TWI737813B - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigerator. Provided is a refrigerator including a door with a metallic luster in appearance and good operability using an electrostatic capacitance sensor. The refrigerator of the embodiment includes a door that opens and closes the opening of the storage compartment. The refrigerator is characterized in that the door includes a door front panel provided on the outside of the box, a door inner panel provided on the inside of the box, and a door front panel provided on the door. The heat insulation material between the door inner panels, the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor provided between the door front panel and the heat insulation material, and the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor provided between the door front panel and the electrostatic capacitance sensor Between the metal film, and the parasitic capacitance of the metal film is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode of the electrostatic capacitive sensor or the parasitic capacitance of the door front panel.

Description

refrigerator

This application is based on Japanese patent application 2015-114883 (application date June 5, 2015) and Japanese patent application 2015-185098 (application date September 18, 2015), and enjoys priority rights from these applications. This application contains all the contents of the application by referring to these applications.

The embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Some refrigerators have an operation part (also referred to as an operation panel unit, etc.) for switching the operation mode and the like on the door. A plurality of buttons for operation are displayed on the operation part, and electrodes of electrostatic capacitance type sensors are respectively provided on the back side of each button display. When a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the button, it becomes a structure in which electrostatic capacitance is generated between the conductor and the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, the amount of charge accumulated in the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor changes, and the miniature The computer detects the situation, and the control unit included in the refrigerator performs control corresponding to the button (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-40960).

In addition, the door of the refrigerator has a structure in which a heat insulating material is plugged between the door front panel provided on the outside of the box and the door inner panel provided on the inside of the box. The operation part is provided between the door front panel and the heat insulating material (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-40960). Regarding the door of such a refrigerator, it is considered that the front panel of the door has a light-transmitting property, and a metal film is provided on the heat insulating material side of the front panel of the door, and the door is a door with metallic luster when viewed from the outside of the box. At this time, in order to make the entire door have a metallic luster, a metal film is also provided between the door front panel and the operation part including the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

However, in general, the parasitic capacitance of the metal film is large, so even if a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the door front panel, the parasitic capacitance with respect to the metal film will only be generated between the conductor and the electrode of the capacitance sensor In terms of a small amount of electrostatic capacitance. Therefore, when there is a metal film between the front panel of the door and the operation part, the operability of the capacitive sensor is not good.

Therefore, the subject of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a door that has a metallic luster in appearance and has good operability using an electrostatic capacitance sensor.

The refrigerator of the embodiment includes a door that opens and closes the opening of the storage compartment. The refrigerator is characterized in that the door includes a door front panel provided on the outside of the box, a door inner panel provided on the inside of the box, and a door front panel provided on the door. The heat insulation material between the door inner panels, the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor provided between the door front panel and the heat insulation material, and the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor provided between the door front panel and the electrostatic capacitance sensor Between the metal film, and the parasitic capacitance of the metal film is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode of the electrostatic capacitive sensor or the parasitic capacitance of the door front panel.

In the refrigerator having the above characteristics, the door has a metallic luster in appearance, and the operability using an electrostatic capacitance sensor is good.

The refrigerator 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated based on a drawing. Furthermore, in the drawings, the size of the components may be exaggerated for ease of description.

The refrigerator 10 of this embodiment includes a cooling cycle device that generates cold air, and a control unit such as a microcomputer. The control unit controls the cooling cycle device, and sends cold air generated by the cooling cycle device to the storage room, thereby keeping the storage room at a low temperature. A blow-out port for cold air to enter the storage room is provided inside the storage room.

The main body of the refrigerator 10 is composed of a combination of an outer box forming the outer profile of the refrigerator 10 and an inner box formed with a storage compartment, and a heat insulating material is inserted between the outer box and the inner box. Between the outer box and the inner box, a vacuum heat insulating panel for exhausting the inside of the box with glass wool or the like can also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment is provided with a some storage room, and the opening part in the front of each storage room can be opened and closed by a door. The number or types of storage compartments are not limited. For example, in the refrigerator 10 of FIG. 1, a refrigerating compartment and a vegetable compartment are arranged in order from the top, and an ice making compartment and a small freezing compartment are arranged side by side at the bottom. A freezer compartment is provided below.

The opening of the refrigerating compartment is closed by two left and right refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12. The left end of the refrigerator compartment door 11 on the left side is attached to the left end of the main body of the refrigerator 10 by a hinge. The right end of the refrigerator compartment door 12 on the right side is attached to the right end of the main body of the refrigerator 10 by a hinge. Due to the above structure, the left and right refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 can be opened side by side. The vegetable compartment, the ice making compartment, the small freezer compartment, and the freezer compartment are closed by a draw-out vegetable compartment door 13, an ice making compartment door 14, a small freezer compartment door 15, and a freezer compartment door 16, respectively.

