refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of returning a setting operation portion to a light-on display state from a light-off display state, even in a case when a switching operation portion does not receive an operation for switching the light-on display state and the light-off display state of the setting operation portion.SOLUTION: A refrigerator having a storage chamber door for opening and closing an opening of a storage chamber includes: a setting operation portion displayed on a front surface of the storage chamber door to be operated; a light source disposed inside of the storage chamber door and irradiating the setting operation portion from behind; and a control portion changing the setting relating to an operation of the refrigerator and controlling a display state of the setting operation portion on the basis of the operation to the setting operation portion. The control portion makes the setting operation portion perform light-on display by the light source without changing the setting, in a case when the setting operation portion is operated in the light-off display state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a refrigerator in which a setting operation section related to operation is illuminated by a light source and displayed on the front surface of a storage compartment door. In this type of refrigerator, it is desirable to minimize the time for which the setting operation section is lit in order to reduce power consumption.

[0003] Patent Document 1 is known as a conventional technique for reducing the lighting display time of the setting operation section. In this document, paragraph 0030 states that "the operation control section 23 switches the operation mode of the operation panel section 10 between a normal mode and a standby mode," paragraph 0031 states that "in the standby mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the displays of the display sections 32-36 are turned off, and the displays of the operation buttons 26a-30a of the first operation section are also turned off. Then, only the operation button 31a of "home (second operation section)" is turned on and only the operation of this operation button 31a is valid," and paragraph 0032 states that "in the standby mode of the operation panel section 10, when the operation button 31a of "home" is operated, the standby mode is released and the mode is returned to the normal mode." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-14442 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, when standby mode is being executed, operation of the operation buttons 26a to 30a (setting operation unit) in the off display state is disabled, and only operation of the operation button 31a (switching operation unit) in the on display state is enabled. Therefore, if the switching operation unit does not accept operation due to a malfunction or the like, it is not possible to return to normal mode, i.e., the setting operation unit to the on display state.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can return the setting operation unit to the on display state from the off display state even when the switching operation unit for switching between the on display state and the off display state of the setting operation unit does not accept any operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the refrigerator of the present invention is, for example, a refrigerator having a storage compartment door that opens and closes an opening to a storage compartment, and includes a setting operation unit that is displayed and operated on the front of the storage compartment door, a light source that is arranged inside the storage compartment door and illuminates the setting operation unit from behind, and a control unit that changes settings related to the operation of the refrigerator and controls the display state of the setting operation unit based on operations on the setting operation unit, and when the setting operation unit is operated in an off display state, the control unit causes the light source to light and display the setting operation unit without changing the settings. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a refrigerator can be provided that can return the setting operation unit to a lighted display state from an off display state even when the switching operation unit for switching between a lighted display state and an off display state of the setting operation unit does not accept an operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerator in a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the operation of inserting the board unit into the door. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the substrate unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view of the display film in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of the substrate in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the light guide plate in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a lighting display state of a setting operation unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an unlit display state of a setting operation unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart executed by a control unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a water intrusion prevention trap in the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a water intrusion prevention trap in a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. These embodiments are merely illustrative, and the present invention can be embodied in various modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In addition, in each of the drawings used in the following description, the same reference numerals are used for common devices and equipment, and descriptions of devices, equipment, and operations that have already been described may be omitted. EXAMPLES

[0011] <General configuration of refrigerator> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator. The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment has a refrigerator compartment, an ice-making compartment, an upper freezer compartment, a lower freezer compartment, and a vegetable compartment as storage compartments, and has doors for opening and closing the openings of the respective storage compartments, that is, a refrigerator compartment door 2, an ice-making compartment door 3, an upper freezer compartment door 4, a lower freezer compartment door 5, and a vegetable compartment door 6 (hereinafter, each storage compartment door is abbreviated as "door"). In this embodiment, the door 2 is a double-door type door, and is composed of a right door 2a and a left door 2b. In the following, the X-axis positive direction in the coordinate system shown in FIG. 1 is described as the front, the X-axis negative direction is the rear, the Y-axis positive direction is the right, the Y-axis negative direction is the left, the Z-axis positive direction is the up, and the Z-axis negative direction is the down.

