Refrigerator automatic door opening device and refrigerator

Abstract

This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular to an automatic door opening device for a refrigerator and a refrigerator. The automatic door opening device includes a housing, a fixed electrode, a support mechanism, and a movable electrode. The housing is installed in the refrigerator body and has a channel and a chamber. The chamber communicates with the interior of the refrigerator body through the channel. The fixed electrode is fixedly installed in the chamber. The support mechanism includes a support rod and a reset component. The support rod extends along the height direction of the refrigerator, with one end capable of blocking the channel and the other end extending towards the fixed electrode. The movable electrode is installed at the end of the support rod away from the channel and spaced apart from the fixed electrode. In response to changes in the internal air pressure of the refrigerator body, the support rod can move along the height direction of the refrigerator under the action of air pressure, thereby changing the distance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode. Thus, automatic door opening is achieved by changing the distance between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, avoiding situations where the door opening is affected by assembly precision, resulting in accidental opening or requiring excessive force to open.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular to an automatic door opening device for a refrigerator and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] To meet users' demands for smart refrigerators, refrigerators are generally equipped with automatic door opening devices to provide a more convenient experience compared to traditional manual door refrigerators. Existing automatic door opening devices typically involve placing a pressure sensor on the corresponding surface of the door or cabinet. By pressing the sensor, the user causes a button on the pressure sensor to move. When the button's displacement reaches a preset value, the door opens.

[0003] However, during the actual assembly process of a refrigerator, there are often assembly errors in the flatness of the cabinet and door foam or other components such as the pressure sensor. This can lead to problems with the actual assembly position of the pressure sensor. As a result, the user may press the door to move it to the preset value, but not to the button preset value, causing the door to fail to open normally and requiring the user to continue pressing; or the user may press the door to move it to the preset value, but to the button preset value, causing the door to open abnormally. This affects the user experience. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an automatic door opening device and refrigerator that has low requirements for assembly precision and can avoid assembly errors affecting the normal opening of the door.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0006] An automatic door opening device for a refrigerator is installed in the refrigerator body and controls the opening of the refrigerator door in response to changes in the internal air pressure; the automatic door opening device includes:

[0007] A housing for mounting on the enclosure and having a channel and a chamber, the chamber being connected to the interior of the enclosure via the channel;

[0008] A fixed electrode is fixedly installed within the cavity.

[0009] The support mechanism includes a support rod and a reset member. The support rod extends along the height of the refrigerator, and one end can block the channel, while the other end extends toward the fixed electrode. One end of the reset member abuts against the support rod, and the other end abuts against the fixed electrode.

[0010] The movable electrode is installed at the end of the support rod away from the channel, and is spaced apart from the fixed electrode in the height direction of the refrigerator;

[0011] In this system, the support rod can move along the height of the refrigerator under the action of air pressure in response to changes in the internal air pressure of the cabinet, thereby changing the distance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode.

[0012] Understandably, this application uses fixed and movable electrodes, spaced apart to form a capacitor. Pushing the door allows air pressure inside the refrigerator to enter the chamber through a channel, causing the movable electrode to move along the refrigerator's height. Changing the distance between the movable and fixed electrodes alters the capacitance value, thus automatically opening the door. This avoids the door opening errors caused by assembly precision issues or difficult opening. Simultaneously, a support mechanism is provided, using a support rod to move the movable electrode along the refrigerator's height, changing the distance between the movable and fixed electrodes and achieving automatic door opening. The support rod ensures stable movement of the movable electrode, guaranteeing stable capacitance changes and preventing door opening issues caused by electrode wobbling, thus improving user experience. Furthermore, the reset mechanism allows the door to act on the support rod after opening, causing the support rod to reset the movable electrode, facilitating re-opening by the user.

[0013] In one embodiment, a mounting base is provided in the cavity, and in the height direction of the refrigerator, the mounting base divides the cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity, with the first cavity located above the second cavity;

[0014] Both the fixed electrode and the movable electrode are located in the first cavity. The fixed electrode is mounted on the mounting base. The channel communicates with the second cavity. The reset member is located in the second cavity, with one end abutting against the support rod and the other end abutting against the mounting base.

[0015] Understandably, by setting up the mounting base, the fixed electrode and the movable electrode are placed in the first cavity, and the second cavity separates the first cavity from the channel. When the user presses the door, the air pressure inside the box changes, causing the gas inside the box to act on the support rod through the channel. The support rod then drives the movable electrode to move, thus achieving automatic door opening. This avoids gas directly entering the first cavity, which could cause the movable electrode to shake and affect its stable movement, leading to situations such as the door opening accidentally.