At least a part of these doors is provided with an operation unit 50 including an electrostatic capacitance sensor. The door provided with the operating unit 50 or the items that can be operated by the operating unit 50 are not limited. In the case of this embodiment, an operating unit 50a for opening the door is respectively provided at the portions below the refrigerator compartment doors 11 and 12, and further An operation unit 50b for controlling the cooling cycle and the like is provided in the center of one of the refrigerating compartment doors 12 in the vertical direction. The control part controls the refrigerator 10 based on operations in these operation parts 50.

As an example of the cross-sectional structure of the door of the refrigerator 10, the cross-sectional structure of the front-back direction of the part where the operation part 50 of the refrigerator compartment door 12 is provided is shown in FIG. The outer profile of the refrigerator compartment door 12 is formed by combining the door front panel 30 provided on the outside of the box (front side of the refrigerator) and the door inner panel 31 provided on the inside of the box (rear side of the refrigerator) from front to back. The door front panel 30 has light transmittance. Generally speaking, the door front panel 30 is colorless and transparent, and is formed of, for example, glass having a thickness of about 3 mm. Furthermore, transparent resin materials such as transparent acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS) resin and acrylic resin may also be used. A heat insulating material 32 is provided between the door front panel 30 and the door inner panel 31. The material of the heat insulating material 32 is not limited. As a material of the heat insulating material 32, foamed urethane (urethane), expanded polystyrene (polystyrene), glass wool, etc. are mentioned, for example. An operation unit 50 is provided between the door front panel 30 and the heat insulating material 32. In addition, a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance described below is provided between the door front panel 30 and the operation unit 50. The design form of the metal film is not limited. In the case of the present embodiment, the metal film is laminated as a part of the film 40 and the film 40 is provided between the door front panel 30 and the operation unit 50. The operation unit 50 only needs to include an electrostatic capacitance sensor, and its structure is not limited. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 50 includes a first substrate 54 and a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes 52 provided on the first substrate 54. In addition, a second substrate 55 including a light source 56 such as a microcomputer 57 and a light emitting diode (Light Emitting Diode, LED) is provided inside the box (rear side) of the first substrate 54. The microcomputer 57 detects the change in the capacitance of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor or lights the light source 56. The first board 54 and the second board 55 are electrically connected via the respective connectors 51 and the relay harness 53. The light from the light source 56 passes through the hole 58 provided in the first substrate 54 and irradiates the film 40 on the outside of the box rather than the operation part 50 from the inside of the box. As described below, the film 40 is formed of a light-transmitting member, so the characters printed on the film 40 can be seen from outside the box.

The capacitive sensor of this embodiment is a capacitive sensor of a self-capacitance method. When a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the outer part of the box of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor of the door front panel 30, electrostatic capacitance is generated between the conductor and the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, and is accumulated in the electrostatic capacitance sensor The amount of charge in the electrode 52 changes, and the microcomputer 57 detects the approach or contact of the conductor. It is particularly desirable that the electrostatic capacitance type sensor is a proximity sensor that detects the outer part of the box where the conductor is close to the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance type sensor of the door front panel 30. The degree of approach that can be detected is not limited. For example, it is assumed that the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor of the door front panel 30 approaches to a position separated from the door front panel 30 by 10 cm to 20 cm in the vertical direction. It can be detected at the time. Among them, the electrostatic capacitance sensor may be a touch sensor that detects the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor of the door front panel 30 when the conductor touches the outer part of the box. In addition, the electrostatic capacitance type sensor may be capable of switching between a proximity mode that operates as a proximity sensor and a touch mode that operates as a touch sensor. Proximity sensors require higher sensitivity than touch sensors. The film 40 includes a sheet-like base material 41. The base material 41 has translucency, and more desirably is colorless and transparent. The material of the base material 41 is not limited, but a synthetic resin is desirable, and in terms of appearance quality, polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate) is particularly desirable. As shown in the figure, it is desirable to provide an uneven shape on the surface of the base material 41 inside the box. In addition, the printed layer 42 may be formed by printing characters or the like on the surface inside the box of the base material 41. Examples of the printing method include ultraviolet (UV) printing in which patterns drawn with ultraviolet curable inks are irradiated with ultraviolet rays and cured instantaneously.

