Smart refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart refrigerator having a function of using internal control data of a refrigerator and providing information required by a user through an application (App). The smart refrigerator of the present invention is configured of a night function capable of allowing a user to set a mode required at night, an application display function of displaying state information of the refrigerator on a display window of the refrigerator or on a mobile application (application program, App) of the user through wired or wireless communication, a guide function of guiding the user to perform a specific measure in case that the state of the refrigerator deviates from a normal state through real-time monitoring of the state of the refrigerator, etc. Through the present invention, there is an advantage that the user can remotely confirm the state of the refrigerator, and when an abnormal state of the refrigerator or an abnormal storage of food, etc. occurs, a measure can be taken.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to smart refrigerators, and more specifically, to a smart refrigerator having the function of using internal control data of the refrigerator and providing the user with the information they need through an application (App). Background Technology

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance that can store food at low temperatures in its internal storage space, which is covered by a door.

[0003] Therefore, refrigerators are designed to cool the interior of the storage space by using cold air generated through heat exchange with the refrigerant that is undergoing a refrigeration cycle, so as to preserve the stored food in the best possible condition.

[0004] In addition, like Korean Patent Nos. 10-0358581 and 10-1636230, this refrigerator adds an ice-making function to produce and supply ice cubes, as well as multiple functions for controlling the ice-making function.

[0005] However, in this existing technology, ice making and ice moving are carried out continuously, and ice moving time is set. But it cannot reflect the seasonal changes in the length of day and night. Instead, it sets a uniform ice moving prevention time period, which may cause problems such as disturbing users' sleep or moving ice at night.

[0006] In addition, existing refrigerators are designed to have the same brightness of internal lighting even in dimly lit nighttime conditions, which can cause glare. Furthermore, they only display the refrigerator's temperature status to the outside, which can cause users to panic when the temperature deviates from the set range and they are unsure of what to do.

[0007] In addition, there are problems such as difficulty in accurately informing the replacement time of sterilization / bacteriostasis or water purification filters, difficulty in confirming the energy waste caused by the number of times the refrigerator door is opened, and contamination caused by prolonged storage of water or ice. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0009] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and to provide a smart refrigerator that prevents users from being dazzled at night by appropriately adjusting the internal lighting brightness of the refrigerator.

[0010] In addition, the purpose of this invention is to provide a smart refrigerator that displays the internal temperature status, filter usage status, and energy usage status of the refrigerator in real time on the refrigerator's display window or on the user's mobile application via wired or wireless communication.

[0011] Furthermore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an intelligent refrigerator that guides the user to take specific measures when the refrigerator deviates from its normal state by real-time monitoring of the refrigerator's status.

[0012] means for solving problems

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, according to the features of the present invention, the intelligent refrigerator of the present invention can have a night function that allows the user to set a mode for nighttime use. Therefore, it prevents glare or disruption of sleep at night.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention may include an application display function that displays the refrigerator's status information in a display window on the refrigerator or in a user's mobile application via wired or wireless communication. Therefore, the user can check and adjust the refrigerator's status even from a location separate from the refrigerator itself.

[0015] Furthermore, this invention features a guidance function that, through real-time monitoring of the refrigerator's status, guides the user to perform specific actions when the refrigerator deviates from its normal state. That is, it can prompt the user to take specific actions through push notifications or similar means.

[0016] The intelligent refrigerator of the present invention is characterized by including: a night function that enables the user to set the desired night mode; an application display function that displays the refrigerator's status information on the refrigerator's display window or on the user's mobile application via wired or wireless communication; and a guidance function that guides the user to perform specific measures when the refrigerator's status deviates from the normal state through real-time monitoring of the refrigerator's status.

[0017] The night function is characterized by including: a night anti-glare mode, which allows the user to adjust the brightness inside the cabinet to be dimmer than during the day at a set nighttime to prevent glare; and a night silent mode, which prevents the ice maker's ice-moving function from operating during a set silent time.

[0018] The characteristic feature is that the nighttime time set in the nighttime anti-glare mode is the time from sunset to sunrise.

[0019] The feature is that the time from sunset to sunrise is calculated from the daily sunset and sunrise times preset in the user's mobile phone or mobile application.

[0020] The feature is that the time from sunset to sunrise is received from the sunset and sunrise time provider via the user's mobile phone or mobile application.

[0021] Furthermore, the sunset and sunrise time data received from the provider are based on the refrigerator's preset location in the user's application.

[0022] Its characteristic is that when setting the brightness inside the box in the night anti-glare mode, the user can preview the brightness state by executing the preview function.

[0023] The feature is that the brightness setting inside the box in the nighttime anti-glare mode is selected as at least one of 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of the normal daytime brightness.

[0024] The feature is that the nighttime setting in the nighttime silent mode is set by the user.

[0025] The feature is that the silence time set in the night silent mode is set to a total of no more than nine hours.

[0026] The application display function is characterized in that it may include: a temperature display, showing the temperature status inside the refrigerator; a filter display, showing the remaining amount or time of the filter used inside the refrigerator; and an energy display, showing the energy consumption status, including the electricity consumption used in the refrigerator.

[0027] The application display function is characterized by further including: ice status display, which displays the status of the ice maker; and storage status display, which displays the status of the food inside the box.

[0028] Its characteristic is that the temperature display shows the current temperature compared with the target temperature inside the chamber.

