Refrigerator

Abstract

In a refrigerator according to the present invention, a door hanging part which fixes a basket assembly to a door also includes a light source for emitting light at the basket assembly, so that the basket assembly can be fixed and, simultaneously, at least a portion of the basket assembly can be illuminated, and thus the effects of simultaneously fixing and illuminating the basket assembly can be achieved with one structure rather than separate structures.

Description

refrigerator

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

[0002] A refrigerator is a home appliance that supplies cold air generated by the circulation of refrigerant to a storage room, thereby keeping various types of storage objects fresh for a long period of time.

[0003] Meanwhile, there has been an increasing demand from users for improved refrigerator appearance and for products that reflect diverse user preferences.

[0004] Especially in the case of refrigerators, the door that makes up the front determines the appearance of the refrigerator, so the user's needs can be satisfied through doors with various materials, colors, and design patterns.

[0005] Meanwhile, it is generally difficult to check the type of food stored in the refrigerator or its storage condition without opening the door.

[0006] The number of times and the time for which users open the door to check the type or storage status of food increases, which can cause unnecessary leakage of cold air inside the storage room.

[0007] Accordingly, by designing a portion of the door to be translucent or transparent, it is possible to check the type or storage status of food stored in the storage compartment without opening the refrigerator door.

[0008] However, even in cases where the status inside the storage room can be checked without opening the door, it may be difficult to check the status inside the storage room in a dark environment.

[0009] Additionally, if the condition inside the storage compartment can be checked without opening the door, the design of the interior of the storage compartment or the interior of the door may need to be improved because there may be a situation where the user can see inside even when the refrigerator is not in use.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of fixing a basket assembly and implementing a lighting effect with a single structure.

[0011] In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that can prevent foaming performance leakage in an area where a hanging part for fixing a basket assembly is arranged and can prevent changes in the amount or direction of lighting of the basket assembly.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which repair or replacement of a light source mounted in a hanging member that secures a basket assembly is easily possible.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that facilitates cleaning and storage of a basket assembly for storing food.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of preventing changes in the amount or direction of illumination of a basket assembly regardless of whether some structures constituting the basket assembly are detached or not.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of implementing a lighting effect along the side edge of the lower portion of the basket assembly.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of implementing a more uniform and brighter lighting effect on the lower side edge of the basket assembly.

[0017] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of implementing lighting effects on all sides of the basket assembly that are perceived by the user when the sub-door and main door are opened.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of implementing a lighting effect of a basket assembly depending on whether a light source is turned on or off even when the door is closed.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of implementing excellent decorative effects by lighting in various ways in various situations.

[0020] The objectives of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above. Other objectives and advantages of the present invention not mentioned above can be understood through the following description and will be more clearly understood through the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the objectives and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, a refrigerator comprises a cabinet including one or more storage compartments, a door for opening and closing the storage compartments, and a basket assembly mounted on the door, wherein the door includes a light source for irradiating light onto the basket assembly and one or more hanging members for fixing the basket assembly.

[0022] The above-mentioned hanging portions are provided as a pair protruding toward both sides of the basket assembly, and can support the lower portions of both sides of the basket assembly.

[0023] The above-mentioned hanging part can be formed integrally with the door.

[0024] The above-mentioned hanging part can be fastened to the door so as to be detachable from the door.

[0025] The door includes a main door having an opening therein and being rotatably connected to the cabinet, and a sub door rotatably connected to the main door to open and close the opening of the main door, and the basket assembly can be mounted on the main door.

[0026] The main door may include a door liner including the opening and an outer plate surrounding at least one side of the door liner, and the hanging portion may be formed on an inner side of the door liner.

[0027] The above-mentioned hanging portion is formed integrally with the door liner and can protrude from the inner side of the door liner toward the opening.

[0028] A built-in portion is formed on the inner side of the door liner, and the hanging portion can be fixed to the built-in portion by being inserted into the built-in portion at least in a portion thereof.

[0029] The light source may be mounted on the inside of the hanging portion, and the light source may be positioned to emit light toward the side of the basket assembly.

[0030] The light sources may be mounted in multiple numbers on the inside of the hanging portion, and each of the light sources may be positioned to emit light toward the front, rear, and side of the basket assembly.

[0031] The inner or outer surface of the hanging portion that does not overlap with the light-emitting area of ​​the light source may be subjected to light shielding treatment to block the emission of light.

[0032] The basket assembly includes a mounting portion that is inserted to be mounted on the hanging portion, and the light source can be arranged to overlap the lower surface of the basket assembly in a horizontal direction.

[0033] The basket assembly includes a support member including a recessed portion that is inserted to be seated on the hook portion, and a basket portion that is disposed on the support member and includes a recessed portion that is inserted to be seated on the recessed portion, and the light source can be arranged to overlap the support member in a horizontal direction.

[0034] The above support member may be a light guide member that guides light incident from the light source to the side edge of the support member.

[0035] The above support member includes a support body portion that supports the lower surface of the basket portion, and light incident on the support member can be totally reflected on the upper and lower surfaces of the support body portion, and can be diffusely reflected on the side edge portion of the support body portion.

[0036] Light incident on the above support member may not be emitted in the upper and lower directions of the support body part, but may be emitted along the side edge of the support body part.

[0037] Along the side edges of the above-mentioned support body, roughness may be applied, diffusion tape may be attached, or a coating solution may be applied.

[0038] The above basket portion may be detachable from the support member.

[0039] The refrigerator further includes a detection device including at least one of a proximity detection device that senses the proximity of a user by measuring a distance from the user, a knock detection device that senses the user's door knocking operation, and an illuminance detection device that senses the proximity of the user through a change in illuminance, wherein the front of the door is structured to selectively view the inside of the storage compartment, and the light source is turned on or off in a closed state of the door by a signal from the detection device, so that the inside of the storage compartment can be selectively viewed through the front of the door.

[0040] The above refrigerator has a lighting unit provided in the storage compartment or on the door, and

[0041] It further includes a control unit that controls the on / off of the light source and the lighting unit, and the control unit can individually or interlockingly control the on / off of the light source and the lighting unit according to a signal of the detection device.

[0042] The refrigerator further includes a lighting unit provided in the storage compartment or on the door, a control unit for controlling on / off of the light source and the lighting unit, and a communication unit for communicating with a remote device, wherein the control unit can individually or interlockingly control on / off of the light source and the lighting unit according to a control signal of the remote device.

[0043] A refrigerator according to the present invention can fix the basket assembly to the door and at least a portion of the basket assembly can be illuminated at the same time by including a light source that irradiates light to the basket assembly through a door hook that fixes the basket assembly to the door.

[0044] Accordingly, the fixing and lighting effects of the basket assembly can be implemented simultaneously as a single structure rather than as separate structures.

[0045] In addition, since the refrigerator according to the present invention can have the hanging part formed integrally with the door, it can prevent leakage of foaming performance in the area where the hanging part is placed, while continuously maintaining the same position of the light source mounted within the hanging part by the foam material.

[0046] Accordingly, changes in the amount or direction of illumination of the basket assembly that may change due to unintended changes in the position of the light source can be prevented.

[0047] In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention has a hook attached to the door so that the hook can be detachably attached to the door, so that even if a defect occurs in the light source mounted within the hook, repair or replacement of the light source can be done quickly and easily.

[0048] In addition, the basket assembly of the refrigerator according to the present invention has a structure that can be separated into a support member that is fixed to a hanging member and irradiated with light by a light source, and a basket part that can be detached from the support member, so that cleaning or storing of food can be facilitated by removing only the basket part.

[0049] Accordingly, the support member and the basket portion can be formed of different materials. Accordingly, the support member can be formed of a material advantageous for light diffusion and emission, and the basket portion can be formed of a material advantageous for food storage and damage prevention.

