WO2018131420A1

WO2018131420A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2018131420A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/045904
Authority: WO
Inventors: 真梨子中尾; 山口　太郎; 米田　貴史; 宜彦小塩
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2017-01-13
Filing date: 2017-12-21
Publication date: 2018-07-19
Also published as: TW201833499A; TWI753074B

Abstract

This refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator body and a door which opens and closes a cold storage compartment within the refrigerator body. The door is provided with an illuminance sensor. The illuminance sensor has a light sensor (37) installed inside the door and directed toward the lower end surface of the door. A light guide member (38) for guiding external light to the light sensor (37) is provided inside the door. The front end (40) of the light guide member (38) is installed at the lower part of the door and is configured to introduce light from the front.

Description

refrigerator

This disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

Generally speaking, refrigerators have a high proportion of electricity used at home. For this reason, in order to suppress the power consumption of the refrigerator as much as possible, a refrigerator in which a power saving operation is performed using an illuminance sensor has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 21 shows a part of the door of a conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1. In the conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, an illuminance sensor 531 is provided on the lower end surface of the double door 510 that opens and closes the refrigerator compartment. An inclined surface 512 b that reflects light from the outside toward the illuminance sensor 531 is formed on the upper end surface of another door 512 that faces the lower end surface of the double door 510 that is provided with the illuminance sensor 531.

With this configuration, the illuminance sensor 531 can efficiently detect the light in the room, and the sensitivity can be improved and the illuminance detection can be performed reliably and efficiently. Thereby, the power saving effect can be enhanced.

However, according to the configuration of Patent Document 1, an inclined surface 512 b that reflects light from the outside toward the illuminance sensor 531 is provided on the upper end surface of the separate door 512 below the double-speech door 510 provided with the illuminance sensor. There is a problem that it is necessary and is subject to design constraints. There is also a problem that a handle portion cannot be provided in a portion where the inclined surface 512b is provided.

In general, the refrigerator is designed so that the user can change the set temperature. Some refrigerators are provided with an operation display device in front of the door. Capacitance detection type switches are often used in such refrigerator operation display devices, and various capacitance detection type operation display devices have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminance sensor installation portion in a conventional refrigerator. FIG. 23 shows an exploded perspective view of an illuminance sensor in a conventional refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 22, the conventional operation display device for a refrigerator is configured such that a capacitance detection electrode 102 is located on the back surface of a glass plate 101 serving as a door front plate.

According to the conventional configuration as shown in FIG. 22, when the user touches the capacitance detection electrode 102 portion from the surface side of the glass plate 101, the capacitance detection electrode 102 detects a change in capacitance. Thus, for example, the internal set temperature is changed, and the content of the change is notified to the user by the light emission of the LED light emitter 103 (see FIG. 23).

As shown in FIG. 23, in the operation display device using such a capacitance detection electrode 102, the capacitance detection electrode 102 is disposed on the flexible substrate 104, and the flexible substrate 104 is provided with the LED light emitter 103 and the like. It is configured to be connected to the substrate 105 formed. When the flexible substrate 104 is connected to the substrate 105, the flexible substrate 104 is connected to the substrate 105 with the lead wire portion 106 extending as it is, and the lead wire portion 106 of the flexible substrate 104 is Can not be stretched. For this reason, if the lead wire portion 106 has a dimensional variation or the like and the accuracy is poor, there is a problem that connection to another substrate 105 is difficult and workability is poor.

JP 2014-74558 A JP 2014-44015 A

This disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a refrigerator that can detect illuminance without being restricted by design and has an improved power saving effect.

Specifically, a refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator main body, a plurality of storage chambers provided in the refrigerator main body, and a plurality of doors that open and close the openings of the plurality of storage chambers. At least one of the plurality of doors is provided with an illuminance sensor. The illuminance sensor includes an optical sensor installed toward the lower end surface of the door on which the illuminance sensor is provided, and a light guide member that guides light from the outside to the optical sensor. The front end portion of the light guide member is disposed at the lower portion of the door where the illuminance sensor is provided, and is disposed so that light can be introduced from the front.

With such a configuration, it is not necessary to provide an inclined portion on the upper part of another door located below the door provided with the illuminance sensor, and the upper part of the other door located below the door provided with the illuminance sensor. There is no such thing as limiting the design. Moreover, a handle part can also be provided in the upper part of another door located under the door provided with the illumination intensity sensor. In addition, the illuminance sensor can be positioned in a deeper part in the door than the lower end surface of the door provided with the illuminance sensor by the amount provided with the light guide member. Therefore, with such a configuration, water or the like applied to the door surface or the like does not enter the illuminance sensor, and high reliability can be maintained.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the light guide member may be configured to be able to introduce light from the door front as well as from the door lower side.