[0029] The characteristic feature is that the temperature display uses three or more of the following: "very high", "high", "appropriate", and "low".

[0030] In addition, the refrigerator compartment temperature display is divided into four stages: "very high", "high", "appropriate" and "low", and the freezer compartment temperature display is divided into three stages: "very high", "high" and "appropriate".

[0031] Its characteristic is that, if the target temperature is not reached within a maximum of 72 hours after the power is turned on, the temperature display will show "Temperature stabilizing".

[0032] The feature is that the filter display includes a residual volume display for the sterilization filter and a residual volume display for the water purification filter.

[0033] The characteristic feature is that the residual capacity display of the sterilizing filter shows the remaining usable time of the sterilizing filter as a percentage (%).

[0034] The feature is that the water filter residual display shows the lower of the remaining usable time or remaining output water volume of the water filter as a percentage (%).

[0035] The energy display is characterized by including displays of electricity consumption, door opening information, or water / ice usage.

[0036] Its characteristic is that the door opening information is displayed in units of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, showing the number of times the door is opened or the time of opening.

[0037] Its characteristic is that the water / ice usage display shows the water or ice usage in units of days, weeks, months, and years.

[0038] The ice status display is characterized by showing at least one of the following: "Off", "Ice Cubes are being generated", "Ice Cubes are full", and "Nighttime Silent Mode is in progress".

[0039] The feature is that the storage status display is divided into "Concern", "Attention", "Warning" and "Danger" stages.

[0040] The feature is that the storage status display includes a schedule showing whether the system is in "intelligent preservation operation" or "preservation operation has ended" or "preservation operation is scheduled" based on the date.

[0041] The feature is that, when the defrosting mode is executed, the temperature display shows the temperature status before defrosting is executed, either before reaching the target temperature range or four hours after defrosting.

[0042] The feature is that, when the filter is in its replacement cycle or when the remaining time / residual amount of the filter is at a preset level, the guidance function guides the replacement of the filter through a push notification.

[0043] The feature is that, when the temperature inside the box deviates from the normal range, the guidance function guides the opening of the door or changes the location of the food through push notifications.

[0044] The feature is that, if water or ice is not used for a specified period of time, the guidance function provides a push notification.

[0045] The feature is that the push notification is provided after seven days without the use of water or ice.

[0046] Invention Effects

[0047] The smart refrigerator of the present invention has the following effects.

[0048] First, the smart refrigerator of the present invention has the function of using internal control data of the refrigerator and providing the user with the information needed through an application (App). Therefore, it has the advantage that the user can check the refrigerator status and internal storage status in real time and take action even from a location separated from the refrigerator.

[0049] Secondly, this invention can adjust the brightness inside the refrigerator to make it dimmer at night than during the day. Therefore, it has the advantage of preventing users from being glared when opening the refrigerator door at night. Furthermore, in this invention, the nighttime anti-glare mode can be set from sunset to sunrise, thus automatically adjusting the activation time of the anti-glare function regardless of region or season.

[0050] Third, the temperature inside the container in this invention is displayed according to the storage compartment, and is shown as phrases such as "high," "moderate," and "low," along with corresponding colors. Therefore, users can easily identify the temperature inside the container at any time, thus improving ease of use.

[0051] Fourth, the residual volume displays for the sterilization filter and the water purification filter in this invention are applied in practice. Furthermore, when the filter is in its replacement cycle or when the remaining usage time / residual volume is at a preset level, a push notification guides the user to replace the filter. Therefore, it has the advantage that users can prepare and replace the filter when its replacement cycle is approaching or when a push notification is received. Moreover, the filter usage check for the water purification filter considers both usage time and water consumption, resulting in a more accurate calculation of the filter replacement cycle and the provision of notifications.

[0052] Fifth, this invention can display real-time electricity consumption, door opening information, or water / ice usage, and present the usage over time or in charts. Therefore, it has the advantage of allowing users to confirm the current status of energy usage.

[0053] Sixth, in this invention, when the temperature inside the refrigerator deviates from the normal range, a push notification is used to guide the user to confirm opening the door or change the position of the food. Therefore, it has the advantage that when the refrigerator temperature is abnormal, the user can confirm whether the refrigerator door is open or change the position of the food to ensure that cold air is evenly distributed inside the refrigerator.

[0054] Seventh, in this invention, a push notification is provided if water or ice has not been used for a specified period of time. That is, if water or ice has not been used for seven days, a push notification is provided to prompt the user to remove the water or ice, thereby preventing bacterial growth. Attached Figure Description

[0055] Figure 1This is a configuration diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the status notification system for a smart refrigerator according to the present invention.

[0056] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0057] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a preferred control system for the intelligent refrigerator of the present invention.

[0058] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating the functions performed in a preferred embodiment of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of the home screen used to explain the functions of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 6 This is a compositional diagram illustrating one embodiment of the nighttime anti-glare function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the time setting process for the nighttime anti-glare function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0062] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the sunrise and sunset time setting process for the nighttime anti-glare function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0063] Figure 9 This is a compositional diagram illustrating an embodiment of the nighttime silent function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0064] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of implementing the nighttime silent function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0065] Figure 11 This is a diagram showing the implementation status of the temperature information of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0066] Figure 12 This is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an example of the use of the filter management menu of the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0067] Figure 13 This is a screen composition diagram illustrating an example of energy monitoring in the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0068] Figure 14 This is a screen configuration diagram showing an example of the menu configuration of the ice maker in the smart refrigerator of the present invention.

