EP2223028A1

EP2223028A1 - Refrigerator with a plurality of control panels

Info

Publication number: EP2223028A1
Application number: EP08853785A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Seung-Mok Lee
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2007-11-30
Filing date: 2008-11-28
Publication date: 2010-09-01
Also published as: US20100319390A1; CN102384635A; WO2009069957A1; CN101883961A; KR100894479B1; CN101883961B; CN102519202A

Abstract

A refrigerator with a plurality of control panels comprises a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers, a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of some of the cooling chambers, and a second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber. The refrigerator enhances a user's convenience through simple and precise manipulations.

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH A PLURALITY OF CONTROL

PANELS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels capable of enhancing a user's convenience through simple and precise manipulations without errors. Background Art

[2] In general, a refrigerator serves to store food items therein in a cooling chamber in a low-temperature state. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a cooling chamber, a door configured to open and close the cooling chamber, and a refrigeration cycle configured to supply cool air to the cooling chamber.

[3] As the refrigeration cycle, may be used a vapor compression type of refrigeration cycle constituted with a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant, an expander configured to expand the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator configured to absorb and evaporate peripheral latent heat.

[4] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body 10 having a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber therein, a freezing chamber door 12 configured to open and close the freezing chamber, and a refrigerating chamber door 22 configured to open and close the refrigerating chamber.

[5] The refrigerating chamber is provided at an upper region of the refrigerator body 10.

And, the refrigerating chamber door 22 configured to open and close the refrigerating chamber is implemented in plurality in number on a front surface of the refrigerator body 10.

[6] The freezing chamber is provided at a lower region of the refrigerator body 10. And, the freezing chamber door 12 is provided at the freezing chamber so as to open and close the freezing chamber by being slid in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body 10.

[7] One of the refrigerating chamber doors 22, more concretely, the right refrigerating chamber door 22 is provided with a home bar 25 through which food items stored therein can be drawn out without opening the refrigerating chamber door 22.

[8] The left refrigerating chamber door 22 is installed with a dispenser 27 through which water or ice can be drawn out without opening the refrigerating chamber door 22. At one side of the dispenser 27, disposed is a control panel 31 configured to set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, a driving mode of the dispenser 27, and so on.

[9] The control panel 31 includes a display 33 configured to display visual information, and a plurality of control buttons 35 configured to input control signals.

[10] Recently, is being used a refrigerator having a switching chamber configured to set an internal temperature thereof differently from internal temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, and capable of storing various food items at suitable temperatures according to their types.

[11] However, the conventional refrigerator has the following problems.

[12] Firstly, under a configuration that temperature conditions of the cooling chambers, a driving mode of the dispenser 27, etc. are set through the single control panel 31, the control panel 31 has a complicated structure. This may cause a user to manipulate the control panel 31 with errors.

[13] Furthermore, when the number of control buttons 35 is increased so as to set a temperature condition of the switching chamber in the same size of the control panel 31, a problem may occur. In this case, a user may manipulate the control buttons 35 with inconvenience and errors due to a narrow gap between the control buttons 35. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[14] Therefore, it is one object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a plurality of control panels capable of enhancing a user's convenience through simple and precise manipulations without errors.

[15] It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a plurality of control panels capable of facilitating a setting of temperature conditions of a switching chamber. Technical Solution

[16] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers; a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of some of the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber.

[17] The cooling chambers may comprise a switching chamber configured to have a switchable internal temperature.

[18] One of the first and second control panels may be implemented as a switching chamber control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber.

[19] The first and second control panels may be arranged at the same cooling chamber door.

[20] The first and second control panels may be arranged at different cooling chamber doors.

[21] The cooling chambers may comprise a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, and the switching chamber may be disposed in the freezing chamber.

[22] The refrigerator may further comprise a refrigerating chamber door configured to open and close the refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber door configured to open and close the freezing chamber, and a switching chamber door configured to open and close the switching chamber.

