A TMR switch for household refrigerators

Abstract

The present invention provides a TMR switch for a household refrigerator. The household refrigerator includes a refrigerator body, a door, and a drive assembly for driving the door to rotate and close the refrigerator body. The door body is hinged to the refrigerator body via a door hinge. The TMR switch is fixedly installed in the lining of the refrigerator body near the door body. A magnet corresponding to the TMR switch is fixedly installed on the door body. The TMR switch includes a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor, a timer, and a trigger. The output end of the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor is electrically connected to the input end of the timer, the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the input end of the trigger, and the output end of the trigger is electrically connected to the drive assembly. The present invention can detect the open and closed state of the door body in real time and drive the door body to rotate to close the refrigerator body when the door body is open for more than a preset time. This solves the problem that refrigerators currently on the market cannot automatically close when the door body is opened to a large angle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigerator accessories, and in particular to a TMR switch for a household refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] Refrigerators are a widely used household appliance in our daily lives and are frequently used. Consumers often leave the door open at a wide angle and often forget to close it after use.

[0003] Currently, refrigerators on the market can only automatically close their doors when the door is opened at a small angle through the attraction between the magnetic strips installed on the door and the body. They cannot automatically close their doors when the door is opened at a large angle, and their structure needs to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Based on this, in order to solve the problem that refrigerators currently on the market cannot automatically close their doors when the doors are opened at a large angle, the present invention provides a TMR switch for household refrigerators, the specific technical solution of which is as follows:

[0005] A TMR switch for a household refrigerator, comprising a cabinet and a door, the door being hinged to the cabinet via a door hinge; the TMR switch being fixedly mounted in an inner lining of the cabinet near the door; and a magnet corresponding to the TMR switch being fixedly mounted on the door. The TMR switch comprises a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor, a timer, and a trigger. The household refrigerator further comprises a drive assembly for driving the door to rotate to close the cabinet, the output end of the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor being electrically connected to the input end of the timer, the output end of the timer being electrically connected to the input end of the trigger, and the output end of the trigger being electrically connected to the drive assembly.

[0006] The tunnel magnetoresistive sensor is used in conjunction with the magnet to detect the open / close state of the door. When the door is open, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor outputs a high level; when the door is closed, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor outputs a low level.

[0007] The timer stores a preset time. When the door is open for longer than the preset time, the timer outputs a high level to the trigger, which then drives the drive assembly to operate, thereby driving the door to rotate and close the box.

[0008] The TMR switch for household refrigerators can detect the open and closed status of the door in real time by setting a TMR switch and a drive component, and drive the door to rotate to close the box when the door opening time exceeds a preset time. This solves the problem that refrigerators on the current market cannot automatically close the door when the door is opened at a large angle.

[0009] Furthermore, the drive assembly includes a drive mechanism, a rotating shaft and a pull rope, the drive mechanism and the rotating shaft are fixedly mounted on the box body, one end of the pull rope is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive mechanism, the other end of the pull rope is fixedly connected to an end of the door body away from the door hinge, and the pull rope passes through the rotating shaft and is slidably connected to the rotating shaft.

[0010] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes an artificial muscle, a transmission member and an output shaft, the artificial muscle is transmission-connected to one end of the transmission member, the other end of the transmission member is transmission-connected to the output shaft, and the artificial muscle is electrically connected to the trigger.

[0011] Furthermore, the transmission member includes a rack and a gear, the gear is fixedly mounted on the output shaft and coaxially arranged with the output shaft, the output shaft is rotatably mounted on the top of the box, one end of the rack is fixedly connected to the artificial muscle, and the other end of the rack is engaged with the gear.

[0012] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes a DC motor fixedly mounted on the top of the box, and the DC motor is electrically connected to the trigger.

[0013] Furthermore, the trigger is an RS trigger.

[0014] Furthermore, the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the set end of the RS trigger, and the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the reset end of the RS trigger through an inverter.

[0015] Furthermore, a groove is provided in the lining, and the TMR switch is encapsulated in the groove by epoxy resin pouring.

[0016] Furthermore, the TMR switch further includes a voltage stabilizing circuit, and the output end of the voltage stabilizing circuit is electrically connected to the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor, the timer, and the trigger respectively.

[0017] Furthermore, the TMR switch further includes a buzzer, and an input end of the buzzer is electrically connected to an output end of the trigger. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention can be further understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather the emphasis is placed on illustrating the principles of the embodiments. In different views, the same reference numerals designate corresponding parts.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a TMR switch for a household refrigerator in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit connections between a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor, a timer, a trigger, and a driving component of a TMR switch for a household refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a TMR switch for a household refrigerator in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0022] Description of reference numerals:

[0023] 1. Box body; 2. Door body; 3. Door hinge; 4. Tunnel magnetoresistive sensor; 5. Drive mechanism; 6. Rotating shaft; 7. Pull rope; 8. Micro switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with its embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly attached to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0027] The "first" and "second" in the present invention do not represent specific quantities and orders, but are only used to distinguish names.

