refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that has a configuration capable of detecting whether any storing object is present in a compartment without drastically changing a structure of the refrigerator.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 includes: a storage space such as a cold room 11; a ranging sensor 61 installed in an interior wall of the storage space; and a control unit 62 for detecting whether any storing object is present in the storage space on the basis of a detection result by the ranging sensor 61.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with a distance measuring sensor inside the cabinet.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a refrigerator that can grasp and manage the presence or absence and inventory status of stored items in the cabinet without opening or closing the door. The refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a partition 5 having a predetermined width and depth for storing a plurality of single stored items formed in the storage chamber 2, a detection device 15 that detects the fact of storage or removal when storing or removing the stored item 21 into or from this partition, and a display device 25 provided outside the cabinet that displays the presence or absence of stored items in each of the plurality of partitions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The refrigerator 1 disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a device including a detection lever 15, an operating piece 16, a microswitch 18, etc. as a detection device for detecting the presence or absence of stored items in the partition. Thus, the detection device for detecting the presence or absence of stored items in the refrigerator is composed of various parts. Therefore, in order to provide a detection device in the refrigerator, it is necessary to greatly change the structure of the door and the inner wall of the cabinet. In addition, by attaching a part such as the detection lever 15 to the door of the refrigerator, there is a concern that the thickness of the heat insulating material inside the door becomes thin and the heat insulating performance deteriorates.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a configuration capable of detecting the presence or absence of contents inside the cabinet without greatly changing the structure of the refrigerator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a storage space, a distance measuring sensor provided on the inner wall of the storage space, and a control unit that detects the presence or absence of contents in the storage space based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that has a configuration capable of detecting the presence or absence of contents inside the refrigerator without significantly changing the structure of the refrigerator. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator door of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a contents detection unit provided in a refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the detection unit inside the refrigerator compartment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how the distance to an object in the lower door pocket is measured using the distance measuring sensor of the detection unit. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how to detect an object at position A inside the lower door pocket. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how to detect the absence of an object at position A in the lower door pocket. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how to detect the absence of an object at position B in the lower door pocket. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the configuration around the detection unit provided in a refrigerator according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10]Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the detection unit used to detect the presence or absence of an object in the lower door pocket is used. [Figure 11] This is a side view showing the configuration around the detection unit provided in the refrigerator according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a side view showing the configuration around the detection unit provided in the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions of them will not be repeated.

[0010] <First Embodiment> (Overall configuration of the refrigerator) First, the overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. Figure 1 shows the external appearance of the refrigerator 1. In Figure 1, the door of the refrigerator compartment is not shown.

[0011] The exterior of refrigerator 1 is mainly composed of an insulated box 50. The insulated box 50 is mainly composed of an inner box 51, an outer box 52, and an insulating layer (not shown) formed between the inner box 51 and the outer box 52. The storage space of refrigerator 1 is formed by this insulated box 50. The storage space formed by the insulated box 50 is divided by a plurality of horizontally extending partitions (for example, a partition 55 separating the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment) into, for example, the refrigerator compartment 11, the vegetable compartment, the ice maker and second freezer compartment, and the freezer compartment, in order from the top.

[0012] The refrigerator compartment 11 is provided with double-winged refrigerator compartment doors 11a and 11b (see Fig. 2) which are divided into left and right parts and open like a double door. The vegetable compartment is provided with a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 12a. The freezer compartment is provided with a drawer-type freezer compartment door 13a. The ice-making compartment is provided with a drawer-type ice-making compartment door 14a. The second freezer compartment is provided with a drawer-type freezer compartment door 15a.

[0013] As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, and a refrigerator compartment 11, a vegetable compartment, etc. are provided. However, the arrangement positions of each storage space are not limited to this. Also, the configuration of the doors provided in each storage space is not limited to the above.