[0050] In addition, since the positions of the light source and the support member can be continuously maintained the same regardless of whether the basket part is detached or not, changes in the amount or direction of illumination of the basket assembly that may change due to unintended changes in the position of the light source can be prevented.

[0051] In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention can achieve an excellent decorative effect and design differentiation by implementing a lighting effect along the side edge of the lower portion of the basket assembly, since the support member supporting the lower portion of the basket assembly guides light incident from a light source to the side edge of the support member.

[0052] In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention can ensure that light incident on the support member is emitted not in the upper and lower directions of the support member, but along the side edges of the support member, thereby enabling the light quantity of a limited light source to be concentrated on a place where lighting is required rather than being dispersed to a place where lighting is not necessary, thereby realizing a more uniform and brighter lighting effect on the side edges of the support member.

[0053] In addition, the door of the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a main door having an opening therein and being rotatable from the cabinet, and a sub-door that opens and closes the opening of the main door and is rotatable from the main door, and the basket assembly is mounted on the main door, so that when the sub-door and the main door are opened, the user can recognize the front and back of the basket assembly, respectively.

[0054] Accordingly, the basket assembly that implements a lighting effect along the side edge of the support member can implement a lighting effect on all sides recognized by the user when the sub-door and main door are opened, and thus can exhibit a design effect through consistent lighting for the basket assembly.

[0055] In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention can see through the inside of the storage compartment through the front of the door, includes various types of sensing devices, and the light source can be turned on or off by a signal from the sensing device, so that even when the door is closed, the lighting effect of the basket assembly can be implemented according to the on or off of the light source, so that an excellent decorative effect can be provided without unnecessary leakage of cold air.

[0056] In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention is equipped with a lighting unit in the storage compartment or on the door, and the control unit can individually or interlockingly control the on / off of the light source and the lighting unit according to a signal from a detection device or a remote device, thereby providing a more excellent decorative effect in various ways in various situations.

[0057] In addition to the effects described above, specific effects of the present invention are described below while explaining specific details for carrying out the invention.

[0058] Figures 1 and 2 are front views of a refrigerator with the door closed, with the front view of the door not visible and with the front view of the door visible, respectively.

[0059] Figure 3 is a front view of the refrigerator with the sub door open.

[0060] Figure 4 is a front view of the refrigerator with the main door open.

[0061] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a basket assembly according to one embodiment.

[0062] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a combined basket assembly according to one embodiment.

[0063] Figure 7 is a drawing showing a hanging part formed on a door.

[0064] Figures 8 to 10 illustrate different hanging parts in various embodiments.

[0065] Figure 11 is a drawing showing a support member being secured to a hanging part.

[0066] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the case where a support member is secured to the hanging portion in Fig. 11.

[0067] Figure 13 is a drawing showing a basket portion being secured to a support member.

[0068] Fig. 14 is a drawing showing a wire being connected to a hanging portion according to one embodiment.

[0069] Fig. 15 is a drawing showing a wire being connected to a hanging portion according to another embodiment.

[0070] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a hanging part according to one embodiment mounted on a door liner in FIG. 15.

[0071] Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a hanging portion according to one embodiment of Fig. 16.

[0072] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a hanging part according to another embodiment mounted on a door liner in FIG. 15.

[0073] Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the landfill in Figure 18.

[0074] Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a hanging portion according to another embodiment of Fig. 18.

[0075] Figure 21 is a block diagram showing the flow of control signals of a refrigerator.

[0076] Figure 22 is a drawing showing a screen implemented on a remote device or display unit.

[0077] FIG. 23 is a front view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment with one sub-door open.

[0078] Figure 24 is a front view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment with one main door open.

[0079] FIG. 25 is a side cross-sectional view of a basket assembly, shelf section, and storage section mounted inside a first door and a first storage compartment according to another embodiment.

[0080] FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a second door according to another embodiment including a dispenser.

[0081] FIG. 27 is a drawing showing a screen according to another embodiment implemented in a remote device or display unit.

[0082] Figure 28 illustrates a flowchart according to an exemplary scenario for controlling the light emission of various types of lights.

[0083] The above-described objects, features, and advantages will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily practice the technical idea of ​​the present invention. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known technologies related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar components.

[0084] Although terms like "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, a "first" component may also be a "second" component.

[0085] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specifically stated, each element may be singular or plural.

[0086] Hereinafter, the phrase "any configuration is placed on (or below)" a component or "on (or below)" a component may mean that any configuration is placed in contact with the upper surface (or lower surface) of said component, and that other configurations may be interposed between said component and any configuration placed on (or below) said component.

[0087] Additionally, when it is described that a component is "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected or connected to one another, but that other components may also be "interposed" between the components, or that each component may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" through another component.

[0088] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "consisting of" or "comprising" should not necessarily be construed to include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0089] Throughout the specification, when we refer to "A and / or B", this means A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise stated, and when we refer to "C to D", this means C or more and D or less, unless otherwise stated.

[0090] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0091] First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention and the connection relationship of each major component constituting the refrigerator will be described.

[0092] A refrigerator (1) may have an exterior formed by a cabinet (2) including one or more storage rooms, which are storage spaces for products, inside, and one or more doors (11, 12) that can open and close the open front of the cabinet (2).

[0093] The cabinet (2) includes an outer case forming the outer surface of the refrigerator (1) and an inner case forming the inner surface, and the inside of the inner case can be divided into one or more storage spaces.

[0094] The cabinet (2) may include one or more storage rooms, for example, a first storage room (21) and a second storage room (22) arranged vertically and separated by a barrier (15).

[0095] For example, the first storage room (21) located at the top may be a refrigerator, and the second storage room (22) located at the bottom may be a freezer.

[0096] However, the positions of the first storage room (21) and the second storage room (22) are not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the positions of the first storage room (21) and the second storage room (22) may be swapped with each other, and may be arranged parallel to each other in the left-right direction.

[0097] In the first storage room (21) and the second storage room (22), one or more storage sections (61) and shelf sections (62) for storing food can be arranged, respectively.

[0098] In each of the first storage room (21) and the second storage room (22), one or more high-intensity lighting units (71) may be placed to illuminate the interior.

[0099] For example, the high-intensity lighting unit (71) can be placed at any location, such as the upper surface, lower surface, and side surface of each storage room.

[0100] The first door (11) can be opened and closed by rotating the open front of the first storage room (21), and the second door (12) can be opened and closed by rotating the open front of the second storage room (22).

[0101] The first door (11) and the second door (12) are provided as a pair on the left and right, and can shield the first storage room (21) and the second storage room (22), respectively.

[0102] However, it is not limited to this, and the first door (11) or the second door (12) may be provided in a non-rotating pull-out manner, and only one door may be provided for opening and closing each storage room.

[0103] The first door (11) and the second door (12) may be provided with one or more basket assemblies (50), and the basket assemblies (50) may be configured so as not to interfere with the storage compartments (61) provided in the storage room when the first door (11) and the second door (12) are closed.

[0104] Meanwhile, at least one of the pair of first doors (11) may be configured as a double door type that can be opened and closed in two ways.

[0105] For example, the first door (11) of the double door type may include a main door (30) that opens and closes the first storage room (21), and a sub door (40) that is rotatably arranged on the front of the main door (30) to open and close the front of the main door (30).

[0106] The main door (30) is rotatably mounted on the cabinet (2) by a main hinge (31) to open and close a portion of the first storage room (21).

[0107] The main door (30) may include an opening (30h) formed to penetrate the main door (30) in the front-back direction.

