TW442638B

TW442638B - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: TW442638B
Application number: TW088103848A
Authority: TW
Inventors: Susumu Saruta
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 1998-08-31
Filing date: 1999-03-12
Publication date: 2001-06-23
Also published as: CN1149372C; CN1246608A; JP2000074548A; KR20000016859A; JP3590272B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a display mechanism and an illumination mechanism. The display mechanism is not luminous but displays various data, such as internal temperature setting, internal condition, and operation condition. The illumination mechanism illuminates the display mechanism and has the following characteristics: (1) no special light operation switch is equipped. (2) An illumination control mechanism is equipped to switch the illumination mechanism on or off based on certain conditions.

Description

4 42 6 3 3 I五、發明說明（1) [發明之領域] 本發明與一種包含：冰箱内溫度設定顯示、冰箱内狀態 > \顯示、溫度狀態顯示等有關冰箱信息之顯示裝置之冰箱有 |關° | [先前之技藝] I 先前冰箱之顯示裝置，以使用自行發光之發光二極體 i (以下稱LED)為主流。 ! 使用顯示裝置時，可顯示圖畫或文字、數字，能提高設4 42 6 3 3 I. Description of the invention (1) [Field of the invention] The present invention relates to a refrigerator including: a display device for setting temperature in the refrigerator, a status in the refrigerator > \ display, temperature status display, and other refrigerator-related display devices.有 | 关 ° | [Previous skill] I The display device of the previous refrigerator is mainly using a self-luminous light-emitting diode i (hereinafter referred to as LED). ! When using a display device, pictures, text, and numbers can be displayed, which can improve the design.

