WO2013020808A2

WO2013020808A2 - Cooling device having an electronic ink-based display panel

Info

Publication number: WO2013020808A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/064552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan-Grigor Schubert
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2011-08-06
Filing date: 2012-07-25
Publication date: 2013-02-14
Also published as: WO2013020808A3; CN102914121A

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device (1), in particular a household cooling device, comprising a thermally insulated internal container (2, 2a, 2b) forming a storage space for goods to be cooled, at least one outer wall (12) covering the internal container (2, 2a, 2b) at least partially, at least one door leaf (4a, 4b) configured for opening and closing the storage space, an electronic ink-based display panel (8, 9, 10), and comprising a control device (11) driving the display panel (8, 9, 10) and configured to display a surface design of the cooling device (1) stored in the control device (11) on the display panel (8, 9, 10).

Description

Cooling Device having an Electronic Ink-based Display Panel

The invention relates to a cooling device, in particular a household cooling device, comprising a thermally insulated internal container forming a storage space for goods to be cooled, at least one outer wall covering the internal container at least partially, at least one door leaf configured for opening and closing the storage space, and an electronic ink- based display panel.

WO 03/106905 A1 describes a household cooling device with a thermally insulating housing and a function display attached to the housing for displaying functional states and/or operational parameters of the cooling device, the function display comprising electrically charged pigment carriers that are movable under the influence of an electric field and a plurality of electrodes that are respectively assigned to one display element of the function display, for applying an electrical field to the pigment carriers. Static graphical elements, such as a manufacturer's brand or a model designation, which in a conventional cooling device are not realized in the display but are imprinted in the vicinity of the display on the housing of the device, are thereby to be included in the display and displayed using the pigments.

The invention is based on the object of providing a cooling device, in particular a household cooling device, the appearance of which can be modified in a simple manner.

A cooling device is considered to be, in particular, a household cooling device, i.e. a cooling device used for domestic application in households or possibly in the field of restaurants and catering, and which particularly serves for storing food and/or beverages in amounts that are customary in households at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a combined refrigerator-freezer, a freezer chest or a wine cabinet.

The object is achieved by a cooling device, in particular a household cooling device, comprising a thermally insulated internal container forming a storage space for goods to be cooled, at least one outer wall covering the internal container at least partially, at least one door leaf configured for opening and closing the storage space, an electronic ink- based display panel, and a control device driving the display panel and configured to display a surface design of the cooling device stored in the control device on the display panel.

Display technologies in which ink or color can be displayed similar to paper can be referred to as electronic ink-based display panels. Such display panels are capable of reflecting light similar to normal paper surfaces. These display panels are, in particular, passive, i.e. non-luminous displays. Surface designs, such as patterns, colored surfaces and structures can be displayed with them, even permanently, without a power supply being required for sustaining them. The display, i.e. the surface design, can be modified in any way. In particular, the display panels can be configured to be flexible.

For instance, an electronic ink-based display panel can be based on the principle of photonic crystals, as it is also described, in particular, in WO 2009/109048 A1 .

Alternatively, an electronic ink-based display panel can be based on the principle of electrophoretic displays, as it is described, for example, in WO 2004/099862 A2. The control device according to the invention is configured to display a surface design of the cooling device stored in the control device on the display panel. Previous manually and permanently attached surface designs in cooling devices are thus replaced with electronic, and thus easily exchangeable, surface designs. Thus, covering components, which, for example with regard to mechanics and appearance, are manufactured with only a certain single design in mind, can be dispensed with. The manufacture of different models of cooling devices no longer requires several different covering parts. With the control device according to the invention, different models of cooling devices can be manufactured with the same display panel and the same control device. An

individualization according to different appearances in different models of cooling devices can be carried out in a simple manner afterwards, subsequent to production, namely by merely programming or initializing the control device accordingly in order to let the desired surface design appear on the display panel.

The control device can be configured to enable an exclusively factory-provided adjustment or selection of a desired surface design. Alternatively, the control device can be configured to enable an adjustment or selection of a desired surface design by the user during operation of the cooling apparatus on the user's premises.

