KR20210054062A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment is attached to a refrigerator main body 11 with an open front side, heat insulating doors 21 and 22 attached to the front openings of the refrigerator main body 11, and the refrigerator main body 11, Door opening devices 54 and 55 for forcibly opening the doors 21 and 22, a control operation unit 50 installed on the door 22 for changing the cooling control contents of the refrigerator, and the door ( 21, 22, the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 for operating the opening operation of the door opening device 54, 55, and the control operation portion and the operation signal from the opening operation portion 51, 52 And a control unit 56 that inputs and performs the corresponding cooling control and door opening control. The portion to which the opening operation input is given to the opening operation portions 51 and 52 is part of the front plates 21A and 22A of the door and is integrally continuous with the front plates 21A and 22A. The operation for the control operation part 50 and the operation for the opening operation 51 and 52 were made into different operation methods.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a touch open sensor on a front plate of a front door.

In recent years, refrigerators having a front plate of a decorative glass or plastic plate have appeared. In such a refrigerator, the operation input unit is a capacitive touch button and is disposed on the front panel, and when a user touches a part corresponding to the operation button on the front panel, the operation input is sensed by a change in capacitance, and the corresponding Transmits an operation signal to the refrigerator control unit. In such a refrigerator, it is desirable to have a door opening device that automatically opens the door and detects a user's touch operation to a specific place on the front panel.

However, if the door is automatically opened when a certain place on the front panel is touched, the user does not intend to open the door, but inadvertently touches the place momentarily, or a part of the user's body unconsciously moves to the place. There is a risk of malfunction of opening the door even when it comes into contact.

In order to avoid such a malfunction, a technique of actuating the door opening device by a touch detection means is conceived, but malfunction cannot be avoided.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-257627 (JP 2009-257627 A) Japanese Patent No. 4347234 (JP 4347234 B) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-17865 (JP 2012-017865 A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-17866 (JP 2012-017866 A)

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that does not cause a malfunction of the door opening even when a user contacts a location for a long time without intention to open a door or when an object is in contact for a long time. do.

The refrigerator of the embodiment includes a refrigerator main body with an open front side, an insulating door attached to the front opening of the refrigerator main body, and a door opening device attached to the refrigerator main body and forcibly opening the door.

A refrigerator according to another embodiment includes a refrigerator body with an open front, an insulating door attached to the front opening of the refrigerator body, a door opening device attached to the refrigerator body and forcibly opening the door, and cooling the refrigerator by being installed on the door. A control operation unit for changing the control contents, a door opening operation unit installed on the door to manipulate the opening operation of the door opening device, and an operation signal from the control operation unit and the door opening operation unit are input, and the corresponding cooling It has a control unit that controls and controls the opening of the door. The part for giving the opening operation input to the opening operation part is a part of the front plate of the door and is integrally continuous with the front plate. The operation of the control operation part and the operation of the door opening operation part were made by different operation methods.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment.
2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment in an open state.
3 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating compartment portion of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.
4 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.
5 is a flowchart of door opening control in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.
6 is an explanatory diagram of an attaching operation of the opening operation unit in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.
7 is a cross-sectional view showing an installation state of an opening operation unit in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a front view showing an opening operation unit and an opening operation display unit in the refrigerator according to the seventh embodiment.
9 is a front view showing an opening operation unit and an opening operation display unit in the refrigerator according to the eighth embodiment.
Fig. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example of installation of an opening operation unit in the refrigerator according to the ninth embodiment.
Fig. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of the arrangement of touch detection electrodes of the opening operation unit in the refrigerator according to the tenth embodiment.
Fig. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of arrangement of touch detection electrodes of the opening operation unit in the refrigerator according to the eleventh embodiment.
13 is an explanatory view showing another example of arrangement of touch detection electrodes of the opening operation unit in the refrigerator according to the eleventh embodiment.
Fig. 14 is a front view showing an opening operation unit and an opening operation display unit in the refrigerator according to the twelfth embodiment.
15 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to the fifteenth embodiment.
Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to a seventeenth embodiment.
Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to an eighteenth embodiment.
18 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to a sixteenth embodiment.
19 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to the fifteenth embodiment.
Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to a twentieth embodiment.
Fig. 21 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to a nineteenth embodiment.
22 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to a 22nd embodiment.
23 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to a 24th embodiment.
24 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to a sixteenth embodiment.
25 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to a 25th embodiment.
26 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to a 26th embodiment.
27 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to another embodiment.
28 is a diagram showing a refrigerator according to another embodiment.
29 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment.
Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment in an open state.
31 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating compartment portion of the refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment.
Fig. 32 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment.
33 is a flowchart showing a state in which the left door and the right door of the refrigerator compartment according to the 27th embodiment are opened automatically by a user instead of manually.
Fig. 34 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional view of a right door, for example, of a refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment.
Fig. 35 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment.
Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the opening operation unit provided with the function of the proximity sensor according to the 27th embodiment.
37 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a 28th embodiment.
38 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the 28th embodiment in an open state.
39 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerating compartment portion of the refrigerator according to the 28th embodiment.
Fig. 40 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator according to the 28th embodiment.
41 is a view showing an example in which the door opening operation unit shown in FIGS. 37 to 39 functions as a human body detecting means for detecting a human body of a user of a refrigerator.
Fig. 42 is a front view showing a refrigerator according to a 29th embodiment.
43 is a block diagram of a door opening control including a human body detecting means of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 42;
44 is a cross-sectional view taken along a front-rear direction showing an upper portion of the refrigerator of the 29th embodiment.
45 is a cross-sectional view taken along the front-rear direction showing the upper part of the refrigerator of the first modified example of the 29th embodiment.
46 is a cross-sectional view taken along the front-rear direction showing the upper part of the refrigerator of the second modification of the 29th embodiment.
47 is a cross-sectional view taken along a front-rear direction showing an upper part of a refrigerator according to a third modification example of the 29th embodiment.
48 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to a 30th embodiment.
49 is a plan view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 48;
50 is a side view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 48;
51 shows an example of the structure of the substrate of the opening operation unit.
FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating a proximity sensor and a guard electrode disposed on the substrate of the opening operation unit shown in FIG. 51.
53 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the structure of the opening operation unit.
Fig. 54 is a block diagram showing electrical connection between a control unit, a door opening operation unit, and a door opening drive unit which is a door opening device.
Fig. 55 is a diagram showing an example of a storage structure of a substrate in a left door and a right door.
56 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 showing a 31st embodiment.
57 shows the vicinity of the door opening operation unit 651 including the proximity sensor 607 at the left door 21 shown in FIG. 56 (or the door opening including the proximity sensor 608 at the right door 22) It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V1-V1 showing an example of the structure of the operation portion 652).
58 is a cross-sectional view of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 56 taken along line V2-V2.
Fig. 59 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of a control unit, a control operation unit, a door opening operation unit, and a door opening drive unit which is a door opening device.
FIG. 60 is a case where the finger touches the electrode of the touch button of the open operation unit after the proximity sensor of the left door shown in Fig. 56 detects the approach of the user’s finger, the control operation unit of the left door and the open operation unit light up It is a diagram showing an example of the mode.
61 is a front view of a refrigerator showing a 32nd embodiment.
62 is a plan view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 61;
63 is a side view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 61;
Fig. 64 shows an example of the structure of the substrate of the opening operation unit shown in Fig. 61;
FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a proximity sensor and a guard electrode disposed on the substrate of the opening operation unit shown in FIG. 64.
66 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the opening operation unit.
Fig. 67 is a block diagram showing electrical connection between a control unit, a door opening operation unit, and a door opening drive unit which is a door opening device.
68 is a diagram showing an example of the storage structure of the substrate in the left door and the right door.
69 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 showing a 33rd embodiment.
FIG. 70 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of an operation detection unit along the ZR-ZR line shown in FIG. 69. FIG.
Fig. 71 is a block diagram showing electrical connections between a control unit, an operation detection unit, and a door opening drive unit which is a door opening device.
FIG. 72 is a diagram showing an example in which a user approaches the proximity sensor in a predetermined specific sequence by an operation (gesture) such as a palm, a side of a hand, or an elbow.
73 is a diagram showing an example of a proximity sensor approaching in a specific order different from that of the proximity sensor.
74 is a diagram showing another embodiment.
75 is a circuit diagram showing a principle of a proximity sensor detecting a touch of a finger.
76 is a diagram showing a basic structure of a proximity sensor.
77 is a diagram for explaining switching between the proximity mode and the capacitive touch mode in the proximity sensor.
78 is a diagram for describing a change in a proximity range in the proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail based on the drawings. In addition, the same or similar constituent members will be described using the same or similar reference numerals.

[First Embodiment]

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment includes a cabinet 11 that is a refrigerator main body. The cabinet 11 is composed of a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14, and a freezing chamber 15 capable of switching the set temperature in the storage chamber from the upper end. In addition, an ice making room 16 is installed on the left side of the conversion room 14.

1 to 3, in order to cover the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 12, a pair of left and right doors 21, and the right door 22 are open on both sides with hinges at the left end and the upper and lower sides of the right end, respectively. It is attached to open and close. In addition, the vegetable compartment 13, the conversion compartment 14, the freezing compartment 15, and the ice making compartment 16 are provided with pull-out doors 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively. A refrigerating evaporator (not shown) for cooling the refrigerating compartment 12 and the vegetable compartment 13 is disposed on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 13. A refrigeration evaporator (not shown) for cooling the conversion chamber 14, the freezing chamber 15, and the ice making chamber 16 is disposed on the rear surfaces of the conversion chamber 14 and the freezing chamber 15. A control unit 56 made of a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 is also disposed on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 13.

For both the left door 21 and the right door 22, the colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A are attached to the opening of the flat inner plate that is opened on the front side, and a vacuum insulating material is placed in the inner cavity, and the vacuum insulating material It is a structure in which a foamed polyurethane insulating material (hereinafter, also referred to simply as a urethane insulating material) or a preformed solid insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a cavity that is not completely filled with the furnace. The degree of coloration of the front plates 21A and 22A is a concentration in which no filling material such as an inner heat insulating material of the front plates 21A and 22A is visible from the outside in a state in which external light is received. In addition, the LED indicator that transmits the operation button name, cooling function name, cooling intensity, etc. to be described later, and the 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays changing values such as temperature values, etc. It is also the visible concentration. Further, it is not limited to a 7-segment LED, and may be an LCD or EL.

In the right end of the left door 21, that is, the open side portion that is close to and opposes the left end of the right door 22 in the closed state, the left end of the right door 22 when the door is closed, that is, the open side portion A rotating partition 31 is provided for maintaining the sealing state of the fruit. A condensation preventing heater for preventing condensation is built into the rotating partition 31.

On the inside of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, a capacitive control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the surface of the front plate 22A is provided. The control operation unit 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit for detecting environmental conditions around the refrigerator, a home button, an LED indicator that detects a touch to the home button and transmits the operation button name, cooling function name, cooling intensity, etc., A 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays changing values such as temperature values is installed.

In each of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the rear side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22 in the vicinity of the lower side, elongated door opening operation portions 51 and 52 are provided in the left and right transverse directions. Further, on the surfaces of the front plates 21A and 22A, open operation display portions 51A and 52A, which are open operation portions and indicate the opening operation direction, are provided. Here, on the door opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21, an arrow mark in the left direction for recognizing that a finger is touched in the left direction and the opening operation is recognized is provided. On the door opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22, a rightward arrow mark for recognizing that a finger is touched and slides in the right direction and the door open operation is recognized is provided.

In each of the two left and right sides in the vicinity of the front end of the upper surface of the ceiling plate of the cabinet 11, the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively, at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end of the upper side, the door opening drive unit 54, 55) Each is installed. These door opening driving units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by an electromagnet to push the upper side near the open end of each of the left door 21 and the right door 22 to the front, respectively. The door can be opened automatically. And, although it will be described later in detail, in order to open the left door 21, slide a finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right or right end of the left door opening operation display unit 51A. 51 detects the continuous touch and sends a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and the control unit 56 operates the door opening driving unit 54 of the left door 21 when it is determined that it is an open operation command, The left door 21 is automatically opened. On the other hand, in order to open the right door 22, if you slide your finger in the right direction while touching the arrow mark near the left or left end of the right door opening operation display unit 52A, the door opening operation unit 52 It detects an enemy touch and sends a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and when the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the door open drive unit 55 of the right door 22 is operated and the right door 22 is automatically operated. Open.

In addition, the cooling control performed by the control unit 56 in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment is general and is not particularly limited, but for example, a compressor, an operation panel, a condensation prevention heater, an ice-making device inside the ice-making compartment, a refrigerating compartment fan, A freezing chamber fan and a defrost heater are connected to and controlled by this control unit 56.

The arrow mark on the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A is not limited to this display, and if it is a display that can easily recognize that the opening operation is performed by touching it and sliding it in the right or left direction, the mark The shape or form is not limited.

In the left door 21 and the right door 22, the left door 21 by an operation of pulling the palm up, inserting a finger, and pulling it to the lower part of the lower side of the door opening operation display portions 51A and 52A, respectively. Handles 61 and 62 are installed to manually open each of the right door 22 individually.

Next, an automatic door opening operation in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 is fitted with front plates 21A and 22A to face each of the five arrow marks arranged in the left and right horizontal directions of the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A. Capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are installed in a row. These capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are set to detect changes in capacitance due to the user's touch and transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, respectively. have.

So, if the user wants to open the right door 22 and touches a finger on the arrow mark at the left end of the door opening operation display unit 52A, and slides the finger to the right while touching it, the capacitive touch Among the sensors 52-1 to 52-5, each of the sensors detecting a change in capacitance transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56 in the order of touch. Therefore, the control unit 56 determines whether the operation is open according to the logic of the flow chart of FIG. 5, and when it is determined as a regular open operation, the control unit 56 outputs a door open driving signal to the right door open drive unit 55 to the right side. The door 22 is automatically opened. In addition, in the case of a door opening operation of the left door 21, an operation of sliding a finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end with respect to the door opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21 With respect to, the same operation of opening the left door 21 is judged.

The logic of the open door judgment here is as follows. If at least 3 of the 5 sensors on the left and right each detects a touch within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds or 1 second) and in the order of listing, it is determined that it is a door opening operation, and the corresponding door is automatically opened. . Here, the opening operation of the right door 22 will be described.

When one of the arrow marks on the door opening operation display unit 52A of the right door 22 is touched, the corresponding capacitive touch sensor on the door opening operation unit 52 side (usually touches the arrow mark near the left or left end). Therefore, in this case, the sensor 51-1 at the left end) detects the touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. The control unit 56 receives this signal and starts the process of determining the opening operation (step S0). Then, the timer count is first started (step S1).

Until the timer counts up, if the capacitive touch sensors 52-2 and 52-3 on the right side and the right side continuously detect a touch and transmit a detection signal, the control unit 56 receives the signal and , It is determined that the touched sensors are three consecutive in the right direction, and as the opening operation direction of the right door 22 from left to right, it is a slide operation in the forward direction. That is, it is determined that it is No in step S2, yes in step S3, yes in step S4, and yes in step S5. As a result, the control unit 56 determines that it is a regular opening operation for the right door 22, outputs an open drive command to the right door open drive unit 55, and operates the open door drive unit 55. The right door 22 is automatically opened (step S6).

In addition, if the slide is stopped halfway, the slide speed is slow, or the length of the slide is short, it is impossible to determine that three or more arrow marks have been touched in the forward direction within a certain period of time (for example, 0.5 seconds or 1 second). , The determination processing of this door opening operation is temporarily stopped, and the next touch detection is awaited (in step S2, it branches to'Yes' and jumps to step S7 to stop the determination processing). Further, the right door is not opened even if the door opening operation display portion 52A slides from the right end side to the left side (in step S5, it branches to'No' and jumps to step S7 to stop the judgment processing).

The judgment processing of the opening operation of the left door 21 is also the same. However, in the case of the left door 21, the direction is opposite to that of the right door 22, and slides to the left after touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end of the door opening operation display part 51A It is judged by the operation of opening the door. Accordingly, the left door does not open even if the left end or the adjacent arrow mark is slid to the right.

In addition, in the automatic door opening control described above, the control unit 56 determines the opening operation and also drives the opening driving units 54 and 55, but instead, the microcontroller 56 is placed on the opening operation unit 51 and 52 side. A computer is mounted, and the capacitive touch sensors (51-1 to 51-5, 52-1 to 52-5) detect the change in capacitance due to the user's touch, and input the touch detection signal to the microcomputer, When the opening operation units 51 and 52 determine that there is a slide operation in a certain direction within a predetermined time, it is finally determined that there is an opening operation and a command signal for opening the left door or opening the right door is transmitted to the control unit 56 In addition, the control unit 56 may adopt a procedure of driving the opening driving unit 54 or the opening driving unit 55 to open the door upon receiving the opening command.

Next, a knitting method of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 to the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In addition, although the opening operation part 52 of the right door 22 is demonstrated below, the same applies to the opening operation part 51 of the left door 21.

First, the door opening operation unit 52 is installed by arranging the capacitive touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 in the longitudinal direction T direction on the elongated substrate 52P, which has a short W direction and a long T direction. It is one structure. Then, the opening operation portion 52 is installed inside the lower end of the right door 22 in a posture in close contact with the rear surface of the front plate 22A with the longitudinal direction of the T-direction as a left-right direction.

There, in the vicinity of the left end of the lower end of the right door 22, an operation part installation space 64 that opens downward is formed. This operation part installation space 64 has a width slightly longer in the left and right transverse direction than the length in the longitudinal direction T of the door opening operation part 52, and the opening operation part 52 is moved in the longitudinal direction T in the transverse direction. In this state, the slide can be inserted upward from the lower surface opening. Then, the opening operation part 52 is inserted into the operation part installation space 64 in a posture aligned with its longitudinal direction (T) in the left and right direction, and is inserted upward from the opening, and reaches the upper end of the operation part installation space 64. Slide until it is fixed. Then, in a state in which the opening operation part 52 is in close contact with the rear surface of the front plate 22A, it is temporarily fixed with a tape or the like. After that, the opening operation part 52 is fixed in the operation part installation space 64 by injecting liquid urethane as a heat insulating material 22B into the inner cavity of the right door 22 to foam and solidify it. The opening operation part 51 for the left door 21 is also attached in the same procedure.

By employing such an installation procedure, in particular, since the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 are installed and fixed in the operation part installation space 64 in a posture that is long in the left and right transverse direction in the T direction and shortened in the vertical direction in the W direction, Even if the capacitive touch sensor 52-5 on the right side is in close contact with the rear surface of the front plate 22A, one side is floating in the L direction, which is the longitudinal direction, and the capacitive touch sensor 52-1 on the left side is attached to the front panel. Even if the capacitive touch sensor 52-1 on the left is not in close contact with the rear surface of the 22A) and is fixed in an excited state, or conversely, the capacitive touch sensor 52- on the right side is in close contact with the rear surface of the front plate 22A. 5) is not in close contact with the rear surface of the front plate 22A and is fixed in an excited state, and as shown in FIG. 7, all capacitive touch sensors ( 52-1 to 52-5) can be reliably fixed in a state that is equally close to the rear surface of the front plate 22A.

[Other embodiments]

The simplest structure of the door of a refrigerator is to place one open door, either left open or right open, in front of the refrigerating chamber, and as this door structure, a colored transparent non-conductive front plate is attached to the front of the insulating door body. A control operation unit for changing the contents of the cooling control of the door and a door opening operation unit for operating the opening operation of the door opening device may be provided. That is, the configuration of the right door 22 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 can also be provided in a single door (second embodiment).

In addition, the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are not limited to the capacitive touch sensor, and do not create irregularities on the surface side of the front plates 21A and 22A such as a pressure-sensitive sensor and an infrared sensor, It is not limited as long as it responds to the operation and can perform the corresponding operation (3rd embodiment).

In addition, it is preferable that the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are set to respond to an operation input for different operation methods. For example, in the case of the control operation unit 50, one operation input is received in response to a point touch to the corresponding part, but in the case of the open operation parts 51 and 52, the part is not slided while touching the part for a certain distance or more. Otherwise, it can be set to a setting that is not recognized by the opening operation input (4th embodiment).

In addition, the opening operation portions 51 and 52 may be configured to detect an operation of touching a plurality of portions in a predetermined order or in a predetermined direction instead of an operation of touching and sliding with a finger (Fifth Embodiment). . In addition, as another modified example, the opening operation portion may be provided on the upper end instead of the lower end of the door (6th embodiment).

Further, as another embodiment, the following modifications are possible. As shown in Fig. 8, in a refrigerator in which the left and right doors 21 and 22 are both open type, the opening operation display portions 51A-1 and 52A-1 with respect to the opening operation portions 51 and 52 are front plates. Set at the same height position from the ground on the surfaces of (21A, 22A), and slide the user touching the finger from the left end to the right end of the left door 21 on the door opening operation display unit 51A-1. The left door 21 can be opened, and in the door opening operation display portion 52A-1 of the right door 22, if the user touches and slides a finger from the left end to the right end, the right door 22 is opened. It can be set so that it can be opened. And, in this case, as shown by arrow A1 in FIG. 8, from near the left end of the open operation display part 51A-1 of the left door 21 to the right side of the open operation display part 52A-1 of the right door 22 However, the left and right doors 21 and 22 can be simultaneously opened by an operation of continuously sliding a finger in one direction to the vicinity (seventh embodiment).

In addition, as shown in Fig. 9, in a refrigerator in which the left and right doors 21 and 22 are both open type, the door opening operation display portions 51A-2 and 52A-2 for the door opening operation portions 51 and 52 are connected to each door ( It is installed near the open end of the front plates 21A and 22A of the 21 and 22, and each door 21 and 22 is opened by a slide operation in the direction opposite to the open side of each door 21 and 22. You can do it with settings that you can do. In this case, since the right end of the left door 21 is an open end, the opening operation display portion 51A-2 is a display that slides from the right end to the left. In addition, with respect to the right door 22, its left end is an open end, and the opening operation display portion 52A-2 is a display that slides from the left end side to the right. With such a setting, the user is operated to slide the finger in the direction in which the open end of the door is opened by the opening operation, so that there is less interference with the open end of the door where the user's finger has started to open, and smooth opening operation becomes possible ( 8th embodiment).

In addition, as shown in Fig. 10, even if the refrigerator door is one open type or two open type doors, it is horizontal at any of the upper, lower, left, and right corners of the door (referred to as the door 22 here). The door opening operation part 52 is installed in a direction or vertically, or in an oblique direction toward the corner, and the door opening operation display part 52A-3 is also installed at a position corresponding to that of the front plate 22A of the door 22. In addition, when the opening operation direction is a direction toward the outside of the door, it can be set to open the door (9th embodiment).

For example, in FIG. 10(a), a door opening operation part 52 and a door opening operation display part 52A-31 are installed in the horizontal direction from the lower end of the door 22 at the open end side, and the open end side of the door 22 A setting example in which the door can be opened by sliding it to the left direction is shown. In the case of this modification, the opening operation portion 52 and the opening operation display portion 52A-31 may be similarly provided on the upper end of the door 22 on the open end side. Fig. 10(b) shows a door opening operation part 52 and a door opening operation display part 52A-32 installed in a vertical direction from the lower end of the door 22, and slides from top to bottom toward the lower end of the door 22. An example of a setting that can be opened by operation is shown. Fig. 10(c) shows a door opening operation unit 52 and a door opening operation display unit 52A-33 installed in the vertical direction at the upper end of the door 22 at the open end side, and facing the upper end of the door 22, from below. An example of a setting in which the door can be opened by sliding upward is shown. Fig. 10(d) shows that the door opening operation part 52 and the door opening operation display part 52A-34 are installed in a vertical direction from the lower end of the door 22 on the side of the rotation hinge end, and from above toward the lower end of the door 22 An example of a setting in which the door can be opened by sliding downward is shown. In the case of this modification, the door opening operation unit 52 and the door opening operation display unit 52A-34 are installed on the upper end of the door 22 on the side of the rotary hinge end, and the door is opened by sliding it from the bottom up. have. In addition, FIG. 10(e) shows that one of the four corners of the door 22, the door opening operation part 52 and the door opening operation display part 52A-35 are provided in a diagonal direction at an angle from the lower corner part on the open end side. An example of a setting in which the door can be opened by sliding it obliquely from the top to the bottom obliquely toward the lower corner of (22) is shown. In the case of this modification, the opening operation portion 52 and the opening operation display portion 52A-35 are installed in any of the other three corners of the four corners of the door 22, and obliquely from the bottom to the top toward each corner, and further It is also possible to set the door to be opened by sliding it from the top to the bottom at an angle.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 11, even if the refrigerator door is one open type or two open doors, the door opening operation unit 52 provided on the rear side of the front plate 22A of the door 22 With respect to the capacitive touch sensors 52-1 to 52-5 to be installed, the neighboring sensors may partially overlap each other in a direction A3 different from the slide operation direction A2. Due to the overlapping configuration of this sensor, there is an effect that lack of touch during slide operation is eliminated, and even if neighboring sensors are touched at the same time, the change in capacitance becomes larger in the sensor with a large area, so that simultaneous detection is not performed (10th embodiment. ).

In addition, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, even if the refrigerator door is open on one side or two doors of both open type, the door opening operation unit 52 that is knitted to the door (here, also referred to as the door 22). ) Is to detect the opening operation by the slide operation, and a plurality of slide detection touch sensors are installed in a circular shape or a matrix shape on the top and bottom, left and right, and the plurality of electrodes are used for slide operation in which a certain pattern is drawn. On the other hand, the opening operation can be detected (11th embodiment).