A metal film with a small parasitic capacitance is laminated on the inside of the box of the base material 41 (when the printed layer 42 is formed on the surface of the box inside of the base material 41, it is closer to the inside of the box). The so-called small parasitic capacitance means that the parasitic capacitance is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, or smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the door front panel 30. In addition, the so-called parasitic capacitance is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode 52 of the capacitance type sensor, as in this embodiment, when the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the capacitance type sensor and the second substrate 54 including the microcomputer 57 When the substrate 55 is electrically connected, it is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 in the connected state. Here, the parasitic capacitance of the substrate refers to the parasitic capacitance generated between the wiring pattern such as the ground line (ground) arranged on the substrate and the metal of the electrode 52, or the microcomputer of the electrostatic capacitance type sensor mounted on the substrate. The parasitic capacitance, which is the sum of the parasitic capacitances that affect the electrode 52, such as the parasitic capacitance between the element and the electrode 52, refers to the parasitic capacitance of the entire substrate when the wiring pattern or the element is mounted on the substrate. Furthermore, the electrostatic capacitance type sensor detects the electrostatic capacitance generated between the electrode and the human finger. Since the parasitic capacitance such as the parasitic capacitance of the substrate or the parasitic capacitance of the metal film hinders the electrostatic capacitance detection of the electrostatic capacitance type sensor, It is desirable that the parasitic capacitance is small.

Various metal films can be cited as the metal film with a small parasitic capacitance. In this embodiment, a discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is used as an example of a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance. The discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 refers to a metal film that exhibits non-conductivity and has a small parasitic capacitance because the metal particles are not bonded. The discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 can be formed by a well-known metal vapor deposition method. Furthermore, when it is expressed as a metal vapor deposition method, it goes without saying that the vacuum vapor deposition method also includes sputtering and the like. The type of metal used in the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is not limited. Among them, tin or tin alloy, which is an alloy containing tin, forms an oxide layer around the metal particles by a known metal vapor deposition method, and the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 is easily formed. The discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 has translucency. When an uneven shape is provided on the surface of the substrate 41 inside the box, the uneven shape is also provided on the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43. If the length in the front-rear direction of the refrigerator door 12 between the vertices of the recesses and the protrusions in the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is set as the height of the uneven shape, the height of the uneven shape is several micrometers (μm) to several millimeters (mm) about.

The surface inside the box of the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 may also be covered by the sheet-shaped protective layer 45. The protective layer 45 is adhered to the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 via the adhesion layer 44 containing an adhesive. The material of the protective layer 45 is not limited. Among them, when the heat insulating material 32 contains foamed urethane (that is, foamed urethane or other materials are added to foamed urethane), the protective layer is preferably Contains polyvinyl chloride.

A translucent colored layer 46 may be provided on the outside of the box of the base material 41. The material or formation method of the colored layer 46 is not limited. For example, it can be formed by printing on the surface of the substrate 41 outside the box by UV printing or the like. An adhesive layer 47 for attaching the film 40 and the door front panel 30 may be formed on the surface of the colored layer 46 outside the box. The adhesive layer 47 has light transmittance. The adhesive layer 47 is desirably colorless and transparent in a hardened state. The adhesive layer 47 desirably contains a UV hardener (resin that causes radical polymerization or cationic polymerization to harden when irradiated with ultraviolet rays). When the adhesive layer 47 contains a UV curing agent, the door front panel 30 and the film 40 can be adhered by closely adhering the surface of the adhesive layer 47 side of the film 40 to the door front panel 30 and irradiating ultraviolet rays from the door front panel 30 side. In addition, a logo or the like may be printed on the surface of the door front panel 30 inside the box by a method such as silk screen.

Furthermore, the layers in the film 40 are in close contact. Such a film 40 may be provided, for example, on the entire rear side of the door front panel 30 of the refrigerating compartment door 12.

An example of the manufacturing method of the refrigerator compartment door 12 of the above structure is shown. First, the film 40 is manufactured by laminating each layer on the base material 41 by the method illustrated above. Next, the film 40 is glued to the door front panel 30. Next, the door front panel 30 to which the film 40 is attached and the door inner panel 31 are inserted into the door cover to be combined. Then, from an opening provided in a door cover or the like in advance, the operating unit 50 is slidably inserted into the refrigerating compartment door 12, the operating unit 50 is fixed in the refrigerating compartment door 12, and then the opening is closed. Finally, from the hole opened in the door front panel 30 or the door inner panel 31, the heat insulating material is injected into the space between the door front panel 30 and the door inner panel 31. In addition, a storage container for storing stored items is fixed to the surface of the door inner panel 31 inside the box. The refrigerator compartment door 12 manufactured as described above is attached to the main body of the refrigerator 10 using a hinge or the like.

In the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment having the above structure, in the refrigerator compartment door 12, the front portion of the operation portion 50 is between the door front panel 30 and the operation portion 50, and the portion other than the front portion of the operation portion 50 is the door front panel A metal discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is provided between 30 and the heat insulating material 32, so the refrigerator compartment door 12 as a whole has a metallic luster in appearance. In addition, the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 between the door front panel 30 and the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor has a small parasitic capacitance. Therefore, when a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the door front panel 30, the electrostatic capacitance sensor can be protected from the discontinuous vapor deposition film. 43 Obstructively detect the situation. Therefore, the operability of the capacitive sensor is good.

