be ended.

In this case, the location information of the graphic object may include information of the corresponding storage room. Accordingly, when the image of the storage room corresponding to the graphic object is displayed again on the touch screen 201, the graphic object may be displayed on the touch screen 201 again.

Meanwhile, the functions included in the management menu may include a function of automatically displaying information related to a food or a storage room without a separate input from a user. For example, the information related to the food or the storage room, which can be automatically displayed, may include information on the remaining amount of food or information related to the shelf life or shelf life of the stored food, May include operation state information such as the humidity and temperature of the storage room to be displayed.

Meanwhile, the storage room according to the embodiment of the present invention may be divided into at least one storage space in which different kinds of food are stored. In this case, the controller 180 may sense the weight of each storage space. The weight of each storage space may then be the sum of the weight of the food stored in the storage space. And, the weight sum may be information on the amount of remaining food of the kind stored in the storage space. Alternatively, the control unit 180 can measure the remaining amount of each food based on the result of sensing the weight of each stored food (for example, when the storage space is divided into smaller areas) .

Alternatively, the control unit 180 may measure the remaining amount of each food stored in the refrigerator 100 by using the image sensed through the camera 141 or the like. For example, the control unit 180 may measure the remaining amount of food based on the result of sensing the container of the food in the case of a food stored in a transparent material container such as a glass bottle and capable of measuring the remaining amount through the outside. Or the control unit 180 determines whether the food is stored in the container by using the difference in frequency of the reflected sound reflected from each region of the container by ultrasonic waves output from the ultrasonic sensor, Can be measured. The remaining amount of the food stored in the container may be calculated according to the measured result.

On the other hand, the calculated amount of food or the remaining amount information of each storage space may be displayed according to the function selected through the management menu. For example, the management menu may include a remaining amount display function that displays a remaining amount measured from each food or storage space, and may store the measured remaining amount information in correspondence with each food or each storage space according to the selection of the remaining amount display function The touch screen 201 can be displayed on the screen. When the user inputs the food or the remaining amount information displayed in each storage space, the control unit 180 may perform a specific function on the food or storage space according to the input of the user. For example, the control unit 180 may perform a purchase function for specific foods or foods stored in a specific storage space.

Hereinafter, the remaining amount information calculated for each food or each storage space displayed on the touch screen 201 is displayed, and examples of providing the purchasing function according to a user's input on the displayed remaining amount information are shown in FIGS. 15 and 15 16, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Meanwhile, the management menu may include a function of displaying information directly input from the user, in addition to the information automatically displayed according to the user's selection. For example, the control unit 180 can receive text information or image information from the user through the touch screen 201, and display the information on the touch screen 201 in the form of a memo or tag information . The memo or tag information may be displayed at a position corresponding to a specific food or a specific storage space.

 On the other hand, the control unit 180 may perform a predetermined function according to a specific time limit or a specific value, that is, a setting value directly set by the user, and may display an operation state of a function to be performed. For this, the controller 180 may display the screen information for receiving the specific time limit or the specific setting value on the touch screen 201, and the refrigerator 100 may display the screen information on the touch screen 201 according to the input of the user, May be controlled. For example, the screen information may be for receiving a specific storage space or a setting value related to a specific storage room including at least one storage space. In this case, the controller 180 may adjust the refrigeration temperature or humidity of the specific storage space or the storage room according to the input set value.

Meanwhile, the screen information may be set by a user with a specific time limit. This specific time limit can be created on a day-by-day basis. If there is a set value set together with the specified time limit, the controller 180 may adjust the specific storage space or the specific storage room according to the input set value for the number of days corresponding to the specified time limit.

Meanwhile, when the time limit information is inputted, the controller 180 may display a graphic object for displaying the input time limit information at at least one point of the touch screen 201 corresponding to the food or the storage space. Such a graphic object can be updated based on a preset specific time point during the day. And information on the number of days elapsed from the input of the time limit information until the current time according to the updated result or information on remaining days obtained by subtracting the number of days elapsed since the time limit information is input from the set time limit .

On the other hand, the specific time limit can be set not only in a specific storage room or storage space, but also in a particular food. When the function for setting the specific time limit is selected from the touch input of the user in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific food, the control unit 180 displays the screen information for setting the due date from the user .

When a specific time limit is set for the specific food, the controller 180 can display the graphic object for displaying the time limit set in accordance with the screen information in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific food have. The graphic object may be updated on the basis of a specific time point as described above, and may include remaining days according to the elapsed days from the time when the time limit is set to the current time or the elapsed days. 13A and 13B illustrate an example in which the user inputs the time information from the user for the specific food and displays the remaining day information updated according to the inputted time limit information.

Meanwhile, it is needless to say that, unlike the time limit information, the control unit 180 may set a specific time value from the user. In this case, the controller 180 may perform time counting according to a timer function driven according to the set time value so that the specific storage space or the specific storage room may be adjusted according to the user's setting for the time set by the user.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a time counting function according to a timer set by a user in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may display the management menu when a touch input is sensed by the user. When the timer function is selected through the management menu, a graphic object related to the selected timer function can be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201 (S400).

In this case, the graphic object related to the timer function may be displayed based on a point where the first touch input is sensed, that is, a point where the user touches the touch screen 201 to select a timer function through the management menu. The control unit 180 may set a time value, that is, a time to be counted, according to another touch input of the user applied to the graphic object. Here, the controller 180 may detect an input of a user starting at a point around the graphic object, and may set a time to be counted based on a dragging touch of a user along a predetermined path on the graphic object . Here, the graphic object may correspond to a circular shape, and the predetermined path may correspond to a peripheral area of the graphic object corresponding to the circular shape.

Meanwhile, the graphic object related to the timer function may further display at least one other object for displaying the time value set by the user. The at least one graphical object may include a clock-shaped object in which a time corresponding to a user's input is displayed in an analog or digital form, or may include a circular or arc-shaped object whose length, size, can do. The control unit 180 can visually display the time set according to the user's input, that is, the counting time, using the at least one other object.

If the counting time is set in step S402, the controller 180 may count the set time in step S404. The graphic object displaying the counting time may be changed and displayed according to the counting result. That is, the control unit 180 may display the decrease time according to the time counting in step S404 as a change of the graphic object set in step S402. When the time counting is completed, notification information for notifying that the time counting is completed may be output (S406).

Meanwhile, the notification information may be displayed as a state change of the touch screen 201. For example, when the time counting is completed, the controller 180 may display the touch screen 201 by changing the state of the touch screen 201 from opaque to transparent. On the contrary, when the touch screen is in a transparent state, the controller 180 may display only one region of the touch screen 201 on which the graphic object for displaying the time count is displayed opaque. When the time counting is completed, only one area on the touch screen 201 on which notification information for notifying the user of the completion of the time counting is displayed may be opaque. If the notification information is displayed, the control unit 180 detects a user's input (e.g., touch input) to the notification information, and displays the notification information in a transparent state You can switch.

On the other hand, the time value may be set not for a specific storage room or storage space but for a specific food. For example, the time value may be used to age the food stored in the refrigerator for a predetermined time. In this case, the time counting can be used to accurately indicate the aging time of the food.

On the other hand, the controller 180 may display the time counting result differently depending on whether the time value set by the user is for a specific food, a specific storage room, or a storage space. For example, when the time value is set for a specific food, the controller 180 may display a graphic object corresponding to a time counting result in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific food. On the other hand, when the time value is set for a specific storage room or a specific storage space, the graphic object corresponding to the time counting result can be displayed separately from the one set in the specific food.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of dividing time counting according to an object to which a timer is set in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a touch screen 201 on the touch screen 201 corresponding to each of the foods that can be currently identified through the touch screen 201, (S500). For this, the controller 180 may use the images sensed from the respective storage rooms of the refrigerator 100. That is, the controller 180 analyzes the sensed image from each storage room, and can distinguish the regions corresponding to the foods from the images and the regions in which the foods are not stored, that is, the empty regions.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may select a timer function based on a touch input from the user. For example, the control unit 180 may display the management menu on the touch screen based on the touch input (first touch input) of the user. And the timer function may be selected from another touch input (second touch input) of the user applied to the displayed management menu. In step S502, the counting time may be set according to a user input of the graphic object displayed in response to the selection of the timer function.