Visual features, in particular images, which are displayed on the display panel can be considered to be surface designs. For example, different surface designs can be generated or displayed on the display panel by a selection of different displays of color, patterns, graphical effects and/or displays simulating a surface structure. Thus, not only can displays of color or text be varied, but wickerwork structures, metallic surface structures or nature-like leaf or skin structures, for example, can also be displayed on the cooling device. One or more different surface designs can be stored, in particular stored and retrieved as electronic image files, in the control device or a storage device associated with the control device.

The cooling device can comprise an input means connected to the control device, the control device being configured to display, based on a signal which is transferred by a user of the cooling device into the control device through the input means and which contains information, a surface design associated with the information on the display panel.

Because that the control device is connected to an input means, a user is able to modify on his own the appearance of the household appliance, i.e. the surface design, without any factory-provided modification being required. By means of the input device, the user can make a selection among several stored surface designs, or even upload into the control device designs he created himself. Also, several surface factory-uploaded can be stored in the control device, with the user being able to select one of the stored surface designs through the input means. In this case, each stored surface design can be associated with information, for example a file name. If, for example, the user selects a file name, a corresponding signal is transmitted to the control device so that the control device can display the surface design associated with the file name on the electronic ink- based display panel. The input means can be a touch-sensitive section of the display panel itself or a touch- sensitive section of a separate display device. In this way, one or more input means can be visually displayed on the display panel. When a user touches a touch-sensitive section of the display panel corresponding to the visually displayed input means, a corresponding signal is generated and a surface design that is thereby selected by the user is displayed on the display panel by the control device. Alternatively, separate input means, such as electromechanical keys or switches, in particular touch-sensitive keys or switches, may also be provided.

The input means can be an interface connected to the control device, through which signals are transmitted to the control device that contain information which is associated with the surface design and retrieved from an electronic storage device connected to the interface. The electronic storage device can be, for example, a USB device, in particular a USB data storage device, an SD card, a flash ROM or a logical network storage device which is connected to the control device through the interface, in particular through a LAN terminal. Thus, electronic data containing one or more surface designs can for example be generated externally and transmitted from external storage devices through the interface into the control device or a storage device associated with the control device. The interface can also be configured or designed to transmit the electronic data wirelessly, in particular by radio, to the control device or the associated storage device. The display panel can be an electrophoretic display device. On the one hand, the electronic ink-based display panel can be based on the principle of photonic crystals, as it is also described, for example, in WO 2009/109048 A1. In a special embodiment, the display can preferably be based on electronic ink based on the principle of electrophoretic displays, as it is described, for example, in WO 2004/099862 A2. The at least one outer wall and/or the one outer shell of the door leaf can comprise the display panel. In this case, the door leaf can comprise a substructure, which for example comprises a frame-like skeleton. The door leaf, in the manner of a sandwich, can also comprise an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein a cavity created between the outer shell and inner shell can be filled with a heat-insulating material. In this case, the outer shell can be replaced with the display panel according to the invention. Alternatively, the display panel can be attached on an outer face of the outer shell. Alternatively or additionally, an outer wall, in particular a side wall of the cooling device, can be replaced with a display panel according to the invention. Alternatively, the display panel can be attached to the outer wall, in particular to the side wall of the cooling device.

The display panel can extend at least approximately or completely over the entire outer surface of the outer wall and/or of the outer shell of the door leaf. The entire cooling device can thus be provided with a desired surface design. The outer wall or several outer walls and/or the outer shell of the door leaf can in this case be provided with different surface designs. The surface designs can be displayed so as to be variable over time or change visually over time. The display device can be externally provided with a protective coating. A protective coating can serve to protect the display device against mechanical damage, such as scratches and/or chemical damage, such as those caused by detergents. The protective coating can, for example, be a transparent pane, in particular of glass or plastic.

Alternatively, a protective coating can also be glued on as a foil or be applied as a hardening liquid lacquer.

The control device driving the display panel can be configured electrically and/or mechanically separate from a control device controlling the refrigerant circulation system of the cooling device. Alternatively, the control device driving the display panel can be connected at least electrically or also mechanically to a control device controlling the refrigerant circulation system of the cooling device, the control device driving the display panel being configured to display, in addition to the surface design of the cooling device, a touch-sensitive section of the display panel or a separate touch-sensitive display device as an input means, in particular for functions of the refrigerant circulation system.