[0108] The main door (30) can have its overall appearance formed by an outer plate (33), a door liner (32) coupled to the back surface of the outer plate (33), and an upper cap deco (35) and a lower cap deco (36) that finish the top and bottom of the outer plate (33) and the door liner (32), respectively.

[0109] The out plate (33) can be formed from a plate-shaped stainless steel material and can be folded to form the front and a portion of the periphery of the main door (30).

[0110] The out plate (33) can be formed so that an area corresponding to the opening (30h) is opened.

[0111] The door liner (32) can be injection-molded from a plastic material and can form the back surface of the main door (30).

[0112] The door liner (32) can also be formed so that the area corresponding to the opening (30h) is open.

[0113] The user can see into the storage room or take out or store food items through the opening (30h) of the main door (30) formed in this way.

[0114] One or more basket assemblies (50) may be mounted on the back surface of the main door (30).

[0115] For example, the basket assembly (50) can be placed inside the door liner (32) along the left and right direction of the door liner (32).

[0116] Therefore, the basket assembly (50) can be exposed to the outside through the opening (30h) of the main door (30).

[0117] The user can access the basket assembly (50) without opening the main door (30) through the opening (30h).

[0118] The size of the opening (30h) can be formed to occupy most of the front of the main door (30) excluding a portion of the perimeter of the main door (30).

[0119] The main door (30) may be equipped with one or more display units (60).

[0120] The display unit (60) is used to display and operate the operating status of the refrigerator (1), and allows the user to identify various types of information from the outside through the sub door (40).

[0121] The display unit (60) may be provided with a display screen for displaying status information of the refrigerator (1) and various operation buttons for setting the operation of the refrigerator (1).

[0122] The display unit (60) can be arranged to overlap the basket assembly (50) in the front-rear direction of the main door (30).

[0123] The sub door (40) is rotatably mounted to the main door (30) by a sub hinge (41) and can open and close an opening (30h) formed on the front of the main door (30).

[0124] The sub door (40) may include a transparent portion (42) on the front.

[0125] The penetration portion (42) of the sub-door (40) may be arranged to overlap with the opening (30h) of the main door (30) in the front-back direction, and may be formed in a shape and size corresponding to the opening (30h) of the main door (30).

[0126] Therefore, the user can see inside the first storage room (21) through the penetration portion (42) of the sub door (40) and the opening (30h) of the main door (30).

[0127] Accordingly, the user can access the opening (30h) of the main door (30) by opening the sub-door (40), and at the same time, can see into the inside of the storage room through the penetration portion (42) even when the sub-door (40) is closed.

[0128] The sub-door (40) may be formed of a transparent material such as glass in the area corresponding to the transmission portion (42), and may be transparent.

[0129] Meanwhile, the transparent portion (42) of the sub-door (40) can be formed of a material whose light transmittance and reflectance can be selectively controlled, so that it can be configured to be selectively operated as transparent or opaque depending on the user's operation.

[0130] Accordingly, the transparent portion (42) can be made transparent only when the user desires it, thereby allowing the interior of the first storage chamber (21) to be visible, and otherwise maintained in an opaque state.

[0131] The opaque state referred to in this specification means a state in which the inside of the storage compartment is not clearly visible when looking at the transmission part (42) from a typical refrigerator use distance, and is not defined as a completely opaque state.

[0132] For example, referring to FIG. 1, when the transmission part (42) of the sub-door (40) is in an opaque state, the sub-door (40) can be in an opaque black color or a state like a mirror surface.

[0133] In this way, the sub door (40) is maintained in an opaque state, and the exterior of the refrigerator (1) has a texture like a beautiful black mirror, so that it can have a simple and beautiful exterior.

[0134] Referring to Fig. 2, when the transparent portion (42) of the sub-door (40) is transparent, the user can not only see the inside of the storage room through the transparent portion (42), but also see one side of the basket assembly (50) exposed through the opening (30h).

[0135] The transparent state meant in this specification means that the inside of the storage compartment can be seen to some extent when looking at the transmission part (42) from the usage distance of a general refrigerator (1), and is not defined only as a completely transparent state.

[0136] Accordingly, the user can distinguish the groceries stored in the basket assembly (50) or check the storage status of the basket assembly (50) even without opening the sub door (40).

[0137] When the sub-door (40) becomes transparent, the display unit (60) placed at the rear of the sub-door (40) also becomes visible, allowing the operating status of the refrigerator (1) to be displayed externally.

[0138] In this case, when the transmission part (42) of the sub door (40) is transparent, it can be called a see-through screen state or a “smart insta view” state, which maximizes usability.

[0139] One or more door lighting units (72) may be placed in the sub door (40).

[0140] For example, the door lighting unit (72) is disposed on the back surface of the sub-door (40), and may be located adjacent to the upper area of ​​the transmission section (42), but is not limited thereto, and may also be located adjacent to the lower area or side area of ​​the transmission section (42).

[0141] In this way, the door lighting unit (72) is positioned adjacent to the transparent portion (42) of the sub-door (40), so that the user can clearly see into the storage room through the transparent portion (42) even in a dark environment.

[0142] The door lighting unit (72) can be controlled to be turned on or off depending on the situation, even when the sub door (40) is open or not.

[0143] A first detection device (251) for detecting the user's human body may be placed on the first door (11) or the second door (12).

[0144] For example, the first detection device (251) is illustrated as being placed in the lower front area of ​​the second door (12), but is not limited thereto.

[0145] Hereinafter, the basket assembly (50) mounted on the first door (11) and the fixing structure of the basket assembly (50) will be described in more detail with further reference to FIGS. 5 to 13.

[0146] A hook (34) for fixing a basket assembly (50) may be placed on each of the inner sides of the door liner (32) of the first door (11).

[0147] The hanging member (34) is provided as a pair that protrudes toward both sides of the basket assembly (50), so as to support the lower portions of both sides of the basket assembly (50).

[0148] In one embodiment, the hanging member (34) may be formed integrally with the first door (11).

[0149] For example, the hanging portion (34) may be formed integrally with the door liner (32) and may be formed to protrude from the inner side of the door liner (32) toward the opening (30h).

[0150] In another embodiment, the hanging member (34) may be configured in the form of a separate module and may be fastened to the first door (11) so as to be detachable from the first door (11).

[0151] A light source (343) that irradiates light to the basket assembly (50) can be mounted inside the hanging part (34).

[0152] Accordingly, the hanging part (34) can be formed externally by a case part (341) having a shape capable of storing a light source (343).

[0153] Accordingly, according to the present invention, since the hanging member (34) that fixes the basket assembly (50) to the first door (11) has a light source (343) installed therein that irradiates light to the basket assembly (50), the basket assembly (50) can be fixed while at least a portion of the basket assembly (50) can be illuminated.

[0154] Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the fixing and lighting effects of the basket assembly (50) can be implemented simultaneously as a single structure rather than as separate structures.

[0155] Referring to FIG. 7, the case part (341) may be composed of a front surface (34f), a pair of side surfaces (34s) arranged on both sides of the front surface (34f), an upper surface (34t) and a lower surface (34d) that close the upper and lower surfaces, respectively.

[0156] The case part (341) can be formed into a trapezoidal shape with the width decreasing from the bottom to the top in the shape of the front surface (34f).

[0157] A corner portion (34m) can be formed between the front (34f) and the side (34s) of the case portion (341).

[0158] The corner portion (34m) may be formed to face the diagonal direction between the front (34f) and the side (34s), and may have a curved shape.

[0159] Additionally, a corner portion (34m) can be formed between the front surface (34f) and the upper surface (34t) of the case portion (341), and between the upper surface (34t) and the side surface (34s).