On the other hand, when the counting time is set as described above, the controller 180 can determine whether the currently set counting time is for a specific food item or for a storage room where the inside is displayed through the touch screen 201 S504).

In order to determine whether the timer function is selected in step S504, the controller 180 compares the area where the applied touch input is applied and the areas on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the foods that are currently visible . For example, when the touch screen 201 is in a transparent state, the control unit 180 may identify an area corresponding to the food from the image of the storage room corresponding to the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is formed have. On the other hand, if the touch screen 201 displays an internal image of a specific storage room rather than a transparent state, the controller 180 displays an area corresponding to the food items from the image of the storage room displayed through the touch screen 201 Can be identified. Meanwhile, the touch input applied to select the timer function may be a touch input first applied to the touch screen 201, that is, the first touch input.

On the other hand, if the first touch input point is applied to an area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to any one of the foods that can be discriminated, the controller 180 determines whether the counting time set in step S504 is That is, one of the foods corresponding to the point where the first touch input is applied. Then, the controller 180 performs time counting according to the currently set time, and displays a graphic object indicating a time to decrease according to the counted time in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific food ( S506).

On the other hand, if the first touch input point is not applied to the area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to any one of the foods that can be discriminated to be displayed, the controller 180 sets the counting time Can be determined to be the specific storage room in which the interior is currently displayed on the current touch screen 201. Then, the controller 180 may perform time counting according to the currently set time and display a graphic object indicating a time to decrease according to the counted time on a predetermined area on the touch screen 201. Here, the predetermined area may be an area formed around the touch input applied for the timer function, i.e., the first touch input point.

On the other hand, in steps S504 and S506, the graphical object indicating the decreasing time according to the counted time may be displayed differently depending on whether the counting time is set for the specific food or not. Hereinafter, an example in which time counting is performed on a specific food or a specific storage room according to a time value set by a user will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B.

In the above description, when the point where the touch input is applied is not a region corresponding to a specific food, the present time value is determined to be for a specific storage room. However, the storage room may be divided into a plurality of storage spaces The controller 180 may further determine whether the currently set time value is for one of the plurality of storage spaces.

For example, when the first touch input is applied to an area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the partition for partitioning the storage room into a plurality of storage spaces, As shown in FIG. On the other hand, in a state where the first touch input is not applied to an area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to a specific food, the controller 180 determines that the first touch input is a touch corresponding to one of the plurality of storage spaces When it is applied to an area on the screen 201, it may be determined that the currently set time value is set for any one of the storage spaces.

When it is determined that the first touch input is not applied to the specific food, the controller 180 determines whether the first touch input is currently performed based on the first touch input point and the image of the inside of the storage room, It is possible to distinguish whether the set time value is set for the entire storage room or for any one of the storage spaces included in the storage room. According to the divided result, the time counting according to the currently set time value for the entire storage space or the specific storage space can be performed and the process of performing the time counting can be displayed differently.

As described above, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention displays images from the inside of the storage room shown on the touch screen 201 to be visible through the touch screen 201 The food selected by the touch input of the user can be sensed. For example, the control unit 180 identifies an area corresponding to each food item from an image of the inside of the storage room shown on the touch screen 201, and displays the food selected by the user from the area corresponding to the touch input point Can be identified.

 When one of the foods is selected as described above, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can display various information related to the selected food. Such information may be information on the amount of the selected food, that is, information on the remaining amount, or information related to the shelf life or shelf life of the selected food, as described above. If there is predetermined shelf life information or shelf life information for the selected food, the controller 180 may display the shelf life information or the shelf life information in an area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the selected food have.

For example, the control unit 180 may set the designated time limit for the currently selected food item if a predetermined time period is preset, such as the expiration date or the storage time limit. In this case, the controller 180 may set a time limit of the currently selected product based on the date set according to the expiration date or the expiration date. Information on the remaining days can be displayed based on the number of days between the date corresponding to the set time limit and the current date. Information related to the remaining days may be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the selected food. The control unit 180 may update the remaining days information and display the updated information with the lapse of time.

Meanwhile, various information may be displayed according to the user's choice, as well as information related to the remaining amount of the food selected, the purchase information, or the information related to the expiration date or the expiration date. For example, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may output information on at least one food recipe on the touch screen 201 according to a user's selection. The recipe information may be any one of the recipe previously stored in the memory 170 according to the user's selection.

Meanwhile, the control unit 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can sense a user's selection of any of the foods displayed through the touch screen 201, as described above. The control unit 180 extracts only recipes of foods containing the currently selected food from among the recipes stored in the memory 170 from the memory 170 and outputs the extracted recipe information to the touch screen 201).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure in which refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention outputs recipe information according to selected food items.

Referring to FIG. 6, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can detect a touch input sensed in one area on the touch screen 201 (S600). In operation S602, the control unit 180 may identify a particular food item corresponding to the touch input in step S600 among the foods that can be identified through the touch screen 201. On the other hand, if the touch screen 201 is in an opaque state, the touch screen 201 is switched to a transparent state according to the touch input, and in response to an additional touch input from the user, It is possible.

If one of the foods displayed through the touch screen 201 is selected according to the touch input in step S602, the control unit 180 displays a management menu for selecting a function related to the selected food, 201) (S604). Here, the management menu may include a function of outputting a recipe corresponding to the currently selected food.

If the recipe function is selected through the management menu 800, the control unit 180 may display a list of at least one recipe related to the currently selected food on the touch screen 201 in operation S604. For example, the control unit 180 may detect at least one recipe containing the currently selected food among the food recipes previously stored in the memory 170 as material food, and output the detected recipe to the touch screen 201.

The control unit 180 may sense a user's selection of any one of the outputted recipes. Then, information of any one selected recipe can be displayed on the touch screen 201 (S608). Here, the controller 180 may divide the currently selected recipe into a plurality of steps, and may display the divided recipe information on the touch screen 201. Referring to FIG. 17, an example in which a list of recipes related to a specific food item is displayed according to a user's selection, and a recipe according to a user's selection in the recipe list is displayed on the touch screen 201 .

Meanwhile, it is needless to say that the recipe displayed in step S608 may be transmitted to at least one external device preset according to the user's selection. For example, the control unit 180 may transmit the currently selected recipe information to an external device such as a specific mobile terminal at the request of the user. Then, the mobile terminal can display the same recipe information as the recipe information displayed through the touch screen 201. [ In this case, the controller 180 may transmit the recipe information classified in stages according to the user's selection, and the step-by-step recipe information may be sequentially transmitted to the mobile terminal according to the user's selection. Alternatively, the control unit 180 may transmit only the recipe information of a specific stage among the recipe divided into the steps according to the user's selection.

Meanwhile, when a specific recipe is selected, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may display various information related to the selected recipe on the touch screen 201. [ For example, such related information may include a list of food ingredients necessary for cooking the food corresponding to the recipe.

In this case, the control unit 180 according to the embodiment of the present invention displays a storage space in which foods corresponding to the material foods stored in the present refrigerator are stored, or a storage space in which the foods are estimated to be stored, on the touch screen 201 It can also be displayed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of displaying information related to a food item according to a user's selection from a list of food items of a selected recipe in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention displays related information about the selected recipe on the touch screen 201 as a list of material foods included in the selected recipe (S700).