With such a configuration, light can be guided from a wider range, and illuminance detection accuracy can be improved.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the light guide member may be provided with the tip thereof facing forward and downward from the door frame portion of the door. With such a configuration, the light guide member can be made inconspicuous, light can be guided from a wide range, illuminance detection can be enhanced, and high designability can be maintained.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the door frame is provided with a through hole at an appropriate position in the lower portion thereof so that the front end portion of the light guide member faces, and the front end surface of the front end portion is flush with the end surface of the door frame. You may be comprised so that it may be in a state. With such a configuration, the light guide member can be provided in the lower portion of the door without conspicuous.

In the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the light guide member may be formed in a substantially L shape. Further, the light guide member has its front end facing forward from the door frame portion, and the other end is disposed horizontally so that its end face faces the illuminance sensor, that is, the end face faces the illuminance sensor. May be. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent water or the like adhering to the door surface from entering the illuminance sensor portion through the light guide member, and higher reliability can be achieved.

Further, in a refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, a chamfered portion may be provided at a corner portion of the light guide member that is bent in an approximately L shape. With such a configuration, the light introduced from the tip of the light guide member can be efficiently directed to the illuminance sensor by the chamfered portion, and the illuminance detection performance can be improved.

Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the door provided with the illuminance sensor may have a unit frame and a sensor substrate. Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the light guide member may be provided in the lower part of the door while being held by the unit frame together with the sensor substrate. With such a configuration, since the illuminance sensor and the light guide member are incorporated in one member called a unit frame, the positional relationship accuracy between the illuminance sensor and the light guide member is increased, and the illuminance detection performance is further improved. Can be increased.

Also, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator in which the workability of connecting the lead wire portion of the operation display device provided on the refrigerator door is improved.

Specifically, a refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure includes a storage room, a door provided in the storage room, a door front member that constitutes a front surface of the door, and an operation display device provided on an inner surface of the door front member. Is provided. The operation display device includes a substrate on which a plurality of LEDs are mounted, and a holder substrate having an opening that covers the substrate from the front and can irradiate light from the LEDs forward. The operation display device is further disposed on the front surface of the holder substrate, a light transmissive film substrate on which an electrode for detecting a change in capacitance and a wiring pattern are disposed, a front surface of the film substrate, and a plurality of LEDs. And a light transmissive film member to which display characters to be irradiated are attached. The lead wire portion extending from the film substrate is folded back so as to straddle the holder substrate, and is configured to be connected to the substrate located on the back side of the holder substrate.

With such a configuration, even if the lead wire portion of the film substrate cannot be expanded and contracted, the lead wire portion is folded and connected to the substrate on the back side of the holder substrate. Therefore, even if there is some dimensional variation between the substrate located on the back side of the holder substrate, the variation can be absorbed by changing the folding rate of the lead wire portion. Therefore, with such a configuration, the connecting work of the lead wire portion is facilitated, and the workability can be greatly improved.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the holder substrate may be provided with a protruding portion that protrudes outward from the folded portion of the lead wire portion. With such a configuration, when the operation display device is assembled and inserted into the door, the protruding portion of the holder substrate protects the lead wire portion of the film substrate, so that it is not necessary to pay attention to the insertion into the door. Workability can be improved, damage to the lead wire portion can be suppressed, and reliability can be improved.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the protruding portion of the holder substrate is provided with a pressing portion that presses the film substrate against the door front member via the film member when the operation display device is housed in the door. It may be. With such a configuration, the operation display device can be reliably brought into pressure contact with the door front member of the door, the detection accuracy of the capacitance during the touch operation can be improved, and the operation quality can be improved.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the holder substrate may be provided with a pressing portion that presses the film substrate against the door front member via the film member at the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion. With such a configuration, the operation display device can be reliably brought into pressure contact with the door front member of the door, the detection accuracy of the capacitance during the touch operation can be improved, and the operation quality can be improved.

Moreover, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, a protrusion may be provided on at least one of the upper end edge and the lower end edge of the holder substrate. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce slide resistance when the operation display device is assembled and inserted into the door, and to improve workability.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the holder substrate may be provided with a preventing part from coming out of the door at an end edge part opposite to the protruding part. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the operation display unit from inadvertently coming out of the door, and to improve reliability.

Further, in the refrigerator according to an example of the present disclosure, the substrate that connects the lead wire portions of the film substrate may have a power connector in a portion opposite to the portion that connects the lead wire portions. Moreover, the notch part may be provided in the part facing the power supply connector of a holder board | substrate. With such a configuration, the connection of the power cord to the power connector can be performed at the insertion opening portion of the door, and workability can be improved.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a door portion of a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing one of the doors of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the door inner surface in a state where the inner case of the refrigerator door according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure is removed. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator door according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an illuminance sensor installation portion provided on the door of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an illuminance sensor block of a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a main part of a refrigerator door according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the operation display device provided on the door of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of an operation display device for a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of an operation display device for a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the surface side of the operation display device of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a front view showing the back side of the operation display device of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a protruding portion and a first pressing portion provided in an operation display device for a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a second pressing unit provided in the operation display device of the refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a storage member and a door of an operation display device for a refrigerator according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 in FIG. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of an illuminance sensor installation portion in a conventional refrigerator. FIG. 22 is another cross-sectional view of the illuminance sensor installation portion in the conventional refrigerator. FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of an illuminance sensor in a conventional refrigerator.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although the following embodiment demonstrates as an example the refrigerator which improved the designability using transparent plates, such as a glass plate, for a door front member, this indication is not limited by this.

