Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11813611-B2
Application number	US-202118246465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2021
Priority date	Sep 27, 2020
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body internally defining a storage space for storing articles, a door connected to the refrigerator body and used for opening and/or closing the storage space, and a microfluidic detection system which is provided on the door and comprises: a microfluidic biochip having a sample inlet, a communication port, and a detection pool formed in the microfluidic biochip, the sample inlet, the detection pool, and the communication port being connected in sequence by means of a microfluidic channel to allow a sample fluid in contact with the sample inlet to enter the microfluidic channel and flow into the detection pool by means of the microfluidic channel; and a detection mechanism used for detecting the detection pool after the sample fluid in the detection pool reacts with a detection reagent in the detection pool to obtain a preset detection parameter of the sample fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a refrigerator body internally defining a storage space for storing articles;
a door connected to the refrigerator body and used for opening and/or closing the storage space; and
a microfluidic detection system which is provided on the door and comprises:
a microfluidic biochip having a sample inlet, a communication port, and a detection pool formed in the microfluidic biochip, the sample inlet, the detection pool, and the communication to port being communicated in sequence by means of a microfluidic channel to allow a sample fluid in contact with the sample inlet to enter the microfluidic channel and flow into the detection pool by means of the microfluidic channel; and
a detection mechanism used for detecting the detection pool to obtain a preset detection parameter of the sample fluid.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic detection system further comprises:
a sample stage for placing a sample cup, the sample cup being used for containing the sample fluid; and
a housing provided with an operation stage opened towards the front side thereof, the sample stage being at least partially located in the operation stage.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 ,
wherein a hollowed window is formed in the front side of the door, and the operation stage is exposed on the front side of the door through the hollowed window.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 ,
wherein the door comprises a panel for forming a front portion of the door, a door liner for forming a rear portion of the door and a foamed heat insulation layer provided between the panel and the door liner, and the hollowed window is formed on the panel; and
a pre-embedded box is pre-embedded between the panel and the door liner before the foamed heat insulation layer is formed, and the microfluidic detection system is provided in the pre-embedded box.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 ,
wherein the pre-embedded box is attached to a rear surface of the panel, and the front side of the pre-embedded box is open and directly faces the hollowed window to allow the microfluidic detection system to be mounted into the pre-embedded box from front to back through the hollowed window.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 ,
wherein the housing is provided with a first structural connecting piece for being connected with the pre-embedded box and a first electrical connecting piece for forming an electrical connection between the microfluidic detection system and an electrical control device of the refrigerator, so as to allow the microfluidic detection system to be mounted to the door as a whole;
the pre-embedded box is provided with a second structural connecting piece matched and connected with the first structural connecting piece and a second electrical connecting piece electrically connected with the first electrical connecting piece, and the second electrical connecting piece is electrically connected with the electrical control device.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 2 ,
wherein the microfluidic biochip is provided above the sample stage, and the sample inlet is located at the bottom of the microfluidic biochip; and
the sample stage is configured to controllably or operably move up and down, such that the sample stage is switched between a detection position allowing the sample fluid in the sample cup placed on the sample stage to be in contact with the sample inlet and an initial position at a preset distance below the detection position.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 2 ,
wherein the microfluidic biochip is removably located above the sample stage, and the sample inlet is located at the bottom of the microfluidic biochip; and
the microfluidic detection system further comprises:
a chip mounting mechanism provided in the housing and used for supporting the microfluidic biochip; and
a chip withdrawing mechanism used for operably releasing the support effect of the chip mounting mechanism on the microfluidic biochip, so as to release the microfluidic biochip to enable the microfluidic biochip to fall onto the sample stage under the action of the gravity thereof.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the microfluidic detection system further comprises:
a buffer fluid bottle provided in the housing and used for containing a buffer fluid; and
a buffer fluid driving device provided in the housing and communicated with the buffer fluid bottle to controllably drive the buffer fluid in the buffer fluid bottle into the sample cup placed on the sample stage, such that the buffer fluid is mixed with a sample in the sample cup to generate the sample fluid.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein the sample stage comprises:
a support stage used for supporting the sample cup; and
an oscillator provided on the support stage and used for oscillating the sample cup after the sample cup is placed on the support stage, such that the buffer fluid and the sample in the sample cup are fully mixed.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic detection system further comprises:
a sample fluid driving device in sealed communication with the communication port to impel the sample fluid in contact with the sample inlet to flow into the microfluidic channel and flow to the detection pool by means of the microfluidic channel.

Assignees

• Qingdao haier refrigerator co ltd
• Haier Smart Home Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liu Haoquan
• Fei Bin
• Zhao Bintang
• Wang Jing

Classifications

• B01L3/502715 Primary

  characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces · CPC title

• F25D23/12 Primary

  Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove · CPC title

• G01N21/78

  producing a change of colour · CPC title

• B01L2200/04

  Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs · CPC title

• B01L2200/0689

  Sealing · CPC title