[0160] The case part (341) may have an open shape at the rear side opposite the front side (34f), and the rear side of the case part (341) may be in communication with the inner side of the door liner (32).

[0161] Accordingly, a pair of hanging parts (34) mounted on the door liner (32) and facing each other can be arranged so that their front faces (34f) face each other.

[0162] The light source (343) can be mounted and fixed inside the case (341) through the rear of the case (341).

[0163] One or more opening holes (349) that expose at least a portion of the light source (343) to the outside may be formed in the lower area of ​​the front surface (34f) of the case portion (341).

[0164] The light source (343) mounted inside the case (341) can emit light in an external direction through the opening hole (349).

[0165] The light source (343) mounted inside the case (341) may be provided in one piece, but is not limited thereto and may be provided in multiple pieces.

[0166] When a plurality of light sources (343) are provided, each light source (343) may be arranged to face the same direction, but is not limited thereto, and may be arranged to face different directions.

[0167] Referring to Fig. 8, one or more opening holes (349) are additionally formed on each of the two sides (34s) of the case portion (341), and light from the light source (343) can be emitted to the outside through the opening holes (349).

[0168] Also, referring to FIG. 9, light from a light source (343) may be emitted to the outside through an opening hole (349) formed in a corner portion (34m) located between the front (34f) and the side (34s) of the case portion (341).

[0169] In this way, the light source (343) mounted on the case (341) can emit light at various angles, so that the shaded area where light is not emitted can be reduced.

[0170] The light source (343) may be configured to irradiate light of various colors, but is not limited thereto, and may also irradiate light of one color.

[0171] For example, the light source (343) may be composed of an RGB LED (Red Green Blue light emitting diode), but is not limited thereto.

[0172] Also, referring to FIG. 10, the case portion (341) may be provided with one or more hook portions (342).

[0173] For example, the hook portion (342) may be formed to protrude rearward from the rear of the case portion (341), but is not limited thereto.

[0174] The case part (341) can be attached and detached from the door liner (32) through the hook part (342).

[0175] Meanwhile, the basket assembly (50) may include a support member (51) mounted on a hanging member (34) and a basket member (52) mounted on the support member (51).

[0176] The support member (51) may include a support body part (511) that supports the lower surface of the basket part (52).

[0177] The support body (511) can be formed in a shape having an overall plate shape.

[0178] The support body (511) may include a side edge (512) having a predetermined width in the vertical direction.

[0179] The side edge portion (512) may include a front side (51f) corresponding to the front side of the basket assembly (50), a rear side (51b) facing the front side (51f), and a pair of side sides (51s) corresponding to both sides of the basket assembly (50).

[0180] The front direction of the basket assembly (50) in this specification may refer to the direction of the basket assembly (50) recognized by the user when the first door (11) is opened, and the rear direction of the basket assembly (50) may refer to the direction of the basket assembly (50) recognized by the user through the transmission portion (42) when the first door (11) is not opened.

[0181] A pair of fixing portions (513) protruding toward the upper surface of the support body (511) may be formed on both sides of the support body (511).

[0182] The fixing portion (513) can be formed to be drawn inward from the end of the side edge portion (512) of the supporting body portion (511).

[0183] Referring to FIG. 11, the support member (51) can be fixed to the first door (11) by having the fixing portion (513) fixed to the hanging portion (34) of the first door (11).

[0184] The mounting portion (513) can be formed in a shape corresponding to the hanging portion (34) so ​​that the mounting portion (513) can be mounted on the hanging portion (34) and the hanging portion (34) can be positioned in the inner lower region of the mounting portion (513).

[0185] Accordingly, the mounting portion (513) can be formed to have an open shape on the rear and lower surfaces into which the hanging portion (34) is inserted.

[0186] For example, the anchoring portion (513) may also be formed to have a trapezoidal shape with a width that decreases from the bottom to the top.

[0187] In addition, the inner diameter of the inner surface of the mounting portion (513) is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the outer surface of the hanging portion (34), so that the support member (51) can be easily attached to and detached from the hanging portion (34).

[0188] In this way, when the mounting portion (513) of the support member (51) is mounted on the hook portion (34), the light source (343) mounted on the hook portion (34) can be aligned to face the side surface (51s) of the support body portion (511) located at the lower portion of the mounting portion (513) of the support body portion (511).

[0189] Accordingly, the light source (343) can be arranged to overlap the support body (511) of the support member (51) in the horizontal direction.

[0190] For example, it is preferable that the vertical width of the support body part (511) be formed thicker than the vertical width of the opening hole (349) through which the light source (343) is exposed, and it is preferable that the opening hole (349) completely overlaps the support body part (511) in the horizontal direction.

[0191] In this way, the light from the light source (343) radiating from the support member (51) can be guided toward the side edge (512) of the support member (51) by the support member (51).

[0192] Therefore, the support member (51) can serve as a light guide member that guides light by diffusing or scattering the light.

[0193] For example, the support member (51) may be formed of a polymer material such as PMMA, but is not limited thereto.

[0194] The support body (511) is configured so that light incident on the support member (51) is totally reflected on the upper and lower surfaces of the support body (511) and residually reflected on the side edge portion (512) of the support body (511), so that light is not emitted through the upper and lower surfaces of the support body (511) but can be emitted along the side edge portion (512).

[0195] For example, the upper and lower surfaces of the support body (511) are formed to have flat surfaces, so that total reflection can occur on those surfaces.

[0196] In addition, light can be diffused along the side edge portion (512) by surface treatment of the side edge portion (512), such as by imparting roughness to the side edge portion (512) of the support body portion (511), attaching a diffusion tape, or applying a coating liquid.

[0197] In this way, according to the present invention, since the support member (51) supporting the lower portion of the basket assembly (50) guides the light incident from the light source (343) to the side edge portion (512) of the support member (51), a lighting effect can be implemented along the side edge portion (512) of the lower portion of the basket assembly (50), thereby achieving an excellent decorative effect and design differentiation.

[0198] In addition, according to the present invention, light incident on the support member (51) is not emitted in the upper and lower directions of the support member (51), but is emitted along the side edge portion (512) of the support member (51), so that the light quantity of a limited light source can be concentrated on a place where illumination is required rather than being dispersed to a place where illumination is unnecessary, thereby realizing a more uniform and brighter lighting effect on the side edge portion (512) of the support member (51).

[0199] In addition, the first door (11) of the refrigerator (1) according to the present invention includes a main door (30) that includes an opening (30h) therein and can be rotated from the cabinet (2), and a sub-door (40) that opens and closes the opening (30h) of the main door (30) and can be rotated from the main door (30), and the basket assembly (50) is mounted on the main door (30), so that when the sub-door (40) and the main door (30) are opened, the user can recognize the front and rear sides of the basket assembly (50), respectively.

[0200] Accordingly, the basket assembly (50) that implements a lighting effect along the side edge (512) of the support member (51) can implement a lighting effect on all sides recognized by the user when the sub door (40) and the main door (30) are opened, and thus can exhibit a design effect through consistent lighting for the basket assembly (50).

[0201] Meanwhile, if the mounting portion (513) of the support member (51) that is mounted on the hanging portion (34) is formed of the same material as the support member (51), the light guide function may be spherical in the area of ​​the mounting portion (513), and thus diffuse reflection may occur in the mounting portion (513).

[0202] However, in the case of the fixing portion (513), it may be an area that is difficult for the user to recognize, and the fixing portion (513) may be an area where light emission is unnecessary.

[0203] Accordingly, the inner or outer surface of the hanging portion (34) that does not overlap with the light-emitting area of ​​the hanging portion (34) where light is emitted by the light source (343) may be subjected to light shielding treatment to block light from being emitted.