[0014] In this embodiment, the surface on which the door is provided is referred to as the front or the front face of the refrigerator. And, based on the position that exists when the refrigerator 1 is installed in a normal state with the front face as a reference, each face of the refrigerator 1 is defined as the upper face, the side faces, the rear face, and the bottom face. Also, the side located on the left when viewed from the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as the left side of the refrigerator 1, and the side located on the right when viewed from the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as the right side of the refrigerator 1.

[0015] (Configuration inside the refrigerator compartment) Next, the configuration of the refrigerator compartment 11, which is one of the storage spaces inside the refrigerator 1, will be described. Fig. 2 shows the configuration inside the refrigerator compartment 11 with the refrigerator compartment doors 11a and 11b opened.

[0016] Inside the refrigerator compartment 11, a plurality of shelf boards 41, a plurality of storage cases (for example, an upper case 42 and a lower case 43), etc. are provided. As a result, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 11 is partitioned into a plurality of small spaces. The shelf boards 41 are arranged on the upper side inside the refrigerator compartment 11, and the storage cases are arranged on the lower side inside the refrigerator compartment 11. In this embodiment, two storage cases, namely the upper case 42 and the lower case 43, are provided. These storage cases are used as chilled cases, vegetable cases, etc.

[0017] An operating unit 20 is provided on the inner wall of the refrigerator compartment 11. The operating unit 20 is attached to an inner box 51 that forms the inner wall of the refrigerator 1. In this embodiment, the operating unit 20 is attached to the right side wall 51a inside the refrigerator compartment 11.

[0018] The surface of the control unit 20 is formed by the control panel 21. The control panel 21 is positioned along the side wall 51a of the refrigerator compartment 11. The control panel 21 is provided with multiple control buttons for setting the temperature of each storage compartment, such as the refrigerator compartment 11, operating and setting the ice maker, and performing various other operations and settings.

[0019] Furthermore, a distance measuring sensor 61 is located on the control panel 21. The distance measuring sensor 61 is used as a detection sensor for a detection unit 60 that determines whether or not there are contents in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator compartment door 11b.

[0020] Inside the control unit 20 (i.e., on the back side of the control panel 21), there is an electrical circuit board and a harness (wiring) connected to the electrical circuit board. The harness passes through the inside of the insulated box 50 and is connected to an electrical unit (not shown) that controls various functions inside the refrigerator 1. Thus, the inner wall portion of the refrigerator compartment on the back side of the control panel 21 is where the wiring circuit board and harness and other electrical components are located. Therefore, the inner wall portion of the refrigerator compartment on the back side of the control panel 21 corresponds to the area where the electrical components are located.

[0021] Multiple door pockets (door storage compartments) are provided on the back of the refrigerator doors 11a and 11b located on the inside of the refrigerator compartment 11. Specifically, on the back of the left refrigerator door 11a, when viewed from the front, there are three door pockets, from top to bottom: the upper door pocket 31a, the middle door pocket 32a, and the lower door pocket 33a. Similarly, on the back of the right refrigerator door 11b, when viewed from the front, there are three door pockets, from top to bottom: the upper door pocket 31b, the middle door pocket 32b, and the lower door pocket 33b.

[0022] As will be described later, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment can detect the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b using the detection unit 60. To enable this, the lower door pocket 33b is made of a material that transmits light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61. For example, the lower door pocket 33b is made of a transparent resin material. The material of the door pockets other than the lower door pocket 33b is not particularly limited, but for example, they can be made of a transparent resin material similar to the lower door pocket 33b.

[0023] (Configuration of the containment detection unit) Next, the configuration of the detection unit 60, which detects the presence or absence of contents in the refrigerator compartment 11, will be described. The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a detection unit 60 that can detect the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator compartment door 11b. Figure 3 schematically shows the configuration of the detection unit 60. Figure 4 shows a magnified view of the area around the detection unit 60 inside the refrigerator compartment 11.

[0024] The detection unit 60 mainly consists of a distance measuring sensor 61, a control unit 62, and at least one reflector (for example, a first reflector 63a and a second reflector 63b).

