REFRIGERATOR

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under § 111 (a), of International Application No. PCT/KR2023/017582, filed on Nov. 3, 2023, which is based on and claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.: 10-2023-0001377, filed Jan. 4, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments provide a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

A refrigerator is a home appliance that includes a main body having a storage compartment and a cold air supply device provided to supply cold air to the storage compartment to keep food fresh. The refrigerator may be provided with a door that opens and closes the storage compartment.

The door may include an inner door that is openable and closable with respect to the main body and an outer door that is openable and closable with respect to the inner door. A user may open the inner door to take out food stored inside the storage compartment or to store food in the storage compartment. The user may open the outer door without opening the inner door to take out food stored inside the door or at the rear of the door or to store food inside the door or at the rear of the door.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Solution to Problem

A refrigerator according to an embodiment may include a main body having a storage compartment and a door provided to open and close the storage compartment.

The door may include an inner door rotatable while in the main body and having an opening, an outer door rotatable with respect to the opening of the inner door and opening and closing the opening, and a case to be provided on a rear side of the inner door to form a door internal space on the rear side of the inner door.

The door may further include a fan, to be provided on at least one side of the case, operable to transfer cold air in the storage compartment to the door internal space.

The refrigerator may turn off the fan to block the cold air in the storage compartment from being transferred to the door internal space to thereby cause a temperature of the door internal space to be higher than a temperature of the storage compartment based on a state in which the door is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing that an outer door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment is open.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that an inner door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment is open.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram to describe a door internal space independent of a storage compartment in a refrigerator according to an embodiment, showing a cross-section of a part of the refrigerator.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross-section of a part of a refrigerator according to an embodiment, showing a state in which a door internal space in the refrigerator is opened by an outer door.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view separately showing the door of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the door of FIG. 7, taken along in an up-and-down direction, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram to describe a door internal space when a refrigerator according to an embodiment is in a second mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram to describe a door internal space when a refrigerator according to an embodiment is in a first mode.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing selecting of a storage method of a door internal space and whether a blower fan is turned on, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process of selecting a storage method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing whether a blower fan is turned on depending on a temperature condition of a storage compartment in a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing whether a blower fan is turned on depending on whether a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment is opened.

FIG. 17 is a diagram to describe a state in which a case is separated from the door of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the door of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments according to the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the contents described in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals or symbols presented in each drawing represent parts or components that perform substantially the same function.

While such terms as “first,” “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term “and/or” includes any combination of multiple related items or any single item among multiple related items.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe embodiments, and are not to limit and/or intended to limit the present disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added. The same reference numerals in each drawing represent elements that perform substantially the same function.

In the present specification, the terms “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper end,” and “lower end” or the like are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing that an outer door 120 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is open. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that an inner door 110 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is open. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a refrigerator 1A according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body 10, a storage compartment 21 formed inside the main body 10, doors 100, 32, 33, and 34 opening and closing the storage compartment 21, and a cold air supply device (not shown) supplying cold air to the storage compartment 21.

The main body 10 may include an inner case 11 forming the storage compartment 21, an outer case 12 coupled to the outside of the inner case 11 and forming the exterior, and an insulating material (now shown) provided between the inner case 11 and the outer case 12 to insulate the storage compartment 21.

The storage compartment 21 may be divided into multiple numbers by a horizontal partition wall 15 and a vertical partition wall (now shown). The storage compartment 21 may be divided into an upper storage compartment 21 and a lower storage compartment 21 by the horizontal partition wall 15, and may be divided into a left lower storage compartment and a right lower storage compartment by the vertical partition wall.

The upper storage compartment 21 may be used as a refrigerator, and the lower storage compartment 21 may be used as a freezer. However, the division and use of the storage compartment 21 as described above is only an example and is not limited thereto.

In addition, unlike the present embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may be a side-by-side type in which the storage compartment 21 is divided into left and right sides by a vertical partition wall, a French-door refrigerator type in which the storage compartment 21 is divided into an upper refrigerator compartment and a lower refrigerator compartment by the horizontal partition wall 15, or a single-door type having one storage compartment 21 and one door 100.

A shelf 26 on which food is placed and a storage container 27 that stores food may be provided inside the storage compartment 21.

The cold air supply device may generate cold air by using a cooling cycle of compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating a refrigerant, and supply the generated cold air to the storage compartment 21.

