Refrigerator and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191745-A1
Application number	US-201715399161-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 forming a storage space, a main door that opens and closes the storage space while defining an opening part that is in communication with the storage space, a sub-door mounted to the main door and configured to open and close the opening part, the sub-door including a panel assembly for allowing selective viewing of an inside of the opening part, a detection device for detecting an operation of a user, a lighting unit inside the refrigerator that turns on based on user operation to allow selective viewing of the inner side of the opening part, and a display unit inside the refrigerator at a position corresponding to the panel assembly that becomes visible and displays an operation state of the refrigerator when the lighting unit turns on.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; a main door rotatably mounted to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, the main door defining an opening part that is in communication with the storage space; a sub-door rotatably mounted to the main door and configured to open and close the opening part, the sub-door including a panel assembly that is configured to allow selective viewing of an inner side of the opening part through the panel assembly; a detection device provided to the sub-door and configured to detect an operation of a user; a lighting unit provided inside the refrigerator and configured to, based on the sub-door being closed and based on the detection of the user operation by the detection device, turn on to allow viewing of the inner side of the opening part by causing the panel assembly to appear transparent; and a display unit provided inside the refrigerator at a position corresponding to the panel assembly, the display unit being configured to become visible and display an operation state of the refrigerator based on the lighting unit turning on.

2 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is detachably provided in the opening part.

3 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein display installing protrusions are provided on the opening part, and display guides in which the installing protrusions are inserted are provided on both side surfaces of the display unit.

4 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the installing protrusions are provided on both side surfaces of the opening part, and the display guides are opened downward to receive and mount the installing protrusion.

5 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein a door connector connected with a main control part controlling the operation of the refrigerator is provided in the opening part, and a display connector electrically connected with the door connector is provided on a lower surface of the display.

6 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is seated on a lower end of the opening part, and both side ends of the display are detachably coupled to an inner side surface of the opening part.

7 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit comprises:
an outer case forming an outer shape and detachably coupled to the inside of the refrigerator; an inner case seated inside the outer case and accommodating a display PCB in which a display and an operating button are disposed; and a display cover that is in contact with a front surface of the display PCB, the display cover being configured to shield an opened front surface of the outer case.

8 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein elements mounted on the display PCB are surrounded by a resin material for moisture proofing.

9 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the display is exposed to a center of the display cover, and a plurality of operating buttons are disposed on both left and right sides of the display.

10 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the display cover is inclined rearward toward an upper portion.

11 . The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein a lower end of the display cover is extended to a position corresponding to a rear surface of the sub-door based on the sub-door being closed.

12 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a door switch configured to detect the opening and closing of the sub-door is provided to the main door, and wherein, based on the sub-door being opened by the door switch, the display unit is activated and turned on.

13 . The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein based on the door switch detecting that the sub-door is closed after the sub-door is opened, the display unit is turned off.

14 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit is turned on and off with the lighting unit.

15 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; a door mounted to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, the door defining an opening part that is in communication with the storage space; a panel assembly provided in the opening part and forming an exterior appearance of a front surface of the door, the panel assembly being configured to allow selective viewing of the inside of the opening part; a detection device provided to the door and configured to detect a user's operation; a lighting unit provided inside the refrigerator and configured to, based on the door being closed and based on the detection of the user operation by the detection device, turn on to allow viewing of the inside of the opening part by causing the panel assembly to appear transparent; and a display unit provided inside the refrigerator at a position corresponding to the panel assembly, the display unit being configured to become visible and display an operation state of the refrigerator based on the lighting unit turning on.

16 . The refrigerator according to claim 15 , 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.

17 . The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the display unit includes a display displaying an operation state of the refrigerator, and an operating button for setting and controlling the operation of the refrigerator.

18 . The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein the display and operating button are configured to be activated based on the user's operation being detected by the detection device while the door is closed.

19 . A control method of a refrigerator comprising a panel assembly of a half mirror material that covers an opening part of a door that is in communication with an inside of the refrigerator so as to allow selective viewing of the inside of the refrigerator, the method comprising:
activating, based on the door being closed, a knock detection device that is configured to detect a user's knocking operation from an outside of the door; determining whether an input signal of the knock detection device is valid input signal; and performing a visualization step of turning on, by a main control part, a lighting unit that is disposed inside the refrigerator and a display unit that is disposed inside the refrigerator and configured to display an operation state of the refrigerator, the operation state becoming determinable from an outside of the refrigerator through the panel assembly based on the user's operation being determined to be valid.

20 . The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 19 , wherein based on the door being opened, activating the display unit and enabling an input from the operating button on the display.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Choi Kwanghyun

Classifications

• F25D2700/00

  Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor · CPC title

• F25D2700/04

  Sensors detecting the presence of a person · CPC title

• A47F3/0434

  Glass or transparent panels · CPC title

• F25D2400/36

  Visual displays · CPC title

• F25D2323/024

  Door hinges · CPC title