I 計性《又，液晶顯示裝置有其消耗電流極少之益處。可是，因液晶顯示裝置非自行發光元件，致深夜等周圍黑暗時無法讀其顯示，故液晶罈示裝置需要照明裝置。 [欲解決之課題] 然而，液晶顯示裝置裝照明裝置經常點燈時，即無法發揮其消耗電流極少之益處。因此，可考慮僅在需要時點亮照明裝置，惟有如下之問題。第1，另裝設點熄燈開關時，將增加構件數而有增加成本之問題。第2，使用者需操作其操作開關，有強迫使用者煩雜操作之問題。故本發明有鑑於上述問題，提供具有僅以必要之定時點亮顯示裝置之照明功能之冰箱。 [解決諫題之方法] 本發明之申請專利範圍第1項'之冰箱，包含：顯示機 j五、發明說明（2) 1 ί構’冰箱内溫度設定顯示、冰箱内狀態顯示、或運轉狀態 j顯示等有關冰箱信息之顯示而本身不發光；及照明機構，照明該顯示機構之冰箱，又不設置點熄燈用專用操作開關，具有：在一定條件時點亮或熄滅照明機構之照明控制機構" 申請專利範圍第2項之冰箱，包含：顯示機構，冰箱内溫度設定顯示、冰箱内狀態顯示、或運轉狀態顯示等有關冰箱信息之顯示而本身不發光；及照明機構，照明該顯示機構之冰箱，又不設置點熄燈用專用操作開關，具有：在門開關檢測開門狀態時點亮或熄滅照明機構之照明控制機構。申請專利範圍第3項之冰箱，包含：顯示機構，冰箱内溫度設定顯示、冰箱内狀態顯示、或運轉狀態顯示等有關冰箱信息之顯示而本身不發光；及照明機構，照明該顯示機構之冰箱，又不設置點熄燈用專用操作開關，具有：在操作冰箱操作機構時點亮或熄滅照明機構之照明控制機構。申請專利範圍第4項之冰箱，即包含：顯示機構，冰箱内溫度設定顯示、冰箱内狀態顯示、或運轉狀態顯示等有關冰箱信息之顯示而本身不發光；及照明機構，照明該顯示機構之冰箱，又不設置點熄燈用專用操作開關，具有：在冰箱控制機構控制異常時點亮或熄滅照明機構之照明控制機構。 . 申請專利範圍第5項之冰箱/即包含：顯示機構，冰箱 44^s38 五、發明說明（3) 内溫度設定顯示、冰箱内狀等有關冰箱信息夕S5 - ; 士也^顯不、或運轉狀態網 -^ . 之顯不而本身不發光；及昭明機構，照明該顯不機構之冰箱，又太炉要机认U 次4明機稱在冰箱栌制Μ祕^ 點熄燈用專用操作開關，具有· 控制機構檢測冰箱構件故障昭明機構之照明控制機構。狄渾砰點亮或烬戚‘，*、乃 5 ig申3專*^〗範圍第6項之冰箱’即如申請專利範圍第1至第 J之冰ί目’其中照明控制機構將照明機構以一定時間點亮或媳減。申吻專利範圍第7項之冰箱，即如申請專利範圍第1至第 5項之=水箱’其中顯示機構為液晶顯示裝置。 *申清專利範圍第1項之冰箱，-照明控制機構在一定條件時以=明機構照明顯示機構。疋條件測Μίΐϊ圍第2項之冰箱，照明控制機構在門開關檢曰]门狀態時點亮或熄滅照明機構，使周圍黑見顯示機構。町耶犯看 :清專利範圍第3項之冰箱，照明控制機構在 '、4機構時點亮或熄滅照明機構，使周圍黑 '相顯示機構。町吓旎看見 i t清專利範圍第4項之冰箱’照明控制機構在冰益¥ :見時點亮或熄滅照明機構’使周圍黑暗時亦制能申清專利範圍第5項之冰箱，照明控制機構在構檢測冰箱構件故障時點亮或熄滅照明機構，使目制暗時亦能看見顯示機構。，使周圍黑 im 第6頁 442638 I五、發明說明（4) 申請專利範圍第1至第5項之冰箱，其中照明控制機構將照明機構以一定時間點亮或熄滅亦可。申請專利範圍第1至第5項之冰箱，其中顯示機構為液晶顯示裝置亦可。 |較佳實施例之詳細說明：以下，依第1圖至第3圖說明本發明之一實施例之冰箱 10 〇第1圖係冰箱10之正面圖，在冰箱之機殼12從上依序裝有冷藏室14、青菜室16、轉換冰箱内溫度之轉換室18及冷凍室20。又轉換室18左側設有製冰室22。又’各該室前面裝有門14a、16a、18a、20a、22a。在冷藏室門14a下端中央部設有操作板28(參考第3圖）β 操作板28中央配置液晶顯示裝置24，在該液晶顯示裝置24 |周圍裝設設定冷藏室14、轉換室18及冷凍室20之庫内溫度用設定開關2 6 *又第3圖係操作板28之擴大正面圖，液晶顯示裝置24之顯示狀態顯示所有顯示。 ! 其次，依第2圖說明冰箱1 〇之控制構造。又第2圖係使控制關係構件容易了解之方塊圖。冰箱1 0之控制裴置30由微電腦構成，裝在機殼丨2背面上部。該控制裝置3 〇連接下列構件。控制裝置30連接：操作板28，由上述說明之設定開關26 和液晶顯示裝置24構成；及LED ’從後方照明液晶顯示裝 I 置24 / 檢測各室門1 4 a、1 6 a、1 8 a、2 0 a、2 2 a開關狀態之門開In addition, the liquid crystal display device has the advantage that it consumes very little current. However, since the liquid crystal display device is not a self-luminous element, its display cannot be read when the surroundings are dark at night, so the liquid crystal display device requires a lighting device. [Problems to be Solved] However, when the lighting device of the liquid crystal display device is often turned on, the benefit of extremely low current consumption cannot be exerted. Therefore, it may be considered that the lighting device is turned on only when necessary, but there are the following problems. First, when a separate light-off switch is installed, the number of components will increase and the cost will increase. Secondly, the user needs to operate the operation switch, which has a problem of forcing the user to perform complicated operations. In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a refrigerator having a lighting function of lighting a display device only at necessary timings. [Method for solving the problem] The refrigerator of the first patent scope of the present invention includes: a display device, a description of the invention (2), a structure setting display, a status display in the refrigerator, or a running status j