A top cover 24 may be coupled to an upper surface of the main body 10. The top cover 24 may be provided to cover hinges and various electrical components arranged on the upper surface of the main body 10. A control panel 25 displaying various statuses and operation information of the refrigerator 1 or being capable of inputting various commands for the operation of the refrigerator 1 may be provided on a front surface of the top cover 24. The control panel 25 may be connected to a processor 40 (refer to FIG. 15) that controls the temperature of the storage compartment 21. The processor 40 may control an operation of the cold air supply device.

The upper storage compartment 21 may be opened and closed by a pair of doors 100 and 32. The doors 100 and 43 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10. The left lower storage compartment may be opened and closed by a door 33, and the door 33 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10. The right lower storage compartment may be opened and closed by a door 34, and the door 34 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10.

The door 100 may be provided to open and close the storage compartment 21. The door 100 may have a closed state (refer to FIG. 1) that blocks the storage compartment 21 and an open state (refer to FIG. 3) that opens the storage compartment 21. A gasket adhered to the front surface of the main body 10 to seal the storage compartment 21 may be provided on a rear surface of the door 100.

At least one of the doors 100, 32, 33, and 34 may be configured as a double door having the inner door 110 and the outer door 120. For example, the door 100 on the left upper side may include the inner door 110 and the outer door 120.

The inner door 110 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10 through a hinge. The inner door 110 may have an opening 101. The opening 101 may be formed at a central portion of the inner door 110 excluding an edge portion thereof.

At least one door basket 102 may be mounted in the opening 101. A portion of the door basket 102 may be arranged on a rear side of the inner door 110.

A dispenser 160 may be provided in the opening 101. The dispenser 160 may include an operating lever 161 capable of receiving water by operating the dispenser 160. A user may press the operating lever 161 by using a container (not shown) such as a cup.

A water tank 170 may be provided in the opening 101. The water tank 170 may be arranged on one side of the dispenser 160. For example, the water tank 170 may be provided on the left side of the dispenser 160. However, the arrangement of the water tank 170 is not limited thereto and may vary.

An automatic water supply device (not shown) that automatically supplies water to the water tank 170 may be included in the inner door 110. When the water tank 170 is mounted, water may be supplied to the water tank 170 by the automatic water supply device until a certain amount of water is filled. However, the automatic water supply device is an example and may be omitted as necessary.

The outer door 120 may be provided to open and close the opening 101 of the inner door 110. When the outer door 120 is opened, the opening 101 of the inner door 110 is accessible. The outer door 120 may be rotatably coupled to the inner door 110 through a hinge. The outer door 120 may rotate in the same direction as the inner door 110.

The outer door 120 may be opaque. However, the outer door 120 is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, an outer door 120A may be a partially transparent door. Accordingly, the rear of the outer door 120A may be recognized even without opening the outer door 120A. For example, the opening 101 of the inner door 110 may be recognized.

The outer door 120 may have a size corresponding to the size of the inner door 110. The outer door 120 may cover an entire region of the inner door 110. However, the size of the outer door 120 is not limited thereto and may be less than the size of the inner door 110.

A latch 121 for fixing with the inner door 110 may be provided in the outer door 120, and a catch 111 may be provided in the inner door 110 to engage with the latch 121.

When the outer door 120 is opened in a state in which the latch 121 and the catch 111 are engaged, the outer door 120 and the inner door 110 may be opened together, and when the outer door 120 is opened in a state in which the latch 121 and the catch 111 are not engaged, only the outer door 120 may be opened, and the inner door 110 may not be opened.

A decorative panel (not shown) may be removably coupled to a front surface of the outer door 120.

The door 100 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may further include a door internal space 103 formed at the rear side of the inner door 110. The door internal space 103 may be a space independent of the storage compartment 21 so that food may be stored separately from the storage compartment 21. The door internal space 103 may have a different temperature from that of the storage compartment 21.

The door internal space 103 may be provided at an upper side of the dispenser 160 and the water tank 170. However, the position of the door internal space 103 is not limited thereto and may be varied according to the configuration of the door 100.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cross-section of a part of the refrigerator 1 to describe the door internal space 103 in the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross-section of a part of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment, showing a state in which the door internal space 103 in the refrigerator 1 is opened by the outer door 120.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the door 100 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may include a case 130 provided at the rear side of the inner door 110 to form the door internal space 103 at the rear side of the inner door 110. The door internal space 103 may be a space connected to the opening 101 of the inner door 110 and may be a space separated from the storage compartment 21.