On the other hand, if any one of the material foods is selected by the user, the controller 180 may display the information on the food material related to the selected material food on the touch screen 201 (S702). Here, the information of the food related to the selected material food may be information of the specific storage room in the refrigerator 100 in which the food corresponding to the selected material food is stored. That is, when the user selects one of the food items, the controller 180 controls the inside of the storage room in which the corresponding food among the foods stored in the refrigerator 100 is stored to be identifiable through the touch screen 201 The touch screen 201 can be controlled.

For example, if the food corresponding to the selected material food is stored in the storage room corresponding to the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is currently formed, the controller 180 switches the touch screen 201 to a transparent state can do. Accordingly, the user can directly check the remaining amount of the material food he / she has selected through the touch screen 201 that has been switched to the transparent state.

The food corresponding to the selected foodstuff may be stored in the storage room corresponding to the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is currently formed and the other storage room such as any one of the other doors 220, The control unit 180 may display the image of the storage room in which the food is stored through the touch screen 201. In this case, Accordingly, the user can immediately check the remaining amount of the material food he / she has selected through the image displayed on the touch screen 201. [

The control unit 180 may perform various functions based on the touch input applied on the touch screen 201 while the remaining amount of the material food selected by the user is identifiable through the touch screen 201. [ For example, the controller 180 may sense a touch input of a user on any one of the foods currently viewed through the touch screen 201. In response to the user's touch input, the user can perform a purchase function corresponding to the touch input (S704).

For example, in step S704, the controller 180 may display on the touch screen 201 information related to the purchase place where the selected food can be purchased. For example, it is possible to display on the touch screen 201 a screen of a site connected to and connected to an online purchase site where the selected food can be ordered by phone or online, or an online purchase site where the selected food can be purchased directly. The user may proceed to purchase the selected food according to the input of the user through the touch screen 201.

Meanwhile, the purchasing process may include transmitting the remaining amount information to a predetermined external device. For example, the step S704 may be a step of transmitting information related to the remaining amount of the selected food item to another predetermined user or a user's mobile terminal. In this case, the remaining amount-related information may include information of sensing the image of the storage room or the storage space where the food is stored. Therefore, the user who has received the remaining amount information can accurately check the remaining amount of the material food on the basis of the image included in the remaining amount information, and perform the purchase accordingly.

Meanwhile, when the remaining amount of the material food selected by the user is identifiable through the touch screen 201, the controller 180 may proceed to the step S700 in which the material food list is displayed again when the predetermined input of the user is input . Here, the predetermined input may be a touch input for forming a predetermined pattern, a touch state being maintained for a predetermined time or longer, or a touch input for applying a pressure of a predetermined level or higher.

In the above description, one of the recipes stored in the memory 170 is selected and displayed on the touch screen 201, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the recipe information can be transmitted from the external device to the refrigerator 100 as much as possible. That is, for example, when recipe information is received from an external device such as a user's mobile terminal, the control unit 180 performs mirroring with the mobile terminal, and recipe information displayed through the mobile terminal But may be displayed on the screen 201 in the same manner.

In the above description, the operational flow of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to a plurality of flowcharts.

In the following description, a management menu including various functions is displayed according to a touch input of a user in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a graphical object according to a function selected through the management menu, Various examples displayed on the display unit 201 will be described in more detail with reference to a plurality of example views.

8 is an exemplary view illustrating an example in which tag information generated and generated according to a touch input of a user is displayed in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the first diagram of FIG. 8 illustrates a menu screen displayed on the touch screen 201 formed on one door 210 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, This is an example. When the first touch input is applied to the touch screen 201 in a state where the touch screen 201 is transparently switched, the control unit 180 displays a management menu 800 (see FIG. 8) Can be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201. [

The management menu 800 may include items 802. 804, 806, and 808 corresponding to various functions as described above. For example, these items include a first item 802 corresponding to a function of displaying information on the name of the specific food, the expiration date or the shelf-life, or the information on the ingredient or the remaining amount of the food, ). Or a second item 804 corresponding to a function of generating tag information including text information or voice information created by a user for a storage space in which specific foods or specific foods are stored. In addition, the management menu may include a third item 806 corresponding to a memo function that allows a user to memorize useful information using the touch screen. Alternatively, the management menu may include a fourth item 808 corresponding to a timer function for setting a time or a period that the user desires to arbitrarily set a specific food or a storage space in which the specific food is stored.

Meanwhile, the management menu 800 shown in FIG. 8 is an example of the management menu displayed in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the management menu 800 may include items corresponding to any other functions, or may include more or fewer items.

Meanwhile, in the state where the management menu 800 including the first to fourth items 802 to 808 is displayed, as shown in the first drawing of FIG. 8, If the touch input is applied, the controller 180 may display a graphic object related to the function corresponding to the first item 802 on the touch screen 201.

On the other hand, if the sticker function capable of containing various different information is selected as in the first item 802, the controller 180 displays screen information for selecting contents to be displayed through the sticker function And can be displayed on the touch screen 201. The second diagram of FIG. 8 shows an example of screen information for selecting information to be displayed through the sticker function when the user selects the sticker function.

8, when the user selects the sticker function, the controller 180 selects information to be displayed at one point on the touch screen 201 according to the sticker function from the user The sticky page 810 can be displayed on the touch screen 201 in one area. As shown in the second diagram of FIG. 8, the user can input a tag sticker 812 or a cardiac health related component (Heart Healthy) generated according to arbitrary inputable voice information or text information through the sticker page 810, : 814), a high protein (816), and a gluten free (818) component.

8, if the user selects the tag sticker 812 from the sticker page 810, the control unit 180 determines whether the tag sticker 812 is to be selected by the user, The screen information 820 for receiving voice information or text information from the user can be displayed on the touch screen 201 as shown in the third diagram of FIG.

8, when the screen information 820 for receiving the user's voice information or the text information is displayed, the control unit 180 displays the text information on the touch screen 201, (For example, an English or Korean keyboard). Alternatively, the control unit 180 can recognize the voice of the user, which is detected through the microphone, as text and receive the recognized text according to the user's selection. As shown in the fourth drawing of FIG. 8, the tag sticker 830 including the input text can be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201. In this case, the tag sticker 830 may be displayed based on the first applied touch input, that is, the point where the first touch input is applied.

According to the above description, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can display graphic objects corresponding to functions selected from the management menu 800 on the touch screen 201, Area can be displayed. Also, according to the above description, the controller 180 may display the management menu 800 so that the specific item included in the management menu 800 corresponds to the point where the touch input is applied, The user can perform a specific function of the management menu 800 by one-touch input by executing the function corresponding to the specific item based on the time at which the touch input is held or the pressure applied from the touch input have.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of generating tag information by a single touch input by a user in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The control unit 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can detect a touch input to one point 900 on the touch screen 201 have. In this case, the control unit 180 may display the management menu 800 on the touch screen 201 based on the touch input point 900.

For example, the control unit 180 may control the touch input point 900 so that the touch input point 900 corresponds to a specific item previously designated by the user among the items 802, 804, 806, and 808 included in the management menu 800 The menu 800 can be displayed on the touch screen 201. In this case, if the specific item is the first item 802 corresponding to the sticker function, as shown in the second drawing of FIG. 9, the touch input point 900 may be displayed on the first item 802 The management menu 800 can be displayed on the touch screen 201 so as to include the area.

In this state, the control unit 180 can again sense the touch input of the user. For example, if the user selects another item in the management menu 800 within a predetermined time, the control unit 180 can execute the function corresponding to the selected item. Then, the graphic object according to the executed function can be displayed on the touch screen 201.

