Patent Publication Number: US-8523375-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2009-0094690, filed on Oct. 6, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments relate to a refrigerator in which light is emitted through the front surface of a door. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, refrigerators are apparatuses which store food at a low temperature in storage spaces formed therein, and cool the insides of the storage spaces using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulated through a refrigeration cycle, thereby keeping the stored food in an optimum state. 
     These refrigerators trend towards large scale and multifunctionality. At present, refrigerators having various structures and convenience devices in consideration of user convenience are on the market. 
     Further, since designs as well as functions of refrigerators are important factors to sell products, refrigerators having various colors, textures, and patterns have been developed. 
     Among these refrigerators, there is a refrigerator in which the front surface of a main body or the front surfaces of doors are made of tempered glass to bring about aesthetic appreciation as well as to express various colors and textures. 
     SUMMARY 
     Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the embodiment to provide a refrigerator which emits light in connection with opening and closing of doors. 
     It is another aspect of the embodiment to provide a refrigerator which uses a small number of light emitting diodes as a light source. 
     It is a further aspect of the embodiment to provide a refrigerator which is provided with jewel members reflecting emitting light and thus being brilliant. 
     Additional aspects of the embodiment will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the embodiment, a refrigerator includes a main body, storage chambers provided within the main body, and doors to open and close the storage chambers, each door including a front glass forming an external appearance of a front surface of each door, a light guide member disposed on a rear surface of the front glass, a light emitting device disposed at the outside of the light guide member to generate light toward the light guide member, scattering members provided within the light guide member to scatter the light of the light emitting device transmitted through the light guide member, and transmitting parts provided on the front glass corresponding to the scattering members to transmit the light of the scattering members toward the front surface of each door, wherein the light emitting device emits light in connection with opened and closed states of the doors. 
     The light emitting device may emit light under the condition that at least one of the doors is opened. 
     The light emitting device may emit light to inform a user that at least one of the doors is opened, if a predetermined time from the opening of the at least one of the doors elapses. 
     The light emitting device may emit red light. 
     The light emitting device may emit green light, if all of the doors are closed, and emit red light, if at least one of the doors is opened. 
     The light emitting device may emit green light, if all of the doors are closed, emit yellow light, if at least one of the doors is opened, and emit red light, if a designated time from the opening of the at least one of the doors elapses. 
     The refrigerator may further include a home bar door allowing stored articles to be taken out of or put into the refrigerator without opening of the doors, and the light emitting device may emit light in connection with opened and closed states of the doors and the home bar door. 
     The light emitting device may emit light under the condition that at least one of the doors and the home bar door is opened. 
     The light emitting device may emit light to inform a user that at least one of the doors and the home bar door is opened, if a designated time from the opening of the at least one of the doors and the home bar door elapses. 
     The light emitting device may emit red light. 
     The light emitting device may emit green light, if all of the doors and the home bar door are closed, and emit red light, if at least one of the doors and the home bar door is opened. 
     The light emitting device may emit green light, if all of the doors and the home bar door are closed, emit yellow light, if at least one of the doors and the home bar door is opened, and emit red light, if a designated time from the opening of the at least one of the doors and the home bar door elapses. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the embodiment, a refrigerator includes a main body, storage chambers provided within the main body, and doors to open and close the storage chambers, each door including a front glass forming an external appearance of a front surface of each door, a light guide member disposed on a rear surface of the front glass, a light emitting device disposed at the outside of the light guide member to generate light toward the light guide member, scattering members provided within the light guide member to scatter the light of the light emitting device transmitted through the light guide member, and transmitting parts provided on the front glass corresponding to the scattering members to transmit the light of the scattering members toward the front surface of the door, wherein the light emitting device changes a light emitting state thereof according to opened and closed states of the doors. 
     The light emitting device may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the plurality of light emitting diodes may be arranged in a line along the edge of the light guide member. 
     The scattering members may include jewel members which are colored and brilliant. 
     The jewel members may be made of cubic zirconia. 
     The light guide member may be made of acrylic resin. 
     Each door may further include an upper cap covering an upper end thereof, and the light emitting device may be disposed in the upper cap. 
     Each door may further include a cover to fix the light emitting device to the upper cap. 