[23] The first control panel may be arranged at the refrigerating chamber door, and the second control panel may be arranged at the switching chamber door.

[24] The second control panel may be arranged at an upper end of the switching chamber door.

[25] A partition wall may separate the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber from each other.

[26] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers, and a switching chamber configured to have an internal temperature switchable to be different from temperatures of the cooling chambers; cooling chamber doors configured to open and close the cooling chambers; a switching chamber door configured to open and close the switching chamber; a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber.

[27] The first and second control panels may be arranged at one of the cooling chamber doors.

[28] The first control panel may be arranged at one of the cooling chamber doors, and the second control panel may be arranged at the switching chamber door.

[29] The second control panel may be arranged at an upper end of the switching chamber door.

[30] The second control panel may comprise a display portion configured to display visual information, and a plurality of input portions configured to input control signals.

Advantageous Effects

[31] As aforementioned, the present invention has the following advantages.

[32] Firstly, the first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber and/or the refrigerating chamber, is separately formed from the second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber. Accordingly, there are no limitations in the number and the arrangement of the control buttons. This allows the buttons or the signal input portions to have a sufficient size, thereby enhancing a user's convenience in manipulations. Furthermore, the first and second control panels may be variously arranged.

[33] Secondly, the second control panel, or the switching chamber control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber is provided at the switching chamber door. This allows a user to precisely set temperature conditions or a driving mode of the switching chamber, without any confusion with temperature conditions of the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber in manipulations.

[34] Thirdly, the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber may have temperature conditions, and so on set irrespective of temperature conditions of the switching chamber. This allows the user to easily set temperature conditions, etc. of the freezing chamber and/or the refrigerating chamber. Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] In the drawings:

[36] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with the conventional art;

[37] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[38] FIG. 3 is an enlarged plane view of a second control panel of FIG. 2;

[39] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[40] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 4.

Mode for the Invention

[41] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[42] Hereinafter, a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to the present invention will be explained in more detail.

[43] As shown in FIG. 2, a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to the present invention comprises a refrigerator body 110 having a plurality of cooling chambers, a first control panel 119 configured to set temperature conditions of some of the cooling chambers, and a second control panel 151 configured to set temperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber.

[44] The cooling chamber totally may indicate a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator body may be provided with one of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The cooling chambers may include a switching chamber configured to have an internal temperature switchable to be different from temperatures of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator body may be implemented so that the freezing and refrigerating chambers are disposed in upper and lower directions. Here, the freezing chamber may be disposed at an upper side or a lower side of the refrigerator. Hereinafter, will be explained a refrigerator having a configuration that the refrigerating chamber is disposed at an upper side of the refrigerator body, whereas the switching chamber and the freezing chamber are formed at a lower side of the refrigerator body.

[45] The refrigerating chamber 111 may be formed at an upper side of the refrigerator body 110, whereas the freezing chamber 131 may be formed at a lower side of the refrigerator body 110. One pair of refrigerating chamber doors 113 through which the refrigerating chamber 111 is opened and closed may be provided on a front surface of the refrigerator body 110. One refrigerating chamber door 113 may be provided with a home bar 115 through which food items stored therein can be drawn out without opening the refrigerating chamber door 113. Another refrigerating chamber door 113 may be installed with a dispenser 117 through which water or ice can be drawn out without opening the refrigerating chamber door 113.

[46] The first control panel 119 may be provided at the dispenser 117. The first control panel 119 may be configured so as to set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and the refrigerating chamber 111, a driving mode of the dispenser 117 (e.g., a water supply mode, an ice supply mode, etc.), and so on.

[47] The first control panel 119 may include a display portion configured to display visual information, and a plurality of input portions 122 configured to input control signals to select temperature conditions or a driving mode. Here, the signal input portions 122 may be implemented as a plurality of control buttons configured to input control signals in a pressing manner. The signal input portions 122 may be implemented as touch type buttons displayed on the display portion, and configured to input control signals when external touch is applied thereto.

