Home appliance and control method thereof

Abstract

This refrigerator includes: a main body including a storage chamber; a door provided to be rotatable with respect to the main body so as to open or close the storage chamber; a gasket disposed on a side, which faces the storage chamber, of the door and compressible; and a sensor disposed on the main body and configured to detect a force applied from the gasket to the sensor, wherein the gasket and the sensor are configured such that the gasket is disposed toward the main body to seal a space between the door and the main body in a state where the storage chamber is closed by the door, and the sensor detects the force applied from the gasket to the sensor in a state where the gasket is compressed between the door and the main body.

Description

Home appliances and control methods thereof

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a home appliance and a method for controlling the same.

[0002] Home appliances are electronic and electrical devices used in the home that make daily life more convenient and efficient. Home appliances may include a main body that forms a storage space and a door for opening and closing the storage space. Examples of home appliances include refrigerators, dishwashers, garment care systems, washing machines, dryers, and shoe care systems.

[0003] For example, a refrigerator is a device that keeps food fresh by having a main body having a storage compartment and a cold air supply system that supplies cold air to the storage compartment.

[0004] For example, a dishwasher is a device that automatically cleans food residue and other debris from dishes using detergent and water.

[0005] Meanwhile, the home appliance may include a door opening device that opens the door so that the door can be opened easily. A user can operate the door opening device by inputting a door opening signal to the home appliance.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a home appliance with improved ease of use and a method for controlling the same.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a home appliance that can easily open a door and a method for controlling the same.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a home appliance having a door opening device configured to open a door and a sensor for detecting a signal or condition for operating the door opening device, and a method for controlling the same.

[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a home appliance and a method for controlling the same, wherein the sensing area is increased by utilizing the entire door as a push object.

[0010] The technical problems to be solved in this document are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs from the description below.

[0011] A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a main body including a storage compartment; a door rotatably provided with respect to the main body to open and close the storage compartment; a compressible gasket disposed on the storage compartment side of the door; and a sensor disposed on the main body and configured to detect a force applied from the gasket to the sensor. The gasket and the sensor are configured such that, when the storage compartment is closed by the door, the gasket is disposed toward the main body to seal the space between the door and the main body, and when the gasket is compressed between the door and the main body, the sensor detects a force applied from the gasket to the sensor.

[0012] The force applied from the above gasket may include the force generated as the door is pressed by the user.

[0013] When the storage room is closed by the door, the sensor can come into contact with the gasket.

[0014] The gasket extends along the rear edge of the door, and the sensor can be positioned on the front edge of the main body.

[0015] The refrigerator further includes a hinge that connects the main body and the door and supports the rotation of the door relative to the main body; and the sensor may be spaced apart from the hinge.

[0016] The gasket comprises: a first extension portion adjacent to the hinge and extending in a vertical direction; and a second extension portion provided on the opposite side of the door relative to the first extension portion and extending in the vertical direction; and when the storage room is closed by the door, the sensor may come into contact with a part of the second extension portion.

[0017] The sensor comprises a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate spaced apart from the first conductive plate, and a dielectric disposed between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, and the sensor can convert the capacitance between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate according to the distance between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate into an output signal.

[0018] The refrigerator may further include a door opening device configured to rotate the door to open the door; and a control unit that controls the operation of the door opening device based on information obtained by the sensor.

[0019] The control unit can control the door opening device to rotate the door to open the door based on the fact that the value output from the sensor is greater than a reference value.

[0020] The above reference value is a multiple of the base value, and the base value may be the average of the values ​​output from the sensor during the time interval in which the storage room is closed by the door.

[0021] The above time interval is a first time interval, and the above base value can be updated based on a second time interval.

[0022] The refrigerator may further include a door opening device configured to rotate the door to open the door based on information obtained by the sensor.

[0023] The refrigerator further includes a user interface, and the control unit can control the user interface to output opening information of the door based on controlling the door opening device to rotate the door to open the door.

[0024] The refrigerator further includes a communication interface, and the control unit can control the communication interface to transmit door opening information to an external device based on controlling the door opening device to rotate the door to open the door.

[0025] The refrigerator further includes a door opening device configured to rotate the door to open the door; and the door opening device may include a pusher case mounted on the main body; and a door pusher configured to be movable relative to the pusher case to open the door by rotating the door by pressing the door.

[0026] A home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a main body forming a storage compartment; a door rotatably provided to open and close the storage compartment; a gasket disposed on the side of the door facing the storage compartment and maintaining a seal between the door and the main body while the door closes the storage compartment; and a sensor disposed on the main body to correspond to the gasket. The sensor may detect a force applied from the gasket to the sensor while the door closes the storage compartment.

[0027] A home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a main body forming a receiving space; a door rotatably provided to open and close the receiving space; a door opening device mounted on the main body for opening the door; a sensor pusher that moves as the door is pressed; and a sensor that detects a force transmitted through the sensor pusher as the door is pressed while closing the receiving space.

[0028] A method for controlling a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the refrigerator comprises a main body forming a storage compartment, a door provided to open and close the storage compartment, a door opening device for opening the door, a gasket disposed on the side of the door facing the storage compartment, and a sensor disposed on the main body to correspond to the gasket, and the method for controlling the refrigerator may include controlling the door opening device to open the door based on the fact that a value detected by the sensor is greater than a reference value while the door is closing the storage compartment.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view of some components of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the upper doors of a refrigerator open according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the doors of a refrigerator closed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the doors of a refrigerator closed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an example of a first state in which the door is closed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating an example of a second state in which the door is pressed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an example of a third state in which the door is open in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates a sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 10 illustrates a control block diagram of a home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a graph showing the sensor output of a sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating an example of a first state in which the door is closed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating an example of a second state in which the door is pressed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sensor module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating an example of a first state in which the door is closed in a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating an example of a second state in which the door is pressurized in a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] The various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in the present disclosure to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of said embodiments.

[0048] In relation to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

[0049] The singular form of the noun corresponding to the item may include one or multiple items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0050] In the present disclosure, each of the phrases such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B”, “A, B or C”, “at least one of A, B and C”, and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0051] The term "and / or" includes a combination of multiple related described components or any of the multiple related described components.

[0052] Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish a component from another component and do not limit the components in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

[0053] Additionally, terms such as 'front,' 'rear,' 'top,' 'bottom,' 'side,' 'left,' 'right,' 'top,' and 'bottom' used in this disclosure are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and location of each component are not limited by these terms.

[0054] Terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to specify the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in this disclosure, and do not preclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0055] When it is said that a component is "connected," "combined," "supported," or "in contact" with another component, this includes not only cases where the components are directly connected, combined, supported, or in contact, but also cases where they are indirectly connected, combined, supported, or in contact through a third component.

[0056] When it is said that a component is located "on" another component, this includes not only cases where one component is in contact with the other, but also cases where another component exists between the two components.

[0057] A refrigerator according to one embodiment may include a main body.

[0058] The "main body" may include an inner body, an outer body positioned on the outside of the inner body, and an insulating material provided between the inner body and the outer body.

[0059] The "inner body" may include at least one of a case, plate, panel, or liner forming a storage chamber. The inner body may be formed as a single body or may be formed by assembling multiple plates. The "outer body" may form the exterior of the main body and may be coupled to the outer side of the inner body so that an insulating material is disposed between the inner body and the outer body.

[0060] The "insulating material" can insulate the interior and exterior of the storage room so that the temperature inside the storage room is maintained at a set appropriate temperature without being affected by the external environment. According to one embodiment, the insulating material may include a foamed insulating material. The foamed insulating material can be formed by injecting and foaming urethane foam, which is a mixture of polyurethane and a foaming agent, between the inner and outer layers.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the insulation material may additionally include a vacuum insulation material in addition to a foam insulation material, or the insulation material may consist solely of a vacuum insulation material instead of a foam insulation material. The vacuum insulation material may include a core material and an outer shell material that accommodates the core material and seals the interior under vacuum or near-vacuum pressure. However, the insulation material is not limited to the foam insulation material or vacuum insulation material described above and may include various materials that can be used for insulation.

[0062] The "storage room" may include a space defined by an internal structure. The storage room may further include an internal structure defining a space corresponding to the storage room. Various items such as food, medicine, and cosmetics may be stored in the storage room, and the storage room may be formed so that at least one side is open to allow for the retrieval and retrieval of items.

