Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11112164-B2
Application number	US-201916406727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2019
Priority date	Sep 3, 2015
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A refrigerator provides visual information indicating a map of the refrigerator and technical operations of the corresponding regions. The refrigerator includes a voice recognition function using a proximity sensor. The refrigerator has input/output (I/O) management functions for foods stored therein. The refrigerator communicates with a peripheral device over a network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body including a plurality of storage chambers;
a display provided in the main body of the refrigerator; and
at least one processor configured to:
control the display to display a refrigerator map including a plurality of different images when a predetermined condition is satisfied, wherein each of the plurality of different images corresponds to a different one of the plurality of storage chambers and each of the plurality of images includes function information corresponding to the different one of the plurality of storage chambers, and
in response to a touch input selecting the one of the plurality of different images:
control the display to display the selected one of the plurality of different images which is enlarged, and
display at least one setting icon to control the function information of the one of the plurality of storage chambers corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of different images.

2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor for detecting an opening or closing state of a refrigerator door,
wherein, when the sensor detects the opening or closing state of the refrigerator door, the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display the refrigerator map.

3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2 , wherein, when the sensor detects the opening or closing state of the refrigerator door, the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display the function information associated with maintaining a constant temperature.

4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display a refrigerator management screen image for visualizing a state of the refrigerator.

5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display a list of recommended foods per indoor temperature in the vicinity of the refrigerator map.

6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a button located in a vicinity of the display.

7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a voice input interface for inputting a voice command of a user,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the display to display a process for recognizing user voice commands collected by the voice input interface.

8. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor for detecting presence of a user in a vicinity of the refrigerator,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to activate a voice input interface based on user approach information collected by the sensor.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different images included in the refrigerator map are displayed simultaneously.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Kyoung Ae
• Baek Yoo Lim
• Oh Mi A
• Kim Sae Mi
• Yoo Da Hey
• Lee Kyung Hoon
• Cho Tae Hyoung
• Eun Jung Hwi
• Yoo Ye Kyung
• Lee Mun Keun
• Jung Young Bin

Classifications

• F25D2600/06

  Controlling according to a predetermined profile · CPC title

• F25D2500/06

  Stock management · CPC title

• F25D2400/361

  Interactive visual displays · CPC title

• F25D29/005

  Mounting of control devices · CPC title

• F25D29/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title