In the example of FIG. 12, a plurality of slide detection touch sensors 52-1 to 52-8 in the door opening operation unit 52 arranged in the door 22 are arranged in a circular shape, and such a door opening operation unit ( For 52), when three or more neighboring touch sensors are continuously touched to draw a circle, the door is opened. Therefore, even if it is the slide operation of any of the arrows A4 to A6 or the slide operation in the opposite direction to them, the opening operation can be performed. In addition, in the example of FIG. 13, a plurality of slide detection electrodes 5211 to 5244 in a door opening operation part 52 knitted on the door 22 are arranged in a matrix shape in the vertical and horizontal directions, and such a door opening operation part ( For 52), as indicated by arrows A7 to A13, the door is opened when three or more adjacent electrodes are continuously touched in an upward direction, a downward direction, or an obliquely upward direction or an obliquely downward direction.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 14, even if the refrigerator door is one open or two doors of both open type (here, both open type is shown), the door opening operation part 51 of the door 21, 22 52) all detect the opening of the door by sliding operation in one predetermined direction, and in the left door 21, the door opening is detected when it slides from the left to the right from the rotation hinge side toward the open end side, Also in the right door 22, it is a configuration that detects the opening of the door when it slides from the right to the left from the rotation hinge side toward the open end side. In this case, since each of the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A indicates a slide operation direction, an arrow mark toward the open end is provided (12th embodiment). In order to open the door by sliding toward the open end, it is common for the user to open the door by coming to the center of the refrigerator from the outside of the refrigerator, so the movement direction and the slide operation direction coincide with each other, so that the door opening operation is performed. Has an easy effect.

In addition, as another modified example, the following configuration is possible. A person detection means (for example, an infrared sensor, a camera that recognizes a person, etc.) is installed on the door to detect that a person is standing in front of the refrigerator door, and the door opening operation is activated after the person detection means detects a person. The control unit may perform such control. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the refrigerator door from being opened by water, static electricity, or the like (13th embodiment).

In addition, the opening operation part 51 of the refrigerating compartment doors 21 and 22, not the rotary opening doors 21 and 22 in front of the refrigerating compartment 12, but the pull-out doors 23 and 24 such as the vegetable compartment 13 or the conversion compartment 14. , 52) can also be provided (14th embodiment). Further, in this case, the electric wiring is connected to the control unit 56 along the slide rail of the pull-out door.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment may be configured as described in order below.

[15th embodiment]

As shown in Fig. 15, the control operation unit (also referred to as the control operation board) 50 is an insertion hole formed in the door cap constituting the left and right upper and lower sides of the door that supports the door front plate, which is a side part in the vertical direction of the right door 22. It can be accommodated by being inserted from (50V) into the storage part 50R in the G direction. The opening operation part (also referred to as a touch-opening switch board) 52 can be accommodated by being inserted in the G direction from the insertion opening 52V of the vertical side side of the right door 22 into the storage part 52R. In addition, the opening operation part (touch-opening switch board) 51 can be inserted and received in the H direction from the insertion opening 51V of the side surface portion in the vertical direction of the left door 21 into the storage portion 51R.

As shown in Fig. 15, the handles (handrests) 61 and 62 are disposed on the lower side (lower side) of the left door 21 and the lower side (lower side) of the right door 22, respectively, and the handle 61 , 62 and the opening operation parts 51 and 52 are disposed at the lower corners of the left door 21 and at the lower corners of the right door 22, respectively, and are disposed on different sides of the door. Further, the opening operation portions 51 and 52 and the handles 61 and 62 may be in different positions in the vertical direction.

In addition, the right door 22 is composed of, for example, a front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, an inner plate 22K, and a door cap 72, as shown in FIG. 19 to be described later. 50V) may be installed on the door cap 72. Then, the receiving portion 50R may be provided so as to extend in the direction of the front plate 22A from the door cap 72 in succession with the insertion port 50V, and the substrate may be inserted into the receiving portion 50R.

In addition, the space between the front plate 22A, the inner plate 22K, and the door cap 72 on the outer side of the receiving portion 50R is preferably filled with a foam insulation material such as urethane or a vacuum insulation material to insulate it.

In addition, the inserted control operation unit 50 or the door opening operation unit 51 may be brought into close contact with the front plate 22A by an elastic means for suppressing the front plate 22A from the rear after insertion, but in the case of a substrate having a long width ( The opening operation portion 51 or the like) may be directly bonded to the rear surface of the front plate 22A with an adhesive or the like. By doing so, the operation sensitivity can be improved.

LEDs 51M and 52M can be used for the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A, which are arrow marks indicating the positions of the opening operation portions 51 and 52. Further, as the arrow mark, the one printed directly on the glass may be used, or the one printed on the film may be provided on the back surface of the glass so that it can be viewed with light.

The door opening operation parts 51 and 52 for opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIG. 15 use an electrostatic switch. In the left door 21 and the right door 22, which are revolving doors, the electrostatic switch can be electrically connected to the control unit on the cabinet 11 side by using an electric wire, so it is the revolving door of the refrigerating chamber with a relatively small temperature difference. 51, 52) can be used as an electrostatic switch. Since the electrostatic switch is weak to moisture, it is used in areas with a small temperature difference.

On the other hand, a pull-out door, for example, a door opening operation part 71 for opening the pull-out door 25 of the freezer compartment 15, and a door opening operation part 77 for opening the pull-out door 23 Hall IC switch is used. Since the pull-out door has a structure that can be removed from the cabinet 11 (refrigerator body), the opening operation unit 77 and the control unit on the cabinet 11 side cannot be connected using an electric wire. For this reason, for example, the door opening operation units 71 and 77 detect that the magnet is placed on the pull-out door, and when the pull-out door is pressed, the position of the magnet is changed, and the switch of the Hall IC is non-contact and the position of the magnet is changed. To be able to do it. In response to a signal indicating that the position of the magnet from the Hall IC has changed, the control unit can open the pull-out door by operating the pushing means for pushing the pull-out door.

19 shows a horizontal cross section of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 15. For example, the right door 22 has a front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, an inner plate 22K, a reinforcing plate 70, a door cap 72, and a substrate 74 of the opening operation unit 52. Inside the right door 22, an insulating urethane member or a vacuum insulating material 73 having a thickness of 20 mm is disposed. The gap between the substrate 74 and the glass plate 22A is zero. The door cap 72 covers the end of the front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, and enters it. The front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, is a tempered glass, but if the end of the glass plate is exposed, in order to protect the exposed end of the glass plate, a C-side cut is provided at the exposed end of the glass plate.

By doing so, since the door is automatically opened by operating the door opening operation unit 52, there is a possibility that the end of the front plate 22A may come into contact with the wall or other kitchen furniture arranged next to the refrigerator, but the cross section is prevented from being damaged. Can be prevented. Further, at the end of the front plate 22A, a preventing means for protecting by covering the end for preventing contact may be provided. In addition, the board|substrate 74 of the opening operation part 52 is arrange|positioned so that there may be no gap with respect to the inner surface of the front plate 22A. In addition, although it is a symmetrical shape, the left door 21 has the same structure. Further, the sizes of the substrates of the left and right opening operation portions 52 may be different. For example, the substrate on the side of a large door may be made larger than that of a small door.

[The sixteenth embodiment]

As shown in FIG. 18, the opening operation part 51 is arrange|positioned below the position LL of the lower end line of the meat plate top plate inside the left door 21. As shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 24 shows a cross section of the refrigerator body in the vertical direction. As shown in Fig. 24, in the cabinet 11, a cool air duct through which cool air from the cooler passes is on the rear surface, and a jet port is provided from the duct toward the door, and as shown in Fig. 24, the cool air flows in the direction of the arrow.

A meat plate 99T is arranged in the cabinet 11, and an injection port is provided behind the meat plate 99T. In the left door 21, the opening operation part 51 is disposed below the position LL of the lower end of the meat plate top plate. As a result, the cold air passing through the meat plate 99T does not reach the door opening operation portion 51 in the left door 21 by means of windbreak means such as the front wall constituting the front surface of the meat plate. Accordingly, since cold air does not reach the opening operation portion 51 (52) in the left door 21, condensation does not occur due to the cooling of the opening operation portion 51 (52).

As shown in Fig. 24, when the upper end of the pocket frame is above the upper end of the meat plate 99T, cold air does not contact the rear surface of the door. Accordingly, in order to accommodate the opening operation unit 51 (52), cold air can be prevented from directly contacting the portion of the opening operation unit 51 (52) where the heat insulator is thin and is liable to condensation. have. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the left door 21 from being opened unintentionally due to the operation of the condensation and sending a signal to the control unit, and the door opening operation unit 51 is operated inadvertently. This is also the same for the opening operation portion 52 of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 18.

Further, the meat plate 99T can also be used as a chilled seal, and has a door and a pull-out container, and can be pulled out forward. This chilled seal may be composed of a reinforced storage case capable of storing the withdrawal container and a closed space that can be sealed with a door, or a structure in which the space inside the sealed storage space is depressurized by a vacuum pump serving as a decompression means. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the cold air from the cold air injection port installed on the rear surface of the storage case, which is the meat plate (99T), from reaching the door directly, and the cold temperature zone of the injection port can be insulated by the depressurized heat insulating layer in the enclosed space. , Heat transfer can be prevented. In this case, it may be provided so as to cover the injection port with the storage case. In addition, cold air from the injection port installed on the rear of the sealed storage unit may be controlled by a damper, which is an air volume adjustment means, and a temperature sensor that measures the temperature inside the chamber to prevent condensation detects that the temperature has decreased and closes the damper. Therefore, it is good to control the door so that it is difficult to reach the cold air.

In addition, at the rear of the substrate provided with the opening operation unit 52, a vacuum insulator disposed inside the door is disposed between the substrate and the injection port disposed behind the meat plate 99T, and insulates the substrate so as to prevent condensation. It is good to do. In addition, this substrate is housed in a resin storage unit having an air layer formed inside the door, and in this case, condensation is particularly prone to condensation, but by providing a vacuum insulator and insulating the cooling and heat in the interior, condensation is prevented. You can prevent your index finger from suddenly opening the door. Further, by disposing a metal member having excellent heat transfer around the storage portion, heat of outside air may be transferred to the storage portion to warm it, thereby preventing condensation.

Further, a vertical partition disposed between the right door and the left door and opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of one door may be provided, and a heat source may be stored inside the vertical partition. And, by arranging this substrate or the storage unit in the vicinity of the high heat source, heat can be transferred to the substrate or the storage unit, and condensation can be further prevented. This heat source extends in the vertical direction together with the vertical partitions, and it is good to increase the amount of heat transferred by increasing the heater density at the position of the substrate or the storage unit. The heater density may be arranged such that the heater wires are arranged in duplicate, bent and arranged, or a metal having good thermal conductivity (for example, aluminum) extends from the heater to the substrate side so that heat is transferred to the substrate side within the vertical partition. .

In addition, as shown in Fig. 18, by attaching the opening operation unit 51 (52) at a position different from the position of the injection port 79R in the cabinet 11, the cold air from the injection water 79R is left It can be prevented from reaching the door opening operation part 51 (52) in the door 21. Therefore, since cold air does not reach the opening operation portions 51 and 52 in the left door 21, the opening operation portions 51 and 52 do not cause condensation due to cooling, and operate by this condensation. Thus, there is no signal to the control unit, and it is possible to prevent the left door 21 (right door 22) from being opened unintentionally due to the inadvertent operation of the door opening operation units 51 and 52.

[Seventeenth Embodiment]

As shown in FIG. 16, the control operation part 50 and the door opening operation part 51 may be arrange|positioned on one board|substrate 99 from the left door 21. As shown in FIG. The detection unit and the detection signal processing unit of the opening operation units 51 and 52 can be constituted by a single substrate 99. The detection unit and the detection signal processing unit are housed together in the storage unit 50R. The microcomputer MC may be disposed on the same substrate.

The control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52 may be disposed on separate substrates in the right door 22. The control operation unit 50 and the microcomputer MC are disposed on one substrate 99A, and the opening operation unit 52 may be disposed on a separate substrate 99B. Accordingly, by using the MC, which may generate noise, as a separate substrate, the door opening operation unit 52 can erroneously detect and prevent a malfunction of the door opening at will. In addition, when the storage unit 50R has another compartment in which the substrate 99A and the substrate 99B are separately accommodated, the electrical signal line of the substrate 99B is transferred to the storage unit (for example, the substrate 99A) at a different location. ) May be connected to the control means (MC) of the housed storage unit). In particular, if the connection connector is extended from the storage part in another place to the storage part of the board 99B in advance, and the connection line of the board 99B and the connection connector are connected when the board 99B is received in the storage part, the door The manufacture of the assembly becomes easy.

Further, the microcomputer MC may be disposed on the same substrate 99B or on another substrate 99C disposed at different positions. In addition, the substrate 99 may have a vertically elongated shape or a horizontally elongated shape.

As shown in Fig. 18, the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are not directly connected with lead wires. That is, the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are connected through the power board of the control unit 56 using separate electric wires LA and LB, respectively. This is to reliably prevent noise generated from the control operation unit 50 from inadvertently causing the opening operation of the door opening operation units 51 and 52.

As shown in Fig. 15, the handle (handrest) of the pull-out door 23, 24, 25, 26 can be disposed on the left or right side of each pull-out door 23, 24, 25, 26. . Handles (handrests) are not disposed on the front of the pull-out door, for example, the opening operation portion 77 of the pull-out door 23 and the opening operation portion 71 of the pull-out door 25 are respectively front It is only placed in the department. As a result, there is no handle (handrest) on the front part of the pull-out door, and the appearance is improved.

[18th embodiment]

As shown in Fig. 17, in the right door 22, the arrangement positions of the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation unit 52 are different in the left and right horizontal directions. That is, the control operation unit 50 is at a position near the right side of the right door 22, and the door opening operation unit 52 is at a position near the left side of the right door 22. Accordingly, since the control operation unit 50 is not disposed above the opening operation unit 52, for example, even if water flows from the control operation unit 50 by a user touching it with a wet hand, the water It is made not to touch the lower door opening operation part 52. In addition, the distance Wb between the storage portion of the control operation portion 50 and the storage portion of the opening operation portion 52 is smaller than the distance Wa between the control operation portion 50 and the opening operation portion 52, and the distance (Wb) is the distance that must be at least separated.

Further, in the control operation unit 50, the storage unit for accommodating the substrate of the opening operation unit 52 may be shifted in the vertical direction, and may be lapped so as to overlap in the left-right direction. In the control operation part 50, the board|substrates of the opening operation part 52 may also be arrange|positioned so that it may overlap in the left-right direction. If the capacitive switch SA on each of the substrates and the door opening operation display unit 52A do not overlap, water flows from the capacitive switch SA disposed above to the door opening operation unit 52A disposed below. There is no fall. In addition, in the case of wrapping the storage unit or the substrate, the degree of freedom of layout is increased by overlapping the doors in the left and right directions in a small area. Incidentally, the overlapping arrangement of each of the substrates in the left-right direction is applicable even when the substrates are arranged in the same housing.

The electrodes of the opening operation parts 51 and 52 may have different detection sensitivity when operated by the user compared to the electrodes of the control operation part 50. For example, by increasing the detection sensitivity of the electrodes of the opening operation units 51 and 52 compared to the electrodes of the control operation unit 50, the operation sensitivity of the opening operation units 51 and 52 can be improved. The electrodes of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 may be different from each other by varying the capacitance of the electrode of the control operation portion 50 or by changing the area of the electrode. The electrodes of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 may be configured by one electrode rather than a plurality of arrangements.

The operation of the control operation part 50 and the operation of the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 employ different operation methods, but as another operation method, the control operation part 50 performs a long pressing operation of, for example, 0.5 seconds, In the opening operation parts 51 and 52, the operation is detected by performing a long pressing operation of, for example, 1 second.

[19th embodiment]

As shown in Fig. 21, all of the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, and when a switch of the control operation unit 50 is pressed, a plurality of LEDs or all LEDs of the control operation unit 50 light up. In addition, while the switch is lit, the switch of the opening operation unit 51, 52 may have a control that disables even if the operation is detected, and the opening operation may be invalidated without accepting the user's operation (effective and operation). You may be able to do it). During lighting, the LEDs of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 are OFF and are not lit up during that time. Otherwise, while the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are all turned off, in the meantime, the switches of the door opening/closing operation units 51 and 52 are valid and can be operated (it may be invalid and may not be operated). While all of the LEDs of the control operation unit 50 are turned off, the LEDs of the open operation units 51 and 52 are ON and light up.

As described above, by configuring the control switch to be effective and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 to be invalid, the elbow suddenly touches the door opening operation units 51 and 52 when the control operation unit 50 is pressed with a finger. It has the effect of preventing sudden opening.

In addition, the configuration in which the LED of the control switch turns on and the LEDs of the door open/close operation parts 51 and 52 are turned off, for example, when the child is lit at the same time, the control operation part 50 and the door opening operation parts 51 and 52 Although the urge to press simultaneously is felt and the door opens, it can be solved by setting it as this configuration.

In addition, even when the control operation unit 50 and the door opening operation units 51 and 52 are also enabled and simultaneously detected that they are pressed, attention is paid by notifying that the opening operation units 51 and 52 are invalidated by a display or voice, etc. It can be ventilated.

As shown in Fig. 17, the switches SA and the switches SB having different shapes of the control operation unit 50 can be turned on by the same operation method for a predetermined time and the same operation sensitivity. The switch SA and the switch SB of the same operation method are on one side of the substrate. Further, the opening operation portions 51 and 52 may also be operated in the same manner as that of the switch SA, and this configuration can be adopted in each embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 18, the fast line of the electric wiring LA of the control operation unit 50 and the fast line of the electric wiring LB of the door opening operation units 51 and 52 and the heater line are not combined together. . In other words, it is good to arrange each spaced apart from each other within the door, and to access it from the hinge of the door that leads to the cabinet. Also, it is good to bundle AC and DC cables separately. This prevents noise.

As shown in Fig. 15, for example, although the front plate 22A, which is a glass plate shown in Fig. 19 of the right door 22, is a tempered glass, a reinforcing plate 70 is added and a shatterproof film is further disposed. good. In order to protect the end of the front plate 22A, the door cap 72 is disposed so as to cover the end of the front plate 22A.

However, unlike FIG. 19, when the door cap does not cover the end of the front plate 22A and the end of the glass plate 22A is exposed, a C-side cut or an R-surface, which is a cut surface, is formed at the end of the glass plate 22A. Good to do. Although the front plate 22A, which is a glass plate, is a tempered glass, if the end of the glass plate 22A is exposed, a C-side cut is installed on the glass plate 22A to protect the end of the glass plate 22A. It is installed, so even if the door is suddenly opened, the end can be prevented from being damaged by hitting somewhere. In addition, although it is a symmetrical shape, it has the same structure in the left door 21 as well.

It is necessary that the opening operation portions 51 and 52 as shown in Fig. 17 do not fail. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 19, the vacuum insulator 73 is disposed, and the insulation thickness of the vacuum insulator 73 is 20 mm or more, and is arranged in a vertical partition, so that condensation occurs in the vacuum insulator 73. Does not occur. A heater (not shown) is disposed in the vicinity of the opening operation portions 51 and 52, and a vacuum insulator 78 is disposed in the opening operation portions 51 and 52. Thereby, condensation of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 is avoided due to the influence from the low temperature portion.

The switches SA and SB of the control operation unit 50 as shown in Fig. 17 have a function of adjusting the operation sensitivity, and have setting means for changing the sensitivity or a predetermined time. Thereby, by using the setting means, the operation sensitivity when the switches SA and SB or the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A are operated can be set differently.

[20th embodiment]

20 is a plan view showing, for example, pull-out doors 23 and 25 shown in FIG. 15. For example, the pull-out doors 23 and 25 shown in Fig. 15 have opening operation portions 77 and 71, respectively. When the substrate 82 of the opening operation parts 77 and 71 is configured to be inserted into and received from the upper surface of the pull-out door 23 and 25 in a downward direction, the pull-out door 23, Since there is no gap in the front part of 25), it is neat, and the appearance of the glass surface of the front part of the pull-out doors 23 and 25 is good.

The opening operation portions 77 and 71 shown in FIG. 20 have a substrate 82 and a battery 83, and an elastic means 84 for suppressing the substrate 82 to the inner surface of the front portion, and the battery 83 Supplies power to the opening operation parts 77 and 71. Then, compared to the case of guiding the following electric wiring to the door along the metal rail, noise enters the door opening operation units 77 and 71 and the door can be prevented from being opened at will.

In the case of a power supply type in which power is taken by using electric wiring from another place in place of the battery 83 shown in FIG. 20, the electric wiring is guided to the door along the metal rail, and the maximum distance at the time of withdrawing the door is It is good to have a configuration in which the length of the wiring is arranged in a flexible and deformable manner.

In that case, since there is a possibility that noise may be carried on the electric wiring along the metal rail guiding the pull-out door, the microcomputer entering the door opening operation parts 77 and 71 or instructing the opening operation from the door opening operation parts 77 and 71 It is good to install a noise filter, which is a means of removing noise to remove noise entering the computer. Further, an insulating means (noise removing means) may be provided around the electric wiring arranged along the metal rail, and noise may be removed by not making direct contact with the metal (21st embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 16, of the pull-out door 23, 24, 25, 26 having a glass plate, for example, the pull-out door 25 is a portion other than the glass front portion of the pull-out door 25 And a push button 95 on a door cap made of another material (for example, made of resin). By pressing this resin-made push button 95, the pull-out door 25 can be opened.

[22nd embodiment]

22 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the pull-out door 23 (24, 25, 26) and the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator, between the pull-out door 23 (24, 25, 26) and the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator In this, the suppressing member 120 is disposed. The suppressing member 120 sets a gap DH between the pull-out door 23 (24, 25, 26) and the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator. When the user presses the pull-out door 23 (24, 25, 26) against the force of the suppressing member 120 in the suppressing direction indicated by the arrow, the transmitter 131 of the non-contact distance sensor 130 Approach the receiving unit 132. Thereby, the distance sensor 130 detects the distance, and when the detected distance is smaller than the predetermined distance, the door opening operation units 77 and 71 give a command to the control unit and open the pull-out door by the extrusion means. can do.

As shown in FIG. 17, the door opening operation portions 101, 102, 103, 104 for opening the pull-out doors 23, 24, 25, 26 may be arranged on the left door 21, for example. The opening operation portions 101, 102, 103, and 104 are designed according to the arrangement shape of the pull-out doors 23, 24, 25, 26. Thereby, it is easy for the user to visually grasp, and without changing the posture, the required pull-out door can be easily opened.

The left door 21, the right door 22, and the pull-out door 23, 24, 25, 26 can be formed as all-flat by not installing a handle (handrest) on their front part at all.

[23rd embodiment]

As shown in Fig. 15, for the gaps X, Y between the pull-out doors 23, 24, 25, 26, the gap X> the gap Y. That is, the gap Y between the pull-out door 23 having the opening operation part 77 and the pull-out door 25 having the opening operation part 71 is the pull-out door 24 and 26 without the opening operation part. It is set smaller than the gap X of. That is, the gap (X) of the pull-out door (24, 26) having a handle (140) and without a door opening operation part is a pull-out door (23) having a door opening operation part (77) and opening the door It is taken larger than the gap Y of the pull-out door 25 having the operation part 71. In addition, the pull-out door 23 having the opening operation portion 77 and the pull-out door 25 having the opening operation portion 71 may be provided with handles on the left and right side surfaces of the pull-out door. At this time, this handle can be formed by providing a recess in the cap supporting the glass plate.

In order to open and close the pull-out door having a glass plate, a non-contact distance sensor 130 is used as a means for detecting the displacement amount of the door shown in FIG. 22, so when the pull-out door having a glass plate is slightly pressed in the direction of the arrow, the pull-out door Can be opened.

As shown in FIG. 16, the control operation unit 50 may be disposed on one or both of the left door 21 and the right door 22.

[24th embodiment]

As shown in FIG. 23, the upper part of the glass plate (front plate 21A, 22A) of the left door 21 and the right door 22, the door frame, and the cap 150 which is a decoration part is arrange|positioned. The cap 150 has a protrusion 151 protruding to the outside (upper side), and the protrusion 151 is intended to hit the pressing member 161 of the extruding means 160. The protrusion 151 is installed at a position away from the front plates 21A and 22A which are glass plates, and the suppressing member 161 of the extrusion means 160 presses the protrusion 151, and the left door 21 or the right door ( When trying to open 22), the front plates 21A and 22A are not affected by force. Inside the cap 150, reinforcing ribs 162, 163, 164, 165 are formed, and a glass plate (front plates 21A, 22A) is tightly fitted to the reinforcing ribs 162 and 163, and reinforcing ribs 163 A reinforcing plate 169 having a "co" shape in cross section is fixed to the 164. An inner plate 170 is disposed on the reinforcing rib 165. Urethane is filled between the front plates 21A and 22A, which are glass plates, and the inner plate 170 for reinforcement.

Each of the above-described embodiments is not limited to a refrigerator having both open doors shown in the drawings, but can also be applied to a refrigerator with one open door.

[25th embodiment]

25A shows a plan view of a pull-out door 25 of a refrigerator, for example, and there are walls 200 of a building on both sides of the pull-out door 25. Concave handles 201 are provided on the left and right side surfaces 25S of the pull-out door 25. In FIG. 25B, a concave handle 202 is installed on the left and right side portions of the pull-out door 25, and the left and right side portions are formed of an inclined surface 25G inclined toward the front side. As a result, since the inclined surface 25G is formed even if there is the wall 200 of the building on the left and right, a gap is created so that the user can easily put a finger into the handle 202. Further, at this time, the handle 202 may have a shape that can be easily held by hand as shown on the right side of the drawing.

[26th embodiment]

26 shows examples of pull-out doors 210, 220, 230, and a concave handle 240 is provided on the upper surface of the pull-out door 220. As shown in FIG. The pull-out door 230 is provided with a door opening operation part 77 on its front side. Since the pull-out door 230 has a door opening operation part 77 installed on its front part, the front surface of the front part can be made into a glass surface. The gap C between the pull-out door 230 and the pull-out door 220 can be made smaller than the gap B between the pull-out door 210 and the pull-out door 220, so that the appearance is improved.

In addition, not when the user touches the hand from the touch switch-type door opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, but when the finger is removed, the left door 21 or It is good to have the right door 22 open. Further, the left door 21 or the right door 22 may be opened when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the user touches the opening operation unit 51 or the opening operation unit 52 with a finger.

That is, the control unit controls to instruct the opening of the door at a timing different from when the user presses the door opening operation unit 51, and detects when the user releases the door opening operation unit 51 rather than when pressing the door opening operation unit 51, and instructs the door to open. Alternatively, the opening of the door may be instructed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the opening operation portion 51 is pressed. Further, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time the opening operation portion 51 is removed, it may be instructed to open the door.