[0063] A refrigerator may include one or more storage compartments. When two or more storage compartments are formed in a refrigerator, each storage compartment may have a different use and may be maintained at a different temperature. To this end, each storage compartment may be partitioned from one another by a partition containing insulation.

[0064] The storage room may be provided to be maintained within an appropriate temperature range according to its intended use and may include a "refrigeration room," "freezing room," or "variable temperature room" distinguished according to its intended use and / or temperature range. The refrigerator room may be maintained at a temperature suitable for refrigerated storage of goods, and the freezer room may be maintained at a temperature suitable for frozen storage of goods. "Refrigeration" may mean cooling goods to a cold state without freezing them; for example, the refrigerator room may be maintained within a range of 0 degrees Celsius to 7 degrees Celsius. "Freezing" may mean cooling goods to freeze them or to maintain them in a frozen state; for example, the freezer room may be maintained within a range of -20 degrees Celsius to -1 degree Celsius. The variable temperature room may be used as either a refrigerator room or a freezer room, with or without the user's choice.

[0065] Storage rooms may be referred to by various names, such as "vegetable room," "fresh room," "cooling room," and "ice-making room," in addition to terms like "refrigeration room," "freezing room," and "variable temperature room." The terms "refrigeration room," "freezing room," and "variable temperature room" used below should be understood as encompassing storage rooms with corresponding uses and temperature ranges.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include at least one door configured to open and close one side of the storage compartment. The door may be provided to open and close each of one or more storage compartments, or a single door may be provided to open and close multiple storage compartments. The door may be installed to be rotatable or sliding on the front of the main body.

[0067] The “door” may be configured to seal the storage room when the door is closed. The door may include insulation material, similar to the main body, to insulate the storage room when the door is closed.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the door may include a door outer panel forming the front of the door, a door inner panel forming the rear of the door and facing the storage room, an upper cap, a lower cap, and a door insulation material provided inside the same.

[0069] A gasket may be provided on the edge of the door inner panel to seal the storage compartment by adhering to the front of the main body when the door is closed. The door inner panel may include a dyke that protrudes rearward to allow a door basket for storing items to be mounted.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the door may include a door body and a front panel detachably coupled to the front side of the door body and forming the front of the door. The door body may include a door outer panel forming the front of the door body, a door inner panel forming the rear of the door body and facing the storage compartment, an upper cap, a lower cap, and a door insulation material provided inside them.

[0071] Refrigerators can be classified into French Door Type, Side-by-side Type, BMF (Bottom Mounted Freezer), TMF (Top Mounted Freezer), or 1-door refrigerators depending on the arrangement of the door and storage compartment.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a cold air supply device arranged to supply cold air to the storage compartment.

[0073] The "cold air supply device" may include a machine, apparatus, electronic device, and / or a system combining these that can generate cold air and guide cold air to cool a storage room.

[0074] According to one embodiment, a cold supply device can generate cold air through a refrigeration cycle that includes the processes of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a refrigerant. To this end, the cold supply device may include a refrigeration cycle device having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator capable of driving the refrigeration cycle. According to one embodiment, the cold supply device may include a semiconductor such as a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element can cool a storage chamber through heat generation and cooling action via the Peltier effect.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a machine room arranged to accommodate at least some parts belonging to a cold air supply device.

[0076] The "machine room" may be configured to be partitioned and insulated from the storage room to prevent heat generated from components placed in the machine room from being transferred to the storage room. The interior of the machine room may be configured to communicate with the exterior of the main body to dissipate heat from components placed inside the machine room.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a dispenser provided on the door to provide water and / or ice. The dispenser may be provided on the door so that it is accessible to a user without opening the door.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include an ice-making device configured to generate ice. The ice-making device may include an ice-making tray that stores water, an ice-removing device that separates ice from the ice-making tray, and an ice bucket that stores the ice generated from the ice-making tray.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a control unit for controlling the refrigerator.

[0080] The "control unit" may include a memory that stores or remembers a program and / or data for controlling a refrigerator, and a processor that outputs a control signal for controlling a cold air supply device, etc., according to the program and / or data stored in the memory.

[0081] The memory stores or records various information, data, commands, programs, etc., necessary for the operation of the refrigerator. The memory can store temporary data generated while generating control signals to control the components included in the refrigerator. The memory may include at least one of volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof.

[0082] The processor controls the overall operation of the refrigerator. The processor can control the components of the refrigerator by executing programs stored in memory. The processor may include a separate NPU that performs the operation of an artificial intelligence model. Additionally, the processor may include a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc. The processor can generate control signals to control the operation of the cold air supply unit. For example, the processor can receive temperature information of the storage compartment from a temperature sensor and generate a cooling control signal to control the operation of the cold air supply unit based on the temperature information of the storage compartment.

[0083] Additionally, the processor can process user input of the user interface and control the operation of the user interface according to programs and / or data stored in memory. The user interface may be provided using an input interface and an output interface. The processor can receive user input from the user interface. Additionally, the processor can transmit display control signals and image data to the user interface to display an image on the user interface in response to the user input.

[0084] The processor and memory may be provided as a single unit or separately. The processor may include one or more processors. For example, the processor may include a main processor and at least one sub-processor. The memory may include one or more memory units.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a processor and memory that control all components included in the refrigerator, and may include a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories that individually control the components of the refrigerator. For example, the refrigerator may include a processor and memory that control the operation of a cold air supply device according to the output of a temperature sensor. Additionally, the refrigerator may separately provide a processor and memory that control the operation of a user interface according to user input.

[0086] The communication module can communicate with external devices, such as servers, mobile devices, and other home appliances, through nearby Access Points (APs). The Access Point (AP) can connect the Local Area Network (LAN) to which the refrigerator or user device is connected to the Wide Area Network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The refrigerator or user device can connect to the server through the Wide Area Network (WAN).

[0087] The input interface may include keys, touchscreens, microphones, etc. The input interface may receive user input and transmit it to the processor.

[0088] The output interface may include a display, a speaker, etc. The output interface can output various notifications, messages, information, etc. generated by the processor.

[0089] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0090] Terms such as "upward," "downward," "forward," "rear," "front-rear direction," "vertical direction," and "horizontal direction" used in the following description are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms. For example, the terms "forward" and "rear" below may refer to the front and rear directions in the X-direction, respectively, based on the drawings. The terms "upward" and "downward" below may refer to the upward direction in the Z-direction and the downward direction in the Z-direction, respectively, based on the drawings. The terms "left" and "right" below may refer to the left and right directions in the Y-direction, respectively, based on the drawings. The term "front-rear direction" below may refer to the X-direction based on the drawings. The term "vertical direction" below may refer to the Z-direction based on the drawings. The term "horizontal direction" below may refer to the Y-direction based on the drawings.

[0091] Meanwhile, the drawings illustrate a refrigerator (1a) and a dishwasher (1b) as examples of home appliances (1), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. It goes without saying that the contents of the present disclosure can be applied to home appliances other than refrigerators and dishwashers. The contents of the present disclosure can be applied to a home appliance (1) comprising a main body (10; 10b) that forms a storage space (e.g., storage room (20), washing room, maintenance room, etc.) and a door (30; 30b) for opening and closing the storage space. For example, the contents of the present disclosure can be applied to various home appliances (1), such as a clothing processing device, a washing machine, a dryer, a shoe care machine, etc. Below, for convenience of explanation, a refrigerator (1a) and a dishwasher (1b) are used as examples. The description of the refrigerator (1a) and the dishwasher (1b) to be described later can be replaced by the description of the home appliance (1).

[0092] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator (1a) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body (10), a storage room (20) provided inside the main body (10), a door (30) for opening and closing the storage room (20), and a cooling system for supplying cold air to the storage room (20).

[0094] The main body (10) may include an inner section (11) forming a storage room (20) and an outer section (12) forming the exterior of the refrigerator (1a). The outer section (12) may be formed to have the shape of a box with an open front. The outer section (12) may form the top surface, bottom surface, left and right sides, rear surface, etc. of the refrigerator (1a). The inner section (11) may have an open front. The inner section (11) may have a storage room (20) provided inside and may be provided on the inner side of the outer section (12). The inner wall of the inner section (11) may form the inner wall of the storage room (20).

