Patent Abstract:
A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same are provided. More particularly, the refrigerator is provided with a dispenser having a cavity for a cup, dispenser doors that open and close the cavity, and a door driver positioned in the dispenser that drives the dispenser doors. The dispenser doors may be automatically controlled to open and close, thereby improving cleanliness and an exterior appearance of the refrigerator by reducing dust accumulation in the dispenser during periods of non-use.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0069013 filed in Korea on Jul. 28, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. 
     2. Background 
     Refrigerators and methods for controlling the same are known. However, they suffer from various disadvantages. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exterior of a refrigerator according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a dispenser according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a door driver according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a dispenser according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a door driver according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for controlling the door driver as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of a refrigerator and method of controlling the same will be described in detail with reference to drawings. Where possible, like reference numerals have been used to indicate like elements. 
     In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that refrigerates or freezes food. The refrigerator may include various parts that drive a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator may maintain freshness of food stored therein by cooling a food storage chamber using cold air generated by the refrigeration cycle. 
     Refrigerators tend to be bigger and have more functions according to improvements in shelf life of food and various tastes of users. Devices, such as a dispenser or a homebar, may be added to a door for user&#39;s convenience to allow users to easily access frequently accessed items, for example, drinks or ice, without opening food storage chamber doors. 
     However, conventional refrigerators suffer from disadvantages because a dispenser cavity in which a user&#39;s cup may be placed may accumulate dust as a result of being open when not in use. Further, the exterior beauty of the refrigerator may be diminished as the front of the refrigerator may be complicated or cluttered. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  may be arranged perpendicularly to a surface, such as a kitchen or living room floor, and may include a body  10 , which may include a food storage chamber, and refrigerator doors  20  or  22 , which may open and close the food storage chamber. The body  10  is not limited to being arranged on a kitchen or living room floor, but rather, may be arranged in an interior wall of a building, for example, as a built-in cabinet type. 
     The refrigerator  1  may include the food storage chamber, which may be separated into a freezing chamber (not shown) that stores frozen food and a cold-storage chamber (not shown) that stores refrigerated food. Various configurations of the chambers are possible. For example, the freezing chamber may be provided on an upper left section of the body  10 , and the cold-storage chamber may be provided on an upper right section of the body  10 . A freezing chamber door  20  and a cold-storage chamber door  22  may be provided on each chamber to isolate chilled air inside each respective chamber. 
     The freezing chamber door  20  and the cold-storage chamber door  22  may each include a door handle  30  configured to be pulled by a user. A contact sensor  90  may be positioned on each door handle  30 . The contact sensor  90  may be one of a variety of sensors that senses contact by a user. 
     A dispenser  50  may be positioned on at least one of the freezing chamber door  20  or the cold-storage chamber door  22 . The dispenser  50  may provide access to a beverage, for example, ice or water, without the need to open the freezing chamber door  20  or the cold-storage chamber door  22 . The dispenser  50  may also include a cavity  55  in which a cup may be placed to obtain the beverage. The cavity  55  may protrude at one side of the freezing chamber door  20  or the cold-storage chamber door  22 , and may be recessed on the other side by a prescribed depth. 
     As previously described, conventional refrigerators may suffer from the disadvantages that cleanliness was reduced because the cavity  55  was covered by dust due to it being open when not in use, and that the emotional quality of the customer was reduced because the exterior of the refrigerator was complicated and cluttered. Embodiments disclosed herein may overcome these disadvantages by automatically closing the cavity  55  when the dispenser  50  is not in use. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a dispenser according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 3  is a top view of a door driver according to an embodiment. The dispenser  50  of  FIG. 2  according to this embodiment may include a dispenser body  51  having an opening  54  at a front thereof, a cavity  55 , dispenser doors  60 , which may be positioned on the dispenser body  51 , that open and close the opening  54 , and a door driver  80  that drives the dispenser doors  60 . 