[0016] In one embodiment, a through mounting hole is provided on the mounting base in the height direction of the refrigerator;

[0017] The end of the support rod away from the channel passes through the mounting hole and is guided and engaged with the mounting hole; the movable electrode is located on the side of the mounting base opposite to the channel.

[0018] Understandably, the guide cooperation between the support rod and the mounting hole ensures that the support rod drives the movable electrode to move along the height of the refrigerator, preventing the support rod from shaking and affecting the distance between the movable and fixed electrodes. This reduces the probability of the door being accidentally opened, further ensuring the stability of the refrigerator's automatic door opening device and improving the user experience.

[0019] In one embodiment, a positioning step is provided on the inner wall of the chamber, and the mounting base is installed on the positioning step.

[0020] Understandably, the positioning step is designed to allow the mounting base to be installed and to form the first and second cavities.

[0021] In one embodiment, the refrigerator automatic door opening device further includes a circuit board, and the fixed electrode is integrated into the circuit board;

[0022] The circuit board is mounted on the mounting base.

[0023] Understandably, the circuit board is designed to detect changes in the distance between the fixed and moving electrodes in a timely manner, i.e., to detect changes in capacitance values, thereby enabling the automatic opening of the control box door.

[0024] In one embodiment, the circuit board is fixed to the mounting base by adhesive bonding.

[0025] Understandably, this allows the circuit board to be fixed on the mounting base, preventing it from shaking due to air pressure and ensuring that the distance between the fixed and movable electrodes can change normally.

[0026] In one embodiment, the mounting base has an open mounting groove, the circuit board is disposed over the open groove, and the movable electrode is located inside the mounting groove;

[0027] In the height direction of the refrigerator, the mounting base has a through hole that connects the mounting groove and the second cavity.

[0028] Understandably, the through hole connects the mounting slot to the second cavity, so that after the channel connects to the second cavity, the air pressure in the second cavity and the mounting slot can be balanced. This prevents the air in the mounting slot or the second cavity from being compressed and resisting the movement of the support rod when it moves. In other words, the through hole ensures that the air pressure in the second cavity and the mounting slot is consistent, thus ensuring the accuracy of the refrigerator's automatic door opening device.

[0029] In one embodiment, the housing includes a base and a cover, the cover being disposed on the base and forming the cavity between the cover and the base;

[0030] The cover and the base are detachably connected.

[0031] In one embodiment, the support rod has a weight-reducing groove inside.

[0032] Understandably, the weight reduction groove is designed to reduce the weight of the support rod, ensuring that the support rod can respond to changes in air pressure inside the chamber and drive the movable electrode to move.

[0033] This application also provides the following technical solutions:

[0034] A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, and an automatic door opening device as described in any of the above embodiments. The door is mounted on the cabinet and can move relative to the cabinet in response to an external force to change the internal air pressure of the cabinet. The automatic door opening device is mounted on the cabinet and is used to control the opening of the door in response to changes in the internal air pressure of the cabinet.

[0035] Compared to existing technologies, the described automatic door opening device and refrigerator utilize fixed and movable electrodes spaced apart to form a capacitor. Pushing the door allows air pressure inside the refrigerator to enter the cavity through a channel, causing the movable electrode to move along the refrigerator's height. Changing the distance between the movable and fixed electrodes alters the capacitance value, thus automatically opening the door. This avoids the problem of accidental opening or difficult opening due to assembly precision issues. Furthermore, a support mechanism is included, using a support rod to move the movable electrode along the refrigerator's height, further changing the distance between the movable and fixed electrodes and enabling automatic door opening. The support rod ensures stable movement of the movable electrode, guaranteeing stable capacitance changes and preventing door opening issues caused by electrode wobbling, thus improving user experience. Finally, a reset mechanism allows the door to be reset after opening, enabling the user to reopen the door. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the refrigerator provided in this application.

[0038] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the automatic door opening device for a refrigerator provided in this application.

[0039] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of an automatic refrigerator door opening device in one embodiment provided in this application.

[0040] Figure 4 Provided for this application Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point AA.

[0041] Figure 5 This is an exploded structural diagram of the automatic door opening device for a refrigerator provided in this application.