[0069] Figure 15This is a screen composition diagram showing an example of the night silent mode state in the menu configuration of the ice maker of the smart refrigerator implementing the present invention.

[0070] Figure 16 This is a screen composition diagram showing an example of the intelligent care status of the smart refrigerator of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0071] The smart refrigerator of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072] Figure 1 This is a configuration diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the status notification system of the smart refrigerator of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The refrigerator status notification system 10 can be composed of a refrigerator 100, a gateway 110, a server 120, a terminal 130, and an access point 140.

[0073] The refrigerator 100 stores a plurality of food items, etc., wherein "food" can refer to food and beverages stored in the refrigerator 100. Furthermore, "inside the refrigerator" will be referred to as "inside the box" below. That is, preferably, "inside the box" as used in this invention is understood to mean the interior of the refrigerator.

[0074] The refrigerator 100 may include events that open or close at least one of the freezer door, freezer access door, refrigerator door, and refrigerator access door. Furthermore, the events may include various forms of events such as receiving a residual weight measurement request signal or guiding a user action.

[0075] Refrigerator 100 can transmit information such as the status of food stored in the refrigerator, the status of temperature and filter, or energy usage status such as the number of times the door is opened and the amount of water used to the gateway 110 or server 120. In addition to being displayed on the front of refrigerator 100, this status information can be sent to the user's or a specific person's mobile phone.

[0076] Thus, gateway 110 can receive at least one of the following information from refrigerator 100: status of food stored inside, temperature, filter status, or energy usage status such as number of door openings and water consumption. Furthermore, gateway 100 transmits received images, weight, and information such as quantity or remaining amount to server 120.

[0077] As one embodiment, the gateway 110 can send and receive data with the refrigerator 100 via communication methods such as Bluetooth, Purple Bee protocol, and PLC (Power line Communication).

[0078] The access point 140 can act as a relay for sending and receiving data between the refrigerator 100, gateway 110, server 120, and terminal 130. The access point 140 supports Bluetooth, Beehive protocol, PLC (Power Line Communication), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.15.4, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), and Ethernet communication methods, and can support sending and receiving data between different communication methods.

[0079] The server 120 can receive and store at least one of the following information from the refrigerator 100 or gateway 110: the status of food stored in the refrigerator, the status of temperature and filter, or energy usage status such as the number of door openings and water consumption. Furthermore, upon receiving a request signal from the terminal 130 regarding the status of temperature and filter or energy usage status such as the number of door openings and water consumption, the server 120 can transmit information or data corresponding to the request signal from the terminal 130.

[0080] Furthermore, when the server 120 receives an information request for specific data from the terminal 130, it responds to such a request signal and transmits a corresponding request signal to the refrigerator 100. Alternatively, the request signal from the terminal 130 can be transmitted directly to the refrigerator 100 or via the gateway 110.

[0081] The terminal 130 can download and install a refrigerator application and run such an application (App). Through the running refrigerator application, the user operates the terminal 130 to send a refrigerator status information request signal to the server 120 or the refrigerator 110.

[0082] The terminal 130 may include mobile terminals of various forms such as mobile phones or smartphones, laptop computers, digital broadcasting terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), PMPs (Portable Multimedia Players), and navigation devices.

[0083] Furthermore, the terminal 130, as an intelligent display device that adds computer functionality to its broadcast reception function, faithfully retains the broadcast reception function while adding internet functionality, and features user-friendly human-computer interaction devices such as handwriting input devices, touchscreens, touchpads, or universal remote controls. The terminal 130 can be a network TV, HBBTV (Hybrid Broadband TV), smart TV, or Open Hybrid TV (OHTV), and depending on the situation, it can also be compatible with PCs and home appliances.

[0084] The user actions may include selecting physical buttons on the display device or remote control, executing prescribed gestures on the touchscreen display surface or selecting soft buttons, executing prescribed gestures recognized from images captured by an imaging device, and executing prescribed sounds recognized by voice recognition. Gestures may include touch gestures and spatial gestures.

[0085] Figure 2 A perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the smart refrigerator of the present invention is shown.

[0086] As shown in the figure, a freezer door 150 for opening and closing the freezer compartment and a refrigerator door 160 for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment can be provided on the front of the refrigerator 100. Of course, although in this embodiment of the invention... Figure 3 The refrigerator has a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment arranged on the left and right sides respectively, but it is not limited to this configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. It can also be configured in various ways, such as the freezer compartment being arranged above, below, left, or right relative to the refrigerator compartment, including a refrigerator with a storage compartment.

[0087] A display 170 is provided on the freezer door 150. Furthermore, in this invention, the display 170 is provided on the freezer door 150, but this display 170 can also be provided on the refrigerator door 160, and can have various configuration forms such as being provided on one or more of the left, right, or rear sides of the refrigerator 100.

[0088] The display 170 may include a display panel 172 and operation buttons 174. The display panel 172 may be a touch screen. The display panel 172 may display the refrigerator's status, various signals, or notifications, etc.

[0089] The operation buttons 1740 include a plurality of buttons for receiving control commands from the user to the refrigerator 100. The user can perform a user action to request the status of the refrigerator by pressing one of the operation buttons 1740.