However, if the user continues to hold the touch input, the control unit 180 executes a function corresponding to a specific item of the management menu 800 corresponding to the touch input point 900, that is, the first item 902 . Accordingly, the control unit 180 can display the sticker page 810 on the touch screen 201 as shown in the third drawing of FIG.

On the other hand, the sticky page 810 may be displayed so as to correspond to a sticker previously designated by the user, like the management menu 800. [ For example, if the user designates the tag sticker in advance, the control unit 180 controls the touch input point 900 to include a region corresponding to the tag sticker, as shown in the third drawing of FIG. 9, 810). If the user keeps touch input in this state, the control unit 180 can execute the function of generating the currently selected sticker, that is, the tag sticker, and the tag sticker including the voice information or text information input from the user Can be generated. 9, the generated tag sticker 910 may be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201. [

Meanwhile, the tag sticker 910 may be displayed based on the touch input point 900. 9, in a state where the touch input is applied for the first time, the control unit 180 controls the touch input to be applied to the input point of the touch input held until the area 812 corresponding to the tag sticker is selected The tag sticker 910 may be displayed on the display screen 900 as a center. Accordingly, the present invention allows a user to select a specific function from the management menu 800 through one-touch input, and displays a graphical object related to the selected function at a point on the touch screen 201 to which the one- .

8 and 9, the touch screen 201 is in a transparent state. However, the touch screen 201 formed on the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may have a predetermined condition It is possible to switch to a transparent state or an opaque state depending on whether or not it is satisfied.

10 is an exemplary view showing an example in which the touch screen 201 formed on one door of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is changed in accordance with the user's selection.

As described above, the touch screen 201 can be turned into a transparent state or an opaque state when predetermined conditions are satisfied. The satisfaction of the condition may be determined depending on whether there is a user adjacent to the refrigerator 100 or not. Or when a touch input applied on the touch screen 201 is applied.

On the other hand, the predetermined condition may be satisfied according to a predetermined input of the user. The predetermined input may be a plurality of touch inputs forming a predetermined pattern, or a touch input applied to at least one predetermined graphic object on the touch screen 201. For example, the at least one graphic object may be displayed in a predetermined area of the touch screen 201. 10A and 10B illustrate an example in which the graphic object 1000 or 1010 capable of selecting the state change of the touch screen 201 is displayed in an area adjacent to the vertex of the bottom edge of the touch screen 201 .

10 (a), the first diagram of FIG. 10 (a) shows an example in which the entire area of the touch screen 201 is opaque. In this case, the controller 180 may keep the display panel included in the touch screen 201 in an inactive state or display predetermined screen information.

For example, the screen information may include an area where text characters related to the current date and weather are displayed. The weather information may include information relating to the present temperature and humidity (Humidity, 'HUM.'), And current weather conditions. That is, if the current weather is rain, the controller 180 stores weather information including rainfall ('RAIN') information as information related to the current weather condition, that is, rainy weather, Can be displayed.

The screen information may include an area in which at least one graphic object corresponding to the current weather information is displayed. Accordingly, if the current weather condition is a rainy situation as described above, the controller 180 may display at least one graphic object having various sizes, which simulate a raindrop shape, in one area of the screen information . In this case, the number of graphic objects may be determined according to the present precipitation amount. That is, the controller 180 can display more raindrop graphic objects when the amount of precipitation is larger than when rainfall is small.

Meanwhile, the screen information may include an area in which information related to a predetermined theme is displayed by a user. For example, the control unit 180 may display information related to the predetermined topic through image information such as text, image, or moving image. Accordingly, when the news information is selected from the user, the controller 180 can display the news information broadcast through the news broadcast channel through the screen information.

Graphic objects 1000 and 1010 for switching the state of the touch screen 201 may be displayed in areas at both ends of the bottom edge of the touch screen 201. [

First, the first object 1000 may be for receiving a user selection for switching the entire touch screen 201 to a transparent state. 10 (a), when the user's input is detected in the area on the touch screen 201 on which the first object 1000 is displayed, The entire area of the touch screen 201 can be turned into a transparent state, as shown in the second drawing of FIG. Thus, the entire touch screen 201 can be made transparent, and the user can check the food stored in the storage room corresponding to the door 210 through the entire area of the touch screen 201.

On the other hand, the second object 1010 may be for receiving a user selection for switching the entire touch screen 201 to an opaque state. Therefore, as shown in the first drawing of FIG. 10B, in the state where the entire area of the touch screen 201 is transparently changed, the user 1010 is displayed on the area on the touch screen 201, The controller 180 can switch the entire area of the touch screen 201 to an opaque state. Then, the entire area of the touch screen 201 may become opaque so that foods stored in the refrigerator 100 are not visible, and the controller 180 displays predetermined image information as shown in the second drawing of FIG. 10 (b) Or the display panel can be kept in a deactivated state.

In the above description, the graphic objects 1000 and 1010 for switching the touch screen 201 to the transparent state or the opaque state are displayed on the touch screen 201, respectively. However, Of course, only one of the graphic objects may be displayed on the touch screen 201.

For example, the control unit 180 may display only the first object 1000 on the touch screen 201 in the first drawing of FIG. 10 (a). In this state, when the user selects the first object 1000, the controller 180 may convert the touch screen 201 to a transparent state as shown in the second drawing of FIG. 10A.

In this state, the controller 180 can detect whether or not the user's input is applied to the first object 1000. [ When the first object 1000 is selected again, the controller 180 may switch the state of the touch screen 201 back to an opaque state. In this case, the controller 180 may display predetermined screen information on the touch screen 201 or may keep the display panel in an inactive state.

If only one graphic object is displayed, the controller 180 may display different graphic objects according to the current state of the touch screen 201. [ For example, when the touch screen 201 is in a transparent state, the controller 180 displays a graphic object having the same shape as that of the first object 1000 as a graphic object for selecting a state change of the touch screen 201 can do. On the other hand, when the touch screen 201 is in an opaque state, the controller 180 displays a graphic object having the same shape as the second object 1010 as a graphic object for selecting the state change of the touch screen 201 .

In the meantime, even when the user's touch input is not applied, the controller 180 may switch the display panel of the touch screen 201 to the inactive state. For example, the controller 180 may keep the display panel in a deactivated state when a preset time has elapsed without the user being perceived. Then, the touch screen 201 can be turned into an opaque state.

The refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can display the image of the storage room corresponding to the door other than the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is formed through the touch screen 201 Can be displayed on the touch screen 201 as described above.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a case where an image corresponding to a specific storage room is displayed on the touch screen 201 according to the user's selection.

11, the control unit 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention controls the touch input to the touch screen 201, which is in an opaque state, The touch screen 201 can be turned into a transparent state. 11, the inside 1100a of the first storage room 1100 corresponding to the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is formed is discriminated through the transparent touch screen 201 It can be seen as possible.

In this state, when the predetermined input is applied by the user, the controller 180 controls the doors 210, 220, 230, and 240 of the refrigerator 100 as shown in the third drawing of FIG. 1102, 1104, and 1106 corresponding to the storage areas 1100, 1102, 1104, and 1106 corresponding to the selected storage areas 1100, 1102, 1104, and 1106. In this case, when the user selects one area 1120 corresponding to the specific storage room from the graphic object 1110, the control unit 180 displays the image sensed from the specific storage room corresponding to the selected area 1120, Can be displayed on the display unit (201).

For example, when one area 1120 of the graphic object 1110 corresponds to the third storage room 1104 of the refrigerator 100, the controller 180 controls the third storage room 1104 through the touch screen 201 1104 to display images to be sensed. The internal screen 1104a of the third storage room 1104 may be displayed on the touch screen 201 as shown in the fourth drawing of FIG. 11 on the touch screen 201.

