JP7755986B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to refrigerator technology, and more particularly to technology for lighting inside a refrigerator compartment.

Refrigerating compartments have traditionally been equipped with lights to illuminate the interior. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-70000 (Patent Document 1) discloses a storage compartment. According to Patent Document 1, the refrigerator includes multiple storage compartments separated by insulated walls and insulated doors, an interior lighting device that illuminates the interior of the storage compartments, an external illuminance detection means that detects the illuminance outside the storage compartments, a door open/close detection means that detects whether the insulated doors are open or closed, and a control means that turns on the interior lighting device when the door open/close detection means detects that the insulated doors are open, and adjusts the light intensity of the interior lighting device according to the illuminance detected by the external illuminance detection means, thereby illuminating the interior of the storage compartment with the optimal amount of light according to the brightness around the refrigerator.

JP 2008-70000 A

The configuration described in Patent Document 1 allows the interior of the storage compartment to be illuminated with the optimal amount of light according to the brightness of the surroundings of the refrigerator, but it is unavoidable that the light from the interior light's light source will directly enter the user's eyes. In particular, the LEDs that are widely used in interior lights these days have a small light source surface area, which can be dazzling when viewed directly. Therefore, the object of this invention is to reduce the irritation to the user's eyes caused by the interior lighting.

In one aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided that includes a first light for illuminating the entire interior of the refrigerator compartment, a second light that emits light toward the rear of the refrigerator compartment, and a control unit that switches between a first mode in which at least the first light is turned on and a second mode in which the first light is turned off and the second light is turned on.

This invention reduces eye irritation caused by interior lighting.

1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment with a refrigerator compartment door open; FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigeration compartment according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigeration compartment according to the first embodiment. 1 is a front cross-sectional view of a light according to a first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing the illumination range of the light from the plurality of first lights according to the first embodiment; 1A and 1B are side views showing the configuration of each of the first lights according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing the illumination range of the light from the plurality of second lights according to the first embodiment; 10A and 10B are side views showing the configuration of each of the second lights according to the first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. 4 is a table showing a control rule for lighting according to the first embodiment; 4 is a flowchart showing control relating to lighting according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a cold air duct cover according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan cross-sectional view of a cold air duct cover according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan cross-sectional view of a cold air duct cover according to a third embodiment. 10 shows output voltage control of the backlight during sleep mode according to the fourth embodiment. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator according to a sixth embodiment. 13 is a table showing a control rule for lighting according to the sixth embodiment. 13 is a table showing a network system 1 according to a seventh embodiment.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of these components are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
[First embodiment]

First, the overall configuration of refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Hereinafter, the upper side in Figures 1 and 2 will be referred to as the upper side of refrigerator 100 and each component, the lower side in these figures will be referred to as the lower side of refrigerator 100 and each component, the right side in these figures will be referred to as the right side of refrigerator 100 and each component, the left side in these figures will be referred to as the left side of refrigerator 100 and each component, the front side of the paper on these figures will be referred to as the front or front direction of refrigerator 100 and each component, and the back side of the paper on these figures will be referred to as the rear or back direction of refrigerator 100 and each component.

The refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment has a refrigerator compartment 110 at the top and a freezer compartment 121 and vegetable compartment 122 at the bottom. Left and right double-door refrigerator compartment doors (not shown) are attached to the front of the refrigerator compartment 110. Inside the refrigerator compartment 110 according to this embodiment, a chilled case 123 is arranged at the bottom so that it can slide back and forth.

The refrigerator compartment 110 is made up of side surfaces 111L, 111R, a ceiling 111T, a bottom surface 111B, and the aforementioned door. Multiple shelves 113, 113... are arranged in the refrigerator compartment 110, and a duct cover 130 that forms a cold air duct is arranged on the back surface 112 of the refrigerator compartment 110. An operating unit 170 is provided on the side surface 111R.

Refrigerating compartment 110 includes a light 150 on ceiling 111T, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, light 150 includes at least two types of lights as a single unit, i.e., within a single case.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the multiple first lights 151, 151... are arranged in the center of the left and right of the light 150. The multiple first lights 151, 151... emit light downward, thereby brightening the entire interior of the refrigerator compartment 110.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, multiple second lights 152, 152 are arranged on the left and right ends of the light 150. The multiple second lights 152, 152 illuminate the rear of the refrigerator compartment 110 by emitting light downward and rearward. The second lights 152 are preferably covered with a glass or resin cover 1521 that easily scatters light.

In this embodiment, the color temperature of the light emitted by the multiple second lights 152, 152 is lower than the color temperature of the light emitted by the multiple first lights 151, 151... In other words, the light emitted by the multiple second lights 152, 152 is warm-colored, and the light emitted by the multiple first lights 151, 151... is white or cool-colored. In other words, the average wavelength of the light emitted by the multiple second lights 152, 152 is longer than the average wavelength of the light emitted by the multiple first lights 151, 151...