     The light emitting device may further include a circuit board to control the plurality of light emitting diodes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view taken along the line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal-sectional view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting operation of a refrigerator in connection with opening and closing of doors and a home bar door in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting operation of a refrigerator in connection with opening and closing of doors and a home bar door in accordance with a further embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting operation of a refrigerator in connection with opening and closing of doors and a home bar door in accordance with another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting operation of a refrigerator in connection with opening and closing of doors and a home bar door in accordance with another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator  1  in accordance with this embodiment includes a main body  10  provided with a plurality of storage chambers  11  and  12  formed therein, doors  20  and  30  respectively provided on the front surfaces of the storage chambers  11  and  12  to open and close the storage chambers  11  and  12 , cool air supply devices (not shown) respectively provided in the storage chambers  11  and  12  to supply cool air to the insides of the storage chambers  11  and  12 , and a machinery chamber (not shown), in which electric components are installed, provided at a rear region of a lower portion of the main body  10 . A compressor (not shown) forms a refrigeration cycle together with a condenser (not shown), an expansion device (not shown), and an evaporator (not shown), and the refrigeration cycle generates cool air to be discharged to the cool air supply devices. 
     The main body  10  may include an inner case and an outer case, and a gap between the inner case and the outer case is filled with a foaming agent so as to keep the insulation state of the inside of the main body  10 . 
     The storage chambers  11  and  12  may include a first storage chamber  11  provided at the left portion of the main body  10  and a second storage chamber  12  provided at the right portion of the main body  10 . The first storage chamber  11  and the second storage chamber  12  are divided form each other by an intermediate diaphragm  13 . Racks  14  to collect food to be stored are provided in the respective storage chambers  11  and  12 . 
     A first door  20  and a second door  30  are respectively hinged to the front surfaces of the first storage chamber  11  and the second storage chamber  12 , thereby respectively opening and closing the first storage chamber  11  and the second storage chamber  12 . 
     A home bar door  40  may be provided at the front surface of the second door  30  so as to allow a user to take stored food out of the storage chamber  12  without opening the second door  30 . The home bar door  40  is used to store food, which is relatively frequently placed in and taken out of the storage chamber  12 . 
     Hereinafter, the doors  20  and  30  and internal structures thereof will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view taken along the line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a longitudinal-sectional view of  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first door  20  includes a front glass  110  forming the external appearance of the front surface of the first door  20 , a light guide member  120  disposed on the rear surface of the front glass  110 , a light emitting device  130  disposed at the outside of the light guide member  120  to generate light toward the light guide member  120 , a plurality of scattering members  140  provided within the light guide member  120  to scatter the light of the light emitting device  130  transmitted through the light guide member  120 , and a plurality of transmitting parts  115  provided on the front glass  110  corresponding to the plurality of scattering members  140  to transmit the light of the scattering members  140  toward the front surface of the front glass  110 . 
     The front glass  110  forms the external appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1 , and is made of tempered glass which is capable of transmitting light. A printing part  112  and the transmitting parts  115  are formed on the surface of the front glass  110 . 
     The printing part  112  prevents light generated from the light emitting device  130 , which will be described later, from being irradiated to the outside, and is formed by attaching a light blocking sheet to the front glass  110  or painting the front glass  110 . 
     The plural transmitting parts  115  are provided at parts of the front glass  110  where the printing part  112  is not formed, and are formed by not painting the front glass  110  so as to transmit light. The plural transmitting parts  115  form a designated shape, seen from the front surface of the first door  20 . In this embodiment, the plural transmitting parts  15  are formed in a flower petal shape. Further, the shape formed by the plural transmitting parts  15  may be varied, such as a letter or a logo. However, it is not limited thereto. 
     The light guide member  120  is disposed on the rear surface of the front glass  110 . The light guide member  120  serves to transmit light generated from the light emitting device  130 , and may be made of acrylic resin. 
     The light emitting device  130  serving to generate light is disposed above the light guide member  120 . The light emitting device  130  is located within an upper cap  150  covering the upper end of the first door  20 , and is disposed adjacent to the upper portion of the light guide member  120 . Further, a light guide device cover  160  covers the upper portion of the light emitting device  130 . The light emitting device  130  keeps a fixed state thereof using an upper fixing part  164  formed on the light emitting device cover  160  and a hook fixing part  154  formed on the upper cap  150 . 