According to the above description, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can generate a graphic object corresponding to a particular food item. In this case, the position of the corresponding graphic object is changed according to the position of the specific food item I have mentioned that it is possible.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view showing an example in which tag information corresponding to a specific food item is changed in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may display a graphic object corresponding to a particular food item on the touch screen 201 according to a function selected by the user. For example, when a sticky function including information related to the selected food is selected in a state that a specific food is selected by the user, the controller 180 converts the information related to the food into a sticky graphic object corresponding to the specific food The touch screen 201 can be displayed on the screen. The first diagram of FIG. 12 shows such an example. The sticker object 1200 including information on the remaining amount of specific food ('olive oil' 1210) is displayed on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the food 1210, On the screen.

In this state, the controller 180 may track the position of the food corresponding to the graphic object 1200 when the predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, such as when the state of the touch screen 201 is switched, or when a preset time expires, or when it is detected that the door of the refrigerator 100 is opened and closed The internal image of the storage room may be sensed again and the sensed image of the food 1210 may be sensed by comparing the newly sensed image with the sensed image before the predetermined condition is satisfied. 12, when the position of the food 1210 in which the graphic object 1200 is set is shifted to the side, the controller 180 detects the movement of the food 1210 .

Meanwhile, when the position of the food 1210 is detected, the controller 180 may detect the current position of the food 1210. For example, the controller 180 may detect the position of the food 1210 from the image of the storage room where the food 1210 is currently stored. Meanwhile, when the position of the food 1210 is not detected from the storage room, the controller 180 may detect the position of the food 1210 from other storage rooms. The control unit 180 may not display the graphic object 1200 corresponding to the food item 1210 if the food item 1210 is not detected from other storage rooms.

The control unit 180 may change the display position of the graphic object 1200 according to the current position of the food item 1210 when the changed position of the food item 1210 is detected. 12, when the food 1210 moves to the empty space on the left side, the controller 180 moves the graphic object 1200 to the left according to the food item 1210. That is, . 12, the graphic object 1200 set on the food item 1210 is displayed in an area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the position of the food item 1210 moved to the left side .

Meanwhile, if the position of the food 1210 is changed to another storage room, the controller 180 may display the graphic object 1200 at a position corresponding to the food 1210 moved to the other storage room Of course. In this case, when the inside of the storage room in which the food item 1210 is currently stored is viewed through the touch screen 201, the controller 180 displays the graphic object at a position on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the food item 1210, (1200) can be displayed.

Meanwhile, according to the above description, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has set a predetermined time limit from the user, and can display the information indicating the set time limit by changing over time.

13A and 13B illustrate an example in which tag information indicating an arbitrary time limit set by the user is generated in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention and an example in which information displayed in the tag information changes As shown in FIG.

Referring first to FIG. 13A, the first diagram of FIG. 13A illustrates an example in which one of the foods displayed on the touch screen 201 is selected by the user. 13A, the user touches one area on the touch screen 201 on which the specific food 1300 is displayed or the graphic object 1310 corresponding to the specific food 1300, It is possible to select the food 1300 for which information is to be set.

13A, the control unit 180 may display the screen information 1320 for receiving the time limit information on the touch screen 201, as shown in the second drawing of FIG. 13A. For example, the screen information 1320 for receiving the time limit information includes graphic objects that can be selected to increase or decrease the time limit, and an area 1324 where the time limit selected by the graphic objects can be displayed . Also, the screen information 1320 may include calendar information displayed on the basis of the current date, and the time information may be received according to a touch input of the user applied to the calendar information.

Meanwhile, as shown in the second diagram of FIG. 13A, the calendar information may be displayed such that one area 1322 on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the current date (day 11) is distinguished from other dates. In this state, when the touch input applied to the area 1322 corresponding to the current date is sensed, the control unit 180 can set the expiration information based on the dates set from the touch input. 13A, when the user applies a drag input 1332 that reaches the area corresponding to "13 days" three days after the area 132 corresponding to the current date, The control unit 180 can receive the expiration information in three days based on the drag input. In this case, the controller 180 may separately display the regions 1330 corresponding to the drag input 1332 so that the dates set according to the drag input 1332 can be distinguished from other dates Of course it is.

On the other hand, as shown in the third diagram of FIG. 13A, when the time limit is set to 3 days, the control unit 180 can display the time limit information indicating the currently set time limit in one area on the touch screen 201. [ More preferably, the controller 180 may display the time limit information 1340 in an area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the currently selected food 1300, as shown in the fourth diagram of FIG. 13A. Accordingly, the control unit 180 can arbitrarily set a time limit for the specific food, and the time limit can be used as information on the shelf life or shelf life of the food.

On the other hand, when the time limit information is set as described above, the control unit 180 can update the time limit included in the time limit information with the passage of time and display the updated time limit. Fig. 13B shows an example of such a case.

Referring to FIG. 13B, the controller 180 according to the embodiment of the present invention can display the time limit information 1350 set for the specific food 1300 in a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG. 13A. In this state, the controller 180 can update the deadline included in the deadline information 1350 and display the updated deadline according to the passage of time.

The control unit 180 may update the time limit information 1350 based on a specific time point, for example, at midnight. That is, the control unit 180 can subtract one by one from the number of days displayed through the time limit information 1350 every time the midnight passes. 13B, if the time period included in the time limit information 1350 indicates the number of days of five days, if the control unit 180 determines that the midnight has elapsed twice, that is, two days have elapsed Information indicating that the two days have been subtracted, that is, the three-day time limit, can be displayed through the time limit information 1350 as shown in the second diagram of FIG. 13B.

On the other hand, the control unit 180 can continuously update the time limit information 1350 as time elapses. Therefore, if all the days included in the time limit information 1350, that is, 5 days have elapsed, as shown in the third drawing of FIG. 13B, the control unit 180 displays time limit information 1350 indicating that the remaining time limit is 0 ) Can be displayed. In this case, as shown in the fourth diagram of FIG. 13B, when the time limit elapses, the control unit 180 displays the time limit information 1350 indicating that the set time limit has elapsed on the touch screen 201 can do. Accordingly, the control unit 180 can display through the time limit information 1350 that the time limit for storing the food corresponding to the time limit information 1350 has exceeded the currently set time limit.

Meanwhile, in the above description, it has been mentioned that the position of the graphic object displayed on the touch screen 201 can be moved according to the drag input of the user. FIG. 13C shows this example.

13C shows an example in which a graphic object 1350 according to an input of a user is displayed on the touch screen 201. FIG. When the graphic object 1350 is displayed on the touch screen 201 as described above, the controller 180 can detect the input of the user applied to the graphic object 1350.

The second diagram of FIG. 13C shows an example in which the user's touch input is applied to the graphic object 1350. As shown in the second diagram of FIG. 13C, when a touch input of a user applied to the graphic object 1350 is sensed, the controller 180 may perform various functions according to the touch input. For example, the control unit 180 may perform other functions related to the graphic object 1350 according to the touch input.

13C, the touch input 1360 of the user applied to the graphic object 1350 is displayed on the touch screen 201 from the point 1360 where the current touch input is applied, 2 < / RTI > point (1370). 13C, when the drag input is applied to the touch input of the user, the controller 180 may change the display position of the graphic object according to the drag input. 13C, the controller 180 may move the position where the graphic object 1350 is displayed to the second point 1370 on the touch screen 201 according to the drag input have.

According to the above description, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention selects a timer function from a user and displays a graphic object related to the selected timer function on the touch screen 201 have.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are illustrations showing examples in which a timer function is set for a specific food or a specific storage room in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14A, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can detect a touch input of a user applied on the touch screen 201. Then, the control unit 180 may display a management menu 800 on the touch screen 201 that allows the user to select a timer function based on the touch input.

