Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022090845-A1
Application number	US-202117542708-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 6, 2021
Priority date	Sep 3, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator provides visual information indicating a map of the refrigerator and technical operations of the corresponding regions. The refrigerator includes a voice recognition function using a proximity sensor. The refrigerator has input/output (I/O) management functions for foods stored therein. The refrigerator communicates with a peripheral device over a network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a proximity sensor; a display; a microphone; a main body including at least one or more chambers; at least one chamber door including the proximity sensor, the display and the microphone, and coupled to the main body via a hinge; and at least one processor configured to:
based on a first predetermined condition being detected by the proximity sensor while the refrigerator is in a voice recognition deactivation state, control the display to display a first image indicating a voice recognition preparation step of a voice recognition activation state,
based on a first voice command being received by the microphone while the refrigerator is in the voice recognition activation state and the first image being displayed, control the display to display a second image indicating a voice processing step of the voice recognition activation state, and
perform a function associated with the first voice command.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined condition comprises detecting an initiation of access to the refrigerator in a sensing region of the proximity sensor.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second image includes images of text and an animation according to a progress of the voice processing step.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
after controlling the display to display the second image indicating the voice processing step, control the display to display a third image indicating a result providing step of the voice recognition activation state.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control the display to display temperature information of at least one of the one or more chambers of the main body based on a second predetermined condition being satisfied, the second predetermined condition comprising detecting a change in a state of the at least one chamber door.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on a voice recognition deactivation command being received while the refrigerator is in the voice recognition activation state, switch from the voice recognition activation state to the voice recognition deactivation state.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the voice recognition deactivation command includes a state change of the at least one chamber door.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control panel including at least one button at a front surface of the at least one chamber door, wherein the display is integrated into the control panel and the at least one button is disposed separately from the display.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
based on an input for changing a power consumption parameter being received, apply an energy saver function to change a power consumption pattern of the refrigerator.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the one or more chambers of the main body include an upper chamber and a lower chamber.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the at least one chamber door includes a first door, a second door associated with the upper chamber, and a third door associated with the lower chamber.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the proximity sensor, the display, and the microphone are disposed in the second door associated with the upper chamber.

13 . The refrigerator of claim 12 , wherein the first door is disposed on a left side of the upper chamber and the second door is disposed on a right side of the upper chamber.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
control the display to display information associated with a temperature of the at least one chamber.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the display information associated with the temperature of the at least one chamber includes information for setting a temperature of the at least one chamber.

16 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
in a case that a predetermined time has elapsed, control the display to turn off.

17 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
in response to a second predetermined condition being detected, control the display to turn on.

18 . The refrigerator of claim 17 , wherein the second predetermined condition includes at least one of detecting a change of state of the at least one chamber door to an open position, detecting an input associated with the at least one chamber door, or detecting an input using the proximity sensor.

19 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the voice control image includes a visual indicator comprising at least one of text or animation image indicating that the refrigerator is in the voice recognition preparation step.

20 . The refrigerator of claim 19 , wherein the second image includes a visual indicator comprising at least one of text or animation indicating that the refrigerator is in the voice processing step.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Kyoung Ae
• Baek Yoo Lim
• Oh Mi A
• Kim Sae Mi
• Yoo Da Hey
• Lee Kyung Hoon
• Cho Tae Hyoung
• Eun Jung Hwi
• Yoo Ye Kyung
• Lee Mun Keun
• Jung Young Bin

Classifications

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• F25D2700/02

  Sensors detecting door opening · CPC title

• F25D11/02 Primary

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D2500/06

  Stock management · CPC title

• F25D23/12

  Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove · CPC title