When controlling the opening of the door, the control unit controls the opening of the door after the touch sensor detects the touch operation and then becomes non-detected. When controlling the opening of the door, the touch sensor detects the touch operation and then a predetermined value. It is also configured to control the opening of the door after the time has elapsed (for example, within 1 second, preferably 0.3 seconds).

In this way, when the user touches the door opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52 with a finger, compared to the case where the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened immediately, the door opening operation unit 51 or the door is opened. It is possible to suppress a hand touching the operation unit 52 from colliding with the open left door 21 or the right door 22.

In particular, when the user presses the opening operation unit 51 or the opening operation unit 52 with a finger long, the left door 21 in which the hand touching the opening operation unit 51 or the opening operation unit 52 is opened. Alternatively, it hits the right door 22, but as described above, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the user touches a finger on the opening operation unit 51 or the door opening operation unit 52, the left door 21 Alternatively, by allowing the right door 22 to open, it is possible to prevent the touched hand from colliding with the opened left door 21 or the right door 22.

In addition, the above-described door structure may be configured as follows in detail.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of an exploded perspective view showing only one door of both open doors of the refrigerator compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1. The left door 21 and the right door 22 constituting both open doors of the refrigerator compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1, the vegetable compartment 13, the ice-making compartment 16, the upper freezer compartment 14, and The structure of each pull-out door 23 to 25 of the freezing compartment 15 is basically the same as the door shown in Fig. 27, and a structural example as the door 103b will be described.

The door 103b of the refrigerating chamber 12 shown in FIG. 27 has an outer-surface glass plate 121 installed so as to completely cover the front surface of the door 103b. In FIG. 27, the side on which the glass plate 121 is installed is the front side of the door 103b, and the rear side opposite to the glass plate 121 is the rear side of the door 103b facing the inside of the refrigerating chamber 12.

Upper and lower door caps 134, lower door caps 133, left door caps 135, and right door caps 137 are respectively installed on the upper and lower left and right outer peripheries of the glass plate 121. These four top, bottom, left and right door caps hold and fix the top, bottom, left and right side surfaces of the glass substrate 121 from the top, bottom, left and right outside. These upper door caps 134, lower door caps 133, left door caps 135, and right door caps 137 are fixed to the four sides of the glass plate 121, and also the four sides of the glass substrate 121 It functions as a decorative part to decorate the house.

As shown in FIG. 27, the door 103b is assembled as a whole and integrally by attaching the door inner structure 125 constituting the inner plate of the door to the door cap on the inside of the glass plate 121. As shown in FIG. A gasket 127, which is a rectangular sealing means for sealing the door and the cabinet, is provided inside the door inner constitution 125 and on the inner side of the refrigerating chamber 12. In addition, the space between the glass plate 121 and the door cap and the door inner constituent 125 is filled with a foamed insulating material made of urethane foam to improve heat insulation performance, and the foamed insulating material is adhered to the inner surface of the glass plate 121 to improve the glass plate. (121) is fixedly attached, and the glass plate 121 is fixed so that it does not fall or bend. The glass plate 121 is coated with a paint, and a shatterproof sheet for preventing the glass from being broken and scattering is provided inside the glass plate 121, and a protective member for preventing contact between the shatterproof sheet and the urethane may be provided.

Next, referring to Fig. 28, an example of the structure of the relationship between the substrate and the door having a capacitive switch will be described.

Fig. 28 is a door (corresponding to switches SA and SB, opening operation display units 51A and 52A, etc.) constituting the control operation unit 50 or the door opening operation units 51 and 52 described above ( It is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional view of the door (21, 22, etc.).

The left door cap 135 shown in FIG. 28 is a decorative part on the left side installed in the vertical direction of the door 103b (in the vertical direction of the paper in FIG. 28), and the right door cap 137 is in the vertical direction of the door 103b. It is the decorative part on the right side installed. The vertical direction of the door 103b is the Z direction shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 28, the one end (left end) 155 of the glass plate 121 is not entirely covered by the left door cap 135, and is almost exposed from the left door cap 135. It is the end of the exposed state. On the other hand, the other end (right end) 121f of the glass plate 121 is covered by the engagement portion 137a and is an end that is not exposed.

The R surface 156 is formed in the front part of the side surface 152 of the one end 155 of the glass plate 121, and it is not a right angle shape. This R-surface 156 is, for example, a 1/4 columnar R-surface. For example, the R-surface 156 can be formed by polishing a part of the end portion 155 after cutting to give it a roundness, and the R-surface 156 is formed continuously in the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 28, the side surface 152 of the one end 155 of the glass plate 121 does not protrude outward compared to the side surface 153 of the left door cap 135. Thereby, since the side surface 152 of the glass plate 121 does not protrude from the side surface 153 of the left door cap 135, the side surface 152 of the glass substrate 121 can be protected.

As shown in FIG. 28, a substrate insertion portion 154 is provided on the side surface 153 of the left door cap 135. The substrate insertion portion 154 is a through hole, and is provided to insert the substrate 110 into the housing member 105 from the outside of the left door cap 135. The substrate 110 is equipped with a capacitive switch 101 and a communication means 106 for communicating information on the refrigerator to the outside or for receiving other information from the outside. The storage member 105 is fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 and the inner surface 135M of the left door cap 135, respectively. This storage member 105 is a member constituting a storage portion capable of storing the substrate 110. In addition, the substrate insertion portion 154 may be configured to seal the receiving portion by installing a cover and closing it with a cover.

As described above, condensation can be prevented by providing a metal such as aluminum having good thermal conductivity around the housing portion or by disposing a reinforcing metal therein.

The substrate 110 is pressed against the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 from the storage member 105 side by using an elastic means 103 such as a spring, so that it is held in close contact with the inner surface 121M. The substrate 110 is fixed at a position P1 different from the support part P2 of the left door cap 135. Thereby, the substrate 110 having the capacitive switch 101 can be fixed in close contact with the inner surface 121M of the glass substrate 121, avoiding the support portion P2 of the left door cap 135. For this reason, the capacitive switch 101 can be disposed by suppressing the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 without leaving a gap, so that the user can turn on the capacitive switch 101 from the surface of the glass plate 121. The off operation can be reliably performed.

In addition, as a method of suppressing the capacitive switch 101 without leaving a gap on the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121, a guide means for moving the substrate 110 from the rear to the front may be provided instead of an elastic means. Alternatively, for example, an inclination may be provided so that the receiving portion becomes narrow in the direction in which the substrate is inserted, or a protrusion provided on the substrate 110 may be inserted into and guided into a guide groove provided in the receiving portion to be suppressed.

Further, the substrate may be of a configuration arranged in a support container supporting the substrate, and an LED serving as a light emitting means may be disposed in the support container, and the LED may emit light from the rear surface of the substrate.

In addition, the capacitive switch 101 may be integrated by arranging electrodes on the surface of the LED substrate disposed on the rear surface thereof, or may be installed on a different substrate separately from the substrate on which the LED is disposed. The substrate may be provided with an electrode of a capacitive switch on an elastic film-like transparent film. Then, the LED can be disposed on the rear surface of the transparent electrode, and light can be made to emit light from the inside of the electrode.

[27th embodiment]

29 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 according to the 27th embodiment, FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 in an open state, and FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view of the refrigerating compartment 12 portion of the refrigerator 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, in the refrigerator 1 of the 27th embodiment, the cabinet 11, which is the refrigerator main body, is a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, and a switching chamber capable of switching the set temperature in the refrigerator from the top. (14) and a freezer compartment (15). In addition, an ice making room 16 is installed on the left side of the conversion room 14.

As shown in Figs. 29 to 31, in order to cover the front opening of the refrigerating chamber 12, a pair of left and right doors 21 and the right door 22 are opened at both the left end and the upper and lower sides of the right end with hinges. It is attached to open and close. The vegetable compartment 13, the conversion compartment 14, the freezing compartment 15, and the ice-making compartment 16 are provided with pull-out doors 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively.

In both the left door 21 and the right door 22, the colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A are attached to the openings of the flat inner plates that open on the front side, and a vacuum insulator is disposed in the inner cavity, It is a structure in which urethane insulation or solid insulation is placed in a cavity that is not completely filled with vacuum insulation. The coloration degree of the front plates 21A and 22A is a concentration in which no filling material such as a heat insulating material inside the front plates 21A and 22A is visible from the outside in a state in which the front plates 21A and 22A are subjected to external light. In addition, the coloration degree of the front plates 21A and 22A is that of a 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays a variable value such as a temperature value and an LED indicator that transmits and displays the operation button name, cooling function name, cooling intensity, etc. to be described later. It is also the density seen from the surface side by transmitting light in the lit state.

In the inside of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, a capacitive control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the surface of the front plate 22A is provided. The control operation unit 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit for detecting environmental conditions around the refrigerator, a home button, an LED indicator that detects a touch to the home button and transmits the operation button name, cooling function name, cooling intensity, etc., A 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays changing values such as temperature values is installed.

On the rear side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and in the vicinity of the lower side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, elongated door opening operation portions 51 and 52 are provided in the left and right transverse directions, respectively. Further, on the surfaces of the front plates 21A and 22A, open operation display portions 51A and 52A which are open operation portions and indicate the opening operation direction are provided. Here, the opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21 is provided with an arrow mark in the left direction for recognizing that the opening operation is performed by sliding the finger in the left direction while touching the finger. On the door opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22, an arrow mark in the right direction for recognizing that the door opening operation is performed by sliding a finger in the right direction while touching it is provided.

In the left and right two places in the vicinity of the front end of the upper surface of the ceiling plate of the cabinet 11, the left door 21, the right door 22, respectively, at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open-side end of the upper side, the door opening drive unit 54, 55) are installed respectively. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by an electromagnet, thereby pushing the upper side of each of the left door 21 and the right door 22 in the vicinity of the open end to the front, respectively. The door can be opened automatically. And, in order to open the left door 21, slide a finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right or right end of the left door opening operation display unit 51A, and the door opening operation unit 51 A touch detection signal is sent to the control unit 56 by detecting an enemy touch, and when the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the left door 21 is automatically operated by operating the open drive unit 54 of the left door 21. Open. On the other hand, in order to open the right door 22, by sliding a finger in the right direction while touching the arrow mark near the left or left end of the right door opening operation display unit 52A, the door opening operation unit 52 It detects a continuous touch and sends a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, and when the control unit 56 determines that it is a door opening operation command, the open drive unit 55 of the right door 22 is operated and the right door 22 is opened. It opens automatically.

In addition, the cooling control performed by the control unit 56 in the refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment is general, and is not particularly limited, for example, a compressor, an operation panel, a condensation prevention heater, an ice-making device inside the ice-making chamber, and a refrigerating chamber fan. , A freezing chamber fan, and a defrost heater are connected to this control unit 56 and controlled.

The arrow mark of the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A is not limited to this display, but if it is a display that can easily recognize that the opening operation is performed by touching it and sliding it in the right or left direction, the The shape or form is not limited.

In the lower part of the left door 21 and the right door 22 below the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A, a finger is inserted with the palm up, and the left door 21, by pulling it forward. Handles 61 and 62 are installed to manually open each of the right door 22 individually.

Next, an operation of automatically opening a door in the refrigerator according to the 27th embodiment will be described. 32 is a block diagram of a door opening control in the refrigerator 1. As shown in Fig. 32, the front plates 21A and 22A are fitted to each of the five arrow marks arranged in the left and right direction of the opening operation display portions 51A and 52A in each of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 and face each other. Capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are installed in a row. These capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are set to detect changes in capacitance due to a user's touch and transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, respectively. have.

From there, when the user wants to open the right door 22 and touches a finger on the arrow mark at the left end of the door opening operation display unit 52A, and slides the finger to the right while touching it, the capacitive touch Among the sensors 52-1 to 52-5, each of the sensors detecting a change in capacitance transmits a touch detection signal to the controller 56 in the order of touch. There, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the door is opened, and when it is determined as a regular door opening operation, it outputs an open drive signal to the right door open drive unit 55 and automatically opens the right door 22. In addition, in the case of opening operation of the left door 21, the operation of sliding a finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end with respect to the opening operation display portion 51A of the left door 21 On the other hand, the same operation of opening the left door 21 is judged.

The logic of the open door judgment here is as follows. If at least 3 of the 5 sensors on the left and right each detects a touch within a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds or 1 second) and in the order of sequence, it is determined that it is a door opening operation, and the corresponding door is automatically opened. . Here, the opening operation of the right door 22 will be described.

When one of the arrow marks of the opening operation display portion 52A of the right door 22 is touched, the corresponding capacitive touch sensor on the side of the opening operation portion 52 (usually, the arrow mark near the left end or the left end) is touched. Since it is touched, the sensor 52-1 at the left end) detects the touch and transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56. The control unit 56 receives this signal and starts the process of determining the opening operation. As a result, the control unit 56 determines that it is a regular opening operation for the right door 22, outputs a door opening driving command to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door, and operates the opening driving unit 55 To open the right door 22 automatically. The judgment processing of the opening operation of the left door 21 is also the same. However, in the case of the left door 21, the direction is opposite to that of the right door 22, and after touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end of the door opening operation display part 51A, it slides to the left. It is judged by the operation of opening the door.

Next, with reference to Figs. 29 to 31, two speech recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 as speech recognition means, a person detection sensor HS, and an illuminance sensor LS will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, one voice recognition sensor NS1, a person detection sensor HS, and an illuminance sensor LS are disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator 1. Another voice recognition sensor NS2 is disposed at a distance from one voice recognition sensor NS1 in the lower part of the right door 22, for example. As these speech recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, a condenser microphone can be used, for example, but is not particularly limited.

30 and 31, the upper voice recognition sensor NS1 is disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 11 of the refrigerator 1, but the lower voice recognition sensor NS2 is, for example, the right door ( Although disposed in the lower end of 22), the present invention is not limited thereto, and only one of the two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 may be disposed.

As the person detection sensor HS shown in Fig. 31, an infrared sensor can be used, for example. The upper voice recognition sensor NS1, the person detection sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS shown in FIG. 31 are housed in storage cases CS1, CS2, and CS3, respectively. As a result, the voice recognition sensor NS1, the person detection sensor HS, and the illuminance sensor LS can be overlapped or arranged side by side on the upper surface of the cabinet 11, thereby protecting from dust and the like. The storage cases C1, C2, and C3 are arranged on the upper surface of the cabinet 11, for example, at a position between the opening operation portions 51 and 52, but the arrangement position of each sensor is not limited thereto.

In addition, these sensors may be stored in the case of the opening/closing drive portions 54 and 55, or may be stored in a case for covering the hinge at the point where the door is opened and closed.

32 is a block diagram of door opening control in a refrigerator. The flowchart of FIG. 33 shows a case where the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerating chamber are automatically opened.

As shown in FIG. 32, two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, a person detection sensor HS, and an illuminance sensor LS are electrically connected to the control part 56. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the voice signal when the two voice recognition sensors NS1, NS2 receives sound can be sent to the control part 56. The detection signal of the person detection sensor HS may be sent to the control unit 56. The illuminance signal of the illuminance sensor LS may be transmitted to the controller 56.

In this way, by installing the two voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, it will be described later, but in the same manner as in the flowchart shown in Fig. 33, the user speaks by voice, so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 are ) Is not manually opened by the user, that is, the user opens the door by holding the handle (handle), and can be opened automatically by other detection (operation) methods such as detecting sound and voice.

Further, as shown in Fig. 32, the control unit 56 is connected to the storage unit 300 and the association input registration unit 305. In the relevance input registration means 305, the user can select "name of food that is an accommodation object" or, for example, "name of storage pocket of left door 21", "name of storage pocket of right door 22", and " The name of the accommodation place in the refrigerator 1, etc., can be entered and registered. Examples of "names of foods that are acceptable foods" include "milk", "egg", "butter", "juice", "wasabi", "tofu", and the like. Examples of the "name of the storage space in the refrigerator 1" include the refrigerating chamber 12, the vegetable chamber 13, the switching chamber 14, the freezing chamber 15, and the ice making chamber 16 shown in FIG. 29, for example.

The control unit 56 shown in FIG. 32 stores in the storage unit 300 related information on whether the above-described “name of food, etc.” is contained in “the name of which accommodation place in the refrigerator 1”. Consisting of letting go. As an example, in the storage unit 300, the user sets (memorizes) "milk", "egg", and "butter" in the storage pocket on the left door 21 side, and in step S12, the right door ( In the storage pocket on the side 22), for example, "juice", "wasabi", and "tofu" can be set (remembered).

Here, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 33 showing the case of automatically opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 of the refrigerator compartment, the user automatically opens the left door 21 and the right door 22 by voice. The case of opening with will be described in detail.

In Fig. 33, in step S11, the user previously manipulates, for example, a keyboard or a touch panel of the relevance input registration means 305, in relation to the storage pocket on the left door 21 side, for example, "milk". , "Egg" and "butter" are input and registered, and "juice", "wasabi", and "tofu" are input, for example, into the storage pocket on the right door 22 side to register. Thereby, the control unit 56 shown in FIG. 32 relates to the storage pocket on the left door 21 side with respect to the storage unit 300 shown in FIG. 32, for example, "milk", "egg", and "Butter" is set (stored), and in step S12, "juice", "wasabi", and "tofu" are set (stored) in the storage pocket on the right door 22 side, for example.

In step S13 of FIG. 33, by detecting that the user has approached the refrigerator with, for example, a person detection sensor HS or an illuminance sensor LS, the control unit 56 detects it from the person detection sensor HS. A signal is sent or an illuminance signal is sent from the illuminance sensor LS. For this reason, the control unit 56 triggers the start of the speech recognition function of the control unit 56 by the detection signal or the illuminance signal, that is, the control unit 56 generates a timing for exerting the speech recognition function. The voice recognition function of the device begins to work.

In this way, the trigger of the start of the voice recognition function is when the person detection sensor H detects a user approaching the refrigerator, when a detection signal is given from the person detection sensor HS to the control unit 56, or the illuminance sensor When (LS) detects that the user has turned on the lighting of the kitchen in which the refrigerator is placed, it is when an illuminance signal is given to the control unit 56 from the illuminance sensor LS.

And, when the user speaks at least one of "milk", "egg", and "butter" by voice in step S14 of FIG. 33, the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in FIG. By sending a voice signal to the control unit 56, the control unit 56 recognizes the voice. Thereby, in step S15, the control unit 56 with respect to the opening drive unit 54 of the left door 21 shown in Fig. 32 in which at least one of "milk", "egg", and "butter" is accommodated. A door open drive command is output, and the door open drive part 54 is operated. For this reason, in step S16, the storage pocket of the left door 21 can be automatically opened by the operation of the door opening driver 54.

Similarly, when the user speaks at least one of "juice", "wasabi", and "tofu" by voice in step S14, the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in FIG. 32 receive this voice, By sending a voice signal to the control unit 56, the control unit 56 recognizes the voice. Accordingly, in step S17, the control unit 56 issues a door opening drive command to the door opening drive unit 55 of the right door 22 in which at least one of “juice”, “wasabi” and “tofu” is accommodated. Output, and operate the door opening drive unit 55. For this reason, in step 18, the storage pocket of the right door 22 can be automatically opened by the operation of the door opening drive unit 55.

In the storage unit 300, for example, by registering the storage pocket of the left door 21 containing “milk” in advance, even a person who does not know the place in the refrigerator containing “milk” is “milk”. If so, the left door 21 side can be opened automatically. Thereby, a person who does not know the place in the refrigerator containing "milk" does not accidentally open the right door 22 in which "milk" is not contained. For this reason, the number of times of opening and closing the door is reduced, and the energy saving effect is increased.

In addition, when the storage tank for ice making is arranged in the refrigerator, the door on the side where the storage tank is stored, for example, the left door 21, is opened by the user uttering, for example, “reservoir”, The user can hold the storage tank in a predetermined receiving position of the storage tank in the storage. Accordingly, even when the user holds the storage tank with both hands and cannot use both hands, for example, to open the left door 21 to accommodate the storage tank, the handle 61 shown in FIG. You can open it automatically even if you don't use it.

In addition, the pull-out door 23, 24, 25, 26 shown in Fig. 29 is also provided with a door opening drive unit, in the same manner as the left door 21 and the right door 22, and the door is closed by voice. Can be opened automatically.

In this way, unlike manual operation in which the user holds the handle and opens the left door (21), the right door (22), and the pull-out door (23, 24, 25, 26) manually, the door can be opened automatically. For example, it is very convenient when the user is holding food with both hands.

In addition, when the voice for opening other doors is simultaneously recognized, the opening timing of these other doors may be shifted to open, or the like may be attempted to prevent the user from colliding with the door.

In addition, as an example of giving a trigger for starting speech recognition to the control unit 56 in step S13 shown in FIG. 33, words (words) uttered by the user are recognized by the speech recognition sensors NS1 and NS2. It is a voice signal from the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 obtained by doing this. As the predetermined words (words) spoken by the user, for example, "plus open sesame seeds" or the like can be adopted. That is, as a preferred example for giving the control unit 56 a trigger for starting speech recognition, it is preferable that it is a word that does not appear in a normal conversation such as "open sesame seeds" or "plus open sesame seeds".

That is, in the case where the example of giving the trigger for starting speech recognition to the control unit 56 is a human voice, in order to prevent the harmfulness of the control unit 56 starting the speech recognition operation by words generated in the normal conversation content. , It is desirable to use words that do not appear in ordinary conversation. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the control unit 56 from starting the speech recognition operation by mistake. The voice giving the trigger for starting voice recognition to the control unit 56 is an abnormal sound generated from a refrigerator, for example, a sound from a compressor, an alarm sound notifying when a door is opened, a door opening/closing sound, and a room used. It's good to set it to a different sound than the sound of a vacuum cleaner or music coming out of the room. In addition, when the recognized sound is set to a sound other than a voice, if the sound is set to recognize the sound of clapping multiple times (for example, twice), since it is different from the sound generated by the refrigerator, erroneous opening and closing is eliminated.

Next, with reference to FIG. 34, an example of the arrangement of the speech recognition sensor NS2 disposed under the right door 22 shown in FIG. 30 will be described. 34 is a schematic diagram of a cross section of the right door 22, for example.

As shown in Fig. 34, the voice recognition sensor NS2 is, for example, a condenser microphone, and is disposed under the right door 22. As shown in FIG. This speech recognition sensor NS2 is disposed in the storage member 105. This storage member 105 is fixed to the inner surface 121M of the glass plate 121 and the inner surface 135M of the left door cap 135, respectively. This storage member 105 is a member constituting a storage portion capable of storing the substrate 110. The hole 154 is provided below the left door cap 135 of the right door 22, for example. The voice generated by the user or the like reaches the voice recognition sensor NS2 through the hole 154. The hole portion 154 may be a single hole or may be formed of a plurality of holes. As a result, the voice recognition sensor NS2 can be disposed so as to be embedded in the lower part of the right door 22, and external voices and the like can be reliably collected through the hole 154. Further, the speech recognition sensor NS2 may be mounted on the substrate 110 or may be provided with a cover covering the hole portion 154 and a small hole may be formed in the cover.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 32, the control part 56 is connected to the light emitting part 330, the sound generating part 340, and the sound generating part 350. When the door is opened by the sound (voice) detected by the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, the light emitting unit 330, the sound generating unit 340, and the voice generating unit 350 open the door to the user. It is a means of notifying to warn you.

The light emitting unit 330 is, for example, an LED light emitting unit, and the sound generating unit 340 is, for example, a buzzer. The voice generator 350 is, for example, a speaker. As described above, at least one of the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 shown in FIG. 32 detects the user's voice, and the control unit 56 controls the left door 21 or the right door 22, for example. When a command to open is issued, the control unit 56 makes the light emitting unit 330 shown in FIG. 32 emit light in “red”, for example, or generates an alarm sound by the sound generator 340, or The contents of warnings such as "door open" can be reported to the user by voice from the generator 350. As a result, it is possible to notify the user of the opening of the door by at least one of light, sound, and voice, thereby preventing the user from suddenly colliding with the door.

Further, as shown in Fig. 32, a person detection sensor HS is connected to the control unit 56. When the person detection sensor HS detects that the user has approached the refrigerator, it issues a detection signal to the control unit 56 and notifies that a person has been detected. In this way, when the control unit 56 detects that the user has approached the refrigerator, the control unit 56 shown in FIG. 32 transmits the content of the inquiry “Shall we open the door?” through the voice generating unit 350 You can ask the user for guidance. In this case, if the user answers "yes", for example, this "yes" is recognized by the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2, and the control unit 56 notifies the voice signal. Thereby, the control part 56 can open the right door 22 by outputting a door open drive command to the door opening drive part 55 of the right door 22, for example. In the same way, the control unit 56 can open the left door 21 by outputting an opening driving command to the door opening driving unit 54 of the left door 21, for example.

In addition, the left door 21 and the right door 22 may have different opening speeds. The left door 21 and the right door 22 are usually set to a slower and slower opening speed by driving the door opening drivers 54 and 55 so that the door does not open rapidly.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 35, the height measurement sensor 410 is connected to the control part 56. This height measurement sensor 410 can use an optical sensor such as a photo coupler, for example, and measures the user's approximate height. For example, the height measurement sensor 410 may differentiate and measure whether the user's height is a value that reaches or does not reach the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side. Accordingly, the controller 56 may change the opening speed of the upper left door 21 and the right door 22 based on the user's height measured by the height measurement sensor 410.

For example, when the height of the user measured by the height measurement sensor 410 is a value ranging from the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side, the control unit 56 is the door opening drive unit 54, 55 ) Slower the operation, and the door opening drive portions 54 and 55 open the upper left door 21 and the right door 22 at one speed more slowly than the normal opening speed, respectively.

Thereby, it is possible to avoid the left door 21 and the right door 22 from colliding with the user's head or body. In addition, when the height value of the user measured by the height measurement sensor 410 is a value that does not reach the left door 21 and the right door 22 on the upper side, the door opening drive units 54 and 55 are on the upper side. The left door 21 and the right door 22 are opened at a normal opening speed, respectively.