[0095] A body insulation material may be provided between the outer (12) and inner (11) of the main body (10) so that the outer (12) and inner (11) can be insulated from each other. As the body insulation material is foamed between the inner (11) and the outer (12), the inner (11) and the outer (12) can be joined together. The body insulation material can prevent heat exchange from occurring between the inside of the storage room (20) and the outside of the main body (10), thereby improving the cooling efficiency inside the storage room (20). The body insulation material provided in the main body (10) may be urethane foam insulation, expanded polystyrene insulation, vacuum insulation panel, etc. However, it is not limited thereto, and the body insulation material may be composed of various materials.

[0096] The main body (10) may further include a top table (13). The top table (13) may be provided on the upper part of the main body (10). The top table (13) may be coupled to the upper part of the outer body (12). The top table (13) may be coupled to the upper surface of the outer body (12). The top table (13) may cover a portion of the upper part of the outer body (12).

[0097] The top table (13) can cover various electrical components. A space for accommodating various electrical components can be formed on the inside of the top table (13). For example, the top table (13) can cover a door opening device (100) described later, and the door opening device (100) can be accommodated on the inside of the top table (13).

[0098] A storage room (20) may be formed inside the main body (10). For example, the storage room (20) may include a refrigerator room maintained at approximately 0 to 5 degrees Celsius for refrigerated storage of food. For example, the storage room (20) may include a freezer room maintained at approximately minus 23 to minus 17 degrees Celsius for frozen storage of food.

[0099] For example, the storage room (20) may be divided into multiple areas by partitions (15). Specifically, the storage room (20) may be divided into an upper first storage room (21) and lower storage rooms (22, 23) by a first partition (17) extending in the horizontal direction (Y). Additionally, the lower storage rooms (22, 23) of the storage room (20) may be divided into a left second storage room (22) and a right third storage room (23) by a second partition (19) extending in the vertical direction (Z). In this case, for example, the first storage room (21) may be used as a refrigerator, and both the second storage room (22) and the third storage room (23) may be used as freezers, or one of them may be used as a freezer and the other as a refrigerator.

[0100] The method of dividing the storage room (20) as described above and the use of each of the divided storage rooms (21, 22, 23) are merely examples and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0101] A shelf (24) on which food can be placed may be provided inside the storage room (20). A storage container (26) for storing food may be provided inside the storage room (20).

[0102] The refrigerator (1a) may include a cooling system configured to generate cold air using a cooling cycle and supply the generated cold air to the storage room (20). The cooling system may generate cold air using a cooling circulation cycle that compresses, condenses, expands, and evaporates a refrigerant. As an example, the cooling system may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a blower fan. The cold air generated by the cooling system may be supplied to the storage room (20) through a cold air supply duct formed in the rear part of the inner chamber (11).

[0103] The door (30) may be provided to open and close the storage room (20). The door (30) may be provided to open and close an opening formed on one side of the main body (10). The door (30) may be provided to be rotatable with respect to the main body (10).

[0104] The outer surface of the door (30) may form part of the exterior of the refrigerator (1a). When the door (30) is closed, the outer surface of the door (30) may form at least part of the front exterior of the refrigerator (1a). When the door (30) is closed, the inner surface of the door (30) may face the interior of the storage room (20). The inner surface of the door (30) referred to here means one side of the door (30) facing the storage room (20) when the door (30) is closing the storage room (20). The inner surface of the door (30) may be referred to as the rear side (31) of the door. Additionally, the outer surface of the door (30) referred to here may mean the other side opposite to the inner surface of the door (30) facing the storage room (20) when the door (30) is closing the storage room (20). The outer surface of the door (30) may be referred to as the front side (32) of the door.

[0105] A basket (38) for storing food can be provided on the back (31) of the door (30).

[0106] A gasket (39) may be provided on the back surface (31) of the door (30) to seal the gap between the door (30) and the main body (10) to prevent cold air from leaking from the storage room (20). A detailed description of the gasket (39) will be provided later.

[0107] The refrigerator (1a) may include an upper door and a lower door arranged side by side in a vertical direction (Z). The refrigerator (1a) may include a left door and a right door arranged side by side in a horizontal direction (Y). The refrigerator (1a) may include a plurality of doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) that open and close each partitioned storage compartment (21, 22, 23).

[0108] The first storage room (21) can be opened and closed by a pair of upper doors (30A, 30B). The refrigerator (1a) may include a first door (30A) that opens and closes a portion of the first storage room (21) and a second door (30B) that opens and closes another portion of the first storage room (21). The first door (30A) and the second door (30B) may be provided to be rotatable independently of each other with respect to the main body (10). The first door (30A) and the second door (30B) may be arranged side by side in the horizontal direction (Y). For example, the first door (30A) may be provided to open and close the left portion of the first storage room (21), and the second door (30B) may be provided to open and close the right portion of the first storage room (22).

[0109] One of the pair of upper doors (30A, 30B) (e.g., the first door (30A)) may be provided with a rotating bar (50) that is rotatably provided with respect to the door and is provided to cover the gap between the pair of upper doors (30A, 30B) when the pair of upper doors (30A, 30B) close the first storage room (21).

[0110] The second storage compartment (22) can be opened and closed by the left lower door (30C). The refrigerator (1a) may include a third door (30C) provided to open and close the second storage compartment (22). The third door (30C) may be rotatably provided with respect to the main body (10). For example, the first door (30A) and the third door (30C) may be arranged side by side in a vertical direction (Z) relative to each other.

[0111] The third storage compartment (23) can be opened and closed by the right lower door (30D). The refrigerator (1a) may include a fourth door (30D) provided to open and close the third storage compartment (23). The fourth door (30D) may be rotatably provided with respect to the main body (10). For example, the second door (30B) and the fourth door (30D) may be arranged side by side in a vertical direction (Z). Additionally, the third door (30C) and the fourth door (30D) may be arranged side by side in a horizontal direction (Y).

[0112] Each of the multiple doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) may be provided with a handle. A user may open or close each of the multiple doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) by grasping the handle provided on each of the multiple doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D). In other words, a user may open or close each of the storage rooms (21, 22, 23) by grasping the handle provided on each of the multiple doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D). For example, the handle provided on each of the multiple doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) may include a groove shape formed concavely so as to be gripped.

[0113] The refrigerator (1a) may include a hinge (40) connecting the main body (10) and the door (30). The hinge (40) may be provided so that the door (30) can rotate relative to the main body (10). The hinge (40) may be fixed to the main body (10). In detail, the hinge (40) may be connected to the outer body (12).

[0114] The hinge (40) can rotatably support the door (30). The door (30) can be rotatably coupled to the main body (10) by the hinge (40).

[0115] In detail, the refrigerator (1a) may include a plurality of hinges (41, 42, 43) provided to support each of a plurality of doors (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D). For example, the refrigerator (1a) may include a pair of upper door hinges (41) coupled to the upper part of the main body (10) to rotatably support the first door (30A) and the second door (30B), respectively. Additionally, for example, the refrigerator (1a) may include a pair of lower door hinges (43) coupled to the lower part of the main body (10) to rotatably support the third door (30C) and the fourth door (30D), respectively. Additionally, for example, the refrigerator (1a) may include a pair of intermediate hinges (42) positioned between the upper door hinge (41) and the lower door hinge (43) and coupled to the middle part of the main body (10) (specifically, the first partition (17)) to rotatably support each of the first door (30A), the second door (30B), the third door (30B), and the fourth door (30D).

[0116] The refrigerator (1a) may include a rotating bar (50). The rotating bar (50) may be provided to cover the gap between the first door (30A) and the second door (30B) when the first door (30A) and the second door (30B) close the first storage compartment (21). The rotating bar (50) may be rotatably coupled to the first door (30A). The rotating bar (50) may be formed in the shape of a bar that is long along the height direction (Z) of the first door (30A).

[0117] The refrigerator (1a) may include a rotation guide (55) provided to guide the movement of a rotation bar (50). The rotation guide (55) may be provided to guide the movement of the rotation bar (50) when the first door (30A) rotates between an open position and a closed position. The rotation guide (55) may include a groove structure formed to allow a part of the rotation bar (50) to be inserted and moved. The rotation guide (55) may be mounted on the main body (10). In detail, the rotation guide (55) may be mounted on the upper part of the inner body (11).

