Refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11852398-B2
Application number	US-202117332722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2021
Priority date	Apr 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door. While a user is holding an object in both hands, a door may be automatically and additionally opened using another part of a body other than hands.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensing assembly comprising:
a case that defines a receiving space;
a cover that is made of a transparent material and covers the receiving space;
a projector disposed in a first section of the receiving space, the projector comprising:
a lighting emitting device configured to emit light,
a film through which the light emitted from the lighting emitting device passes, and
a plurality of lenses disposed within the first section; and

a detection device disposed in a second section of the receiving space, the detection device comprising:
a light emitting part,
a light receiving part positioned between the light emitting part and the plurality of lenses, and
a barrier positioned between the light emitting part and the light receiving part,

wherein a front surface of the cover is inclined with respect to the plurality of lenses.

2. The sensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the lighting emitting device of the projector and the cover is greater than a distance between the light emitting part of the detection device and the cover.

3. The sensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover defines a projecting hole through which the light having passed through the plurality of lenses passes.

4. The sensing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the case comprises:
a first case that defines a first portion of each of the first and second sections; and
a second case that is coupled to the first case and defines a second portion of each of the first and second sections.

5. An appliance comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space;
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, the door being configured to be opened toward a user, the door comprising:
a front surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface,
a first sensor configured to detect a presence of the user within a predetermined distance from the appliance, and
a sensor assembly comprising:
a projector configured to emit light to project a predetermined image on a supporting surface for the appliance based on the first sensor detecting the presence of the user within the predetermined distance, the projector comprising a plurality of lenses inclined with respect to the front surface of the door, and
a second sensor configured to sense a foot of the user based on the foot of the user overlapping with the predetermined image; and

a controller configured to control a function of the appliance based on the second sensor sensing the foot of the user.

6. The appliance of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of lenses are inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the door.

7. The appliance of claim 5 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:
a case defining a receiving space that receives the projector and the second sensor; and
a cover that covers the receiving space.

8. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein a front surface of the cover is inclined with respect to the plurality of lenses.

9. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein a front surface of the cover is inclined with respect to the front surface of the door.

10. The appliance of claim 7 , wherein the second sensor comprises a light emitting part and a light receiving part, the light receiving part being positioned between the light emitting part and the plurality of lenses, and
wherein the case comprises a barrier positioned between the light emitting part and the light receiving part.

11. The sensing assembly of claim 10 , wherein a distance between the projector and the cover is greater than a distance between the light emitting part of the second sensor and the cover.

12. The sensing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the cover defines a projecting hole through which light having passed through the plurality of lenses passes.

13. The sensing assembly of claim 10 , wherein the receiving space is divided into a first section that accommodates the projector and a second section that accommodates the second sensor, and
wherein the case further comprises:
a first case that defines a first portion of each of the first and second sections; and
a second case that is coupled to the first case and defines a second portion of each of the first and second sections.

14. The sensing assembly of claim 13 , wherein the barrier protrudes from an inner surface of the second case toward the first case, the barrier being inclined with respect to the cover.

15. The sensing assembly of claim 14 , wherein the barrier is in contact with a rear surface of the cover.

16. An appliance comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space;
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, the door being configured to be opened toward a user;
a reed switch configured to detect whether the door is opened;
a first sensor configured to detect a presence of the user within a predetermined distance from the appliance;
a sensor assembly disposed at the door, the sensor assembly comprising:
a projector configured to emit light to project a predetermined image on a supporting surface for the appliance based on the first sensor detecting the presence of the user within the predetermined distance, and
a second sensor configured to sense a foot of the user based on the foot of the user overlapping with the predetermined image; and

a controller configured to control a function of the appliance based on the second sensor sensing the foot of the user, the controller being configured to deactivate the projector based on the door being opened.

17. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the function based on the second sensor sensing the foot of the user within a predetermined time after the first sensor detects the presence of the user.

18. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the projector based on the foot of the user not being sensed by the second sensor within a predetermined time after the first sensor detects the presence of the user.

19. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the projector comprises a plurality of lenses that are inclined with respect to a front surface of the door.

20. The appliance of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of lenses are inclined with respect to the supporting surface for the appliance.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Jinsung
• Kwon Hongsik
• Kim Minsub

Classifications

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• B21D5/00

  Bending sheet metal along straight lines, e.g. to form simple curves (B21D11/06 - B21D11/18 take precedence; corrugating sheet metal B21D13/00; as edge treatment B21D19/00) · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• F25D23/025

  Secondary closures · CPC title

• F25D27/005

  combined with control means · CPC title