In this embodiment, the light intensity of the multiple second lights 152, 152 is less than the light intensity of the multiple first lights 151, 151.... Note that the light intensity of each second light 152 may be less than the light intensity of each first light 151, 151..., or the total light intensity of the multiple second lights 152, 152 may be less than the total light intensity of the multiple first lights 151, 151....

In this way, in this embodiment, multiple first lights 151, 151... and multiple second lights 152, 152 are housed within a single interior light cover 155 installed on the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment 110.

In this embodiment, when the user opens the door of the refrigerator compartment 110, the first light 151 and the second light 152 normally light up. However, after the user and their family go to bed, i.e., during "sleep," when the user opens the door of the refrigerator compartment 110, the first light 151 does not light up and only the second light 152 lights up.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment includes a control unit 160, an operation unit 170, a door open/close sensor 165, a communication interface 180, a first light 151, and a second light 152.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the refrigerator 100 according to this embodiment is equipped with a lights-out mode, a full-lights mode, and a sleep mode.

When the door is closed, the control unit 160 switches off both the first lights 151, 151... and the second lights 152, 152, entering the lights-out mode. When the door is open and the control unit 160 determines that the user or family has gone to bed, i.e., is "sleeping," (condition (1)), the control unit 160 switches off the first lights 151, 151... and turns on only the second lights 152, 152, entering the sleep mode. When the door is open and the control unit 160 cannot determine that the user or family is sleeping (condition (1) is not satisfied), the control unit 160 switches on the full lights mode and turns on the first lights 151, 151... and the second lights 152, 152.

The determination of whether or not the device is in sleep mode may be made by the control unit 160, or instructions to start or end sleep mode may be received from a server on the cloud, etc. Also, the operation unit 170 may be operated to set/cancel sleep mode (an example of conditions (2) and (3)), and the start and end times of sleep mode.

This reduces the irritation caused by the brightness of the interior light on the eyes of a user who has been asleep until just before or who has been in a dark room.
Second Embodiment

In the above embodiment, a first light 151 for illuminating the entire interior of the refrigerator compartment 110 and a second light 152 for illuminating the back of the refrigerator compartment 110 were arranged on the ceiling 111T of the refrigerator compartment 110. However, this configuration is not limited to this.

For example, light 150 with variable light color and irradiation direction may be provided on the ceiling. Then, control unit 160 may turn off light 150 in a lights-out mode, point light 150 backward and emit warm light such as orange in a sleep mode, and point light 150 downward and emit white light in a full-light mode.
[Third embodiment]

Alternatively, a first light 151 for illuminating the entire interior of the refrigerator compartment 110 may be placed on the ceiling 111T of the refrigerator compartment 110, and second lights 152, 152 that emit light may be placed on the back side of the duct cover 130 of the cold air duct.

More specifically, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, second lights 152, 152... facing rearward are arranged on the backside of the left and right ends of the duct cover 130 of the cold air duct. More specifically, in this embodiment, the second lights 152, 152 are configured to emit light diagonally forward. The light is then reflected off the front wall, i.e., the backside of the duct cover 130 of the cold air duct, and is illuminated onto the back surface 112 of the refrigerator compartment 110.

When the door is closed, the control unit 160 switches off both the first lights 151, 151... and the second lights 152, 152, entering a lights-out mode. When the door is open and it is determined that the person is sleeping, the control unit 160 switches off the first lights 151, 151... and turns on the second lights 152, 152, entering a sleep mode. When the door is open and it is not determined that the person is sleeping, the control unit 160 switches on the full lights mode, turning on the first lights 151, 151... and the second lights 152, 152, entering a full lights mode.

14, the second lights 152, 152 may be configured to directly irradiate the rear surface 112 of the refrigerator compartment 110. In other words, it is preferable that in the sleep mode, only the light reflected by the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment 110 reaches the user's eyes.
[Fourth embodiment]

In addition to the above embodiment, it is preferable that, in sleep mode, the control unit 160 gradually increases the light output of the second lights 152, 152, as shown in FIG. 15. This reduces the irritation caused by the brightness of the interior light to a user who was asleep immediately before.

Alternatively, in the sleep mode, the control unit 160 may gradually increase the output of the first lights 151, 151 from an off state as shown in Fig. 15. In this case, when a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds) has elapsed since the light output of the second lights 152, 152 reached a set value, the first lights 151, 151 may be gradually changed from an off state to an on state (an example of condition (2) in Fig. 11).
Fifth Embodiment

In addition to the above embodiment, the control unit 160 may also turn on the first lights 151, 151... when a door to another compartment such as the freezer or vegetable compartment is opened, even in sleep mode (an example of condition (2) in Figure 11).

Furthermore, the operation unit 170 may be operated to forcibly switch to the sleep mode, or the sleep mode may be temporarily switched to the full light mode (an example of conditions (2) and (3) in FIG. 11).
Sixth Embodiment

In the above embodiment, the refrigerator compartment 110 is provided with first lights 151, 151 and second lights 152, 152. However, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, three or more types of lights may be provided in the refrigerator compartment 110.