[0118] A refrigerator (1a) may include a door opening device (100) provided to open a door (30). The door opening device (100) may be provided on a main body (10). The door opening device (100) may be mounted on the main body (10). The door opening device (100) may be installed on the main body (10). For example, the door opening device (100) may be provided in multiple numbers. For example, a first door (30A) may be opened by a first door opening device (100A) positioned on the left. For example, a second door (30B) may be opened by a second door opening device (100B) positioned on the right. In the drawings, only the first door opening device (100A) and the second door opening device (100B) are shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Depending on the number and type of the door (30), the door opening device (100) may have various shapes and numbers and may be provided in various locations.

[0119] The refrigerator (1a) may include a sensor (200). The sensor (200) may detect an open trigger. The open trigger mentioned herein may include a signal or condition for opening the door. For example, the open trigger may include user input, user action, and / or event. The sensor (200) may receive a door opening signal. Based on the value (output signal) detected by the sensor (200), the control unit (60, see FIG. 10) and / or the door opening device (100) may identify the intention to open the door. For example, the sensor (200) may be provided in multiple numbers. For example, the sensor (200) placed on the left may detect a signal or condition for opening the first door (30A). The first door opening device (100A) may open the first door (30A) based on the information obtained by the sensor (200) placed on the left. For example, a sensor (200) positioned on the right side can detect a signal or condition for opening the second door (30B). The second door opening device (100B) can open the second door (30B) based on information obtained by the sensor (200) positioned on the right side. Although only two sensors (200) are shown in the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Depending on the number and type of the door (30), the sensors (200) may have various shapes, numbers, etc., and may be provided in various locations.

[0120] The configuration of the refrigerator (1a) described above with reference to FIG. 1 is merely an example for explaining a refrigerator according to the concept of the present disclosure, and the concept of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A refrigerator according to the concept of the present disclosure may be provided to include various configurations for performing the function of supplying cold air to a storage room for storing food.

[0121] The refrigerator of the type to which the refrigerator according to the concept of the present disclosure is applied is not limited to the type of refrigerator (1a) shown in the drawing, and the refrigerator according to the concept of the present disclosure may include various types of refrigerators such as side-by-side type, French door type, BMF (Bottom Mounted Freezer) type, TMF (Top Mounted Freezer) type, etc.

[0122] In addition, although the refrigerator (1a) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described as an example of the present disclosure on the premise that it is a cold-cooling refrigerator, the concept of the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can also be applied to a direct-cooling refrigerator.

[0123] FIG. 2 is a plan view of some components of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the upper doors of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in an open state. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the doors of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in a closed state. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the doors of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in a closed state.

[0124] A refrigerator (1a) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a door opening device (100) provided to open a door (30). The door opening device (100) may be provided to rotate the door (30) relative to the main body (10) to open the storage compartment (20). The door opening device (100) may be provided to press the door (30) to open the door (30). For example, the door opening device (100) may be provided to press the upper part of the door (30).

[0125] For example, the refrigerator (1a) may include a first door opening device (100A) configured to open a first door (30A). The first door opening device (100A) may be configured to press the first door (30A) to open a portion of the first storage room (21). For example, the refrigerator (1a) may include a second door opening device (100B) configured to open a second door (30B). The second door opening device (100B) may be configured to press the second door (30B) to open another portion of the first storage room (21). The operation of the first door opening device (100A) opening the first door (30A) and the operation of the second door opening device (100B) opening the second door (30B) may be performed independently of each other.

[0126] The door opening device (100) can be mounted on the main body (10). For example, the door opening device (100) can be mounted on the upper part of the main body (10). More specifically, the door opening device (100) can be accommodated inside the top table (13). The upper part of the door opening device (100) can be covered by the top table (13). The door opening device (100) can be placed on the upper surface of the outer surface (12).

[0127] For example, the first door opening device (100A) may be positioned to the left of the center on the upper part of the main body (10), and the second door opening device (100B) may be positioned to the right of the center on the upper part of the main body (10). That is, the first door opening device (100A) and the second door opening device (100B) may be positioned parallel to each other in the horizontal direction (Y). The first door opening device (100A) mounted on the upper part of the main body (10) may be provided to press the upper part of the first door (30A), and the second door opening device (100B) mounted on the upper part of the main body (10) may be provided to press the upper part of the second door (30B).

[0128] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the door opening device (100) may be mounted at various locations on the main body (10) and may be configured to open the storage room (20) by pressing various parts other than the upper part of the door (30). Unlike what is shown in the drawings, the door opening device (100) may be configured to press the lower part of the door (30). For example, the first door opening device (100A) may be mounted on the horizontal partition (17) and configured to press the lower part of the first door (30A). For example, the second door opening device (100B) may be mounted on the horizontal partition (17) and configured to press the lower part of the second door (30B).

[0129] The door opening device (100) may include a door pusher (120). The door pusher (120) may be provided to press the door (30) to open the door (30). The door pusher (120) may be provided to be movable relative to the main body (10). The door pusher (120) may be provided to press the door (30) while moving relative to the main body (10). In detail, the door pusher (120) may press the door (30) while moving forward from the side of the main body (10) toward the door (30), thereby opening the closed door (30).

[0130] For example, the door pusher (120) may be configured to move linearly back and forth relative to the main body (10). The door pusher (120) may be configured to move linearly in the forward and backward direction (X) relative to the main body (10). Alternatively, the door pusher (120) may move non-linearly relative to the main body (10).

[0131] The door opening device (100) may include a pusher case (110). The pusher case (110) may be provided to support a door pusher (120). The pusher case (110) may movably support the door pusher (120). The pusher case (110) may form a space for accommodating at least a portion of the door pusher (120). The door pusher (120) may be movably provided with respect to the pusher case (110). The door pusher (120) may be movably provided between a position where it is maximally retracted into the internal space of the pusher case (110) and a position where it is pulled forward from the internal space of the pusher case (110).

[0132] The pusher case (110) can be mounted on the main body (10). The pusher case (110) can be fixed to the main body (10). For example, the pusher case (110) can be coupled to the top table (13). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pusher case (110) can be coupled to various locations on the main body (10).

[0133] The door opening device (100) may include a power unit (130, see FIG. 10) configured to generate power for opening the door (30). The power unit (130) may be configured to generate power for moving the door pusher (120). For example, the power unit (130) may include a drive motor and a motor driver connected to the drive motor. The drive motor may generate power by receiving a drive current from the motor driver.

[0134] The operation of the door opening device (100) can be controlled based on information obtained by the sensor (200). The operation of the door opening device (100) can be controlled based on a value (output signal) detected by the sensor (200). For example, the motor driver can be electrically connected to the control unit (60, see FIG. 10) of the home appliance (1), and the door opening device (100) can operate based on a control signal received from the control unit (60). That is, the power unit (130) can be controlled by the control unit (60) of the home appliance (1). Alternatively, for example, the motor driver can be electrically connected to the sensor (200), and the door opening device (100) can operate based on an output signal received from the sensor (200).

[0135] Although not clearly shown in the drawing, the power unit (130) may be supported by the pusher case (110). The power unit (130) may be accommodated inside the pusher case (110).

[0136] The door opening device (100) may further include a power transmission member (not shown) provided to transmit power generated by the power unit (130) to the door pusher (120).

[0137] The power transmission member can be supported by the pusher case (110). The power transmission member can be accommodated inside the pusher case (110).

[0138] A refrigerator (1a) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a gasket (39). The gasket (39) may be positioned on the side of the door (30) facing the storage compartment (20). The gasket (39) may be positioned on the back surface (31) of the door (30). The gasket (39) may extend along the edge of the back surface (31) of the door (30). For example, the gasket (39) may include a roughly square ring shape.

[0139] The gasket (39) can maintain a seal between the door (30) and the main body (10) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The gasket (39) can be in close contact with the main body (10) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The gasket (39) can maintain a distance greater than a predetermined distance between the door (30) and the main body (10) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The gasket (39) can prevent cold air inside the storage room (20) from leaking out.

[0140] A refrigerator (1a) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a sensor (200). The sensor (200) may receive a door opening signal. The sensor (200) may receive an open trigger. The open trigger may include a user's push action. Specifically, the open trigger may include a user pushing the door (30) with a force greater than a predetermined amount.

[0141] The sensor (200) may be configured to measure force. The sensor (200) may be configured to detect a force acting on the sensor (200). The sensor (200) may be configured to detect a force pressing on the sensor (200). The sensor (200) may be configured to detect a physical force applied to the sensor (200). The sensor (200) may be configured to detect pressure applied to the sensor (200). The sensor (200) may be configured to detect a force generated as a user pushes the door (30). The sensor (200) may be configured to detect a force generated as a user presses the door (30). For example, the sensor (200) may include a force sensor. The description of the sensor (200) may be a description common to examples of the sensor (200a, 200b, 200c). That is, the description of the sensor (200) described above or below can be applied to each of the examples of the sensor (200a, 200b, 200c).