[0028] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, a TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) switch for a household refrigerator in one embodiment of the present invention comprises a cabinet 1 and a door 2, the door 2 being hinged to the cabinet 1 via a door hinge 3, the TMR switch being fixedly mounted in an inner lining of the cabinet 1 near the door 2, and a magnet corresponding to the TMR switch being fixedly mounted on the door 2; the TMR switch comprising a tunneling magnetoresistance sensor 4, a timer, and a trigger, the household refrigerator further comprising a driving assembly for driving the door 2 to rotate to close the cabinet 1, the output end of the tunneling magnetoresistance sensor 4 being electrically connected to the input end of the timer, the output end of the timer being electrically connected to the input end of the trigger, and the output end of the trigger being electrically connected to the driving assembly.

[0029] The tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4 is used in conjunction with the magnet to detect the open / close state of the door 2. When the door 2 is open, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4 outputs a high level; when the door 2 is closed, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4 outputs a low level.

[0030] The timer stores a preset time. When the door body 2 is open for longer than the preset time, the timer outputs a high level to the trigger, which then drives the driving component to operate, thereby driving the door body 2 to rotate and close the box body 1.

[0031] Specifically, the driving assembly is configured to operate in response to the output voltage of the trigger to drive the door body 2 to rotate. The timer can be a timing chip or a timing electronic circuit, and the trigger can be a trigger chip or a trigger electronic circuit. The timer can be programmable to adjust a preset time.

[0032] Since the timer and the trigger are conventional technical means in this field, they are not described here in detail.

[0033] When the trigger input of the timer is ON (i.e., high level) and the timing time has expired, the output of the timer is ON (i.e., high level). When the output of the timer is ON, the output of the trigger is high level, otherwise, the output of the trigger is low level.

[0034] The TMR switch for household refrigerators can detect the opening and closing status of the door body 2 in real time by setting a TMR switch and a driving component, and when the opening time of the door body 2 exceeds a preset time, drive the door body 2 to rotate to close the box body 1, which solves the problem that refrigerators on the market cannot automatically close the door when the door body 2 is opened at a large angle.

[0035] In one embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, the drive assembly includes a drive mechanism 5, a rotating shaft 6, and a pull rope 7. The drive mechanism 5 and the rotating shaft 6 are fixedly mounted on the top of the box body 1. One end of the pull rope 7 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive mechanism 5, and the other end of the pull rope 7 is fixedly connected to the end of the door body 2 away from the door hinge 3. The pull rope 7 passes through the rotating shaft 6 and is slidably connected to the rotating shaft 6. The output end of the trigger is high and drives the drive mechanism 5 to operate, causing the output shaft of the drive mechanism 5 to rotate to wrap the pull rope 7 around the output shaft, thereby driving the door body 2 to close.

[0036] In one embodiment, the driving mechanism 5 includes an artificial muscle, a transmission member and an output shaft. The artificial muscle is installed on the top of the housing 1 and is transmission-connected to one end of the transmission member, the other end of the transmission member is transmission-connected to the output shaft, and the artificial muscle is electrically connected to the trigger; the transmission member includes a rack and a gear, the gear is fixedly mounted on the output shaft and coaxially arranged with the output shaft, the output shaft is rotatably mounted on the top of the housing 1, one end of the rack is fixedly connected to the artificial muscle, and the other end of the rack is engaged with the gear.

[0037] The artificial muscle is configured to expand and contract with voltage changes. When the artificial muscle is connected to a high level, the volume of the artificial muscle expands, driving the rack to move, thereby driving the gear to rotate, and further driving the output shaft to rotate to achieve automatic closing of the door body 2.

[0038] Considering the limited volume expansion of the artificial muscle when connected to a high voltage, in one embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 further includes a micro-displacement amplification device, through which the output end of the artificial muscle is connected to one end of the transmission member. The provision of the micro-displacement amplification device reduces the volume of the artificial muscle, effectively driving the output shaft to rotate and achieve automatic closing of the door 2.

[0039] In one embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 includes a DC motor fixedly mounted on the top of the housing 1, and the DC motor is electrically connected to the trigger. When the trigger outputs a high voltage (e.g., 5V or 12V), the DC motor is driven to rotate, and the door 2 is driven to rotate via the pull cord 7 until the door 2 is closed. When the door 2 is closed, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4 senses the magnetic field of the magnet, and the output of the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4 switches from a high voltage to a low voltage, causing the DC motor to stop rotating.