[48] The freezing chamber 131 may be formed at a lower side of the refrigerator body

110. The freezing chamber 131 may be provided with a refrigerating chamber door 133 configured to open and close the freezing chamber 131. The freezing chamber door 133 may be configured so as to be drawn out in a sliding manner along a rail 137 that can be contracted and expanded in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body 110. At a rear side of the freezing chamber door 133, may be provided a drawer 135 that can be drawn out of the freezing chamber 131 when the freezing chamber door 133 is opened.

[49] Between the refrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131, may be provided a switching chamber 141 configured to have an internal temperature switchable to be different from temperatures of the refrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131. [50] A partition wall 140 for thermal insulation may be formed between the refrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131. The switching chamber 141 may be arranged inside the freezing chamber 131. The switching chamber 141 may include a casing (not shown) formed of a heat insulating material for separation from the freezing chamber 131, and an electric heater (not shown) for heating inside of the casing.

[51] The switching chamber 141 is provided with a switching chamber door 143 configured to open and close the switching chamber 141. The switching chamber door 143 may be configured so as to perform a sliding motion along a rail 147 that can be contracted and expanded in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body 110. On a rear surface of the switching chamber door 143, may be provided a drawer 145 that can be simultaneously drawn out and received in the freezing chamber 131 with the switching chamber door 143. Here, the drawer 135 of the freezing chamber 131, and the drawer 145 of the switching chamber 141 may be integrally or detachably mounted to the freezing chamber door 133 and the switching chamber door 143.

[52] The switching chamber door 143 may include an external plate 144a that forms appearance thereof, an internal plate 144b disposed inside the external plate 144a and spacing from a spot to be filled with a foaming agent, an upper cap 144c configured to cover each upper end of the external plate 144a and the internal plate 144b, and a lower cap 144d configured to cover each lower end of the external plate 144a and the internal plate 144b.

[53] The second control panel 151, a switching chamber control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141 may be installed at the upper cap 144c. The second control panel 151 may be also arranged on a front surface of the switching chamber door 143.

[54] Referring to FIG. 3, the second control panel 151 may include a display 153 configured to display visual information, and a plurality of input portions 155 configured to input control signals.

[55] Here, the signal input unit 155 may be implemented as a plurality of control buttons configured to input control signals in a pressing manner. The signal input unit 155 may be implemented as touch type buttons displayed on the display 153, and configured to input control signals when external touch is applied thereto. The signal input unit 155 may be implemented so as to perform functions necessary when temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141 are to be set. For instance, the signal input unit 155 may include an up button 156a configured to increase a temperature displayed on the display 153, a down button 156b configured to decrease a temperature displayed on the display 153, a mode display button 156c configured to display a plurality of modes of the switching chamber 141 having different temperature bandwidths, and a selection button 156d configured to select one of the plurality of temperature bandwidths displayed on the display 153.

[56] Under these configurations, the first control panel 119 may be used to set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and the refrigerating chamber 111. However, the second control panel 151 may be used to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141. Accordingly, a user may set temperature conditions without errors, and the first control panel 119 and the second control panel 151 may be easily manipulated without interference between a plurality of buttons.

[57] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, will be explained a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals will be given to the same components as those of the aforementioned embodiment, and their detailed explanations will be omitted.

[58] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a refrigerator with a plurality of control panels according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a refrigerator body 110 having a plurality of cooling chambers and a switching chamber 141, cooling chamber doors 113 and 133 configured to open and close the cooling chambers, a switching chamber door 143 configured to open and close the switching chamber 141, a first control panel 119 configured to set temperature conditions of the cooling chambers, and a second control panel 161 serving as a switching chamber control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141.

[59] Inside the refrigerator body 110, the refrigerating chamber 111, the freezing chamber

131, and the switching chamber 141 may be separately formed from each other.