[0142] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, an example (200a) of a sensor (200) will be described.

[0143] The sensor (200a) may be provided in the main body (10). The sensor (200a) may be mounted on the main body (10). The sensor (200a) may be installed on the main body (10).

[0144] The sensor (200a) may be positioned on the main body (10) to correspond to the gasket (39). The sensor (200a) may be positioned to face the gasket (39) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The sensor (200a) may be arranged to contact the gasket (39) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). When the door (30) closes the storage room (20), the sensor (200a) may be positioned to make contact with the gasket (39). For example, the sensor (200a) may be positioned on the front edge (10a) of the main body (10). For example, the front edge (10a) of the main body (10) is a part that can come into contact with the gasket (39), so that when the door (30) is closed, the gasket (39) can be in close contact with the front edge (10a) of the main body (10). For example, the front edge (10a) of the main body (10) may include the front of the inner body (11).

[0145] The sensor (200a) can detect the force applied from the gasket (39) to the sensor (200a) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The sensor (200a) can detect the force received from the gasket (39) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The force detected by the sensor (200a) may include the force generated as the door (30) is pressed by a user. The user may push the door (30) while the storage room (20) is closed, and the force applied to the door (30) may be transmitted to the sensor (200a) through the gasket (39). When pressure is applied to the door (30), the gasket (39) is compressed, and the compressed gasket (39) may transmit pressure to the sensor (200a). When the user presses the door (30) with a force greater than a predetermined amount, the sensor (200a) can detect an open trigger. The user can convey the intention to open the door to the home appliance (1) by pressing the door (30).

[0146] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensor (200a) may be positioned spaced apart from the hinge (40). The sensor (200a) may be positioned away from the hinge (40). For example, the sensor (200a) may be positioned close to the center with respect to the front of the main body (10). The door (30) may rotate relative to the main body (10) with respect to the hinge (40). Accordingly, when a user pushes the door (30), the gasket (39) may have a compression rate greater on the side farther from the hinge (40) than on the side closer to the hinge (40). That is, compared to the case where the sensor (200a) is positioned on the side closer to the hinge (40), the sensor (200a) may react more sensitively when the sensor (200a) is positioned on the side farther from the hinge (40). That is, the sensitivity of the sensor (200a) may be relatively excellent. However, the above-described embodiment is merely exemplary, and it is sufficient for the sensor (200a) to be positioned so as to come into contact with the gasket (39), and there are no restrictions on the position of the sensor (200a).

[0147] For example, the gasket (39) may include a first extension (391) that is adjacent to the hinge (40) and extends in the vertical direction (Z). The gasket (39) may include a second extension (392) that is provided on the opposite side of the first extension (391) and extends in the vertical direction (Z). The first extension (391) and the second extension (392) may be configured to be parallel. The gasket (39) may include a third extension (393) that connects the upper side of the first extension (391) and the upper side of the second extension (392). The third extension (393) may extend in the horizontal direction (Y). The gasket (39) may include a fourth extension (394) that connects the lower side of the first extension (391) and the lower side of the second extension (392). The fourth extension (394) may be extended in the horizontal direction (Y). The third extension (393) and the fourth extension (394) may be configured to be parallel.

[0148] For example, the sensor (200a) may come into contact with a part of the second extension (392) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20) (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). For example, the sensor (200a) may be positioned to correspond to a corner where the third extension (393) and the second extension (392) are connected (or overlapped) (see FIG. 4). For example, the entire sensor (200a) may be positioned to correspond to the second extension (392) (see FIG. 5). As described above, the sensor (200a) may be positioned on a side relatively far from the hinge (40). However, as described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above examples.

[0149] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an example of a first state in which the door is closed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating an example of a second state in which the door is pressed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an example of a third state in which the door is open in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0150] Referring to FIG. 6, the refrigerator (1a) may be provided in a first state (S1) in which the door (30) closes the storage room (20). The back side (31) of the door (30) may be provided to face the storage room (20). The back side (31) of the door (30) may be provided to face the front of the main body (10). At least a portion of the rotating bar (50) may be inserted into the rotating guide (55). A gasket (39) may be provided to seal the space between the main body (10) and the door (30).

[0151] When the door (30) is in a first state (S1) of closing the storage room (20), the sensor (200a) may be arranged to face the gasket (39). When the door (30) is in a first state (S1) of closing the storage room (20), the sensor (200a) may be arranged to be able to contact the gasket (39). While the door (30) is in a first state (S1) of closing the storage room (20), the gasket (39) may have a first thickness (t1).

[0152] Referring to FIG. 7, the refrigerator (1a) may be provided in a second state (S2) in which the door (30) is pressed. The second state (S2) may mean a state in which the door (30) is pressed in the first state (S1). That is, the second state (S2) may mean a state in which the door (30) is pressed while closing the storage room (20). The user may push the closed door (30) with a force (F) greater than a predetermined amount.

[0153] When the door (30) is in a second state (S2) where it is pressurized, the gasket (39) is compressed, and the compressed gasket (39) can press against the sensor (200a). The force (F) acting on the door (30) can be transmitted to the sensor (200a) through the gasket (39). The sensor (200a) can detect the physical force / pressure applied to the sensor (200a) from the gasket (39). While the door (30) is in the second state (S2) where it is pressurized, the gasket (39) may have a second thickness (t2). Since the gasket (39) is compressed by the force (F) applied to the door (30), the second thickness (t2) is smaller than the first thickness (t1).

[0154] Referring to FIG. 8, the refrigerator (1a) may be provided in a third state (S3) in which the door (30) opens the storage compartment (20). In the second state (S2) in which the door (30) is pressed, the door opening device (100) may operate to open the door (30) based on the sensor (200a) detecting an open trigger. When a user presses the closed door (30) with a force (F) greater than a predetermined amount, the door opening device (100) may operate to open the door (30). To open the door (30), the door pusher (120) of the door opening device (100) may press the door (30) by moving (M). The door pusher (120) may protrude forward. The door (30), pressed by the door pusher (120), can rotate (R) relative to the main body (10) with respect to the hinge (40). The front of the main body (10) and the back (31) of the door (30) can be arranged to form an angle. The rotation bar (50) can be disengaged from the rotation guide (55). The sensor (200a) may not come into contact with the gasket (39).

[0155] Generally, home appliances can open doors by directly touching a sensor or by providing vibration to the sensor. However, in such cases, there is a limitation in that the sensing area is restricted because the user must touch or tap a limited area. Alternatively, the door can be opened by triggering voice into a microphone. However, this is not an intuitive method, so the user may feel inconvenienced.

[0156] According to the present disclosure, the entire door (30) can be used as a sensing area, thereby increasing the sensing area. The user only needs to push the door (30) without needing to recognize the sensing area. Additionally, the user can directly convey the intention to open the door to the home appliance through the act of directly pushing the door (30). That is, the user can provide a user command to open the door (30) to the home appliance in an intuitive manner. Ultimately, according to the present disclosure, the convenience of use of the home appliance can be increased.

[0157] FIG. 9 illustrates a sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0158] Referring to FIG. 9, a sensor (200) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a capacitance sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance. A door opening signal may be generated when a user pushes the door (30), and the sensor (200) may generate an output signal and / or an output value based on a change in capacitance according to the door opening signal.

[0159] The sensor (200) may include a first conductive plate (210). The sensor (200) may include a second conductive plate (220) spaced apart from the first conductive plate (210). The sensor (200) may include a dielectric (230) disposed between the first conductive plate (210) and the second conductive plate (220). As the sensor (200) is pressed, the distance between the first conductive plate (210) and the second conductive plate (200) may change. As the sensor (200) is pressed, the thickness (d) of the dielectric (230) may change. The capacitance of the sensor (200) may change by the amount of the changed distance.

[0160] The sensor (200) can determine a capacitance value based on the following formula and convert the determined capacitance value into a digital signal or an analog signal to generate an output signal and / or an output value.

[0161] C = ε x S / d

[0162] C: Capacitance value

[0163] ε: permittivity of the dielectric (230)

[0164] S: Area of ​​each of the first conductive plate (210) and the second conductive plate (220).