display, such as the display of information about the refrigerator, itself does not emit light; and the lighting mechanism, which illuminates the refrigerator of the display mechanism, and does not provide a special operation switch for turning off the light, has a lighting control mechanism that lights or extinguishes the lighting mechanism under certain conditions " The refrigerator under the scope of patent application No. 2 includes: a display mechanism, display of refrigerator information such as temperature setting display, status display in the refrigerator, or operation status display, and does not emit light by itself; and a lighting mechanism, which illuminates the display mechanism The refrigerator does not have a special operation switch for turning off the light, and has a lighting control mechanism for turning on or off the lighting mechanism when the door switch detects a door opening state. The refrigerator under the scope of patent application No. 3 includes: a display mechanism, a display of temperature information in the refrigerator, a display of the status of the refrigerator, or a display of the operating status of the refrigerator without displaying light; and a lighting mechanism that illuminates the refrigerator of the display mechanism. Without setting a special operation switch for turning off the light, it has a lighting control mechanism for turning on or off the lighting mechanism when the refrigerator operating mechanism is operated. The refrigerator under the scope of patent application No. 4 includes: a display mechanism, a temperature setting display in the refrigerator, a status display in the refrigerator, or a display of the operating status of the refrigerator without displaying light; and a lighting mechanism that illuminates the display mechanism. The refrigerator does not have a special operation switch for turning off the light, and has a lighting control mechanism for turning on or turning off the lighting mechanism when the refrigerator control mechanism controls abnormally. The refrigerator under the scope of the application for patent No. 5 / includes: display mechanism, refrigerator 44 ^ s38 V. Description of the invention (3) Internal temperature setting display, refrigerator internal status and other information about the refrigerator S5-; Operation status net- ^. The display does not emit light; and the Zhaoming mechanism, which illuminates the refrigerator of the display mechanism, and the furnace needs to be recognized U times. The switch has a lighting control mechanism that the control mechanism detects the failure of the refrigerator component. Di Hun lighted up or emblazoned, "*, is a refrigerator of the 5th item and 3 items of the scope of the" item 6 ", that is, as in the application of the patent scope 1 to J of the ice head" where the lighting control mechanism will be the lighting mechanism Lights up or decreases over time. The refrigerator applying for item 7 of the patent scope, that is, as the water tank of item 1 to item 5 of the application scope, where the display mechanism is a liquid crystal display device. * Refrigerate the refrigerator in item 1 of the patent scope, and-the lighting control mechanism will indicate the lighting display mechanism under certain conditions.