US20080247154A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
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- US20080247154A1 US20080247154A1 US11/979,535 US97953507A US2008247154A1 US 20080247154 A1 US20080247154 A1 US 20080247154A1 US 97953507 A US97953507 A US 97953507A US 2008247154 A1 US2008247154 A1 US 2008247154A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- main body
- illumination units
- light
- body cabinet
- storing compartment
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D27/00—Lighting arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having an improved position of an illumination unit that illuminates the inside of a storing compartment.
- a refrigerator is a device which preserves articles at a temperature near freezing using a refrigerating cycle that includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator.
- the refrigerator has a storing compartment therein.
- the storing compartment receives cold air produced using the refrigerating cycle and preserves the articles.
- the storing compartment is opened or closed by a door in order to prevent leakage of the cold air flowing within the storing compartment and to maintain thermal insulation from the outside.
- an illumination unit that is an illuminating lamp
- the illuminating lamp emits light so that the stored articles can be easily recognized.
- the illuminating lamp is turned on and off by a signal of a door opening and closing sensing unit which is disposed at a place near to the door and is capable of sensing the opening and closing of the door.
- a door opening and closing sensing unit which is disposed at a place near to the door and is capable of sensing the opening and closing of the door.
- Such an illuminating lamp is disposed at an inner side of the storing compartment.
- the illuminating lamp is disposed at an inner side of the storing compartment. Therefore, when many articles are stored in the storing compartment, the articles block the light and the inside of the storing compartment becomes dark, thus making it hard to recognize the articles stored in the storing compartment.
- a refrigerator including: a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and a plurality of illumination units disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet, each illumination unit including a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle ⁇ , and the light directivity angle ⁇ of each of the light sources is disposed to not be superposed with the light sources on the opposite side of the inner circumference.
- the light directivity angle ⁇ of each light source is disposed not to be superposed with each other, wherein the plurality of illumination units are adjacent to the front opening.
- a height interval H 1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation: H 1 ⁇ W ⁇ tan( ⁇ /2).
- a width interval W 1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation: W 1 ⁇ H ⁇ tan( ⁇ /2).
- the light directivity angle ⁇ of the light source is 120 to 160 degrees.
- the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED).
- LED light-emitting diode
- the illumination unit further includes a housing which has an opening that the light source passes through and is received in an inner wall of the main body cabinet, and a cover which is made of a transparent material and covers the opening of the housing.
- the cover guides light irradiated by the light source to diverge inside the storing compartment.
- a width interval W 1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation: W 1 ⁇ H ⁇ tan( ⁇ /2).
- the light directivity angle ⁇ of the light source is 120 to 160 degrees.
- the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED).
- LED light-emitting diode
- the illumination unit further includes a housing which has an opening that the light source passes therethrough and is received in an inner wall of the main body cabinet, and a cover which is made of a transparent material and covers the opening of the housing.
- the cover guides light irradiated by the light source to diverge inside the storing compartment.
- a refrigerator comprises: a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and a plurality of illumination units disposed along of an inner circumference of the main body cabinet; the plurality of illumination units being disposed in a zigzag arrangement along the inner circumference of the main body cabinet.
- the illumination units each comprise a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle ⁇ .
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an illumination unit described in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the illumination units disposed with a predetermined interval in a height direction
- FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the illumination units disposed with a predetermined interval in a width direction.
- a side-by-side type refrigerator is described as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the present invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment but may also be applied to top mounted freezer (TMF) type and bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerators.
- TMF top mounted freezer
- BMF bottom mounted freezer
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an illumination unit described in FIG. 1 .
- the refrigerator 1 includes a main body cabinet 3 which forms a storing compartment 10 having a front opening 20 , and a plurality of illumination units 60 which are disposed along an inside circumference of the main body cabinet 3 to be adjacent to the front opening 20 .
- the main body cabinet 3 forms an external appearance of the refrigerator 1 .