     The dispenser doors  60  may include a first rotary door  61 , which may rotate on a first side of the dispenser  50 , and a second rotary door  62 , which may rotate on a second side of the dispenser  50 . For example, the first rotary door  61  and the second rotary door  62  may be positioned on left and right side edges of the opening  54 , respectively, and may rotate in either a forward or rearward direction around the side edges to open the cavity  55 . 
     The dispenser doors  60  may open to an inside or outside of the cavity  55 . The dispenser doors  60  may also be a sliding door or a hinged door. The cavity  55  may be closed by rotating or sliding the dispenser doors  60  in opposite directions to when opening the cavity  55 . 
     A door driver  80  may drive the dispenser doors  60 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the door driver  80  may include a drive motor  81  that generates rotary power. The drive motor  81  may rotate the first rotary door  61  by connection with a rotary shaft  63  of the first rotary door  61 . Further, the drive motor  81  may be positioned at a top of the dispenser body  51  in a position in which it will not interfere with the rotation of the first rotary door  61  and/or the second rotary door  62 . 
     The door driver  80  may further include a rotary power transmission  83  that transmits rotary power from the drive motor  81  to the second rotary door  62  which may not be connected to the drive motor  81 . The rotary power transmission  83  may include a drive pulley  84 , which may be positioned on both a rotary shaft  82  of the drive motor  81  and a rotary shaft  63  of the first rotary door  61 . The rotary shaft  82  of the drive motor  81 , the rotary shaft of the drive pulley  84 , and the rotary shaft  63  of the rotary door  61  may be the same shaft. 
     The rotary power transmission  83  may further include a driven pulley  85 , which may be positioned at the second side edge of the dispenser body  51 , and a connecting belt  86 , which may connect the drive pulley  84  to the driven pulley  85 , to transmit the rotary power of the drive pulley  84  to the driven pulley  85 . 
     The door driver  80  may further include a switch gear  88  that rotates the second rotary door  62  in a direction opposite to the first rotary door  61 . The switch gear  88  may be connected to the rotary shaft  64  of the second rotary door  62 . More particularly, referring to  FIG. 3 , the switch gear  88  may include a connecting gear  87 , which may be positioned on a rotary shaft of the driven pulley  85 , and a driven gear  89 , which may be positioned on a rotary shaft  64  of the second rotary door  62 . Driven gear  89  may be interlocked with the connecting gear  87 , and be driven by the connecting gear  87 . 
     In one embodiment, the driven pulley  85  may be positioned at a top of the rotary shaft  64  of the second rotary door  62 . The connecting gear  87  and the driven gear  89 , which may be interlocked with each other, may be positioned below the driven pulley  85 . Further, the rotary shaft  89 ′ of the driven gear  89  may be attached coaxially to the rotary shaft  64  of the second rotary door  62 , such that the second rotary door  62  may be driven by the rotation of the driven gear  89 . The switch gear  88 , including the connecting gear  87  and the driven gear  89 , may change the rotational direction of the second rotary door  62  to rotate in an opposite direction as the first rotary door  61 . Thus, a single driving motor  81  may simultaneously rotate the first rotary door  61  and the second rotary door  62 . 
     While embodiments have described the drive motor  81  as being positioned at the first rotary door  61 , the door driver  80  is not limited thereto. For example, the drive motor  81  may be positioned on a top or bottom of the rotary shaft  64  to drive the right rotary door  62 . Further, the rotary power transmission  83 , the driven pulley  85 , and switch gear  88  may each be positioned either at a top or bottom of the dispenser body  51 , and configured to transfer the rotary power from the second rotary door  62  to the first rotary door  61 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a dispenser according to another embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a top view of a door driver according to another embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, the door driver  180  may be positioned at a top end of the dispenser body  51  and may include a drive motor  181 , which may supply rotary power, and a rotary power transmission  183 , which may simultaneously transmit rotary power from the driving motor  181  to both the first rotary door  61  and the second rotary door  62 . 
