Refrigerator and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191744-A1
Application number	US-201715399097-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2017
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, the door defining an opening that is in communication with the storage space, a detection device provided in the door and configured to detect a user's operation, a lighting unit configured to, based on the door being closed, turn on and off according to a signal from the detection device and to illuminate an inside of the refrigerator, and a panel assembly provided to the door and covering the opening, the panel assembly being configured to allow selective viewing of the inside of the refrigerator through the panel assembly. The panel assembly is configured to, based on the lighting unit being turned on, transmit light from the inside of the refrigerator to thereby allow viewing of the inside of the refrigerator through the panel assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, the door defining an opening that is in communication with the storage space; a detection device provided in the door and configured to detect a user's operation; a lighting unit configured to, based on the door being closed, turn on and off according to a signal from the detection device and to illuminate an inside of the refrigerator; and a panel assembly provided to the door and covering the opening, the panel assembly being configured to allow selective viewing of the inside of the refrigerator through the panel assembly, wherein the panel assembly is configured to, based on the lighting unit being turned on, transmit light from the inside of the refrigerator to thereby allow viewing of the inside of the refrigerator through the panel assembly.

2 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device is a knock detection device provided on a rear surface of the panel assembly and configured to detect a knocking operation of the panel assembly by the user.

3 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly is part of a sub-door that is connected to the door and configured to open and close the opening, the panel assembly comprising:
a front panel forming a front surface of the sub-door and including a half mirror that is selectively transparent, the half mirror being configured to reflect some of the light and transmit some of the light; a plurality of insulation panels spaced apart from the front panel and made of a transparent tempered glass; and a cudgel positioned between the front panel and the insulation panel and between the plurality of insulation panels, the cudgel being configured to provide separation and sealing between the front panel and the insulation panel and between the plurality of insulation panels.

4 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the front panel comprises:
a glass layer made of transparent glass; a vacuum deposition layer provided on a rear surface of the glass layer by vacuum deposition of a titanium compound; and a bezel layer printed on a rear surface of the vacuum deposition layer along an edge of the glass layer and configured to not transmit light.

5 . The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the front panel further comprises a transparent print layer printed on the entire rear surface of the vacuum deposition layer with a transparent material.

6 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the front panel comprises:
a glass layer made of transparent glass; a ceramic print layer configured to be heated on a front surface of the glass layer after screen printing with a reflective ink that includes a titanium compound; and a bezel layer printed along an edge of a rear surface of the glass layer and configured to not transmit light.

7 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the front panel comprises:
a glass layer made of transparent glass; a hard coating layer coated on a front surface of the glass layer with a triple layer comprising iron, cobalt, and chrome; and a bezel layer printed along an edge of a rear surface of the glass layer and configured to not transmit light.

8 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the hard coating layer is formed by Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (APCVD) or spraying.

9 . The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the bezel layer is printed with a ceramic pigment that includes glass powder.

10 . The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the glass layer is a gray colored glass.

11 . The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the ceramic print layer is configured such that the front panel has a 20%-30% of transmittance.

12 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein an inert gas is filled in a space between the plurality of insulation panels that are spaced apart with the cudgel.

13 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein a space between the plurality of insulation panels that are spaced apart with the cudgel is vacuum treated.

14 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the front panel forms the entire front surface of the door, and the insulation panel covers a smaller area than the front panel and is disposed in an inner side area of the front panel.

15 . The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the bezel layer is provided on an edge of the front panel of an outer side of the insulation panel.

16 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the detection device is provided on the bezel layer so as to be not exposed to the outside.

17 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the insulation panel is a Low-s Glass in which a low-radiation coating layer is provided.

18 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the bezel layer is printed with a ceramic pigment including glass powder.

19 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the glass layer is a gray colored glass.

20 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the hard coating layer is configured such that the front panel has a 20%-30% of transmittance.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Koo Jahun

Classifications

• F25D2400/361

  Interactive visual displays · CPC title

• F25D2700/00

  Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor · CPC title

• F25D11/00 Primary

  Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators · CPC title

• F25D2323/023

  Door in door constructions · CPC title

• F25D27/005 Primary

  combined with control means · CPC title