- a plurality of storing compartments 10 are formed in the main body cabinet 3 with foaming agent filled between the storing compartments 10 .
- the front opening 20 is formed in front of the storing compartment 10 formed by the main body cabinet 3 so that articles can enter and exit through the front opening 20 .
- the storing compartment 10 is laterally divided into a cooling compartment 12 and a freezing compartment 14 by a barrier 18 .
- shelves 41 are disposed with a predetermined interval therebetween to divide the storing compartment 10 into a plurality of spaces, and storing drawers 42 are disposed to store the articles such as vegetables that need to prevent moisture evaporation.
- the cooling compartment 12 stores the articles at a temperature higher than a freezing point, that is, normally at temperature of about 4° C.
- the freezing compartment 14 stores the articles to be frozen at a temperature lower than the freezing point.
- an ice maker 40 is installed in the freezing compartment 14 to receive water from an outer water supply source (not shown) and make ice.
- the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 is opened and closed by a door 30 .
- a receiving part 16 is formed at an inner wall of the storing compartment 10 adjacent to the front opening 20 .
- the door 30 is connected to the main body cabinet 3 to open and close the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 .
- the door 30 includes a cooling compartment door 32 and a freezing compartment door 34 which are rotatably connected to the main body cabinet 3 to open and close the cooling compartment 12 and the freezing compartment 14 respectively.
- a dispenser unit (not shown) is installed in the freezing compartment door 34 to take the ice from the ice maker 40 and drinking water from a water supplying unit (not shown) accommodated in the main body cabinet 3 in the outside.
- a door opening and closing sensing unit 43 is provided at the inner wall of the storing compartment 10 adjacent to the door 30 to contact the door 30 .
- the door opening and closing sensing unit 43 transmits an opening signal to indictate opening of the door 30 to a controlling unit (not shown).
- the controlling unit controls the illumination units 60 disposed in the storing compartment 10 to be turned on according to the opening signal transmitted from the door opening and closing sensing unit 43 .
- the illumination unit 60 includes a light source 62 which is turned on and off by a control signal of the controlling unit, a substrate 64 which provides a signal to the light source and is mounted with the light source 62 , a housing 66 which is received in the inner wall of the main body cabinet 3 with an opening that the light source 62 and the substrate 64 pass through, and a cover 68 of a transparent material which covers the opening of the housing 66 .
- the illumination unit 60 is disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet 3 to be adjacent to the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 . In this case, the illumination unit 60 is disposed plurally with a predetermined interval therebetween to be adjacent to the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 .
- the light source 62 is a light-emitting diode (LED).
- the LED used as the light source 62 is mounted as a set of 3 to 6 onto one of the substrates 64 .
- the light source 62 may be embodied by a fluorescent lamp or an incandescent lamp. However, as the fluorescent lamp or the incandescent lamp generates a lot of heat, it is possible but not necessary to use the LED as the light source 62 .
- the light source 62 has a predetermined light directivity angle ⁇ .
- the light directivity angle ⁇ means an angle at which light is diverged from the light source 62 .
- the light directivity angle ⁇ of the light source 62 is 120 to 160 degrees.
- Such a light directivity angle ⁇ of the LED is used in this embodiment of the present invention.
- each of the light sources 62 is disposed along the inner circumstance of the main body cabinet 3 adjacent to the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 without overlapping the light directivity angle ⁇ of each light source 62 with that of the other light source 62 .
- a reference to a disposition interval to dispose each light source 62 without superposition of the light directivity angles ⁇ between the light sources 62 is described later in this specification. It is possible but not necessary that an irradiation of the light source 62 is directed toward an inside to the storing compartment 10 .
- a printed circuit board (PCB) is used for the substrate 64 and controls an electrical signal from the outside and transmits an on/off control signal of the controlling unit to the light source 62 .
- the housing 66 is provided to receive the light source 62 and the substrate 64 .