[0204] For example, a light-absorbing shielding layer can be printed on the inner or outer surface of the hanging portion (34), or a shielding film can be attached.

[0205] For another example, the surface of the hanging portion (34) may be flattened so that total reflection occurs at the hanging portion (34).

[0206] By preventing light from being emitted from the hanging portion (34) in this way, the phenomenon of light leakage in areas where light emission is unnecessary can be minimized.

[0207] In addition, since light emitted to an unnecessary area can be emitted along the side edge portion (512) of the support member (51), the efficiency and brightness of light emitted from the side edge portion (512) can be increased.

[0208] The light-emitting area of ​​the hanging part (34) may be an area corresponding to the opening hole (349) of the hanging part (34).

[0209] In addition, according to the present invention, even when light is irradiated toward both sides of the support member (51) by being placed on both sides of the support member (51), light can be irradiated toward the front and rear sides of the support body part (511) due to the light guide function of the support body part (511).

[0210] The light source (343) that irradiates light to the support member (51) can be directed to irradiate light not only toward both sides of the support member (51), but also toward the front and rear, and can also be directed to irradiate light in an oblique direction.

[0211] This may vary depending on various embodiments depending on the mounting direction of the light source (343) mounted on the hanger (34).

[0212] Meanwhile, the basket portion (52) can be formed in a shape with an open upper surface to provide a storage space for storing food.

[0213] The basket portion (52) may include a front surface (52f) corresponding to the front surface of the basket assembly (50), a rear surface (52b) facing the front surface (52f), a pair of side surfaces (52s) corresponding to both sides of the basket assembly (50), and a lower surface (52d) supporting a storage space at the bottom.

[0214] The front direction of the basket portion (52) in this specification may refer to the direction of the basket assembly (50) recognized by the user when the first door (11) is opened, and the rear direction of the basket portion (52) may refer to the direction of the basket assembly (50) recognized by the user through the transparent portion (42) when the first door (11) is not opened.

[0215] A pair of recessed portions (523) protruding upward from the lower surface (52d) of the basket portion (52) can be formed on both sides of the basket portion (52).

[0216] The recessed portion (523) can be formed to be drawn inward from the end of the side surface (52s) of the basket portion (52).

[0217] Referring to Fig. 13, the basket portion (52) can be fixed to the support member (51) by having the recessed portion (523) be secured to the securing portion (513) of the support member (51).

[0218] The recessed portion (523) can be formed in a shape corresponding to the seating portion (513) so that the recessed portion (523) can be seated in the mounting portion (513) and the mounting portion (513) can be located in the inner lower region of the recessed portion (523).

[0219] Accordingly, the recessed portion (523) can be formed to have an open shape on the rear and lower surfaces where the fixing portion (513) is inserted.

[0220] For example, the depression (523) can also be formed to have a trapezoidal shape with a width that decreases from the bottom to the top.

[0221] In addition, the inner diameter of the inner surface of the recessed portion (523) is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the outer surface of the mounting portion (513), so that the basket portion (52) can be easily attached and detached from the support member (51).

[0222] Accordingly, according to the present invention, since it has a structure that can be separated into a support member (51) that is mounted on a hanging member (34) and irradiated with light by a light source (343) and a basket member (52) that can be detached from the support member (51), cleaning or food storage can be facilitated by removing only the basket member (52).

[0223] The basket portion (52) can be formed of a different material from the support member (51).

[0224] For example, it is preferable that the support member (51) that functions as a light guide be formed of a material that is advantageous for the diffusion and emission of light, and that the basket portion (52) be formed of a material that is advantageous for the storage and prevention of damage to food.

[0225] For example, it is preferable that the basket portion (52) be formed of a plastic material having higher strength than the support member (51).

[0226] In addition, according to the present invention, since the positions of the light source (343) and the support member (51) can be continuously maintained the same regardless of whether the basket part (52) is detached or not, it is possible to prevent changes in the amount or direction of illumination of the basket assembly (50) that may change due to unintended changes in the position of the light source (343).

[0227] The basket assembly (50) described above is described as an example of a detachable type in which the support member (51) and the basket portion (52) are separated from each other, but is not limited thereto, and the support member (51) and the basket portion (52) may be formed as an integral part of each other.

[0228] The support member (51) and the basket member (52) may not be physically distinct concepts but may be conceptually distinct concepts.

[0229] For example, the basket assembly (50) may be formed of a material having a light-guiding function, and the surface may be treated to allow diffuse reflection in an area corresponding to a support member (51) that requires light emission, and the surface may be treated to allow total reflection in an area corresponding to a basket portion (52) that does not require light emission.

[0230] Hereinafter, with further reference to FIGS. 14 to 20, the power and signal application structures according to various shapes of the hanging part (34) will be described.

[0231] Referring to Fig. 14, a light source (343) can be mounted and fixed inside a hanging portion (34) formed integrally with a door liner (32).

[0232] Therefore, the wire (81) that supplies power and signals to the light source (343) can be connected from the cabinet (2) through the hinge connection (31c) to which the main hinge (31) is connected.

[0233] For example, a wire (81) passing through a hinge connection (31c) can be connected to a light source (343) located at each hook portion (34) via a connector portion (80) located at each intermediate point.

[0234] The interior of the first door (11) can be filled with foam material for insulation effect.

[0235] Therefore, when the hanging part (34) is formed integrally with the door liner (32), the inside of the hanging part (34) can also be filled with a foam material.

[0236] Accordingly, according to the present invention, when the hanging part (34) is formed integrally with the first door (11), it is possible to prevent leakage of foaming performance in the area where the hanging part (34) is placed, while continuously maintaining the same position of the light source (343) mounted within the hanging part (34) by the foaming material.

[0237] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent changes in the amount or direction of illumination of the basket assembly (50), which may vary depending on unintended changes in the position of the light source (343).

[0238] Referring to FIGS. 15 to 20, the hanging member (34) can be attached to the door liner (32) in a detachable manner rather than being integral with it.

[0239] In this case, a buried portion (321) is formed on the inner side of the door liner (32), and the hanging portion (34) can be fixed to the buried portion (321) by being inserted into the buried portion (321) at least in a portion thereof.

[0240] In this way, when the hanging part (34) is attached to the first door (11) so that it can be detachably attached to the first door (11), even if a defect occurs in the light source (343) mounted in the hanging part (34), the repair or replacement of the light source (343) can be done quickly and easily.

[0241] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the hanging portion (34) may include a case portion (341) and an insert portion (344) located at the rear of the case portion (341).

[0242] When the hook part (34) is inserted into and fixed in the embedded part (321), the insertion part (344) is inserted into the embedded part (321) to serve to fasten the hook part (34) to the embedded part (321), and the case part (341) can protrude outward to serve to support the mounting part (513) of the support member (51).

[0243] In order to ensure stable insertion and fixation of the hook portion (34), the insertion portion (344) may be formed into a shape having a larger area than the case portion (341).

[0244] A light guide unit (345) may be additionally placed between the light source (343) mounted inside the hanging unit (34) and the opening hole (349) of the case unit (341).

[0245] The light guide member (345) may be formed of a polymer material such as PMMA, similar to the support member (51), but is not limited thereto.

[0246] As the light guide portion (345) is positioned between the light source (343) and the opening hole (349) of the case portion (341) in this way, even when misalignment occurs between the light source (343) of the hanging portion (34) and the support member (51) of the basket assembly (50), the light can be guided so that the light source (343) can be stably irradiated to the side of the support member (51).

[0247] Referring to FIGS. 18 to 20, one or more hook portions (342) may be formed on both sides of the hanging portion (34), and a hook fastening portion (322) having a fastening structure fastened to the hook portion (342) may be formed on the inner side of the buried portion (321).

