REFRIGERATOR

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0003583 filed on Jan. 10, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND
1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

2. Background

In general, a refrigerator is an appliance for storing food or other goods at a relatively low temperature in an internal storage space that accessed by a door. In some examples, the refrigerator may cool the inside of the storage space by using air that is heat exchanged with a refrigerant circulating in components of an refrigeration cycle such that the stored food, cosmetics, or the like (hereinafter, referred to as goods) may be maintained in an optimal state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an example of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating another example of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front view when a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is disposed adjacent to another refrigerator;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating selective operation of a cooling device and selective operation of a heating device according to the temperature change of the storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5 to 8 are views illustrating examples of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a see-through door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a plan view when an example of a door according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is opened in a door opening module;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view when another example of a door according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is opened by the door opening module;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view when a holder illustrated in FIG. 12 is lifted;

FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a storage chamber of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view when the partition member according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is separated in front of the storage space;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an inner guide and an evaporator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a rear view illustrating an inner portion of the inner guide according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the inner case according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an example of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigerator may have a storage chamber W in which goods and the like may be stored. The refrigerator may include a cabinet 1 in which a storage chamber W is formed. The refrigerator may further include a door 50 that opens and closes the storage chamber W. The door 50 may include at least one of a rotatable door 5 (e.g., a swinging door) or an advancing and retracting type door 6 (e.g., a drawer). The cabinet 1 may include an outer case 7 forming an outer appearance and an inner case 8 forming at least one surface for forming the storage chamber W therein.

The storage chamber W may be a storage chamber to receive mainly certain kinds of goods which are preferably stored at a specific temperature range. For example, the storage chamber W may be a dedicated storage chamber for storing certain goods that need to be kept warm or cold, for example, alcoholic liquors such as wine and beer, fermented foods, cosmetics, or medical supplies. As one example, the storage chamber for receiving wine may be maintained at a temperature range of 3° C. To 20° C., and this temperature range is relatively higher than temperatures for the refrigerating chamber of a conventional refrigerator to receive food items, and is preferable not to exceed 20° C. More specifically, the temperature of the storage chamber for red wine can be adjusted to 12° C. To 18° C., and the temperature of the storage chamber for white wine can be adjusted to 6° C. To 11° C. In another example, the temperature of the storage chamber for champagne can be adjusted to about 5° C.

The temperature of the storage chamber W can be adjusted such that the storage chamber temperature fluctuates between a target temperature upper limit value and a target temperature lower limit value of the storage chamber W. The quality or freshness of the goods stored in the storage chamber W may be reduced by the difference between the target temperature upper limit value and the target temperature lower limit value (hereinafter, referred to as storage chamber temperature difference). The refrigerator may be manufactured with a small storage chamber temperature difference according to the type of the goods and may minimize the reduction of the quality of the goods. The storage chamber W of the refrigerator of the present embodiment may be a storage chamber having a smaller storage chamber temperature difference than that of a general refrigerator. For example, the storage chamber temperature difference of the storage chamber W may be less than 3° C. And may be 2° C., as an example. Of course, in a case of considering certain types of goods that are very sensitive to temperature changes, the storage chamber temperature difference may be less than 1° C.

The refrigerator may include a device capable of adjusting the temperature of the storage chamber W (hereinafter, referred to as a “temperature adjusting device” or “temperature adjusting module”). The temperature adjusting device may include at least one of a cooling device or a heating device. The temperature adjusting device may cool or heat the storage chamber W by at least one of conduction, convection, and radiation. For example, a cooling device, such as an evaporator 150 or a heat absorbing body of a thermoelectric element, may be attached to the inner case 8 to cool the storage chamber W by conduction. By adding an airflow forming mechanism such as a fan, the air may be heat-exchanged with the cooling device by convection and supplied to the storage chamber W. In another example, a heating device, such as a heater or a heat generating body of the thermoelectric element, may be attached to the inner case 8 to heat the storage chamber W by conduction. An airflow forming mechanism, such as a fan, can supply a flow of air that is heated by convection and provided to the storage chamber W by convection.

In the present specification, the cooling device may be defined as a device capable of cooling the storage chamber W, including at least one of the evaporator 150, the heat absorbing body of the thermoelectric element, or the fan. In addition, the heating device may be defined as a device capable of heating the storage chamber W, including at least one of a heater, a heat generating body of the thermoelectric element, or a fan.