[0090] The freezer door 150 and the refrigerator door 160 may be respectively provided with a freezer outlet 152 and a refrigerator outlet 162. The outlets 152 and 162 are used to open and close the home bar.

[0091] Figure 3 A block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the intelligent refrigerator control system of the present invention is shown.

[0092] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator 100 may include an infrared irradiation unit 210, an imaging device 220, a detection unit 230, a control unit 240, a storage unit 250, a communication unit 260, and a display 170.

[0093] The infrared irradiation unit 210 irradiates infrared rays into the dedicated storage space, and the shooting device 220 can be configured to take pictures of the dedicated storage space.

[0094] The detection unit 230 may include various sensors installed on the left and right sides of the refrigerator, and detect various internal states such as temperature, filter usage, water or ice usage, and door opening and closing.

[0095] The control unit 240 can detect signals from various events or the various units and send control commands. Events may include opening or closing at least one of the freezer door, freezer access door, refrigerator door, and refrigerator access door, or may include receiving a refrigerator status measurement request signal.

[0096] In response to such event detection, the control unit 240 can detect and control the state of the environment or food inside the box, such as irradiating the dedicated storage space with infrared light, or it can control the imaging device 220 to photograph the dedicated storage space that has been irradiated with infrared light.

[0097] The communication unit 260 can transmit data or images of various box conditions detected by the detection unit 230, etc., and values ​​(data) calculated by the control unit 240, etc., in a wired or wireless manner.

[0098] The storage unit 250 can store the internal state or data detected by the detection unit 230, or the values ​​calculated by the control unit 240.

[0099] The display 170 can display the state inside the chamber, namely, the temperature or filter status inside the chamber, and at least one of the values ​​measured by various sensors, images captured by the imaging device 250, or values ​​(data) calculated by the control unit 240, so that it can be identified from the outside.

[0100] In addition, when the control unit 240 detects a user's request signal, it responds to the request signal and controls the display of data detected from various sensors or images captured by the imaging device 250 or values ​​calculated by the control unit 240 to the outside.

[0101] Figure 4 A block diagram illustrating the functions performed in one embodiment of the smart refrigerator of the present invention is shown.

[0102] As shown in the figure, the functions of the smart refrigerator of the present invention can be composed of a night function 300, an application display function 400, and a guidance function 500. The night function 300 allows the user to set the desired night mode. The application display function 400 can display the status information of the refrigerator 100 on the display window of the refrigerator 100 or display the status information of the refrigerator 100 on the user's mobile application (application) through wired or wireless communication. The guidance function 500 guides the user to perform specific measures when the refrigerator status deviates from the normal state by monitoring the status of the refrigerator 100 in real time.

[0103] The night function 300 may include a night anti-glare mode 310 and a night silent mode 320. The night anti-glare mode 310 allows the user to adjust the brightness inside the cabinet to be darker than during the day during a set nighttime period, thereby preventing the user from being glared at. The night silent mode 320 prevents the ice maker's ice-moving function from operating during a set silent period.

[0104] The application display function 400 may include a temperature display 410 showing the temperature status inside the refrigerator, a filter display 420 showing the remaining amount or time of the filter used inside the refrigerator, and an energy display 430 showing the energy consumption status of the electricity used in the refrigerator 100. Additionally, this application display function 400 may also include an ice status display 440 showing the status of the ice maker and a storage status display 450 showing the status of the food inside the refrigerator.

[0105] The guidance function 500 may include a function 510 that guides filter replacement via push notification when the filter is in an alternation cycle or when the remaining time / residual amount of the filter is at a preset level. Furthermore, this guidance function 500 also includes a function 520 that guides door opening confirmation or food placement change via push notification when the temperature inside the cabinet deviates from the normal range. Moreover, the guidance function 500 may also include a function 530 that provides a push notification indicating that water or ice has not been used if no water or ice has been used for a specified period of time.

[0106] Figures 5 to 16The diagrams illustrate the functions of the smart refrigerator of the present invention. That is, Figure 5 A diagram showing the main screen configuration for illustrating the functions of the smart refrigerator of the present invention is provided. Figure 6 This is a compositional diagram illustrating one embodiment of the nighttime anti-glare function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention. Figure 7 and Figure 8 Flowcharts for setting the time of the nighttime anti-glare function and the sunrise / sunset time for the smart refrigerator according to the present invention are shown respectively. Furthermore, Figure 9 This diagram shows a screen layout for setting the nighttime silent function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention. Figure 10 A flowchart illustrating the process by which the smart refrigerator of the present invention performs its nighttime silent function is shown. Figure 11 and Figure 12 The diagrams show screen configurations illustrating the execution state of the intelligent refrigerator displaying temperature information and an example of using the filter management menu, respectively. Figure 13 A screen configuration diagram illustrating an example of energy monitoring in the smart refrigerator of the present invention is shown. Additionally, Figure 14 and Figure 15 The diagram shows an example of the menu configuration of the ice maker in the smart refrigerator of the present invention and the state in which the night silent mode in the menu configuration is executed. Figure 16 A screen composition diagram showing an example of the intelligent care status display of the intelligent refrigerator of the present invention is provided.