- the housing 66 is received in the receiving part 16 which is formed at the inner circumference of the main body cabinet 3 adjacent to the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 .
- the housing 66 is recessed relative to a plate surface of the storing compartment 10 to be received in the receiving part 16 .
- the housing 66 is made not to protrude from the plate surface of the storing compartment 10 when it is coupled with the cover 68 to be described later, so that it may not interfere with a structure such as the shelf 41 that is taken in or out of the storing compartment 10 .
- the cover 68 is provided to cover the opening of the housing 66 which the light source 62 and the substrate 64 pass through.
- the cover 68 is made of a transparent material so that the light irradiated by the light source 62 in the housing 66 can reach inside the storing compartment 10 .
- the cover 68 is provided to guide a diverging direction of the light irradiated by the light source 62 to the inside of the storing compartment 10 . That is, the cover 68 guides the diverging direction of the light irradiated by the light source 62 in the housing 66 to the inside of the storing compartment 10 , thus enabling the articles preserved in the storing compartment 10 to be more easily recognized.
- a plurality of the illumination units 60 are disposed along the inner circumference of the main body cabinet 3 and adjacent to the front opening 20 of the storing compartment 10 .
- the disposition interval of the illumination units 60 is described.
- the principle of the disposition of the illumination units 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention is that the light directivity angles ⁇ of the light sources 62 are disposed not to superpose with the light directivity angles 0 of the light sources 62 disposed in opposite sides of the rectangular front opening 20 .
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the illumination units 60 disposed with a predetermined interval H 1 in a height direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the height interval H 1 between the illumination units 60 in the height direction is expressed by the following equation 1.
- the equation 1 for the illumination unit 60 with a left lower side of the cooling compartment 12 as an example shows that tan( ⁇ /2) is (height/base) and determines the height interval H 1 which is the disposition interval in the height direction of the illumination unit 60 by multiplying the width W (which is a base in this case) with tan( ⁇ /2). Accordingly, the light directivity angles ⁇ of the illumination units 60 disposed on the same compartment, opposite sides in the width direction are not superposed with each other.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the illumination units 60 disposed with a predetermined interval W 1 in a width direction. As shown in FIG. 4 , the width interval W 1 between the illumination units 60 in the width direction is expressed by the following equation 2.
- the equation 2 for the illumination unit 60 with a left upper side of the cooling compartment 12 as an example shows that tan( ⁇ /2) is (height/base) and determines the width interval W 1 which is the disposition interval in the width direction of the illumination unit 60 by multiplying the height H (which is a base in this case) with tan( ⁇ /2). Accordingly, the light directivity angles ⁇ of the illumination units 60 disposed on the opposite sides in the height direction are not superposed with each other.
- the storing compartment can be efficiently illuminated irrespective of the articles stored in the storing compartment.
- the illumination units on the opposite sides can be disposed not to be superposed with each other by using the light directivity angle of each illumination unit, thus effectively disposing the illumination units and decreasing production cost.
- the illumination units are disposed by using the predetermined light directivity angle of the illumination unit, they can be applied to the storing compartment of various sizes, thus improving production efficiency.
- the refrigerator storing compartment can be efficiently illuminated irrespective of the stored articles.
- the illumination units on the opposite sides can be disposed not to be superposed with each other by using the light directivity angle of each illumination unit, thus disposing the illumination units efficiently and providing the refrigerator which can decrease production costs.
- the illumination units are disposed by using the predetermined light directivity angle thereof, they can be applied to the storing compartment of various sizes, and thus the refrigerator having improved production efficiency can be provided.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
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Abstract
A refrigerator includes: a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and a plurality of illumination units disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet and adjacent to the front opening; each illumination unit comprising a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle θ, and each light source of the plurality of illumination units is disposed not to be superposed with each other.