[0248] Referring to Fig. 18, which illustrates the back surface (A) of the hook portion (344), the light source (343) mounted on the substrate (346) can be firmly fixed to the hook portion (34) by being hooked by a plurality of fixing portions (347) formed in the insertion portion (344) and fixing the substrate (346).

[0249] Additionally, the substrate (346) may be fixed using an adhesive material such as silicone adhesive rather than a hook connection by a separate fixing member (347).

[0250] In addition, the substrate (346) can be fixed using both a hook-joining method and an adhesive fixing method, and additional processing such as waterproofing can also be performed on the surface where the substrate (346) is fixed.

[0251] On the back surface of the substrate (346), there is a connector connection portion (348), and the connector connection portion (348) is connected to a wire connector (82) of a wire (81), thereby enabling power and signals to be applied to the substrate (346).

[0252] In this case, when the hook (34) is connected to the door liner (32) in a detachable manner, the inside of the door liner (32) may be foamed with a foaming material before the hook (34) is fixed, and then the hook (34) may be connected.

[0253] When the inside of the door liner (32) is foamed with a foam material, the wire connector (82) of the wire (81) is provided to protrude to the outside of the foam material, so that it can be easily connected to the connector connection portion (348) of the substrate (346) built into the hanging portion (34).

[0254] Below, a block diagram showing the flow of control signals of a refrigerator will be described with reference to Fig. 21.

[0255] As described above, the refrigerator (1) may include lighting devices such as a light source (343) that irradiates light to the basket assembly (50), an interior lighting unit (71), and a door lighting unit (72).

[0256] The above lighting devices can be turned on / off according to the control unit (20) provided in the refrigerator (1).

[0257] For example, the operation of lighting devices can be performed through the user's operation of the control unit (23).

[0258] The above operation unit (23) may be provided on one side of the refrigerator (1), and for example, may be provided on one side or door of the cabinet (2).

[0259] Additionally, the operating unit (23) may be provided in the display unit (60) mounted on the main door (30) as described above.

[0260] The user can set the operating status of the lighting devices, such as the operating time, operating conditions, and light-emitting color, by operating the control unit (23).

[0261] Additionally, the lighting devices can be operated and operating conditions, etc., set through a remote device (29) located away from the refrigerator (1).

[0262] The refrigerator (1) can communicate with a remote device (29) through a communication unit (27) connected to a control unit (20), and a user can control the operation of lighting devices through the remote device (29).

[0263] The communication unit (27) can communicate with the server that manages the remote device (2) and / or home appliance in various ways.

[0264] For example, the communication unit (27) may have a structure capable of communicating in at least one of wired, wireless, and short-range communication (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, NFC, etc.).

[0265] The above remote device (29) may be a variety of communication-capable devices such as a dedicated terminal, mobile phone, tablet, portable PC, desktop PC, remote control, Bluetooth speaker, etc.

[0266] The user can control and set the operating status of the lighting devices, such as the operating time, operating conditions, and the light source emission color, by operating the remote device (2).

[0267] For example, easy operation and settings may be possible through an application or dedicated program installed on the user's mobile phone.

[0268] The refrigerator (1) may further include a timer (26) capable of counting the elapsed time after a specific event occurs.

[0269] Meanwhile, the lighting devices may be operated based on the detection results from the detection unit (25).

[0270] The detection unit (25) may include, for example, one or more detection devices among a first detection device (251), which is a proximity detection device that measures the distance from the user to sense the proximity of the user, a second detection device (252), which is a knock detection device that detects the door knock operation of the user, and a third detection device (253), which is an illuminance detection device that senses the proximity of the user through changes in illuminance.

[0271] For example, the detection devices may use various sensors such as infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, or laser sensors.

[0272] The detection unit (25) may be provided on one side of the cabinet (2) or the door, and may be placed in various locations to detect the proximity of a user, and a plurality of detection units may be provided in different locations.

[0273] For example, when a user approaches the refrigerator (1) at a standard distance to use the refrigerator (1), the first detection device (251) can detect this and transmit a signal to the control unit (20) to turn on the lighting devices.

[0274] Additionally, when the user moves away from the refrigerator (1), the first detection device (251) can detect this and transmit a signal to the control unit (20) to turn off the lighting devices.

[0275] The second detection device (252) and the third detection device (253) can detect the user's door knock operation and the change in illumination, respectively, and transmit a signal to the control unit (20) to turn the lighting devices on / off in the same manner as the first detection device (251).

[0276] The refrigerator (1) may further include a display unit (24).

[0277] The display unit (24) may be provided in a display unit (60) mounted on the main door (30) as described above.

[0278] For example, the display unit (24) may include a touch panel that allows command input by a user's touch input, or a display panel for outputting a screen.

[0279] The refrigerator (1) may further include a memory (28).

[0280] For example, color information and operation information of specific lighting devices when they operate in specific situations can be stored in the memory (28) and provided to the control unit (20).

[0281] Figure 22 is a drawing showing a screen displayed on a remote device or display unit.

[0282] For example, the first door light (731) may be set as a light mounted on the sub-door of the upper right door, and the second door light (732) may be set as a light mounted on the sub-door of the upper left door.

[0283] And the first basket light (741) can be set to light the basket assembly of the upper right door, and the second basket light (742) can be set to light the basket assembly of the upper left door.

[0284] In this case, it is also possible to set settings related to the second detection device (252), such as knock-on brightness and time adjustment.

[0285] In addition, it is also possible to set the interlocking operation of the door lighting and the basket assembly according to various situations, such as scenario A (751) where the door lighting and the lighting of the basket assembly are interlocked with each other, and scenario B (752) where the door lighting and the lighting of the basket assembly are interlocked with each other.

[0286] For example, when the first detection device (251) detects the user's approach, a scenario can be set in which the first door light (731) lights up and, after 3 seconds, the second basket light (742) sequentially lights up.

[0287] For another example, when the second detection device (252) detects the user's door knock operation, the first door light (731) may emit red light, and the second basket light (742) may emit red light sequentially or simultaneously in a scenario in which the second basket light (742) emits red light in the same color as red or in a complementary color to red.

[0288] As another example, when the third detection device (253) detects a change in light intensity, a scenario may be set so that the second door light (732) and the first basket light (741) light up.

[0289] In this way, according to the present invention, the inside of the storage room can be seen through the front of the door, various types of detection devices are included, and the light source can be turned on or off by a signal from the detection device, so that even when the door is closed, the lighting effect of the basket assembly can be implemented according to the on or off of the light source, so that an excellent decorative effect can be provided without unnecessary leakage of cold air.

[0290] In addition, according to the present invention, a lighting unit is provided in the storage room or on the door, and the control unit can individually or interlockingly control the on / off of the light source and the lighting unit according to a signal from a detection device or a remote device, thereby providing a more excellent decoration effect in various ways in various situations.

[0291] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to another embodiment will be described with further reference to FIGS. 23 to 26. Further explanation of any content that overlaps with the previously described content will be omitted, and any omitted content can be applied to a refrigerator according to another embodiment described below.

[0292] A refrigerator (1) according to another embodiment may include a first door (901) and a second door (902) for opening and closing a first storage compartment (21), and a third door (903) for opening and closing the second storage compartment. The first storage compartment (21) may be positioned above the second storage compartment. The first door (901) and the second door (902) may be rotary doors that open and close the open front of the first storage compartment (21) by pivoting. The third door (903) may be a drawer-type door that opens and closes the open front of the second storage compartment in a forward-backward pull-out manner.