As the door internal space 103 is spatially separated from the storage compartment 21, the user may open the outer door 120 to take out food stored in the door internal space 103 or store new food in the door internal space 103 without opening the storage compartment 21.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the door 100 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment as viewed from the rear, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view separately showing the door 100 of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the door 100 of FIG. 7, taken along in an up-and-down direction.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the door 100 according to an embodiment may include the inner door 110, the outer door 120 rotatably provided at the front of the inner door 110, the case 130 provided at the rear of the inner door 110, and a blower fan 140 generating air flow in a direction from the outside toward the inside of the door internal space 103.

At least one door basket 102 may be arranged in the inner door 110. The door basket 102 may be arranged in the door internal space 103. The door basket 102 may protrude rearward from a rear surface of the inner door 110. The number of door baskets 102 may be multiple numbers. For example, two door baskets 102 may be arranged in the inner door 110. However, the number of door baskets 102 is not limited thereto and may be one or three or more.

The case 130 may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the door basket 102. For example, when a portion of the door basket 102 protrudes toward the rear of the inner door 110, the case 130 may be arranged to surround a portion of the door basket 102 protruding toward the rear of the inner door 110. Although not shown, as another example, when the entire door basket 102 protrudes toward the rear of the inner door 110, the case 130 may be arranged to surround the entire door basket 102.

The case 130 may be arranged between the door internal space 103 and the storage compartment 21. The case 130 may define a rear surface of the door internal space 103. The case 130 may define a portion of a side surface of the door internal space 103. The remaining of the side surface of the door internal space 103 may be defined by the inner door 110.

The case 130 may include a transparent or opaque material. The interior of the door internal space 103 or the storage compartment 21 may be recognized through the case 130. For example, when the inner door 110 is opened, the interior of the door internal space 103 may be recognized through the case 130. For example, when the outer door 120 is opened in a state in which the inner door 110 is closed, the interior of the storage compartment 21 may be recognized through the case 130. A gasket may be arranged between the case 130 and the inner door 110 to seal the door internal space 103.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the outer door 120A is a transparent door, the user may check the interior of the storage compartment 21 without opening the outer door 120A. For example, the user may check the interior of the storage compartment 21 through the outer door 120A and the case 130. For example, lighting (not shown) may be arranged inside the storage compartment 21, and a sensor (not shown) that senses the user's approach may be arranged in the door 100. In this case, when the user approaches the refrigerator 1 within a certain distance, the lighting arranged inside the storage compartment 21 may be turned on, so that the user may easily check the interior of the storage compartment 21 through the transparent outer door 120A and the case 130. The sensor may be an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a human body detection sensor, a motion detection sensor, a proximity sensor, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9 again, the blower fan 140 may include a blade rotating around a certain rotating axis and a fan motor rotating the blade. The blower fan 140 may include an electric wire 145 electrically connected to the processor 40. The electric wire 145 may be installed inside the inner door 110 through an opening 115 so as not to be exposed to the door internal space 103.

The blower fan 140 may be provided on at least one side of the case 130. For example, the blower fan 140 may be provided on an upper side of the case 130. The blower fan 140 may be arranged on an upper side of the door internal space 103. However, the arrangement of the blower fan 140 is not limited to the upper side of the case 130 and may also be provided on another side of the case 130. For example, the blower fan 140 may be arranged on the left, right, or lower side of the case 130.

When the blower fan 140 is turned on, an air flow from top to bottom may be generated by the blower fan 140 positioned on the upper side of the door internal space 103. When the blower fan 140 is turned on, cold air inside the storage compartment 21 may move from the top to the bottom of the door internal space 103.

A gap may exist between the outer door 120 and the door basket 102 to allow movement of cold air. Cold air transferred by the blower fan 140 may be evenly supplied to food stored in a plurality of door baskets 102 through the gap between the outer door 120 and the door basket 102.

As the blower fan 140 is turned on and the cold air in the storage compartment 21 is transferred to the door internal space 103, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may correspond to the temperature of the storage compartment 21. For example, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may be substantially equal to the temperature of the storage compartment 21. For example, a temperature difference between the temperature of the door internal space 103 and the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be less than 1 degree (° C.). For example, the temperature difference between the temperature of the door internal space 103 and the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be less than 0.5 degrees (° C.).