[0107] First, such as Figure 5 As shown, the main screen 600 of the smart refrigerator of the present invention is configured to allow selection of various menus or user-customized function settings, and to display the real-time temperatures of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. Furthermore, this refrigerator main screen 600 can be located on the front of the refrigerator door 100, or on the user's mobile terminal 130, etc. Of course, this refrigerator main screen can also be displayed simultaneously on the front of the refrigerator 100 and the terminal 130.

[0108] Figure 6 The settings related to the night anti-glare mode 310 are illustrated. As shown in the figure, if the "night anti-glare" menu in the refrigerator's main screen 600 is touched or clicked, then... Figure 6 As shown, the action screen 610 is displayed, allowing you to set the "nighttime anti-glare" function. For example, you can choose "not to use", or select "from sunset to sunrise" or "time setting" to make the setting.

[0109] As described above, the set nighttime in the nighttime anti-glare mode 310 can be "the time from sunset to sunrise". In this case, the "time from sunset to sunrise" can be calculated from the sunset and sunrise times preset for each date on the user's mobile phone (mobile terminal, etc.) or mobile application.

[0110] In addition, the "time from sunset to sunrise" can also be received from the sunset and sunrise time provider via the user's terminal (mobile phone) or mobile application. That is, the sunset and sunrise times for the corresponding date can be used from the sunset and sunrise time provider such as the Japan Meteorological Agency.

[0111] The sunset and sunrise time data received from the provided source can be based on the refrigerator's preset location in the user's application. That is, when the user logs into the application and receives location information, the time zone can be determined based on this location information, thereby applying the time information to the product (refrigerator), and the nighttime anti-glare function can be set to be executed by matching this time information with the sunset and sunrise times of the corresponding date.

[0112] The night anti-glare mode 310 is designed to prevent glare caused by the interior lighting when the user opens the doors 150 and 160 of the refrigerator 100. When setting the interior brightness in the night anti-glare mode 310, the user can use the preview function to experience the brightness state in advance.

[0113] The interior brightness setting in the night anti-glare mode 310 can be configured to select at least one of the following brightness levels: 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of the normal daytime brightness. That is, in the action screen 610, the user can select and set the brightness from 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% in the "Refrigerator Interior Lighting" menu.

[0114] Furthermore, if the user selects one of the menu options—10%, 30%, 50%, or 70%—for the interior brightness setting in the nighttime anti-glare mode 310, the selected brightness can be temporarily reflected in the refrigerator's interior lighting. That is, while displaying the preview guide screen 612, the corresponding brightness can be preset for approximately 10 seconds.

[0115] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating an example of time setting and interior brightness setting in Night Anti-Glare Mode 310 is provided.

[0116] As shown in the figure, if you select Figure 6If the "Time Setting" option in the action screen 610 is executed, then the time setting step S330, which sets the activation time of the anti-glare function, will be performed. The time setting step S330 is a step that allows the user to arbitrarily specify the activation time of the anti-glare function.

[0117] After the time setting step S330, the brightness setting step S332, which sets the brightness inside the box, is executed.

[0118] As described above, in order to prevent glare, when the normal (daytime) brightness inside the box is set to 100%, in the brightness setting step S332, the level of brightness to be maintained can be set to any one of 10%, 30%, 50%, or 70%.

[0119] After the brightness setting step S332, a preview determination step S334 is performed to determine whether a "preview" that allows users to experience the set brightness has been selected. That is, since the user can choose whether to preview, the process of determining whether a preview has been selected is performed.

[0120] If the result of the preview judgment step S334 is that the preview is not selected, the storage judgment step S336, which determines whether to store (store) the set brightness, is executed.

[0121] If the decision result in the storage determination step S336 is "storage", then the setting server transmission step S338, in which the time set in the time setting step S330 and the brightness set in the brightness setting step are transmitted to the server 120, is executed. That is, the above steps can be primarily performed in applications such as mobile phones on the user's terminal 130, and the selections made on the terminal 130 can be transmitted to the server 120 and stored.

[0122] Furthermore, if the result of the storage determination step S336 is that "storage" is not selected, the anti-glare function setting can be terminated.

[0123] In the server 120, a setting product transmission step S340 is performed, in which the information received in the setting server transmission step S338 is resent to the refrigerator 100.

[0124] If setting information is transmitted to the refrigerator 100, which is the product being used, using the product setting transmission step S340, then in the refrigerator 100, a time determination step S342 is performed to determine whether the current time corresponds to the time when the anti-glare function is activated as set in the time setting step S330.

[0125] If the judgment result in the time judgment step S342 is that the current time corresponds to the set time, then the brightness control step S344, which controls the lighting inside the box to the set brightness, is executed.

[0126] If the judgment result in the time judgment step S342 is that the current time does not correspond to the set time, the basic control step S346 is executed to control the lighting inside the box to the preset brightness, that is, 100% brightness.

[0127] On the other hand, if the result of the preview determination step S334 is that the preview is selected, the preview server transmission step S350, which transmits the "preview flag and brightness" to the server 120 or the like, is executed. That is, when the preview is selected through a mobile application such as the user's terminal 130, the brightness set by the user and a signal indicating that this information is for "preview" are transmitted to the server 120 or the like.

[0128] In the server 120, a preview product transfer step S352 is performed, in which the received information is transmitted to a product that will actually be in operation, such as a refrigerator 100.

[0129] If the preview brightness information is transmitted to the refrigerator 100 via the preview product transmission step S352, then the refrigerator 100 executes the preview execution step S354, which displays lighting of the corresponding brightness for approximately 10 seconds based on the brightness information set by the user. Of course, this preview time can be changed to 5 seconds, etc.