[0012] A board unit 20 is inserted into the door 2a at the center of the refrigerator 1 (on the left side of the door 2a). The board unit 20 is also connected to a control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the refrigerator by a harness 7. The board unit 20 displays to the user based on instructions from the control unit, and also accepts operations from the user and transmits the contents of the operations to the control unit.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of inserting the board unit 20 into the door when manufacturing the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 2, an internal space 100 into which the board unit 20 is inserted is provided inside the door 2a, and is connected to an opening provided on the left side surface (the side surface on the Y-axis negative direction side) of the door 2a. The front surface of the door 2a is formed of a translucent front panel, and the internal space 100 is located behind the front panel. The board unit 20 is inserted into the internal space 100 of the door 2a from the opening on the left side surface. Then, after the board unit 20 is inserted into the internal space 100 of the door 2a, the internal space 100 is covered with a cap 110. In this manner, the board unit 20 is inserted into the internal space 100 of the door 2a.

[0014] <Configuration of Board Unit 20> Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the board unit 20. That is, Fig. 3 is a view in which the board unit 20 is exploded in the X-axis direction (front-rear direction). The board unit 20 has a display film 21, a destruction prevention film 22, a light diffusion film 23, a light guide plate 24 (24a, 24b), a shade 25, a board 26, and a holder 27, and is configured such that the display film 21 to the holder 27 are assembled in the X-axis direction.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, the display film 21, the light diffusion film 23, and the substrate 26 have substantially the same shape in front view. The light diffusion film 23 diffuses light incident from the rear to the front. The shade 25 and the light guide plate 24 are arranged so as not to overlap each other on the YZ plane, and each directly overlaps the substrate 26. The destruction prevention film 22 is arranged to overlap only the light guide plate 24, since it is for protecting the light guide plate 24. When the substrate unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 is inserted into the internal space 100 of the door 2a, the display film 21 is inserted so as to be on the front side of the door 2a.

[0016] <<Display film 21>> 4 is a front view of the display film. At least the switching operation display 21a and the setting operation displays 21c1-21c6 are printed on the display film 21. In addition, for example, a notification display for notifying the user of the setting contents of the refrigerator 1, and accompanying displays 21b1-21b3 for notifying the user of the positions of the switching operation display 21a and the setting operation displays 21c1-21c6 may be printed. Note that, in this embodiment, the number of setting operation displays is six, 21c1-21c6, but the number of setting operation displays is not limited to this. Also, a configuration in which the switching operation display 21a and the setting operation displays 21c1-21c6 are vertically aligned will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0017] <<Board 26>> 5 is a front view of the board 26. The board 26 has a touch sensor 26a for switching operation, touch sensors 26c1-26c6 for setting operation, and light sources 26b1-26b3. The touch sensor 26a for switching operation and the touch sensors 26c1-26c6 for setting operation may be proximity sensors that are not directly touched.

[0018] The switching operation touch sensor 26a is provided at a position overlapping in the X-axis direction (front-rear direction) with the switching operation display 21a shown in Fig. 4. The switching operation touch sensor 26a detects that the switching operation display 21a has been touched.

[0019] The setting operation touch sensor 26c1 is provided at a position overlapping with the setting operation display 21c1 shown in Fig. 4 in the X-axis direction (front-back direction). The setting operation touch sensor 26c1 detects that the setting operation display 21c1 is touched. Similarly, the setting operation touch sensors 26c2 to 26c6 are provided so as to overlap with the setting operation displays 21c2 to 21c6 in the X-axis direction (front-back direction) and detect touch operations.

[0020] The light source 26b1 is a light source for lighting and displaying the switching operation indicator 21a. The light source 26b1 emits light at least in the front of the board 26 (X-axis positive direction) and in the surface direction along the surface of the board 26 (Y-axis positive direction). The light sources 26b2 and 26b3 are light sources for lighting and displaying the setting operation indicators 21c1 to 21c6. The light source 26b2 emits light at least in the front of the board 26 (X-axis positive direction) and in the surface direction along the surface of the board 26 (Z-axis negative direction). The light source 26b3 emits light at least in the front of the board 26 (X-axis positive direction) and in the surface direction along the surface of the board 26 (Z-axis positive direction). The light sources 26b1 to 26b3 can be, for example, light-emitting diodes or the like.

[0021] <<Light guide plate 24a>> FIG. 6 is a front view of the light guide plate 24. When the light guide plate 24a overlaps with the substrate 26, the rib 24r1 enters the hole 26h1 of the substrate 26 shown in FIG. 5, and the rib 24r2 enters the hole 26h2 of the substrate 26 shown in FIG. 5, so that the light guide plate 24a is fixed at a position where it overlaps with the switching operation touch sensor 26a of the substrate 26. The light guide plate 24a also has a notch at the left end. When the light guide plate 24a overlaps with the substrate 26, the light source 26b1 of the substrate 26 is located in the notch at the left end of the light guide plate 24a. The light guide plate 24a refracts light emitted by the light source 26b1 in the creeping direction (positive Y-axis direction) forward. This causes the switching operation indicator 21a in front of the light guide plate 24a to be illuminated.