When the parasitic capacitance of the metal film such as the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, even when the design is changed by changing the uneven shape of the metal film or the thickness of the metal film, etc. The same substrate can be used. Therefore, there is no need to change the substrate every time the design is changed, and the design variation of the door can be easily increased.

When the parasitic capacitance of the metal film such as the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the door front panel 30, the door front panel 30 with a large parasitic capacitance is arranged in the door front panel 30 and the metal film that affect the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitive sensor By suppressing the influence of parasitic capacitance at a position away from the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, it is possible to accurately perform detection by the capacitance sensor.

In particular, when the capacitive sensor is a proximity sensor, the capacitive sensor is required to have high sensitivity. In this embodiment, the metal between the door front panel 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor is a discontinuous vapor-deposited film 43 with a small parasitic capacitance, so the sensitivity required as a proximity sensor can be maintained.

Here, if the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 contains tin or tin alloy, the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 is easy to manufacture, and the parasitic capacitance of the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 is small, so the operability of the capacitive sensor becomes good. In addition, it is difficult to vapor-deposit a part of metal such as tin or tin alloy on the door front panel 30 made of glass. However, in this embodiment, the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is not directly laminated on the back surface of the door front panel 30, but is laminated on the base material 41 of the film 40 provided between the door front panel 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor. Even if it is a metal that is difficult to be vapor-deposited on the door front panel 30 made of glass, a discontinuous vapor-deposited film 43 may be provided between the door front panel 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor.

In addition, the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is not directly laminated on the back of the door front panel 30, but is laminated on the base material 41 of the film 40 provided between the door front panel 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor, so it can be passed through the film 40 The detailed structure was changed to increase the appearance change of the door observed from the outside of the box.

For example, when the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 inside the box of the base material 41 is provided with an uneven shape, since the base material 41 and the door front panel 30 have translucency, the uneven shape with metallic luster can be observed from the outside of the box. In addition, due to the visual effect of the concave-convex shape, the refrigerator 10 can have a three-dimensional effect.

In addition, when the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is laminated on the surface of the substrate 41 inside the box, and the translucent colored layer 46 is laminated on the surface of the substrate 41 outside the box, the colored layer 46 penetrates when viewed from the outside of the box. The discontinuous vapor-deposited film 43 can be observed on the back side of, and it can be observed that the door has a bright color derived from metallic luster.

In addition, when a fluid heat insulating material is injected between the door front panel 30 and the door inner panel 31 in the door manufacturing step, the heat insulating material contacts the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43, and if the heat insulating material shrinks later, there will be discontinuities. The vapor-deposited film 43 may be wrinkled. However, when the protective layer 45 is provided inside the box of the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43, the heat insulating material can be prevented from contacting the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43, and the discontinuous vapor deposition film 43 can be prevented from wrinkling. Moreover, when the heat insulating material 32 contains foamed urethane, if the protective layer 45 contains polyvinyl chloride, the adhesiveness of the heat insulating material 32 and the film 40 will become favorable.

In addition, if the film 40 including the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is provided on the entire rear side (inside the box) of the door front panel 30 of the refrigerator compartment door 12, the appearance of the entire refrigerator compartment door 12 is excellent. In addition, if the film 40 including the discontinuous vapor-deposition film 43 is provided on the rear side of the door front panel of all the doors of the refrigerator 10, the overall appearance of the refrigerator 10 is excellent.

With respect to the above embodiment, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Examples of changes are listed below.

(Change example 1)

When a film is provided between the door front panel 30 and the operation part 50, the film may include at least a sheet-shaped base material and a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance laminated thereon. Therefore, the film may include only a base material and a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance, or may include a layer different from the layer described in the above-mentioned embodiment. In addition, a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance can also be provided outside the box of the base material.

(Modification example 2)

The metal film with a small parasitic capacitance may be provided at least on the gate including the electrostatic capacitance type sensor. Therefore, for example, a film including a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance may be provided on a gate including an electrostatic capacitance sensor, and a metal with a large parasitic capacitance (such as aluminum or an alloy containing aluminum, that is, aluminum alloy) may be provided on the other gate. Membrane of membrane.