[0130] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating an example of the "setting from sunset to sunrise" and the brightness setting in the night anti-glare mode 310 is provided. That is, in... Figure 6 The animation 610 shows a flowchart of the selection process for "from sunset to sunrise", which is consistent with... Figure 7 The selection of "Time Setting" shown is similar, so only the differences will be explained here.

[0131] First, in this process, the automatic setting step S330', which automatically sets the activation time of the anti-glare function, is executed instead of the time setting step S330. The automatic setting step S330' is a process in which the user selects the desired activation time of the anti-glare function from sunset to sunrise, so as to automatically change the brightness of the lighting inside the box in accordance with the sunset and sunrise times that change with the date.

[0132] Then, in this process, the automatic server transmission step S338' is executed instead of the setting server transmission step S338. That is, if the determination result in the storage determination step S336 is to select "storage", the automatic server transmission step S338' is executed to transmit "the flag and brightness from sunset to sunrise" to the server 120, etc. This automatic server transmission step S338' is a step in which the brightness set by the user and a signal indicating that the anti-glare function activation time is "from sunset to sunrise" are transmitted to the server 120, etc., when the anti-glare function activation time is specified as "from sunset to sunrise" through a mobile application such as the user's terminal 130.

[0133] In the server 120, an automatic product transfer step S340' is performed, which secures data based on the information received via the automatic server transfer step S338' and resends it to the refrigerator 100. In this automatic product transfer step S340', not only can information specifying the start time of the anti-glare function as sunset and the end time as sunrise (the next day) be stored, but data based on the sunset and sunrise times of the date can also be received from an external source. That is, the server 120, etc., also performs an information provision step S340″ that provides sunset and sunrise time information for each date in the corresponding region, thereby associating it with the automatic product transfer step S340'.

[0134] For example, information can be received and used from websites such as "Accuweather" (https: / / www.accuweather.com) that provide sunset and sunrise times for each region on each date. Of course, when setting up an application (application) for the aforementioned anti-glare function on the terminal 130, it is preferable to pre-input region information and automatically update the corresponding region's sunset and sunrise times for that date based on this region information, provided from an external agency or internet website. Alternatively, the user's terminal 130 or similar device may pre-store the sunset and sunrise times for each date and use these times to perform the automatic product delivery step S340'.

[0135] The remaining steps are the same as those described above. That is, the only difference is the use of "sunset time and sunrise time," except that the user arbitrarily sets the activation time of the anti-glare function. Therefore, the steps other than those described here can be referenced. Figure 7 The steps are explained.

[0136] on the other hand, Figure 9An example of setting the Night Silent Mode 320 is shown. As illustrated, if the "Night Silent" menu is selected (touched) on the refrigerator's main screen 600, the setting screen 620 for Night Silent Mode 320 is displayed, where you can select "Do Not Use" or "Time Setting". Furthermore, if an end time setting is selected, the "Night Silent" setting time is displayed on the main screen 600.

[0137] Thus, the nighttime duration of the nighttime silent mode 320 can be set according to the user's preferences. Furthermore, the silent duration of this nighttime silent mode 320 can be set to not exceed nine hours in total. This is because, based on typical user statistics, it is difficult to meet users' ice demands if ice is not moved for more than nine hours.

[0138] Specifically, the nighttime silent mode 320 includes a function that does not generate noise by not performing "ice removal" for separating and storing ice cubes after ice is made in the ice maker. If the nighttime silent mode 320 is set for more than nine hours, it will not be able to meet the user's ice usage needs. Therefore, the silent time in the nighttime silent mode 320 can be set to no more than nine hours.

[0139] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process by which the nighttime silent function of the smart refrigerator of the present invention is executed. Specifically, it is a flowchart illustrating the process in which ice-moving operations are restricted according to the nighttime silent mode 320 described above.

[0140] As shown in the figure, if the water supply step S380, which supplies water to the ice maker of the refrigerator 100, is executed first, then the ice-making step S382, which produces ice in the ice maker, is performed. Furthermore, after the ice-making step S382 is executed, a silent judgment step S384 is performed to determine whether communication is on and whether the night silent mode 320 is set.

[0141] This is a process of determining whether a user's mobile device, such as terminal 130, is connected to the refrigerator using Wi-Fi (wireless high fidelity) or wireless communication, and whether the user has set the night silent mode 320. In addition to simultaneously determining whether communication is on and whether the night silent mode 320 is set, the determination can be made sequentially or separately.

[0142] Of course, whether the night silent mode 320 is set is crucial. Even when communication is not turned on, the silence determination step S384 can be performed solely based on whether the night silent mode 320 is set. That is, even if communication is not turned on, ice movement can be restricted when the night silent mode 320 is set.

[0143] If the result of the silent judgment step S384 is that the night silent mode 320 is set, the setting time judgment step S386 is executed to determine whether the current time corresponds to the setting time of the night silent mode 320.

[0144] If the determination result in the setting time determination step S386 is that the current time does not correspond to the setting time of the night silent mode 320, the ice-moving step S388, which separates the ice blocks, is executed.

[0145] On the other hand, if the judgment result in the silent judgment step S384 is that the night silent mode 320 is not set, the ice removal step S388 can be executed immediately.