[0022] In addition, when the light guide plate 24a and the substrate 26 overlap, the light source 26b1 is located in the notch of the light guide plate 24a, and therefore does not overlap with the light guide plate 24a in the X-axis direction (front-rear direction). Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 26b1 to the front (X-axis positive direction) of the substrate 26 reaches the display film 21 without being obstructed. Therefore, in the display film 21 shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary display 21b1 is provided in front (X-axis positive direction) of the light source 26b1. With this configuration, the light source 26b1 can simultaneously light and display the switching operation display 21a and the auxiliary display 21b1. In this way, the cost can be reduced by sharing the light source between the switching operation display 21a and the auxiliary display 21b1.

[0023] In this embodiment, the switching operation display 21a, the light guide plate 24a, and the switching operation touch sensor 26a function as a switching operation unit for switching the setting operation unit between a lit display state and an unlit display state, as described below. Therefore, the switching operation display 21a, the light guide plate 24a, and the switching operation touch sensor 26a are collectively referred to as a switching operation unit 210.

[0024] <<Light guide plate 24b>> When the light guide plate 24b overlaps the substrate 26, the rib 24r3 enters the hole 26h3 of the substrate 26 shown in FIG. 5, and the rib 24r4 enters the hole 26h4 of the substrate 26 shown in FIG. 5, so that the light guide portions 24c1 to 24c6 of the light guide plate 24b are fixed at a position where they overlap the setting operation touch sensors 26c1 to 26c6 of the substrate 26. The light guide plate 24b also has two notches at the upper end. When the light guide plate 24b overlaps the substrate 26, the light source 26b2 of the substrate 26 is located in the notch at the upper end of the light guide plate 24b. The light guide portions 24c1 to 24c6 of the light guide plate 24b refract the light emitted by the light source 26b2 in the surface direction (Z-axis negative direction) forward. This causes the setting operation indicators 21c1 to 21c6 located in front of the light guide portions 24c1 to 24c6 of the light guide plate 24b to light up.

[0025] The light guide plate 24b has a hole 24h on the lower side. When the light guide plate 24b overlaps the substrate 26, the light source 26b3 of the substrate 26 is located in the hole 24h of the light guide plate 24b. The light guide portions 24c1-24c6 of the light guide plate 24b refract the light emitted from the light source 26b3 in the surface direction (positive direction of the Z axis) forward. This causes the setting operation indicators 21c1-21c6 in front of the light guide portions 24c1-24c6 of the light guide plate 24b to light up.

[0026] In addition, when the light guide plate 24b and the substrate 26 are overlapped, the light source 26b2 is located in the notch of the light guide plate 24b, and the light source 26b3 is located in the hole 24h of the light guide plate 24b, so that the light sources 26b2 and 26b3 do not overlap with the light guide plate 24b in the X-axis direction (front-back direction). Therefore, the light emitted from the light sources 26b2 and 26b3 to the front (X-axis positive direction) of the substrate 26 reaches the display film 21 without being obstructed. Therefore, in the display film 21 shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary display 21b2 is provided in front (X-axis positive direction) of the light source 26b2, and the auxiliary display 21b3 is provided in front (X-axis positive direction) of the light source 26b3. With this configuration, the light sources 26b2 and 26b3 can simultaneously light and display the setting operation displays 21c1 to 21c6, the auxiliary display 21b2, and the auxiliary display 21b3. In this manner, the setting operation displays 21c1 to 21c6 and the auxiliary displays 21b2 and 21b3 share a light source, thereby making it possible to reduce costs.

[0027] In this embodiment, the display for setting operation, the light guide section of the light guide plate 24b, and the touch sensor for setting operation, which are overlapped in the X-axis direction (front-rear direction), function as one setting operation section (operation section for performing setting operations related to the operation of the refrigerator). Specifically, the display for setting operation 21c1, the light guide section 24c1 of the light guide plate 24b, and the touch sensor for setting operation 26c1 function as one setting operation section. The same applies to the displays for setting operation 21c2 to 21c6, the light guide sections 24c2 to 24c6 of the light guide plate 24b, and the touch sensors for setting operation 26c2 to 26c6. That is, in this embodiment, six setting operation sections are provided. Therefore, hereinafter, the setting operation section at the front end of the display for setting operation 21c1 is referred to as the setting operation section 211, and similarly, the setting operation sections at the front end of the displays for setting operation 21c2 to 21c6 are referred to as the setting operation sections 212 to 216, respectively.