[0042] The component labels are as follows:

[0043] 100. Automatic door opening device for refrigerator; 10. Housing; 11. Channel; 12. Chamber; 121. First chamber; 122. Second chamber; 13. Mounting base; 131. Mounting hole; 132. Guide component; 133. Mounting groove; 1331. Opening; 134. Through hole; 14. Positioning step; 15. Base; 151. Slot; 16. Cover; 161. Elastic component; 20. Fixed electrode; 21. Circuit board; 30. Support mechanism; 31. Support rod; 311. Weight reduction groove; 32. Reset component; 40. Movable electrode;

[0044] 200. Refrigerator; 201. Cabinet body; 202. Cabinet door. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0046] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0047] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0048] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0049] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0050] Please see Figures 1 to 5 This application provides an automatic door opening device 100 for refrigerators, which is mainly used to be installed on the cabinet 201 of refrigerator 200 and to control the opening of the door 202 of refrigerator 200 in response to changes in the internal air pressure of cabinet 201. The principle of the automatic door opening device 100 controlling the opening of the door 202 has low requirements for the assembly precision of refrigerator 200 and can avoid assembly errors from affecting the normal opening of the door 202.

[0051] Specifically, the automatic door opening device 100 of the refrigerator includes a housing 10, a fixed electrode 20, a support mechanism 30, and a movable electrode 40. The housing 10 is installed on the cabinet 201 and has a channel 11 and a chamber 12. The chamber 12 is connected to the interior of the cabinet 201 through the channel 11. The fixed electrode 20 is fixedly installed in the chamber 12. The support mechanism 30 includes a support rod 31 and a reset member 32. The support rod 31 extends along the height direction of the refrigerator 200, and one end can block the channel 11, while the other end extends towards the fixed electrode 20. One end of the reset member 32 abuts against the support rod 31, and the other end abuts against the fixed electrode 20. The movable electrode 40 is installed on the end of the support rod 31 away from the channel 11 and is spaced apart from the fixed electrode 20 in the height direction of the refrigerator 200. In response to changes in the air pressure inside the cabinet 201 through the channel 11, the support rod 31 can move along the height direction of the refrigerator 200 under the action of air pressure to change the distance between the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20.

[0052] It should be explained that this application uses a fixed electrode 20 and a movable electrode 40, spaced apart to form a capacitor. Pushing the door 202 causes air pressure inside the cabinet 201 to enter the chamber 12 through the channel 11, which in turn moves the movable electrode 40 along the height of the refrigerator 200. This change in the distance between the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20 alters the capacitance value, thus enabling the door 202 to open automatically. Similarly, pressing the door 202 causes a change in air pressure inside the cabinet 201. The gas in the cabinet 201 enters the automatic door opening device 100 through the channel 11 and pushes the support rod 31, causing the movable electrode 40 to move. This changes the distance between the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40, resulting in a change in capacitance and automatically opening the door 202. This avoids the door 202 opening being affected by assembly issues. To prevent accidental opening or difficulty in opening the door due to inaccuracy, a support mechanism 30 is provided. The support rod 31 drives the movable electrode 40 to move along the height of the refrigerator 200, changing the distance between the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20, thus achieving automatic door opening. The support rod 31 ensures stable movement of the movable electrode 40, guaranteeing stable capacitance changes and preventing the door from opening due to wobbling of the movable electrode 40, improving the user experience. A reset component 32 is also provided. When the support rod 31 is moved by gas entering through channel 11, causing the movable electrode 40 to move towards the fixed electrode 20 along the height of the refrigerator 200, the reset component 32 is compressed. The compressed reset component 32 acts on the support rod, causing the support rod to tend to reset the movable electrode, facilitating the user to open the door again.

[0053] Here, the signal for the automatic opening of the cabinet door 202 is the capacitance value change signal formed by the change in the distance between the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40. In this application, a capacitance value change threshold can be set, and when the capacitance value changes to a certain value, the cabinet door 202 can be automatically controlled to open.

[0054] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, a mounting base 13 is provided in the chamber 12, and in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, the mounting base 13 divides the chamber 12 into a first chamber 121 and a second chamber 122. The first chamber 121 is located above the second chamber 122. The fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 are both located in the first chamber 121. The fixed electrode 20 is mounted on the mounting base 13. The channel 11 is connected to the second chamber 122. The reset member 32 is located in the second chamber 122, and one end of it abuts against the support rod 31, and the other end abuts against the mounting base 13. Thus, by setting the mounting base 13, the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 are placed in the first cavity 121, and the first cavity 121 and the channel 11 are separated by the second cavity 122. When the user presses the door 202, the air pressure inside the box 201 changes, causing the gas inside the box 201 to act on the support rod 31 through the channel 11. The support rod 31 drives the movable electrode 40 to move, realizing automatic door opening. In this way, gas is prevented from directly entering the first cavity 121, which would cause the movable electrode 40 to shake and affect the stable movement of the movable electrode 40, resulting in the door 202 being opened accidentally.

