Refrigerator, home appliance, and conrtol method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535990-B2
Application number	US-202318238762-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2023
Priority date	Aug 29, 2022
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

A refrigerator includes: a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close the storage space, a microphone configured to receive voice, a speaker configured to output audio, and a controller configured to, based on the microphone receiving a voice command and the audio being output, operate the refrigerator according to the voice command.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space and comprising:
a door body disposed at the cabinet; and
a panel assembly mounted on a front surface of the door body and having a lighting device configured to change a color of a front surface of the door;
a microphone configured to receive voice; a speaker configured to output audio; and a controller configured to, based on the microphone receiving a voice command, control the lighting device to change the color of the front surface of the door to a color associated with the voice command.

2 . A household appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space and comprising:
a door body disposed at the cabinet, and
a panel assembly mounted on a front surface of the door body and having a lighting device configured to change a color of a front surface of the door;
a microphone configured to receive voice; a speaker configured to output audio; and a controller configured to control the lighting device to change the color of the front surface of the door in coordination with the output audio from the speaker.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door body includes:
a body plate configured to receive the panel assembly, a door liner defining a rear surface of the door, side decorations defining both left and right sides, an upper cap decoration defining an upper surface of the door body, a lower cap decoration defining a lower surface of the door body, and a heat insulating material received at a space inside the door body.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly includes:
a front plate defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the panel assembly, a light guide plate configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device, an upper bracket defining an upper surface of the panel assembly, a lower bracket defining a lower surface of the panel assembly, and a back cover defining a rear surface of the panel assembly.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the lighting device is mounted on the lower bracket, and
wherein the panel assembly further includes a light supporter configured to support the lighting device and dissipate heat generated from the lighting device by conduction.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the light supporter includes:
a first supporting portion supporting the lighting device, and a second supporting portion contacting the back cover.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the panel assembly further includes a support member having a structure in which the light guide plate and the front plate are coupled and providing a predetermined distance between the light guide plate and the front plate.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door defines an opening at an upper surface and provides a door cover covering the opening at the upper surface,
wherein the door cover includes:
a cover portion covering the opening at the upper surface, and
a module mounting portion extending downward from the cover portion and inserted into an inner space of the door, and
wherein the microphone is mounted on the module mounting portion.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the module mounting portion provides a processor module comprising the controller,
wherein the processor module is connected to the microphone, the speaker, and the lighting device, and wherein the processor module includes a voice recognition module configured to interpret instructions within the received voice command.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the speaker is disposed on an upper surface of the cabinet.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on a determination that the voice command includes a trigger voice, control the lighting device to change the color of the front surface of the door.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the lighting device to change the color of the front surface of the door in coordination with the output audio from the speaker.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a short-range communicator configured to connect a remote device to the speaker, wherein the controller is configured to control the speaker to output the audio based on input received from the remote device through the short-range communicator.

14 . The household appliance of claim 2 , wherein the door body includes:
a body plate configured to receive the panel assembly, a door liner defining a rear surface of the door, side decorations defining both left and right sides, an upper cap decoration defining an upper surface of the door body, a lower cap decoration defining a lower surface of the door body, and a heat insulating material received at a space inside the door body.

15 . The household appliance of claim 2 , wherein the panel assembly includes:
a front plate defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the panel assembly, a light guide plate configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device, an upper bracket defining an upper surface of the panel assembly; a lower bracket defining a lower surface of the panel assembly; and a back cover defining a rear surface of the panel assembly.

16 . The household appliance of claim 15 , wherein the lighting device is mounted on the lower bracket,
wherein the panel assembly further includes a light supporter configured to support the lighting device inside and dissipate heat generated from the lighting device by conduction.

17 . The household appliance of claim 2 , wherein the door further defines an opening at an upper surface and provides a door cover covering the opening at the upper surface,
wherein the door cover includes:
a cover portion covering the opening at the upper surface, and
a module mounting portion extending downward from the cover portion and inserted into an inner space of the door, and
wherein the microphone is mounted on the module mounting portion.

18 . The household appliance of claim 17 , wherein the module mounting portion provides a processor module comprising the controller,
wherein the processor module is connected to the microphone, the speaker, and the lighting device, and wherein the processor module includes a voice recognition module configured to interpret instructions within the received voice command.

19 . The household appliance of claim 2 , wherein the speaker is disposed on an upper surface of the cabinet.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Ikkyu
• Kim Jaemin
• Won Jaeyong

Classifications

• G10L2015/223

  Execution procedure of a spoken command · CPC title

• G10L15/22

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• F25D27/005

  combined with control means · CPC title