[0040] In one embodiment, the DC motor does not have a brake device. Thus, when the door 2 is closed and the DC motor stops rotating, the output shaft of the DC motor can rotate freely, so that the user can open the household refrigerator freely.

[0041] In one embodiment, Figure 3 As shown, the TMR switch also includes an AND gate circuit. A microswitch 8 is fixedly mounted on the top of the housing. The pull cord 7 passes through the toggle mechanism of the microswitch 8. When the pull cord 7 is in a tensioned state, the microswitch 8 is in a conducting state and outputs a low level. When the pull cord 7 is in a relaxed state, the microswitch 8 is in a disconnected state and outputs a high level. The output of the microswitch 8 and the output of the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4 are respectively electrically connected to the input of the AND gate circuit. Thus, when the refrigerator is closed and the pull cord is in a relaxed state, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor and the microswitch cause the AND gate circuit to output a high level, actuating the drive assembly and, in turn, the output shaft to rotate, winding the pull cord around the output shaft until it is tensioned. This prevents the problem of the pull cord being relaxed while the refrigerator is closed, thus affecting normal operation of the refrigerator.

[0042] In one embodiment, the trigger is an RS trigger, the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the set end of the RS trigger, and the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the reset end of the RS trigger through an inverter.

[0043] In one embodiment, a groove is provided in the lining, and the TMR switch is encapsulated in the groove by epoxy resin injection to enhance the sealing and waterproof properties of the TMR switch.

[0044] In one embodiment, the TMR switch further includes a voltage stabilizing circuit and a buzzer. The output of the voltage stabilizing circuit is electrically connected to the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor 4, the timer, and the trigger, respectively, and the input of the buzzer is electrically connected to the output of the trigger. When the door 2 is open for longer than a preset time, the buzzer emits a voice message to prompt the user to check the status of the door 2, thereby preventing the door 2 from automatically closing due to a driver failure.

[0045] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0046] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several implementations of the present invention, and while their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make numerous variations and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent for this invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator, comprising a refrigerator body and a door body, the door body being hinged to the refrigerator body via a door hinge, the TMR switch being fixedly mounted in an inner lining of the refrigerator body near the door body, and a magnet corresponding to the TMR switch being fixedly mounted on the door body, characterized in that: The TMR switch includes a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor, a timer, and a trigger. The household refrigerator also includes a driving assembly for driving the door to rotate to close the cabinet. The output end of the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor is electrically connected to the input end of the timer, the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the input end of the trigger, and the output end of the trigger is electrically connected to the driving assembly. The drive assembly includes a drive mechanism, a rotating shaft, and a pull rope, wherein the drive mechanism and the rotating shaft are fixedly mounted on the box body, one end of the pull rope is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the drive mechanism, and the other end of the pull rope is fixedly connected to the end of the door body away from the door hinge, and the pull rope passes through the rotating shaft and is slidably connected to the rotating shaft; The TMR switch also includes an AND gate circuit. A microswitch is fixedly installed on the top of the box. The pull rope passes around the toggle mechanism of the microswitch. When the pull rope is in a tensioned state, the microswitch is in an on state and outputs a low level. When the pull rope is in a relaxed state, the microswitch is in an off state and outputs a high level. The output end of the microswitch and the output end of the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor are respectively electrically connected to the input end of the AND gate circuit. When the household refrigerator is closed and the pull rope is in a relaxed state, the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor and the microswitch will cause the AND gate circuit to output a high level, driving the drive component to operate, and then driving the output shaft to rotate, so as to wrap the pull rope around the output shaft until the pull rope is in a tensioned state.

2. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving mechanism includes an artificial muscle, a transmission member and an output shaft. The artificial muscle is transmission-connected to one end of the transmission member, the other end of the transmission member is transmission-connected to the output shaft, and the artificial muscle is electrically connected to the trigger.

3. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission member includes a rack and a gear. The gear is fixedly mounted on the output shaft and coaxially arranged with the output shaft. The output shaft is rotatably mounted on the top of the box. One end of the rack is fixedly connected to the artificial muscle, and the other end of the rack is engaged with the gear.

4. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The driving mechanism includes a DC motor fixedly mounted on the top of the box, and the DC motor is electrically connected to the trigger.

5. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The trigger is an RS trigger.

6. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The output end of the timer is electrically connected to the set end of the RS trigger, and the output end of the timer is electrically connected to the reset end of the RS trigger through an inverter.

7. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that: A groove is provided in the lining, and the TMR switch is encapsulated in the groove by epoxy resin pouring.

8. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: The TMR switch further includes a voltage stabilizing circuit, and the output end of the voltage stabilizing circuit is electrically connected to the tunnel magnetoresistive sensor, the timer and the trigger respectively.

9. A TMR switch for a household refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The TMR switch further includes a buzzer, and an input end of the buzzer is electrically connected to an output end of the trigger.

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