Description
- This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0034080, filed on Apr. 6, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field
- The present invention generally relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having an improved position of an illumination unit that illuminates the inside of a storing compartment.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- A refrigerator is a device which preserves articles at a temperature near freezing using a refrigerating cycle that includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The refrigerator has a storing compartment therein. The storing compartment receives cold air produced using the refrigerating cycle and preserves the articles. The storing compartment is opened or closed by a door in order to prevent leakage of the cold air flowing within the storing compartment and to maintain thermal insulation from the outside.
- On the other hand, an illumination unit, that is an illuminating lamp, is installed in the storing compartment. The illuminating lamp emits light so that the stored articles can be easily recognized. Also, the illuminating lamp is turned on and off by a signal of a door opening and closing sensing unit which is disposed at a place near to the door and is capable of sensing the opening and closing of the door. Such an illuminating lamp is disposed at an inner side of the storing compartment.
- However, according to a conventional refrigerator as described above, the illuminating lamp is disposed at an inner side of the storing compartment. Therefore, when many articles are stored in the storing compartment, the articles block the light and the inside of the storing compartment becomes dark, thus making it hard to recognize the articles stored in the storing compartment.
- Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having an improved position of an illumination unit so that the illumination unit can illuminate efficiently, irrespective of the number of articles stored in a storing compartment.
- Additional aspects and/or advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a refrigerator including: a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and a plurality of illumination units disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet, each illumination unit including a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle θ, and the light directivity angle θ of each of the light sources is disposed to not be superposed with the light sources on the opposite side of the inner circumference.
- According to an aspect of the invention, the light directivity angle θ of each light source is disposed not to be superposed with each other, wherein the plurality of illumination units are adjacent to the front opening.
- According to an aspect of the invention, if the width of the front opening is W then a height interval H1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation: H1≦W×tan(θ/2).
- According to an aspect of the invention, if the height of the storing compartment is H then a width interval W1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation: W1≦H×tan(θ/2).
- According to an aspect of the invention, the light directivity angle θ of the light source is 120 to 160 degrees.
- According to an aspect of the invention, the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED).
- According to an aspect of the invention, the illumination unit further includes a housing which has an opening that the light source passes through and is received in an inner wall of the main body cabinet, and a cover which is made of a transparent material and covers the opening of the housing.
- According to an aspect of the invention, the cover guides light irradiated by the light source to diverge inside the storing compartment.
- According to an aspect of the invention, if a height of the front opening is H then a width interval W1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation: W1≦H×tan(θ/2).
- According to an aspect of the invention, the light directivity angle θ of the light source is 120 to 160 degrees.
- According to an aspect of the invention, the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED).
- According to an aspect of the invention, the illumination unit further includes a housing which has an opening that the light source passes therethrough and is received in an inner wall of the main body cabinet, and a cover which is made of a transparent material and covers the opening of the housing.
- According to an aspect of the invention, the cover guides light irradiated by the light source to diverge inside the storing compartment.
- According to an aspect of the invention, a refrigerator comprises: a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and a plurality of illumination units disposed along of an inner circumference of the main body cabinet; the plurality of illumination units being disposed in a zigzag arrangement along the inner circumference of the main body cabinet.
- According to another aspect of the invention, the illumination units each comprise a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle θ.