     The light emitting device  130  includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  132 , and a circuit board  134  to control emission of light from the plural light emitting diodes  132 . 
     The plural light emitting diodes  132  are arranged in a line along the upper portion of the light guide member  120 , and irradiate light toward the light guide member  120 . The plural light emitting diodes  132  may emit red, green, and yellow light, respectively. Since the light emitting diodes  132  have a long life span, high intensity of illumination, and low heat dissipation amount and power consumption rate, the light emitting diodes  132  are used as the light source. Of course, the plural light emitting diodes  132  may emit light of various colors, in addition to red, green, and yellow light. 
     The circuit board  134  which is electrically connected to the plural light emitting diodes  132  supplies power to the plural light emitting diodes  132  and transmits a signal to control emission of light from the light emitting diodes  132 . 
     The light emitting device  130  changes a light emission state thereof according to opening and closing of the doors  20  and  30 , and a detailed description thereof will be described later. 
     The plural scattering members  140  are mounted on the light guide member  120  at positions corresponding to the transmitting parts  115  of the front glass  110 . The scattering members  140  scatter light transmitted through the light guide member  120  toward the transmitting parts  115 . 
     As the scattering members  140 , jewel members  140  which are colored and brilliant are used. In this embodiment, the jewel members  140  are made of cubic zirconia. Cubic zirconia, which is a kind of artificial diamond, is used due to its characteristics, such as low cost, long life span, and similarity to diamond. It is understood that the jewel member can be made of different kinds of material. 
     Hereinafter, a principle of emitting light generated from the light emitting device  130  toward the front surface of the first door  20  will be described. 
     When power is supplied to the light emitting device  130 , the circuit board  134  of the light emitting device  130  drives the plural light emitting diodes  132  to emit light, and the emitted light is transmitted to the light guide member  120 . The light transmitted to the light guide member  120  contacts the scattering members  140 , and the scattering members  140  scatter the light. The scattered light is transmitted by the transmitting parts  115  of the front glass  110 , and a user may see the light transmitted by the front surface of the first door  20 . Here, the printing part  112  of the front glass  110  blocks light, and thus does not transmit light to the outside. 
     A conventional refrigerator includes separate light emitting diodes installed at desired positions of the front surface of the refrigerator to emit light, thereby requiring a large number of parts and causing high power consumption. However, in accordance with this embodiment, a small number of the light emitting diodes  132  is installed at the outside of the light guide member  120 , and light transmitted to the light guide member  120  is emitted to the front surface of the refrigerator  1  through the plural scattering members  140  and the plural transmitting parts  115 , thereby reducing the number of parts required and reducing power consumption. Further, the scattering members  140  made of cubic zirconia are brilliant. 
     The above-described internal structure of the first door  20  may be applied to the second door  30 . 
     Hereinafter, a light emitting operation of a refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of doors  20  and  30  and a home bar door  40  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the light emitting operation of the refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  in accordance with this embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , power is first supplied to the refrigerator  1  (operation S 1 ), and then a sensor (not shown) provided in the refrigerator  1  judges whether or not at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened (operation S 2 ). If it is judged that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened, the light emitting device  130  is operated and thus emits light to the front surfaces of the doors  20  and  30  (operation S 3 ). On the other hand, if it is judged that all of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  are closed, the light emitting device  130  does not emit light (operation S 4 ). 
     When the refrigerator  1  is operated in this way, a user senses light emitted through the front surface of the refrigerator  1 , and recognizes that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened. That is, the refrigerator  1  performs a function of warning the user that the at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened and cool air is leaked. Here, the light emitting device  130  emits red light as a warning. Of course, the light emitting device  130  may emit light of other colors. 
     Hereinafter, a light emitting operation of a refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of doors  20  and  30  and a home bar door  40  in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention will be described. A part of the construction and operation of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the earlier embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted because it is considered to be unnecessary. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating the light emitting operation of the refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  in accordance with an embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , power is first supplied to the refrigerator  1  (operation S 11 ), and then a sensor (not shown) of the refrigerator  1  determines whether at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened (operation S 12 ). If it is judged that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is not opened, the light emitting device  130  does not emit light (operation S 13 ). On the other hand, if it is judged that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened, it is determined whether the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is continued for a designated time (operation S 14 ). If the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is continued even after the designated time elapses, the light emitting device  130  emits red light to the front surfaces of the doors  20  and  30  (operation S 15 ), and if the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is not continued even after the designated time elapses, the light emitting device  130  does not emit light (operation S 13 ). 