When the control unit 56 shown in Fig. 32 or 35 informs the user of the warning contents of, for example, "open the right door" by using the voice generating unit 350, the user will once again receive this warning. If you want to check the contents, you can do it as follows. When the user speaks repetitive prompting content such as "once again" or "repeat", the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2 control the voice signal of repetitive prompting content such as "once again" or "repeat". ) To send. The control unit 56 notifies the user of the warning content “open the right door” at least once again using the voice generating unit 350 in response to a voice signal from the voice recognition sensors NS1 and NS2. Accordingly, even if the user does not hear the warning contents issued by the refrigerator side, the user can simply check again.

In addition, when the user opens the right door 22 of the upper refrigerating chamber and looks into the interior, for example, the control unit 56 does not accept an operation that automatically opens the left door 21, which is another door. . Thereby, when the user opens the right door 22 and is looking into the interior, and the user mutters, for example, "If you do not take out milk", the left door 21, which is the side containing "milk" by mistake, is It can be prevented from automatically opening, and it is possible to reliably prevent the left door 21 from hitting the user's face, for example.

In the same way, when the user opens the right door 22 of the upper refrigerating compartment and looks into the interior, when he mutters “If you do not take out vegetables”, the door of the vegetable room containing “vegetables” by mistake comes out automatically. It can prevent hitting the user's lower abdomen or knees.

In addition, other than invalidating the reception as described above, it is also good to set the opening speed of other doors to be slower than the normal speed when one of the doors is open.

In addition, when abnormal sounds (compressor sounds, buzzer sounds) are generated from the refrigerator, and when voice recognition cannot be recognized well, a voice indicating an instruction to the user such as "please speak again" may flow from the speaker.

As shown in Fig. 35, the proximity sensor 400 is connected to the control unit 56. The proximity sensor 400 is disposed on the left door 21 and the right door 22, for example, and when a user approaches the left door 21 or the right door 22, the door is opened as a touch switch. The operation units 51 and 52 and the control operation unit 50 are configured to emit light using, for example, an LED lamp. Accordingly, even when the refrigerator is placed in a dark place, the user can visually check the positions of the opening operation units 51 and 52 or the control operation unit 50.

In addition, it is possible to serve as the function of the proximity sensor and the function of the opening operation portions 51 and 52. In this case, it is not necessary to separately install the proximity sensor 400 as shown in FIG. 35.

36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the opening operation unit having the function of the proximity sensor. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 36, in step S21, the control unit 56 of FIG. 35 increases and maintains the sensitivity of the electrostatic switch of the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as proximity sensors by software. It keeps its function as a sensor as well.

And, in step S22 of Fig. 36, when the door opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as proximity sensors detect the approach of the user's finger, the door serving as the proximity sensor at step S23 is commanded by the control unit 56. By lowering the sensitivity of the opening operation portions 51 and 52 that emits light and the opening operation portions 51 and 52 serving as a proximity sensor to their original state, the opening operation portions 51 and 52 serving as a proximity sensor are used as a door opening operation unit. Functions only as Here, if the sensitivity of the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as a proximity sensor is not lowered, it is sensed before a touch input to the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as a proximity sensor, and accurate input cannot be performed.

In this way, the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as proximity sensors detect the approach of the user's finger, and the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as proximity sensors emit light, so that the opening operation unit 51 serving as a proximity sensor The position of the, 52) can be clearly known, and the user can be informed that input is enabled using the door opening operation units 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors. Since there is no need to install a separate proximity sensor, the number of parts can be reduced.

Conversely, before the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as proximity sensors emit light, the control unit 56 prevents input using the opening operation units 51 and 52 serving as proximity sensors, and the user does not intend to input. In spite of this, erroneous input is prevented when the user's finger comes into contact with the opening operation portions 51 and 52 that also serve as proximity sensors.

[28th embodiment]

37 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to a 28th embodiment. 38 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 in an open state. 39 is an enlarged perspective view of the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator 1.

37 and 38, the refrigerator 1 of the 28th embodiment is provided with the cabinet 11 which is a refrigerator main body. The cabinet 11 is composed of a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14, and a freezing chamber 15 capable of switching the set temperature in the storage chamber from the upper end. In addition, an ice making room 16 is installed on the left side of the conversion room 14.

37 to 39, in order to cover the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 12, a pair of left and right doors 21, and the right door 22 are opened on both sides by hinges at the left end and the upper and lower sides of the right end, respectively. It is attached to open and close.

In addition, the vegetable compartment 13, the conversion compartment 14, the freezing compartment 15, and the ice making compartment 16 are provided with pull-out doors 23, 24, 25, and 26, respectively.

In addition, although not shown on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 13, a refrigerating evaporator for cooling the refrigerating compartment 12 and the vegetable compartment 13 is disposed, and the rear surfaces of the conversion compartment 14 and the freezing compartment 15 are shown in the same manner. Although not present, a refrigeration evaporator for cooling the conversion chamber 14, the freezing chamber 15, and the ice making chamber 16 is disposed.

In addition, as shown in Figs. 37 and 38, a control unit 56 made of a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 is disposed on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 13.

As shown in Fig. 37, the left door 21 and the right door 22 have colored and transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A attached to the openings of the flat inner plate that are both open on the front side, and the inner cavity part It is a structure in which a vacuum insulation material is placed on the wall, and a urethane insulation material or a solid insulation material is placed in the cavity not completely filled with the vacuum insulation material.

The degree of coloration of the glass-made front plates 21A and 22A is a concentration in which no filling material such as a heat insulating material on the inside of the front plates 21A and 22A is visible from the outside in a state in which external light is received. In addition, the coloration degree of the glass-made front plates 21A and 22A is, for example, a variable value such as an operation button name of the control operation unit 50, a cooling function name, an LED indicator that transmits and displays cooling intensity, etc., a temperature value, etc. In the lighted state of the 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays light, it is also the density visible from the surface side through which light is transmitted.

As shown in Fig. 38, the right end of the left door 21, that is, the left side of the right door 22 in the closed state of the door close to and opposite to the left end of the right door 22 in the closed state. A rotating partition 31 is provided for maintaining the sealing state with the end portion, that is, the open side portion. A condensation preventing heater for preventing condensation is built into the rotating partition 31.

In the inside of the front plate 22A of the right door 22, a capacitive control operation unit 50 for operating the refrigerator by a touch operation from the surface of the front plate 22A is provided. The control operation unit 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit for detecting environmental conditions around the refrigerator, a home button, and an LED indicator that detects a touch to the home button, and transmits the operation button name, cooling function name, cooling intensity, etc. , And a 7-segment LED display that transmits and displays changing values such as temperature values, etc. are installed. This control operation unit 50 is disposed, for example, on the right door 22 in order to perform an operation of changing the contents of the cooling control of the refrigerator 1. The home button of the control operation unit 50 is a menu button through which a user (user) can command various operations to the control unit 56 of the refrigerator 1 by touching it with a finger.

As shown in Fig. 37, the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the rear side of the front plate 22A of the right door 22 in the vicinity of the lower side are respectively along the left and right transverse directions, and elongated door opening operation portions ( 51, 52) are installed. The door opening operation parts 51 and 52 are also referred to as door open buttons. Opening operation display portions 51B and 52B indicating the opening operation direction are provided on the front surfaces of the front plates 21A and 22A. On the door opening operation display portion 51B of the left door 21, an arrow mark in the left direction for recognizing that the user is operating the door opening operation by sliding the door while touching it in the left direction is provided. On the door opening operation display portion 52B of the right door 22, a right arrow mark for recognizing that the user is performing the door opening operation by sliding it while touching it with a finger in the right direction is provided.

As shown in Figs. 37 and 38, the door opening driving units 54 and 55 are located at two left and right positions near the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11, that is, the left door 21 and the right door 22. They are respectively installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end of the upper side.

These door opening driving units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54B and 55B forward by an electromagnet to push the upper side near the open side end of the left door 21 and the right door 22 forward, and the left side The door 21 and the right door 22 can be opened automatically, respectively. To open the left door 21, slide a finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right or right end of the left door opening operation display unit 51B, and the door opening operation unit 51 will continuously touch the Is sensed and a touch detection signal is sent to the controller 56. In addition, the control unit 56 may automatically open the left door 21 by operating the door opening driving unit 54 of the left door 21 when it is determined that it is a door opening operation command.

Similarly, in order to open the right door 22, slide a finger in the right direction while touching the arrow mark near the left or left end of the right door opening operation display unit 52B, and the door opening operation unit 52 Detects the continuous touch and sends a touch detection signal to the controller 56. In addition, the control unit 56 can automatically open the right door 22 by operating the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door 22 when it is determined that it is a door opening operation command.

As shown in Fig. 37, a control operation unit 50 for changing the contents of the cooling control of the refrigerator 1 is provided on the right door 12, for example, and the user ) To change the contents of the cooling control of the refrigerator 1.

In the right door 12, the opening operation part 52 is arranged below the control operation part 50, and the opening operation part 52 is not a position immediately below the control operation part 50, but the control operation part 50 It is arranged at a position that is shifted in the left-right direction. In other words, in the right door 22, a door opening operation unit 52 is disposed at a position below the control operation unit 50 having a menu button, but the opening operation unit 52 is a control operation unit having a menu button ( About the position of 50), it is arrange|positioned by shifting to another position in the right direction along the arrow QR direction.

Thereby, when the user touches the menu button of the control operation unit 50 with a finger, the user's finger is in a wet state, and even if the water has fallen from the finger, the water away from the finger is removed from the opening operation unit 52 ) Is not attached. For this reason, the electrostatic touch-type door opening operation unit 52 does not react by water away from the finger, and the door opening operation unit 52 reacts at will, even though the user does not touch it with the finger, so that the control unit 56 is on the right side. It is possible to prevent a malfunction by operating the door opening drive unit 55 of the door 22. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent the door 22 from automatically opening at will.

Further, when the menu button (menu key) of the control operation unit 50 is pressed, other operation buttons on the control operation unit 50 emit light, and the operation of the operation button may become effective. Even in such a case, since the opening operation unit 52 (open switch) is in a different place (shifted position) with respect to the control operation unit 50, the user can operate the light emission on the control operation unit 50 with a finger. Even if the operation button is touched, water away from the finger does not adhere to the opening operation part 52. For this reason, automatic opening of the door 22 can be reliably prevented.

In addition, only the opening operation part 52 and the menu button (menu key) of the control operation part 50 are printed on the glass front plate 22A, and the other elements except the menu button of the control operation part 50 are illuminated by LEDs. When it is made into the structure which rises by, the right door 22 of the refrigerator 1 becomes a neat appearance.

In addition, the cooling control performed by the control unit 56 of the refrigerator according to the 28th embodiment is general and is not particularly limited, but for example, a compressor, an operation panel, a condensation prevention heater, an ice maker inside the ice making room, a refrigerating room fan, and a freezer room A fan and a defrost heater are connected to this control unit 56 and controlled.

The arrow marks in the opening operation display portions 51B and 52B shown in Figs. 37 and 39 are not limited to this display, and if you touch them and slide them in the right or left direction, it is easy to open the door. As long as it is a recognizable mark, the shape or shape of the mark is not limited.

As shown in Fig. 37, the door 21 and the right door 22 are provided with handles 61 and 62. The handles 61 and 62 are installed on the lower end of the door opening operation display 51B and 52B, and with the palm facing upward, insert the finger into the handles 61 and 62 and pull it forward. Accordingly, the left door 21 and the right door 22 can be individually manually opened.

Next, an automatic door opening operation in the refrigerator according to the 28th embodiment will be described.

40 is a block diagram of door opening control in the refrigerator 1. As shown in Fig. 40, the opening operation portions 51 and 52 have opening operation display portions 51B and 52B, respectively. The opening operation display portions 51B and 52B each have five arrow marks arranged along the left and right transverse directions. Capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are arranged in a row on the opening operation display portions 51B and 52B, respectively. These capacitive touch sensors 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 are set to detect a change in capacitance due to a user's touch and transmit a touch detection signal to the control unit 56, respectively. .

From there, when the user wants to open the right door 22 and touches a finger on the arrow mark at the left end of the door opening operation display unit 52B, and slides the finger to the right while touching it, the capacitive touch Among the sensors 52-1 to 52-5, a sensor that detects a change in capacitance transmits a touch detection signal to the control unit 56 in the order of touch. From there, the control unit 56 determines whether or not the door is opened, and when it is determined as the normal door opening operation, the right door 22 is automatically opened by outputting a door opening driving signal to the door opening driving unit 55 of the right door. In addition, in the case of the opening operation of the left door 21, the operation of sliding a finger in the left direction while touching the arrow mark near the right end or the right end with respect to the door opening operation display portion 51B of the left door 21 On the other hand, the control unit 56 determines the opening operation of the same left door 21.

FIG. 41 shows that the opening operation portion 51 of the left door 21 and the opening operation portion 52 of the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 37 to 39 are used to detect the human body of the user of the refrigerator 1. An example of functioning as a human body detection means is shown.

When the opening operation unit 51 and the opening operation unit 52 detect the user's human body, they send a human body detection signal to the control unit 56. Thereby, the control unit 56 validates the input of an operation signal from the open operation unit 51, controls the opening of the corresponding left door 21, and inputs an operation signal from the open operation unit 52 The right door 22 is controlled to open the corresponding right side door 22 by making it effective.

The control unit 56 turns on the display of the opening operation unit 52 when the human body of the user is detected by the opening operation unit 52, for example, taking the opening operation unit 52 which is a human body detection means. The control unit 56 can switch the display by lighting the opening operation unit 52 by a method of opening the right door 22.

The opening operation unit 52, which is a human body detecting means, is an electrostatic switch as described above, and when the electrostatic switch detects a user's human body, the control unit 56 can perform by switching the sensitivity of the electrostatic switch high. The opening operation unit 52, which is a human body detecting means, is a proximity sensor that detects when a human body approaches, and the control unit 56 switches the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52, which is this proximity sensor, to contact the opening operation unit 52. When it detects that the user has touched the door opening operation unit 52 as a contact sensor with a finger, the control unit 56 is configured to function as the right door 22 and enable the door opening operation of the right door 22 to be effective. The opening operation of the door is actually performed.

As described above, by switching the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52, the functioning of the opening operation unit 52 from the proximity sensor to the contact sensor will be described in more detail below with reference to the example of FIG. 41.

In Fig. 41(a), the control unit 56 sets the sensitivity of the open operation unit 52 to “large” in order to make the door opening operation unit 52, which is an electrostatic switch, function as a “proximity sensor”. , The function as a "proximity sensor" is "effective". For this reason, the control part 56 sets the opening of the right door 22 which is the original function of the door opening operation part 52 (door opening operation) to "invalid". In addition, the control unit 56 is in an off state as indicated by a broken line in the lighting display of the opening operation unit 52.

Next, in Fig. 41(b), when the user brings the finger HT to the door opening operation unit 52 as the “proximity sensor”, the door opening operation unit 52 turns on and detects the approach of the hand as the “proximity sensor”. do. When the door opening operation part 52 detects the approach of a hand, the control part 56 switches and sets the sensitivity as a "proximity sensor" of the door opening operation part 52 from "large" to "small". For this reason, the control unit 56 functions as a "contact sensor", which is the original function of the opening operation unit 52, so that the opening operation of the right door 22 by contacting the finger HT with the opening operation unit 52 ( The door opening operation) becomes "effective". Further, the control unit 56 turns on the opening operation unit 52 from the off state as indicated by a solid line, and causes the opening operation unit 52 to be lit by, for example, an LED.

Next, in Fig. 41(c), when the user directly contacts (touches) the finger HT with the opening operation unit 52 as a “contact sensor”, the control unit 56 returns the “contact sensor” of the opening operation unit 52. It is maintained in a state of "small", which is the sensitivity as, and functions as a "contact sensor" as it is. In addition, the control unit 56 remains “effective” as it is to open the right door 22, which is the original function of the door opening operation unit 52, as it is. In addition, the control unit 56 is in the ON state as shown by the solid line, and the opening operation unit 52 is lit by, for example, an LED.

Thereafter, in Fig. 41(d), the control unit 56 shows that the user's finger HT has moved away from the state in which the user's finger HT has directly contacted (touched) the door opening operation unit 52 functioning as a ``contact sensor (touch sensor)''. Upon recognition, the control unit 56 validates the input of the operation signal from the open operation unit 52 and operates the open drive unit 55 to control the opening of the corresponding right door 22. Thereby, the right door 22 can be opened automatically.

Accordingly, in a state in the middle of an operation in which the user goes to directly contact (touch) the door opening operation unit 52, for example, when the user tries to access the refrigerator 1, the control unit 56 causes an error in the door opening instruction. In order to prevent detection, the validity or invalidity of direct contact (touch) can be judged.

In addition, since the lighting indication of the opening operation part 52 is turned on as shown by a solid line, and the opening operation part 52 can be turned on by, for example, an LED, for a user, for example, the door is opened. The visibility of the opening operation part 52 by the LED lighting indication of the operation part 52 can be improved.

In addition, when the control unit 56 recognizes that the user's finger HT has moved away from the state in which the user's finger HT has directly contacted (touched) the door opening operation unit 52 functioning as a “contact sensor (touch sensor)”, the control unit 56 Is configured to enable input of an operation signal from the opening operation unit 52 and to perform opening control of the corresponding right door 22.

In this respect, since the right door 22 is actually opened after the user's hand has been removed from the door opening operation unit 52 of the right door 22, the user's finger is sprained by the opening operation of the right door 22. Can be prevented.

As the lighting display method in the opening operation parts 51 and 52, for example, the gap between the capacitive touch sensors (electrodes) 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5 shown in FIG. 40 A light-emitting element such as an LED (light-emitting diode) that can be displayed from the front side may be disposed. In addition, cutout portions such as letters and marks are formed within the capacitive touch sensors (electrodes) 51-1 to 51-5 and 52-1 to 52-5, and light from the light emitting element is applied to the back surface of the electrode. You may make it shine forward through the part cut out from. Alternatively, the light of the light emitting element may be directed forward from the rear surface of the electrode using a light guide plate.

The opening operation of the right door 22 described in FIG. 41 can be similarly performed for the opening operation of the left door 21 using the door opening operation unit 51 disposed on the left door 21 in FIG. 37. .

The color of the lighting display in the left and right opening operation portions 51 and 52 may be the same color or different colors in the left and right opening operation portions 51 and 52.

When the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened slowly and when it is opened quickly, the color of the lighting display on the left and right door opening operation units 51 and 52 may be different.

When only one of the left door 21 and the right door 22 is opened, and when the left door 21 and the right door 22 are open at the same time, the left and right door opening operation units 51 and 52 are lit. You can change the color of. In particular, in the case of a specification that opens both the left door 21 and the right door 22 by simply operating one of the door opening operation units 51 and 52, the left door 21 and the right door Unlike the case where only one of (22) is opened, the color of the other display may be used.

In this case, for example, when the sensitivity of the opening operation units 51 and 52 is set to “large” and the opening operation units 51 and 52 function as a “proximity sensor”, when detecting that the human body is close for a predetermined time or longer, As well as allowing only one of the left door 21 and the right door 22 to be opened, the specification may be changed so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 are open at the same time. In addition, the specification can be changed so that the left door 21 and the right door 22 open at the same time, and at the same time, the opening operation parts 51 and 52 can be lit and displayed, or the color of the opening operation parts 51 and 52 can be changed. have. The lighting method of the opening operation portions 51 and 52, such as flashing display of the opening operation portions 51 and 52, can be arbitrarily changed.

In the refrigerator 1 of the twenty-eighth embodiment, it is possible to prevent a user (user) from making an erroneous detection in the middle of an operation going to touch, and to prevent a malfunction of opening a door.

[29th embodiment]

42 is a front view showing a refrigerator 1 according to a 29th embodiment. 43 is a block diagram of a door opening control including a human body detecting means of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 42.

The human body detection means 500 includes, for example, a remote detection sensor 100 and an opening operation unit 52 that also functions as a proximity sensor. The remote detection sensor 100 and the door opening operation part 52 which also functions as a proximity sensor are arranged on the right door 22, for example. The remote detection sensor 100 is located above the door opening operation unit 52 which also functions as a proximity sensor.

The remote detection sensor 100 is, for example, an infrared sensor for detecting the human body when the user's human body is in a place far from the refrigerator 1. On the other hand, the door opening operation part 52 which also functions as a proximity sensor is a blackout detection sensor that detects the human body when the user's human body approaches the refrigerator 1.

As shown in FIG. 43, the remote detection sensor 100 and the door opening operation part 52 which also functions as a proximity sensor (power failure detection sensor) are connected to the control part 56. Switching means 104 is preferably connected to the control unit 56. When the user manipulates this switching means 104, a selection signal is sent from the switching means 104 to the control unit 56, so that it is also used as a remote detection sensor 100 and a proximity sensor (power failure detection sensor) to detect a human body. The user can select which of the functioning opening operation units 52 to detect the human body.

Further, as shown in Fig. 43, the door opening operation unit 52, which also functions as a proximity sensor, is an electrostatic detection sensor, but may be provided with a sensitivity adjusting means 199 that arbitrarily changes and adjusts the sensitivity of the electrostatic detection sensor. . The sensitivity adjustment means 199 is connected to the control unit 56, and sends a sensitivity adjustment signal to the control unit 56 by a user operating the sensitivity adjustment unit 199. Thereby, the control part 56 can adjust the sensitivity of the opening operation part 52 which is an electrostatic detection sensor from "large" to "small".

As a method of changing the sensitivity of the opening operation unit 52 which is an electrostatic detection sensor, the electrostatic detection sensor has, for example, a cycle in which charging and discharging of the electrostatic capacity (capacitor capacity) is repeated several ten times per second. It is used that the capacitor capacity is changed by the user bringing a finger close to or in contact with the open door operation unit 52, which is an electrostatic detection sensor. As a result, when the user approaches or contacts the opening operation unit 52 with a finger, a change occurs in the charge/discharge cycle. The control unit 56 is checking the degree of change in the charge/discharge cycle, and by setting a threshold value in advance, based on this threshold value, whether the user has brought a finger close to or touched the door opening operation unit 52 The control unit 56 can determine.

In addition, the case of detecting when the user removes the finger from the opening operation unit 52 can also be carried out by determining that the control unit 56 has returned to the normal state from the change in the cycle of charging and discharging.

As described above, the user can change and adjust the sensitivity of the open door operation unit 52, which is a power failure detection sensor. If, for example, the refrigerator 1 is installed on the rear side of a kitchen sink, if the user is near the sink, the remote detection sensor 100 always detects the human body. In such a case, when the user operates this switching means 104, a selection signal is sent from the switching means 104 to the control unit 56, and the door opening operation unit also functions as a proximity sensor instead of the remote detection sensor 100. (52) can be selected as the human body detection means. Thereby, the opening operation part 52 does not detect a human body only if the user is in the vicinity of the sink. In addition, only when the user's finger approaches the door opening operation unit 52 functioning as a proximity detection sensor of the refrigerator 1, the door opening operation unit 52 can detect the human body. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection when the user is relatively far away from the refrigerator 1.

Since the remote detection sensor 100 is used, printing that transmits infrared rays is adopted as the printing color on the back surface of the glass front plate 22A shown in FIG. 42, or by passing infrared rays on the back surface of the glass front plate 22A. It is better not to print on the part.

In the refrigerator 1 of the 29th embodiment, it is possible to prevent a user (user) from making an erroneous detection in the middle of an operation going to touch, and preventing a malfunction of opening a door.

By the way, a case arranged on the ceiling of the refrigerator 1 has a voice recognition means, and the case has a hole through which voice is transmitted. The case of the control board is arranged so as to be equal to or less than the height of the case of the solenoid. The control board is disposed in a portion where the back of the ceiling wall becomes concave, and the support portion of the substrate is buried in urethane. Solenoids are also buried. The vacuum insulator is bent and buried parts are spaced apart, arranged so as to cover the lower side of the solenoid and the lower side of the substrate, and bent to cover the whole. In addition, the ceiling lighting is disposed by being buried in the recess of the urethane in the ceiling. The vacuum insulator is arranged apart from the ceiling lighting.

The vacuum insulation material is disposed in contact with the inner wall of the ceiling, and the LED is disposed outside the ceiling wall. Moreover, it is arrange|positioned in the part of the bent part of an inner wall.

The vacuum insulator is divided, placed under the solenoid and the substrate, and wrapped. The LED is separated from the vacuum insulator, and the vacuum insulator under the substrate is in contact with the inner wall.

It is inclined at the bent part of the ceiling wall, and an LED is embedded in the inclined part to prevent contact with the vacuum insulator.

44 is a cross-sectional view taken along a front-rear direction showing an upper portion of the refrigerator 1 having the above-described structure.

As shown in FIG. 44, the case 700 is arrange|positioned in the ceiling part 11A of the cabinet (main body) 11. A concave portion 11C is provided in the rear portion 11B of the ceiling portion 11A, and the case 700 is disposed in the concave portion 11C. The case 700 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a control board 710 is disposed in an inclined manner in the inner space of the case 700. The control board 710 is arranged inclined so that the front side of the control board 710 is above the rear side. The voice recognition means 720 is mounted in front of the control board 710.

The speech recognition means 720 is, for example, a microphone. A hole 700H is provided in the front portion of the case 700 so that the voice is transmitted to the voice recognition means 720. Thereby, even though the voice recognition means 720 is arranged in the case 700, for example, the voice uttered by the user is clearly in the voice recognition means 720 through the hole 700H of the case 700. It is transmitted, so that the user's voice or sound can be recognized.

As shown in Fig. 44, opening drive portions 54 and 55 are provided in front of the ceiling portion 11A. The opening driving units 54 and 55 are preferably solenoids, and the opening driving units 54 and 55 each have a case 762 and a rod 761 free of elasticity. The door opening drive unit 54, 55 is driven and this rod 761 comes out, so that the door opening drive unit 54, 55 is made to be opened by pushing the inside of the left door 21 (or the right door 22). have.