疋 Conditions Measure the refrigerator of item 2 of ΐϊ. The lighting control mechanism lights up or extinguishes the lighting mechanism when the door is open or closed, so that the surroundings can see the display mechanism. Machiyuki sees: In the refrigerator of item 3 of the patent, the lighting control mechanism turns on or off the lighting mechanism when the mechanism is 4 or 4 to make the surroundings black. Machiko sees it's refrigerator in the patent scope of item 4 lighting control mechanism in Bingyi ¥: Turns on or off the lighting mechanism at sight 'to make the refrigerator in the range of patent scope of patent protection in the dark when the surrounding area is dark, lighting control The mechanism turns on or extinguishes the lighting mechanism when detecting the failure of the components of the refrigerator, so that the display mechanism can be seen when the system is dark. 5. Make the surroundings dark. Page 6 442638 I V. Description of the invention (4) The refrigerators for which the scope of patent application is 1 to 5 can be turned on or off by the lighting control mechanism for a certain period of time. The refrigerators with the scope of claims 1 to 5 of the patent application, wherein the display mechanism is a liquid crystal display device. | Detailed description of the preferred embodiment: In the following, a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator 10. Equipped with a refrigerating compartment 14, a vegetable compartment 16, a converting compartment 18 for converting the temperature in the refrigerator, and a freezing compartment 20. An ice-making chamber 22 is provided on the left side of the conversion chamber 18. Also, doors 14a, 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a are installed in front of each of the chambers. An operation panel 28 (refer to FIG. 3) is provided at the center of the lower end of the refrigerator compartment door 14a. A liquid crystal display device 24 is disposed in the center of the β operation panel 28. The liquid crystal display device 24 is provided with a refrigerating compartment 14, a conversion room 18, and a freezer. The temperature setting switch 2 6 for the temperature inside the chamber 20 * FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the operation panel 28, and the display status of the liquid crystal display device 24 displays all the displays. ! Next, the control structure of the refrigerator 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. Figure 2 is a block diagram that makes the control relationship components easy to understand. The control unit 10 of the refrigerator 10 is composed of a microcomputer, and is installed on the upper part of the back of the cabinet 2. The control device 30 is connected to the following components. The control device 30 is connected: the operation panel 28, which is composed of the setting switch 26 and the liquid crystal display device 24 described above; and the LED 'Illumination of the liquid crystal display device 24 from the rear / detection of each door 1 4 a, 1 6 a, 18 a, 2 0 a, 2 2 a Door open in switch state