The refrigerator 1 may block cold air in the storage compartment 21 from being transferred to the door internal space 103 by turning off the blower fan 140 in a state in which the door 100 is closed so that the temperature of the door internal space 103 is higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21. Accordingly, food suitable for storage at a temperature higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be stored in the door internal space 103.

The refrigerator 1 may provide a plurality of storage modes that may store various types of food in the door internal space 103 by selectively turning off the blower fan 140 in a state in which the door 100 is closed. For example, the refrigerator 1 may provide a first mode in which the temperature of the door internal space 103 is higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21 and a second mode in which the temperature of the door internal space 103 corresponds to the temperature of the storage compartment 21 by selectively turning off the blower fan 140 in the state in which the door 100 is closed. When the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned off so that cold air in the storage compartment 21 is not transferred to the door internal space 103 in the state in which the door 100 is closed. When the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned on so that cold air in the storage compartment 21 is transferred to the door internal space 103 in the state in which the door 100 is closed.

The state in which the door 100 is closed may be a closed state in which the inner door 110 blocks the storage compartment 21 and a closed state in which the outer door 120 blocks the opening 101.

FIG. 10 is a diagram to describe the door internal space 103 when the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is in a second mode, and FIG. 11 is a diagram to describe the door internal space 103 when the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is in a first mode.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned on so that cold air in the storage compartment 21 is transferred to the door internal space 103. When the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the turning on of the blower fan 140 may occur in various ways. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the blower fan 140 may be continuously turned on. As another example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the blower fan 140 may be discontinuously turned on. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned on according to a set cycle.

As the blower fan 140 is turned on, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may correspond to the temperature of the storage compartment 21. In this case, beer or beverages, or the like may be stored in the door internal space 103. At this time, the cold air supply device (not shown) may be in a turned-on state. However, the state of the cold air supply device is not limited thereto and may not be turned on within a range of maintaining the temperature of the storage compartment 21.

Referring to FIG. 11, when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned off so that cold air in the storage compartment 21 is not transferred to the door internal space 103. In other words, cold air in the storage compartment 21 may be stopped from being transferred to the door internal space 103. As cold air in the storage compartment 21 is not transferred to the door internal space 103, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may increase. At this time, the cold air supply device may be in the turned-on state. However, the state of the cold air supply device is not limited thereto and may not be turned on within a range of maintaining the temperature of the storage compartment 21.

The door internal space 103 is arranged between the storage compartment 21 and the outside of the refrigerator 1. The temperature of the outside of the refrigerator 1 may be higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21. In this case, when cold air in the storage compartment 21 is not transferred to the door internal space 103, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may increase even without a separate heat source. The temperature of the door internal space 103 may be between the temperature of the storage compartment 21 and the temperature of the outside of the refrigerator 1.

When the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may be greater than the temperature of the storage compartment 21. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, a temperature difference between the temperature of the door internal space 103 and the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be 2° C. or more. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the temperature difference between the temperature of the door internal space 103 and the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be 3° C. or more. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the temperature difference between the temperature of the door internal space 103 and the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be 2° C. to 7° C. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the temperature difference between the temperature of the door internal space 103 and the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be 3° C. to 5° C.

According to the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment, the door internal space 103 may be used for a different purpose from the storage compartment 21 by making the temperature of the door internal space 103 to be higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21 in a state in which the door 100 is closed. For example, food suitable for storage at a temperature higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21 may be stored in the door internal space 103. For example, food to be eaten with one or two days may be stored in the door internal space 103. For example, desserts, jams, or the like may be stored in the door internal space 103. For example, wine which requires storage at a relatively high temperature among alcoholic beverages may be stored in the door internal space 103.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing selecting of a storage method of the door internal space 103 and whether the blower fan 140 is turned on, according to an embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process of selecting a storage method according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, the refrigerator 1 may be selected in a storage mode of the door internal space 103 according to a user input. The refrigerator 1 may be configured to be selected in the second mode or the first mode according to a user input.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the user input may be input through an input/output interface 50 (refer to FIG. 15). The input/output interface 50 may be the input/output interface 50 of the refrigerator 1 or the input/output interface 50 of an external device.