[0025] The distance measuring sensor 61 is located within the operating unit 20. The distance measuring sensor 61 has a light-emitting unit 65 that emits a light ray (measuring light) in a predetermined direction, and a light-receiving unit 66 that receives the reflected light emitted from the light-emitting unit 65. The distance measuring sensor 61 can detect the distance to the object by emitting light from the light-emitting unit 65 toward the object to be detected, and by the light-receiving unit 66 detecting the reflected light from the object to be detected.

[0026] The control unit 62 detects the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 61. Specifically, the control unit 62 determines whether or not contents exist at a specific location in the lower door pocket 33b based on whether or not the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 61 is within a predetermined numerical range. For example, the control unit 62 can determine whether or not contents exist at locations A and B (see Figure 4) in the lower door pocket 33b.

[0027] The control unit 62 is located, for example, within the electrical unit (not shown) inside the refrigerator 1. However, the location of the control unit 62 is not limited to the electrical unit. In another example, the control unit 62 may be located within the operating unit 20.

[0028] The control unit 62 is equipped with memory 68. Memory 68 is implemented using various types of RAM, ROM, etc. Memory 68 stores programs executed by the control unit 62 and data generated by the execution of programs by the control unit 62.

[0029] The reflector reflects light emitted from the light-emitting part 65 of the distance measuring sensor 61, as well as reflected light from the object to be detected. The reflector is made of a highly reflective material, such as a reflective mirror. By appropriately adjusting the position and angle of the reflector, it is possible to change which position within the lower door pocket 33b is the target of detection.

[0030] In another embodiment, a light guide member capable of directing light in a predetermined direction can be used instead of a reflector.

[0031] In this embodiment, two reflectors, a first reflector 63a and a second reflector 63b, are provided. This allows for the detection of the presence or absence of contents at two locations within the lower door pocket 33b. The positions of the first reflector 63a and the second reflector 63b can be determined based on the position of the distance measuring sensor 61, the direction of emission of the measuring light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61, and the detection target locations within the lower door pocket 33b.

[0032] For example, the first reflector 63a is positioned on the right side of the front of the upper case 42 (closer to the control panel 21) (see Figure 4). This allows the presence or absence of an item at position A in the lower door pocket 33b to be detected using the light reflected by the first reflector 63a.

[0033] Furthermore, the second reflector 63b is positioned in the center of the front of the upper case 42 (further from the control panel 21) (see Figure 4). This allows the presence or absence of an item at position B in the lower door pocket 33b to be detected using the light reflected by the second reflector 63b.

[0034] (A method of detecting the presence or absence of contents using a detection unit) Next, with reference to Figures 5 to 8, a method for detecting the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b using the detection unit 60 will be explained.

[0035] In Figure 5, the light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 toward positions A and B is shown by solid arrows. In addition, in Figure 5, the light reflected at positions A and B and returning toward the distance measuring sensor 61 is shown by dashed arrows.

[0036] In Figure 6, the measurement light (first measurement light) of the distance measuring sensor 61 when the contents 90 are present at position A is indicated by an arrow (a solid arrow for the emitted light and a dashed arrow for the reflected light). In Figure 7, the measurement light (first measurement light) of the distance measuring sensor 61 when the contents 90 are not present at position A is indicated by an arrow (a solid arrow for the emitted light and a dashed arrow for the reflected light). In Figure 8, the measurement light (second measurement light) of the distance measuring sensor 61 when the contents are not present at position B is indicated by an arrow (a solid arrow for the emitted light and a dashed arrow for the reflected light).

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, the distance measuring sensor 61 emits measuring light with two types of directionality. That is, the light-emitting part 65 of the distance measuring sensor 61 emits a first measuring light directed toward the first reflector 63a and a second measuring light directed toward the second reflector 63b. The first measuring light is used to detect the presence or absence of contents in position A of the lower door pocket 33b. The second measuring light is used to detect the presence or absence of contents in position B of the lower door pocket 33b. The distance measuring sensor 61 may also be configured to have separate distance measuring sensors for the first measuring light and the second measuring light.