The refrigerator may further include an inner guide 200. The inner guide 200 may partition an inner portion of the inner case 8 into a first space in which goods are stored and a second space in which a temperature adjusting device is located (the second space hereinafter being referred to as a “temperature adjusting device chamber”). The temperature adjusting device chamber may include a cooling device chamber and a heating device chamber. For example, the temperature adjusting device chamber can be located between the inner guide 200 and the inner case 8, between the inner guide 200 and the outer case 7, or inside the inner guide 200, such as in the storage chamber W.

The inner guide 200 may be disposed to partition a cold air flow path P for supplying cold air to the space where goods are stored and the storage chamber W, and at least one cooling device may be disposed in the cold air flow path P. The inner guide 200 may be further disposed to partition a space in which goods are stored and a hot air flow path P for supplying heat to the storage chamber W, and at least one heating device may be disposed in the hot air flow path P. The inner guide for the cooling device and the inner guide for the heating device may be designed in common or may be manufactured separately. The inner guide 200 may form a storage space together with the inner case 8. The inner guide 200 may be disposed in front of the rear body of the inner case.

The refrigerator may have one space having the same storage chamber temperature range of the storage chamber W or may have two or more spaces having different storage temperature ranges from each other (such as freezer/refrigerator combination. The refrigerator may further include a partition member 3 disposed vertically or horizontally in order to divide the storage chambers W into two or more spaces (for example, a first space W1 and a second space W2) which have different storage chamber temperatures range from each other.

The refrigerator may further include the partition member 10 disposed vertically or horizontally in order to divide the storage chambers W into two or more spaces (for example, a second space W2, a third space We) which have different storage chamber temperatures range from each other. The partition member 10 may be separately manufactured and then mounted in the inner case 8. The partition member 10 may be manufactured as a heat insulating material disposed between the outer case 7 and the inner cases 8 and 9.

The two or more spaces may be different in size and locations. For example, the first space W1 may be located at the upper side, the second space W2 may be located at the lower side, and the partition member 3 may be disposed so that the size of the first space W1 is larger than the size of the second space W2. In one example, the first storage chamber temperature for the first space W may be higher than the second storage chamber temperature for the second space W2.

In the present specification, it can be defined that a meaning of the first storage chamber temperature being higher than the second storage chamber temperature corresponds to at least one case of a case where the maximum value of the first storage chamber temperature is greater than the maximum value of the second storage chamber temperature, a case where the average value of the first storage chamber temperature is greater than the average value of the second storage chamber temperature, a case where the minimum value of the first storage chamber temperature is greater than the minimum value of the second storage chamber temperature, or a case where a current detected value of the first storage chamber temperature is greater than a current detected value of the second storage chamber temperature..

The refrigerator may further include a door (hereinafter, a see-through door) through which the user can see the storage chamber through a see-through window without opening the door 50 from the outside of the refrigerator, and the see-through door will be described later. In addition, the refrigerator may further include a transparent gasket 24 disposed on at least one of the see-through door or the partition members 3 and 10. When the see-through door closes the storage chamber W, the transparent gasket 24 may combine with the partition members 3 and 10 to partition the storage chamber W into two or more spaces having different storage temperature ranges from each other together.

The refrigerator may further include door opening modules (or door motors) 11 and 11′ for guiding an opening motion of the door 50. The door opening modules 11 and 11′ may be a rotatable door opening module 11 which can allow the door 5 to be rotated more than a predetermined angle without the user holding the door 5, or an advancing and retracting type door opening module 11′ which can allow the door (e.g., a drawer) 6 to be advanced and retracted in a front and rear direction. The door opening modules 11 and 11′ will be described later.

The refrigerator may further include a lifting module (or lifting mechanism) 13 capable of lifting or lowering the holder (or bin) 12, and although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the lifting module may be located in at least one of the storage chamber or the door.

As previously described, the refrigerator may include a plurality of doors for opening and closing two or more spaces having different storage temperature ranges from each other. At least one of the plurality of doors may be a see-through door having a region that is formed of a transparent or translucent material, such as glass. At least one of the cabinet 1 or the plurality of doors may include door opening modules 11 and 11′. The lifting module 13 for lifting and lowering the holder located in the storage chamber to open and close may be disposed on at least one of the plurality of doors. For example, the door for the storage chamber located at the top may be a see-through door, and a lifting module 13 for lifting and lowering a holder 12 of a storage chamber located at the lower portion may be disposed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an example of another type of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the storage chamber W illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described as a first storage chamber W. The refrigerator may further include at least one of the first storage chamber W (e.g., first chambers W1 and W2) and at least one second storage chamber C that may be temperature-controlled independently of the first storage chamber W. Hereinafter, a detailed description of the same configuration and operation as those of the storage chamber W illustrated in FIG. 1 will be omitted for the first storage chamber W, and a different configuration and operation from the storage chamber W illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described.