The input/output interface 50 may provide a storage setting graphics user interface (GUI) that allows the user to set the storage mode of the door internal space 103. The storage setting GUI provides a storage menu that allows the user to set the storage method in operation 1201.

When a second mode GM is selected by the user, the refrigerator 1 may turn on the blower fan 140. When a first mode SM is selected by the user, the refrigerator 1 may turn off the blower fan 140.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing whether the blower fan 140 is turned on depending on a temperature condition of the storage compartment 21 in the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 14, in the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment, the turning on of the blower fan 140 may be determined by considering a user input and the temperature of the storage compartment 21. For example, even when the user selects the storage mode of the door internal space 103, the turning on of the blower fan 140 may vary according to the temperature of the storage compartment 21.

The user may select the storage mode of the door internal space 103. For example, the user may select a second mode or a first mode. The refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may control the turning on of the blower fan 140 by considering the temperature of the storage compartment 21 together with the selection of the user.

As such an example, referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the refrigerator 1 may include a temperature sensor 30 detecting the temperature of the storage compartment 21 and the processor 40 controlling the blower fan 140.

The temperature sensor 30 may detect the temperature of the inside of the storage compartment 21 and transmit the detected temperature to the processor 40. The processor 40 may compare the detected temperature with a normal temperature range to turn off or on the blower fan 140.

The processor 40 may compare the detected temperature with the normal temperature range to control the turning on of the blower fan 140. The normal temperature range may be a temperature appropriate for refrigerated storage. For example, the normal temperature range may be 5° C. to 6° C. The normal temperature range may be a reference lower temperature limit or more and a reference upper temperature limit or less. The reference upper temperature limit may be 6° C. or more. The reference upper temperature limit may be 6° C. to 15° C. The reference lower temperature limit may be 5° C. or less. The reference lower temperature limit may be 1° C. to 5° C.

When the detected temperature is out of the normal temperature range, the blower fan 140 may be turned on or off in a manner opposite to the normal turned-on state of the blower fan 140 in a storage mode selected by the user. In other words, when the detected temperature is greater than or less than the normal temperature range, the blower fan 140 may be turned on or off in a manner opposite to the normal turned-on state of the blower fan 140 in a storage mode selected by the user.

For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode selected by the user, and the detected temperature is within the normal temperature range, the processor 40 may turn on the blower fan 140 to supply cold air to the door internal space 103.

When the detected temperature is out of the normal temperature range even when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the processor 40 may turn off the blower fan 140. For example, when the detected temperature is less than the normal temperature range while the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the processor 40 may turn off the blower fan 140. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode and the detected temperature is at the reference lower temperature limit or below, the blower fan 140 may be turned off. Accordingly, when the temperature of the storage compartment 21 drops unintentionally even when the refrigerator 1 is in the second mode, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may be maintained to be higher than the temperature of the storage compartment 21.

As another example, when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode selected by the user, and the detected temperature is within the normal temperature range, the processor 40 may turn off the blower fan 140 so as not to supply cold air to the door internal space 103.

When the temperature of the storage compartment 21 is out of the normal temperature range even when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the processor 40 may turn on the blower fan 140. When the temperature of the storage compartment 21 is greater than the normal temperature range while the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the processor 40 may turn on the blower fan 140. For example, when the detected temperature is at the reference upper temperature limit or above while the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned on. Accordingly, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may be prevented from increasing to a certain temperature or more even when the refrigerator 1 is in the first mode.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing whether the blower fan 140 is turned on depending on whether the doors 100 and 32 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is opened.

Referring to FIG. 16, in the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment, the turning on of the blower fan 140 may be determined by considering a user input and whether the doors 100 and 32 are opened. For example, even when the user selects the storage mode of the door internal space 103, the turning on of the blower fan 140 may vary according to whether the doors 100 and 32 are opened.

For example, the user may select the storage mode of the door internal space 103. For example, the user may select a second mode or a first mode. When the first mode is selected, the refrigerator 1 may turn off the blower fan 140.

When the second mode is selected, the refrigerator 1 may determine the turning on of the blower fan 140 according to whether the doors 100 and 32 are closed. For example, when the doors 100 and 32 are opened even when the user selects the second mode, the blower fan 140 may be turned off.