- The above and/or other aspects and advantages will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an illumination unit described inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the illumination units disposed with a predetermined interval in a height direction; and -
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the illumination units disposed with a predetermined interval in a width direction. - Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below so as to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
- In this specification, a side-by-side type refrigerator is described as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment but may also be applied to top mounted freezer (TMF) type and bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerators.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention andFIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an illumination unit described inFIG. 1 . - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , therefrigerator 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes amain body cabinet 3 which forms astoring compartment 10 having a front opening 20, and a plurality ofillumination units 60 which are disposed along an inside circumference of themain body cabinet 3 to be adjacent to the front opening 20. - The
main body cabinet 3 forms an external appearance of therefrigerator 1. A plurality of storingcompartments 10 are formed in themain body cabinet 3 with foaming agent filled between thestoring compartments 10. In this case, thefront opening 20 is formed in front of thestoring compartment 10 formed by themain body cabinet 3 so that articles can enter and exit through the front opening 20. - The
storing compartment 10, as the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is laterally divided into acooling compartment 12 and afreezing compartment 14 by abarrier 18. In thestoring compartment 10,shelves 41 are disposed with a predetermined interval therebetween to divide thestoring compartment 10 into a plurality of spaces, and storingdrawers 42 are disposed to store the articles such as vegetables that need to prevent moisture evaporation. - The
cooling compartment 12 stores the articles at a temperature higher than a freezing point, that is, normally at temperature of about 4° C. The freezingcompartment 14 stores the articles to be frozen at a temperature lower than the freezing point. Also, anice maker 40 is installed in thefreezing compartment 14 to receive water from an outer water supply source (not shown) and make ice. - On the other hand, the front opening 20 of the
storing compartment 10, where the articles pass through, is opened and closed by adoor 30. Also, a receivingpart 16, where theillumination unit 60 to be described later is received, is formed at an inner wall of thestoring compartment 10 adjacent to the front opening 20. - The
door 30 is connected to themain body cabinet 3 to open and close the front opening 20 of the storingcompartment 10. As an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thedoor 30 includes acooling compartment door 32 and afreezing compartment door 34 which are rotatably connected to themain body cabinet 3 to open and close thecooling compartment 12 and thefreezing compartment 14 respectively. In this case, a dispenser unit (not shown) is installed in thefreezing compartment door 34 to take the ice from theice maker 40 and drinking water from a water supplying unit (not shown) accommodated in themain body cabinet 3 in the outside. On the other hand, a door opening and closingsensing unit 43 is provided at the inner wall of the storingcompartment 10 adjacent to thedoor 30 to contact thedoor 30. - If the
door 30 is opened, the door opening and closingsensing unit 43 transmits an opening signal to indictate opening of thedoor 30 to a controlling unit (not shown). The controlling unit controls theillumination units 60 disposed in thestoring compartment 10 to be turned on according to the opening signal transmitted from the door opening and closingsensing unit 43. - The
illumination unit 60 includes alight source 62 which is turned on and off by a control signal of the controlling unit, a substrate 64 which provides a signal to the light source and is mounted with thelight source 62, a housing 66 which is received in the inner wall of themain body cabinet 3 with an opening that thelight source 62 and the substrate 64 pass through, and acover 68 of a transparent material which covers the opening of the housing 66. Theillumination unit 60 is disposed along an inner circumference of themain body cabinet 3 to be adjacent to thefront opening 20 of thestoring compartment 10. In this case, theillumination unit 60 is disposed plurally with a predetermined interval therebetween to be adjacent to thefront opening 20 of thestoring compartment 10. - As an embodiment of the present invention, the
light source 62 is a light-emitting diode (LED). In this case, as an embodiment of the present invention, the LED used as thelight source 62 is mounted as a set of 3 to 6 onto one of the substrates 64. Alternatively, thelight source 62 may be embodied by a fluorescent lamp or an incandescent lamp. However, as the fluorescent lamp or the incandescent lamp generates a lot of heat, it is possible but not necessary to use the LED as thelight source 62. - The