[0038] For example, as shown in Figure 6, when the contents 90 are placed at position A, the first measuring light is reflected by the contents 90, and the light receiving unit 66 of the distance measuring sensor 61 receives this reflected light. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 61 detects the distance to the contents 90. The distance information detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 is transmitted to the control unit 62.

[0039] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, if no contents 90 are placed at position A, the first measuring light passes through position A. As shown in Figure 7, if no contents are placed in the door pocket on the front side of position A, the first measuring light (not shown in Figure 7) is reflected by the refrigerator door 11b. The light receiving unit 66 of the distance measuring sensor 61 receives this reflected light. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 61 detects the distance to the refrigerator door 11b. The distance information detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 is transmitted to the control unit 62.

[0040] The control unit 62 determines whether or not an object exists at position A based on the received distance information. If an object 90 exists at position A (for example, in the case of Figure 6), the distance to the detected object detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 will be shorter compared to the case where an object 90 does not exist at position A (for example, in the case of Figure 7).

[0041] The memory 68 in the control unit 62 stores a numerical range that serves as a criterion for the control unit 62 to determine whether or not the contents 90 are present at position A. This numerical range can be determined based on the range of distance that the distance measuring sensor 61 can detect when the contents 90 are present at position A.

[0042] For example, the control unit 62 determines that the contents 90 are present at location A if the distance information transmitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 is within the numerical range stored in the memory 68. Conversely, if the distance information transmitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 exceeds the upper limit of the numerical range stored in the memory 68, it determines that the contents 90 are not present at location A. Furthermore, if the distance information transmitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 falls below the lower limit of the numerical range stored in the memory 68, it determines that a detection error has occurred.

[0043] The determination of whether or not an item is present at position B can be performed in the same way as at position A. For example, as shown in Figure 8, if no item 90 is placed at position B, the second measuring light passes through position B. Then, as shown in Figure 8, if no item is placed in the door pocket on the front side of position B, the second measuring light is reflected by the refrigerator door 11b. The light receiving unit 66 of the distance measuring sensor 61 receives this reflected light. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 61 detects the distance to the refrigerator door 11b. The distance information detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 is transmitted to the control unit 62. The control unit 62 then determines that no item is present at position B because the distance information transmitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 exceeds the numerical range stored in the memory 68.

[0044] The result determined by the control unit 62 is stored in the memory 68, for example, as the inventory status in the lower door pocket 33b. The detection unit 60 detects the presence or absence of stored items, for example, at predetermined time intervals or when the door of the refrigerator 1 is closed, and the inventory information in the memory 68 is updated each time.

[0045] The inventory information stored in memory 68 can be transmitted to an external terminal, for example, from a transceiver (not shown) provided in the refrigerator 1. This allows the user of the refrigerator 1 to check the inventory status in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator 1 from a location away from the refrigerator 1.

[0046] The inventory information stored in memory 68 may be made viewable, for example, on a display panel (not shown) located on the front door of refrigerator 1. This allows the user of refrigerator 1 to check the inventory status in the lower door pocket 33b without opening or closing the refrigerator door.

[0047] (Summary of the first embodiment) As described above, the refrigerator 1 has a storage space such as a refrigerator compartment 11. The refrigerator 1 is equipped with a detection unit 60 that detects the presence or absence of contents in the refrigerator compartment 11. In this embodiment, the detection unit 60 detects the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator compartment door 11b. The detection unit 60 includes a distance measuring sensor 61 provided on the inner wall of the storage space and a control unit 62 that detects the presence or absence of contents in the storage space based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 61.

[0048] With such a detection unit 60 installed, the user of the refrigerator 1 can ascertain the presence and inventory status of stored items inside without opening or closing the door. For example, by designating the lower door pocket 33b as the location for specific items (e.g., milk, mineral water, beer, etc., that are consumed daily), the user can ascertain the inventory status of those specific items.