On the other hand, the management menu 800 can be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201 based on the point 1410 to which the touch input is applied. For example, the control unit 180 may display the management menu 800 around the touch input point 1410, as shown in the second diagram of FIG. 14A. In this state, the controller 180 may detect a user input of a timer function item included in the management menu 800 and may execute a timer function according to the input of the detected user.

Meanwhile, when the timer function is executed, the control unit 180 can display the graphic object 1430 related to the timer function on the touch screen 201. [ And a time to be counted may be set according to a user's input to the graphic object 1430. For example, the graphical object 1430 may have a clock or circle shape, as shown in the third diagram of FIG. 14A, and the input of the user, which is applied to the graphical object 1430, May be the user's drag input 1420 applied along the perimeter of the display 1430. The controller 180 sets a time based on the drag input 1420 and performs counting of the set time.

On the other hand, when the time setting is completed and the time counting is performed as described above, the control unit 180 displays the current time counted state through the time counting object 1440 as shown in the fourth drawing of FIG. 14A . In this case, the time counting object 1440 may include information on the current remaining time (for example, 45 minutes), and a state in which the remaining time decreases may be displayed as the time elapses.

Meanwhile, the touch input may be applied to one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific food 1400, as shown in the first drawing of FIG. 14A. In this case, the controller 180 may determine that the timer function selected in the second drawing of FIG. 14A is set for the food 1400 corresponding to the touch input point 1410. 14A, the control unit 180 displays a graphic object 1410 for setting the counting time around the touch input point 1410, that is, the food 1400 And can be displayed in an area on the touch screen 201 to be displayed. And display the counting object 1440 in an area on the touch screen 201 where the food 1400 is displayed to indicate that the time count currently being performed is to be performed on the food 1400.

Meanwhile, as described above, the timer function may be set to any one of a storage room or a plurality of storage spaces constituting a storage room as well as a specific food. The control unit 180 may determine whether the timer function is for a specific food or a storage room or a storage space based on a touch input point on the touch screen 201. [ FIG. 14B shows an example in which the timer function is set in the storage room in this case.

Referring to FIG. 14B, the control unit 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can detect a touch input applied to the touch screen 201. As shown in the second diagram of FIG. 14B, a management menu 800 including at least one item centered on the point 1450 to which the touch input is applied may be displayed on the touch screen 201.

14B, when the user selects the timer function from the management menu 800, the control unit 180 displays the graphic object 1460 related to the timer function on the touch screen 201, Can be displayed on the screen. And a time to be counted may be set according to a user's input to the graphic object 1460. For example, the graphical object 1460 may have a clock or circle shape, as shown in the third diagram of FIG. 14B, and the input of the user, which is applied to the graphical object 1460, Or a drag input 1462 of the user, which is applied along the perimeter of the display 1460. In this case, the control unit 180 may change the minute object type graphic object displayed on the graphic object 1462 based on the time set according to the drag input 1462, and may set the currently set time to the text information 1460 You can also display more. The control unit 180 may perform counting of the set time according to the drag input 1462.

The control unit 180 may display the current time counted through the time counting object 1480, as shown in the fourth diagram of FIG. 14B. In this case, the time counting object 1480 may include information 1482 on the current remaining time (e.g., 45 minutes) and may indicate a state in which the remaining time decreases as the time elapses.

Meanwhile, the control unit 180 may detect whether the point 1450 to which the touch input is applied corresponds to a specific food. 14B, if the point 1450 to which the touch input is applied is not applied to a region corresponding to a specific food, the controller 180 determines whether the currently selected timer function is stored in the storage room or storage It can be judged that it is set for the space.

For example, if the touch input is applied to an area corresponding to the partition between the storage spaces constituting the storage room as shown in the first drawing of FIG. 14B, the controller 180 determines that the currently selected timer function is currently It can be determined that the setting is set for the storage room in which the inside thereof is shown on the touch screen 201. [ Then, the controller 180 may display different time counting objects for indicating the operation state of the timer function currently being performed according to the object to which the timer function is set.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, when the timer function is set for a specific food, the controller 180 controls the time counting object 1440 (the first time counting object) 201). ≪ / RTI > On the other hand, when the currently set timer function is set for a specific storage room or storage space, the controller 180 controls the operation of the timer function with a graphic object (second time counting object: 1480) distinguished from the first time counting object 1440 Status can be displayed. Accordingly, the controller 180 allows the user to more easily identify the operation state of the currently set timer function and the object of the current timer through the time counting object.

According to the above description, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that when a function of displaying information on the remaining amount of currently stored food items is selected from a user, It is noted that the measured residual amount information may be displayed.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary view showing an example in which remaining amount information of foods stored in a specific storage room is displayed in the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

15, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may select an item 802 corresponding to a sticker function according to a user's selection. In addition, the controller 180 may receive the information on the remaining amount of the food or each storage space as information displayed by the sticker function.

In this case, the control unit 180 displays remaining amount information, which is measured for each food item in the storage room, which is displayed on the touch screen 201 and is displayed on the touch screen 201, on the touch screen 201 according to the user's selection . For example, when the user selects the display of the remaining amount information for all the foods in the storage room, the control unit 180 determines the remaining amount of the food stored in the storage room Information can be displayed at a position on the touch screen 201 corresponding to each food.

Alternatively, the control unit 180 may display the remaining amount information on any one of the foods stored in the storage room from the user. For example, the control unit 180 can determine whether any one of the foods currently displayed on the touch screen 201 is selected based on the touch input point applied on the touch screen 201. [ If it is determined that one of the food items is selected, the remaining amount information measured from the selected specific food item is displayed on the touch screen 201 (Fig. 15) according to the selection of the sticker function to display the remaining amount information as shown in the first drawing of Fig. ). ≪ / RTI > In this case, the remaining amount information of the specific food may be displayed in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the selected food, as shown in the third diagram of FIG.

Meanwhile, according to the above description, the control unit 180 may measure the remaining amount of food stored in each of the plurality of storage spaces constituting the storage room, and display the measured result. In this case, the control unit 180 can display the remaining amount information measured in each storage space together with information on the food stored in each storage space as shown in the fourth drawing of FIG.

Referring to the fourth drawing of FIG. 15, the specific storage room in which the interior is visible through the touch screen 201 may be composed of four storage spaces. Each storage space includes a first storage A second storage space 1520 in which eggs are stored, a third storage space 1530 in which wine is stored, and a fourth storage space 1540 in which oil is stored. In this case, the control unit 180 can detect the remaining amount of 1500 ml from the result of measuring the weight (for example, 1500 g) of the first storage space 1510. The detected remaining amount information 1512 is displayed on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the first storage space 1510 together with the type of food stored in the first storage space 1510, Area can be displayed.

Similarly, the controller 180 may measure the remaining amount of eggs stored in the second storage space 1520. For example, when the user sets an egg to be stored in the second storage space 1520, the controller 180 may detect the weight of eggs stored in the second storage space 1520. The number of eggs stored in the second storage space 1520 can be estimated by dividing the detected weight by the weight of a general egg, for example, the average egg weight. The estimated information can be displayed together with the type of food stored in the second storage space 1520, that is, 'egg', in one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the first storage space 1510 have.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may measure the remaining amount of wine and oil stored in the third storage space 1530 or the fourth storage space 1540. For example, when the wine or oil is stored in the transparent container as described above, the controller 180 may measure the remaining amount from the image of the container containing the wine or the oil. Alternatively, the control unit 180 may store the information input previously by the user, that is, the capacity information input together when the container containing the wine or the oil is stored in the third storage space 1530 or the fourth storage space 1540, The storage amount of the wine or oil stored in the third storage space 1530 or the fourth storage space 1540 can be determined based on the weight measured when the container containing the wine or oil is stored. The remaining amount of remaining wine or oil can be calculated based on the weight that the user reduces when using the wine or oil. The calculated remaining amount is stored in the third storage space 1530 together with the type of food stored in the third storage space 1530 or the fourth storage space 1540, that is, 'wine' or 'oil' Or the respective areas on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the fourth storage space 1540.