light source 62 has a predetermined light directivity angle θ. In this case, the light directivity angle θ means an angle at which light is diverged from thelight source 62. As an embodiment of the present invention, the light directivity angle θ of thelight source 62 is 120 to 160 degrees. Such a light directivity angle θ of the LED is used in this embodiment of the present invention. As an embodiment of the present invention, each of thelight sources 62 is disposed along the inner circumstance of themain body cabinet 3 adjacent to thefront opening 20 of thestoring compartment 10 without overlapping the light directivity angle θ of eachlight source 62 with that of the otherlight source 62. A reference to a disposition interval to dispose eachlight source 62 without superposition of the light directivity angles θ between thelight sources 62 is described later in this specification. It is possible but not necessary that an irradiation of thelight source 62 is directed toward an inside to thestoring compartment 10. - A printed circuit board (PCB) is used for the substrate 64 and controls an electrical signal from the outside and transmits an on/off control signal of the controlling unit to the
light source 62. - The housing 66 is provided to receive the
light source 62 and the substrate 64. The housing 66 is received in the receivingpart 16 which is formed at the inner circumference of themain body cabinet 3 adjacent to thefront opening 20 of thestoring compartment 10. As an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible but not necessary that the housing 66 is recessed relative to a plate surface of thestoring compartment 10 to be received in the receivingpart 16. For example, the housing 66 is made not to protrude from the plate surface of thestoring compartment 10 when it is coupled with thecover 68 to be described later, so that it may not interfere with a structure such as theshelf 41 that is taken in or out of thestoring compartment 10. - The
cover 68 is provided to cover the opening of the housing 66 which thelight source 62 and the substrate 64 pass through. Thecover 68 is made of a transparent material so that the light irradiated by thelight source 62 in the housing 66 can reach inside thestoring compartment 10. On the other hand, thecover 68 is provided to guide a diverging direction of the light irradiated by thelight source 62 to the inside of thestoring compartment 10. That is, thecover 68 guides the diverging direction of the light irradiated by thelight source 62 in the housing 66 to the inside of thestoring compartment 10, thus enabling the articles preserved in thestoring compartment 10 to be more easily recognized. - With the above configuration, a plurality of the
illumination units 60 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are disposed along the inner circumference of themain body cabinet 3 and adjacent to thefront opening 20 of thestoring compartment 10. Hereinafter, the disposition interval of theillumination units 60 is described. - The principle of the disposition of the
illumination units 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention is that the light directivity angles θ of thelight sources 62 are disposed not to superpose with thelight directivity angles 0 of thelight sources 62 disposed in opposite sides of therectangular front opening 20. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of theillumination units 60 disposed with a predetermined interval H1 in a height direction. As shown inFIG. 3 , the height interval H1 between theillumination units 60 in the height direction is expressed by thefollowing equation 1. - That is, if a width of the
front opening 20 is W then the height interval H1 between the plurality ofillumination units 60 satisfies the equation 1: -
H1≦W×tan(θ/2) (1) - The
equation 1 for theillumination unit 60 with a left lower side of thecooling compartment 12 as an example shows that tan(θ/2) is (height/base) and determines the height interval H1 which is the disposition interval in the height direction of theillumination unit 60 by multiplying the width W (which is a base in this case) with tan(θ/2). Accordingly, the light directivity angles θ of theillumination units 60 disposed on the same compartment, opposite sides in the width direction are not superposed with each other. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of theillumination units 60 disposed with a predetermined interval W1 in a width direction. As shown inFIG. 4 , the width interval W1 between theillumination units 60 in the width direction is expressed by the following equation 2. - That is, if the height of the
front opening 20 is H then the width interval W1 between the plurality ofillumination units 60 satisfies the equation 2: -
W1≦H×tan(θ/2) (2) - The equation 2 for the
illumination unit 60 with a left upper side of thecooling compartment 12 as an example shows that tan(θ/2) is (height/base) and determines the width interval W1 which is the disposition interval in the width direction of theillumination unit 60 by multiplying the height H (which is a base in this case) with tan(θ/2). Accordingly, the light directivity angles θ of theillumination units 60 disposed on the opposite sides in the height direction are not superposed with each other. - Therefore, as the illumination units illuminating the storing compartment are dispersed along the circumference of the main body cabinet adjacent to the front opening of the storing compartment, the storing compartment can be efficiently illuminated irrespective of the articles stored in the storing compartment.
- Also, the illumination units on the opposite sides can be disposed not to be superposed with each other by using the light directivity angle of each illumination unit, thus effectively disposing the illumination units and decreasing production cost.