[0165] d: thickness of the dielectric (230)

[0166] Meanwhile, the sensor (200) of the present disclosure is not limited to that shown in FIG. 9. The sensor (200) may be configured in various types. For example, in addition to a capacitive sensor, the sensor (200) may include various types of sensors such as a strain gauge sensor, a load cell sensor, and a piezo sensor.

[0167] FIG. 10 illustrates a control block diagram of a home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0168] Referring to FIG. 10, a home appliance (1) according to one embodiment may include a control unit (60), a user interface (70), a communication interface (80), a door opening device (100), a first sensor (200), and a second sensor (300). For distinction between the sensors, the sensor (200) described above may be referred to as the first sensor, and the sensor (300) for checking whether the door is open or closed may be referred to as the second sensor. Additionally, the first sensor (200) may be referred to as an open trigger detection sensor, and the second sensor (300) may be referred to as a door opening / closing sensor.

[0169] The first sensor (200) can detect an open trigger. The first sensor (200) can measure the force applied to the first sensor (200). The first sensor (200) can transmit information corresponding to the force detected by the first sensor (200) to the control unit (60) and / or the door opening device (100).

[0170] The second sensor (300) can detect the state of the door (30). The second sensor (300) can detect whether the door (30) is open or closed. The second sensor (300) can transmit information corresponding to the opening and closing of the door (30) to the control unit (60) and / or the door opening device (100). For example, the second sensor (300) may include a micro switch, a limit switch, a magnetic switch, a reed switch, a toggle switch, a tact switch, etc., but the present disclosure is not limited to the examples described above.

[0171] The door opening device (100) can operate to open the door (30). The door opening device (100) may include a power unit (130) that generates power. The power unit (130) may be electrically connected to a control unit (60). The power unit (130) may be electrically connected to a first sensor (200) and / or a second sensor (300).

[0172] The user interface (70) may include an input interface (71) for receiving user input. The user interface (70) may include an output interface (72) for displaying information related to the operation of the home appliance (1). Depending on various embodiments, the user interface (70) may be implemented as a control panel.

[0173] The input interface (71) may include various input devices such as a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch screen, or a button.

[0174] The output interface (72) can be implemented with various types of displays known to be LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LED (Light Emitting Diode), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), etc., but is not limited thereto. Any device capable of displaying various information about the home appliance (1) and displaying a user interface capable of receiving various control commands from the user can be adopted as the output interface (72) without limitation.

[0175] The home appliance (1) can not only provide various information from the user, but also display a user interface on the output interface (72) that is implemented to receive various control commands regarding the home appliance (1).

[0176] The home appliance (1) may include a communication interface (80) for communicating with an external device (e.g., server, user device, and / or other home appliance) via wired and / or wireless means.

[0177] The communication interface (80) may include at least one of a short-range communication module or a long-range communication module.

[0178] The communication interface (80) can transmit data to an external device or receive data from an external device. For example, the communication interface (80) can establish communication with a server, a user device and / or other home appliances and transmit and receive various data.

[0179] To this end, the communication interface (80) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between external devices, and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. According to one embodiment, the communication interface (80) may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a GNSS (global navigation satellite system) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a LAN (local area network) communication module, or a power line communication module). The corresponding communication module among these communication modules may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi (wireless fidelity) direct, or IrDA (infrared data association)) or a second network (e.g., a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips).

[0180] A short-range wireless communication module may include, but is not limited to, Bluetooth communication modules, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication modules, Near Field Communication modules, WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication modules, Zigbee communication modules, infrared (IrDA, infrared Data Association) communication modules, WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication modules, UWB (ultrawideband) communication modules, Ant+ communication modules, microwave (uWave) communication modules, etc.

[0181] The long-distance communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-distance communication and may include a mobile communication unit. The mobile communication unit transmits and receives wireless signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network.

[0182] The communication interface (80) can communicate with an external device through a nearby access point (AP). The access point (AP) can connect the local network (LAN) to which the home appliance (1) is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The home appliance (1) can be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN).

[0183] The control unit (60) can be electrically connected to various parts and / or devices of the home appliance (1). The control unit (60) can control various parts and / or devices of the home appliance (1). It can control various components of the home appliance (1) (e.g., user interface (70), communication interface (80), door opening device (100)). For example, the user interface (70), communication interface (80), and door opening device (100) can be operated based on control signals from the control unit (60).

[0184] The control unit (60) may include a processor (61) that generates control signals regarding the operation of the home appliance (1). The control unit (60) may include a memory (62) that stores programs, applications, instructions, and / or data for the operation of the home appliance (1). The processor (61) and the memory (62) may be implemented as separate semiconductor devices or as a single semiconductor device. Additionally, the control unit (60) may include a plurality of processors (61) or a plurality of memories (62). The control unit (60) may be provided at various locations inside the home appliance (1). For example, the control unit (60) may be included in a printed circuit board provided inside a control panel.

[0185] The processor (61) may include an arithmetic circuit, a memory circuit, and a control circuit. The processor (61) may include a single chip or multiple chips. Additionally, the processor (61) may include a single core or multiple cores.

[0186] The memory (62) may include volatile memory such as S-RAM (Static Random Access Memory, S-RAM) and D-RAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory, D-RAM), and non-volatile memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory: ROM) and EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory: EPROM). The memory (62) may include a single memory element or a plurality of memory elements.

[0187] The processor (61) can process data and / or signals using a program provided from memory (62) and can transmit control signals to each component of the home appliance (1) based on the processing results. For example, the processor (61) can process user input received through the user interface (70), open trigger information detected by the first sensor (200), door opening / closing information detected by the second sensor (300), etc.

[0188] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a control unit (60) can control the operation of a door opening device (100) based on information obtained by a first sensor (200) and / or a second sensor (300). The control unit (60) can control the operation of a door opening device (100) based on an output signal and / or output value received from the first sensor (200). The control unit (60) can control the operation of a door opening device (100) based on an output signal and / or output value received from the second sensor (300).

[0189] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit (60) can determine the state of the door (30) based on information obtained by the second sensor (300). The control unit (60) can identify whether the door (30) is open or closed based on signals and / or data received from the second sensor (300). The control unit (60) can determine the open state of the door (30) or the closed state of the door (30).

[0190] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit (60) can control the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on the detection of a preset condition by the first sensor (200). For example, the control unit (60) can control the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on the fact that the value detected by the first sensor (200) is greater than a reference value (R, see FIG. 11). For example, the control unit (60) can identify an open trigger based on a signal and / or data received from the first sensor (200), and can transmit a control signal to the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) in response to the identification of the open trigger. Meanwhile, the control unit (60) can perform the above-described operation after identifying that the door (30) is in a state of closing the storage room (20). For example, the control unit (60) can determine that the door (30) is in a closed state based on information obtained by the second sensor (300), and then control the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on information obtained by the first sensor (200).

[0191] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a door opening device (100) may operate based on information obtained by a first sensor (200). The door opening device (100) may be configured to open a door (30) based on information obtained by the first sensor (200). The door opening device (100) may operate to open the door (30) by identifying an open trigger based on a signal and / or data received from the first sensor (200). That is, the door opening device (100) may operate in response to an output value and / or output signal of the sensor (200), rather than being controlled by a control unit (60).

[0192] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit (60) can control the user interface (70) to output opening information of the door (30) based on controlling the door opening device (100) to open the door (30). The user can recognize that the door (30) has been opened through the user interface (70).

[0193] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a control unit (60) may be configured to transmit information about the opening of the door (30) to an external device (e.g., a server, a user device, and / or other home appliance) based on controlling a door opening device (100) to open the door (30). A user may recognize that the door (30) has been opened through the external device even when far away from the home appliance (1).

[0194] A home appliance (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may not include some of the components shown in FIG. 10. A home appliance (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include additional components other than those shown in FIG. 10.

[0195] FIG. 11 is a graph showing the sensor output of a sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0196] Referring to FIG. 11, the sensor (200) can detect physical force / pressure and convert it into an output signal. FIG. 11 illustrates the sensor output as a digital signal (count) as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The sensor output may be an analog signal.

[0197] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates an example in which a door (30) closes the storage room (20) for a first preset time (a), and then a user pushes the closed door (30) for a second preset time (b).