(Change example 3)

When a metal film provided with a concave-convex shape with a small parasitic capacitance (here, a discontinuous vapor-deposition film is taken as an example) is provided on a plurality of (for example, all) doors, some of the doors are provided on the discontinuous vapor-deposition film The height of the concave-convex shape can also be different from other doors. That is, in terms of the height of the uneven shape provided on the discontinuous vapor deposition film, some doors may be different from other doors. For example, it is also possible that the height of the concavity and convexity of the discontinuous vapor-deposited film is low in the refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 that are within the height range of the human eye, while the height of the concavity and convexity of the other doors is higher than the height of the concavity and convexity. Mentioned height.

Here, in order to express the three-dimensional effect of the door, it is desirable that the height of the uneven shape of the discontinuous vapor deposition film is high. However, when the height of the concavo-convex shape is high, light interference fringes are likely to occur, which may impair the aesthetics. Here, interference fringes are likely to occur when a person observes the door in the normal direction of the door. That is, interference fringes are easily generated at the height of the human eye.

Therefore, as exemplified above, if the height of the concavo-convex shape of the discontinuous vapor-deposition film is reduced in the refrigerator doors 11 and 12 that are within the height range of the human eye, the possibility of the interference fringes being visually recognized by humans can be reduced. . In addition, if the height of the concavo-convex shape is increased in other doors, the refrigerator as a whole exhibits a three-dimensional effect.

In addition, the door may have a plurality of regions with different heights of the uneven shape provided on the discontinuous vapor deposition film. That is, a plurality of regions with different heights of the uneven shape of the discontinuous vapor-deposition film may be provided in one door. For example, in the refrigerator compartment door 12, the height of the uneven shape of the discontinuous vapor deposition film may be low at the center of the door and the lower portion of the door (for example, the portion below the door 2/3) within the height range of the human eye. In the upper part of the door that is higher than the height of the human eye (for example, the upper 1/3 part of the door), the height of the uneven shape of the discontinuous vapor deposition film is higher than that. At this time, the possibility of people visually recognizing interference fringes will also be reduced, and the refrigerator as a whole presents a three-dimensional effect.

(Change example 4)

FIG. 3 shows another example of a metal film having a parasitic capacitance smaller than that of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

The film 140a of FIG. 3 is provided between the door front panel 30 and the operation part 50 similarly to the said film 40. As shown in FIG. In the film 140a, a plurality of dot-shaped metal portions 143a are arranged on one surface of a sheet-shaped base material 141 to form a metal film. The material of the dot-shaped metal portion 143a is not limited, and may be, for example, aluminum or aluminum alloy. It is desirable that the diameter p of one dot-shaped metal portion 143a is 500 μm or less, and the interval q between the two closest dot-shaped metal portions 143a is 100 μm or less. In addition, it is more desirable that the ratio of the total area of all the dot-shaped metal portions 143 a to the area of the base material 141 is 80% or more. Such a metal film can be produced using, for example, a known photography technique. In addition to the base material 141 and the metal film, the film 140a may be provided with a colored layer, a protective layer, and the like in the same manner as the film 40 of the above-mentioned embodiment.

In the metal film, the diameter p of one dot-shaped metal portion 143a is as small as, for example, 500 μm or less, and the dot-shaped metal portions 143a are not coupled to each other, so they exhibit non-conductivity and have a smaller parasitic capacitance than an electrode including an electrostatic capacitance type sensor. 52 of the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54. Therefore, as in the case of the aforementioned embodiment, when a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the door front panel 30, the electrostatic capacitance sensor can detect the situation without the metal film being obstructed. If it is a metal film formed by arranging the plurality of dot-shaped metal portions 143a, even if it is a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy that tends to increase the parasitic capacitance when the metal particles are continuous, it can be provided in The material of the metal film with a small parasitic capacitance between the door front panel 30 and the operation part 50.

In addition, the distance q between the two closest point-shaped metal portions 143a is narrow, for example, 100 μm or less, and the total area of all the point-shaped metal portions 143a is wide, so that the metal is not visually recognized as being dot-shaped. Therefore, the refrigerator compartment door 12 has metallic luster in appearance similarly to the case of the said embodiment.

In addition, the film 140b of FIG. 4 is also provided between the door front panel 30 and the operation part 50 similarly to the said film 40. As shown in FIG. In the film 140b, a plurality of strip-shaped metal portions 143b are arranged in stripes on one surface of the sheet-shaped base material 141 to form a metal film. The material of the band-shaped metal portion 143b is not limited, and may be, for example, aluminum or aluminum alloy. It is desirable that the width r of one strip-shaped metal portion 143b is 500 μm or less, and the interval s between two adjacent strip-shaped metal portions 143b is 100 μm or less. In addition, it is more desirable that the ratio of the total area of all the band-shaped metal portions 143 b to the area of the base material 141 is 80% or more. Such a metal film can be produced using, for example, a known photography technique. In addition to the base material 141 and the metal film, the film 140b may be provided with a colored layer, a protective layer, and the like in the same manner as the film 40 of the above-mentioned embodiment.

The metal film of FIG. 4 also does not hinder the detection of the conductor by the electrostatic capacitance sensor, and makes the appearance of the refrigerator compartment door 12 excellent.

(Change example 5)

When a metal film having a parasitic capacitance smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor is provided at least in front of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, it may be used in the electrostatic capacitance sensor. A metal layer whose parasitic capacitance is greater than that of the metal film is provided in a portion other than the front of the electrode 52.

An example of this is shown in FIG. 5. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the parts common in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. In this modified example, in front of the metal film 243a having a parasitic capacitance smaller than that of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, a metal layer 243b having a greater parasitic capacitance is laminated. The metal film 243a and the metal layer 243b are both provided on the rear side of the door front panel 30 over a wide area (ideally the entire rear side of the door front panel 30). Among them, the front part of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor of the metal layer 243b is cut off. The cut-out portion may be only the front portion of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, or may be the front portion of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor and its peripheral portion (for example, the entire front portion of the operation unit 50). The material of the metal layer 243b is not limited. In addition, in FIG. 5, the layer corresponding to the printed layer 42 of the above-mentioned embodiment is omitted, and the printed layer 42 may actually exist.

In the case of this modified example, a metal (for example, aluminum or aluminum alloy) layer with a large parasitic capacitance but a preferable appearance can be provided as the metal layer 243b at a portion other than the front of the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor, thereby making the refrigerator compartment The door 12 is excellent in appearance. On the other hand, in the front part of the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor, the metal layer 243b with a large parasitic capacitance is not provided, but only the metal film 243a with a small parasitic capacitance is provided. Therefore, when a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the door front panel 30 At this time, the situation can be detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor without being hindered by the metal layer 243b.

Another example is shown in FIG. 6. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the parts common in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. In this modified example, the metal film 343a having a parasitic capacitance smaller than that of the first substrate 54 including the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor and the metal layer 343b having a greater parasitic capacitance than the metal film 343a are disposed on the same plane. In detail, the metal film 343a with a small parasitic capacitance is provided on the front part of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor (it may be only the front part of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor, or it may be the front part of the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor). The part where the front part and its peripheral part are combined), and a metal layer 343b having a larger parasitic capacitance than the metal film 343a is provided in the other part. In addition, the metal film 343a and the metal layer 343b are on the same plane. That is, on the same plane, it is divided into a part of the metal film 343a and a part of the metal layer 343b.

In the case of this modified example, the metal layer 343b may be a layer of a metal (for example, aluminum or aluminum alloy) that has a large parasitic capacitance but is preferable in appearance at a portion other than the front of the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor. The refrigerator compartment door 12 is excellent in appearance. On the other hand, in the front part of the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor, the metal layer 343b with a large parasitic capacitance is not provided, but only the metal film 343a with a small parasitic capacitance is provided. Therefore, when a conductor such as a human finger approaches or touches the door front panel 30 At this time, the situation can be detected by the electrostatic capacitance sensor without being hindered by the metal layer 343b. In addition, compared with the case of FIG. 5, the usage amount of the metal film 343a can be suppressed.

Furthermore, even if they are the same metal, the parasitic capacitance will be different depending on the thickness, so the metal film 343a and the metal layer 343b may be made of the same metal and have different thicknesses.

In addition, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the metal film or the like having a small parasitic capacitance is not formed with unevenness, and may be formed with unevenness as in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

(Modification example 6)

The substrate (the first substrate 54 or the second substrate 55) of the operation section 50 is surrounded by an air layer. Therefore, when the low temperature in the storage chamber is transmitted to the substrate, the substrate may condense and the operation section 50 may malfunction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent condensation on the substrate. Examples of this method are shown in Figs. 7-9. In addition, in FIGS. 7-9, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected to the same part as other drawings.

In the example of FIG. 7, a vacuum heat insulating panel 432 is provided inside the box of the operation unit 50. The vacuum heat insulation panel 432 is one that has been exhausted after filling the inside of the box with glass wool or the like. The thickness of the vacuum insulation panel 432 in the front-rear direction is desirably 20 mm or more. In the case of this example, by providing a vacuum heat insulation panel 432 inside the box of the operation part 50, the low temperature in the storage chamber is not easily transmitted to the substrate of the operation part 50, and the substrate is not likely to condense dew.

Another example is shown in FIG. 8. In this example, a metal member 532 with good thermal conductivity is arranged in the portion where the operation unit 50 is housed in the door. In detail, the metal member 532 (for example, metal foil such as aluminum foil, metal plate) is provided in contact with the surface inside the box of the operation unit 50. The metal member 532 further extends to the outside of the box so as to wrap the operation part 50 from the inside of the box. In the case of this example, the heat outside the box is transmitted along the metal member 532, and the surface inside the box of the operation part 50 that is in contact with the metal member 532 is kept at a relatively high temperature. Therefore, it is difficult for the substrate in the operation part 50 to become low temperature, and it is difficult for the substrate to condense.