第7頁 I五，發明說明(5) I關14b、16b、18b、20b、22b連接於控制裝置30。 I 冷藏室14内設有檢測其庫内溫度之溫度感測器3 4，轉換室1 8同樣裝有溫度感測器3 6，冷凍室2 0亦裝有溫度感測器 38，分別連接在控制裝置30。 ! 冷藏室14、轉換室18及冷凍室20設有照明庫内用照明裝置5 0、52、54，分別連接在控制裝置30。送冷氣給冷藏室14用阻尼器之阻尼器馬達4〇，及送冷氣給轉換室18之阻尼器之阻尼器馬達42連接在控制裝置3〇。將冷卻器44之冷氣送風之風扇46亦連接在控制裝置3〇。而壓縮機48之馬達亦連接在控制裝置3〇 β 茲簡單說明以控制裝置30控剞冰箱1 〇之控制狀態β 冷藏室1 4之門1 4a為開啟狀態時，門開關〗4b將其檢測，點亮照明裝置5 0，並為了避免庫内冷氣逸至冰箱外之浪費’使風扇4 6停止。又打開轉換室丨8及冷凍室2 〇之門 1 8 a、2 0 a時亦實施同樣控制。以壓縮機48之ΟΝ/OFF控制冷凍室2〇，並以阻尼 4。、42控制其他室之冷氣流動，使達；^ 28設定之溫度。血没逐禪作板顯示裝置24之LED32之點兹說明上述構造之冰箱1 〇液晶熄燈控制狀態。 1 ·第1控制使用者幾乎多在 24之顯示狀態，在即無需操作點亮照存取冰箱1 0内部食品打開或關閉各門時若明。故控制叙置3 0檢時看液晶顯示裝置點亮照明’使用者測門開關1 4 b、 I五'發明說明（6) ! I 16b、18b、20b、22b 之開啟信號點亮 LED32。丨丨而因使用者看此顯示至確認所需時間僅數秒即可，故經過一定時間（15秒〜30秒）即切斷LED32，防土電流消耗之浪又，如上述點亮所需時間以外，在關門時熄滅LE032亦可，又關門後僅一定時間點亮LED32亦可。 2.第2控制其次，使用者欲看冰箱之顯示時，即為需操作設定庫内溫度時。故操作板28之設定開關時亦以—定時間照明 LED32。此時，看液晶顯示裝置24之時間比門開閉時因比第1控制狀態長，故點燈時間以15秒〜〗分鐘為適當。 3.第3控制第1控制及第2控制以外，若控制裝置3〇陷入冰箱之異常、即冰箱構件故障或控制裝置3〇本身無法控制時，熄滅 LED32向使用者顯示其狀況β 4.第4控制吊Ϊ使^者向販賣店或廠家報怨冰箱不冷’其常見原因之—為冰箱I 0本身故障外，有因門不完謂半開狀態。心玉關閉之狀態、所二”門㈣14b〜22b檢測開啟狀態，點亮而門開關！4b’b檢測開啟狀態一定時間以上(5分鐘以 ΐ之半開二亮狀態將㈣32轉換為媳滅狀態，*告使用者Page 7 I. Fifth, description of the invention (5) I. Gates 14b, 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b are connected to the control device 30. I The refrigerator compartment 14 is provided with a temperature sensor 3 4 for detecting the temperature in the storage compartment. The conversion compartment 18 is also equipped with a temperature sensor 3 6 and the freezing compartment 20 is also equipped with a temperature sensor 38, which are respectively connected to Controller 30. ! The refrigerating compartment 14, the conversion compartment 18, and the freezer compartment 20 are provided with lighting devices 50, 52, and 54 for lighting in the storage room, which are connected to the control device 30, respectively. A damper motor 40 for sending damp air to the refrigerating compartment 14 and a damper motor 42 for sending damp air to the damper of the conversion chamber 18 are connected to the control device 30. A fan 46 for cooling air from the cooler 44 is also connected to the control device 30. The compressor 48 motor is also connected to the control device 30β. The control state of the refrigerator 30 is controlled by the control device 30. The door 14 of the refrigerator compartment 14 is opened, and the door switch 4b detects it. , To light up the lighting device 50, and to avoid the waste of cold air from the refrigerator to the outside of the refrigerator, 'stop the fans 46. The same control is performed when the doors of the conversion chamber 丨 8 and the freezing chamber 20 are opened again 18 a and 20 a. Freezer 20 is controlled by ON / OFF of compressor 48 and damped 4. , 42 controls the flow of cold air in other rooms to reach ^ 28 set temperature. The point of the LED 32 of the display device 24 is described below. The refrigerator 10 with the above structure will be explained. 1 · 1st control The user is almost in the display state of 24, and there is no need to operate to light up the photos. Access to the refrigerator 1 0 Inside food When opening or closing each door, it is clear. Therefore, the control device is set to look at the liquid crystal display device at 30 o'clock, and the lighting is turned on. The user detects the door switch 1 4b, I5 'invention description (6)! The turn-on signals of I 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b light LED32.丨丨 Because the time required for the user to see this display and confirm is only a few seconds, after a certain time (15 seconds to 30 seconds), the LED32 will be turned off, and the wave of earth current consumption will be prevented. In addition, it is also possible to turn off LE032 when the door is closed, and to turn on the LED32 only after a certain time after the door is closed. 2. 2nd control Secondly, when the user wants to see the display of the refrigerator, it is the time to set the temperature in the library. Therefore, the setting switch of the operation panel 28 also illuminates the LED 32 at a fixed time. At this time, since the time spent watching the liquid crystal display device 24 is longer than when the door is opened and closed, the lighting time is preferably 15 seconds to 1 minute. 3. 3rd control In addition to the 1st control and the 2nd control, if the control device 30 is caught in an abnormality of the refrigerator, that is, the component of the refrigerator is faulty, or the control device 30 itself cannot be controlled, the LED 32 is turned off to show the user the status β 4. 4 Controlling the condolence messenger complains to the store or manufacturer that the refrigerator is not cold. One of the common reasons is that the refrigerator I 0 itself is faulty, and there is a half-open state due to the incomplete door. The state of the heart jade being closed, the second "door lintel 14b ~ 22b detects the open state, lights up and the door opens! 4b'b detects the open state for more than a certain period of time (5 minutes, half open, and two bright states to convert ㈣32 to extinguished state, * Inform users