The height of the case 700 is the same as the height of the case 762 of the opening driving units 54 and 55, or the height of the case 700 is different from the height of the case 762 of the opening driving units 54 and 55 (DF) ) Is lowered. Accordingly, even if the case 700 is disposed on the ceiling portion 11A, the overall height of the refrigerator is prevented from being larger than the case 762 of the opening driving portions 54 and 55.

As shown in Fig. 44, the control plate 710 has a plurality of support portions 711, and is supported by being embedded in an insulating material 730 such as urethane in an inclined state by using the support portions 711. . Thereby, the control board 710 is supported so that it may not move using the heat insulating material 730. In addition, the opening drive portions 54 and 55 have a plurality of support portions 763, and are embedded and supported in the heat insulating material 730 using the support portions 763. Thereby, the door opening drive part 54, 55 is supported so that it may not move using the heat insulating material 730.

As shown in Fig. 44, a heat insulating material 730 such as urethane and a vacuum heat insulating material 740 are disposed on the inside of the ceiling portion 11A. The vacuum insulator 740 is positioned below the heat insulator 730, and the middle portion of the vacuum insulator 740 is disposed to be bent at a substantially right angle. As described above, since the middle portion of the vacuum insulator 740 is bent at a substantially right angle and is disposed, the vacuum insulator 740 is a lower area portion of the opening driving units 54 and 55 and a lower area portion of the control substrate 710. The vacuum insulating material 740 is spaced apart from the support part 763 of the opening drive parts 54 and 55 and the support part 711 of the control board 710.

The ceiling lighting 750 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 44 has, for example, an LED (light-emitting diode) lamp, and is buried and disposed in a recess 733 of an insulating material 730 such as urethane in the ceiling. . For this reason, the ceiling lighting 750 does not protrude downward from the inner wall 755 of the ceiling. The vacuum insulator 740 is spaced apart from the ceiling light 750 by an inner wall 755.

Next, a modified example of the 29th embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 45 to 47, but a portion of the modified example refrigerator of the 29th embodiment shown in Figs. 45 to 47 is the 29th embodiment shown in Fig. 44. If the part of the refrigerator is substantially the same, the same reference numerals are used for the description.

45 to 47 are cross-sectional views taken along a front-rear direction showing an upper portion of a refrigerator according to a different modified example, as in FIG. 44.

First, in the refrigerator 1 of the first modified example shown in FIG. 45, the ceiling light 750 is disposed in contact with the inner wall 755 of the ceiling, and the LED lamp 750a of the ceiling light 750 is the inner wall of the ceiling ( 755), and is exposed in the refrigerator compartment. In addition, the ceiling lighting 750 is disposed on the bent portion 757 of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling.

And since the bent portion of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling is positioned in front of the bent portion of the concave portion 11C of the ceiling portion 11A of the cabinet (body) 11, the bent portion of the outer wall of the cabinet and the inner wall 755 Since a space can be created in the gap in the front-rear direction of the bent portion, the vacuum insulator can be disposed in the vertical direction therebetween. Therefore, the bent portion of the middle portion of the vacuum insulator 740 can be disposed in the space. Further, the vacuum insulator arranged in the vertical direction may be a divided body. Further, the vacuum insulator disposed in the vertical direction may be thinner than that of the vacuum insulator extending in the front-rear direction of another location. Then, since the space in the gap in the front-rear direction of the bent portion of the outer wall of the cabinet and the bent portion of the inner wall 755 can be reduced, the bent portion of the inner wall 755 can be retracted to the rear, thereby increasing the capacity of the cabinet.

In addition, the distance dimension between the front-side corner of the bottom of the concave portion 11C of the bent portion of the outer wall and the upper (concave portion 11C side) corner of the bent portion of the inner wall 755 is a ceiling portion 11A having no other bent portion. ), since it is smaller than the thickness dimension of ), there is a concern that thermal insulation may deteriorate if only the urethane thermal insulation material is used, but the thermal insulation property can be significantly improved by using a configuration including the vacuum insulator.

In the refrigerator 1 of the second modified example shown in FIG. 46, the vacuum insulator 770 is divided into a plurality of parts, and the vacuum insulator 770 is divided into a first part 771 and a second part 772. . The first portion 771 covers an area portion under the opening driver 54 and 55, and the second portion 772 covers an area portion under the control substrate 710. The LED lamp 750a of the ceiling light 750 is spaced apart from the first part 771 of the vacuum insulator 770, and the second part 772 of the vacuum insulator 770 on the control substrate 710 is an inner wall It is in contact with the portion 776.

Further, the vacuum insulator of the first portion 771 and the second portion 772 is disposed so as to wrap in the front-rear direction. This is achieved by positioning the bent portion of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling in front of the bent portion of the concave portion 11C of the ceiling portion 11A of the cabinet (body) 11, thereby bending the bent portion of the outer wall of the cabinet and the bent portion of the inner wall 755. By creating a space in the gap in the negative front-rear direction, it has a structure that can be overlapped.

The dimensions of the front-side corner of the bottom of the concave portion 11C of the bent portion of the outer wall and the corner of the bent portion of the inner wall 755 on the upper side (the concave portion 11C side) are the ceiling portion 11A having no other bent portion. If the thickness is smaller than the thickness dimension of, it may be difficult for urethane, which is a foam insulation material, to flow during manufacture. Therefore, by not placing a vacuum insulator between them, a space for urethane flow is secured to ensure the filling of urethane and further filling. Speed can be improved.

In the refrigerator 1 of the third modified example illustrated in FIG. 47, the bent portion 780 of the inner wall 755 of the ceiling is formed to be inclined. The ceiling lighting 750 is made of, for example, a right triangle in accordance with the shape of the inclined bent portion 780, and the ceiling lighting 750 is buried and disposed in the bent portion 780. The vacuum insulator 740 is not divided and is an integral body. In this way, the LED lamp 750a of the ceiling lighting 750 is disposed in the bent portion 780, and the ceiling lighting 750 is spaced apart without contacting the vacuum insulating material 740.

In the 29th embodiment, the user may operate the opening device by continuously touching the opening operation portions 51 and 52 shown in Fig. 1 with a finger for a predetermined time or longer.

For example, the remote detection sensor 100 shown in FIG. 42 is an infrared sensor for detecting the human body when the human body of the user (user) is in a far place from the refrigerator 1, but this remote detection The hole (opening) from which the printing material of the front plate is cut out for transmitting the infrared rays of the sensor to the front of the door may be disposed by attaching an infrared transmissive member of the same color as the printing material to the hole. In addition, paint may be applied so that a plurality of small holes (openings) are formed therein so that the cutting of the paint is not conspicuous. Further, by this, it is possible to make it difficult for the remote detection sensor, which is an infrared sensor disposed on the rear surface of the glass plate, to visually recognize from the front. Further, this paint may be a paint that transmits infrared rays, or a semi-transmissive means for making it difficult to transmit a part of visible light by transmitting infrared wavelengths by sputtering or etching or the like may be provided. In that case, it is good to use a semi-transmissive means that transmits a color having a long wavelength. For example, if it is configured to transmit a wavelength of red (for example, 620-750 nm) that has a longer wavelength than that of blue (450-495 nm), the infrared wavelength (for example, 760-830 nm or more) is longer than that of the blue wavelength (450-495 nm). ) Becomes easier to penetrate. In that case, the color of the display means in the vicinity of the infrared sensor can be transmitted through the semi-transmissive means by using the same long-wavelength light-emitting means (green, yellow, red light-emitting diodes, etc.). , It can be visually recognized by the user, and it is also possible to make it difficult to visually recognize an infrared sensor or a part inside the door.

Further, the remote detection sensor, which is an infrared sensor, may be disposed on a base and inserted together with the control operation unit 50 or the open operation units 51 and 52. In that case, a slit in which a part of the electrode of the control operation unit 50 or the door opening operation unit 51, 52 is cut may be provided so that infrared rays can be transmitted from the inside of the electrode to the door side. By doing so, the remote detection sensor makes it easy to detect the operating user. Further, the remote detection sensor may be provided between the control operation unit 50 and the remote operation units 51 and 52 of the touch open SW.

[Thirty embodiment]

48 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 showing a 30th embodiment. 49 is a plan view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 48, and FIG. 50 is a side view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 48.

48 to 50, a pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1. For this reason, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so as to open and close the upper and lower ends of the cabinet 11, which is a refrigerator main body, in both open and closed manners with hinges.

For both the left door 21 and the right door 22, colored transparent glass front plates 21A and 22A are attached to the opening of the flat inner plate that opens to the front, and a vacuum insulator is disposed in the inner cavity. It is an insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane insulating material (hereinafter simply referred to as a urethane insulating material) or a preformed solid insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a cavity that is not completely filled with.

48 to 50, the door opening operation portions 551, 552 are installed in the vicinity of the lower side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22A of the right door 22, respectively. have. The door opening driving parts 54 and 55 are the left and right portions near the front end of the top surface of the ceiling plate of the cabinet 11, and are installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end of the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. Has been.

These door opening driving units 54 and 55 are door opening devices for forcibly opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by an electromagnet to push the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 in the vicinity of each of the open side ends to the front, and to the left. The door 21 and the right door 22 are automatically opened forcibly.

One opening operation unit 551 is disposed at a lower right position of the left door 21, and the other opening operation unit 552 is disposed at a lower left position of the right door 22. The opening operation part 551 is disposed inside the glass front plate 21A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation part 552 is disposed inside the glass front plate 22A of the right door 22. .

FIG. 51 shows an example of the structure of the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551 shown in FIG. 48. FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating a proximity sensor 560 and a guard electrode 570 disposed on the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551 shown in FIG. 51. 53 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the structure of the opening operation part 551. As shown in FIG.

The opening operation unit 551 and the opening operation unit 552 shown in Fig. 48 have the same structure, but may have a left-right symmetrical shape or a left-right same shape. 51 shows an example of the shape of the substrate 553 of the opening operation portion 551, but since the opening operation portion 552 and the opening operation portion 551 are substantially the same shape, refer to FIGS. 51 to 53, A description will be made as a representative of the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551.

First, referring to FIG. 53, the opening operation unit 551 includes a substrate assembly 500M, a plastic storage space member 585 called an open box for accommodating the substrate assembly 500M, and a plastic cover member 590. ). On the back surface 585R of the plastic storage space member 585, preferably, a metal body, for example, an aluminum foil is attached. A metal body 591 such as aluminum foil is attached to the inner surface of the plastic cover member 590. As a result, electromagnetic waves generated on the main body side of the refrigerator 1 are prevented from affecting the substrate assembly 500M side.

The board assembly 500M is composed of a plastic shielding plate 599, a board 553, an operation name plate 597, and an LED board 598 on which a display LED 557 is mounted. The substrate 553 is an electrostatic touch switch substrate, and is supported and fixed on the front side of the shielding plate 599. An operation name plate 597 is disposed on the front side of the substrate 553. An LED substrate 598 for display is supported and fixed to the rear side of the shielding plate 599. A plurality of LEDs 577 are mounted on the LED substrate 598. The shielding plate 599 functions as an instruction means for supporting the two substrates 553 and the LED substrate 598, and as a spacer means for separating the LED light.

Left and right slits 574 and 575 (transmitting means) are formed at corresponding positions between the substrate 553 and the operation name plate 597. The location of the slits 574 and 575 is between the proximity sensor 560 and the mid-area portion 589. The substrate assembly 500M is accommodated in the storage space member 585 through the rectangular opening portion 586 of the storage space member 585. The opening portion 586 of the storage space member 585 is configured to be covered with a cover member 590.

51(a) and 52, the substrate 553 of the opening operation part 551 is a vertically long rectangle or square, and the substrate 553 is a surface 553A shown in FIG. 51(a). ) And a rear surface 553B shown in Fig. 51(b). The board 553 is provided with a mounting portion 571 for electronic components, and a mounting portion 572 for the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. In the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component shown in Figs. 51A and 52, an electronic component, a connector component, etc. necessary to be protruded from the rear surface and accommodated in the recessed portion of the shielding plate 599 of the separating means are mounted. Further, the substrate 553 can be brought into contact with the back surface of the glass door by forming the metal electrical connection portion 571b in a state that does not protrude from the surface of the substrate 553 but is substantially flat.

In addition, by covering the substrate 553, which is a cover means, with an operation name plate 597 for concealing, it is possible to prevent malfunction when a user touches the electrical connection portion 571b or noise when static electricity accumulates on the glass door. . In addition, this operation name plate 597 may be colored or vapor-deposited.

In the arrangement portion 572 on the surface 553A side shown in Fig. 51(a), a proximity sensor 560 as a first electrode, a guard electrode 570 as a third electrode, and an intermediate region portion as a second electrode ( 589) has been placed. The middle region portion 589 is provided between the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The proximity sensor 560, the guard electrode 570, and the middle region portion 589 are metal electrodes, but are electrically insulated from each other. The middle region portion 589 as the second electrode assists the proximity sensor 560 and has a function as a proximity sensor. The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of detection of the proximity sensor 560.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 51(b), on the rear surface 553B corresponding to the arrangement portion 572 of the substrate 553, a mesh ground pattern 573, which is a fourth electrode, is arranged. Accordingly, the ground pattern 573 prevents noise from the refrigerator body from affecting the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560 and the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570.

51(a) and 52, a through hole 560C is formed in the central position of the proximity sensor 560, but the through hole 560C has a through hole 560C as shown in FIG. 51(b). The conducting wire pattern 560H is connected. The act of pressing (contacting) the proximity sensor 560 with a user's finger is usually carried out aiming at the center of the proximity sensor 560, so a through hole 560C is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560 Has been.

In this way, the through hole 560C is formed at a position substantially in the middle of the proximity sensor 560 for the following reason. That is, in the proximity sensor 560, the central region in which the through hole 560C is formed has the highest switch sensitivity compared to other regions. From this, the user's finger presses the center of the proximity switch 560 of the through hole 560C so that the finger can be brought into contact with the most sensitive place.

The proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 is an electrode for electrostatic touch (contact), in the front (front) direction of the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, For example, it is a capacitive detection means for detecting that a human body or an object approaches about 100 mm. The proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of a part of the user's human body, specifically, when, for example, a finger approaches. The proximity sensor 560 is a capacitive touch sensor, but a mutual capacitance type touch sensor or a self-capacitance type touch sensor may be used.

In the mutual resistance method, it is composed of one transmission electrode and one reception electrode, and when current is supplied to the transmission electrode, an electromagnetic field is generated, and the electromagnetic field is received by the reception electrode. For example, when a human finger approaches the detection area of the proximity sensor 560, a part of the electromagnetic field is absorbed and received by the receiving electrode, so that the amount of energy detected is reduced, and the proximity sensor 560 can detect the proximity of the finger. I can.

In the magnetoresistive method, one electrode (proximity sensor 560) having a stray capacitance is required. The stray capacitance of the electrode (proximity sensor 560) is affected by the parasitic capacitance between the electrode (proximity sensor 560) and a conductor (finger of the human body) around it. When a human finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the value of the floating capacitance increases under the influence of the parasitic capacitance, and by measuring the increased floating capacitance, the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger.

51 and 52, the proximity sensor 560 is, for example, a rectangular switch formed elongated in the vertical direction, and slits 574 and 575 to surround the electrode around the proximity sensor 560 Is formed. As shown in FIG. 52, the substrate 598 is covered from the inside in these slits 574, 575, and a plurality of LEDs 577 functioning as a lighting device are arranged at intervals.

However, the four LEDs 577 corresponding to the four corners 576R of the slits 574 and 575 in the plurality of LEDs 577 are located outside the slit 576 that is out of the slit 576. It is placed.

As shown in FIG. 52, one end of the proximity sensor 560 is connected to the placement portion 572 by a connecting portion 560A, and the other end of the proximity sensor 560 is placed by a connecting portion 560B. Connected to (572). A through hole 560C for electrical connection is formed in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560. As described above, the formation of the through hole 560C in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560 as described above has a detection sensitivity in the region of the proximity sensor 560 provided with the through hole 560C compared to other region portions. high. Since the portion of the region where the user's finger is in close contact with the proximity sensor 560 is a central portion of the proximity sensor 560, a through hole 560C is provided in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560. The proximity sensor 560 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape by forming an electrode in a region 572a of the slits 574 and 575 of the substrate arrangement portion, in a dotted region. Further, the slits 574 and 575 do not surround the entire proximity sensor 560 and are formed in a "co" shape. This is a structure in which a leg 572ab connected to the periphery 572b around the slit is formed to connect the inside and the outside so that the substrate is not divided and held as a single substrate.

The guard electrodes 570 shown in Figs. 51 and 52 are formed in a rectangular frame around the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 in the arrangement portion 572. The guard electrode 570 is a metal body and includes a pair of short-side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long-side electrode portions 570B. The guard electrode 570 generates an electromagnetic field in a direction opposite to the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is suppressed from being expanded by the electromagnetic field in the opposite direction from which the guard electrode 570 is generated. For this reason, the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570 suppresses the expansion of the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560, so that the guard electrode 570 is within a detection range that changes the effective range of the detection range of the human body. It serves as a means of changing the scope of effectiveness.

The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by narrowing and changing the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 when detecting the approach of a human body, for example, a finger. Specifically, as a result of changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by the guard electrode 570, as shown in FIG. 49, the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation part 551 of the left door 21 The electromagnetic field 560P in which is generated is guided only in the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560. In the same way, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation portion 552 of the right door 22 is guided only to the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

For this reason, as shown in Fig. 49, the electromagnetic field 560P in which the proximity sensor 560 is generated is narrowed so that it does not expand in the X direction, which is the left-right direction.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation part 551 of the left door 21 is guided only in the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. . In the same way, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation portion 552 of the right door 22 is guided only to the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. For this reason, in FIG. 50, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is narrowed so that it does not expand in the vertical Z direction.

That is, the electromagnetic field 560P of the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 49 and 50 shows the effective range of the detection range of the human body, and the effective range of the detection range of the human body is the front of the proximity sensor 560 and Corresponds to a range different from the range in other directions (range that expands up and down, left and right). That is, the effective range of the detection range of the human body is that the user's manipulation direction of the proximity sensor 560 is at least the effective range, and the effective range is limited by changing the range of the direction other than the manipulation direction, such as narrowing, and specifically, the front It is a range excluding at least some of the ranges in different directions (at least a part of the ranges spreading up and down, left and right, and rearward).

Fig. 54 is a block diagram showing electrical connection between the control unit 556, the opening operation units 551 and 552, and the opening drive units 54 and 55 which are door opening devices.

As shown in Fig. 54, the control unit 556 includes a proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation units 551 and 552, a guard electrode 570, an opening drive unit 54, 55, and a plurality of lighting devices. It is electrically connected to the LED 577.

The control unit 556 maintains the proximity sensor 560 in a "high sensitivity" state. When the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P shown in Figs. 49 and 50, which are the detection areas of the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 of Fig. 54 signals that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560 (SG). Is received from the proximity sensor 560.

Then, when receiving the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 of FIG. 54 determines that the finger has approached the proximity sensor 560, and stops energizing the guard electrode 570. In addition, the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 is changed from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity" to lower the sensitivity. In addition, when the control unit 556 receives the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 turns on the LED 577 and illuminates the vicinity of the proximity switch 560, so that the proximity switch 560 The position of the device is made to rise by lighting, so that the user can visually check the position of the proximity switch 560.

In addition, as an effect of lighting the LED 577, since it is lit and displayed by the LED 577, it is possible to visually recognize the operation part for the user, and for the front plate 21A (or 22A) of the glass plate, the operation part is operated. There is no need to perform location-indicating printing or the like.

In addition, when the finger contacts the proximity sensor 560 from the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact switch, and the proximity sensor 560 moves the finger closer to the control unit 556. A contact signal SH in contact with the sensor 560 is transmitted. Thereby, the control unit 556 makes the proximity sensor 560 function as a contact sensor, and, for example, enables the opening operation of the left door 21 to be effective, and the control unit 56 activates the opening drive unit 54. It is operated so that the opening operation of the left door 21 can actually be performed. The above-described operation procedure is the same for the right door 22 as well.

Thereby, the position of the proximity switch 560 disposed on the inside of the glass surface of the left door 21 or the right door 22 is contacted by the user while visually checking the position with the help of illumination by the LED 577. , The left door 21 or the right door 22 can be opened.

As described above, the control unit 556 is configured to function as a contact sensor by switching the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from "high sensitivity" when a finger approaches to "low sensitivity". When a finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 makes the electrostatic switch 560 function as a “proximity sensor”, and the control unit 556 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to “large”. , The function as a "proximity sensor" is "effective". For this reason, since the control unit 556 does not function as the proximity sensor 560 as a "proximity sensor", the proximity sensor 560 is the left door 21 and the right door, which are the original functions of the opening operation units 551 and 552 22) is "invalid" for the open (door opening operation).

As described above, when the user's finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, and the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 approaches the finger. Is notified to the control unit 556. Then, when the proximity sensor 560 notifies the control unit 556 of the approaching of the finger, the control unit 556 switches and sets the sensitivity as the proximity sensor 560 from “Large” to “Small”. In addition, the control unit 556 is turned on from the off state of the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560, and the position of the proximity sensor 560 may be specified in the LED 577. For this reason, the user can reliably contact the proximity sensor 560 with a finger while visually checking the position of the proximity sensor 560. The control unit 56 functions the proximity sensor 560 as a “contact sensor”, which is the original function, so by touching the proximity sensor 560 with a finger, an open operation of the left door 21 or the right door 22 (door opening Operation) becomes "effective".

Since the above-described opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 is the same as the opening operation (door opening operation) of the right door 22, a description thereof will be omitted.

51 and 52, by arranging the guard electrode 570 around the proximity sensor 560, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, is reduced to the left door 21 ) And the approach of a person's hand or finger in a range of, for example, about 100 mm in the front direction (forward direction) of the right door 22. At this time, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is an effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560, is limited so as not to expand in the vertical direction and the left and right directions by arranging the guard electrode 570.

As shown in Fig. 49, by limiting the expansion of the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560 to the left and right directions (X direction), the left door 21 is denoted by an arrow 21M as shown in Fig. 49. When the finger is brought close to the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 by opening it along the indicated trajectory, it is possible to prevent the finger from being detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 that is closed. In the same way, when opening the right door 22 along the trajectory indicated by the arrow 22M and bringing a finger closer to the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22, the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 is closed. ) To prevent the finger from being indexed.

For this reason, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22, is configured not to enter the trajectory when the left door 21 as a moving means is opened. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, is configured not to enter the trajectory when the right door 22 as a moving means is opened.

Thereby, when opening the left door 21 or the right door 22, the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 or the left door 21 on the side that is not open and closed is Inadvertently detecting the door 21 or the right door 22 can be prevented.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 50, by limiting the expansion of the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560 to the vertical direction (Z direction), the pull-out door 23 as a moving means is moved in the direction of the arrow. When pulling out, the electromagnetic field 560P that is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field that is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 ( 560P does not enter the trajectory when the pull-out door 23 is opened.

Thereby, when opening the pull-out door 23, the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 touch the user's finger or the pull-out door 23. It can prevent accidental detection by carelessness.

However, the size of the guard electrode 570 shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 may be, for example, 30 mm×30 mm or more. In this way, by setting the size of the guard electrode 570, when a user contacts the proximity sensor 560 with, for example, an elbow instead of a finger, and attempts to open the left door 21 or the right door 22, , It is possible to prevent the elbow from contacting both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 at the same time. As a result, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 with both fingers and elbows.

Next, an example of the storage structure of the substrate 553 of the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to FIG. 55. 55 is a diagram showing an example of the storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22. As shown in FIG. Fig. 55(a) is a front view of the left door 21 and the right door 22, and Fig. 55(b) is an inner cross-section 21T of the left door 21 showing the storage structure of the substrate 553 ( It is a perspective view showing the structure of the inner end surface part 22T of the right door 22. 55(c) is a diagram showing an example of the cover member 590. As shown in FIG.

As shown in Fig. 55(a), when the left door 21 and the right door 22 are closed, the inner end face 21T of the left door 21 and the inner end face 22T of the right door 22 are closed. ) Are facing each other. A rectangular opening portion 586 of the storage space member 585 is located in each inner end face 21T, and a storage space member of the substrate assembly 500M inside the left door 21 and the right door 22 (585) is located. The substrate assembly 500M is inserted into the storage space member 585 from the opening portion 586 to be accommodated.

The opening portion 586 is closed by the lid member 590 after receiving the substrate assembly 500M. On the inner surface of the cover member 590, a metal body 591 such as an aluminum foil tape or an iron plate is disposed. The metal body 591 is a changing means for limiting the electromagnetic field as an effective range of the detection range of the human body generated by the proximity sensor 560 and changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560. A metal body 591 as a means for changing the effective range of the detection range is disposed between the left door 21 and the right door 22 which are adjacent moving means.

By disposing the metal body 591 on the cover member 590 in this way, the metal body 591 blocks an electromagnetic field between the left door 21 and the right door 22. Accordingly, the electromagnetic field of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic field of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the right door 22. In addition, the electromagnetic field from the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic field of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the left door 21. .

Next, with reference to Figs. 48 to 50 and Fig. 54, an operation example when the user opens the left door 21, for example, will be described.

When the user approaches the proximity sensor 560 on the left door 21 side shown in Figs. 49 and 50 and enters the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the detection range of the human body shown in Figs. , The proximity sensor 560 in a high-sensitivity state detects that a finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560. Thereby, the control unit 556 of FIG. 54 receives a signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560.

In addition, the control unit 556 in FIG. 54 stops energization to the guard electrode 570 by a signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, and the control unit 556 stops the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560. Lower the value to change from "High Sensitivity" to "Low Sensitivity". In addition, the control unit 556 lights the LED 577 and illuminates the proximity switch 560 so that the user can visually check the position of the proximity switch 560 by specifying the position of the proximity switch 560.

And when a finger contacts the proximity sensor 560, the low-sensitivity proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch switch (contact switch) for opening the left door 21, and the finger is placed in the control unit 556 of FIG. A contact signal SH in contact with the proximity sensor 560 is transmitted. Thereby, the control part 556 makes the opening operation of the left door 21 effective, and the control part 556 operates the door opening drive part 54, so that the left door 21 can be opened.