Another example is shown in FIG. 9. In this example, a heater 601 is provided on the door. The place where the heater 601 is installed is not limited. For example, it is a rotating spacer 602 (installed on the right side of the left side refrigerator door 11, which is in close contact with the left side of the right side refrigerator door 12 when the door is closed, thereby keeping left and right. The inside of the refrigerating compartment doors 11 and 12 in a close contact state) or a location close to the operation part 50 in the door. In this example, the substrate is kept at a relatively high temperature by the heat of the heater 601, so the substrate is not prone to condensation. Furthermore, when the heater 601 is far away from the operating portion 50, metal members (for example, metal foil such as aluminum foil, metal plate) may be provided from the heater 601 to the operating portion 50. As a result, the heat of the heater 601 is efficiently transferred to the substrate of the operation part 50, and the substrate of the operation part 50 is not prone to condensation. When the heater 601 is close to the operating part 50, such a metal member may not exist.

When there is an outlet for cold air to enter the storage chamber behind the operation unit 50, the operation unit 50 tends to become low temperature, so the above-mentioned method is particularly effective. It is also possible to combine two or more of the above three examples.

In this way, due to the synergistic effect of preventing condensation on the substrate and providing a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance between the door front panel 30 and the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor, the operation unit 50 has less malfunction and good operability.

(Change example 7)

The door of the refrigerator is opened and closed many times, and each time it is opened and closed, it will be shocked. Therefore, the first substrate 54 of the operation unit 50 may deviate from the initial position, and the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor may deviate from the film 40. At this time, even if the button is displayed on the film 40, the position of the button display will deviate from the position of the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor. Therefore, even if a human finger or the like approaches or touches the button display, the capacitive sensor does not respond. The fear. Therefore, as a countermeasure, it is also possible to prevent the deviation of the electrode 52 of the capacitance sensor.

An example of this method is shown in FIG. 10. In this example, the operation part 50 and the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor provided here are pressed against the door front panel 30 and the film 40 so as not to deviate from the film 40. The structure used for pressing is not limited, and the elastic mechanism 703 is used in the example of FIG. 10. In this example, a storage member 701 is fixed inside the refrigerator compartment door 12. The storage member 701 is fixed to the inside of the refrigerating compartment door 12 (for example, a door cover 702 provided at the up, down, left, and right ends of the refrigerating compartment door 12 to integrate the door front panel 30 and the door inner panel 31 ). The operation unit 50 is surrounded by the storage member 701 inside the refrigerator compartment door 12.

In addition, one end of an elastic mechanism 703 such as a spring or rubber is fixed to the storage member 701, and the other end of the elastic mechanism 703 is fixed to a part of the operation unit 50. The force of the elastic mechanism 703 is used to press the operating portion 50 and the electrode 52 of the electrostatic capacitance sensor fixed here against the door front panel 30 and the film 40.

As a result, the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor provided on the operating part 50 is not easily deviated from the film 40. When a human finger or the like approaches or touches the button display, the capacitive sensor corresponding to the button will perform the correct operation. reaction.

In addition, a mechanism different from the elastic mechanism 703 may be used to press the electrode 52 of the capacitive sensor against the door front panel 30 and the film 40. For example, the door cover 702 may be provided to insert the operating part 50 into the refrigerator compartment door 12 The opening of the refrigerator compartment door 12 is opened to the fixed position of the operating part 50 inside the refrigerating compartment door 12, and a guide mechanism such as a rail for moving the operating part 50 is provided. In addition, when the operating portion 50 is moved along the guide mechanism, the operating portion 50 is slowly pushed in the direction of the door front panel 30, and when it reaches the fixed position of the operating portion 50, it is pressed against the film 40.

In addition to the above modification examples, various modifications, substitutions, omissions, etc. can be made within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention. The above is an illustration, and the scope of the invention is not limited to this. The above-mentioned embodiment and its modification are included in the invention described in the scope of the patent application and its equivalent scope.