- In addition, as the illumination units are disposed by using the predetermined light directivity angle of the illumination unit, they can be applied to the storing compartment of various sizes, thus improving production efficiency.
- As described hereinbefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, as the illumination units are dispersed along the circumference of the main body cabinet and adjacent to the front opening of the storing compartment, the refrigerator storing compartment can be efficiently illuminated irrespective of the stored articles.
- Also, the illumination units on the opposite sides can be disposed not to be superposed with each other by using the light directivity angle of each illumination unit, thus disposing the illumination units efficiently and providing the refrigerator which can decrease production costs.
- In addition, as the illumination units are disposed by using the predetermined light directivity angle thereof, they can be applied to the storing compartment of various sizes, and thus the refrigerator having improved production efficiency can be provided.
- Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (12)
1. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and
a plurality of illumination units disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet,
each illumination unit comprising a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle θ, and
the light directivity angle θ of each of the light sources is disposed to not be superposed with the light sources on the opposite side of the inner circumference, and the light sources are disposed to emit light toward an inside of the storing compartment.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of illumination units are adjacent to the front opening.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein if the width of the front opening is W then a height interval H1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation:
H1≦W×tan(θ/2).
H1≦W×tan(θ/2).
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein if a height of the front opening is H, then a width interval W1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation:
W1≦H×tan(θ/2).
W1≦H×tan(θ/2).
5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein if a height of the front opening is H then a width interval W1 of the plurality of illumination units satisfies the following equation:
W1≦H×tan(θ/2).
W1≦H×tan(θ/2).
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the light directivity angle θ of the light sources is 120 to 160 degrees.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the light sources comprise a light-emitting diode (LED).
8. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , further comprising an inner wall of the main body cabinet, wherein the illumination units further comprise a housing which has an opening that the respective light source passes through and is received in the inner wall of the main body cabinet, and a cover which is made of a transparent material and covers the opening of the respective housing.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the covers guide light irradiated by the respective light sources to diverge inside the storing compartment.
10. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and
a plurality of illumination units disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet,
the plurality of illumination units being disposed in a zigzag arrangement along the inner circumference of the main body cabinet.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the illumination units each comprise a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle θ.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11 , further comprising an inner wall of the main body cabinet, wherein the illumination units further comprise a housing which has an opening that the respective light source passes through and is received in the inner wall of the main body cabinet, and a cover which is made of a transparent material and covers the opening of the respective housing.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR10-2007-0034080 | 2007-04-06 | ||
KR1020070034080A KR20080090783A (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2007-04-06 | Refrigerator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080247154A1 true US20080247154A1 (en) | 2008-10-09 |
Family
ID=39736362
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/979,535 Abandoned US20080247154A1 (en) | 2007-04-06 | 2007-11-05 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080247154A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20080090783A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101280989A (en) |
DE (1) | DE102008010054A1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100014288A1 (en) * | 2008-07-15 | 2010-01-21 | Presence From Innovation, Llc | Retro-fit light stick device and secondary light source or other electrical device for use with walk-in type coolers and other product display units |
US20100214769A1 (en) * | 2009-02-20 | 2010-08-26 | Hussmann Corporation | High efficacy led light assembly for a merchandiser |
US20100220460A1 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-09-02 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Front-to-back showcase lighting for a refrigerator |
US7905614B2 (en) | 2008-08-27 | 2011-03-15 | Panasonic Corporation | Refrigerator |