[0146] Furthermore, if the determination result in the setting time determination step S386 is that the current time corresponds to the setting time of the night silent mode 320, the ice removal step S388 will not be executed, and the process will return to the silent determination step S384.

[0147] like Figure 11 The execution status shown indicates that the refrigerator's temperature display 410 can display the current temperature compared to the target temperature inside the refrigerator, as shown in the figure. It can display temperature information for each compartment within the refrigerator or freezer compartment. That is, as... Figure 11 As shown, if you touch (select) "Temperature Information" on the main screen 600, the temperature information display screen 412 can be configured to display the temperature information of each element.

[0148] Furthermore, the temperature display 410 can use three or more of the following: "Very High", "High", "Appropriate", and "Low". That is, the target temperature compared to the current temperature can be displayed numerically, or the comparison result can be displayed as "Very High", "High", "Appropriate", "Low", etc.

[0149] Specifically, the refrigerator compartment temperature display can be divided into four stages: "very high", "high", "appropriate", and "low", while the freezer compartment temperature display can be divided into three stages: "very high", "high", and "appropriate".

[0150] Furthermore, if the target temperature is not reached within a maximum of 72 hours after power is applied, the temperature display 410 may display "Temperature stabilizing".

[0151] Figure 12 An example of the filter display 420 is shown. That is, an example of using the filter management menu of the smart refrigerator of the present invention is shown.

[0152] As shown in the figure, if you touch (select) other options 602 in the main screen 600, a menu selection bar 604 such as "Energy Monitoring", "Smart Diagnosis", "Product User Manual", "Settings", "Filter Management" will be displayed. You can select (touch) "Filter Management" in this menu selection bar 604 to view the filter management screen 422.

[0153] The filter management screen 422 can display various filter management and usage statuses such as sterilization filters (sterilization and deodorization filters) and water purification filters, and can display usage or residual amount as a percentage (%).

[0154] Thus, the filter display 420 may include a residual display for the sterilizing filter (sterilizing and deodorizing filter) and a residual display for the water purification filter.

[0155] The residual capacity display of the sterilization filter can show the remaining usable time of the sterilization filter as a percentage (%), and the residual capacity display of the water purification filter can show the lower of the remaining usable time of the water purification filter or the remaining output water volume as a percentage (%).

[0156] Furthermore, when replacing a filter, if you press "Filter Initialization" in the filter management screen 422, an initialization guide screen 422' will be displayed. If you press "Confirm" here, as shown in the figure, the residual amount of the corresponding filter in the filter management screen 422 will be initialized to 100%.

[0157] The energy display 430 may include a display of electricity consumption, door opening information, or water / ice usage. Figure 13 The image shows a layout diagram illustrating an example of energy monitoring.

[0158] As shown in the figure, if you touch (select) other option sections 602 in the main screen 600, a menu selection bar 604 such as "Energy Monitoring", "Smart Diagnosis", "Product User Manual", "Settings", "Filter Management" will be displayed. You can view the "Energy Monitoring Screen" by selecting (touching) "Energy Monitoring" in this menu selection bar 604.

[0159] As shown in the figure, the "Energy Monitoring Screen" can be divided into the power monitoring screen 432, the door opening monitoring screen 434, and the water / ice monitoring screen 436 for display.

[0160] The door opening information can be configured to display the number of times the door is opened or the time of opening in units of days, weeks, months, and years. The water / ice usage display can display the water consumption or ice consumption in units of days, weeks, months, and years.

[0161] The ice status display 440 can display at least one of "Off", "Ice Cubes are being generated", "Ice Cubes are full", and "Nighttime Silent Mode is in progress".

[0162] Figure 14 This is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an example of the menu configuration of the ice maker in the smart refrigerator of the present invention. As shown, if the "Ice Maker" menu is selected in the main screen 600, the ice-making screen 442, displaying messages such as "Off," "Making Ice Cubes," and "Ice Cubes Full," can be displayed along with the image. In addition to "Automatic Ice Maker," which produces ice cubes in ordinary shapes (such as hexahedrons), this "Ice Maker" status screen also includes a "Craft Ice Maker," which produces sphere-shaped ice cubes.

[0163] In addition, such as Figure 15 As shown, when the Night Silent Mode 320 is in operation without ice removal, the Night Silent Mode screen 444 is displayed. At this time, an image of the Night Silent Mode 320 state can be displayed, or the phrase "Night Silent Mode in operation" can be displayed together.

[0164] The storage status display 450 can be divided into "Concern", "Attention", "Warning" and "Danger" stages, and can include a schedule showing whether it is in "intelligent preservation operation" or "end preservation operation" or "scheduled preservation operation" based on the date.

[0165] Figure 16 This is a screenshot of an example of the intelligent care status display of the intelligent refrigerator of the present invention.

[0166] like Figure 16 As shown in (a), if you select the "Smart Care" menu on the main screen 600, you can set "Smart Safe Storage" or "Smart Freshness" etc. Figure 16 (b) shows an example of a safe storage screen 452, in which the "food poisoning index around the refrigerator" can be displayed in hue and numerical value, or the warning phrase "Please be aware of the risk of food poisoning from food stored at room temperature" can be displayed together.

[0167] Thus, the screen 452 can be displayed in at least one of the following stages based on hue: "Concern," "Attention," "Warning," and "Danger." Figure 16 The various stages of the scene are illustrated in (c).