[60] One pair of refrigerating chamber doors 113 through which the refrigerating chamber

111 is rotatably opened and closed may be provided on a front surface of the refrigerating chamber 111. The right refrigerating chamber door 113 may be provided with a home bar 115, whereas the left refrigerating chamber door 113 may be installed with a dispenser 117. The freezing chamber 131 and the switching chamber 141 may be respectively provided with the freezing chamber door 133 and the switching chamber door 143, each installed so as to be slidable in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body 110.

[61] The first control panel 119 may be provided at one side of the dispenser 117, and the second control panel 161 may be provided at another side of the dispenser 117. The first control panel 119 may be configured so as to set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and the refrigerating chamber 111, whereas the second control panel 161 may be configured so as to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141. More concretely, the first control panel 119 may be arranged at an upper region of the dispenser 117 in a horizontal direction, whereas the second control panel 161 may be arranged at a right region of the dispenser 117 in a vertical direction. Here, the second control panel 161 may be arranged at a left region of the dispenser 117.

[62] The first control panel 119 may include a display portion configured to display visual information, and a plurality of input portions 122 configured to input control signals to select temperature conditions of the refrigerating chamber 111 and the freezing chamber 131, a driving mode of the dispenser 117, etc.

[63] The second control panel 161 may be formed to have a long plate shape in a vertical direction, and may be provided with a display portion 163 at a middle region thereof. A plurality of signal input portions 165 configured to input control signals may be arranged at upper and lower sides of the display portion 163.

[64] Referring to FIG. 5, the signal input unit 165 may include an UP button 166a configured to increase a temperature displayed on the display 163, a DOWN button 166b configured to decrease a temperature displayed on the display 163, a mode display button 166c configured to display a plurality of modes having different temperature bandwidths, and a selection button 166d configured to select one of the plurality of modes displayed on the display 163.

[65] Under these configurations, the first control panel 119 may be used to set temperature conditions of the freezing chamber 131 and the refrigerating chamber 111, or a driving mode of the dispenser 117. However, the second control panel 161 may be used to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber 141. Accordingly, a user may set temperature conditions without errors, and the first control panel 119 and the second control panel 161 may be easily manipulated without interference between a plurality of buttons.

[66] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

[67] As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

[I] A refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers; a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of some of the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of others of the cooling chamber. [2] The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the cooling chambers comprises a switching chamber configured to have a switchable internal temperature. [3] The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein one of the first and second control panels is implemented as a switching chamber control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber. [4] The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first and second control panels are arranged at the same cooling chamber door. [5] The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first and second control panels are arranged at different cooling chamber doors. [6] The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the cooling chambers comprise a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, and the switching chamber is disposed inside the freezing chamber. [7] The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising: a refrigerating chamber door configured to open and close the refrigerating chamber; a freezing chamber door configured to open and close the freezing chamber; and a switching chamber door configured to open and close the switching chamber. [8] The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the first control panel is arranged at the refrigerating chamber door, and the second control panel is arranged at the switching chamber door. [9] The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the second control panel is arranged at an upper end of the switching chamber door. [10] The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are separated from each other by a partition wall.

[I I] A refrigerator with a plurality of control panels, comprising: a refrigerator body having a plurality of cooling chambers, and a switching chamber configured to have an internal temperature switchable to be different from internal temperatures of the cooling chambers; cooling chamber doors configured to open and close the cooling chambers; a switching chamber door configured to open and close the switching chamber; a first control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the cooling chambers; and a second control panel configured to set temperature conditions of the switching chamber. [12] The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the first and second control panels are arranged at one of the cooling chamber doors. [13] The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the first control panel is arranged at one of the cooling chamber doors, and the second control panel is arranged at the switching chamber door. [14] The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the second control panel is arranged at an upper end of the switching chamber door. [15] The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the second control panel comprises: a display portion configured to display visual information; and a plurality of input portions configured to input control signals.