[0049] In this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 61 is located on the operating unit 20 provided on the side wall 51a of the refrigerator compartment 11. Various switches, wiring boards, and electrical components such as harnesses are located on the back side of the operating panel 21 of the operating unit 20. The distance measuring sensor 61 is located in the same area as these electrical components.

[0050] In this way, by positioning the distance sensor 61 of the detection unit 60 within the area where electrical components (for example, the control unit 20) are located as part of the basic configuration of the refrigerator 1, it is possible to check the inventory inside the refrigerator without significantly altering the structure of the side walls or door pockets of the refrigerator compartment 11. Therefore, the decrease in thermal insulation performance that would occur if the distance sensor were placed on the inner wall of the storage space can be suppressed. In addition, the complexity of the refrigerator structure caused by installing the detection unit can be reduced.

[0051] In the first embodiment described above, the configuration of a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b was explained as an example. However, the detection unit may also be used to detect the presence or absence of contents in locations other than the lower door pocket 33b within the refrigerator compartment 11.

[0052] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of contents differs from that of the first embodiment. The same configuration as in the first embodiment can be applied to the other components. Therefore, the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0053] The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a detection unit 160 that can detect the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator compartment door 11b. Figure 9 shows the configuration around the detection unit 160 inside the refrigerator compartment 11 of the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment. The internal configuration of the detection unit 160 is the same as in the first embodiment, for example, the configuration shown in Figure 3 can be applied.

[0054] The detection unit 160 mainly consists of a distance measuring sensor 61, a control unit 62, and at least one reflector (for example, a first reflector 163a and a second reflector 163b).

[0055] The distance measuring sensor 61 is located within the operating unit 20. The distance measuring sensor 61 includes a light-emitting unit 65 that emits a light ray (measuring light) in a predetermined direction, and a light-receiving unit 66 that receives the reflected light emitted from the light-emitting unit 65.

[0056] The general configuration of the distance measuring sensor 61 is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 travels slightly above the lower door pocket 33b (see Figure 5, etc.). To match this height, in the first embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 61 is positioned above the operation panel 21. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 travels along the bottom surface of the lower door pocket 33b. Therefore, in this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 61 is positioned below the operation panel 21.

[0057] The control unit 62 detects the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 61. The configuration of the control unit 62 can be the same as in the first embodiment.

[0058] The reflector reflects the light emitted from the light-emitting part 65 of the distance measuring sensor 61, as well as the reflected light from the object to be detected. In another embodiment, a light guide member capable of guiding light in a predetermined direction can be used instead of the reflector.

[0059] In this embodiment, two reflectors, a first reflector 163a and a second reflector 163b, are provided. This allows for the detection of the presence or absence of contents at two locations within the lower door pocket 33b. The positions of the first reflector 163a and the second reflector 163b can be determined based on the position of the distance measuring sensor 61, the direction of emission of the measurement light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61, and the detection target locations within the lower door pocket 33b.

[0060] As shown in Figure 9, in this embodiment, the first reflector 163a and the second reflector 163b are located on the bottom surface of the lower door pocket 33b. Specifically, the first reflector 163a is located on the bottom surface below position A within the lower door pocket 33b, and the second reflector 163b is located on the bottom surface below position B within the lower door pocket 33b.

[0061] This allows the presence or absence of an item at position A in the lower door pocket 33b to be detected using the light reflected by the first reflector 163a. ​​Furthermore, the presence or absence of an item at position B in the lower door pocket 33b can be detected using the light reflected by the second reflector 163b.

[0062] Figure 10 schematically shows the direction of propagation of the measurement light when detecting the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b using the distance measuring sensor 61. Figure 10 is a view of the right side of the refrigerator compartment 11 (the side where the operation unit 20 is located) from the rear. In Figure 10, the light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 toward positions A and B is shown by solid arrows. Also in Figure 10, the light reflected at positions A and B and returning toward the distance measuring sensor 61 is shown by dashed arrows.