[0293] The first door (11) may be a double door type including a main door (901a) that opens and closes the first storage room (21), and a sub-door (901b) that is rotatably arranged on the front of the main door (901a) to open and close the front of the main door (901a). A door light (911) may be mounted on the sub-door (901b). The door light (911) may be the door lighting unit (72) described in the previous embodiment. One or more basket assemblies (50) may be mounted on the main door (901a), and a basket light (912) may be arranged on each basket assembly (50). The basket light (912) may be a hanging part (34) including a light source (343) described in the previous embodiment, but is not limited thereto. For example, the basket light (912) may be implemented as a variety of lighting methods that can be placed on the bottom or side of the basket assembly (50) and irradiate light onto the basket assembly (50).

[0294] One or more high-intensity lighting units (71) may be placed inside the first storage room (21) to illuminate the inside of the first storage room (21).

[0295] In addition, the first storage compartment (21) may be provided with one or more storage sections (61) capable of storing food. For example, the storage sections (61) may include a first storage section (61a) and a second storage section (61b) disposed below the first storage section (61a). Storage section lights (913) may be disposed in each of the first storage section (61a) and the second storage section (61b). The storage section lights (913) may be a hanging section (34) including a light source (343) described in the previous embodiment, but are not limited thereto. For example, the storage section lights (913) may be implemented as various types of lights that are disposed on the lower surface or the side surface of the first storage section (61a) and the second storage section (61b) and can irradiate light to the first storage section (61a) and the second storage section (61b).

[0296] The first storage unit (61a) and the second storage unit (61b) may be drawer-type storage units that can be pulled out and inserted in the front-back direction. The first storage unit (61a) and the second storage unit (61b) may be guided to be pulled out and inserted in the front-back direction by rails located on each of their respective sides. For example, the storage unit lighting (913) may be fixed to the rails to irradiate light onto the first storage unit (61a) and the second storage unit (61b), respectively. In addition, as another example, the storage unit lighting (913) may be fixed to the side of the first storage room (21) to irradiate light onto the first storage unit (61a) and the second storage unit (61b), respectively. In this case, the storage unit lighting (913) may be arranged to be fixed to the rail or the side of the first storage room (21) without being restricted from movement according to the pulling out and insertion in the front-back direction of the first storage unit (61a) and the second storage unit (61b).

[0297] In addition, one or more shelf sections (62) capable of supporting food may be arranged in the first storage compartment (21). A shelf section light (914) may be arranged in the shelf section (62). The shelf section light (914) may be a hanging section (34) including a light source (343) described in the previous embodiment, but is not limited thereto. For example, the shelf section light (914) may be implemented as various types of lighting that are fixed to the bottom or side of the shelf section (62) and can irradiate light to the shelf section (62).

[0298] The shelf section (62) can be fixed by one or more shelf fixing members (621) that are mounted on the rear or side of the first storage compartment (21) and fix the shelf section (62). The shelf fixing members (621) can fix the shelf section (62) in a cantilever manner. For example, the shelf section light (914) can be fixed to the shelf fixing member (621) to irradiate light to the side of the shelf section (62). In another example, the shelf section light (914) can be fixed to the side of the first storage compartment (21) to irradiate light to the shelf section (62).

[0299] Meanwhile, the second door (902) may include a dispenser (904) that allows a user to dispense ice or water without opening the door. A dispenser light (913) may be placed on at least one side of the dispenser (904). The dispenser light (913) may be a hanging member (34) including a light source (343) as described in the previous embodiment, but is not limited thereto. For example, the dispenser light (913) may be implemented as various types of lighting that can be fixed to one or more of the top, bottom, and side surfaces of the dispenser (904) and irradiate light onto the dispenser (904). In this case, a first dispenser light (9131) may be arranged on the upper surface of the dispenser (904), a pair of second dispenser lights (9132) may be arranged on each of the two sides of the dispenser (904), and a third dispenser light (9133) may be arranged on the lower surface of the dispenser (904). For example, when a user approaches the refrigerator (1) and a proximity sensor detects this, the first dispenser light (9131), the second dispenser light (9132), and the third dispenser light (9133) may all be set to turn on. Also, for another example, if the dispenser light (913) and the light sensor of the refrigerator (1) are linked, when the light level is high, the first dispenser light (9131), the second dispenser light (9132), and the third dispenser light (9133) may all be turned on, but when the light level is low, only some of the first dispenser light (9131), the second dispenser light (9132), and the third dispenser light (9133) may be set to be turned on.

[0300] For example, referring to FIG. 26, the second door (902) may include a front plate (920) forming an exterior, and a door liner (940) positioned on the rear side of the front plate (920) to form a substantial body of the second door (902). A dispenser housing (930) on which a dispenser (904) is mounted may be positioned between the front plate (920) and the door liner (940). The dispenser housing (930) may be mounted and housed in the door liner (940). The front plate (920) may include a first opening (921) that can expose the dispenser (904) to the outside. The dispenser housing (930) may be formed with a second opening (931) positioned on at least one of the top, bottom, and side surfaces of the dispenser (904). A dispenser light (913) can be placed in the second opening (931).

[0301] The second opening (931) and the dispenser light (913) mounted in the second opening (931) may be positioned so as not to be directly exposed to the outside through the first opening (921). For example, the second openings (931) formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the dispenser housing (930) may be positioned so as to face each other, and the second openings (931) formed on both sides may be positioned so as to face each other. The dispenser light (913) may be embedded and fixed within an insulating material foamed between the dispenser housing (930) and the door liner (940), and the light of the dispenser light (913) may be emitted to the outside through the second opening (931). When the dispenser light (913) is turned on, the light of the dispenser light (913) emitted through the second opening (931) can be emitted to the outside through the first opening (921).

[0302] FIG. 27 is a drawing showing a screen according to another embodiment implemented in a remote device or display unit.

[0303] For example, the door light (911) may be set as a light mounted on the sub-door of the upper right door, and the basket light (912) may be set as a light mounted on the basket assembly of the upper right door. The dispenser light (913) may be set as a light mounted on the upper left door. However, this is not limited thereto, and the door light (911) and the basket light (912) may be mounted on the upper left door or the lower door. In addition, the dispenser light (913) may be mounted on the upper right door.

[0304] The door light (911), basket light (912), and dispenser light (913) can be turned on or off in conjunction with various types of detection devices (25), such as the first detection device (251), second detection device (252), and third detection device (253) described above.

[0305] For example, a door light setting screen (951) for controlling the door light (911) and a basket light setting screen (952) for controlling the basket light (912) may be provided. In this case, setting values ​​related to the second detection device (252), such as not only on / off but also knock-on brightness and time adjustment, may be set. In addition, a dispenser light setting screen (953) for controlling the dispenser light (913) may also be provided. In this case, setting values ​​for on / off may be provided, but are not limited thereto, and various setting values, such as knock-on brightness and time adjustment, may be set.

[0306] In addition, a scenario A setting screen (954) in which door lighting (911) and basket lighting (912) are linked to each other, a scenario B setting screen (955) in which door lighting (911), basket lighting (912), and dispenser lighting (913) are linked to each other, and a scenario C setting screen (956) in which lighting is linked according to changes in illuminance, etc. may be provided. Through these scenario setting screens, it is also possible to set the linked operation of door lighting (911), basket lighting (912), and dispenser lighting (913) according to various situations.

[0307] For example, when the first detection device (251) detects the user's approach, a scenario can be set in which the door light (911) lights up and, after 3 seconds, the basket light (912) sequentially lights up.

[0308] For another example, when the second detection device (252) detects the user's door knock operation, a scenario can be set in which the door light (911) emits red light and the basket light (912) emits red light sequentially or simultaneously in the same color as red or in a complementary color to red.

[0309] As another example, when the first detection device (251) detects the user's approach, a scenario can be set in which the door light (911), basket light (912), and dispenser light (913) light up simultaneously.