Meanwhile, when information related to the food is displayed on the touch screen 201, the controller 180 performs a related function according to a user's input on the information displayed on the touch screen 201 . For example, the control unit 180 may perform a purchasing function for at least one food based on a touch input of a user applied to the remaining amount information shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which a purchasing function for at least one food item is performed in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to the first drawing of FIG. 16, the first diagram of FIG. 16 shows an example in which the remaining amount information 1600 of each food stored in the refrigerator 100 is selected by the user.

As shown in the first diagram of FIG. 16, when the remaining amount information 1600 for a specific food is selected, the controller 180 can identify the food 1602 corresponding to the selected remaining amount information 1600. For example, the controller 180 can identify the food 1602 based on the tag information stored together with the food or the barcode displayed on the container of the food or the like when the food is stored. Or the controller 180 can recognize the image or text information displayed on the container of the food 1602 from the image of the food 1602 sensed through the camera. And may identify the type or name of the food item 1602 based on the recognized image or text.

16, when the remaining amount information 1600 of the specific food 1602 is selected, the controller 180 displays the selected remaining amount information 1602 in one area on the touch screen 201 And a graphical object associated with the shopping function of the food 1600 corresponding to the shopping item. And a graphical object associated with the shopping function may be formed in one area 1610 adjacent to a particular vertex on the touch screen 201. [

As shown in the second diagram of FIG. 16, the controller 180 may sense a drag input of a user applied to the currently selected remaining amount information 1600. FIG. When the user drops the dragged remaining amount information 1600 into the area 1610 in which the graphic object related to the shopping function is displayed, the user selects the dragged remaining amount information 1600 of the food 1602 corresponding to the currently selected remaining amount information 1600 It can be determined that the purchase has been selected.

The control unit 180 may add the food 1602 corresponding to the remaining amount information 1600 as the food to be purchased and display the screen information related to the purchase function of the set food to be purchased on the touch screen 201 .

The third diagram of FIG. 16 shows an example in which a shopping list (shopping list) 1620 including a list of foods 1630 set as food to be purchased up to now is displayed on the touch screen 201. In this state, the controller 180 may perform a function of purchasing at least one of the foods included in the shopping cart list 1620 according to the user's selection.

The purchase function may include a function of accessing a specific server or a purchase site where the currently selected food can be purchased, and displaying the screen information related to the purchase of the food. That is, if the food 1602 corresponding to the currently selected remaining amount information 1600 is wine, as shown in the fourth drawing of FIG. 16, And display the screen 1660 of the connected wine purchase site in one area on the touch screen 201. [

On the other hand, when the shopping cart list 1620 is displayed, the control unit 180 displays a graphic object 1650 that can be selected to end the purchase function including the shopping cart list 1620, Can be displayed on the touch screen 201 as shown in FIG. Here, the graphic object 1650 for selecting the end of the purchase function may be displayed in one area 1610 on the touch screen 201 instead of the graphic object related to the shopping function. Based on the user's input to the end object 1650, the currently executing purchase function may be terminated.

On the other hand, in FIG. 16, a connection to a specific purchase site is performed and a screen according to the connection is displayed on the touch screen 201. However, the purchase function provided in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention The present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the control unit 180 may display on the touch screen 201 information such as a mart for purchasing the selected food or a place of purchase such as a seller of the food. If there is a user's selection of the information of the purchaser, the user attempts to connect with the purchaser through a communication network or transmits a call signal to the purchaser through a preset external terminal, i.e., the user's mobile terminal Of course.

In the above description, it has been described that the user adds the graphic object corresponding to the specific food item as the food to be purchased, regardless of the remaining amount, and the purchase function is performed according to the user's selection of the added goods. However, Of course, in the case of the deficient food, the purchase function for the food may be executed immediately.

That is, the controller 180 may display the remaining amount information differently from other remaining amount information such as a different color in the case of food having a remaining amount less than a predetermined level. As a result, the user can easily recognize foods that are currently insufficient. If the user selects a graphic object corresponding to the food, the controller 180 may immediately execute a function related to the purchase of the food. In this case, screen information related to the purchase function may be displayed in one area of the touch screen 201.

Meanwhile, according to the above description, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can provide various recipe information. The recipe information provided in the present invention may be related to the food selected from the user. In the following description, an example of providing recipe information when a specific food is selected from the user will be described with reference to a plurality of examples.

In the above description, the graphic object including the remaining amount information of the food is displayed, and the purchasing function of at least one food is executed according to the touch input of the user applied to the graphic object. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, the control unit 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can perform the function of purchasing food according to the user's choice regardless of whether the graphic object including the remaining amount information is displayed.

For example, when a touch input of a user is applied to a graphic object such as time information or timer information set in a specific food, the controller 180 performs a purchase function of a specific food corresponding to the time information or the timer information can do. The user's touch input may be a drag input applied to a region 1610 adjacent to a specific vertex on the touch screen 201 from a region on the touch screen 201 on which the time limit information or the timer information is displayed.

Here, a graphics object (e.g., a shopping cart image) for performing a shopping function (goods purchasing function) may be output to the one area 1610. [

 In this case, the control unit 180 may display image information (for example, purchase target list information, etc.) related to the purchase of the specific food corresponding to the graphic object on the touch screen 201.

Meanwhile, the controller 201 of the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform a function of purchasing a specific food according to a user's selection even when a graphic object is not displayed. For example, the control unit 180 may sense a touch input (first touch input) of a user applied on the touch screen 201. The control unit 180 may detect whether there is food corresponding to one point on the touch screen 201 on which the first touch input is sensed. If there is a food corresponding to the first touch input as a result of the detection, the controller 180 controls the operation of the touch input unit 160 according to the second touch input of the user applied subsequent to the first touch input, It may also perform the purchasing function of food.

17 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which recipe information for a food selected by a user among the food stored in the refrigerator 100 in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 17, a controller 180 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can detect a touch input 1700 of a user applied on a touch screen 201. In this case, the touch screen 201 may be in a state in which a plurality of divided storage spaces are visible. That is, the touch screen 201 is turned to a transparent state so that the interior of the storage room corresponding to the door 210 on which the touch screen 201 is formed can be seen to be distinguishable or the other doors 220, 230, 240 The display unit may display a sensed image from a storage room corresponding to one of the storage units.

In this state, the control unit 180 can identify a storage space in which the specific food corresponding to the user's touch input 1700 or a specific type of food is stored. For example, as shown in the first drawing of FIG. 17, when the storage room shown through the touch screen 201 is divided into a plurality of storage spaces 1510, 1520, 1530, and 1540, May identify the storage space 1520 corresponding to the touch input 1700. And may determine that the food stored in the identified storage space 1520, i.e., eggs, has been selected by the user.

Then, the control unit 180 can detect recipe information related to the currently selected food, that is, the egg, among the recipe information stored in the memory 170. [ For example, the recipe information detected herein may be recipe information that includes the currently selected food, i.e., the egg as a material food. The control unit 180 may display the list 1710 of detected recipe information on the touch screen 201 as shown in the second drawing of FIG.

On the other hand, in the state that the recipe list is displayed, the controller 180 can detect the selection of the user for one recipe. 17, when the user selects one of the recipes 1720, the controller 180 displays information on the currently selected recipe 1720 on the touch screen 201 Can be displayed. 17 shows an example in which recipe information selected from the user is displayed as described above.

