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 due to strong gasket attachment, magnetic, and elastic forces, leading to unintended automatic door opening and safety issues when users pass by or lean against the refrigerator.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a sensor-based door opening system that automatically opens the door by determining the user's intention through sensing duration and time intervals, using a single motor-driven rack system to open one or both doors, and providing notification through distinct beep sounds for different opening modes to prevent malfunctions and maintain user safety.
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 sensor detects user approach in advance and activates the door opening motor before the user actually opens the door, preparing the door opening mechanism ahead of time to reduce the force needed during actual door opening
2Ease of operation
If automatic door opening function is added to reduce opening force, then the ease of operation is improved, but the door may open unintentionally when user passes by or leans against it
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the sensing criteria by measuring both the duration of user presence in the sensing area and the magnitude of force applied to the door, allowing the door opening condition to be met only when both temporal and force thresholds are satisfied, thereby preventing unintended opening while maintaining ease of operation
3Ease of operation
If a sensor-based automatic opening system is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening sensor serves multiple functions: it detects user approach for automatic opening, measures force magnitude to prevent unintended opening, and provides input for the control unit to determine whether to activate the door opening motor, consolidating multiple functions into a single sensing system
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces the force required to open the door, ensures the door only opens when intended, and prevents unintended openings, enhancing user safety and convenience while maintaining the auto closing function without additional configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to sense whether a user is within a sensing distance
Implementation Method 2
the gasket may be provided as a rubber magnet, and a magnet may be provided in the gasket
Implementation Method 3
the closely attaching force of the gasket, magnetic force, and elastic force of a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is configured to enable a user to open doors of the refrigerator easily. The refrigerator performs a method for controlling the doors to prevent from opening due to a malfunction.