(Embodiment)
1 to 3 are diagrams for describing an overall configuration of a refrigerator according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 4 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a refrigerator door configuration according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 8 to 10 are diagrams illustrating an illuminance sensor provided on a refrigerator door according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. 11 to 20 are diagrams illustrating an operation display unit provided on a refrigerator door according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

(1-1. Overall configuration of refrigerator)
First, an overall configuration of a refrigerator according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 to 3, a refrigerator 80 according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator body 1. The refrigerator main body 1 is filled and foamed between a metal (for example, iron plate) outer box 2 that opens forward, a hard resin (for example, ABS) inner box 3, and the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. And foamed heat insulating material 4 such as hard urethane.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator body 1 is partitioned to form a plurality of storage rooms. The plurality of storage rooms are arranged from the top of the refrigerator body 1 to the refrigerator compartment 5, the switching chamber 6 located below the refrigerator compartment 5, the ice making chamber 77 arranged in parallel to the switching chamber 6, the switching chamber 6, and the ice making chamber 77 below And the vegetable compartment 9 located under the freezer compartment 8.

In addition, the plurality of storage rooms are configured such that each front face can be opened and closed by a door. That is, the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 5 is closed by the double doors 10 and 10 (hereinafter referred to as double doors 10) so as to be freely opened and closed. The front surfaces of the switching chamber 6, the ice making chamber 77, the freezing chamber 8 and the vegetable chamber 9 can be freely opened and closed by pull-out

doors

11, 12, 13, 14 (hereinafter referred to as pull-out

doors

11, 12, 13, 14). It is blocked.

Further, a cooling chamber 16 is provided on the back side of the refrigerator body 1. The cooling chamber 16 is provided with a cooler 17 that generates cool air and a blower fan 18 that supplies the cool air to each storage chamber. Further, a compressor 819 is provided at the back of the top surface of the refrigerator body 1. In the compressor 819, a condenser (not shown), a heat radiating pipe 820, the capillary tube 21, and the cooler 17 are sequentially connected in an annular shape to constitute a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator 80 is configured such that the refrigerant is enclosed in the refrigeration cycle and the cooling operation is performed.

Further, each of the doors 10 to 14 is configured to have a heat insulating property by filling and foaming a foam heat insulating material such as hard urethane, like the refrigerator body 1. In addition, each of the doors 10 to 14 is made of a transparent plate such as a glass plate in order to further improve the design.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the doors 10 to 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 by taking the double door 10 as an example. The doors 11 to 14 other than the double doors 10 are also configured in the same manner.

4 to 7, the double door 10 has an inner frame 22 located on the inner side, and the inner frame 22 is made of, for example, ABS resin. A door frame 23 is fixed to the peripheral end surface of the inner frame 22. The door frame 23 is made of, for example, ABS resin. A door front member 24 is stacked on the door frame 23 so as to cover the inner frame 22. In the present embodiment, the door front member is formed of a transparent plate such as a glossy tempered glass plate (hereinafter, the door front member 24 is referred to as a glass plate 24).

As shown in FIG. 7, the glass plate 24 has a resin film 26 attached to the inner surface thereof with an adhesive 25. A colored layer 27 made of a metallic pattern such as a picture pattern, for example, a hairline, is formed on the resin film 26. Thereby, the glass plate 24 becomes a glass plate with a colored layer.

In the present embodiment, polyethylene terephthalate having high transparency and high mechanical strength is used for the resin film 26. The colored layer 27 is formed on the surface opposite to the glass plate 24 when the white color is used, and is formed on the glass plate 24 side when the gray color is used. FIG. 7 shows a case where the colored layer 27 is formed on the surface opposite to the glass plate 24.

As shown in FIG. 7, the space between the resin film 26 side of the glass plate 24, the inner frame 22, and the door frame 23 is filled with foamed heat insulating material 28 such as hard urethane. The foam heat insulating material 28 is adhered to the inner frame 22, the door frame 23, and the resin film 26 on the inner surface of the glass plate 24 by foaming, and the glass plate 24 is bonded and held via the resin film 26. The outer peripheral edge of the glass plate 24 is exposed as it is. The glass plate 24 is configured such that the outer peripheral edge portion is located slightly inside the edge of the door frame 23, in the present embodiment, about 2 mm inside.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the double door 10 is formed with an upward concave portion on the lower side of the door frame 23 that forms the lower side of the double door 10, and a handle portion 10 a is formed. . The double door 10 has a hinge 15 (see FIG. 1) that pivotally supports the double door 10 so that it can be opened and closed. A handle portion 10 a is formed on the free end side of the hinge 15. In addition, the pull-out

doors

11 and 12 immediately below the double door 10 and the pull-out

doors

13 and 14 in the freezer compartment 8 and the vegetable compartment 9 below the door frame 23 have a downward-facing surface. Concave portions are formed, and handle

portions

11a, 12a, 13a, and 14a are provided. As described above, the door frame 23 in which the

handle portions

10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, and 14a are formed does not have the colored glass plate insertion portion, and each of the handle portions 10a to 14a is recessed in the door end surface. Therefore, the surface of the door group (doors 10 to 14) is a flat surface with a flat feeling.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the double door 10 is operated by operating the illuminance sensor 30 for detecting the illuminance and performing the power saving operation and the operation of the refrigerator 80. An operation display device 31 that displays the operation state is provided. The configurations of the illuminance sensor 30 and the operation display device 31 will be described later.

(1-2. Illuminance sensor and its installation configuration)
First, the illuminance sensor 30 and its installation configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 6, the illuminance sensor 30 is provided on the door frame 23 on one lower side of the double door 10. The illuminance sensor 30 is housed in a unit frame 32 formed beside the one handle portion 10 a of the double door 10.

More specifically, the illuminance sensor 30 includes a unit frame 33 incorporated in a unit frame 32 constituting the door frame 23, and a sensor substrate 34 fixed to the unit frame 33 with screws 35. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the illuminance sensor 30 is provided with a photosensor 37 facing downward via a spacer 36 on the sensor substrate 34. A light guide member 38 made of a substantially L-shaped light-transmitting resin molded product is disposed below the optical sensor 37 so as to face the optical sensor 37.

The light guide member 38 is provided in the unit frame 33 together with the sensor substrate 34. As described above, the light guide member 38 has its upper end facing the optical sensor 37 and the opposite end 40 is inserted into a through hole (through hole) 39 provided in the unit frame 33. ing. As shown in FIG. 8, the distal end portion 40 is disposed through the through hole portion 39. As shown in FIG. 10, a notch portion 23 a is formed in the door frame 23 that faces the through-hole portion 39. The distal end portion 40 is disposed so as to face the door front surface and the lower side from the notch portion 23a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the light guide member 38 is disposed so that the front end surface of the front end portion 40 is substantially flush with the front surface of the door frame 23. In addition, the front end portion 40 is formed with an inclined surface that is inclined toward the front and the lower side of the double door 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the front end portion 40 has a substantially arc shape that swells outward. Further, the light guide member 38 is provided with a chamfered portion 41 at a corner that is bent in a substantially L shape. The light guide member 38 is configured to bend the light introduced from the distal end portion 40 toward the optical sensor 37 efficiently by the chamfered portion 41.

(1-3. Operation display configuration)
Next, the configuration of the operation display device 31 provided on the door of the refrigerator 80 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the present embodiment, the operation display device 31 is provided on one of the double doors 10 among the plurality of doors 10 to 14, that is, on the double door 10 on the side where the illuminance sensor 30 is provided. In the present embodiment, the operation display device 31 is of a type that operates by detecting a change in capacitance.

As shown in FIG. 11, the operation display device 31 is inserted from an opening 23 b opened in the door frame 23 on the side of the double door 10 and is stored in a storage member 44 formed inside the double door 10. The The operation display device 31 is disposed in close contact with the inner surface of the glass plate 24 serving as a door front member so that a touch operation can be performed from the front surface side of the glass plate 24.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, the glass plate 24 is bonded to the four-side door frame 23 constituting the double door 10 with an adhesive before the inside of the double door 10 is filled with a heat insulating material. Fixed. On the door frame flange 23c forming the opening 23b of the door frame 23 on the side of the double door 10 where the operation display device 31 is inserted, a left and right restricting projection 23e for restricting left and right movement is formed integrally with the door frame flange 23c. Has been. As shown in FIG. 20, the door frame 23 is integrally formed with the door frame 23 in a front-rear restricting projection 23 d that restricts front-rear movement. The storage member 44 engages with the door frame flange 23c. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the storage member 44 is engaged with the front and rear restricting

protrusions

23d and 23e of the door frame flange 23c, respectively. And the 2nd engaging part 44b is formed. Further, a stepped portion 44d is formed in the opening flange portion 44c (see FIG. 18) of the storage member 44. A flexible foam member 63 such as urethane foam is disposed between the stepped portion 44d and the glass plate 24.

As described above, the storage member 44 engages the second engaging portion 44b with the left and right restricting protrusion 23e of the door frame flange 23c, and rotates the storage member 44 with this as a base point. The opening flange 44c is bonded to the back surface. At this time, the first engaging portion 44a of the storage member 44 is engaged with the front / rear restricting projection 23d, and the storage member 44 is positioned and fixed to the glass plate 24.

Thus, the front surface of the storage member 44 is constituted by the glass plate 24, and the operation display device 31 is stored and arranged in the double door 10 while contacting the back surface of the glass plate 24. In the refrigerator 80 of the present embodiment, since the flexible foam member 63 is provided in the stepped portion 44d, when the storage member 44 is rotated and positioned with respect to the glass plate 24, the rear surface of the glass plate 24 and the storage are stored. The member 44 can be tightly fixed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the back side of the storage member 44 located on the back surface of the substrate 45 constituting the operation display device 31 is gradually moved from the opening 23 b toward the direction in which the operation display device 31 is inserted. It has an inclined surface inclined so as to approach the glass plate 24 on the front surface. The storage member 44 is configured such that a portion corresponding to the protruding portion 55 of the holder substrate 46 on the back side thereof has a step shape, and a gap in the front-rear direction with the glass plate 24 is narrower than other portions. Has been.

Further, a flexible foam 64 such as polyethylene foam is attached to at least a part of the back surface (the surface on the inner frame 22 side) of the storage member 44. In a state as shown in FIG. 18, foamed urethane is filled in a predetermined jig, and the door 10 is molded by covering the vacuum heat insulating material 65 (see FIG. 11) attached to the inner frame 22 from above. As shown in FIG. 11, the back side of the storage member 44 is not filled with urethane, and is composed of a flexible foam 64, a vacuum heat insulating material 65, and an inner frame 22. With such a configuration, the internal volume in the refrigerator 80 can be secured.

As shown in FIG. 13, the operation display device 31 includes a substrate 45, a holder substrate 46 that covers and holds the front of the substrate 45, a film substrate 47 disposed on the front surface of the holder substrate 46, and further disposed on the front surface thereof. Film member 48 formed.

A plurality of LEDs 49 for illuminating display characters and the like are mounted on the substrate 45. A connection terminal 50 for connecting the film substrate 47 is provided at the end of the substrate 45. The holder substrate 46 is provided with an opening 51 capable of irradiating light from the LED 49 forward. The film substrate 47 has light transmissivity, and an electrode 52 for detecting a change in capacitance and a wiring pattern are arranged. The film member 48 is provided with a display character 53 that is applied to the LED 49.

In the operation display device 31, a substrate 45 is attached to the back surface of the holder substrate 46, and a film substrate 47 and a film member 48 are overlaid and attached to the front surface of the holder substrate 46. The lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 is folded back over the end portion of the holder substrate 46. The lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 is connected to the connection terminal 50 of the substrate 45 disposed on the back side of the holder substrate 46. As shown in FIGS. 12, 14, and 15, the operation display device 31 includes a substrate 45, a holder substrate 46, a film substrate 47, and a film member 48 that are unitized. The operation display device 31 is housed and incorporated in the housing member 44 of the double door 10 in a unitized state.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the holder substrate 46 protrudes outward from the folded portion of the lead wire portion 54 to the end portion of the folded portion of the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47. A protruding portion 55 is provided.

Further, the holder substrate 46 is provided with a first pressing portion 56 made of a flexural protrusion that can be elastically deformed on the back surface side of the protruding portion 55. When the operation display device 31 is stored in the storage member 44, the first pressing portion 56 is pressed against the back surface of the storage member 44 and presses the holder substrate 46 toward the front glass plate 24.

Furthermore, a second pressing portion 57 made of a bent protrusion that can be elastically deformed in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper side and the lower side of the holder substrate 46 (see FIGS. 13 to 15 and FIG. 17). When the operation display device 31 is stored in the storage member 44, the second pressing portion 57 presses the holder substrate 46 forward, similarly to the first pressing portion 56.

That is, in the holder substrate 46, the film substrate 47 provided on the front surface side of the holder substrate 46 is moved through the film member 48 by the elastic force of the first pressing portion 56 and the second pressing portion 57. The glass plate 24 is configured to be pressed and fixed to the inner surface.

Further, the holder substrate 46 is provided with a protrusion 58 on at least one of the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion, in this embodiment, the lower edge portion (see FIG. 14). The protrusion 58 is in contact with the lower inner surface of the storage member 44 and restricts the vertical movement of the holder substrate 46.

Further, the holder substrate 46 is provided with a slip-off preventing piece 60 having a locking projection 59 at the end opposite to the protruding portion 55. The slip-off preventing piece 60 is configured to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The slip-off preventing piece 60 is locked by a locking claw portion formed on the upper inner surface of the storage member 44. Further, the opening 23 b is closed by the lid plate 61.

The substrate 45 to which the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 is connected has a power connector 62 on the opposite side of the connection terminal 50 to which the lead wire portion 54 is connected (see FIGS. 13 and 14). ). Connection wiring connected to a control board (not shown) that controls the entire refrigerator 80 is connected to the power connector 62. A cutout portion 46 a is provided in a part of the holder substrate 46 that faces the power connector 62.

Further, on the upper side and the lower side of the holder substrate 46, a first rib 66 is provided on the inner side of the opening 23b with respect to the second pressing part 57, and on the opening 23b side of the second pressing part 57. The second rib 67 is provided. As described above, since the back side of the storage member 44 has an inclined surface, the first rib 66 is formed so that the rib height is lower than the second rib 67. With such a configuration, when the operation display device 31 is housed in the housing member 44, the operation display device 31 is disposed in close contact with the back surface of the glass plate 24 without rattling.

About the refrigerator 80 comprised as mentioned above, the effect is demonstrated below.

First, the operation and effect of the entire structure of the refrigerator 80 will be briefly described.

The refrigerator 80 according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of doors 10 to 14. A front surface of each of the plurality of doors 10 to 14 is constituted by a glass plate 24. With such a configuration, the refrigerator 80 has a high-class feeling and looks good. In addition, in the refrigerator 80 according to an example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface of the glass plate 24 is not protruded by the glass plate insertion portion and the handle portions 10a to 14a. Only the plate 24 is a flat surface. With such a configuration, even if the refrigerator 80 is provided with a plurality of doors, the surfaces of the plurality of doors 10 to 14 are clean and have a flat feeling as a whole.

Further, according to the refrigerator 80 of the present embodiment, the gap between the left and right doors of the

double doors

10, 10 is also recessed between the left and right doors by providing the

handle portions

10 a, 10 a on the lower end surface of the double door 10. It is not necessary to provide a handle portion in the case and can be narrowed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the sense of unity and flatness of the left and right doors of the

double doors

10 and 10 can be maintained well.

Furthermore, according to the refrigerator 80 of the present embodiment, the glass plate 24 is provided with a colored layer 27 on the inner surface side, thereby adding depth to the color and increasing the texture. Further, since the colored layer 27 is formed on the resin film 26, it can be formed by a roller or the like. Therefore, according to the refrigerator 80 of the present embodiment, a fine pattern such as a hair line is formed which has a high defect rate and is not practically obtained by silk-printing the colored layer directly on the glass plate 24. And a refrigerator with higher designability can be obtained. In addition, the resin film 26 is not necessarily required, and the coloring and the pattern may be applied directly to the glass plate 24, thereby reducing the cost.

Next, the function and effect of the illuminance sensor 30 will be described.

In the illuminance sensor 30, the optical sensor 37 is installed at one lower part of the double door 10 so as to face the lower end surface of the double door 10. Moreover, the front-end | tip part 40 of the light guide member 38 provided facing the lower end surface of the double doors 10 is made to face ahead from the lower side part of the door frame 23 under the double doors 10. With such a configuration, the illuminance sensor 30 can satisfactorily detect light from the front of the door (in this embodiment, the double doors 10) provided with the illuminance sensor 30.

Further, with such a configuration, an optical sensor is provided above the door (in this embodiment, the pull-out door 11) below the door (in this embodiment, the double door 10) provided with the illuminance sensor 30. 37 is not necessary to provide an inclined portion for reflecting light, and the degree of freedom in designing the upper part of the door (drawable door 11) below the door provided with the illuminance sensor 30 is improved, and a concave portion is provided in the upper part of the pullable door 11. It is also possible to provide the handle portion 11a by forming the.

Further, the light guide member 38 is disposed so that the front end portion 40 thereof faces forward from the door frame 23 portion of the double door 10. With such a configuration, the light guide member 38 is less conspicuous and has a good design as compared with the case where the light guide member is provided so as to face forward from the surface of the glass plate 24 on the front surface of the double door 10. Obtainable.

Further, the light guide member 38 is inserted into a through-hole portion 39 provided in the unit frame 33, and the distal end portion 40 of the light guide member 38 is disposed through the through-hole portion 39. Moreover, the front-end | tip part 40 is arrange | positioned facing the notch part 23a formed in the door frame 23 lower side. Moreover, the front-end | tip part 40 is comprised so that it may become a substantially flush state with the end surface of the door frame 23 (refer FIG. 8). With such a configuration, the light guide member 38 and the door frame 23 are integrated with each other, and high designability can be ensured.

Thus, with such a configuration, a refrigerator that can be incorporated into the double door 10 without making the illuminance sensor 30 conscious is obtained. Further, such a configuration can provide a refrigerator having a flat feeling and high design properties. Further, with such a configuration, a power saving operation by the illuminance sensor 30 is possible, and a refrigerator with high energy saving can be obtained.

In addition, the light guide member 38 has a front end portion 40 facing from the lower side portion of the door frame 23 to the lower side as well as the front, that is, a notch portion 23 a is provided at the front end portion of the lower surface of the door frame 23. Thus, the tip portion 40 of the light guide member 38 is partially exposed downward. In addition, the front end portion 40 is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined forward and downward of a door (in this embodiment, the double door 10) in which the light guide member 38 is provided. With such a configuration, the optical sensor 37 can introduce light from below as well as in front of the door where the light guide member 38 is provided. Therefore, the optical sensor 37 can detect light from a wide range including the lower side, and can greatly enhance the illuminance detection performance. That is, with such a configuration, it is possible to improve the illuminance detection performance while making the light guide member 38 inconspicuous, and it is possible to obtain a refrigerator having both high designability and energy saving.

In addition, the light guide member 38 is provided with a chamfered portion 41 at a corner that is bent in an L shape. With such a configuration, light introduced from the tip of the light guide member 38 can be efficiently directed to the optical sensor 37 by the chamfered portion 41. Therefore, the illuminance detection performance by the illuminance sensor 30 can be further improved.

In addition, the refrigerator 80 of the present embodiment is configured to detect light through the light guide member 38. With such a configuration, the optical sensor 37 can be positioned in a portion deeper than the end face of the door (double door 10) provided with the illuminance sensor 30, and is provided on the surface of the door provided with the illuminance sensor 30. It is possible to prevent the water or the like from entering the optical sensor 37 and maintain high reliability.

In particular, the light guide member 38 is formed in a substantially L shape. The light guide member 38 is disposed such that the front end portion 40 thereof faces forward from the lower side portion of the door frame 23. Further, the light guide member 38 is formed so that the end surface of the end opposite to the tip end portion 40 faces upward, that is, has a horizontal surface, and the end surface is disposed to face the optical sensor 37. With such a configuration, when the door provided with the illuminance sensor 30 (in this embodiment, the double door 10) is opened and closed, the user's hand is wet with water or the like, and the surface of the double door 10 is watered. The light sensor 37 is bent in the L shape of the light guide member 38 even if water or the like adhering to the surface of the double door 10 enters the light guide member 38. Since the other end portion side, that is, the upper end portion 40 of the light guide member 38 is positioned above, water or the like can be reliably prevented from entering the optical sensor 37 installation portion. Therefore, with such a configuration, a highly reliable refrigerator free from breakdowns can be obtained.

The light guide member 38 is held by the unit frame 33 together with the sensor substrate 34 and is provided at the lower part of the door provided with the illuminance sensor 30. With such a configuration, the positional relationship accuracy between the optical sensor 37 and the light guide member 38 is increased, and the illuminance detection performance can be further enhanced.

Moreover, the illuminance sensor 30 is unitized by attaching the sensor substrate 34 to the unit frame 33. With such a configuration, the illuminance sensor 30 can be easily attached by simply storing the unit frame 33 in the unit frame 32 formed on the door frame 23, and productivity can be improved.

Next, the function and effect of the operation display device 31 will be described.

The operation display device 31 includes an electrode 52 that detects a change in capacitance, and can change the cooling capacity and the like through a touch operation from the front surface of the glass plate 24, and can be changed via the glass plate 24. It is configured so that the contents can be confirmed.

Here, the holder substrate 46 of the operation display device 31 uses the first pressing portion 56 and the second pressing portion 57 to remove the film member 48 on the surface of the film substrate 47 disposed on the front surface side of the holder substrate 46 from the double door 10. It is comprised so that it may press-fix firmly to the inner surface of the glass plate 24 of this. With such a configuration, the detection accuracy of the capacitance at the time of the touch operation is increased, and the operation quality can be improved.

Further, the holder substrate 46 is provided with a protrusion 58 at the lower end edge thereof. With such a configuration, sliding resistance when the double door 10 is inserted into the storage member 44 can be reduced. Therefore, the insertion operation of the holder substrate 46 into the storage member 44 can be facilitated.

The holder substrate 46 is pressed against the back surface of the glass plate 24 by the elastic force of the first pressing portion 56 and the second pressing portion 57. Further, the front surface of the operation display device 31 is held on the upper side and the lower side of the holder substrate 46 with respect to the inclined surface provided on the back side of the storage member 44 in order to improve the insertability of the operation display device 31. As described above, the first rib 66 and the second rib 67 having different heights are provided. With such a configuration, the operation display device 31 can be placed in pressure contact with the back surface of the glass plate 24, and variations in capacitance detection can be reduced.

The film substrate 47 provided on the front surface of the holder substrate 46 is configured such that the lead wire portion 54 is connected to the substrate 45 provided on the back surface side of the holder substrate 46. That is, the film substrate 47 is configured to be connected to the substrate 45 by folding the lead wire portion 54 across the end portion of the holder substrate 46. With such a configuration, even when the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 cannot be expanded and contracted and there is some dimensional variation between the substrate 45 on the back surface side of the holder substrate 46, the curvature at which the lead wire portion 54 is folded back. The variation can be absorbed by changing the size of. Therefore, with such a configuration, the connecting work of the lead wire portion 54 becomes easy, and the workability can be greatly improved.

That is, the film substrate 47 is attached to the front surface of the holder substrate 46 before connecting the lead wire portion 54 to the substrate 45. For this reason, when the lead wire portion 54 is configured to be connected in a straight line without being folded back, if there is a dimensional variation with the substrate 45 on the back surface side of the holder substrate 46, the lead wire portion 54 Cannot connect. In such a case, it is necessary to make a fine correction of the position of the film substrate 47 by reattaching the film substrate 47.

However, if the configuration shown in the present embodiment, that is, the configuration in which the lead wire portion 54 is folded and connected, as described above, the size variation can be absorbed only by changing the curvature of the folding. Thus, the connecting work of the lead wire portion 54 becomes easy and the workability can be greatly improved.

Also, the holder substrate 46 is provided with a protruding portion 55 that protrudes outward from the folded portion of the lead wire portion 54. With such a configuration, when the operation display device 31 is incorporated into the double door 10, the protruding portion 55 of the holder substrate 46 protects the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47. Therefore, it can be easily incorporated into the double door 10 without worrying about, and workability can be improved, and damage to the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 can be suppressed, thereby improving reliability. It can be greatly improved.

In addition, the holder substrate 46 is locked to a locking claw portion formed on the storage member 44 of the double door 10 by a slip-off preventing piece 60 provided on the edge opposite to the protruding portion 55. With such a configuration, the operation display device 31 can be prevented from inadvertently coming out, and the reliability can be further improved. In addition, since the opening 23b is blocked by the cover plate 61, it is possible to prevent dust and water from entering the operation display device 31.

Further, the substrate 45 to which the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 provided on the front surface of the holder substrate 46 is connected is in a portion opposite to the connection terminal 50 to which the lead wire portion 54 of the film substrate 47 is connected. A power connector 62 is provided. With such a configuration, the power connector 62 can be connected to the power line from the refrigerator main body 1 at the inlet side portion of the storage member 44. Moreover, the connection can be made from the front side of the holder substrate 46 through the notch 46 a provided in the holder substrate 46. Therefore, workability can be improved by such a configuration.

In the present embodiment, the operation display device 31 has been described as an example of the case where the operation display device 31 is disposed on the door provided with the illuminance sensor 30 of the double door 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The operation display device 31 may be provided on a door on which the illuminance sensor 30 is not provided, or may be provided on another door, for example, a pull-out door.

Further, the operation display device 31 has been described as an example having an irradiation function by the LED 49. However, the operation display device 31 has no irradiation function, for example, an operation surface portion such as an electrode is simply provided with display characters. Also good.

As mentioned above, although this indication was explained using an embodiment, this indication is not limited to this. That is, the embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is shown not by the above description but by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

As described above, the present disclosure can arbitrarily set the design of the upper part of another door located below the door provided with the illuminance sensor, and can be set to another position located below the door provided with the illuminance sensor. A handle part can also be provided in the upper part of a door, and a refrigerator with high design and reliability and good usability can be provided. Therefore, it can be widely applied not only to home use but also to commercial refrigerators and wine coolers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator body 2 Outer box 3 Inner box 4 Foam insulation 5 Refrigerating room (storage room)
10 Door (Double door)
11, 12, 13, 14 Door (Pull-out door)
10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a Handle part 15 Hinge 16 Cooling chamber 17 Cooler 18 Blower fan 21 Capillary tube 22 Inner frame 23 Door frame

23a Notch part

23b Opening part 23c Door frame flange 24 Glass plate (door front member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 25 Adhesive 26 Resin film 27 Colored layer 28 Foam heat insulating material 30 Illuminance sensor 31 Operation display device 32 Unit frame 33 Unit frame 34 Sensor substrate 35 Screw 36 Spacer 37 Optical sensor 38 Light guide member 39 Through-hole part (through-hole)
40 Tip portion 41 Chamfered portion 44 Storage member 44a First engaging portion 44b Second engaging portion 44c Opening flange portion 44d Stepped portion 45 Substrate 46 Holder substrate 46a Notch portion 47 Film substrate 48 Film member 49 LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Connection terminal 51 Opening part 52 Electrode 53 Display character 54 Lead wire part 55 Projection part 56 1st press part 57 2nd press part 58 Protrusion 59 Locking protrusion 60 Detachment prevention piece 61 Cover plate 62 Power supply connector 63 Soft foam member 64 Flexible foam 65 Vacuum heat insulating material 66 First rib 67 Second rib 80 Refrigerator 819 Compressor 820 Heat radiation pipe

Claims

A refrigerator main body, a plurality of storage chambers provided in the refrigerator main body, and a plurality of doors for opening and closing the openings of the plurality of storage chambers,
An illuminance sensor is provided on at least one of the plurality of doors,
The door provided with the illuminance sensor has a lower end surface,
The illuminance sensor has a light sensor installed toward the lower end surface, and a light guide member that guides light from the outside to the light sensor,
The light guide member has a tip portion;
The said front-end | tip part is a refrigerator comprised so that light could be introduced from the front while being located in the lower part of the said door in which the said illumination intensity sensor was provided.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member is configured to be able to introduce light from below the door provided with the illuminance sensor.
The door provided with the illuminance sensor has a door frame,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light guide member is provided such that the tip portion faces forward and downward from a part of the door frame.
The door frame has a through hole at the bottom,
The tip portion of the light guide member is exposed from the through hole,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a front end surface of the front end portion is configured to be flush with an end surface of the door frame.
The light guide member has an L-shaped cylindrical shape,
The light guide member is disposed with the tip portion facing forward from the part of the door frame,
The other end portion of the light guide member is configured such that its end surface faces upward,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light guide member is disposed such that the end surface faces the photosensor.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light guide member is provided with a chamfered portion at a corner portion bent in the L shape.