In addition, since the operation example when the user opens the right door 22 is the same as the operation example when the left door 21 is opened, the description will be omitted.

In this way, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor with a finger, the control unit 556 can automatically open the left door 21 or the right door 22.

*

* When the user contacts only the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 makes the proximity sensor 560 function as a touch sensor (contact sensor), and makes the opening operation of the left door 21 "effective", The door opening operation of the left door 21 is performed. This is the same for the right door 22 as well.

However, when the user inadvertently contacts both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 51, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, and the left door By making the door opening operation of (21) "invalid", the door opening operation of the left door 21 is not performed. Accordingly, when the user's elbow, for example, inadvertently contacts both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570, the control unit 556 sets the door opening operation of the left door 21 to "invalid". And, it is possible to prohibit the opening operation of the left door 21. In addition, even when water droplets are attached to both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in Figs. 54 and 51, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, and the left side By making the door opening operation of the door 21 "invalid", the door opening operation of the left door 21 is not performed. The prohibition of the above-described opening operation is the same for the right door 22 as well.

In addition, when, for example, the user's elbow is in contact with both the guard electrode 570 and the middle region 589 shown in Figs. 54 and 51 at the same time, the door opening operation of the door 21 is "effective". It is set as, and the door opening operation of the left door 21 can be performed. This is the same for the right door 22 as well.

As described above, the left door 21 and the right door 22 of both open type having glass front plates 21A and 22A each have an electrostatic touch type contact sensor, and the electrostatic touch type contact sensor is It is used as a proximity sensor 560 that detects that the back approaches. As shown in FIG. 51, on the substrate 553, a guard electrode 570 is disposed around the proximity sensor 560, which is an electrode for electrostatic touch, so as to surround the proximity sensor 560 with an interval.

The guard electrode 570 is a method for changing the effective range of the detection range for changing the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560 when the human body approaches. The guard electrode 570 generates an electromagnetic field in a direction opposite to that generated when the proximity sensor 560 detects proximity of a human body.

Accordingly, the guard electrode 570 limits the electromagnetic field generated when the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the human body in the vertical direction and the left and right directions, and as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, the proximity sensor ( 560) limits the widening range of the electromagnetic field for proximity detection. Accordingly, the electromagnetic field 560P (proximity detection range) generated by the proximity sensor 560 can be limited only to the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

For this reason, in the case of a double-open refrigerator provided with the left door 21 and the right door 22, for example, the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 is incorrect due to the opening and closing of the left door 21. It is possible to prevent detection and prevent the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 from being erroneously detected by opening and closing the door of the right door 22.

In addition, in the case of one open refrigerator instead of both open refrigerators, when a human body or an object comes to the side of the refrigerator, the proximity sensor of the door can prevent inadvertent erroneous detection of the human body or object.

[31st embodiment]

56 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 showing a 31st embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 56, a pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerating chamber 12 of the refrigerator 1 so that opening and closing is possible. For this reason, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so as to open and close the upper and lower ends of the cabinet 11 which is the refrigerator main body in both open and closed manners with hinges.

For both the left door 21 and the right door 22, a colored transparent glass front plate 21A, 22A is attached to the opening of the flat inner plate that is open on the front side, and a vacuum insulator is placed in the inner cavity. It is an insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane insulating material (hereinafter, simply referred to as a urethane insulating material) or a preformed solid insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a cavity that is not completely filled with the furnace.

As shown in Fig. 56, a pair of opening operation units 651 and 652 are installed in the vicinity of the lower side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22A of the right door 22, respectively. Has been. The opening operation units 651 and 652 can perform a touch operation from the surface of the front plate 21A by the user's finger. The opening operation part 651 has a capacitive proximity sensor 607 and an electrode 633 of a capacitive touch button. The opening operation part 652 has a capacitive proximity sensor 608 and an electrode 633 of a capacitive touch button. The proximity sensor 607 is disposed above the electrode 633 of the touch button, and the proximity sensor 608 is disposed above the electrode 633 of the touch button.

In addition, on the inside of the front plate 21A of the left door 21, a capacitive control operation unit 650 for operating the refrigerator by a user's finger by a touch operation from the surface of the front plate 21A is installed. Has been.

The control operation unit 650 includes, for example, an infrared light receiving unit for detecting the state of the environment around the refrigerator, a control button (control switch) 650CS and a home button (home switch) 650HS, and a touch to the home button 650HS. An LED indicator that detects and transmits an operation button name, a cooling function name, a cooling intensity, etc., and a seven-segment LED display device that transmits and displays a changing value such as a temperature value, etc. are provided.

As shown in Fig. 56, the open side end portions of the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22, in which the door opening driving portions 54 and 55 are left and right portions in the vicinity of the front end of the top surface of the cabinet 11 They are respectively installed in positions corresponding to the vicinity.

These door opening driving units 54 and 55 are door opening devices for forcibly opening the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by an electromagnet to push the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 in the vicinity of each of the open side ends to the front, and to the left. The door 21 and the right door 22 are automatically opened forcibly.

As shown in FIG. 56, the door opening operation part 651 including the proximity sensor 607 on one side is disposed at the lower right position of the left door 21, and the door including the proximity sensor 608 on the other side. The opening operation part 652 is disposed at the lower left position of the right door 22. The door opening operation unit 651 including the proximity sensor 607 is disposed inside the glass front plate 21A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation unit 652 including the proximity sensor 608 is the right door It is arrange|positioned inside the glass front plate 22A of (22).

57 shows the vicinity of the door opening operation unit 651 including the proximity sensor 607 at the left door 21 shown in FIG. 56 (or the door opening including the proximity sensor 608 at the right door 22) It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V1-V1 showing an example of the structure of the operation portion 652). The structure example near the opening operation part 652 shown in FIG. 56 is the same as the structure example near the opening operation part 651 shown in FIG.

As shown in Fig. 57, a shielding sheet material 621 is disposed on the inner surface side of the glass front plates 21A and 22A by printing or the like. This sheet member 621 is disposed to prevent the inside from being seen through the front plates 21A and 22A.

As shown in Fig. 57, on the inner surface side of the front plates 21A and 22A, a first substrate 631 and a second substrate 632 are arranged in parallel with respect to the front plates 21A and 22A at intervals.

A proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) and a connector 629 are disposed on the rear surface of the first substrate 631 disposed in front, and a plurality of capacitive touches are provided on the surface of the first substrate 631. A button (electrode) 633 is disposed. A plurality of through holes 634 are formed in the first substrate 631, and each hole 634 is disposed at a position behind the touch button 633. The proximity sensors 607 and 608 are microcomputers having a proximity sensor function.

As shown in FIG. 57, a plurality of LEDs 635 and connectors 636 are disposed on the surface of the second substrate 632 disposed behind the first substrate 631. As shown in FIG. The connector 636 of the second board 632 is connected to the connector 629 of the first board 631 by a relay line 628.

Each LED 635 is disposed at a position opposite to each hole 634 of the first substrate 631. Thereby, the illumination light LLT generated by each LED 635 can illuminate the touch button 633 from the rear through each hole 634 toward the front plate 21A and 22A side. Accordingly, the user can visually determine the positions of the proximity sensors 607 and 608 and the positions of each touch button 633 through the front plate 21A (or the front plate 22A) and the sheet material 621. I can confirm.

58 is a cross-sectional view of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 56 taken along line V2-V2.

As shown in Fig. 58, a shielding sheet member 621 is disposed on the inner surface side of the glass front plate 21A by printing or the like. This sheet member 621 is disposed to prevent the inside from being seen through the front plate 21A. An operation name plate 661, an enlarged film 662, a transparent electrode 663, and a substrate 664 are disposed inside the front plate 21A. From the front plate 21A toward the substrate 664, the operation name plate 661, the enlarged film 662, and the transparent electrode 663 are arranged in parallel at intervals in that order. The magnifying film 662 diffuses the illumination light LLS from which the plurality of LEDs 665 mounted on the substrate 664 is generated to the front plate 21A side.

On the surface of the board 664, a plurality of LEDs 665, a light guide shielding plate 666, and a connector 667 of a flexible printed circuit board are mounted. This connector 667 is connected to the transparent electrode 663 by a flexible printed circuit board 668. Each LED 665 is disposed between the shielding plates 666 on both sides, and the lighting light LLS of each LED 665 is irradiated to the transparent electrode 663 side by the shielding plate 666, and the transparent electrode ( After passing through 663, it is enlarged to the front plate 21A by the enlargement film 662. Accordingly, the user can visually check the electrode position of the transparent electrode 663 through the front plate 21A and the sheet material 621.

Fig. 59 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection between the control unit 656, the control operation unit 650, the opening operation units 651 and 652, and the opening drive units 54 and 55 which are door opening devices.

As shown in Fig. 59, the control unit 656 is electrically connected to the control operation unit 650, the first substrate 631 and the second substrate 632, and the opening driving units 54 and 55.

In the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 56, when the user opens the left door 21 (or the right door 22) of the refrigerator 1, the proximity sensor of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 in a dark environment It is difficult to visually recognize the position of the (607) 608 and the position of the touch button 633. In this way, in order to improve the difficult operation of the opening operation units 651 and 652, the rear surface of the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 and the proximity sensor 607 ( On the rear surface of the 608, an LED 635 serving as an illumination means for supplying illumination light is mounted.

For this reason, when the user wants to touch the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 with a finger, the capacitive proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) indicates that a person has approached. Detect. Since the control unit 656 receives a signal notifying that a person has approached from the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608), the lighting LED 635 is turned on by a command from the control unit 656.

Accordingly, the user visually recognizes the positions of the proximity sensors 607 and 608 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 and the positions of the touch buttons 633 even in a dark environment, and the touch buttons of the opening operation units 651 and 652 The 633 can be easily operated, and the left door 21 (or the right door 22) can be opened.

In addition, when the proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608) detects that a person has approached, the control unit 656 is a signal indicating that the person has approached from the proximity sensor 607 (or proximity sensor 608). When is received, the lighting LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in FIG. 58 is turned on by a command of the control unit 656.

Thereby, even in a dark environment, the user can visually recognize the position of the control operation unit 650 and easily operate the control operation unit 650.

When the user wants to touch the touch buttons 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 with a finger from above the glass front plates 21A and 22A, preferably the control unit 656 of FIG. 59 The brightness at the time of lighting of the LED 635 can be made into multiple levels.

That is, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person approaches, the control unit 656 of FIG. 59 slightly lights the LED 635. In addition, when the user touches the touch button 633 of the door opening operation units 651 and 652 non-contact and the door opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is established, Fig. The control unit 656 of 59 completely turns on the LED 635 and increases the amount of light.

After that, when the user removes his or her finger from the touch button 633, the control unit 656 operates the door opening drive unit 54 (or the door opening drive unit 55), so that the left door 21 (the right door 22) is ) To open.

Accordingly, when the user touches the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 with a finger and the opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is established, the LED 635 ) Increases the amount of light from weak lighting to complete lighting, so that the user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established by changing the amount of light, that is, preferably by increasing the amount of light.

The control operation unit 650 shown in Fig. 59 is operated, for example, in order for the user to change the contents of the cooling control. The control unit 656 controls the LED 635 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 shown in Fig. 57 when the operation start time (lighting time) for lighting the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in Fig. 58 is turned on. It is different from the starting point of the operation (lighting timing) to be lit, and can be set to be delayed by a predetermined delay time. That is, the timing of the light emission method of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 and the timing of the light emission method of the LED 635 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 can be changed.

For example, the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the opening operation parts 651 and 652 can be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation part 650. However, on the contrary, the timing of lighting the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 may be earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the opening operation units 651 and 652.

Accordingly, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person is approaching, not only the LED 635 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 but also the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 It can also be turned on.

As shown in Fig. 56, in the left door 21 and the right door 22, the positions of the proximity sensors 607 and 608 are disposed below the position of the control operation unit 650, and the proximity sensors 607 and 608 Are disposed in the vicinity of the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652, respectively.

Thereby, after the user brings the finger closer to the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) and comes into contact with the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608), by moving the finger slightly lowered as it is. , Since it can contact the touch button 633 of the opening operation parts 651, 652, it is easy to use for a user.

Next, FIG. 60 shows that after the proximity sensor 607 of the left door 21 shown in FIG. 56 detects the approach of the user's finger, the finger touches the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651. In the case, an example of a state in which the control operation unit 650 of the left door 21 and the door opening operation unit 651 light up is shown.

In FIG. 60(a), the user's finger has not yet approached the proximity sensor 607 at all. In this state, the control unit 656 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 607 to “Large” and raises the sensitivity in order to cause the proximity sensor 607, which is an electrostatic switch, to function as a “proximity sensor”. , The function as a "proximity sensor" is "effective".

In this case, the control unit 656 sets the opening of the left door 21, which is a function of the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 (opening operation), to "invalid". In addition, the control unit 656 sets the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 to "off state" as shown by a broken line. The operation (door opening operation) function of the control switch (control button) 650CS and the home switch (home button) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 is "disabled".

Next, Fig. 60(b) shows a state in which the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 607. In this state, since the proximity sensor 607 detects the proximity of the finger HT, the control unit 656 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 607 as a "proximity sensor" from "large" to "small" to decrease the sensitivity. Reduce the function of the proximity sensor.

For this reason, since the control unit 656 functions the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651, the finger HT contacts the touch button 633 from the surface of the front panel to open the left door 21. The (Open Door Operation) function becomes "Enable" from "Disable".

In addition, the control unit 656 turns on the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 to be “on state” as shown by a solid line, and FIG. The LED 635 shown and the LED 665 shown in Fig. 58 light, for example, weakly. That is, when the LED 665 shown in FIG. 58 lights up weakly, the control operation unit 650 is illuminated from behind to emit light, and the LED 635 shown in FIG. 57 lights up to light up the door opening operation unit 651 behind the scenes. Lights up at and emits light.

Preferably, the lighting display time is set to light only for a predetermined period of time, for example, 10 seconds, and if the finger HT does not contact the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 between these 10 seconds, The LEDs 635 and 665 may be turned off.

However, the control unit 656 controls the LED 635 of the opening operation unit 651 shown in Fig. 57 when the operation start time (lighting time) for lighting the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in Fig. 58 is turned on. It is different from the starting point of the operation (lighting timing) to be lit, and can be set to be delayed by a predetermined delay time. That is, the control unit 656 may change the timing of the light emission method of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 and the timing of the light emission method of the LED 635 of the door opening operation unit 651.

For example, the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the opening operation part 651 can be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation part 650. However, on the contrary, the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 may be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 635 of the opening operation unit 651. By varying the lighting timing as described above, the position of the control operation unit 650 and the position of the opening operation unit 651 can be distinguished and displayed for the user.

Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on, and from "invalid" to "effective".

Next, FIG. 60C shows a state in which the finger HT is in contact with the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651. In this state, the control unit 656 keeps the proximity sensor 607 in a state of "small", which is the sensitivity of the "contact sensor". The control unit 656 keeps the open operation (opening operation) function of the left door 21, which is the function of the touch button 633 of the open operation unit 651, as "effective".

Further, the operation functions of the control button (control switch) 650CS and the home button (home switch) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on and "effective", so that operation is possible.

In addition, the control unit 656 maintains the "on state" as shown by a solid line in the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607.

In this case, preferably, the amount of light of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 in Fig. 60(b) and the amount of light of the lighting display of the open/close operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607 are relatively small, and the lighting is weak. have. However, in the case of contact of the finger HT in FIG. 60(c), the light amount of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the amount of light of the lighting display of the door opening operation part 651 increase from weak lighting, and increase to a larger amount of light. It emits light with complete lighting.

Accordingly, when the user touches the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 with a finger and the door opening operation of the left door 21 is established, the LED 635 turns from weak lighting to complete lighting. Since the amount of light is increased, the user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established by the increase in the amount of lighting. In addition, the user can more reliably visually recognize the display of the control operation unit 650 and the display of the door opening operation unit 651, and increase the energy saving effect of power consumption.

As described above, when the finger HT is approached to the proximity sensor 607 as shown in FIG. 60(b) and the finger HT is placed on the touch button 633 shown in FIG. 60(c). In the case of contact, in order to illuminate the control operation unit 650 and the door opening operation unit 651, the control unit 656 may change and increase the amount of light at the time of lighting as described above.

Thereafter, FIG. 60(d) shows a state in which the user's finger HT is separated from the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 52. In this state, the control unit 656 validates the input of the operation signal from the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651, and operates the door opening drive unit 54 to open the corresponding left door 21. Control is carried out. Thereby, the left door 21 can be opened automatically.

In addition, the control unit 656 maintains the "on state" as shown by a solid line in the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the door opening operation unit 651 of the proximity sensor 607. Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned off, and from "effective" to "invalid".

As described above, in the same manner as the opening operation of the left door 21 described with reference to FIG. 60, the right door 22 is opened using the door opening operation unit 652 of the right door 22 shown in FIG. It can also be carried out for the operation.

In addition, when the left door 21 is opened by the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 of the left door 21, the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 652 of the right door 22 The function is switched so that the switch function of the door opening operation part 652 is invalidated, and the right door 22 is not opened. The opposite is also the case.

By the way, when the user wants to touch the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 with a finger in a non-contact manner, preferably the control unit 656 of FIG. 59 is lit when the LED 635 is lit. You can change the color. That is, when the proximity sensor 607 (or the proximity sensor 608) detects that a person approaches, the control unit 656 of FIG. 59 lights the LED 635 in the first light-emitting color, for example, blue. In addition, when the user touches the touch button 633 of the opening operation units 651 and 652 with a finger and the opening operation of the left door 21 (or the right door 22) is established, FIG. 59 The control unit 656 lights the LED 635 in a second emission color, for example, red.

After that, when the user removes his or her finger from the touch button 633, the control unit 656 operates the door opening drive unit 54 (or the door opening drive unit 55), so that the left door 21 (the right door 22) is ) Open.

*

*Thereby, when the user touches the touch button 633 of the door opening operation parts 651, 652 with a finger to open the left door 21 (or the right door 22), the LED Since the lighting color of 635 is changed from blue to red, the user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established by changing the lighting color. In addition, the types of the first emission color and the second emission color can be arbitrarily selected.

In addition, when the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 607 as shown in FIG. 60(b), the LEDs 635 and 665 flash, and the finger HT on the touch button 633 shown in FIG. 60(c) When) is contacted, the LEDs 635 and 665 can be turned on at all times. The user can visually confirm that the opening operation has been established.

In addition, although the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIG. 56 are provided in both open type, while the left door 21 is open, the control part 656 is a door opening operation part of the right door 22. The LED 635 of the touch button 633 of 652 may be turned on at all times. Similarly, while the right door 22 is being opened, the control unit 656 may make the LED 635 of the touch button 633 of the opening operation unit 651 in the left door 21 lit at all times. Thereby, the user can visually check the position of the opening operation part of the right door 22 on the unopened side (or the left door 21 on the non-open side) even in a dark environment to facilitate the opening operation part. Can be manipulated.

The contents described in each of the above-described embodiments can be employed in household appliances other than refrigerators, for example, laundry appliances, cooking appliances, and the like, and are also effective as an invention as an operation unit.

[The 32nd embodiment]

61 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 showing a 32nd embodiment. FIG. 62 is a plan view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 61, and FIG. 63 is a side view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 61.

61 to 63, a pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 12 of the refrigerator 1. For this reason, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so as to open and close the upper and lower ends of the cabinet 11 which is the refrigerator main body in both open and closed manners with hinges.

For both the left door 21 and the right door 22, a colored transparent glass front plate 21A, 22A is attached to the opening of the flat inner plate that is open on the front side, and a vacuum insulating material is disposed in the inner cavity. It is an insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane insulating material (hereinafter, also referred to simply as a urethane insulating material) or a preformed solid insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a cavity not completely filled with it.

61 to 63, the opening operation portions 551, 552 are installed in the vicinity of the lower side of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 and the front plate 22A of the right door 22, respectively. have. The door opening driving units 54 and 55 are left and right portions near the front end of the top surface of the ceiling plate of the cabinet 11, and are installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the upper open side end portions of the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. have.

These door opening driving units 54 and 55 are door opening devices that forcefully open the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by an electromagnet to push the upper sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22 in the vicinity of each of the open side ends to the front, The left door 21 and the right door 22 are automatically opened forcibly.

As shown in FIG. 61, one door opening operation part 551 is disposed at the lower right position of the left door 21, and the other door opening operation part 552 is at the lower left position of the right door 22. It is placed in. The opening operation part 551 is disposed inside the glass front plate 21A of the left door 21, and the door opening operation part 552 is disposed inside the glass front plate 22A of the right door 22. .

In addition, in the inside of the front plate 21A of the left door 21, a capacitive control operation unit 650 for operating the refrigerator by a user's finger and a touch operation from the surface of the front plate 21A is installed. Has been. This control operation unit 650 is disposed at a position above the opening operation unit 551 on the left door 21.

The control operation unit 650 includes, for example, an infrared light receiving unit for detecting the environmental condition around the refrigerator, a control button (control switch) 650CS, a home button (home switch) 650HS, and the home button 650HS. An LED indicator that detects touch and transmits the operation button name, cooling function name, cooling intensity, etc., and a 7-segment LED display device that transmits and displays changing values such as temperature values, etc. are installed.

FIG. 64 shows an example of the structure of the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551 shown in FIG. 61. FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a proximity sensor 560 and a guard electrode 570 disposed on the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551 shown in FIG. 64. 66 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the structure of the opening operation unit 551.

The opening operation part 551 and the opening operation part 552 shown in FIG. 61 have the same structure, but have a left-right symmetric shape. Fig. 64 shows an example of the shape of the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551, but since the opening operation unit 552 and the opening operation unit 551 are substantially the same shape, referring to Figs. A description will be made as a representative of the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551.

First, referring to FIG. 66, the opening operation unit 551 includes a substrate assembly 500M, a plastic storage space member 585 called an open box for accommodating the substrate assembly 500M, and a plastic cover member 590. ). The back surface 585R of the plastic storage space member 585 is preferably attached with a metal body, for example, an aluminum foil. A metal body 591 such as aluminum foil is attached to the inner surface of the plastic cover member 590. Accordingly, the electromagnetic wave generated by the main body side of the refrigerator 1 is prevented from affecting the substrate assembly 500M side.

The board assembly 500M is composed of a plastic shielding plate 599, a board 553, an operation name plate 597, and an LED board 598 on which a display LED 557 is mounted. The substrate 553 is an electrostatic touch switch substrate, and is fixed to the front side of the shielding plate 599. An operation name plate 597 is disposed on the front side of the substrate 553. An LED substrate 598 for display is fixed to the rear side of the shielding plate 599. A plurality of LEDs 577 are mounted on the LED substrate 598.

Left and right slits 574 and 575 are formed at corresponding positions between the substrate 553 and the operation name plate 597. The substrate assembly 500M is configured to be accommodated in the storage space member 585 through an opening portion 586 which is a rectangular insertion hole of the storage space member 585. The opening portion 586 of the storage space member 585 is covered with a cover member 590.

64(a) and 65, the substrate 553 of the opening operation part 551 is rectangular or square, and the substrate 553 is a surface 553A shown in FIG. 64(a) and FIG. It has a back surface 553B shown in 64(b). The board 553 is provided with a mounting portion 571 for electronic components, and a mounting portion 572 for the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 551 shown in Fig. 1 and the substrate 553 of the opening operation unit 552 are preferably symmetrical to each other to form a common component.

The electronic component mounting portion 571 on the rear surface 553B side shown in Fig. 64B has a first end 553M and a second end 553N at a lower end. The lower end of the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the rear surface 553B side is formed in a step shape.

Further, in the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the rear surface 553B side, two connector components CC1 and CC2 and an electronic component such as a microcomputer (not shown) are mounted. The connector part CC1 is disposed at the first end 553M, and the connector part CC2 is disposed at the second end 553N.

That is, the connector component CC1 and the connector component CC2 are not arranged horizontally in the horizontal direction, but the position provided on the rear surface 553B of the board 553 of the connector component CC1 is the connector component ( Compared to the position attached to the rear surface 553B of the substrate 553 of CC2), the position is at the lower side with respect to the Z-direction (up-down direction). The connector part CC1 is disposed along the first end 553M, and the connector part CC2 is disposed along the second end 553N.

As a result, since the positions of the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are shifted in the vertical direction, when removing or attaching the connector parts CC1 and CC2 during maintenance, it becomes easy to attach and detach using a tool.

In addition, since the position of the connector parts CC1 and CC2 is shifted in the vertical direction, water due to condensation is likely to flow down from the connector parts CC1 and CC2. At the point of the connector parts CC1 and CC2, It can prevent water from accumulating due to condensation. Further, since the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are spaced apart from the rear surface of the board, the connector parts CC1 and CC2 are not wetted with water even when water accumulates in the housing.

In addition, two connector parts CC1 and CC2, an electronic component not shown, etc., are mounted on the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the rear surface 553B side of the board 553, and the surface of the board 553 ( 553A) is constructed so that no electronic parts are mounted. Examples of electronic components include noise removal capacitors, signal processing capacitors, transistors, and microcomputers. In this way, since the electronic component is disposed on the rear surface 553B side, not the front surface 553A of the board 553, the inner surface of the operation name plate 597 is not affected by the electronic component as shown in FIG. It can be placed in close contact with the surface 553A of 553.

In addition, two connector parts CC1 and CC2 are disposed in the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component on the rear surface 553B side of the board 553, but the connector parts CC1 and CC2 and the proximity sensor 560 By disposing the guard electrodes 570 apart, noise from the connector parts CC1 and CC2 is prevented from affecting the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570.

In the arrangement portion 572 on the surface 553A side of the substrate 533 shown in FIG. 64A, a proximity sensor 560 as a first electrode, a guard electrode 570 as a third electrode, and a second electrode. Phosphorus intermediate region portions 589 are arranged. The proximity sensor 560 is located at the center of the placement portion 572, and the guard electrode 570 is located at the outermost side of the placement portion 572. The middle region portion 589 is provided between the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570. The proximity sensor 560, the guard electrode 570, and the middle region portion 589 are metal electrodes, but are electrically insulated from each other. The middle region portion 589 as the second electrode assists the proximity sensor 560 and has a function as a proximity sensor. The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of detection of the proximity sensor 560. The proximity sensor 560 is not composed of a plurality of electrodes, but is composed of a single rectangular electrode. Thereby, the user can adopt a shape that is easy to operate by touching with a finger.