     The rotary power transmission  183  may include a first connecting gear  184 , which may be connected to a rotary shaft  182  of the drive motor  181 , and a first interlocking gear  185 , which may be connected to a rotary shaft  163  of the first rotary door  61 . The rotary shaft  163  may be interlocked with the first connecting gear  184  by the first interlocking gear  185 . The rotary power transmission  183  may also include a second connecting gear  186  connected to the rotary shaft  182  of the drive motor  181 , and a second interlocking gear  187 , which may be connected to the rotary shaft  164  of the second rotary door  62 . The rotary shaft  164  may be interlocked with the second connecting gear  186  by the second interlocking gear  187 . 
     The rotary shaft  182  of the drive motor  181  may be positioned at an upper part of the dispenser body  51  and may extend from a first side, for example, a left side to a second side, for example, a right side, of the dispenser body  51 . The first connecting gear  184  and the second connecting gear  186  may be positioned a predetermined distance apart from each other on the rotary shaft  182 . The first interlocking gear  185 , which may be positioned on top of the rotary shaft  163  of the first rotary door  61 , and the second interlocking gear  187 , which may be positioned on top of the rotary shaft  164  of the second rotary door  62 , may be interlocked to the first connecting gear  184  and the second connecting gear  186 , respectively. Thus, a single drive motor  181  may simultaneously rotate the first rotary door  61  and the second rotary door  62 . 
     The rotational direction of the first rotary door  62  and the rotational direction of the second rotary door  61  may be opposite to each other. The first connecting gear  184  and the second connecting gear  186  may each include a worm gear. For example, if either of the first connecting gear  184  or the second connecting gear  186  is a right-handed screw worm gear, the other may be a left-handed screw worm gear. Also, the first interlocking gear  185  and the second interlocking gear  187  may include a worm wheel gear, which may be interlocked with the first connection gear  184  and the second connecting gear  186 , respectively. 
     While the drive motor  181  of this embodiment is described as being positioned at the top end of the dispenser body  51 , the door driver  180  is not limited thereto. For example, the drive motor  181 , rotary shaft  182 , and the rotary power transmission  183  may also be positioned at a bottom end of the dispenser body  51 . Further, drive motor  181  may be positioned at the first rotary door  61 , for example, a left rotary door, or the second rotary door  62 , for example, a right rotary door. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator  1  according to one embodiment may include a movement sensor  70 , which may be positioned on a surface of the refrigerator  1  to detect movement of an approaching user or an object, for example, a user&#39;s hand or a cup. The refrigerator  1  may further include a controller  11  that controls the door drivers  80  or  180  responsive to the movement sensor  70 , such that the dispenser doors  60  are automatically opened only when a user is positioned near the refrigerator. The movement sensor  70  may be a human body detection sensor that detects, for example, movement of a human body, and may include an infrared rays sensor that detects a position and movement of a human body, or an image sensor that detects an image of a human body. The movement sensor  70  may be positioned at the dispenser body  51  or at one of the refrigerator doors  20  or  22 . In alternative embodiments, the movement sensor  70  may detect a combination of motion and heat to prevent unintentional activation of the sensor  70  and the dispenser doors  60 . 
     The contact sensor  90  may be positioned on the door handle  30  of the refrigerator doors  20  and/or  22  to detect user contact, for example, a user grabbing the door handle  30 . The contact sensor  90  may also detect an initial motion of the refrigerator doors  20  or  22  when a user pulls on the door handle  30  to open the food storage chamber. The contact sensor  90  may include, for example, a pressure sensor or a current sensor installed at the door handle  30 . However, the contact sensor  90  may include any sensor that detects the opening of the refrigerator doors  20  or  22 . 