Meanwhile, the control unit 180 may divide the currently selected recipe information into a plurality of steps. As shown in the fourth drawing of FIG. 17, the recipe information classified by each step can be sequentially displayed according to the user's selection. That is, each time the user applies the touch input, the control unit 180 outputs the next-step recipe on the touch screen 201 in order to allow the user to cook the food according to each step-by-step recipe .

Meanwhile, it is needless to say that the recipe information displayed on the touch screen 201 may be transmitted to a predetermined external device. For example, the control unit 180 may transmit recipe information currently displayed on the touch screen 201 to a specific mobile terminal at the request of the user. In this case, the control unit 180 may transmit the recipe information when there is a user's selection for each step. In this case, the recipe information transmitted to the mobile terminal may be recipe information of a specific step currently displayed on the touch screen. That is, the control unit 180 may transmit the recipe information of the same step as that displayed on the touch screen 201 to the mobile terminal so that the recipe information is displayed on the mobile terminal.

According to the above description, the controller 180 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can display information related to the material food of the currently selected recipe on the touch screen 201, Information related to any one of the material foods can be displayed on the touch screen 201. [

FIG. 18 is an exemplary view showing an example in which information relating to any one of the food items of the currently selected recipe is displayed in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring first to FIG. 18, the first diagram of FIG. 18 illustrates an example in which a recipe list 1710 containing recipes related to the currently selected food is displayed on the touch screen 201. From the recipe list 1710, the controller 180 can detect a user's selection of one of the recipes 1800.

If one of the recipes 1800 is selected, the controller 180 may display a list of the ingredients in the selected recipe, as shown in the second drawing of FIG. And may be able to sense the user's input to any one of the list of ingredients. For example, as shown in the second diagram of FIG. 18, if 'two eggs (2 Eggs)' are selected among the food materials included in the selected recipe, the controller 180 stores information Can be displayed on the touch screen 201.

For example, the information related to the selected material food may be information on the storage room in the refrigerator 100 in which the selected material food is stored. That is, when the user selects a specific material food, the control unit 180 may control the touch screen 201 so that a storage room storing food corresponding to the selected material food is displayed through the touch screen 201 . For example, if the storage compartment corresponding to the material food is a storage compartment corresponding to the door 210, the controller 180 may transparently switch the touch screen 201 so that the inside of the storage compartment corresponding to the door 210 It can be displayed. On the other hand, if the storage room corresponding to the material food is a storage room corresponding to any one of the doors 210, 220, 230, 240 on which the touch screen 201 is formed, The image of the storage room in which the material food is stored may be displayed. In this case, the control unit 180 further displays a graphic object corresponding to the storage room currently displayed on the touch screen 201 on the touch screen 201, It is of course possible to make it easier to recognize which storage room the displayed storage room is.

Meanwhile, when the inside of the storage room where the material food is stored is viewed through the touch screen 201, the controller 180 stores the storage space in which the specific food corresponding to the material food or the food corresponding to the material food is stored, It is needless to say that it may be displayed separately from the area. For example, when the currently selected food item is 'egg' as shown in the second drawing of FIG. 18, the control unit 180 determines whether the currently selected food item corresponds to the 'egg' among the storage rooms currently displayed through the touch screen 201 And the area corresponding to the storage space where the 'egg' is stored can be displayed separately from the other areas.

18, the control unit 180 controls the touch screen 201 so that only a region corresponding to a specific storage space storing food corresponding to the selected material food can be seen to be distinguishably displayed can do. That is, the control unit 180 switches only one region on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific storage space to a transparent state, or switches the display panel to an inactive state except for the specific storage space, May be controlled so that the image of the display unit is not displayed.

On the contrary, as shown in the fourth diagram of FIG. 18, the controller 180 can control the touch screen 201 so that only the area corresponding to the specific storage space storing the food corresponding to the selected material food is displayed have. That is, the control unit 180 switches only one region on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific storage space to an opaque state, or the region on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the specific storage space May not be displayed. In this case, as shown in the fourth diagram of FIG. 18, the controller 180 displays various information measured from the specific storage space, for example, a remaining amount Information and the like may be further displayed.

On the other hand, when the information about the currently selected material food is displayed on the touch screen 201, the controller 180 may perform functions related to the material food. For example, the control unit 180 may display a graphic object 1832 associated with the purchasing function in one area 1830 on the touch screen 201 and may include a touch input applied to the currently selected material food, A purchase function for the material food may be performed based on a touch input applied to a region 1830 in which the display region 1832 is displayed. For example, such a touch input may include a touch input of a user applied to one area on the touch screen 201 corresponding to the material food, and a touch input of the touch input to the one area 1830 on the touch screen 201 It can be a drag and drop input.

Meanwhile, the information measured from the refrigerator 100 related to the selected foodstuff may be transmitted to an external device such as a predetermined mobile terminal according to the user's selection. In this case, the user of the external device may recognize the amount of the specific material food currently stored in the refrigerator 100 among the material foods included in the currently selected recipe, from the remaining amount information received by the external device. Here, the remaining amount information transmitted to the external device may include a storage room storing food corresponding to the currently selected material food or an image sensed from a storage space storing the food. Accordingly, the user of the external device can more accurately recognize the remaining amount of the specific material food currently stored in the refrigerator 100 through the image included in the remaining amount information.

The present invention described above can be embodied as computer-readable codes on a medium on which a program is recorded. The computer readable medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer readable medium include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD), a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, , And may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (e.g., transmission over the Internet). In addition, the computer may include a controller 180 of the refrigerator 100. The foregoing detailed description, therefore, should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

A main body having a storage chamber;
A door coupled to the main body and configured to open and close the storage chamber;
A touch screen disposed on one side of the door, the touch screen being configured to be switched from one of the transparent first state and the opaque second state to the other state; And
In response to a touch being made on the touch screen over a predetermined time while the touch screen is in the transparent first state,
And a control unit for controlling the touch screen to output a management menu related to management of food stored in the storage room,
Wherein,
Wherein the control unit controls the touch screen so that a graphic object related to the selected menu is displayed on the touch area of the touch screen when any one of the management menus is selected. The apparatus of claim 1,
Controlling the touch screen such that when the touch screen switches from the transparent first state to the opaque second state, the graphic object disappears on the touch screen,
Wherein the touch screen controls the touch screen so that the graphic object is located again in the touched area of the touch screen when the touch screen switches back from the opaque second state to the transparent first state The refrigerator. The method according to claim 1,
The display position of the graphic object output to the touch screen is changed based on a touch of a predetermined method applied to the graphic object,
Wherein the predetermined type of touch includes a drag touch,
Wherein the graphic object is moved on the touch screen along with a drag touch applied to the graphic object. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising at least one camera disposed within the storage chamber,
Wherein,
Sensing a specific food placed in the area to which the touch is applied among the foods arranged in the storage room using the image input through the camera,
Wherein the management menu comprises a management menu related to the specific food. 5. The apparatus of claim 4,
Monitors the state of the specific food in an image input through the camera at a predetermined time interval,
Wherein the control unit controls the touch screen so that when the state of the specific food changes, state information of the changed specific food is reflected in the graphic object. 6. The apparatus of claim 5,
Wherein the controller controls the touch screen such that the graphic object disappears if the specific food is no longer located in the storage room as a result of the monitoring. 6. The apparatus of claim 5,
Wherein the control unit controls the touch screen so that the display position of the graphic object is changed according to the changed position of the specific food when the arrangement position of the specific food is changed as a result of the monitoring. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the graphical object comprises management information associated with the selected management menu. 9. The method of claim 8,
If the management information is information relating to at least one of the shelf life and storage,
Wherein,
Updates the management information based on the elapse of time, and controls the touch screen so that updated information is included in the graphic object.

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