[0063] As shown in Figure 10, the distance measuring sensor 61 emits two types of measuring light. Specifically, the light-emitting part 65 of the distance measuring sensor 61 emits a first measuring light directed toward the first reflector 163a and a second measuring light directed toward the second reflector 163b. The first measuring light is used to detect the presence or absence of contents in position A of the lower door pocket 33b. The second measuring light is used to detect the presence or absence of contents in position B of the lower door pocket 33b.

[0064] If an object is placed at position A, the first measuring light is reflected by the object, and the light receiving unit 66 of the distance measuring sensor 61 receives this reflected light. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 61 detects the distance to the object. The distance information detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 is transmitted to the control unit 62.

[0065] On the other hand, if no contents are placed at position A, the first measuring light passes through position A. The first measuring light is then reflected by some object located above the lower door pocket 33b. The light receiving unit 66 of the distance measuring sensor 61 receives this reflected light. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 61 detects the distance to the object located above position A. The distance information detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 is transmitted to the control unit 62.

[0066] The control unit 62 determines whether or not an object exists at position A based on the received distance information. As described in the first embodiment, if an object exists at position A, the distance to the object detected by the distance measuring sensor 61 will be shorter compared to the case where no object exists at position A. The control unit 62 determines whether or not an object exists at position A in the lower door pocket 33b based on whether or not the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 61 is within a predetermined numerical range.

[0067] The determination of whether or not there is a containment at location B can be made using the same method as for location A.

[0068] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiments described above, a configuration in which the distance measuring sensor of the detection unit is provided in the operation section was used as an example. However, the location of the distance measuring sensor is not limited to the operation section. The distance measuring sensor can be provided in the area where electrical components are located on the inner wall of the storage space of the refrigerator.

[0069] Here, the area where electrical components are located refers to, for example, the inside of a base member on which electrical components are mounted (for example, a member such as a case that houses a wiring board), a recess formed in the inner wall where electrical components are located, or the area next to an electrical component. Furthermore, if the wiring connecting the electrical unit that controls various functions inside the refrigerator 1 and the distance measuring sensor is included in the wiring system that connects the electrical component and the electrical unit, then the distance measuring sensor is also considered to be located in the area where the electrical component is located. Examples of electrical components on the inner wall of the storage space of the refrigerator include the control panel, interior light, door switch, and ion supply unit.

[0070] The refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment is equipped with a distance measuring sensor 61 within the unit of the interior light 271. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0071] Figure 11 shows the configuration of the refrigerator compartment 11 of the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment. Figure 11 is a view of the right side of the refrigerator compartment 11 (the side where the control panel 20 is located) from the left side. An interior light 271 is provided on the inner wall of the top surface of the refrigerator compartment 11 to illuminate the inside of the refrigerator compartment 11. The interior light 271 has a light source such as an LED or a fluorescent lamp.

[0072] Furthermore, the interior light 271 is equipped with a wiring board on which a light source is mounted, and a harness (wiring) connected to the wiring board. The harness passes through the inside of the insulated box 50 and is connected to an electrical unit (not shown) that controls various functions inside the refrigerator 1. Thus, the interior wall portion of the refrigerator compartment 11 where the interior light 271 is installed is where the wiring board and various electrical components such as the harness are located. Therefore, the interior wall portion of the refrigerator compartment 11 where the interior light 271 is installed corresponds to the area where the electrical components are located.

[0073] The refrigerator 1 is equipped with a detection unit 260 that can detect the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator compartment door 11b. The detection unit 260 mainly consists of a distance measuring sensor 61 and a control unit 62.

[0074] The distance measuring sensor 61 is located within the area where the interior light 271 is installed. The distance measuring sensor 61 has a light-emitting unit 65 that emits a light ray (measuring light) in a predetermined direction, and a light-receiving unit 66 that receives the reflected light emitted from the light-emitting unit 65. The general configuration of the distance measuring sensor 61 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0075] Figure 11 schematically shows the direction of propagation of the measurement light when detecting the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b using the distance measuring sensor 61. In Figure 11, the light emitted from the distance measuring sensor 61 toward position A is shown by a solid arrow. Also in Figure 11, the light reflected at position A and returning toward the distance measuring sensor 61 is shown by a dashed arrow.

