Motorized Refrigerator Door Hinge Assembly for Hands-Free Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators require users to manually open and close doors, which can lead to inefficient access and potential cold air leakage, impacting user convenience and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A door assembly with embedded electric motors and sensors that allow automatic rotation of doors, enabling hands-free operation and optimized access control based on user proximity and input signals, ensuring efficient door opening and closing without reducing storage compartment volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual door operation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual door operation system with an automated system using motors (first and second motors) to rotate the door assembly. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with electromechanical automation directly improves ease of operation while accepting increased device complexity as a trade-off for enhanced user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly incorporates sensors that automatically detect user approach and trigger door opening/closing operations without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously responding to detection signals, improving ease of operation through hands-free operation while the integrated control system manages the complexity internally.
2Ease of operation
If door rotation mechanism is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into distinct functional modules: first motor for rotation, second motor for position adjustment, sensors for detection, and control unit for coordination. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the complex system manageable and maintainable while achieving smooth automated door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly integrates multiple functions into a single unified structure: rotation capability, position adjustment, automatic detection, and controlled opening/closing. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate systems into one integrated door assembly, improving ease of operation while managing overall device complexity through functional integration.
3Ease of operation
If hands-free operation is implemented, then user convenience is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hands-free operation system uses periodic sensor detection rather than continuous operation. The sensors detect user approach periodically and trigger motor activation only when needed, rather than running continuously. This periodic activation pattern enables hands-free convenience while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that provide feedback about user presence and door position to the control unit. This feedback mechanism allows the system to activate motors only when actual door operation is needed, optimizing energy usage by avoiding unnecessary motor operation while maintaining hands-free operational convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
A door coupling and rotation assembly and a refrigerator having the same are provided. The refrigerator may include a main body having a storage compartment, at least one door to open and close the storage compartment, and a door coupling and rotation assembly that rotatably couples the at least one door to the main body. A door opening/closing determination device may determine whether or not a user wishes to open the door, and a controller may drive at least one motor in response a signal sensed by the door opening/closing determination device to open or close the at least one door. The assembly may include a hinge bracket coupled to the main body, a hinge shaft coupled to the hinge bracket and defining an axis of rotation of the door, and a motor coupled to the hinge shaft to rotate the at least one door in a forward or reverse direction.