In summary, and stated, in part, in another way, the invention may result in a cooling device with an electronic ink-based display panel in which an appearance that

predominantly characterizes the cooling device can be varied by a change of the surface design. Devices such as electronic ink-based display panels can generally be display devices characterized in that they can do without additional backlighting and that they can display a surface design in a stable manner, in particular without requiring a permanent supply of electrical energy therefor. Electrical energy is required only for changing the surface design. Such electronic ink-based devices are only able to display either black and white, or alternatively color. Such electronic ink-based devices are described, for example, in US 4,298,448 and US 6,017,584.

In particular electrophoretic displays can be used according to the invention. In particular, they can characterize the front-side appearance of the cooling device. The control device according to the invention can in particular be configured in such a way that a user of the cooling device is able to change the surface design flexibly, i.e. in a simple manner, in particular quickly and with little effort. Generally, an electronic ink-based display panel according to the invention can be provided with a protective coating. In a simple embodiment, the cooling device comprises a separate control device configured to display a surface design stored in the control device on the display panel. In this case, the separate control device can contain pre-installed contents, i.e. surface designs preprogrammed in the factory. In an alternative embodiment, the user is able to make a selection among different stored surface designs by means of at least one electrically connected switching element, in particular by means of a touch-sensitive section. In another embodiment, an input means can be an interface connected to the control device, through which signals are transmitted to the control device that contain information which is associated with the surface design and retrieved from an electronic storage device connected to the interface. The electronic storage device can be, for example, a USB device, in particular a USB data storage device, an SD card, a flash ROM or a logical network storage device which is connected to the control device through the interface, in particular through a LAN terminal.

In another embodiment, the electronic ink-based display panel can be connected with a control device controlling the refrigerant circulation system of the cooling device. In this case, a main display device can be provided, which can also comprise touch-sensitive sections and can be pre-assembled directly with the electronic ink-based display panel, and which can serve as an operating module of the cooling device.

Other features and advantages of the invention become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached figures. Specific features of this exemplary embodiment may represent general features of the invention. In the figures:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooling device with two door leaves pivotably attached to the body in an opened position;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the cooling device according to Fig. 1 with the two door leaves pivotably attached to the body in a closed position, with a display panel in a first surface design; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the cooling device according to Fig. 1 with the two door leaves pivotably attached to the body in a closed position, with the display panel in an alternative surface design.

Fig. 1 shows a cooling device 1 in the shape of a household cooling device designed as a combined refrigerator-freezer. The cooling device 1 comprises at least one thermally insulated internal container 2, in the exemplary embodiment shown, two thermally insulated internal containers 2a, 2b. An upper thermally insulated internal container 2a forms a cooling chamber 3a as a storage space 3 for storing goods to be cooled above zero degrees Celsius, in particular between zero degrees and plus eight degrees Celsius. The upper thermally insulated internal container 2a can be closed with a first door leaf 4a. A lower thermally insulated internal container 2b forms a freezing chamber 3b as a storage space 3 for storing goods to be cooled below zero degrees Celsius, in particular at about minus 18 degrees Celsius. The lower thermally insulated internal container 2b can be closed with a second door leaf 4b. Each of the two door leaves 4a, 4b is attached to, i.e. pivotably mounted on, a body 7 of the cooling device 1 by means of an upper hinge 5a, 5b and a lower hinge 6a, 6b.

Because of the hinges 5a, 6a, the door leaf 4a is mounted so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis A.

In Fig. 2, the cooling device 1 is schematically shown with the door leaves 4a, 4b in a closed position with electronic ink-based display panels 8, 9 in a first surface design and another electronic ink-based display panel 10 in another surface design. The cooling device 1 comprises at least one outer wall 12. The door leaf 4a of the cooling chamber 3a bears a first display panel 8, the door leaf 4b of the freezing chamber 3b bears a second display panel 9, and the at least one outer wall 12 bears a third display panel 10.