US20110277493A1 (en) * | 2008-12-03 | 2011-11-17 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration appliance carcass comprising internal lighting |
US8690274B2 (en) | 2010-11-29 | 2014-04-08 | Bsh Home Appliances Corporation | Household appliance including glass interior walls |
US20150002747A1 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2015-01-01 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Showcase including transparent display panel, and showcase system including same |
US20160313053A1 (en) * | 2013-12-13 | 2016-10-27 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Illumination Apparatus Having An Optical Waveguide And Domestic Refrigeration Appliance Having Such An Illumination Apparatus |
US20180180350A1 (en) * | 2016-12-23 | 2018-06-28 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Refrigerator |
US20190200784A1 (en) * | 2010-02-01 | 2019-07-04 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114279135A (en) * | 2022-01-07 | 2022-04-05 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Ultra-low temperature preservation box |
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US6550269B2 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2003-04-22 | The Coca-Cola Company | Dispensing apparatus with directional LED lighting |
US20070058369A1 (en) * | 2005-01-26 | 2007-03-15 | Parkyn William A | Linear lenses for LEDs |
-
2007
- 2007-04-06 KR KR1020070034080A patent/KR20080090783A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2007-11-05 US US11/979,535 patent/US20080247154A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2008
- 2008-02-20 DE DE102008010054A patent/DE102008010054A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2008-02-29 CN CNA2008100064794A patent/CN101280989A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
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US6550269B2 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2003-04-22 | The Coca-Cola Company | Dispensing apparatus with directional LED lighting |
US20070058369A1 (en) * | 2005-01-26 | 2007-03-15 | Parkyn William A | Linear lenses for LEDs |
Cited By (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100014288A1 (en) * | 2008-07-15 | 2010-01-21 | Presence From Innovation, Llc | Retro-fit light stick device and secondary light source or other electrical device for use with walk-in type coolers and other product display units |
US7905614B2 (en) | 2008-08-27 | 2011-03-15 | Panasonic Corporation | Refrigerator |
US8459818B2 (en) * | 2008-12-03 | 2013-06-11 | Christoph Becke | Refrigeration appliance body comprising internal lighting |
US20110277493A1 (en) * | 2008-12-03 | 2011-11-17 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration appliance carcass comprising internal lighting |
US9456704B2 (en) * | 2009-02-20 | 2016-10-04 | Hussmann Corporation | High efficacy LED light assembly for a merchandiser |
US20100214769A1 (en) * | 2009-02-20 | 2010-08-26 | Hussmann Corporation | High efficacy led light assembly for a merchandiser |
US8186844B2 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2012-05-29 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Front-to-back showcase lighting for a refrigerator |
US20100220460A1 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-09-02 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Front-to-back showcase lighting for a refrigerator |
WO2010099038A3 (en) * | 2009-02-27 | 2010-12-23 | Electrolux Home Products, Inc. | Front-to-back showcase lighting for a refrigerator |
US10568440B2 (en) * | 2010-02-01 | 2020-02-25 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
US10856672B2 (en) | 2010-02-01 | 2020-12-08 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
US10758063B2 (en) | 2010-02-01 | 2020-09-01 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
US10575661B2 (en) | 2010-02-01 | 2020-03-03 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
US20190200784A1 (en) * | 2010-02-01 | 2019-07-04 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
US10568441B2 (en) * | 2010-02-01 | 2020-02-25 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator and method for controlling the same |
US8690274B2 (en) | 2010-11-29 | 2014-04-08 | Bsh Home Appliances Corporation | Household appliance including glass interior walls |
US20150002747A1 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2015-01-01 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Showcase including transparent display panel, and showcase system including same |
US9480345B2 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2016-11-01 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Showcase including transparent display panel, and showcase system including same |
US20160313053A1 (en) * | 2013-12-13 | 2016-10-27 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Illumination Apparatus Having An Optical Waveguide And Domestic Refrigeration Appliance Having Such An Illumination Apparatus |
US20180180350A1 (en) * | 2016-12-23 | 2018-06-28 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Refrigerator |
US10808989B2 (en) * | 2016-12-23 | 2020-10-20 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE102008010054A1 (en) | 2008-10-09 |
CN101280989A (en) | 2008-10-08 |
KR20080090783A (en) | 2008-10-09 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LIM, BONG-KEUN;LEE, DAE-JUNG;SON, SEOK-JUN;REEL/FRAME:020148/0842 Effective date: 20071008 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |