JP6357397B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  As background art of this technical field, there is Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-149580).

  In the summary column of Patent Document 1, “the switch 2 and the light source 4 are covered with a covering material 5 so that they cannot be seen from the surface, and the switch 2 is operated by touching the operation area 5 a of the covering material 5 with a finger. A person who detects that a person has approached the switch is configured as a switch so that the operation region 5a of the covering material 5 can be visually recognized when the light source 4 is turned off without being visually recognized from the surface. When the user approaches the switch 2 in order to operate the switch 2 in the switch device provided with the sensor switch 6 and the control unit 7 that turns on the light source 4 by the detection signal of the human switch 6, the operation area of the covering 5 5a can be visually recognized by the user, and the switch 2 can be operated reliably. "

JP 2007-149580 A

  However, the configuration of Patent Document 1 is based on a general electric device that turns off the power supply when it is not used.

  Here, in the case of a refrigerator that is always operated with the power on, the functions relating to storage such as the cooling operation once set are rarely changed. Further, in the case of a refrigerator having a dispenser function for supplying ice and water to the outside, no switch operation is particularly required.

  Therefore, when the configuration of Patent Document 1 is applied to a refrigerator, a switch that is not used is lit and displayed only when the user approaches, so that it becomes annoying for the user, and consideration for usability becomes insufficient. In addition, since the switch that is used less frequently is turned on each time the user approaches, the amount of power consumption increases.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the refrigerator which improved the usability.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the refrigerator of the present invention is, as an example, a refrigerator body, a door that opens and closes a storage chamber of the refrigerator body, a dispenser unit that supplies either ice or water outside the refrigerator body, Input means for driving the dispenser unit, a dispenser control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the dispenser unit, an interior setting control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the storage room, the dispenser control panel and the interior of the warehouse When a plurality of illumination means for displaying each setting control panel and lighting, and a person detection means for detecting that there is a person at a predetermined distance on the front side of the refrigerator main body, when the person is detected by the person detection means, said dispenser control panel displays illuminated by said illuminating means, the person (1) the person detection means When the operation input of the dispenser unit is detected in the known state, the dispenser unit is driven, and when the operation input of the dispenser unit is detected without detecting the person by the human detection unit, When the dispenser unit is stopped, or (2) when the person is detected by the person detecting means and the dispenser control panel is turned on by the lighting means, the in-chamber setting control panel is kept off .

  According to the present invention, a refrigerator with improved usability can be provided.

Front view showing the refrigerator of the present embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of dispenser operation unit of this embodiment Refrigerator operation setting operation panel schematic configuration diagram of the present embodiment Schematic diagram of electric circuit of refrigerator of this embodiment

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the refrigerator of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the dispenser operation unit of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the refrigerator operation setting operation panel according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an electric circuit schematic diagram of the refrigerator of the present embodiment.

  The refrigerator main body 1 has a heat insulation box having an opening on the front and a heat insulating material on a wall surface (between the inner wall and the outer wall). Doors 1 a, 1 b, 1 c for opening and closing the front opening of the heat insulation box are provided in front of the refrigerator body 1.

  The door 1a is a door that opens and closes a storage room located on the left side in the front view of the refrigerator in FIG. The door 1b is a door that opens and closes a storage chamber located at the upper right side in the front view of the refrigerator in FIG. The door 1c is a door that opens and closes a storage chamber located at the lower right side in a front view of FIG. The door 1a is rotatably supported by hinges provided on the left and upper sides in a front view of the heat insulating box. The doors 1b and 1c are rotatably supported by hinges provided on the upper and lower sides in the front view of the heat insulating box. The doors 1b and 1c can be independently rotated. The doors 1a, 1b, and 1c have handle portions 1d, 1e1, and 1e2 at positions near the center of the refrigerator main body 1, respectively. The handle portions 1d, 1e1, and 1e2 can employ any obvious configuration such as a grip handle, a concave grip portion, or a movable lock handle. The handle portions 1d, 1e1, and 1e2 are configured such that the corresponding doors 1a, 1b, and 1c rotate with the hinges as fulcrums when the user holds and operates the hands.

  In addition, the layout of the storage room and the door is not limited to this, the storage room is divided into left and right, and the layout is provided with one door on each of the left and right, and the storage room is divided into the upper and lower sides. A layout that can be assumed from a known configuration and a known configuration, such as a layout provided with a door, can be adopted.

  Further, the configuration of the door is not limited to the rotating door, and a door that can be assumed from a known configuration and a known configuration, such as a drawer-type door or a slide-type door, can be employed.

  In this embodiment, the storage room opened and closed by the door 1a is a storage room in a freezing temperature zone. Moreover, the storage room opened and closed by the doors 1b and 1c is a storage room of a refrigeration temperature zone, respectively.

  An ice making device (not shown) is provided in the storage room in the freezing temperature zone. The ice making device includes an ice making unit that stores and freezes water, a drive unit that drives the ice making unit after ice making to supply ice to the ice storage unit, and a detection unit that detects the amount of ice stored in the ice storage unit. In addition, a water storage section (not shown) is provided in the storage room in the refrigerated temperature zone. Furthermore, the control part which controls the various functions of a refrigerator is provided in the upper part (or back part) of the refrigerator main body 1. FIG.

  With this configuration, when the control unit determines that the amount of ice in the ice storage unit is less than a predetermined amount, the water supply device (for example, a water supply pump) is driven, and the water in the water storage unit passes through the water pipe to the ice making unit of the ice making device. Supplied. When it is determined that the water in the ice making unit is frozen or when a predetermined time preliminarily estimated to be frozen has passed, ice in the ice making unit is supplied to the ice storage unit.

  The door 1a for opening and closing the storage room in the freezing temperature zone is provided with a dispenser unit 2. The dispenser unit 2 has a function of supplying any one of ice cubes (cube ice), broken ice (crush ice), and cold water according to a user's request. The dispenser part 2 has a shape that is recessed from the front to the rear of the door 1a, and is configured to have a dimension that allows the user to insert a hand while holding a cup or bottle in the recess. A switch lever 2 a is provided as an input means for driving the dispenser unit 2 on the recessed back wall side of the dispenser unit 2. When the switch lever 2a is pushed by a cup or bottle held by the user, the switch (not shown) is turned off and on, and the control unit determines that the user has requested to drive the dispenser. Or supply water.

  The ice cube (cube ice) is a form in which the ice stored in the ice storage unit is supplied as it is. Ice breaking (crush ice) is a form in which ice stored in an ice storage unit is crushed and supplied by a crushing unit (not shown). Cold water is a form supplied by the dispenser part 2 through a water piping from a water storage part.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although it is the structure which has a water storage part in a refrigerator temperature zone room, it is not limited to this, The structure which supplies tap water directly from the dispenser part 2 through water piping may be sufficient. Moreover, the structure which supplies and cools a tap water to a water storage part may be sufficient, when a water supply and a water storage part are connected with piping and the water quantity of a water storage part is less than predetermined. Moreover, the structure which comprises a water storage part with a detachable tank, and a user replenishes this tank with water and cools may be sufficient. Moreover, the structure connected to water piping may be sufficient by arrange | positioning the commercially available water containing containers, such as a PET bottle, in the predetermined position of the storage room of a refrigerator temperature zone.

  Here, the dispenser part 2 of ice and water is one place of the front part of the door 1a in this embodiment. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to set whether to supply ice cubes, crushed ice or water. Furthermore, the user needs to be aware of whether the currently selected supply setting is ice cubes, crushed ice or cold water.

  Therefore, the refrigerator of the present embodiment includes a dispenser control panel 3 on the door 1a. The dispenser control panel 3 is provided with a display unit 3a and an operation unit 3b. The operation unit 3b is configured to be able to select a setting of ice cube (cube ice), ice break (crush ice), and cold water when operated by a user. As an example, a plurality of operation units for selecting ice cubes (cube ice), break ice (crush ice), and cold water are arranged side by side, and by operating the corresponding operation unit, ice or water intended by the user You can choose either.

  A light-transmissive glass plate 1g is provided on the front surface of the door 1a. The glass plate 1g is colored by directly printing the colored layer, thereby improving the design by making use of the glossiness of the glass, and preventing the heat insulating material and other structures inside the door from being visible from the outside. . Moreover, as a structure which provides a colored layer in the glass plate 1g, the design property can be improved similarly by arrange | positioning a colored film and a colored member in the back surface of the glass plate 1g besides printing directly.

  The operation unit 3b is composed of a capacitive touch switch and is located on the back surface of the glass plate 1g. When arrange | positioning a colored film on the back surface of the glass plate 1g, a touch switch is arrange | positioned on the back surface of a colored film.

  The operation unit 3b is configured so that it cannot be visually recognized from the outside by a colored layer in normal times. Characters, symbols, and the like representing the operation unit 3b are configured by printing or the like on a light-transmitting sheet, and this sheet is disposed between the glass plate 1g and the touch switch. With this configuration, when a predetermined condition to be described later is used, illumination by the illuminating means allows the characters, symbols, and the like of the sheet representing the operation unit 3b to be visible from the outside through the glass plate 1g.

  A plurality of display units 3a are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of operation units 3b. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 3 a is arranged above each operation unit 3 b. Moreover, it is good also as the display part 3a surrounding the outer periphery of an operation part. As an example, the display unit 3a has a function of allowing the user to recognize which of a plurality of functions is selected by the operation unit 3b by a combination of turning on / off the illumination unit. That is, the user can visually recognize which operation unit 3b is operated by turning on the display unit 3a corresponding to the operation unit 3b operated by the user.

  Next, the interior setting control panel 5 will be described. The refrigerator of this embodiment is provided with an interior setting control panel 5 above the dispenser control panel 3 of the door 1a. The interior setting control panel 5 is provided with a display unit 5a and an operation unit 5b. Since the basic configuration of the display unit 5a and the operation unit 5b is the same as that of the display unit 3a and the operation unit 3b of the dispenser control panel 3, description thereof is omitted here.

  The operation unit 5b is configured to be able to change the setting of the storage room temperature (freezer room temperature, refrigerating room temperature) by a user's operation. As an example, there is a configuration in which a specific temperature is set or the strength of the cooling capacity (for example, three levels of strong, medium, and weak) is set.

  In addition, a plurality of display units 5a are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of operation units 5b. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 5a is arranged above each operation unit 5b. However, the display unit 5a is not limited to this, and may be below or on the side. The display unit 5a has a function of allowing the user to recognize the setting state selected by the operation unit 5b by, for example, a combination of turning on / off the illumination means or digital display such as liquid crystal. That is, by changing the lighting content of the display unit 5a corresponding to the operation unit 5b operated by the user, the user can visually recognize which setting unit corresponding to which operation unit 5b has been changed. it can.

  The interior setting control panel 5 is not limited to the configuration arranged above the dispenser control panel 3. For example, the inside setting control panel 5 is arranged vertically in the handle portions 1 d, 1 e 1, 1 e 2 or the vicinity thereof, or the doors 1 a, 1 b, 1 c. It can be changed within the range assumed from all known configurations, such as being arranged vertically or horizontally in the vicinity of any one of the above.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the dispenser part 2, the dispenser control panel 3, and the storage setting control panel 5 are provided in the door 1a, it is not limited to this, You may provide in the wall surface of the refrigerator or the refrigerator main body 1. FIG. Further, the display unit 3a and the operation unit 3b of the dispenser control panel 3 and the display unit 5a and the operation unit 5b of the in-chamber setting control panel 5 are not limited to be arranged adjacent to each other, and may be provided at distant positions.

  In addition, the interior setting control panel 5 is not limited to setting the storage room temperature, but various functions provided in the refrigerator, such as a function for storing food in a decompressed state, an ice making function, a power saving function, a quick freezing function, a quick refrigeration function, etc. Settings relating to the storage means can be included.

  Next, the human detection means 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a human detection means 4 is provided on the upper portion of the dispenser portion 2 in the shape of a recess. By arranging the human detection means 4 at this position, the human detection means 4 can be prevented from projecting on the front surface of the door, and the detection performance of the human detection means 4 can be exhibited while keeping the front surface of the door flat. it can.

  The human detection means 4 employs an infrared sensor as an example. The infrared sensor is configured to include a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and is configured to detect the presence of a person at a predetermined distance of the refrigerator by reflecting infrared light from the light emitting unit to a person and entering the light receiving unit. .

  The human detection means 4 is not limited to this, and any known configuration can be adopted as long as it is a means capable of grasping the presence of a person, such as a temperature sensor or a camera. In addition, the arrangement of the person detection means 4 is not limited to this, and can be arranged at any position that can detect a person, such as a door surface, a door end, or a wall surface of the refrigerator body.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a control board 6 is incorporated in the refrigerator body 1. The control board 6 controls the human detection means 4, the input from the switch lever 2a, the control of the dispenser unit 2, the display unit 3a of the dispenser setting control panel 3, the control of the operation unit 3b, and the display of the refrigerator operation setting operation panel 5. Control of the part 5a and the operation part 5b, cooling control of the storage room, etc. are performed.

  In this configuration, when the human detection means 4 detects the movement of a person around the refrigerator body 1, the control board 6 determines that the refrigerator may be operated by a person. Here, especially in the case of a refrigerator provided with the dispenser unit 3, it is assumed that the user often uses only the dispenser unit 3 without opening and closing the door. For this reason, when the movement of a person around the refrigerator body 1 is detected by the person detection means 4, the display unit 3a of the dispenser control panel 3 is turned on. That is, when the human detection means 4 detects that the user has approached the refrigerator body 1, any one of ice cube (cube ice), broken ice (crash ice), and cold water is supplied from the dispenser unit 2. Displays whether it is set. If it is set to supply ice or cold water according to the user's request, the dispenser unit 2 may perform the supply operation as it is. If it is set to a different state, the user may set the required ice or cold water by operating the operation unit 3b.

  Moreover, since the dispenser part 2 is not used when there is no person around the refrigerator main body 1, the display part 3a and the operation part 3b of the dispenser control panel 3 are turned off. Specifically, after the human detection means 4 no longer detects human movement around the refrigerator, the display on the display unit 3a is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed. Thereby, when the refrigerator is not operated, the display unit 3a and the operation unit 3b are not visible on the front surface of the door. Therefore, the flat glass surface is emphasized to give a clean impression, and the design is excellent. Become a refrigerator. Furthermore, when the refrigerator is not used, the display unit 3a and the operation unit 3b are turned off, which leads to reduction in power consumption.

  On the other hand, the storage setting control panel 5 has a display unit 5a for displaying the storage room temperature (freezer room temperature, refrigeration room temperature) and the storage room temperature (freezer room temperature, refrigeration room temperature) operated by the user. And an operation unit 5b whose settings can be changed. Moreover, the setting state of the various functions of the refrigerator described above can be displayed as the display unit 5a, and the setting of these functions can be changed as the operation unit 5b.

  That is, the function of displaying and operating the display unit 5a and the operation unit 5b of the interior setting control panel 5 relates to storage in the refrigerator. Generally, various functions related to storage in the refrigerator are always in an operating state, and food is stored while maintaining this state. Therefore, once set, it is rarely changed. In particular, in the case of a refrigerator having the dispenser unit 2, the usage frequency of the dispenser unit 2 is higher than the usage frequency of the internal setting control panel 5. That is, it can be said that the usage frequency of the dispenser control panel 3 related to the dispenser unit 2 is higher than the usage frequency of the internal setting control panel 5.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the movement of a person around the refrigerator body 1 is detected by the human detection means 4, the display unit 3a (and the operation unit 3b) of the dispenser control panel 3 is turned on while The display unit 5a (and the operation unit 5b) of the setting control panel 5 is turned off without being turned on.