The cooling device 1 comprises a control device 1 1 driving the display panels 8, 9, 10. The control device 1 1 is configured to display a stored surface design of the cooling device 1 stored on the display panels 8, 9, 10.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cooling device 1 comprises several input means 13 connected to the control device 1 1. In this case, the control device 1 1 is configured to display, based on signals transferred by a user of the cooling device 1 into the control device 1 1 through the input means 13, correspondingly associated surface designs on the display panels 8, 9, 10. The display panels 8, 9, 10 can display the same or different surface designs at the same time. For instance, the display panels 8 and 9 in the exemplary embodiment shown display the same surface design, whereas the display panel 10 shows a surface design deviating therefrom.

As an alternative or addition to the input means 13, an interface 14 connected to the control device 1 1 can be provided, through which signals are transmitted to the control device 1 1 that contain information which is associated with the surface design and retrieved from an electronic storage device connected to the interface 14.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the display panels 8, 9 and 10 extend at least approximately, in particular completely, over the entire outer surface of the outer wall 12 and of the outer shell of the door leaves 4a, 4b. Fig. 3 shows how the control device 1 1 makes the same cooling device 1 as it is shown in Fig. 2 look completely different by means of a surface design according to Figure 3 that is different from the appearance with a surface design according to Fig. 2.

The display devices 8, 9 and/or 10 can be externally provided with a protective coating 15 (Fig. 1 ). List of Reference Numerals

1 Cooling device 2 Internal container 3 Storage space

3a Cooling chamber 3b Freezing chamber

4a, 4b Door leaves

5a, 5b, 6a, 6b Hinges

7 Body

8, 9, 10 Display panels

11 Control device

12 Outer wall

13 Input means

14 Interface

15 Protective coating

Claims

Cooling device, in particular a household cooling device, comprising a thermally insulated internal container (2, 2a, 2b) forming a storage space for goods to be cooled, at least one outer wall (12) covering the internal container (2, 2a, 2b) at least partially, at least one door leaf (4a, 4b) configured for opening and closing the storage space, and an electronic ink-based display panel (8, 9, 10), characterized by a control device (1 1 ) driving the display panel (8, 9, 10) and configured to display a surface design of the cooling device (1 ) stored in the control device (1 1 ) on the display panel (8, 9, 10).

Cooling device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cooling device (1 ) comprises an input means (13) connected to the control device (1 1 ) and the control device (1 1 ) is configured to display, based on a signal which is transferred by a user of the cooling device (1 ) into the control device (1 1 ) through the input means (13) and which contains information, a surface design associated with the information on the display panel (8, 9, 10).

Cooling device according to claim 2, characterized in that the input means (13) is a touch-sensitive section of the display panel (8, 9, 10) or a touch-sensitive section of a separate display device.

Cooling device according to claim 2, characterized in that the input means (13) is an interface (14) connected to the control device (1 1 ), through which signals are transmitted to the control device (1 1 ) that contain information which is associated with the surface design and retrieved from an electronic storage device connected to the interface (14).

Cooling device according to claim 4, characterized in that the electronic storage device is a USB device, in particular a USB data storage device, an SD card, a flash ROM or a logical network storage device which is connected to the control device (1 1 ) through the interface (14), in particular through a LAN terminal.

6. Cooling device according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the display panel (8, 9, 10) is an electrophoretic display device.

7. Cooling device according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one outer wall (12) and/or an outer shell of the door leaf (4a, 4b) comprises the display panel (8, 9, 10).

8. Cooling device according to claim 7, characterized in that the display panel (8, 9, 10) extends at least approximately or completely over the entire outer surface of the outer wall (12) and/or of the outer shell of the door leaf (4a, 4b).

9. Cooling device according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the display panel (8, 9, 10) is externally provided with a protective coating (15).

10. Cooling device according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control device (1 1 ) driving the display panel (8, 9, 10) is configured electrically and/or mechanically separate from a control device controlling the refrigerant circulation system of the cooling device (1 ).

1 1. Cooling device according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control device (1 1 ) driving the display panel (8, 9, 10) is connected at least electrically or also mechanically to a control device controlling the refrigerant circulation system of the cooling device (1 ) and the control device (1 1 ) driving the display panel (8, 9, 10) is configured to display, in addition to the surface design of the cooling device (1 ), a touch-sensitive section of the display panel (8, 9, 10) or a separate touch-sensitive display device as an input means (13), in particular for functions of the refrigerant circulation system.