[0198] The sensor (200) can detect an open trigger. For example, an open trigger may be generated when a user pushes the door (30) with a force greater than a predetermined amount. For example, if the value (output signal) detected by the sensor (200) is greater than a reference value (R), it can be considered that an open trigger has occurred. That is, for example, if the value (output signal) detected by the sensor (200) is greater than the reference value (R), it can be recognized that an intention to open the door (30) has been input.

[0199] For example, the reference value (R) may be a preset multiple of the base value (B). For example, the reference value (R) may be an n-th multiple of the base value (B). The base value (B) may be the average of the values ​​detected by the sensor (200) during a first preset time (a) while the door (30) is closing the storage room (20). The base value (B) may be updated at a third preset time interval. This is to compensate for the change in the initial setting value of the sensor (200) as the door (30) opens and closes.

[0200] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0201] The symbols attached to each step are used to identify each step and do not indicate the order of the steps relative to one another; the steps may be performed differently from the specified order unless a specific order is clearly indicated in the context.

[0202] The second sensor (300) can detect the door status (1000). The second sensor (300) can detect whether the door (30) is open or closed. The second sensor (300) can transmit information regarding the opening or closing of the door (30) to the control unit (60) and / or the door opening device (100).

[0203] The home appliance (1) can recognize whether the door (30) is in a closed state based on the open / close information of the door (30) received from the second sensor (300) (2000). The control unit (60) and / or the door opening device (100) can determine whether the door (30) is in a closed state based on the open / close information of the door (30) transmitted from the second sensor (300).

[0204] When the home appliance (1) recognizes that the door (30) is in a closed state, it can obtain detection information detected by the first sensor (200). The first sensor (200) can detect a force applied to the first sensor (200) and transmit information corresponding to the detected force to the control unit (60) and / or the door opening device (100).

[0205] The home appliance (1) can control the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on the satisfaction of a predetermined condition. The home appliance (1) can control the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on the detection of an open trigger (e.g., 3000) (4000). Specifically, an open trigger may occur when a user pushes the door (30) with a force greater than a predetermined size, and the first sensor (200) can detect the open trigger. For example, the control unit (60) can control the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on the detection of an open trigger by the first sensor (200). Alternatively, the door opening device (100) can operate to open the door (30) in response to the detection of an open trigger by the first sensor (200). For example, an open trigger detected by the first sensor (200) may include cases where the value detected by the first sensor (200) is greater than a reference value (R, FIG. 11).

[0206] FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating an example of a first state in which the door is closed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating an example of a second state in which the door is pressed in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Content that overlaps with the description of the aforementioned embodiment(s) may be omitted. Components substantially identical to the aforementioned components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted.

[0207] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, an example (200b) of a sensor (200) will be described.

[0208] The refrigerator (1a) may include a sensor (200b) provided in the main body (10). The sensor (200b) may be positioned on the upper part of the main body (10). At least a portion of the sensor (200b) may be accommodated in the top table (13).

[0209] The refrigerator (1a) may include a sensor pusher (400b). The sensor pusher (400b) may be configured to move as the door (30) is pressed. The sensor pusher (400b) may be provided to push the sensor (200b) as it moves. The sensor pusher (400b) may be provided to press the sensor (200b).

[0210] The sensor pusher (400b) may be positioned to correspond to the sensor (200b). The sensor pusher (400b) may be positioned to face the sensor (200b). The sensor pusher (400b) may be provided on the door (30). The sensor pusher (400b) may be positioned on the back (31) of the door (30). For example, the sensor pusher (400b) may be positioned above the gasket (39).

[0211] The sensor (200b) can detect the force transmitted through the sensor pusher (400b). The sensor (200b) can detect the force applied to the sensor (200b) from the sensor pusher (400b). The sensor (200b) can detect the physical force / pressure received from the sensor pusher (400b).

[0212] The refrigerator (1a) is mounted on the main body (10) and may include a door opening device (100) for opening the door (30). The door opening device (100) may operate to open the door (30) based on the detection of a preset condition by a sensor (200b).

[0213] Referring to FIG. 13, the refrigerator (1a) may be provided in a first state (S1) in which the door (30) closes the storage compartment (accommodation space) (20). When the refrigerator (1a) is in the first state (S1), the sensor (200b) may be separated from the sensor pusher (400b). When the refrigerator (1a) is in the first state (S1), the sensor (200b) and the sensor pusher (400b) may not come into contact.

[0214] Referring to FIG. 14, the refrigerator (1a) may be provided in a second state (S2) in which the door (30) is pressed. The second state (S2) may mean a state in which the door (30) is pressed while closing the storage compartment (20). The refrigerator (1a) in the first state (S1) may be switched to the second state (S2) as the door (30) is pressed. When the refrigerator (1a) is in the second state (S2), the sensor (200b) and the sensor pusher (400b) may come into contact as the gasket (39) is compressed. When the refrigerator (1a) is in the second state (S2), the sensor pusher (400b) may press the sensor (200b). For example, as the user pushes the door (30) with a force (F) greater than a predetermined size, the gasket (39) is compressed, and the sensor pusher (400b) provided on the door (30) can move toward the main body (10) to push the sensor (200b).

[0215] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sensor module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating an example of a first state in which the door is closed in a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating an example of a second state in which the door is pressurized in a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Content that overlaps with the description of the aforementioned embodiment(s) may be omitted. Components that are substantially identical to the aforementioned components are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted.

[0216] The dishwasher (1b) may include a main body (10b) forming a receiving space and a door (30b) rotatably provided to open and close the receiving space. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, the receiving space may refer to a washing room.

[0217] The dishwasher (1b) may include a sensor module (90). The sensor module (90) may be provided in the main body (10b). The sensor module (90) may be mounted on the main body (10b). The sensor module (90) may be positioned on the upper part of the main body (10b).

[0218] The sensor module (90) may include a sensor case (91). The sensor case (91) may be mounted on the main body (10b). The sensor case (91) may be provided to accommodate a sensor pusher (400c) and a sensor (200c) to be described later.

[0219] The sensor case (91) may include a coupling portion (911) that is detachably coupled to the main body (10b). The sensor case (91) may include an opening (912) formed by penetrating a part of the sensor case (91).

[0220] The sensor module (90) may include a sensor (200c). The sensor (200c) may be placed inside the sensor case (91). The sensor (200c) may detect a force transmitted through the sensor pusher (400c). The sensor (200b) may detect a force applied to the sensor (200b) from the sensor pusher (400c). The sensor (200c) may detect a physical force / pressure transmitted from the sensor pusher (400c).

[0221] The sensor module (90) may include a sensor pusher (400c). A portion of the sensor pusher (400c) may be positioned outside the sensor case (91), and another portion of the sensor pusher (400c) may be positioned inside the sensor case (91). The sensor pusher (400c) may include a first end (410) exposed outside the sensor case (91) and capable of contacting the door (30b), and a second end (420) received inside the sensor case (91) and capable of contacting the sensor (200c).

[0222] The sensor pusher (400c) may be configured to be movable relative to the sensor case (91). The sensor pusher (400c) may be arranged to be inserted into or withdrawn from the sensor case (91) through the opening (912) of the sensor case (91).

[0223] The sensor module (90) may include a spring (92). The spring (92) may be placed inside the sensor case (91). The spring (92) may be provided to elastically bias the sensor pusher (400c). The spring (92) may elastically bias the sensor pusher (400c) forward. That is, when the door (30) closes the receiving space and then opens it, the sensor pusher (400c) may move forward by the elastic restoring force of the spring (92).

[0224] The dishwasher (1b) is mounted on the main body (10b) and may include a door opening device for opening the door (30b). The door opening device may operate to open the door (30b) based on the detection of a preset condition by the sensor (200c).

[0225] Referring to FIG. 17, the dishwasher (1b) may be provided in a first state (S1) in which the door (30) closes the receiving space. When the dishwasher (1b) is in the first state (S1), the sensor (200c) may be separated from the sensor pusher (400c). When the dishwasher (1b) is in the first state (S1), the sensor (200c) and the sensor pusher (400c) may not come into contact. When the dishwasher (1b) is in the first state (S1), the length of the sensor pusher (400c) protruding from the sensor case (91) may be a first length (L1).

