Refrigerator and household appliance networking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016116207-A1
Application number	US-201414893141-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 28, 2014
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a casing including storage compartments, doors attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartments, hinges connecting the doors to the casing and supporting the doors so that the doors are openable and closeable, non-conductive hinge covers detachably attached to the casing and covering the hinges, and a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover and including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

First claim

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a casing including a storage compartment; a non-conductive carrying handle attached to the casing, the carrying handle being used for carrying the casing; and a wireless adapter disposed cover the carrying handle, the wireless adapter including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

2 . A refrigerator comprising:
a casing including a storage compartment; a door attached to the casing to expose or cover the storage compartment; a hinge connecting the door to the casing and supporting the door so that the door is openable and closeable; a non-conductive hinge cover detachably attached to the casing, the hinge cover covering the hinge; and a wireless adapter disposed on the hinge cover, the wireless adapter including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising
a non-conductive attachment interposed between the carrying handle and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the carrying handle and the wireless adapter and fix the carrying handle and the wireless adapter.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , further comprising
a non-conductive attachment interposed between the hinge cover and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the hinge cover and the wireless adapter and fix the hinge cover and the wireless adapter.

5 . A refrigerator comprising:
a casing including a storage compartment; a cooling device supplying cooled air to the storage compartment; a board holder included in the casing, the board holder holding a control board controlling the cooling device; a board holder cover covering the board holder; a wireless adapter disposed on the board holder cover, the wireless adapter including an antenna unit configured to transmit and receive radio waves; and a non-conductive attachment interposed between the board holder cover and the wireless adapter to increase a distance between the board holder cover and the wireless adapter and fix the board holder cover and the wireless adapter.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising
a lighting unit provided for the attachment, the lighting unit configured to illuminate a surrounding area.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising
a camera provided for the attachment, the camera capturing an image of a surrounding area.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising
a human presence sensor provided for the attachment, the human presence sensor sensing a presence of a person in a surrounding area.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising
an attachment shield disposed on an attachment surface of the attachment facing the casing, the attachment shield absorbing radio waves.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 1 further, comprising
a wireless adapter shield disposed on an attachment surface of the wireless adapter facing the casing, the wireless adapter shield absorbing radio waves.

11 . A household appliance networking system comprising:
the refrigerator of claim 1 ; an electrical apparatus; and a central controller configured to control the refrigerator and the electrical apparatus, the refrigerator and the electrical apparatus being connected through the central controller.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Yamato Yasunari
• Maeda Go
• Okabe Makoto

Classifications

• A47B81/06

  Furniture aspects of radio, television, gramophone, or record cabinets {(for similar equipment supports attached to the wall or ceiling or floor stands F16M)} · CPC title

• F25D23/028

  Details · CPC title

• F25D29/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F25D2600/00

  Control issues · CPC title

• F25D2700/04

  Sensors detecting the presence of a person · CPC title