For example, a white first light 151 for illuminating the entire interior of the refrigerator compartment 110 may be placed on the ceiling 111T of the refrigerator compartment 110, and warm-colored second lights 152, 152 and cool-colored third lights 153, 153 may be placed on the back side of the duct cover 130 of the cold air duct.

If the door is closed, the control unit 160 switches off all lights as a lights-out mode. If the door is open and it is determined that the person is sleeping, the control unit 160 switches on the second lights 152 and 152 while keeping the first lights 151 and the third lights 153 off as a lights-out mode. After a predetermined time, such as five seconds, has elapsed, the control unit 160 also switches on the third lights 153 and 153. After a further predetermined time, such as five seconds, the control unit 160 switches on the first lights 151 and 151. If the door is open and it is not determined that the person is sleeping, the control unit 160 switches on the full-lights mode, turning on the first lights 151, 151, the second lights 152 and the third lights 153 and 153.
[Seventh embodiment]

Regarding the determination of whether the refrigerator is asleep and the start of sleep mode, various controls can be used by both the cloud server and the local refrigerator 100. For example, sleep mode may be started when a predetermined time, such as 11:00 PM, is reached. Similarly, sleep mode may be ended when a predetermined time, such as 6:00 AM, is reached.

Alternatively, the start and end of sleep mode may be determined depending on the situation of each refrigerator user. As shown in FIG. 18 , the server 200 may acquire the operating status of the electrical appliances 300 linked to each user, and if it determines that the user or their family has gone to bed, it may instruct the refrigerator 100 to start sleep mode, and if it determines that the user or their family has woken up, it may instruct the refrigerator 100 to end sleep mode.

For example, in network system 1 according to this embodiment, server 200 instructs refrigerator 100 to enter sleep mode after 10:00 PM when 10 minutes or more have passed since the operation of electrical appliances 300, such as lights and televisions, in both the kitchen and living room of the user of refrigerator 100 has stopped. Server 200 instructs refrigerator 100 to exit sleep mode after 6:00 PM when the operation of electrical appliances 300, such as lights and televisions, in both the kitchen and living room of the user of refrigerator 100 has started or the door of refrigerator 100 has been opened two or more times within 10 minutes.
[summary]

In the above embodiment, a refrigerator is provided that includes a first light for illuminating the entire interior of the refrigerator compartment, a second light that emits light toward the rear of the refrigerator compartment, and a control unit that switches between a first mode in which at least the first light is turned on and a second mode in which the first light is turned off and the second light is turned on.

Preferably, the second light has a lower light output than the first light.

Preferably, the color temperature of the light from the second light is lower than that of the light from the first light.

Preferably, in the second mode, the control unit turns on only the second light, and then turns on the first light after a predetermined time has elapsed.

Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a third light that emits light toward the rear of the refrigerator compartment. In the second mode, the control unit turns on only the second light, and then after a predetermined time has elapsed, turns on the third light, and after another predetermined time, turns on the first light.

Preferably, in the second mode, the control unit turns on the first light when a door other than the refrigerator compartment is opened.

Preferably, a second light is provided on the back of the cold air duct cover.

Preferably, the first light and the second light are both mounted on the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment housing, with the second light facing the rear of the refrigerator compartment.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications that are equivalent in meaning to and within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in this specification are also included in the scope of the present invention.

1: Network system 100: Refrigerator 110: Refrigerator compartment 111B: Bottom surface 111L: Side surface 111R: Side surface 111T: Ceiling 112: Back surface 113: Shelf 121: Freezer compartment 122: Vegetable compartment 123: Chilled case 130: Duct cover 150: Light 151: First light 152: Second light 1521: Cover 153: Third light 155: Interior light cover 160: Control unit 165: Door opening/closing sensor 170: Operation unit 200: Server 300: Home appliance

Claims (7)

a first light for generally illuminating the interior of the refrigerator compartment;
a second light that has a lower light intensity and/or a lower color temperature than the first light, is disposed closer to the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment than the first light , and emits light toward the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment;
The refrigerator includes a control unit for switching between a first mode in which at least the first light is turned on and a second mode in which the first light is turned off and the second light is turned on when the door of the refrigerator compartment is opened . 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the second light is provided on the rear surface of the cold air duct cover. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit gradually increases the amount of light in the second mode. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit, in the second mode, turns on the first light after the light intensity of the second light reaches a predetermined set value . Further provided is a third light that emits light toward the rear surface of the refrigerator compartment;
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, in the second mode, the control unit turns on only the second light, and then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, turns on the third light, and , after another predetermined time has elapsed, turns on the first light. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit turns on the first light when a door other than the refrigerating compartment door is opened while the second mode is being executed . 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first light and the second light are both provided on a ceiling of a housing of the refrigerator compartment, and the second light is directed toward a rear surface of the refrigerator compartment.