10‧‧‧Refrigerator 11‧‧‧Refrigerator door on the left 12‧‧‧Refrigerator door on the right 13‧‧‧Vegetable door 14‧‧‧Ice-making room door 15‧‧‧Small freezer door 16‧‧‧ Freezer door 30‧‧‧Door front panel 31‧‧‧Door inner panel 32‧‧‧Insulation material 40,140a,140b‧‧‧Film 41,141‧‧‧Base material 42‧‧‧Printing layer 43‧‧‧ Discontinuous vapor deposition film 44, 47‧‧‧Adhesive layer 45‧‧‧Protection layer 46‧‧‧Coloring layer 50,50a,50b‧‧‧Operation part 51‧‧‧Connector 52‧‧‧Capacitive sensor Electrode 53‧‧‧Relay harness 54‧‧‧First substrate 55‧‧‧Second substrate 56‧‧‧Light source 57‧‧‧Microcomputer 58‧‧‧Hole 143a‧‧‧Point metal part 143b‧‧ Belt Metal parts 243a, 343a‧‧‧Metal film 243b, 343b‧‧‧Metal layer 432‧‧‧Vacuum insulation board 532‧‧‧Metal member 601‧‧‧Heater 602‧‧‧Rotating spacer 701‧‧‧ Receiving member 702‧‧‧door cover 703‧‧‧elastic mechanism p‧‧‧diameter q, s‧‧‧interval r‧‧‧width

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 10 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 1. 3 is a plan view of a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance in Modification Example 4. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a metal film with a small parasitic capacitance in Modification Example 4. FIG. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view at X-X of Fig. 1 of the door of the refrigerator in Modified Example 5. Figs. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view at X-X of Fig. 1 of the door of the refrigerator in Modification 5. Figs. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y-Y in Fig. 1 of the door of the refrigerator in Modified Example 6. Figs. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y-Y in Fig. 1 of the door of the refrigerator in Modified Example 6. Figs. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y-Y in Fig. 1 of the door of the refrigerator in Modified Example 6. Figs. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y-Y in Fig. 1 of the door of the refrigerator in Modified Example 7. Figs.

30‧‧‧Door front panel

31‧‧‧Door inner panel

32‧‧‧Insulation material

40‧‧‧membrane

41‧‧‧Substrate

42‧‧‧Printing layer

43‧‧‧Discontinuous evaporation film

44、47‧‧‧Adhesive layer

45‧‧‧Protection layer

46‧‧‧Coloring layer

50‧‧‧Operation Department

51‧‧‧Connector

52‧‧‧Electrode of electrostatic capacitance sensor

53‧‧‧Relay Harness

54‧‧‧The first substrate

55‧‧‧Second substrate

56‧‧‧Light source

57‧‧‧Microcomputer

58‧‧‧Hole

Claims (16)

A refrigerator includes a door that opens and closes an opening of a storage compartment. The refrigerator is characterized in that: the door includes a door front panel arranged on the outside of the box, a door inner panel arranged on the inside of the box, and a door front panel arranged on the door. The heat insulating material between the door inner panels, the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor arranged between the door front panel and the heat insulating material, and the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor arranged between the door front panel and the electrostatic capacitance sensor There is a translucent metal-containing layer in between, and a translucent colored layer is provided between the door front panel and the metal-containing layer outside the box of the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the parasitic capacitance of the metal-containing layer is smaller than the parasitic capacitance of the substrate including the electrode of the electrostatic capacitive sensor or the parasitic capacitance of the door front panel. The refrigerator as described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the metal-containing layer is a discontinuous vapor-deposited film. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the metal-containing layer is laminated on a light-transmitting sheet-like base material provided between the door front panel and the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metal-containing layer contains tin or tin alloy. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metal-containing layer is provided with a concavo-convex shape. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the base material is laminated with the metal-containing layer on the inside of the box, and the colored layer having translucency is laminated on the outside of the box. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the metal-containing layer is laminated on the inside of the box of the base material, and a protective layer is laminated on the inside of the box of the metal-containing layer. The refrigerator according to item 8 of the scope of patent application, wherein the protective layer comprises polyvinyl chloride, and the heat insulating material comprises foamed urethane. The refrigerator described in item 6 of the scope of the patent application includes a plurality of the doors, and some of the doors of the plurality of doors have the same height as the concave-convex shape of the metal-containing layer. different. The refrigerator described in the scope of patent application, wherein the door has a plurality of regions with different heights of the uneven shape provided on the metal-containing layer. The refrigerator according to any one of the scope of patent application 1 to 4, wherein the electrostatic capacitance type sensor is a proximity sensor that detects a conductor close to the front panel of the door. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a metal layer whose parasitic capacitance is greater than that of the metal-containing layer is provided in a portion other than the front of the electrode of the electrostatic capacitance sensor. The refrigerator according to item 13 of the scope of patent application, wherein the metal-containing layer and the metal layer are arranged on the same plane. According to the refrigerator described in any one of the scope of patent application 1 to 4, the metal-containing layer is formed by arranging a plurality of dot-shaped metal parts. According to the refrigerator described in any one of the scope of patent application 1 to 4, the metal-containing layer is formed by arranging a plurality of band-shaped metal parts in a stripe shape.

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