[0028] <Display state explanation> The control unit changes the settings related to the operation of the refrigerator 1 and controls the display state of the setting operation unit based on the open / closed state of the refrigerator doors and the touch operation on the setting operation unit. The control unit determines whether the refrigerator doors are open / closed based on a signal from a door sensor or the like provided on each door. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a lit display state of the setting operation unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an off display state of the setting operation unit. The off display state may be a dimmed state in which some of the lights are turned off or the brightness is reduced from the lit display state of FIG. 7.

[0029] 7 is touched, the control unit changes the settings related to the operation of the refrigerator 1 based on the setting operation unit that was touched. For example, if setting operation unit 212 is a setting operation unit that sets automatic ice-making on / off, the control unit switches automatic ice-making on / off when setting operation unit 212 in the lighting display state is touched.

[0030] 7 and 8, the control unit constantly lights up the switching operation unit 210 regardless of the display state of the setting operation units 211 to 216. The control unit then switches between the lit display state and the unlit display state of the setting operation units 211 to 216 every time a touch operation is performed on the switching operation unit 210. These operations are not limited to touch operations and may be proximity detection operations.

[0031] Furthermore, when any of the setting operation units 211-216 in the off display state shown in Fig. 8 is touched, the control unit according to this embodiment causes the setting operation units 211-216 to be turned on by the light sources 26b2, 26b3 without changing the settings related to the operation of the refrigerator 1 described above. Hereinafter, switching between the on display state and the off display state of the setting operation units 211-216 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 9 showing the flowchart executed by the control unit. Note that the control unit has a function of measuring the duration (no-operation time) during which the door 2 (2a, 2b) is closed and there is no touch operation on any of the switching operation unit 210 and the setting operation units 211-216.

[0032] <Flowchart of the control section> <<Step S1>> The control unit judges whether or not the setting operation units 211 to 216 are in a lighted display state. If the setting operation units 211 to 216 are in a lighted display state, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the setting operation units 211 to 216 are in an unlighted display state, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0033] <<Step S2>> The control unit determines whether the door 2 (2a, 2b) is open. If the door 2 (2a, 2b) is open, the process proceeds to step S3, and if the door 2 (2a, 2b) is closed, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0034] <<Step S3>> The control unit causes the setting operation units 211 to 216 to light up and display using the light sources 26b2 and 26b3.

[0035] <<Step S4>> The control unit determines whether or not a touch operation has been performed on the switching operation unit 210 and the setting operation units 211 to 216. If there has been no touch operation on either the switching operation unit 210 or the setting operation units 211 to 216, the process proceeds to step S5, and if there has been a touch operation on either the switching operation unit 210 or the setting operation units 211 to 216, the process proceeds to step S8.

[0036] <<Step S5>> The control unit sets the turn-off start time. Basically, the turn-off start time is set to 30 seconds. However, if there is no touch operation on any of the switching operation unit 210 and the setting operation units 211 to 216 from when the setting operation units 211 to 216 are in the light display state due to the open state of the door 2 until the start of step S5, the turn-off start time is set to 15 seconds.

[0037] <<Step S6>> The control unit judges whether the no-operation time has passed the turn-off start time. If the no-operation time has passed the turn-off start time, the process proceeds to step S7. If the no-operation time has not passed the turn-off start time, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0038] <<Step S7>> The control unit turns off or dims the setting operation units 211 to 216.

[0039] <<Step S8>> The control unit determines whether or not there has been a touch operation on the switching operation unit 210. If there has been no touch operation on the switching operation unit 210, the process proceeds to step S5, and if there has been a touch operation on the switching operation unit 210, the process proceeds to step S7.

[0040] <<Step S9>> The control unit determines whether the door 2 (2a, 2b) is open. If the door 2 (2a, 2b) is open, the process proceeds to step S3, and if the door 2 (2a, 2b) is closed, the process proceeds to step S10.

[0041] <<Step S10>> The control unit judges whether or not a touch operation has been performed on the switching operation unit 210 and the setting operation units 211-216. If there has been no touch operation on either the switching operation unit 210 or the setting operation units 211-216, the process proceeds to step S7, and if there has been a touch operation on either the switching operation unit 210 or the setting operation units 211-216, the process proceeds to step S3. As described above, if there has been a touch operation on any of the setting operation units 211-216 that are in the off display state, no change is made to the settings related to the operation of the refrigerator 1. Also, if more than one of the setting operation units 211-216 are touched simultaneously in the off display state, this may be determined to be an erroneous operation, and the settings related to the operation of the refrigerator 1 may not be changed and the setting operation units 211-216 may not be turned on.