Further, as shown in FIG. 64B, a mesh ground pattern 573 as a fourth electrode is disposed on the rear surface 553B corresponding to the placement portion 572 of the substrate 553. Accordingly, the ground pattern 573 prevents noise from the refrigerator body from affecting the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560 and the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570.

64(a) and 65, a through hole 560C is formed in the central position of the proximity sensor 560. As shown in FIG. A conductive line pattern 560H is connected to the through hole 560C as shown in Fig. 64(b). This conducting wire pattern 560H is connected to the through hole 560C through a portion of the connecting portion 560A. The conducting wire pattern 560H is disposed through the inner portion of the connecting portion 560A which is a place other than the slits 574 and 575. This connecting portion 560A will be described later.

Since the action of pressing (contacting) the proximity sensor 560 with a user's finger is usually carried out with the aim of the center of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is formed at the center of the proximity sensor 560 have.

In this way, the through hole 560C is formed at a position in the middle of the proximity sensor 560 for the following reason. That is, in the proximity sensor 560, the central region in which the through hole 560C is formed has the highest switch sensitivity compared to other regions. From this, the user's finger presses the center of the proximity switch 560 of the through hole 560C, so that the finger can contact the most sensitive place.

The proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 64 and 65 is an electrode for electrostatic touch (contact), and in the front (front) direction of the left door 21 and the right door 22 shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, For example, it is a capacitive detection means for detecting that a human body or an object approaches about 100 mm. The proximity sensor 560 detects the approach of a part of the user's human body, specifically, when, for example, a finger approaches. The proximity sensor 560 is a capacitive touch sensor, but a capacitance type touch sensor or a self-capacitance type touch sensor may be used.

In the mutual capacitance method, it is composed of one transmission electrode and one reception electrode, and when current is supplied to the transmission electrode, an electromagnetic field is generated and the electromagnetic field is received by the reception electrode. For example, when a human finger approaches the detection area of the proximity sensor 560, a part of the electromagnetic field is absorbed and received by the receiving electrode, so that the amount of energy detected is reduced, so that the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the finger. can do.

In the magnetoresistive method, one electrode (proximity sensor 560) having a stray capacitance is required. The stray capacitance of the electrode (proximity sensor 560) is affected by the parasitic capacitance between this electrode (proximity sensor 560) and a conductor (finger of a human body) around it. When a human finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the value of the floating capacitance increases under the influence of the parasitic capacitance, and by measuring the increased floating capacitance, the proximity sensor 560 can detect the approach of the finger.

As illustrated in FIGS. 64 and 65, the proximity sensor 560 is, for example, a rectangular switch formed long in the vertical direction, and slits 574 and 575 to surround the electrode around the proximity sensor 560 Is formed. That is, the slits 574 and 575 are formed along the Z direction so as to surround the proximity sensor 560. Thereby, by providing the slits 574 and 575, it is easy to know the position of the proximity sensor 560. As shown in Fig. 65, the slits 574 and 575 are covered with, for example, a transparent film body 576, and the transparent film body 576 includes a plurality of LEDs 577, which are light-emitting elements functioning as a lighting device. They are arranged at intervals.

However, as shown in FIG. 65, the four LEDs 577 corresponding to the four corners 576R of the slits 574 and 575 in the plurality of LEDs 577 are outside the slits 574 and 575. It is placed in the side position. In this way, the illumination light generated by the four LEDs 577 corresponding to the four corner portions 576R can be irradiated without generating a shadow on the slits 574 and 575.

As shown in FIG. 65, one end of the proximity sensor 560 is connected to the placement portion 572 by a connection portion 560A, and the other end of the proximity sensor 560 is a placement portion by the connection portion 560B. Connected to (572). These connecting portions 560A and 560B are connected so that the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 that is a peripheral portion thereof are connected, and are also referred to as "bridges". The connecting portions 560A and 560B are provided to avoid locations other than the place where the above-described LED 577 is arranged. Thereby, the connecting portions 560A and 560B do not interfere with the illumination light of the LED 577.

A through hole 560C for electrical connection is formed in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560. As described above, the formation of the through hole 560C in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560 has the detection sensitivity of the area portion of the proximity sensor 560 provided with the through hole 560C compared to other area portions. Is high. Since the portion of the region where the user's finger comes in close contact is the central portion of the proximity sensor 560, the through hole 560C is provided in the central portion of the proximity sensor 560.

Next, the guard electrode 570 shown in Figs. 64 and 65 will be described.

The guard electrode 570 is formed as a rectangular frame around the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region 589 in the arrangement portion 572. The guard electrode 570 is a metal body and includes a pair of short-side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long-side electrode portions 570B. The guard electrode 570 generates an electromagnetic field in a direction opposite to the electromagnetic field generated by the proximity sensor 560.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is suppressed from being expanded by the electromagnetic field in the opposite direction from which the guard electrode 570 is generated. For this reason, the electromagnetic field generated by the guard electrode 570 suppresses the expansion of the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560, so that the guard electrode 570 is within a detection range that changes the effective range of the detection range of the human body. It serves as a means of changing the scope of effectiveness.

The guard electrode 570 changes the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by narrowing and changing the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 when detecting the approach of a human body, for example, a finger. Specifically, as a result of changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560 by the guard electrode 570, the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation part 551 of the left door 21 as shown in FIG. 62 The electromagnetic field 560P in which is generated is guided only in the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560. In the same way, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation portion 552 of the right door 22 is guided only to the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560.

For this reason, as shown in Fig. 62, the electromagnetic field 560P in which the proximity sensor 560 is generated is narrowed so that it does not expand in the X direction, which is the left-right direction.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation portion 551 of the left door 21 is guided only in the front-front direction of the proximity sensor 560. In the same way, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation portion 552 of the right door 22 is guided only to the front front direction of the proximity sensor 560. For this reason, in Fig. 63, the electromagnetic field 560P generated by the proximity sensor 560 is narrowed so that it does not expand in the vertical Z direction.

That is, the electromagnetic field 560P of the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIGS. 62 and 63 shows the effective range of the detection range of the human body, and the effective range of the detection range of the human body is the front of the proximity sensor 560 and Corresponds to a range different from the range in other directions (range that expands up and down, left and right).

Next, Fig. 67 is a block diagram showing electrical connection between the control unit 556, the opening operation units 551 and 552, and the opening drive units 54 and 55 which are door opening devices.

As shown in Fig. 67, the control unit 556 includes a proximity sensor 560 of the opening operation units 551 and 552, a guard electrode 570, an opening driving unit 54, 55, and LEDs as a plurality of lighting devices. It is electrically connected to (577).

Under the control of the control unit 556, the proximity sensor 560 is maintained in a "high sensitivity" state. When the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P shown in Figs. 62 and 63, which are the detection areas of the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 of Fig. 67 sends a signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560. It is received from the proximity sensor 560.

Then, when the control unit 556 of FIG. 67 receives the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, it determines that the finger has approached the proximity sensor 560, and stops energization to the guard electrode 570, In addition, the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 is changed from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity" to reduce the sensitivity. Further, when the control unit 556 receives the signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 lights the LED 577 to illuminate the vicinity of the proximity switch 560, so that the proximity switch 560 It is made so that the user can visually check the position of the proximity switch 560 by making the position of the light rise.

And, when a finger comes into contact with the proximity sensor 560 from a state in which the finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact switch, and the proximity sensor 560 responds to the control unit 556, and the finger A contact signal SH in contact with the proximity sensor 560 is transmitted. Thereby, the control unit 556 makes the proximity sensor 560 function as a contact sensor, and, for example, enables the door opening operation of the left door 21 to be effective, and the control unit 56 operates the door opening drive unit 54 And the door opening operation of the left door 21 can be actually performed. The operation procedure described above is the same for the right door 22 as well.

Thereby, the user contacts the position of the proximity switch 560 disposed on the inside of the glass surface of the left door 21 or the right door 22 while visually checking the position with the help of illumination by the LED 577 , The left door 21 or the right door 22 can be opened.

As described above, the control unit 556 switches the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 from “high sensitivity” when the finger approaches to “low sensitivity”, so that the proximity sensor 560 functions as a contact sensor. have. When a finger approaches the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 makes the electrostatic switch 560 function as a “proximity sensor”, and the control unit 556 sets the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 to “large”. The function as "proximity sensor" is "effective". For this reason, since the control unit 556 does not function as a "contact sensor" the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 is the left door 21 and the right door, which are the original functions of the opening operation units 551 and 552. 22) is "invalid" for the open (door opening operation).

As described above, when a user brings a finger to the proximity sensor 560 and the finger enters the electromagnetic field 560P as an effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560, the proximity sensor 560 approaches the finger. Is notified to the control unit 556. Then, when the proximity sensor 560 notifies the control unit 556 of the approaching of the finger, the control unit 556 switches and sets the sensitivity as the proximity sensor 560 from “Large” to “Small”. In addition, the control unit 556 may set the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 from an off state to an on state, and the position of the proximity sensor 560 may be specified in the LED 577. For this reason, the user can reliably contact the proximity sensor 560 with a finger while confirming the position of the proximity sensor 560 visually. Since the control unit 556 functions as a “contact sensor”, which is an original function, the proximity sensor 560 is touched with a finger to open the left door 21 or the right door 22 (door opening Operation) becomes "effective".

Since the above-described opening operation (door opening operation) of the left door 21 is the same as the opening operation (door opening operation) of the right door 22, a description thereof will be omitted.

64 and 65, by disposing a guard electrode 570 around the proximity sensor 560, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560, is 21) and the proximity of a person's hand or finger to a range of, for example, about 100 mm in the front direction (front direction) of the right door 22 and the right door 22 are detected. At this time, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560, is limited so as not to expand in the vertical direction and the left and right directions by arranging the guard electrode 570.

62, by limiting the expansion of the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560 to the left and right directions (X direction), as shown in FIG. 62, the left door 21 is arrowed. When a finger approaches the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 to open along the trajectory indicated by 21K, it is possible to prevent the finger from being detected by the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 that is closed. In the same way, when opening the right door 22 along the trajectory indicated by the arrow 22K and bringing the finger closer to the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22, the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 is closed. ) To prevent the finger from being indexed.

For this reason, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22, is configured so as not to enter the track when the left door 21 is opened as a moving means. Similarly, the electromagnetic field 560P, which is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21, is configured not to enter the trajectory when the right door 22 as a moving means is opened.

Thereby, when opening the left door 21 or the right door 22, the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 or the left door 21 on the closed side without opening is It is possible to prevent accidental detection of the door 21 or the right door 22 inadvertently.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 63, by limiting the expansion of the effective range of the detection range of the human body of the proximity sensor 560 to the vertical direction (Z direction), the pull-out door 23 as a moving means is moved in the direction of the arrow. When pulled out, the electromagnetic field 560P that is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field that is the effective range of the human body detection range of the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 (560P) does not enter the trajectory when the pull-out door 23 is opened.

Thereby, when opening the pull-out door 23, the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 touch the user's finger or the pull-out door 23. It can prevent accidental detection by carelessness.

64A and 65, the guard electrode 570 is a metal body, as described above, a pair of short-side electrode portions 570A and a pair of long-side electrode portions 570B. ). For example, moisture is attached to the front plate 21A of the left door 21 shown in FIG. 61, and the moisture is attached to the front plate 21A at the position of the guard electrode 570, and the guard electrode 570 ), when detecting a change in capacitance due to moisture, the control unit 556 shown in FIG. 67 invalidates the opening operation of the door opening drive unit (door opening device) 54, 55 by the proximity sensor 560. consist of.

Specifically, for example, when the user wipes the surface of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 or the front plate 22A of the right door 22 with a wet dishcloth, the guard electrode 570 ) Detects moisture, even if the proximity sensor 560 detects a wet dishcloth and turns on, the control unit 556 shown in FIG. 67 is a door opening drive unit (door opening device) 54 by the proximity sensor 560 The left door 21 or the right door 22 is prevented from being opened arbitrarily by setting the door opening operation of the, 55) to "invalid". Thereby, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is prevented from suddenly opening.

In addition, when the user touches the guard electrode 570 with a finger and then touches the proximity sensor 560, the controller 556 controls the opening drive unit (door opening device) 54, 55 by the proximity sensor 560. The door opening operation is set to "invalid". In addition, when the user touches the guard electrode 570 with a finger and at the same time touches the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 controls the door opening drive unit (door opening device) 54, 55 by the proximity sensor 560. The opening operation of the door is set to "Disable".

Accordingly, when the guard electrode 570 detects a human body by mistake, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is prevented from suddenly opening.

As shown in FIG. 61, the control operation part 650 is provided inside the front plate 21A of the left door 21, and the opening operation part 551 is provided in the lower part of the control operation part 650. As shown in FIG. Accordingly, at a position between the control operation unit 650 and the proximity sensor 506 of the open operation unit 551, the short side electrode portion 570A of the guard electrode 570 of the open operation unit 551 is disposed. This short-side electrode portion 570A is also shown in FIGS. 64 and 65.

Thereby, for example, when the user wipes the control operation part 650 on the surface of the front plate 21A of the left door 21 with a wet dishcloth, the water flows down along the front plate 21A to guard It reaches the electrode 570. In this case, when the short-side electrode portion 570A of the guard electrode 570 detects moisture, even if the proximity sensor 560 detects a wet dishcloth and turns on, the control unit 556 shown in FIG. By setting the door opening operation of the door opening drive unit (door opening device) 54 by the sensor 560 to "disable", the left door 21 is prevented from being opened arbitrarily. Thereby, the left door 21 is prevented from suddenly opening.

By the way, the spacing HF of the electrode gaps in the horizontal direction and the spacing RF of the electrode gaps in the vertical direction of the electrode 570 shown in FIG. 65 are larger than the width MF of the finger HT of the human body. The spacing HF of the electrode gaps in the horizontal direction of the guard electrode 570 and the spacing RF of the electrode gaps in the vertical direction may be preferably selected in the range of 15 mm to 75 mm. Accordingly, when the user approaches and contacts the finger HT close to the proximity sensor 560, it is possible to prevent the finger HT from suddenly contacting the guard electrode 570.

In addition, the gap HF of the electrode gap in the horizontal direction and the gap RF of the electrode gap in the vertical direction of the guard electrode 570 are sizes that do not contact the guard electrode 570 even when the bent elbow of the human body touches it. . The spacing HF of the electrode gaps in the horizontal direction and the spacing RF of the electrode gaps in the vertical direction of these guard electrodes 570 can be selected in a range of, for example, 30 mm to 75 mm. By setting the size of the guard electrode 570 in this way, the user holds a pot or plate with both hands, and contacts the proximity sensor 560 using a bent elbow, not a finger, and the left door 21 or the right door 22 ), it is possible to prevent the elbow from contacting both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 at the same time. As a result, the user can open the left door 21 or the right door 22 either with a finger or with an elbow.

Next, an example of the storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22 will be described with reference to FIG. 68. 68 is a diagram showing an example of the storage structure of the substrate 553 in the left door 21 and the right door 22. FIG. 68(a) is a front view of the left door 21 and the right door 22, and FIG. 68(b) is an inner cross-section 21T of the left door 21 showing the storage structure of the substrate 553 ( It is a perspective view showing the structure of the inner end surface part 22T of the right door 22. 68(c) is a diagram showing an example of the cover member 590. As shown in FIG.

68(a), when the left door 21 and the right door 22 are closed, the inner end face 21T of the left door 21 and the inner end face 22T of the right door 22 are closed. ) Are facing each other. A rectangular opening portion 586 of the storage space member 585 is located in each inner end face 21T, and a storage space member of the substrate assembly 500M inside the left door 21 and the right door 22 (585) is located. The substrate assembly 500M is configured to be received by being inserted into the storage space member 585 from the opening portion 586.

However, in the case of inserting and receiving the substrate assembly 500M into the storage space member 585 in this way, as shown in FIG. 66, the side of the mounting portion 572 of the substrate 553 is the side of the lid member 590. And inserting into the opening portion 586 from the side of the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component so that the side of the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component reaches the inside of the storage space member 585.

In this way, the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 are disposed on the surface of the substrate 553, the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component is installed on the rear surface of the substrate 553, and the substrate 553 is the left door. In the state held in (21), the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component is located on the opposite side of the mounting portion 572 of the substrate 553 positioned on the side of the opening portion 586 which is an insertion hole.

Accordingly, in the case of inserting and receiving the substrate assembly 500M into the storage space member 585, the operator adjusts the positions of the first end 553M and the second end 553N of the mounting portion 571 of the electronic component. While visually checking, since the substrate assembly 500M can be inserted into the storage space member 585, it is prevented from inserting the substrate assembly 500M in the wrong insertion direction.

The opening portion 586 is closed by the lid member 590 after receiving the substrate assembly 500M. On the inner surface of the cover member 590, a metal body 591 such as an aluminum foil tape or an iron plate is disposed. The metal body 591 is a change means for limiting the electromagnetic field as an effective range of the detection range of the human body where the proximity sensor 560 occurs, and changing the effective range of the detection range of the proximity sensor 560. The metal body 591 as a means for changing the effective range of the detection range is disposed between the left door 21 and the right door 22 which are adjacent moving means.

By disposing the metal body 591 on the cover member 590 in this way, the metal body 591 blocks an electromagnetic field between the left door 21 and the right door 22. Therefore, the electromagnetic field of the proximity sensor 560 of the left door 21 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic measurement of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the right door 22. . In addition, the electromagnetic field from the proximity sensor 560 of the right door 22 and the electromagnetic field of the guard electrode 570 do not affect the electromagnetic measurement of the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 of the left door 21. Does not.

Next, an operation example in the case where the user opens the left door 21, for example, will be described with reference to FIGS. 61 to 63 and 67.

When the user approaches the proximity sensor 560 on the left door 21 side shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, the user touches the electromagnetic field 560P as the effective range of the detection range of the human body shown in FIGS. 62 and 63. Upon entering, the proximity sensor 560 in a high-sensitivity state detects that a finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560. Accordingly, the control unit 556 of FIG. 67 receives a signal SG indicating that the finger is approaching the proximity sensor 560.

Then, the control unit 556 in FIG. 67 stops the energization of the guard electrode 570 by a signal SG from the proximity sensor 560, and the control unit 556 is used for the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560. To change from "high sensitivity" to "low sensitivity". In addition, the controller 556 illuminates the proximity switch 560 by lighting the LED 577 so that the user can visually check the position of the proximity switch 560 by specifying the position of the proximity switch 560.

And, when a finger is in contact with the proximity sensor 560, the low-sensitivity proximity sensor 560 functions as a touch switch (contact switch) for opening the left door 21, and the finger is placed in the control unit 556 of FIG. A contact signal SH in contact with the proximity sensor 560 is transmitted. Thereby, the control part 556 makes the opening operation of the left door 21 effective, and since the control part 556 operates the opening drive part 54, the left door 21 can be opened.

In addition, since the operation example when the user opens the right door 22 is the same as the operation example when the left door 21 is opened, the description will be omitted.

In this way, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor with a finger, the control unit 556 can automatically open the left door 21 or the right door 22.

When the user touches only the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 makes the proximity sensor 560 function as a touch sensor (contact sensor), and the left door 21 opens the door to "effective". The door opening operation of the door 21 is performed. This is the same for the right door 22 as well.

However, when the user suddenly contacts both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 64, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, and the left door ( The opening operation of the left door 21 is not performed by setting the door opening operation of 21) to "invalid". Thereby, when the user's, for example, an elbow, etc. suddenly comes into contact with both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570, the control unit 556 sets the door opening operation of the left door 21 to "invalid". And, it is possible to prohibit the opening operation of the left door 21.

In addition, even when both the proximity sensor 560 and the guard electrode 570 shown in FIG. 64 are detected by the attachment of water droplets, the control unit 556 does not function the proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor, By setting the door opening operation of the left door 21 to "invalid", the door opening operation of the left door 21 is not performed. The above-described door opening operation prohibition is the same for the right door 22 as well.

In addition, in the case of a refrigerator of one open type instead of a refrigerator of both open type, when a human body or an object comes to the side of the refrigerator, the proximity sensor of the door can prevent inadvertent erroneous detection of the human body or object.

However, the proximity sensor 560 shown in FIG. 64 detects the proximity of the user's finger HT, and the proximity sensor 560 detects the contact of the user's finger HT. The "electrostatic touch mode" functioning as can be switched as follows.

As illustrated in FIG. 64, the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode and the intermediate region portion 589 as the second electrode are connected to the microcomputer 599C of the control unit 556.

When the mode is switched, there are times when switching from the above-described "proximity detection mode" to the "electrostatic touch mode", and when switching from the "electrostatic touch mode" to the "proximity detection mode".

When switching from the "proximity detection mode" to the "electrostatic touch mode", when the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the finger HT, the microcomputer 599C returns the proximity sensor 560 of the first electrode and the second electrode. The internal connection of the intermediate region portion 589 as an electrode is disconnected, and only the proximity sensor 560 functions as an electrostatic touch sensor in the "electrostatic touch mode".

On the contrary, when switching from the "electrostatic touch mode" to the "proximity detection mode", the finger (HT) is separated from the proximity sensor 560 and a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds elapses from the "electrostatic touch mode", or the door is opened The microcomputer 599C is configured to internally connect the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode and the intermediate region portion 589 as the second electrode when reset to door close or the like.

Next, FIG. 74 shows the first case in which the left door 21 is opened by contacting the finger HT with the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode shown in FIGS. 51 and 52 in the 32nd embodiment. An example of a state in which the proximity sensor 560 as an electrode and the middle region portion 589 as the second electrode are switched, and the control operation unit 650 of the left door 21 and the proximity sensor 560 light up is shown. I'm doing it. This aspect is the same for the right door 22 as well.

In FIG. 74(a), the user's finger has not yet approached the proximity sensor 560 at all. In this state, the control unit 556 turns on the proximity sensor 560 to make the proximity sensor 560, which is an electrostatic switch, function as a “proximity sensor”, and the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 is “high”. By setting to to increase the sensitivity, the function as a "proximity sensor" is "effective". Further, the control unit 556 turns on the intermediate region portion 589 and increases the sensitivity by setting the sensitivity of the intermediate region portion 589 to “Large”, and the function as a “proximity sensor” is “effective”.

In this case, the control unit 556 sets the opening of the left door 21, which is a function of the touch button 633 of the door opening operation unit 651 (door opening operation), to "invalid". In addition, the control unit 556 makes the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 "off state". The operation (door opening operation) function of the control switch (control button) 650CS and the home switch (home button) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 is "disabled".

Next, in FIG. 74(b), a state in which the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560 is shown. In this state, since the proximity sensor 560 detects the proximity of the finger HT, the control unit 556 is in a state that the proximity sensor 560 is turned on, and the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 as a “proximity sensor” is set from “Large”. By switching to "small", the sensitivity is lowered to lower the function of the proximity sensor, but the middle area portion 589 is turned off.

For this reason, the control unit 556 makes the proximity sensor 560 function as a contact sensor, so that the left door 21 is caused by contacting the finger HT with the proximity sensor 560 functioning as the contact sensor from the surface of the front plate. The open operation (open door operation) function of is from "disable" to "effective".

In addition, the control unit 556 turns on the LED of the control operation unit 650 and the LED of the proximity sensor 560 to be “on”, and the both LEDs are lightly lit, for example. do. That is, when the LED 665 shown in FIG. 58 is slightly lit, the control operation unit 650 is illuminated from behind to emit light, and the LED 577 shown in FIG. 52 is weakly lit to function as a contact sensor. The proximity sensor 560 is illuminated from behind through slits 574 and 575 to emit light. In this case, preferably, this lighting display time is to be lit only for a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds, and during this 10 seconds, when the finger HT does not contact the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor In this case, the LEDs 635 and 577 may be turned off again.

However, the control unit 556 turns on the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560 shown in Fig. 52 when the operation start time (lighting time) for lighting the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 shown in Fig. 58 is lit. It is different from the starting point of the operation (lighting timing) and can be set to be delayed by a predetermined delay time. That is, the control unit 556 may change the timing of the light emission method of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 and the timing of the light emission method of the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560. For example, the lighting timing of the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560 can be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650. However, on the contrary, the lighting timing of the LED 665 of the control operation unit 650 may be made earlier than the lighting timing of the LED 577 of the proximity sensor 560. By making the lighting timing different in this way, the position of the control operation unit 650 and the position of the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region 589 can be distinguished and displayed for the user.

Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on, and from "invalid" to "effective".

Next, Fig. 74(c) shows a state in which the finger HT is in contact with the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor. In this state, the control unit 556 keeps the proximity sensor 560 in a state of “small”, which is the sensitivity of the “contact sensor”. The control unit 556 sets the open operation (door open operation) function of the left door 21, which is a function of the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor, into a "effective" state. In addition, the control unit 556 changes the light emission method from weak lighting to normal lighting as the lighting state of the lighting display of the LED of the proximity sensor 560.

That is, the LED 665 shown in FIG. 58 illuminates the control operation unit 650 brighter from the rear by lighting it normally and emits light, and the LED 577 shown in FIG. 52 lights up normally, The proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor is illuminated so as to become brighter from the rear through the slits 574 and 575 to emit light. That is, when the finger HT in Fig. 74(c) is in contact, the amount of light of the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the amount of light of the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 are raised from weak lighting to normal lighting, and are larger. By making light emission with complete lighting by the amount of light, the lighting display of the proximity sensor 560 becomes brighter. The control unit 556 also changes the lighting state of the LED of the control operation unit 650 from weak lighting to normal lighting.

Further, the operation functions of the control button (control switch) 650CS and the home button (home switch) 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned on and "effective", so that operation is possible.

Accordingly, when the user touches the proximity sensor 560 with a finger and the opening operation of the left door 21 is established, the LED 577 increases the amount of light by turning from weak lighting to complete lighting. It is possible to visually confirm that the door opening operation was established due to the increase in the amount of lighting. In addition, the user can visually recognize the display of the control operation unit 650 and the display of the LED 577 more reliably, and the energy saving effect of power consumption can be enhanced.