[0055] Furthermore, in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, the mounting base 13 has a through mounting hole 131; the end of the support rod 31 away from the channel 11 passes through the mounting hole 131 and is guided and engaged with the mounting hole 131; the movable electrode 40 is located on the side of the mounting base 13 away from the channel 11. Thus, through the guiding engagement of the support rod 31 and the mounting hole 131, the support rod 31 drives the movable electrode 40 to move along the height direction of the refrigerator 200, preventing the support rod 31 from wobbling and affecting the distance between the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20, thereby reducing the probability of the door 202 being accidentally opened. This further ensures the stability of the automatic door opening device 100 and improves the user experience.

[0056] In one embodiment, a guide 132 is provided on the mounting base 13, and the guide 132 is connected to the mounting hole 131, so as to better guide the support rod 31 to move in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, avoid the phenomenon of shaking or tilting when the support rod 31 drives the movable electrode 40 to move, and further reduce the probability of the door 202 being accidentally opened.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two guide members 132 are provided. The two guide members 132 are located on the two sides of the mounting base 13 in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, and both are connected to the mounting hole 131.

[0058] In one embodiment, the mounting base 13 has a mounting groove 133 with an opening 1331. The fixed electrode 20 is covered by the opening 1331, and the movable electrode 40 is located inside the mounting groove 133. A through hole 134 is provided on the mounting base 13 in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, connecting the mounting groove 133 to the second cavity 122. This through hole 134 connects the mounting groove 133 to the second cavity 122, balancing the air pressure in the second cavity 122 and the mounting groove 133 after the channel connects to the second cavity 122. This prevents the air in the mounting groove 133 or the second cavity 122 from being compressed and resisting the movement of the support rod 31 when it moves. In other words, the through hole 134 ensures that the air pressure in the second cavity 122 and the mounting groove 133 are consistent, thus ensuring the operational accuracy of the automatic door opening device 100 of the refrigerator.

[0059] Preferably, multiple through holes 134 are provided, and the multiple through holes 134 are spaced apart on the mounting base 13. In this way, the air pressure balance between the mounting groove 133 and the second cavity 122 can be further guaranteed.

[0060] Here, the number of through holes 134 can be two, four, or six. Of course, this is not a limitation; the specific number of through holes 134 can be determined according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, four through holes 134 are used.

[0061] In one embodiment, a positioning step 14 is provided on the inner wall of the chamber 12, and the mounting base 13 is mounted on the positioning step 14. It is understood that the positioning step has a positioning function for the mounting base 13, so as to ensure that the mounting base 13 can be installed in the correct position.

[0062] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the housing 10 includes a base 15 and a cover 16, with the cover 16 covering the base 15 and forming a cavity 12 between the cover 16 and the base 15; wherein, the cover 16 and the base 15 are detachably connected. It can be understood that the detachable connection between the cover 16 and the base 15 facilitates the inspection and maintenance of the internal structure of the refrigerator automatic door opening device 100.

[0063] Here, the base 15 and the cover 16 can be detachably connected by means of snap-fit, threaded connection, or other methods. Of course, the connection method between the base 15 and the cover 16 is not limited to the above-mentioned connection method and can be determined according to the actual situation and needs.

[0064] In this embodiment, a slot 151 is provided on the base 15, and an elastic element 161 is provided on the cover 16. When the cover 16 moves toward the base 15 in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, the elastic element 161 can elastically deform until it enters the slot 151. After that, the elastic element 161 resets and abuts against the groove wall of the slot 151, thereby realizing a detachable connection between the cover 16 and the base 15.

[0065] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The fixed electrode 20 can be a metal sheet such as a copper sheet, aluminum sheet, or stainless steel sheet. The fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 form a capacitor structure, and the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 can be connected to a circuit to collect signals, thereby outputting the signal. Here, the fixed electrode 20 can be integrated with the circuit to facilitate the reception and transmission of capacitive signals.

[0066] Furthermore, the refrigerator automatic door opening device 100 also includes a circuit board 21, with the fixed electrode 20 integrated into the circuit board 21; the circuit board 21 is mounted on the mounting base 13 and covered by the opening 1331. In this way, the circuit board 21 can detect changes in the distance between the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 in a timely manner, that is, detect changes in the capacitance value in a timely manner, so as to realize the automatic opening of the refrigerator door 202.