     Such an operation of the refrigerator  1  provides a warning the user to close the door  20  or  30  or the home bar door  40  in that cool air loss is considerably high due to elapse of the designated time under the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40 . Here, it is proper to set the designated time to 20 seconds to 1 minute. Further, the light emitting device  130  emits red light as a warning. Of course, the light emitting device  130  may emit light of other colors. 
     Hereinafter, a light emitting operation of a refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of doors  20  and  30  and a home bar door  40  in accordance with another embodiment will be described. A part of the construction and operation of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the earlier embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted because it is considered to be unnecessary. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the light emitting operation of the refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  in accordance with this embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , power is first supplied to the refrigerator  1  (operation S 21 ), and then a sensor (not shown) of the refrigerator  1  determines whether at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened (operation S 22 ). If it is determined that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened, the light emitting device  130  emits red light to the front surfaces of the doors  20  and  30  (operation S 23 ). On the other hand, if it is judged that all of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  are closed, the light emitting device  130  emits green light to the front surfaces of the doors  20  and  30  (operation S 24 ). 
     If at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened and cool air leaks, the light emitting device  130  emits red light giving the user a warning to close the door  20  or  30  or the home bar door  40 . On the other hand, if all of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  are closed, the light emitting device  130  emits green light meaning that the refrigerator  1  is normally operated. 
     Hereinafter, a light emitting operation of a refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of doors  20  and  30  and a home bar door  40  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. A part of the construction and operation of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the earlier embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted because it is considered to be unnecessary. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating the light emitting operation of the refrigerator  1  in connection with opening and closing of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  in accordance with this embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , power is first supplied to the refrigerator  1  (operation S 41 ), and then a sensor (not shown) of the refrigerator  1  determines whether or not at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened (operation S 42 ). If it is determined that all of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  are closed, the light emitting device  130  emits green light to the front surfaces of the doors  20  and  30  (operation S 43 ). On the other hand, if it is determined that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened, the light emitting device  130  emits yellow light (operation S 44 ). If it is determined that at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened, it is determined whether the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is continued for a designated time (operation S 45 ). If the designated time elapses under the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40 , the light emitting device  130  emits red light (operation S 46 ), and if all of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  are closed before the designated time elapses, the light emitting device  130  again emits green light (operation S 43 ). 
     Such a light emitting operation of the refrigerator  1  informs the user of the opening or closing state of the door  20  or  30  or the home bar door  40  according to colors of light emitted from the light emitting device  130 . That is, if all of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  are closed, the light emitting device  130  emits green light meaning that the refrigerator  1  is normally operated without a high energy loss, if at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is opened, the light emitting device  130  emits yellow light to simply inform the user of the opened state of at least one of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40 , and if the opened state of the doors  20  and  30  and the home bar door  40  is continued for the designated time, the light emitting device  130  emits red light to give the user a warning to close the door  20  or  30  or the home bar door  40  in that cool air loss is high. 
     As described above, the light emitting device  130  of the refrigerator  1  informs a user of the opened or closed state of the door  20  or  30  or the home bar door  40  through various methods, thereby allowing the user to easily recognize the opened or closed state of the door  20  or  30  or the home bar door  40 . 
     Further, the refrigerator  1  has a fine external appearance, and an excellent emotional quality. 
     As is apparent from the above description, a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment emits light through the front surface of a door in connection with opening and closing of doors, thereby providing an aesthetic sense to a user. 
     Further, when at least one of the doors or a home bar door is opened, a light emitting device emits light, thereby informing the user that at least one of the doors or the home bar door is opened. It is understood that a warning sound signal is simultaneously output with emitting light to inform the user that at least one of the doors or the home bar door is opened. 
     Further, a small number of light emitting diodes is used to perform such a light emitting operation of the refrigerator, thereby reducing power consumption and decreasing the number of parts required. 
     Moreover, jewel members reflect the emitted light, thus being brilliant. 
     Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.