I 442638 I五，發明說明（7)I 442638 I five, description of invention (7)

II

[發明之效果] 依以上本發明之冰箱，因不用設點熄照明機構用專用操 \ |作開關，照明控制機構僅以一定條件點熄顯示機構之照明丨機構，故可削減構件數而可防止成本之增加。又使用者亦 i 無需特別之操作。更可削減點亮照明機構用之電力。 i[Effects of the Invention] According to the refrigerator of the present invention, since a special operation switch for turning off the lighting mechanism is not required, the lighting control mechanism only turns off the lighting of the display mechanism under certain conditions. Therefore, the number of components can be reduced. Prevent cost increases. No special operation is required by the user. It can also reduce the power used to light the lighting mechanism. i

!圖式之簡單說明： I • i 第1圖係依照本發明之一實施例之冰箱正面圖。 ί i 第2圖係同方塊圖》第3圈係液晶顯示裝置正面圖。Brief description of the drawings: I • i FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. ί i Figure 2 is the same block diagram. The third circle is a front view of the liquid crystal display device.

圖號說明： 10 · 冰箱 12 · 機殼 14 · 冷藏室 16 · 青菜室 18 · 轉換室 20 · 冷凍室 22 · 製冰室 24 · 液晶顯示裝置 26 · 設定開關 28 · 操作板 30 * 控制裝置 32 · LED 48 * 壓縮機 1 4a~ 2 2a * • •門Description of drawing number: 10 · Refrigerator 12 · Cabinet 14 · Refrigerator compartment 16 · Vegetable compartment 18 · Switching compartment 20 · Freezer compartment 22 · Ice making compartment 24 · LCD display device 26 · Setting switch 28 · Operation panel 30 * Control device 32 · LED 48 * compressor 1 4a ~ 2 2a * • • door

第10頁 442638Page 10 442638

第11頁Page 11

Claims

-3,] 六 VI. Patent application scope 1. A refrigerator, including: a display mechanism that displays information about the refrigerator, such as temperature setting, status in the refrigerator, or operating status, and does not emit light by itself; and a lighting mechanism, which illuminates the The display mechanism is characterized by: 丨 No special operation switch for turning off the light is provided, and the lighting control mechanism is provided to turn on or turn off the lighting mechanism under certain conditions. 2. A refrigerator comprising: a display mechanism that displays information about the refrigerator such as the temperature setting, the state in the refrigerator, or the operating state of the refrigerator without emitting light; and a lighting mechanism that illuminates the display mechanism, which is characterized by: The special operation switch for turning on and off has a lighting control mechanism that turns on or off the lighting mechanism when the door switch detects the door opening state. 3. A refrigerator comprising: a display mechanism that displays information about the refrigerator, such as the temperature setting in the refrigerator, the state in the refrigerator, or the operating state, and does not emit light by itself; and a lighting mechanism that illuminates the display mechanism, which is characterized by: not provided A special operation switch for turning off the light, and has a lighting control mechanism for turning on or off the lighting mechanism when the refrigerator operating mechanism is operated. 4. A refrigerator comprising: a display mechanism that displays information about the refrigerator, such as a temperature setting in the refrigerator, a state in the refrigerator, or an operating state, and does not emit light by itself; and '

Page 12 6. Scope of Patent Application The lighting mechanism is used to illuminate the display mechanism. It is characterized by not including a special operation switch for turning off the light, and having a lighting control mechanism that turns on or off the lighting mechanism when the refrigerator control mechanism controls abnormally. 5. A refrigerator comprising: a display mechanism that displays information about the refrigerator, such as the temperature setting, the state in the refrigerator, or the operating state of the refrigerator, and does not emit light by itself; and a lighting mechanism that illuminates the display mechanism, which is characterized by: not provided A special operation switch for turning on and off the light has a lighting control mechanism that turns on or extinguishes the lighting mechanism when the refrigerator control mechanism detects a failure of a component of the refrigerator. 6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lighting control mechanism turns on or off the lighting mechanism for a certain period of time. 7. For the refrigerator of any one of the scope of claims 1 to 5, the display mechanism is a liquid crystal display device.

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