[0226] Referring to FIG. 18, the dishwasher (1b) may be provided in a second state (S2) in which the door (30) is pressurized. The second state (S2) may mean a state in which the door (30) is pressurized while closing the receiving space. The dishwasher (1b) in the first state (S1) may be switched to the second state (S2) as the door (30) is pressurized. When the dishwasher (1b) is in the second state (S2), the sensor (200c) and the sensor pusher (400c) may come into contact as the spring (92) is compressed. When the dishwasher (1b) is in the second state (S2), the sensor pusher (400c) may press the sensor (200c). For example, as the user pushes the door (30) with a force (F) greater than a predetermined size, the sensor pusher (400c) in contact with the door (30) can move toward the main body (10) to push the sensor (200c).

[0227] A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a main body (10) forming a storage room (20); a door (30) rotatably provided to open and close the storage room (20); a gasket (39) disposed on the side of the door (30) facing the storage room (20) and maintaining a seal between the door (20) and the main body (10) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20); and a sensor (200; 200a). The sensor (200; 200a) may be disposed in the main body (10) to correspond to the gasket (39). The sensor (200; 200a) may detect a force applied from the gasket (39) to the sensor (200; 200a) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20).

[0228] The force applied from the gasket (39) to the sensor (200; 200a) may include the force generated as the door (30) is pressed by the user.

[0229] The sensor (200; 200a) can come into contact with the gasket (39) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20).

[0230] The gasket (39) may extend along the rear edge (31) of the door (30). The sensor (200; 200a) may be placed on the front edge (10a) of the main body (10).

[0231] The refrigerator may further include a hinge (40) that connects the main body (10) and the door (30) and rotatably supports the door (30). The sensor (200; 200a) may be spaced apart from the hinge (40).

[0232] The gasket (39) may include a first extension (391) that is adjacent to the hinge (40) and extends in a vertical direction; and a second extension (392) that is provided on the opposite side of the first extension (391) and extends in the vertical direction. The sensor (200; 200a) may come into contact with a part of the second extension (392) while the door (30) closes the storage room (20).

[0233] The sensor may include a first conductive plate (210), a second conductive plate (220) spaced apart from the first conductive plate (210), and a dielectric (230) disposed between the first conductive plate (210) and the second conductive plate (220). The sensor may convert a capacitance according to the distance between the first conductive plate (210) and the second conductive plate (220) into an output signal.

[0234] The refrigerator may further include a door opening device (100) provided to open the door. The refrigerator may further include a control unit (60) that controls the operation of the door opening device (100) based on information obtained by the sensor.

[0235] The above control unit can control the door opening device (100) to open the door based on the fact that the value detected by the sensor is greater than the reference value (R).

[0236] The reference value (R) may be a preset multiple of the base value (B). The base value (B) may be the average of the values ​​detected by the sensor during a preset time while the door is closing the storage room.

[0237] The above preset time may be a first preset time. The above base value (B) may be updated at a second preset time interval.

[0238] The refrigerator may further include a door opening device (100) configured to open the door based on information obtained by the sensor.

[0239] The refrigerator may further include a user interface (70). The control unit (60) may control the user interface (70) to output door opening information based on controlling the door opening device (100) to open the door.

[0240] The refrigerator may further include a communication interface (80). The control unit (60) may control the communication interface (80) to transmit door opening information to an external device based on controlling the door opening device (100) to open the door.

[0241] The refrigerator may further include a door opening device (100) provided to open the door. The door opening device (100) may include a pusher case (110) mounted on the main body (10); and a door pusher (120) movably provided relative to the pusher case (110) to press the door (30).

[0242] A home appliance according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a main body (10; 10b) forming a receiving space; a door (30; 30b) rotatably provided to open and close the receiving space; a door opening device (100) mounted on the main body for opening the door; a sensor pusher (400; 400b; 400c) that moves as the door (30; 30b) is pressed; and a sensor (200; 200b; 200c) that detects a force transmitted through the sensor pusher (400; 400b; 400c) as the door (30; 30b) is pressed while closing the receiving space.

[0243] The above appliance may further include a gasket (39) which is positioned on the back (31) of the door and maintains a seal between the door and the main body while the door closes the receiving space. The sensor pusher (400; 400b) may be positioned above the gasket (39).

[0244] When the door is in a first state (S1) where it closes the receiving space, the sensor pusher (400; 400b) and the sensor (200; 200b) may be separated. When the door is in a second state (S2) where it is pressed in the first state (S1), the sensor pusher (400; 400b) and the sensor (200; 200b) may come into contact as the gasket (39) is compressed.

[0245] The above-mentioned home appliance may further include: a sensor case (91) mounted on the main body and arranged to accommodate the sensor pusher (400; 400c) and the sensor (200; 200c); and a spring (92) disposed inside the sensor case (91) and arranged to elastically bias the sensor pusher (400; 400c). When the door is in a first state (S1) where the receiving space is closed, the sensor pusher (400; 400c) and the sensor (200; 200c) may be separated. When the door is in a second state (S2) where it is pressed in the first state (S1), the sensor pusher (400; 400c) and the sensor (200; 200c) may come into contact as the spring (92) is compressed.

[0246] A method for controlling a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising a main body (10) forming a storage room (20), a door (30) provided to open and close the storage room (20), a door opening device (100) for opening the door (30), a gasket (39) disposed on the side of the door facing the storage room, and a sensor (200; 200a) disposed on the main body to correspond to the gasket (39), wherein the control method may include controlling the door opening device (100) to open the door (30) based on the fact that a value detected by the sensor is greater than a reference value (R) while the door (30) is closing the storage room (20).

[0247] According to the concept of the present disclosure, the usability of a home appliance can be increased. The user can easily open the door by pushing it. In addition, since the entire door of the home appliance can be utilized as a push target, there is an effect of increasing the sensing area.

[0248] The effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

[0249] Specific embodiments have been illustrated and described above. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art may make various modifications without departing from the essence of the technical concept of the invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A main body including a storage chamber; A door rotatably provided with respect to the main body to open and close the storage room; A compressible gasket disposed on the storage room side of the above door; and A sensor disposed on the main body and configured to detect a force applied from the gasket to the sensor; comprising The above gasket and the above sensor are, With the storage room closed by the door, the gasket is positioned toward the main body to seal the space between the door and the main body, and A refrigerator configured such that the sensor detects a force applied from the gasket to the sensor while the gasket is compressed between the door and the main body.

2. In Paragraph 1, A refrigerator in which the force applied from the above gasket includes the force generated as the door is pressed by a user.

3. In Paragraph 1, A refrigerator in which the sensor contacts the gasket when the storage compartment is closed by the door.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above gasket extends along the rear edge of the door, and The above sensor is a refrigerator placed on the front edge of the main body.

5. In Paragraph 1, It further includes a hinge connecting the main body and the door and supporting the rotation of the door relative to the main body. The sensor above is a refrigerator spaced apart from the hinge.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above gasket is, A first extension portion adjacent to the above hinge and extending in a vertical direction; and It includes a second extension portion that is provided on the opposite side of the door with respect to the first extension portion and extends in the vertical direction; A refrigerator in which the sensor contacts a part of the second extension when the storage compartment is closed by the door.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above sensor is, It includes a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate spaced apart from the first conductive plate, and a dielectric disposed between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate. The above sensor is a refrigerator that converts the capacitance between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate into an output signal according to the distance between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate.

8. In Paragraph 1, A door opening device provided to rotate the door to open the door; and A refrigerator further comprising a control unit that controls the operation of the door opening device based on information obtained by the sensor.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above control unit is, A refrigerator that controls the door opening device to rotate the door to open the door based on the fact that the value output from the sensor is greater than a reference value.

10. In Paragraph 9, The above reference value is a multiple of the base value, and A refrigerator in which the above base value is the average of the values ​​output from the sensor during the time interval in which the storage room is closed by the door.

11. In Paragraph 10, The above time interval is the first time interval, and The above base value is a refrigerator that is updated based on a second time interval.

12. In Paragraph 1, A refrigerator further comprising a door opening device configured to rotate the door to open the door based on information obtained by the sensor.

13. In Paragraph 8, Including more user interfaces, A refrigerator in which the control unit controls the user interface to output door opening information based on controlling the door opening device to rotate the door to open the door.

14. In Paragraph 8, Includes additional communication interfaces, A refrigerator in which the above-described control unit controls the communication interface to transmit door opening information to an external device based on controlling the door opening device to rotate the door to open the door.

15. In Paragraph 1, A door opening device provided to rotate the door in order to open the door; further comprising The above door opening device is, A pusher case mounted on the main body; and A refrigerator comprising a door pusher movably provided relative to the pusher case to open the door by rotating the door by applying pressure to the door.

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