[0076] Regarding the internal configuration of the detection unit 260, a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as that shown in Figure 3, can be applied.

[0077] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiments described above, a configuration in which the distance measuring sensor of the detection unit is provided in the area where electrical components are located was used as an example. However, the location of the distance measuring sensor is not limited to the area where electrical components are located. The distance measuring sensor can be provided on the inner wall of the storage space of the refrigerator.

[0078] The refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment is equipped with distance measuring sensors (specifically, a first distance measuring sensor 361a and a second distance measuring sensor 361b) in the partition 55 that separates the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the fourth embodiment will be described mainly in terms of the differences from the first embodiment.

[0079] The refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment is provided with a detection unit 360 that can detect the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b of the refrigerator compartment door 11b. Figure 12 shows the configuration around the detection unit 360 inside the refrigerator compartment 11 of the refrigerator 1 according to the fourth embodiment. Regarding the internal configuration of the detection unit 360, a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, for example, as shown in Figure 3, can be applied.

[0080] The detection unit 360 mainly consists of two distance measuring sensors (first distance measuring sensor 361a and second distance measuring sensor 361b) and a control unit 62.

[0081] In this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor is provided on the inner wall of the partition 55 on the refrigerator compartment 11 side. Specifically, the distance measuring sensor is provided on the bottom surface of the refrigerator compartment 11 on the front side of the lower door pocket 33b. In this embodiment, two distance measuring sensors, a first distance measuring sensor 361a and a second distance measuring sensor 361b, are arranged side by side on the inclined surface portion 55a on the front side of the partition 55.

[0082] The first distance measuring sensor 361a is used to detect the presence or absence of an item at position A within the lower door pocket 33b. The second distance measuring sensor 361b is used to detect the presence or absence of an item at position B within the lower door pocket 33b.

[0083] Similar to the distance measuring sensor 61 of the first embodiment, the first distance measuring sensor 361a and the second distance measuring sensor 361b each have a light-emitting unit 65 that emits a light ray (measuring light) in a predetermined direction, and a light-receiving unit 66 that receives the reflected light emitted from the light-emitting unit 65.

[0084] As shown by the arrows in Figure 12, the light-emitting part 65 of the first distance measuring sensor 361a emits measurement light toward position A inside the lower door pocket 33b. The light-emitting part 65 of the second distance measuring sensor 361b emits measurement light toward position B inside the lower door pocket 33b.

[0085] Regarding the internal configuration of the detection unit 360, a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, such as that shown in Figure 3, can be applied. In the same manner as described in the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the presence or absence of contents at positions A and B of the lower door pocket 33b can be detected using the first distance measuring sensor 361a, the second distance measuring sensor 361b, and the control unit 62, etc.

[0086] As described above, the distance measuring sensor may be provided in the partition 55 that separates the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment. The partition 55 separates the refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment, both of which are classified as refrigerated storage compartments. Therefore, the heat insulation of the partition 55 does not need to be high, and it can be made thin. On the other hand, if the door of the refrigerator compartment 11 and the door of the vegetable compartment are separate doors, a certain thickness is required on the opening side of the partition 55 in order to allow contact area between the gaskets of both doors. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, various components and wiring constituting the distance measuring sensor are arranged inside the partition 55, and the light-emitting part and light-receiving part of the distance measuring sensor are provided on the inclined surface formed behind the opening of the partition 55, thereby enabling detection of the presence or absence of contents in the lower door pocket 33b.

[0087] Thus, the distance measuring sensor can also be placed on the partition separating two storage compartments of the same temperature range. Furthermore, a door switch (including non-contact switches such as reed switches) that detects the opening and closing of the door of the refrigerator compartment 11 or the door of the vegetable compartment may be placed on the opening side of the partition 55. In this case, the distance measuring sensor is also placed in the area where electrical components are located.