  That is, since the display unit 3a that is frequently used is turned on and the display unit 5a that is not frequently used is turned off without being displayed, power consumption is reduced. In addition, unnecessary lighting display is omitted by selectively lighting the display unit 3a (and the operation unit 3b) related to the dispenser unit 2 which is likely to be used without lighting all the display units 3a and 5a. Thus, the user can easily and quickly grasp the setting state relating to the dispenser unit 2, the change of the setting state relating to the dispenser unit 2 can be facilitated, and the usability of the dispenser function can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the display units 3a and 5a (and the operation units 3b and 5b) are normally turned off. However, when the person detecting unit 4 detects that the user has approached the refrigerator main body 1, The display (in this embodiment, the display unit 3a) is automatically turned on. When the human detection means 4 detects the proximity of a person and detects an input of the switch lever 2a, ice or water is supplied from the dispenser unit 2.

  On the other hand, when the person detection means 4 has not detected the movement of a person around the refrigerator, the display units 3a and 5a are turned off. In this state, when an input from the switch lever 2a is detected, it is determined that there is an input of the dispenser function even though no person is around, and ice or water is not supplied from the dispenser unit 2.

  That is, when there is an input from the switch lever 2a in a state where the person detection means 4 does not detect that a person is nearby, it is determined that the input is incorrect, and ice or water from the dispenser unit 2 is determined. Supply locks. Thereby, the refrigerator which improved the reliability of the dispenser function can be provided.

  According to the above embodiment, the refrigerator main body, the door that opens and closes the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, the dispenser part that supplies either ice or water outside the refrigerator main body, and the input means that drives the dispenser part And a dispenser control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the dispenser unit, an in-house setting control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the storage room, and the dispenser control panel and the in-house setting control panel are lit and displayed. A plurality of illumination means, and a person detection means for detecting that a person is present at a predetermined distance on the front side of the refrigerator main body. When the person is detected by the person detection means, the illumination means causes the dispenser control panel to Lights up. Thereby, usability and operability are improved, and a refrigerator with reduced power consumption can be provided.

  In addition, when an operation input of the dispenser unit is detected in a state where a person is detected by the human detection unit, the dispenser unit is driven and the dispenser unit is not detected by the human detection unit. When the operation input is detected, the dispenser unit is stopped. Thereby, the reliability of a dispenser function can be improved.

  Further, when a person's movement is detected around the refrigerator, the storage function is kept off and the display regarding the dispenser function is automatically turned on. Thereby, usability and operability are improved, and a refrigerator with reduced power consumption can be provided.

  In addition to these, a part of the configuration of the embodiment can be replaced, and other configurations can be added to the configuration of the embodiment. Furthermore, other configurations can be added to, deleted from, or replaced with a part of the configuration of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body 1a, 1b, 1c Door 2 Dispenser part 2a Switch lever (input means)
3 Dispenser setting control panel 3a Display unit 3b Operation unit 4 Person detection means 5 Internal setting control panel 5a Display unit 5b Operation unit 6 Control board

Claims (2)

The refrigerator body,
A door for opening and closing the storage chamber of the refrigerator body;
A dispenser section for supplying either ice or water outside the refrigerator body;
Input means for driving the dispenser unit;
A dispenser control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the dispenser unit;
An internal setting control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the storage room;
A plurality of illumination means for lighting and displaying the dispenser control panel and the interior setting control panel,
Human detection means for detecting that there is a person at a predetermined distance on the front side of the refrigerator body,
When a person is detected by the person detection means, the dispenser control panel is turned on by the illumination means ,
In a state where a person is detected by the human detection means, when an operation input of the dispenser unit is detected, the dispenser unit is driven,
The refrigerator which stops the dispenser part when the operation input of the dispenser part is detected in a state where the person is not detected by the person detection means . The refrigerator body,
A door for opening and closing the storage chamber of the refrigerator body;
A dispenser section for supplying either ice or water outside the refrigerator body;
Input means for driving the dispenser unit;
A dispenser control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the dispenser unit;
An internal setting control panel for displaying and operating the setting of the storage room;
A plurality of illumination means for lighting and displaying the dispenser control panel and the interior setting control panel,
Human detection means for detecting that there is a person at a predetermined distance on the front side of the refrigerator body,
When a person is detected by the person detection means, the dispenser control panel is turned on by the illumination means ,
The refrigerator is characterized in that when the person is detected by the person detection means and the dispenser control panel is turned on and displayed by the illumination means, the off state of the internal setting control panel is maintained .