The opening of the door 100 may be at least one of the opening of the inner door 110 and the opening of the outer door 120. For example, when at least one of the inner door 110 and the outer door 120 is opened, the blower fan 140 may be turned off. Accordingly, the noise of the blower fan 140 may be prevented from leaking to the outside. In addition, when the outer door 120 is opened, cold air in the storage compartment 21 may be prevented from leaking to the outside by the blower fan 140.

When the door 100 is opened and then closed, the blower fan 140 may be turned on after a preset delay time has elapsed. For example, when the door 100 is closed, the processor 40 may determine the turning on of the blower fan 140 by determining whether a time at which the closing of the door 100 is maintained has elapsed the delay time. For example, when the time at which the closing of the door 100 is maintained has not elapsed the delay time, the blower fan 140 may be turned off. For example, when the time at which the closing of the door 100 is maintained has elapsed the delay time, the blower fan 140 may be turned on. The blower fan 140 may be turned on for a period of a preset standard turning-on time.

The delay time may be 5 seconds or more. The delay time may be 5 seconds to 20 seconds. However, the delay time is not limited thereto and may vary. The standard turning-on time may be 10 minutes or more. For example, the standard turning-on time may be 10 minutes to 30 minutes. However, the standard turning-on time is not limited thereto and may vary.

FIG. 17 is a diagram to describe a state in which the case 130 is separated from the door 100 of FIG. 7. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the door 100 of FIG. 7.

In the embodiments described above, the opening of the doors 100 and 32 is described based on the case in which the door 100 with the blower fan 140 installed is opened, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the opening of the doors 100 and 32 may also include the opening of a door provided on one side of the door 100 with the blower fan 140 installed, for example, the right upper door 32 (refer to FIG. 32).

Referring to FIG. 17, in the door 100 according to an embodiment, the case 130 may be detachably coupled to the inner door 110. The case 130 may be detachably assembled to the inner door 110. Accordingly, the user may easily separate the case 130 from the inner door 110 without a separate tool. When the case 130 is separated, space utilization inside the storage compartment 21 of the refrigerator 1 may be improved.

For example, the case 130 may be assembled to the inner door 110 by hook coupling. In such an example, at least one coupling protrusion 112 may be provided in at least one of the case 130 and the inner door 110, and a coupling groove 132 into which the coupling protrusion 112 may be inserted may be provided in the other one of the case 130 and the inner door 110. For example, the coupling groove 132 may be provided in the case 130, and the coupling protrusion 112 to be inserted into the coupling groove 132 may be provided in the inner door 110. Although not shown, as another example, the coupling protrusion 112 may be provided in the case 130, and the coupling groove 132 may be provided in the inner door 110.

The blower fan 140 may be provided to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the inner door 110. The blower fan 140 may be fixed to the inner door 110. One end portion of the blower fan 140 may be fixed to the inner door 110. For example, the blower fan 140 may be fixed to the inner door 110 by a fastening member 150 (refer to FIG. 8). As the blower fan 140 is fixedly installed in the inner door 110, the blower fan 140 may not be separated without a separate tool. Thus, the electric wire 145 configured to transmit electrical signals to the blower fan 140 may be prevented from being damaged in a process in which the user arbitrarily separates the blower fan 140.

The case 130 is independent of the blower fan 140 and may be assembled to the inner door 110. For example, the case 130 may be separated from the inner door 110 without separating the blower fan 140 fixed to the inner door 110. In such an example, the case 130 may have a cutout portion 131 into which the blower fan 140 may be inserted. The cutout portion 131 may have a shape corresponding to the exterior shape of the blower fan 140. In a process of assembling the case 130 to the inner door 110, the blower fan 140 may be fitted into the cutout portion 131.

Referring to FIG. 18, the blower fan 140 may protrude toward the door internal space 103. When the blower fan 140 is fitted into the cutout portion 131 of the case 130, the blower fan 140 may protrude from a surface of the case 130. In such an example, a thickness T2 of the blower fan 140 may be greater than a thickness T1 of the cutout portion 131. As such, as the blower fan 140 protrudes toward the door internal space 103, the user may visually check the blower fan 140. For example, when the user opens the outer door 120 in a state in which the inner door 110 is closed, the user may see the blower fan 140 protruding toward the door internal space 103. When the user opens the inner door 110, the user may see the blower fan 140 through the case 130. The user may recognize that a temperature change in the door internal space 103 is possible by visually checking the presence of the blower fan 140.

In the door 100 according to the embodiments described above, a structure in which the temperature of the door internal space 103 may be set by the blower fan 140 is described. However, the door 100 according to an embodiment is not limited thereto and may be variously applied.