[0067] In this embodiment, the circuit board 21 is configured as an integrated PCB circuit board. By integrating the fixed electrode 20 with the PCB circuit board, no additional circuitry is required, thus reducing assembly costs. The PCB circuit board collects capacitance signals and transmits them to the controller of the refrigerator 200. The controller then controls the opening of the door 202 based on these capacitance signals. That is, the circuit board 21 is used to connect to the controller (not shown) that transmits capacitance value changes and controls the opening of the door 202. In this way, the circuit board 21 can transmit the capacitance value change status in a timely manner, so that the controller can control the door 202 to open when the capacitance value changes to a preset value.

[0068] Here, the circuit board 21 is fixed to the mounting base 13 by adhesive bonding. In this way, the circuit board 21 can be fixed on the mounting base 13, preventing the circuit board 21 from shaking due to air pressure, and ensuring that the distance between the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 can change normally.

[0069] like Figure 4 As shown, a weight-reducing groove 311 is provided inside the support rod 31. It can be understood that the weight-reducing groove 311 is provided to reduce the weight of the support rod 31, so as to ensure that the support rod 31 can drive the movable electrode 40 to move in response to the air pressure change inside the box 201.

[0070] In this embodiment, the reset member 32 is configured as a spring member, and in the height direction of the refrigerator 200, the spring member is compressed and sleeved on the support rod 31, with one end of the spring member fixed to the support rod 31 and the other end fixed to the mounting base 13. Of course, it is not limited to this, and the reset member 32 can also be configured as other structures that can assist the support rod 31 in resetting, depending on the actual situation.

[0071] Here, the initial preload of the spring is set to 0.5 mm.

[0072] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 4 The movable electrode 40 can be a metal sheet such as a copper sheet, aluminum sheet, or stainless steel sheet. Of course, it is not limited to these; the specific material of the movable electrode 40 can be determined according to the actual situation.

[0073] Furthermore, the movable electrode 40 and the support rod 31 can be glued together using double-sided tape, adhesive, or other methods. Of course, the connection method between the movable electrode 40 and the support rod 31 is not limited to the above methods and can be determined according to the actual situation.

[0074] Preferably, the thickness of the movable electrode 40 is H, where 0.03 ≤ H ≤ 0.09 mm. This avoids the movable electrode 40 from being too thin and easily deformed, or too thick and heavy and unable to be pushed by the support rod 31.

[0075] Here, the thickness of the movable electrode 40 can be set to 0.03mm, 0.05mm, 0.07mm, 0.08mm, 0.09mm, or other values. Of course, it is not limited to these values; the specific thickness of the movable electrode 40 can be determined according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, the movable electrode 40 is set to 0.05mm.

[0076] In one embodiment, the automatic door opening device 100 of the refrigerator further includes a dryer (not shown), which is disposed in the channel 11 or the second cavity 122. This allows the gas entering the automatic door opening device 100 from inside the cabinet 201 to be dried by the dryer, preventing moisture inside the cabinet 201 from affecting the fixed electrode 20 and the movable electrode 40 and causing malfunction of the automatic door opening device 100.

[0077] Here, the dryer can use components such as heating tubes or heating wires to dry the gas entering the refrigerator's automatic door opening device 100. Of course, it is not limited to this; the specific dryer configuration can be selected according to the actual situation.

[0078] This application also provides a refrigerator 200, including a cabinet 201, a door 202, and an automatic door opening device 100 as described in any of the above embodiments. The door 202 is installed on the cabinet 201 and can move relative to the cabinet 201 in response to external forces to change the internal air pressure of the cabinet 201. The automatic door opening device 100 is installed on the cabinet 201 and is used to control the door 202 to open in response to changes in the internal air pressure of the cabinet 201.

[0079] The working principle of the refrigerator automatic door opening device 100 in this embodiment is as follows:

[0080] According to PV=nRT, the initial pressure inside the box 201 when the door 202 is closed is P0=nRT / V0. After pressing the door 202, the pressure inside the box 201 is P1=nRT / V1, and V1=kV0. Therefore, the pressure change inside the box 201 when the door 202 is pressed is ΔP=P1-P0=nRT / V1—nRT / V0=((1-k) / k)×nRT / V0.

[0081] Where R is the ideal gas constant; n is the amount of gaseous substance, which is also a constant; T is the temperature, which is considered constant before the door 202 is opened; V0 is the volume inside the cabinet 201; when the door 202 is pressed, the door 202 moves a certain distance into the cabinet 201 in the depth direction of the refrigerator 200, and at this time, the coefficient of change of V1 relative to V0 is k.