[0310] For another example, if the third detection device (253) detects a change in illumination, a scenario in which the door light (911) and the basket light (912) turn on may be set. For example, in a case where the ambient illumination is high, such as during the day, since the surroundings of the refrigerator (1) are bright, the door light (911) and the basket light (912) may both be set to turn on together. In addition, in a case where the ambient illumination is low, such as at night, since the surroundings of the refrigerator (1) are dark, the door light (911) may be kept off and only the basket light (912) may be turned on, so that the inside of the refrigerator (1) can be sufficiently seen.

[0311] Figure 28 illustrates a flowchart according to an exemplary scenario for controlling the light emission of various types of lights.

[0312] After the start step, a step (S110) in which the detection sensor of the refrigerator (1) operates may be performed. In this case, the detection sensor may be one of the first detection device (251), the second detection device (252), and the third detection device (253).

[0313] When the detection sensor is activated, a step (S120) of measuring the distance between the user and the refrigerator (1) and comparing it with a preset distance may be performed by the control unit. If the distance between the user and the refrigerator (1) is greater than or equal to the preset distance, a step (S121) of turning on the basket light (912) may be performed. That is, if the distance between the user and the refrigerator (1) is somewhat far, only the basket light (912) may be turned on. If the distance between the user and the refrigerator (1) is less than the preset distance, a step (S130) of determining whether the basket light (912) and / or the dispenser light (913) are set to turn on simultaneously with the door light (911) may be performed. That is, if the distance between the user and the refrigerator (1) is somewhat close, the basket light (912) and / or the dispenser light (913) may be turned on in addition to the door light (911). When each light is turned on, it can mean not only a state in which the brightness of the light is maintained continuously, but also a state in which the brightness of the light changes, such as dimming or flickering.

[0314] At this time, if it is set to be On at the same time, a step (S131) ​​may be performed in which the door light (911) is turned on simultaneously with the basket light (912) and / or the dispenser light (913). At this time, if it is not set to be On at the same time, a step (S140) may be performed in which the basket light (912) and / or the dispenser light (913) are sequentially turned on after a predetermined time after the door light (911) is turned on. In this case, the setting of whether to be On at the same time can be preset by the user on a remote device or display unit.

[0315] After one of steps (S121), (S131), and (140) is performed, a step (S150) may be performed to determine whether the detection sensor is continuously operating within a preset time or whether the door is open. In this case, if the detection sensor is continuously operating within the preset time or the door is opened, step (S151) may be performed. Step (S151) may include various types of scenario steps, such as a step (S1511) in which the basket light (912) and the dispenser light (913) and / or the door light (911) are turned off simultaneously, a step (S1512) in which the basket light (912) is sequentially turned off after the dispenser light (913) and / or the door light (911) are turned off, and a step (S1513) in which the dispenser light (913) and / or the door light (911) are turned off and the basket light (912) remains on. In the case of step (S151) where a user opens the door or stands in front of the refrigerator (1) for a long period of time, the external lights, i.e., the dispenser light (913) and the door light (911), may be turned off, but the basket light (912) inside the refrigerator (1) may be set to not turn off more quickly than the dispenser light (913) and the door light (911). Accordingly, the basket light (912) may be set to turn off simultaneously with the dispenser light (913) and the door light (911), to turn off later, or to not turn off at all.

[0316] After step (S151), a step (S160) of determining whether the door is closed is performed, and if the door is closed, a step (S170) of determining whether the basket light (912) is on may be performed. After this, if the basket light (912) is on, the process proceeds to a step (S171) of turning the basket light (912) off and then to a termination step, and if the basket light (912) is off, the process proceeds directly to the termination step.

[0317] Meanwhile, if the detection sensor does not operate continuously within a preset time or the door is closed, step (S180) may be performed. For example, this may be assumed to be the case where the user approaches the refrigerator (1) and looks only at the inside, or knocks on the door and then looks only at the inside. Step (S180) may include a step (S181) in which the basket light (912), the dispenser light (913), and / or the door light (911) are turned off simultaneously, and a step (S182) in which the basket light (912) is sequentially turned off after the dispenser light (913) and / or the door light (911) are turned off. Even in this case, the basket light (912) inside the refrigerator (1) may be set not to turn off faster than the dispenser light (913) and the door light (911). Accordingly, the basket light (912) may be turned off simultaneously with the dispenser light (913) and the door light (911), or may be turned off later. After step (S180) is performed, the process may proceed to the end step.

[0318] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings exemplified above, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. Furthermore, even if the operational effects according to the configuration of the present invention have not been explicitly described while describing the embodiments of the present invention, it is natural that the effects predictable by the corresponding configuration should also be acknowledged.

Claims

1. A cabinet containing one or more storage compartments; A door for opening and closing the above storage room; and A basket assembly mounted on the above door; The above door, A refrigerator comprising a light source for irradiating light onto the basket assembly and one or more hanging members for fixing the basket assembly.

2. In paragraph 1, A refrigerator in which the above-mentioned hanging portions are provided as a pair protruding toward both sides of the basket assembly, thereby supporting the lower portions of both sides of the basket assembly.

3. In paragraph 1, A refrigerator wherein the above-mentioned hanging part is formed integrally with the door or is attached to the door so as to be detachable from the door.

4. In paragraph 1, The above door, A main door having an opening therein and being rotatably connected to the cabinet; and A sub-door rotatably connected to the main door to open and close the opening of the main door; The above basket assembly is mounted on the main door of the refrigerator.

5. In paragraph 4, The above main door, A door liner including the opening and an outer plate surrounding at least one side of the door liner, The above-mentioned hanging part is formed on the inner side of the door liner, the refrigerator.

6. In paragraph 5, A refrigerator in which the above-mentioned hanging member is formed integrally with the door liner and protrudes from the inner side of the door liner toward the opening.

7. In paragraph 5, A buried portion is formed on the inner side of the above door liner, A refrigerator wherein the above-mentioned hanging part is fixed to the above-mentioned embedded part by being inserted into the above-mentioned embedded part at least in a portion thereof.

8. In paragraph 1, The above light source is mounted on the inside of the above hanging part, A refrigerator wherein the light source is positioned to emit light toward the side of the basket assembly.

9. In paragraph 1, The above light sources are mounted in multiple numbers on the inside of the hanging part, A refrigerator wherein each of the light sources is arranged to emit light toward the front, rear, and side of the basket assembly.

10. In paragraph 1, A refrigerator in which the inner or outer surface of the hanging portion, which does not overlap with the light-emitting area of ​​the light source, is subjected to light-shielding treatment to block the emission of light.

11. In paragraph 1, The above basket assembly includes a mounting portion that is inserted to be mounted on the above hanging portion, A refrigerator wherein the light source is arranged to overlap the lower surface of the basket assembly in a horizontal direction.

12. In paragraph 1, The above basket assembly, A support member including a mounting portion that is inserted to be mounted on the above-mentioned hook; and A basket portion including a recessed portion arranged on the support member and recessed to be seated on the mounting portion; A refrigerator wherein the light source is arranged to overlap the support member in a horizontal direction.

13. In paragraph 12, A refrigerator in which the above-mentioned support member is a light guide member that guides light incident from the light source to the side edge of the support member.

14. In paragraph 12, The above support member is, Including a support body part that supports the lower surface of the above basket part, A refrigerator in which light incident on the support member undergoes total reflection on the upper and lower surfaces of the support body and diffuse reflection on the side edges of the support body.

15. In paragraph 14, A refrigerator in which light incident on the above support member is not emitted in the upper and lower directions of the above support body, but is emitted along the side edge of the above support body.

Images