[0088] (summary) A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, refrigerator 1) comprises a storage space (for example, a refrigerator compartment 11), distance measuring sensors (for example, distance measuring sensor 61, first distance measuring sensor 361a, second distance measuring sensor 361b) provided on the inner wall of the storage space (for example, the side wall 51a or top surface of the inner box 51), and a control unit (for example, control unit 62) that detects the presence or absence of contents in the storage space based on the detection results of the distance measuring sensors.

[0089] In a refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention described above (for example, refrigerator 1), the distance measuring sensor (for example, distance measuring sensor 61) may be provided in the area where electrical components (for example, operation unit 20, interior light 271) are arranged on the inner wall (for example, the side wall 51a or top surface of the inner box 51) of the storage space (for example, refrigerator compartment 11).

[0090] In a refrigerator (for example, refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, an operating unit (for example, operating unit 20) is provided on the side wall (for example, side wall 51a) of the storage space (for example, refrigerator compartment 11), and the distance measuring sensor (for example, distance measuring sensor 61) may be located on the operating unit.

[0091] In a refrigerator (for example, refrigerator 1) according to one aspect of the present invention described above, the storage space has at least two storage compartments (for example, a refrigerator compartment 11 and a vegetable compartment) of the same temperature range, a partition (for example, partition 55) is provided between the two storage compartments, and the distance measuring sensors (for example, a first distance measuring sensor 361a and a second distance measuring sensor 361b) may be arranged on the partition.

[0092] A refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention described above (for example, refrigerator 1) further comprises a door (for example, a refrigerator compartment door 11b) and a door storage compartment (for example, a lower door pocket 33b) provided on the back side of the door, and the control unit (for example, control unit 62) may detect whether or not there are items stored in the door storage compartment.

[0093] In a refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention described above (for example, refrigerator 1), a light-refrigerating plate (for example, a first reflector 63a, a second reflector 63b, a first reflector 163a, a second reflector 163b) is provided in the storage space (for example, the refrigerator compartment 11), and the distance measuring sensor (for example, distance measuring sensor 61) may detect the light reflected by the reflector.

[0094] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are intended to be included. Configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described herein are also included in the scope of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0095] 1: Refrigerator 11: Refrigerated room (storage space) 11b: Refrigerator door (door) 20: Control panel (electrical components) 33b: Lower door pocket (door storage area) 50: Insulated box 51: Inner box 51a: Side wall (of the inner box) (inner wall of the storage space) 55: Partition 60: Detection Unit 61: Distance measuring sensor 62: Control Unit 63a: 1st reflector (reflector) 63b: 2nd reflector (reflector) 90: Containment 160: Detection Unit 163a: 1st reflector (reflector) 163b: Second reflector (reflector) 260: Detection Unit 271: Interior light (electrical component) 360: Detection Unit 361a: First distance measuring sensor 361b: Second distance measuring sensor

Claims

1. Storage space and A door provided in the aforementioned storage space, A door housing section is provided on the back side of the aforementioned door, A distance measuring sensor is provided on the side wall of the storage space, The system includes a control unit that detects the presence or absence of an object in the door compartment based on the result of the distance measuring sensor detecting reflected light from an object in the door compartment, The door housing moves away from the side wall of the storage space where the distance measuring sensor is located when the door is opened, and moves closer to the side wall of the storage space where the distance measuring sensor is located when the door is closed. The presence or absence of contents in the aforementioned door compartment is detected when the door is closed. refrigerator.

2. The distance measuring sensor is provided in the area where electrical components are arranged on the side wall of the storage space. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. An operating section is provided on the side wall of the storage space. The distance measuring sensor is located in the operation unit. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A light-reflecting plate is provided within the storage space. The distance measuring sensor detects the light reflected by the reflector. A refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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