Refrigerator and method for controlling same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with auto closing functions require excessive force to open the door, and existing solutions for automatic door opening can unintentionally open the door, leading to safety issues and cold air loss.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator equipped with a sensor that distinguishes between user intention and unintentional proximity, using a control unit to determine the driving condition of a door opening device based on sensing duration and time intervals, allowing for intuitive and safe automatic door opening without additional configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closely attaching force of the gasket is increased to prevent cold air leakage, then the cold air leakage prevention effect is improved, but the force required to open the door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening device performs preliminary action by automatically opening the door before the user needs to manually pull it. The control unit detects when the user approaches (via sensor) and activates the door opening device to preemptively open the door, eliminating the need for the user to overcome the strong gasket attachment force.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of pulling the door against the gasket force is replaced by an automated door opening device. This device uses a motor or actuator to mechanically open the door, substituting the user's manual force with an automated mechanical system that can easily overcome the gasket's closing force.
2Ease of operation
If the door is automatically opened when the user approaches, then the ease of operation is improved, but the door may open unintentionally causing safety issues and cold air loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection by sensing the user's approach and then executes a preliminary door opening action. The control unit activates the door opening device to open the door partially or fully before the user reaches the door, allowing the user to see inside and confirm whether opening is necessary, thus preventing unintended openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback by allowing the user to observe the door opening action and the interior state. When the door opens automatically, the user can see whether they need to enter or take items, and can prevent further opening or closing if it was an unintended activation. This visual feedback loop helps prevent unnecessary cold air loss.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising determining whether a user is within a sensing distance through a sensor; performing primary determination to primarily determine that the user intends to open a door (25) when a sensing-on duration time is equal to or greater than a preset time tl; performing notification to drive a notification device (300) and notify that the door is scheduled to be opened to the user is performed after the primary determination; performing secondary determination whether the user is out of the sensing distance through the sensor after the notification; and performing door opening by driving a door opening device (25) to automatically open the door after the secondary determination.