     When a user is within a first predetermined distance of the refrigerator  1 , the motion sensor  70  may signal the controller  11  to indicate that a user may be attempting to access the dispenser  50 . However, the user&#39;s purpose may not be to access the dispenser  50 , but to open the refrigerator doors  20  or  22 . Thus, the controller  11  may wait a first predetermined period of time to determine whether the contact sensor  90  has also detected a user. If the contact sensor  90  is activated within the first predetermined period of time, the controller  11  may conclude that the user does not intend to use the dispenser  50  and may not activate the door drivers  80  or  180 . However, if the user does not open the refrigerator doors within the first predetermined period of time, the controller  11  may conclude that the user wishes to access the dispenser  50 , and may activate the door drivers  80  or  180  to open the dispenser doors  60 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the controller  11  may be configured to override either one or both sensors  70  and  90  to open the dispenser doors  60 . For example, a button  75  may be installed on the dispenser body  51 , or at one of the refrigerator doors  20  or  22 , to manually open or close the dispenser doors  60 . Alternatively, the controller  11  may disregard a signal from the contact sensor  90  to open the dispenser doors  60  when a user is within a predetermined minimum distance from the dispenser  50 . For example, the controller  11  may conclude that a user intends to both open a refrigerator door  20  or  22  and access the dispenser  50  when the user&#39;s hand, or cup, is detected by the sensor  70  to be within a predetermined minimum distance from the dispenser doors  60 . Then, the controller  11  will ignore the signal from the contact sensor  90  and open the dispenser doors  60 . 
     The controller  11  may automatically close the cavity  55  when the dispenser  50  is not in use. The controller  11  may determine the dispenser  50  to be no longer in use if the motion sensor  70  detects that a user has moved outside a second predetermined distance from the cavity  55 . The controller  11  may also close the dispenser doors  60  after a second predetermined period of time after the user was first detected by the human body detection sensor  70  or after the dispenser doors  60  were opened. Alternatively, the second predetermined period of time may be measured from when the sensor  70  detects that the user has moved outside the second predetermined distance from the cavity  55 . The second predetermined period of time may be preset by the user or the manufacturer, and may be determined by considering a sufficient amount of time required to operate the dispenser  50 , for example, the amount of time needed to get drinks after the cavity  55  is opened. 
     A method for controlling a dispenser according to an embodiment is described hereinbelow.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for controlling a dispenser having a door driver, such as door driver  80  or  180  shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , in step S 602 , the motion sensor  70  may detect a user within a first predetermined distance of the cavity  55 . Thereafter, the controller  11  may wait a predetermined period of time for a signal from the contact sensor  90  to determine whether the user intends to access the dispenser  50  or the food storage chamber. 
     The controller  11  may then determine whether the contact sensor  90  is active, in step S 603 . If a signal is received from the contact sensor  90 , the controller  11  may conclude that the user&#39;s purpose is to open the food storage chamber by pulling the handle  30  of the refrigerator doors  20  or  22 , and determine that the dispenser doors  60  should not be opened. If the signal is not received from the contact sensor  90  within a first predetermined period of time, the controller  11  may conclude the dispenser doors  60  should be opened. The controller  11  may then control the driving motors  81  or  181  of the door drivers  80  or  180  to open the dispenser doors  60  of the cavity  55 , in step S 604 . 
     In step S 605 , the controller  11  may determine whether the cavity  55  should be closed. If the motion sensor  70  detects that the user has moved beyond a second predetermined distance from the cavity  55  or if a second predetermined period of time has passed since the user was first detected by the motion sensor  70 , the controller  11  may determine that the cavity  55  should be closed. In step S 606 , the controller  11  may close the dispenser doors  60 . 
     Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator which simplifies the front exterior and maintains the cleanliness by automatically opening the cavity of the dispenser body, which is exposed to the outside, only in a case in which users use the dispenser to allow the users to obtain drinks without opening the refrigerator doors, and closing the cavity of the dispenser body in a case in which users do not use the dispenser. 
     A refrigerator as broadly described and embodied herein may include a door which opens and closes a food storage chamber, a dispenser body disposed at the door and having an opening part at a front and a cavity in which a cup goes in or out, a dispenser door disposed in the dispenser body to open and close the opening part, and a door driver disposed in the dispenser body to drive the door. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5