[0042] In addition, in the "open state" of step S9, since door 2 is in the open state, it is highly likely that the user is in a position where he or she can check the setting operation unit, and by lighting up the setting operation units 211 to 216, the user can be prompted to check the settings.

[0043] Also, in step S5, for example, when door 2 (2a, 2b) is in the closed state and a touch operation is made on switching operation unit 210 ("Yes" in step S10), and setting operation units 211-216 are displayed lit up, if a touch operation is subsequently made on any of setting operation units 211-216, there is a possibility that the user may continue to perform touch operations on setting operation units 211-216, so the time to start turning off the lights is set to a long period of 30 seconds.

[0044] In contrast, when the doors 2 (2a, 2b) are closed and there is a touch operation on the switching operation unit 210 ("Yes" in step S10), and the setting operation units 211-216 are lit up, if there is no subsequent touch operation on any of the setting operation units 211-216, the possibility that the user will perform a touch operation on the setting operation units 211-216 is low, so the turn-off start time is set to a short 15 seconds. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption when there is a low possibility that the user will perform a setting operation.

[0045] The present invention includes step S10, that is, when the doors 2 (2a, 2b) are in a closed state and the setting operation units 211-216 are in an off display state, by lighting up the setting operation units 211-216 when a touch operation is performed on any of the setting operation units 211-216, it is possible to return the setting operation units 211-216 from the off display state to the on display state even when the switching operation unit 210 does not accept an operation. EXAMPLES

[0046] This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a water intrusion prevention trap is provided. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the water intrusion prevention trap. As shown in FIG. 10, the board unit 20 has a notch 21d. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the water intrusion prevention trap 8. FIG. 11 corresponds to the notch 21d in FIG. 10. The water intrusion prevention trap 8 has a concave shape with an open upper side, and stores a part of the harness 7 inside the concave shape. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the harness 7 is folded back in a V-shape so as to be convex downward in the notch 21d and connected to the board unit 20. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the water intrusion prevention trap 8 stores the V-shaped part of the harness 7 inside the concave shape. For example, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin can be used for the water intrusion prevention trap 8.

[0048] With this configuration, even if water droplets generated by condensation flow down the harness 7 onto the board unit 20, the water droplets can be prevented from entering the board unit 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1: Refrigerator 2, 2a, 2b: Refrigerator door 3: Ice making compartment door 4: Top freezer door 5: Lower freezer door 6: Vegetable compartment door 7: Harness 8: Water intrusion prevention trap 20: Circuit board unit 21: Display film 21a: Switching operation display 21b1~21b3: Additional display 21c1~21c6: Display for setting operation 21d:Notch 22: Anti-vandal film 23: Light diffusion film 24, 24a, 24b: Light guide plate 24c1~24c6: Light guide part 24r1~24r4: Rib 24h:Hole 25:Shade 26: Circuit board 26a: Touch sensor for switching operation 26b1~26b3, :Light source 26c1 to 26c6: Touch sensors for setting operations 26h1~26h4: Hole 27: Holder 100:Interior space 110: Cap 210: Switching operation section 211 to 216: Setting operation section

Claims

1. A refrigerator having a storage compartment door for opening and closing an opening of a storage compartment, A switching operation unit that is displayed on a front surface of the storage compartment door and is operated by touch; A setting operation unit that is displayed on the front surface of the storage compartment door and is operated by touch; a light source disposed inside the storage compartment door and illuminating the switching operation unit and the setting operation unit from behind; a control unit that changes settings related to operation of the refrigerator and controls a display state of the setting operation unit based on an operation on the setting operation unit, the storage compartment door has a light-transmitting front panel and a display film located on the back of the front panel and having a switching operation display and a setting operation display printed thereon; The control unit is The switching operation unit is turned on regardless of the display state of the setting operation unit, A lighting display state / an extinguished display state of the setting operation unit is switched by each touch operation on the switching operation unit, When the setting operation unit is operated in a turned-off display state, the setting operation unit is turned on and displayed by the light source without changing the setting; A refrigerator characterized in that, when the setting operation unit is operated while the setting operation unit is in a lit display state, the setting is changed based on the operation on the setting operation unit.

2. In the refrigerator according to claim 1, The setting operation unit is provided in plurality, The control unit, when a plurality of the setting operation units are simultaneously operated in an off-light state, does not change the settings and does not light up the setting operation units.

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