As described above, when the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560 as shown in FIG. 74(b), and the finger HT is applied to the touch button 633 shown in FIG. 74(c). In the case of contact, in order to illuminate the control operation unit 650 and the proximity sensor 560, the control unit 556 can change and increase the amount of light at the time of lighting as described above.

Thereafter, Fig. 74(d) shows a state in which the user's finger HT is separated from the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor. In this state, the control unit 556 validates the input of the operation signal from the proximity sensor 560 and operates the opening drive unit 54 to control the opening of the corresponding left door 21. Thereby, the left door 21 can be opened automatically. Then, the control unit 556 makes the function of the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor "disable".

In addition, the control unit 556 is the lighting display of the control operation unit 650 and the lighting display of the LED 577 in the slits 574 and 575 of the proximity sensor 560, as shown by the solid line, "on state. '. Then, the operation functions of the control switch 650CS and the home switch 650HS of the control operation unit 650 are turned off, and from "effective" to "invalid".

As described above, in the same manner as the opening operation of the left door 21 described with reference to FIG. 74. The opening operation of the right door 22 using the opening operation part 652 of the right door 22 shown in FIG. 56 can also be implemented.

Next, referring to FIG. 75, the principle of the proximity sensor 560 detecting the contact of the finger will be described. 75 is a circuit diagram showing a principle of the proximity sensor 560 detecting contact of the finger HT.

The contact detection circuit 888 shown in FIG. 75 includes a proximity sensor 560 as a contact sensor Cx, an adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889, a clock generator 890, and an IDAC (current output digital to analog converter) 891. ), a latch 892, a timer 893, an AND circuit 894, and a counter 895. The IDAC 891 pulses the same current a plurality of times each time to a proximity sensor (Cx) 560 as a contact sensor and an adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889, and a proximity sensor (Cx) 560 as a contact sensor. And charge in the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) (889) little by little. Charges are continuously collected until the proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor (Cx) and the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 are equal to the same level, and the counter 895 is the charge specified in the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 Count the number of pulses until is high.

When the finger HT contacts the proximity sensor 560 as the contact sensor Cx, the capacitance of the proximity sensor Cx 560 as the contact sensor increases, so that it flows into the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 and accumulates. Since the charge decreases and it takes time until the accumulation of charge in the adjustment capacitor (Cmod) 889 ends, the number of pulses counted by the counter 895 increases (the slope becomes gentle), and the resulting slope The displacement of is changed. The presence or absence of a finger is determined by the difference in the displacement of this inclination. That is, when the count number of pulses counted by the counter 895 exceeds a certain threshold value than the normal count number (base count), the control unit 556 causes the finger HT to approach the contact sensor Cx. It is determined that the sensor 560 has been contacted.

Next, a method of changing the sensitivity of the proximity sensor 560 in which the finger HT serves as the contact sensor Cx will be described.

As a method of changing the sensitivity, if the current value of the IDAC 891 is decreased, if the amount of electric charge accumulated in the proximity sensor (Cx) 560 is the same, the time to complete charging becomes longer and smoother. When it becomes gentle, the sensitivity increases when it is judged as the same threshold value.

In a state where the inclination is gentle (the current value is small), the change in the inclination increases when detecting the state in which the finger touches from the state in which the finger is not in contact, and it is easy to exceed the threshold and the sensitivity is high. In addition, in a state in which the slope is not gentle (the current value is large), the change in the slope becomes small when detecting the state in which the finger is in contact with the state in which the finger is in contact, and it is difficult to exceed the threshold value, so that the sensitivity is small.

That is, compared to a state in which detection is performed by exceeding the threshold value only when the finger is in contact with the entire surface of the finger, by reducing the current value, it is possible to detect even when only the tip of the finger is touched, thereby increasing the sensitivity. In addition, although the sensitivity is increased by reducing the threshold value, there is a problem of detecting noise as well, so the sensitivity is changed by the above sensitivity changing method.

Next, Fig. 76 is a diagram showing the basic structure of the proximity sensor.

76, the proximity sensor 560 and the copper ground 569 are positioned between the covering layer 560R and the dielectric layer 560D, and the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself and the finger The addition of the electrostatic capacity (CF) of (HT) is the electrostatic capacity (CX) of the proximity sensor 560 when a finger is in contact.

In an operation in which the finger HT touches the proximity sensor 560 electrostatically, a change in the capacitance CX of the proximity sensor 560 when the finger HT touches is detected. Further, in the operation of detecting that the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560, a change in the electrostatic capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself is detected when the finger approaches. When the finger is in proximity, the proximity distance (sensitivity) is changed by changing the capacitance CP of the proximity sensor 560 itself. In proximity, a slight change in capacitance CP is detected due to the proximity of the finger. The electrostatic capacitance CP is an electric field in a three-dimensional direction, and since the electric field slightly changes when there is a finger, the electrostatic capacitance CX of the entire proximity sensor changes, and the finger can be detected by the above-described index finger.

Next, FIG. 77 shows the switching operation in the proximity mode and the electrostatic touch mode with respect to the proximity sensor 560 functioning as a contact sensor as the first electrode shown in FIG. 74 and the intermediate region portion 589 as the second electrode. It is an explanatory drawing.

As shown in FIG. 77, the proximity sensor 560 which functions as a contact sensor which is a 1st electrode, and the intermediate region part 589 which is a 2nd electrode are connected to the multiplexer 556R. The multiplexer 556R is capable of internally connecting the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 or releasing the internal connection in response to a command from the microcomputer 556M of the control unit 556.

(1) In case of switching operation from proximity mode to capacitive touch mode

In the case of performing the switching operation from the proximity mode to the capacitive touch mode, as shown in FIG. 74, when the finger HT approaches the proximity sensor 560 and the proximity sensor 560 detects the finger HT, , Switches from proximity mode to capacitive touch mode. In other words, in response to the command of the microcomputer 556M in FIG. 77, the multiplexer 556R sets the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 from the internal connection state to the release state of the internal connection, and the proximity sensor 560 And the middle area part 589 is disconnected. As a result, only the proximity sensor 560 functions and is used as an electrostatic contact sensor, and the middle region portion 589 is turned off and is not used.

(2) In case of switching operation from capacitive touch mode to proximity mode

Conversely, the case of performing the switching operation from the electrostatic touch mode to the proximity mode is a case where, for example, 10 seconds elapse from the electrostatic touch mode, or the case is reset from opening the door to closing the door. In this case, according to the command of the microcomputer 556M, the multiplexer 556R returns from the disconnection state of the internal connection between the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 to the internal connection state, and The area part 589 can be connected.

See also FIGS. 48 to 50. 48 to 50 show examples of changes in the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 as the first electrode and the intermediate region 589 as the second electrode.

The proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 is a range of the small circle HC1 when only the proximity sensor 560 which is the first electrode is used. In addition to the proximity sensor 560, the second electrode, the middle region portion 589, is also used in combination, so that the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 widens the range from the small circle HC1 to the large circle HC2. I can.

However, when attempting to widen the effective range of proximity detection in this way, in the effective range of proximity detection of the proximity sensor of the large circle HC2, the side door 21 (or door 22) as a means of movement, or the door pocket inside the door In response to the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560, a plastic bottle or the like entering the door is issued a command to open the door, and there is a possibility that the door on the side not intended to be opened may be opened inadvertently.

Therefore, in order to change the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560, as means for changing the proximity detection effective range, the ground pattern 573 as the fourth electrode shown in Figs. 78 and 51(b), A guard electrode 570, which is a third electrode shown in Fig. 51(a), is provided.

FIG. 78 is a diagram for explaining a change of the proximity range in the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589.

As shown in FIG. 78, as shown in FIG. 51(b), a ground pattern 573 of a mesh, which is a fourth electrode, is disposed on the rear surface 553B corresponding to the placement portion 572 of the substrate 553. have. This ground pattern (mesh electrode) 573 covers the proximity sensor 560 and the substrate 553 on the back side of the intermediate region 589. By setting the ground pattern 573 and the proximity sensor 560 to the same voltage, an electric field is not formed from the proximity sensor 560 and the intermediate region portion 589 to the ground pattern 573. Thereby, the electric field range can be changed, and the range which does not want to be detected by the proximity sensor 560 can be removed. The electric field from the ground pattern 573 is such that an electric field is generated only in the direction of the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region portion 589, and the ground pattern 573 is formed from the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region portion 589. The directed electric field is eliminated, and the electric field directed toward the inside of the substrate 553 is eliminated (cancelled).

Accordingly, when the ground pattern 573 as the fourth electrode is disposed in the substrate 553 as shown in 78(a), the proximity detection range DL1 between the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region 589 A, as shown in Fig. 78(b), it can be made larger than the proximity detection range DL2. The ground pattern 573 is a mesh metal shield electrode, and when comparing FIGS. 78(a) and 78(b), in FIG. 78(a) by the arrangement of the ground pattern 573, it is rearward by the range A shown in FIG. The electric field in the direction decreases or disappears.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 51 (a), the guard electrode 570 of the frame is disposed on the substrate 553, and the guard electrode 570 surrounds the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region 589. As a result, the electric field in the left and right direction decreases by the range U shown in Fig. 49. Thereby, as shown in Figs. 48 to 50, the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 can be changed from a large circle HC2 to a small shape HC3, and as shown in Fig. 50, It decreases by the range (V) in the vertical direction.

Then, the proximity detection effective range of the proximity sensor 560 is, as a whole, as shown by the small shape HC3 of FIG. 50, only in the forward direction of the proximity detection range DL1 of the proximity sensor 560 and the middle region 589. It is extended, and proximity detection is possible in a long range. Also, by installing the metal body 591 shown in FIG. 53, there is also a function of applying an electric field so that the effective range of proximity detection of the proximity sensor does not exceed the metal body 591, and more erroneous detection by the proximity sensor is provided. Can be prevented.

[33rd embodiment]

69 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according to a 33rd embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 69, the refrigerator 1 has a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 13, a switching chamber 14, a freezing chamber 15, and an ice making chamber 16. A pair of left door 21 and right door 22 cover the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12. For this reason, the left door 21 and the right door 22 are attached so as to open and close the upper and lower ends of the cabinet 11 which is the refrigerator main body in both open and closed manners with hinges. In this example, the width of the right door 22 is larger than the width of the left door 21.

For both the left door 21 and the right door 22, a colored transparent glass front plate 21A, 22A is attached to the opening of the flat inner plate that is open on the front side, and a vacuum insulating material is disposed in the inner cavity, and the vacuum insulating material It is an insulating structural member in which a foamed polyurethane insulating material (hereinafter, also referred to simply as a urethane insulating material) or a preformed solid insulating material (for example, EPC) is disposed in a cavity that is not completely filled with.

As shown in Fig. 69, one operation detection unit 701 is provided at a position below the front plate 22A of the right door 22, which is larger in size than the left door 21, for example.

The door opening driving parts 54 and 55 are the left and right portions near the front end of the top surface of the ceiling plate of the cabinet 11, and are installed at positions corresponding to the vicinity of the open side end of the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22, respectively. Has been.

These door opening driving units 54 and 55 are door opening and closing devices (door opening devices) that forcefully open the left door 21 and the right door 22 separately. The door opening drive units 54 and 55 push the plungers 54A and 55A forward by an electromagnet to push the upper side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 in the vicinity of each of the open side ends to the front, and to the left. The door 21 and the right door 22 are automatically opened forcibly.

FIG. 70 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the operation detection unit 701 along the ZR-ZR line shown in FIG. 69. FIG.

In the operation detection unit 701 shown in FIG. 69, as shown in FIG. 70, a shielding sheet material 721 is disposed on the inner surface side of the glass front plate 22A by printing or the like. This sheet material 721 is arranged to prevent the inside from being seen through the front plate 22A.

A first substrate 731 and a second substrate 732 are disposed on the inner surface side of the front plate 22A. The first substrate 731 and the second substrate 732 are arranged in parallel with the front plate 22A at intervals.

Four capacitive proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, 714, for example, as non-contact sensors are disposed on the surface of the first substrate 731, and a connector 729 is disposed on the rear surface thereof. These proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 are arranged two-dimensionally (planar) on the first substrate 731 in the right door 22, for example.

As shown in Fig. 69, the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 are respectively disposed at positions of square corners, and the proximity sensor 711 is disposed at the upper left corner, and the proximity sensor ( The proximity sensor 712 is disposed in the upper right corner, the proximity sensor 713 is disposed in the lower right corner, and the proximity sensor 714 is disposed in the lower left corner.

These proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 can non-contactly detect a state in which the user's (human body)'s fingers, as well as the palm or side of the hand, or the elbow are moved. Thereby, the left door 21 or the right door 22 is opened by driving the open door drive part 54 or the door open drive part 55.

Proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, 714 are electrodes for electrostatic touch (contact), and that the user's hand or elbow approaches from the front (front) direction of the right door 22 through the front plate 22A. It is a non-contact detection, for example, a capacitive detection means. The proximity sensors 711 to 714 detect the approach when a part of the user's human body, specifically, for example, the side of a palm or hand, or an elbow approaches. The proximity sensors 711 to 714 may use a mutual capacitance type touch sensor or a self capacitance type touch sensor which is a capacitive type touch sensor.

As shown in FIG. 70, a plurality of LEDs 735 and connectors 736 are disposed on the surface of the second substrate 732. The connector 736 of the second substrate 732 is connected to the connector 729 of the first substrate 731 by a relay line 728.

Each LED 735 is disposed at a position corresponding to each hole 734 of the first substrate 731. Thereby, the light generated by each LED 635 can illuminate the proximity sensors 711 to 714 through each hole 734 from behind. Accordingly, even in a dark environment, the user can visually check the positions of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 through the front plate 22A and the sheet member 721.

Fig. 71 is a block diagram showing electrical connections between the control unit 756, the operation detection unit 701, and the opening drive units 54 and 55 which are door opening devices.

As shown in FIG. 71, the control part 756 is electrically connected to the operation detection part 701, the opening drive part 54, 55, a plurality of LEDs 735, and the distance measuring means 777.

*

* In the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 69, when the user opens the left door 21 (or the right door 22) of the refrigerator 1, in a dark environment, the user touches the operation detection unit 701 with a finger. In order to perform non-contact operation, the positions of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are difficult to see. In this way, in order to improve the difficulty in operating the proximity sensors 711 to 714, LEDs 735 are mounted on the rear surfaces of the proximity sensors 711 to 714, respectively.

When the proximity sensors 711 to 714 detect the proximity of fingers, as well as the palm or the side of the hand, or the elbow in a predetermined order, the control unit 756 is sent from each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, and 714. Since receiving a signal notifying that the approach has been reached, the control unit 756 is configured to open the left door 21 or the right door 22 by the door opening drive unit 54 or the door opening drive unit 55, which is a door opening device. have.

At this time, the control unit 756 receives a signal notifying that a person has approached from each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714, so that the LED 735 can be turned on by a command from the control unit 756. .

Thereby, the user visually checks the position of each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714 of the operation detection unit 701 even in a dark environment, and easily manipulates each proximity sensor 711, 712, 713, 714 You can, and you can open the left door 21 (or the right door 22).

As described above, the operation detection unit 701 of the 33rd embodiment does not detect human operation by contact detection, but opens the left door 21 or the right door 22 by non-contact detection. . In the case of opening the door by contact detection, it is necessary to touch the finger to the contact detection portion, and it is difficult to open the door or it is necessary to open the door with an elbow when the user is holding something in his hand. On the other hand, since the operation detection unit 701 employs a non-contact operation that does not require contact with the contact detection portion, it is possible to suppress the user's unintended door opening operation due to the user's operation or changes in the surrounding environment.

Each of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the manipulation detection unit 701 shown in FIGS. 69 and 70 performs so-called gestures that move the user's fingers as well as the side or elbow of the palm or hand. By doing so, opening the left door 21 or the right door 22 can be carried out non-contact, and the user's intention according to the user's motion or changes in the surrounding environment by non-contact operation that does not require contact with the contact detection part. You can suppress the opening of a door that you did not do.

As shown in Fig. 69, the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the manipulation detection unit 701 are at the same interval, and are two-dimensional in the vertical direction (VT direction) and the left and right direction (HL direction). Are arranged, and are preferably provided at each of the four corners of a square shape. 71, when the user's hand or elbow moves in a specific order (up-down direction, left-right direction, oblique direction) in a non-contact manner with respect to each of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701. The control unit 756 recognizes movement of the side or elbow of the palm or hand, as well as the finger detected by each of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714. Thereby, the control unit 756 opens the left door 21 by driving the door opening driver 54 of the left door 21, for example, or the control unit 756 is the door opening drive unit ( 55) to open the right door 22.

The manipulation detection unit 701 may be attached to one partition of the right door 22. Thereby, the operation detection unit 701 can be arranged regardless of the presence or absence of a glass front plate, and regardless of the design of the door or display of various operations.

Each of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 has a structure installed on a single first substrate 731, so that manufacturing can be facilitated. In addition, the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 are not provided on a single first substrate 731, but may be provided on a plurality of substrates. Thereby, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 is further improved.

Next, an example of use of the refrigerator 1 described above will be described.

In the example of use described below, the proximity sensors 711 to 714 shown in FIG. 69 when the user cannot use both hands using the fingers of both hands, for example, a plate or a pot, etc. A case where the left door 21 (or the right door 22) cannot be opened will be described, for example, by operating by contact with.

In this case, the user's body part that can operate the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a non-contact manner is a palm, a side of a hand, or an elbow.

As described above, when the user detects the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a predetermined specific order using the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow, the control unit 756 is, for example, the left door 21 The left door 21 may be opened by driving the door opening driver 54 of the door, or the control unit 756 may open the right door 22 by driving the door opening driver 55 of the right door 22.

Fig. 72 shows an example in which a user approaches the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a predetermined specific order by an operation (gesture) such as a palm, a side of a hand, or an elbow.

This specific sequence refers to a path through which the user's palm or side of the hand, or elbow moves in proximity to at least two or more of the proximity sensors 711 to 714, and has been predetermined.

As a specific sequence shown in Fig. 72(a), the two proximity sensors 711 and 712 are transferred to the human body (palm) by movement in one direction DD1 indicated by the right arrow of the user's palm or hand, or the right arrow of the elbow. The two proximity sensors 712 and 711 by sequentially detecting the side of the hand or the elbow) and moving along the second direction (opposite direction) DD2 indicated by a left-facing arrow different from the first direction DD1. ) Can be obtained by sequentially detecting the human body (the palm of the hand, the side of the hand, or the elbow).

In this case, the first direction DD1 and the second direction DD2 constitute a first specific direction F1, and the specific order of this first specific direction F1 is, for example, the control unit 756 With respect to, a function of opening the left door 21 by the door opening driver 54 is instructed.

As another specific sequence shown in Fig. 72(b), the two proximity sensors 711 and 712 are transferred to the human body (palm) by movement along one direction DD1 indicated by the right arrow of the user's palm or hand, or the right arrow of the elbow. Or the side of the hand, or the elbow) sequentially, or by moving along the three directions DD3 indicated by a downward arrow different from the first direction DD1, the two proximity sensors 712 and 713 It is obtained by sequentially detecting (the palm of the hand, the side of the hand, or the elbow).

In this case, the first direction DD1 and the third direction DD3 constitute a second specific direction F2, and the specific order of the second specific direction F2 is, for example, the refrigerator 1 The control unit 756 is instructed to provide a so-called "rapid freezing" function of rapidly freezing the inside of the switching chamber 14, which is, for example, a storage room of, for example, the set temperature in the storage chamber shown in FIG. 69. This "quick freezing" function is a function of preventing cell damage during freezing and maintaining taste by passing through the temperature range of -1°C to -5°C, where the moisture of food is frozen.

As described above, a predetermined function is performed by the user approaching and manipulating at least two of the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a predetermined order by an action (gesture) such as the palm, the side of the hand, or the elbow, etc. As an example, the left door 21 can be opened or the right door 22 can be opened.

Accordingly, even if the proximity sensors 711 to 714 are disposed on the left door 21 or the right door 22, the user simply passes in front of the refrigerator 1, the left door 21 or the right door 22 ) Can be prevented from opening.

Further, Fig. 73 is a diagram showing an example of a proximity sensor approaching in a specific order different from that of the proximity sensor.

As illustrated in FIG. 73, when a user lifts a plate or a pot using fingers of both hands, and both hands are in a state in which both hands cannot be used, and the fingers of both hands cannot be used for proximity manipulation to the proximity sensors 711 to 714, It is also possible to instruct the control unit 756 to a predetermined arbitrary function by detecting the proximity sensors 711 to 714 in a predetermined specific order in a non-contact manner using a palm, a side of a hand, an elbow, or the like.

The direction of moving the side or elbow of the palm or hand as a gesture can be used in any combination of two or three or more of an up-down direction, a left-right direction, and an oblique direction.

For example, in FIG. 73(a), a combination of the first direction (right direction) DD1 and the fourth direction (obliquely downward direction) DD4 is shown, and in FIG. 73(b), the fifth direction (downward direction) The combination of (DD5) and the sixth direction (upward direction) DD6 is shown.

In FIG. 73(c), the combination of the third direction (downward direction) DD3 and the seventh direction (upward direction) DD7 is shown, and in FIG. 73(d), the eighth direction (rightward direction) DD8 and the third direction A combination of 9 directions (left direction) DD9 is shown.

By combining these gestures in a plurality of directions, the control unit 756 can exhibit various functions such as opening the left door 21 or opening the right door 22, for example.

By the way, in the illustrated example, the operation detection part 701 is comprised by four proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the manipulation detection unit 701 may include two proximity sensors, three proximity sensors, and five or more proximity sensors. These proximity sensors can be placed two-dimensionally (planar) in the door.

In the above-described refrigerator 1, both open left doors 21 and right doors 22 are provided, and front plates 21A and 22A of glass plates are disposed on the front sides of the left door 21 and the right door 22. have. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the front side of the left door 21 and the right door 22 may not be a glass plate, but may be a metal plate such as a steel plate. In addition, the refrigerator may be one having one open door.

The proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the manipulation detection unit 701 are of a capacitive type, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a method of non-contact detection of the user's finger by infrared rays may be employed.

In addition, in the refrigerator, for example, distance measuring means 777 illustrated in FIGS. 69 and 71 is provided on the rear side of the glass front plate 21A of the left door 21 or the glass front plate 22A of the right door 22. ), a frame of a refrigerator, or a partition that separates each storage room.

The distance measuring means 777 measures the distance from the refrigerator 1 to the user's human body. For example, depending on the size of the room in which the refrigerator is installed, the distance of the human body measured by the distance measuring means 777 may be changed. If the refrigerator is installed in a large room, the distance between the refrigerator 1 and the human body increases, and if the refrigerator is installed in a narrow room, the distance between the refrigerator 1 and the human body decreases.

Therefore, based on the change in the distance to the human body measured by the distance measuring means 777, the control unit 756 is effective in an operation in which the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714, which are non-contact sensors, can detect the human body. It can be configured so that you can change the range of the setting. That is, the sensitivity at the time of detection by the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, 714 can be adjusted between high sensitivity and moderate sensitivity.

Each of the proximity sensors 711, 712, 713, and 714 of the operation detection unit 701 can be inserted into the right door 22, for example, of a steel plate having a normal structure that does not have a glass front plate. By employing such a structure, the operation detection unit 701 can be disposed at any position of the door.

The operation detection part 701 can be installed in the urethane heat insulating material which is the inside of the front plate 22A shown in FIG. Thereby, the operation detection part 701 can be arrange|positioned at an arbitrary position of a door.

The operation detection unit 701 can be attached above or below the cap made of plastic disposed at the edge of the right door 22. Thereby, the operation detection unit 701 can be disposed irrespective of the presence or absence of the glass front plate, and regardless of whether the design of the door or various operation display portions are disposed.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented as examples, and there is no intention to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, can be combined with various embodiments, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and summary of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

In addition, printing indicating the operation position may be performed according to the display of the LED. For this printing, translucent printing through which LED light is transmitted is preferable.

1: refrigerator 11: cabinet
12: refrigerator compartment 13: vegetable compartment
14: conversion room 15: freezer
16: ice making room 21: left door
22: right door 21A, 22A: front panel
50: control operation unit 51, 52: door opening operation unit
51A, 52A: open door operation display 54, 55: open door drive
61, 62: handle

Claims (7)

A refrigerator body with an open front,
An insulating door attached to the front opening of the refrigerator body,
A motion detection unit capable of detecting a motion of a human body with respect to the door,
A display device capable of displaying a detection area of the motion detection unit,
An access detection unit that detects an approach of a human body to the refrigerator body, and
When the approach of the human body is detected, the detection area is displayed by the display device, and after that, when the motion detection unit detects a predetermined motion of the human body, a function of the refrigerator corresponding to the predetermined motion is operated. Having a control unit,
The control unit, after displaying the detection area by the display device, based on the detection of the access detection unit, when a predetermined time elapses without detection of the predetermined motion of the human body by the movement detection unit, the refrigerator of the refrigerator A refrigerator for ending display of the detection area by the display device without operating a function. The method of claim 1,
When the operation detection unit detects a second operation different from the first operation, which is the predetermined operation, the control unit operating a function of the refrigerator corresponding to the second operation. The method of claim 1,
When the motion detection unit detects the motion of the human body in a predetermined specific order, the control unit operates a function of the refrigerator corresponding to the specific order. The method of claim 3,
In the specific order, the motion detection unit detects the human body by an operation along a first direction of the human body, and the motion detection unit detects the body by an operation along a second direction different from the first direction of the human body. Refrigerator obtained by detecting the human body. The method of claim 3,
Further comprising a door opening device for opening the door,
When the motion detection unit detects the approach of the human body in the specific order, the control unit performs a door opening operation by the door opening device as a function of the refrigerator. The method of claim 5,
The specific sequence instructs the controller to open the door by the door opening device, and the other specific sequence instructs the controller to rapidly freeze the storage compartment of the refrigerator. . The method of claim 1,
It comprises a distance measuring means for measuring the distance to the human body,
The refrigerator, wherein an operation of detecting the approach of the human body by the motion detection unit becomes effective based on a change in the distance of the human body measured by the distance measuring means.

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