[0168] In addition, such as Figure 16As shown in (d), the preservation screen 454 can be displayed. At this time, the schedule of whether it is in "intelligent preservation operation" or "end preservation operation" or "preservation operation scheduled" can be displayed according to the date. The "intelligent preservation operation scheduled time" or various storage statuses and plans such as "no intelligent preservation operation schedule today" can be displayed.

[0169] Furthermore, in the temperature display 410, when the refrigerator is in defrost mode, the temperature status before defrosting can be displayed until the target temperature range is reached or four hours have elapsed since defrosting began. The reason for setting the defrost time to four hours is based on experimental results.

[0170] The guidance function 500 includes guiding filter replacement via push notification when the filter is in its replacement cycle or when the remaining time / residual amount of the filter reaches a preset level. Therefore, a filter replacement notification is provided to the user at a time set by the user or preset at the time of product shipment, enabling the user to receive the corresponding push notification and prepare to replace the filter.

[0171] Thus, the filter residual capacity is preferably designed to guide the replacement cycle by taking into account both the filter usage time and the amount of filter used. If water consumption is high, push notifications for replacing the water filter can be provided even before the filter's usable life (e.g., six months) has elapsed.

[0172] As a push notification feature of this guidance function 500, it can guide the user to confirm door opening or change food placement if the internal temperature deviates from the normal range. That is, if the internal temperature deviates from the normal range for more than a preset time or fails to reach the target temperature within the preset time, the refrigerator is in an abnormal state. Therefore, a push notification can be provided to the user to guide them to confirm whether the door is open. For example, a notification such as "Please check if the door is closed" can guide the user's action.

[0173] Furthermore, if food or containers block the vents or passageways for cold air inside the refrigerator, the internal temperature may deviate from the normal range. Therefore, notifications indicating changes in the location of food or other items can guide the user's actions. For example, messages such as "Please tidy up the upper part of the refrigerator compartment" can guide users to move food inside the refrigerator or check the cold air passageways.

[0174] Furthermore, the push notification can also be provided even if water or ice has not been used for seven days. Specifically, test results show that water or ice, after approximately seven days, increases the risk of bacterial growth, etc. If ice is repeatedly melted and refrozen after being made, after approximately seven days, there is a problem of the ice becoming difficult to remove due to its firm adhesion to the ice-making equipment.

[0175] Additionally, if the water or ice has not been used for seven days, push notifications should be provided to prompt users to remove or empty the water or ice. For example, notifications such as "Please pump water" or "Please empty the ice box" could be sent to enable users to take action.

[0176] The scope of this invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated above, and those skilled in the art can make various other modifications based on this invention within the scope of the above-described technology.

Claims

1. A smart refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The display section shows the refrigerator's status information; The communications department communicates with users' mobile applications via wired or wireless communication. as well as The control unit controls the display unit and the communication unit; The control unit receives information via the mobile application regarding whether the nighttime anti-glare mode is in use, the execution time of the nighttime anti-glare mode, and the brightness setting of the interior lighting. The execution time of the nighttime anti-glare mode can be set arbitrarily by the user or from sunset to sunrise. The time from sunset to sunrise is set based on sunset and sunrise time data received from the sunset and sunrise time provider based on the preset refrigerator location in the mobile application. The brightness setting value of the internal lighting can be selected from a plurality of brightness values ​​that are lower than the normal daytime brightness. When the preview function is selected in the mobile application, the control unit illuminates the refrigerator's interior lighting for a preset time at a brightness corresponding to the selected brightness setting, allowing the user to preview the set brightness. When the current time corresponds to the execution time of the night anti-glare mode, the control unit controls the refrigerator's interior lighting to the selected brightness setting value. The control unit receives the set silent time for the nighttime silent mode via the mobile application, and if the current time corresponds to the silent time of the nighttime silent mode, it controls the ice maker to not perform the ice-moving function. The control unit displays the status of the ice maker on the display unit or the mobile application, including a status indicating that the night silent mode is in operation. If the temperature inside the box deviates from the normal range, the control unit provides push notifications to guide door opening confirmation or indicate changes in food location. If water or ice is not used for a predetermined period of time, the control unit provides a push notification to guide drainage or empty the ice box.

2. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of brightness values ​​includes at least two of the following: 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of the normal daytime brightness.

3. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the preview function is selected, the control unit illuminates the refrigerator's interior lighting for approximately 10 seconds at a brightness corresponding to the selected brightness setting value for the interior lighting.

4. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The silent mode duration is set by the user and is limited to a total of no more than nine hours.

5. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice maker's status includes at least one of "off", "generating ice", "full of ice", and "nighttime silent mode in progress".

6. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pre-determined timeframe is seven days. If water or ice has not been used for more than seven days, the control unit will provide the user with a push notification to guide drainage or empty the ice box.

7. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the filter used in the chamber is in its replacement cycle or when the remaining time or residual volume of the filter is at a preset level, the control unit provides a push notification to guide the replacement of the filter.

8. The intelligent refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit displays the refrigerator's status information on the display unit or the mobile application. The status information includes at least one of the following: Temperature display shows the temperature status inside the chamber; The filter display shows the remaining amount or time of the filter used in the tank; Energy display showing at least one of electricity consumption, door opening information, and water or ice usage; as well as The storage status display shows the condition of the food inside the box.

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