For example, a heater (not shown) may be provided in the door 100 instead of the blower fan 140, or the blower fan 140 and the heater (not shown) may be provided together. Through the heater, the temperature of the door internal space 103 may also be quickly increased.

As another example, the blower fan 140 may be omitted in the door 100. In this regard, a description is given with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views showing a door 100A of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, the door 100A of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may include the inner door 110, the outer door 120, and a case 130A.

The case 130A may include a cold air transfer opening 133 through which cold air in the storage compartment 21 may be transferred, and a cold air blocking door 134 configured to selectively open and close the cold air transfer opening 133.

For example, the cold air blocking door 134 may move in a sliding manner to open and close the cold air transfer opening 133. The cold air blocking door 134 may be movable in a left-and-right direction. However, a movement direction of the cold air blocking door 134 is not limited thereto and may be rotated in an up-and-down direction or around a certain axis.

As another example, although not shown, the cold air blocking door 134 may include a plurality of blades which are tiltable. The cold air transfer opening 133 may be opened or closed through the tilting of the plurality of blades. As another example, although not shown, the cold air transfer opening 133 may be provided in multiple numbers and arranged in a grid shape. In this case, the cold air blocking door 134 may have shapes corresponding to the plurality of cold air transfer openings 133 and may open and close the plurality of cold air transfer openings 133 through a sliding movement.

In the embodiments described above, the door 100 of the refrigerator 1 is mainly described as having a double structure including the inner door 110 and the outer door 120. However, the door 100 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is not limited thereto and may also be a structure without the outer door 120.

For example, referring to FIG. 21, a door 100B according to an embodiment may include the inner door 110, a case 130B, and the blower fan 140, and may not include the outer door 120. The case 130B may include a case door 180 configured to open and close the door internal space 103. The case door 180 is described as having a structure that moves in a sliding manner, but is not limited thereto and may also rotate around a certain axis. In the refrigerator 1 having the door 100B, the user may open the case door 180 in a state in which the door 100B is opened to take out food inside the door internal space 103 or store food in the door internal space 103.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator 2000 according to an embodiment.

The refrigerators 1 and 1A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may correspond to the refrigerator 2000. The refrigerator 2000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a sensor 2010, an input/output interface 2020, a memory 2050, a communication module 2060, a home appliance function module 2080, a power module 2080, and a processor 2090. The refrigerator 2000 may be configured with various combinations of the components shown in FIG. 22, and not all of the components shown in FIG. 22 are essential configurations.

The refrigerator 2000 of FIG. 22 corresponds to the refrigerators 1 and 1A described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the processor 2090 corresponds to the processor 40 described with reference to FIG. 15, the sensor 2010 corresponds to the temperature sensor 30 described with reference to FIG. 15, a storage compartment 2073 and a door internal space 2074 respectively correspond to the storage compartment 21 and the door internal space 103 described with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 22, the refrigerator 2000 according to an embodiment includes the sensor 2010, the input/output interface 2020, the memory 2050, the communication module 2060, the home appliance function module 2080, the power module 2080, and the processor 2090. The refrigerator 2000 may be configured with various combinations of the components shown in FIG. 22, and not all of the components shown in FIG. 22 are essential configurations.

The sensor 2010 may include various types of sensors, for example, the sensor 2010 may include various types of sensors, such as an image sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a lidar sensor, a human detection sensor, a motion detection sensor, a proximity sensor, an illuminance sensor, a temperature sensor, etc. Because a function of each of the sensors may be intuitively inferred by those skilled in the art from their names, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The input/output interface 2020 may include an output interface 2030 and an input interface 2040.

The output interface 2030 may include a display unit 2031, a sound output unit 2032, or the like. The output interface 2030 outputs various notifications, messages, information, or the like generated by the processor 2090.

The input interface 2040 may include a key 2041, a touch screen 2042, or the like. The input interface 2040 receives a user input and transfers the same to the processor 2090.

The memory 2050 stores various pieces of information, data, instructions, programs, or the like necessary for an operation of the refrigerator 2000. The memory 2050 may include at least one of volatile memory or non-volatile memory or a combination thereof. The memory 2050 may include at least one type of storage medium from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, card-type memory (for example, secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), random-access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), PROM, magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. In addition, the refrigerator 2000 may also operate a web storage or cloud server that performs storage functions on the Internet.

The communication module 2060 may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module 2062 or a long-range communication module 2064 or a combination thereof. The communication module 2060 may include at least one antenna for wirelessly communicating with other devices.

The short-range wireless communication module 2062 may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a micro wave (uWave) communication module, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The long-range communication module 2064 may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range communications and may include a mobile communication unit. The mobile communication unit transmits and receives wireless signals with at least one of a base state, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network. Here, wireless signals may include various forms of data, such as transmission and reception of voice call signals, video call signals, or text/multimedia messages.

The home appliance function module 2080 may include a refrigerating module 2071, a freezing module 2072, the storage compartment 2073, and the door internal space 2074. In addition, the home appliance function module 2080 may further include an operation module that performs the original function of the refrigerator 2000.

The power module 2080 is connected to a power source to supply power to the refrigerator 2000.

The processor 2090 controls overall operations of the refrigerator 2000. The processor 2090 may control the components of the refrigerator 2000 by executing a program stored in the memory 2050.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor 2090 may include a separate neural processing unit (NPU) that performs an operation of an artificial intelligence model. In addition, the processor 2090 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or the like.

To understand the disclosure, reference numerals have been given to preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific terms have been used to describe the embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to the specific terms, and the disclosure may include all components that may be commonly conceived by those skilled in the art.

The specific implementations described in the disclosure are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. For the brevity of the specification, descriptions of electronic components, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the systems in the related art may be omitted. In addition, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Furthermore, no item or component is essential to the practice of the inventive concept unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. The expressions such as “including,” “having,” or the like used herein are intended to be understood as terms of the open-ended nature of the technology.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the specification of the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Also, the steps of all methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The present disclosure is not limited to the described order of the steps. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the present disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise claimed. In addition, those skilled in the art to which the technology belongs may clearly know that various modifications and changes may be easily made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment may store various types of food through a door internal space that may selectively block cold air in the refrigerator.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment may include a main body having a storage compartment and a door provided to open and close the storage compartment, wherein the door may include an inner door rotatably provided in the main body and having an opening, an outer door rotatably provided in the inner door and opening and closing the opening, a case provided on a rear side of the inner door to form a door internal space on the rear side of the inner door, and a blower fan provided on at least one side of the case to transfer cold air in the storage compartment to the door internal space, and, to enable a temperature of the door internal space to be higher than a temperature of the storage compartment, the blower fan may be turned off in a state in which the door is closed to block the cold air in the storage compartment from being transferred to the door internal space.

The state in which the door is closed may be a closed state in which the inner door blocks the storage compartment and a closed state in which the outer door blocks the opening.

The refrigerator may provide a first mode in which the blower fan is turned off in the state in which the door is closed so that the cold air in the storage compartment is not transferred to the door internal space, and a second mode in which the blower fan is turned on in the state in which the door is closed so that the cold air in the storage compartment is transferred to the door internal space.

When the refrigerator is in the first mode, a difference between the temperature of the door internal space and the temperature of the storage compartment may be 2° C. to 7° C.

The refrigerator may be configured to be selected in one of the first mode and the second mode by a user input.

The refrigerator may further include at least one door basket arranged in the inner door, and the case may be arranged to surround at least a portion of the door basket.

The case may be detachably assembled to the inner door.

The blower fan may be fixed to the inner door through a fastening member, and the case may have a cutout portion into which the blower fan is insertable.

A thickness of the blower fan may be greater than a thickness of the cutout portion so that the blower fan protrudes toward the door internal space.

The refrigerator may further include a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the storage compartment, and a processor configured to control the blower fan, and the processor may be configured to turn off or on the blower fan by comparing a detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor with a normal temperature range of the storage compartment.

When the refrigerator is in the first mode and the detected temperature is within the normal temperature range, the processor may turn off the blower fan, and, when the refrigerator is in the second mode and the detected temperature is within the normal temperature range, the processor may turn on the blower fan.

When the refrigerator is in the first mode and the detected temperature is greater than the normal temperature range, the processor may turn on the blower fan.

When the refrigerator is in the second mode and the detected temperature is less than the normal temperature range, the processor may turn off the blower fan.

The refrigerator according to an embodiment may store various types of food through the door internal space having a temperature higher than the temperature of the storage compartment by selectively turning off the blower fan.