[0082] In summary, ΔP is only related to the volume change coefficient k inside the cabinet 201 when the user presses the door 202. Thus, the automatic opening of the refrigerator 200 is not affected by the installation or assembly precision of the refrigerator 200's components. When the user presses the door 202, the pressure inside the cabinet 201 changes, causing the gas inside the cabinet 201 to enter the refrigerator automatic door opening device 100 through the channel 11 and push the support rod 31. This causes the support rod 31 to move the movable electrode 40 in the height direction of the refrigerator 200. By changing the distance between the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20, the capacitance value changes.

[0083] According to the parallel plate capacitance formula: ,in, Let A be the dielectric constant, A be the area of ​​the plates corresponding to the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20, and d be the distance between the movable electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20. If A remains constant, the change in capacitance value is related to the change in the distance between the active electrode 40 and the fixed electrode 20. Thus, only a threshold value for capacitance value change needs to be set. When the capacitance value changes to the set threshold value, the circuit board 21 transmits a signal to enable the controller to control the door 202 to open. In this way, the automatic opening of the door 202 has lower requirements for the assembly precision of the refrigerator 200, which can improve the user experience.

[0084] In one embodiment, the door 202 is controlled by a voice module. By connecting the door 202 to a controller, a voice receiving module, and a voice parsing module, the voice receiving module receives the user's door opening command, and the voice parsing module parses the command. Based on the parsed command, the controller controls the door 202 to move towards the cabinet 201 in the depth direction of the refrigerator 200, thereby changing the air pressure inside the cabinet 201. This allows the gas inside the cabinet 201 to enter the refrigerator automatic door opening device 100 through the channel 11, thereby realizing the automatic opening of the door 202, improving the intelligent control of the refrigerator 200, and enhancing the user experience.

[0085] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above 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.

[0086] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automatic door opening device for a refrigerator, disposed in the refrigerator body and controlling the opening of the refrigerator door in response to changes in internal air pressure; characterized in that, The refrigerator automatic door opening device includes: A housing for mounting on the enclosure and having a channel and a chamber, the chamber being connected to the interior of the enclosure via the channel; A fixed electrode is fixedly installed within the cavity. The support mechanism includes a support rod and a reset member. The support rod extends along the height of the refrigerator, and one end can block the channel, while the other end extends toward the fixed electrode. One end of the reset member abuts against the support rod, and the other end abuts against the fixed electrode. The movable electrode is installed at the end of the support rod away from the channel, and is spaced apart from the fixed electrode in the height direction of the refrigerator; In this system, the support rod can move along the height of the refrigerator under the action of air pressure in response to changes in the internal air pressure of the cabinet, thereby changing the distance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode.

2. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A mounting base is provided inside the cavity, and in the height direction of the refrigerator, the mounting base divides the cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity, with the first cavity located above the second cavity; Both the fixed electrode and the movable electrode are located in the first cavity. The fixed electrode is mounted on the mounting base. The channel communicates with the second cavity. The reset member is located in the second cavity, with one end abutting against the support rod and the other end abutting against the mounting base.

3. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, A through mounting hole is provided on the mounting base in the height direction of the refrigerator; The end of the support rod away from the channel passes through the mounting hole and is guided and engaged with the mounting hole; the movable electrode is located on the side of the mounting base opposite to the channel.

4. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner wall of the chamber is provided with a positioning step, and the mounting base is installed on the positioning step.

5. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The refrigerator automatic door opening device also includes a circuit board, and the fixed electrode is integrated into the circuit board; The circuit board is mounted on the mounting base.

6. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The circuit board is fixed to the mounting base by adhesive bonding.

7. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The mounting base has an open mounting groove, the circuit board is covered by the open groove, and the movable electrode is located in the mounting groove; In the height direction of the refrigerator, the mounting base has a through hole, which connects the mounting groove to the second cavity.

8. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing includes a base and a cover, the cover being disposed on the base and forming the cavity between the cover and the base; The cover and the base are detachably connected.

9. The automatic door opening device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support rod has a weight-reducing groove inside.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door, and an automatic door opening device as described in any one of claims 1-9. The door is mounted on the cabinet and can move relative to the cabinet in response to external forces to change the internal air pressure of the cabinet. The automatic door opening device is mounted on the cabinet and is used to control the opening of the door in response to changes in the internal air pressure of the cabinet.

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