The second storage chamber C may be a storage chamber having a temperature range lower than the temperature range of the first storage chamber W and, for example, may be a storage chamber having a temperature range of −24° C. To 7° C. The second storage chamber C may be a storage chamber which is temperature-controlled based on a target temperature, which is a temperature selected by a user in this lower temperature range (e.g., between −24° C. To 7° C.). The second storage chamber C may be composed of a switching chamber (or a temperature changing chamber) in which any one of a plurality of temperature ranges may be selected, or may be configured as a non-switching chamber having one temperature range.

The switching chamber is a storage chamber which can be temperature-controlled to a selected temperature range among a plurality of temperature ranges, and the plurality of temperature ranges may include, for example, a first temperature range above zero, a second temperature range below zero, and a third temperature range between the first temperature range and the second temperature range. For example, the user may provide an input to control the second storage chamber C to operate in a mode (for example, a refrigerating chamber mode) associated with a temperature range above zero, and accordingly, the temperature range of the second storage chamber C may be selected a temperature range above zero (for example, 1° C. To 7° C.). For example, the user may further input a desired temperature in the temperature range above zero, and the target temperature of the second storage chamber C may be a specific temperature (for example, 4° C.) Entered by a user in the temperature range (for example, 1° C. To 7° C.) Above zero.

In another example, the user can provide an input to select an operating mode in which the second storage chamber C is maintained in the temperature range below zero (for example, freezing chamber mode) or a special mode (for example, a mode for maintaining an optimal temperature range for storing certain kind of goods, such as a kimchi storage mode). For example, the user may further input a desired temperature in the temperature range below zero or a desired temperature for the certain type of goods, and the second storage chamber C may be maintained within a temperature range that is centered at or otherwise includes the specific inputted temperature.

As previously described, the first storage chamber W may be a specific goods storage chamber in a specific temperature range or other environmental conditions (e.g., humidity, light levels, etc.) are maintained to optimally store a particular kind of goods or to mainly store a certain kind of goods, or the second storage chamber C may be a non-specific goods storage chamber in which a various kinds of goods may be stored in addition to a specific kind of goods. Examples of specific goods may include alcoholic beverages such as wine, fermented foods, cosmetics, and medical supplies. For example, the first storage chamber W may be a storage chamber in which wine is stored or a wine chamber in which wine is mainly stored, and the second storage chamber C may be a non-wine chamber in which goods other than wine are stored or goods other than wine are mainly stored.

A storage chamber having a relatively small storage chamber temperature difference among the first storage chamber W and the second storage chamber C may be defined as a constant temperature chamber, and a storage chamber having a relatively large storage chamber temperature difference among the first storage chamber W and the second storage chamber C may be defined as a non-constant temperature chamber.

Any one of the first storage chamber W and the second storage chamber C may be a priority storage chamber which is controlled in priority, and the other may be a subordinate storage chamber which is controlled in relatively subordinate. A first goods having a large or expensive quality change according to the temperature change may be stored in the priority storage chamber, and A second goods having a small or low quality change according to the temperature change may be stored in the subordinate storage chamber.

The refrigerator may perform a specific operation for the priority storage chamber and a specific operation for the subordinate storage chamber. The specific operation includes a general operation and a special operation for the storage chamber. A general operation may include, for example, a conventional cooling operation for the storage chamber cooling. The special operation may include, for example, a defrost operation for defrosting the cooling device, a door load response operation that can be performed when one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied after the door is opened, or an initial power supply operation, which is an operation when the power is first supplied to the refrigerator.

The refrigerator may be controlled such that a specific operation for the priority storage chamber is performed first when two operations collide with each other. Here, the collision of the two operations may be occur, for example, as a case where the start condition of the first operation and the start condition of the second operation are satisfied at the same time; as a case where the start condition of the first operation is satisfied and thus the start condition of the second operation is satisfied while the first operation is in progress; or as a case where the start condition of the second operation is satisfied and thus the start condition of the first operation is satisfied while the second operation is in progress.

For example, in the refrigerator, the priority storage chamber may be cooled or heated prior to the subordinate storage chamber when the temperature of the priority storage chamber is not satisfied, and the temperature of the subordinate storage chamber is not satisfied. In another example, while the cooling device for cooling the subordinate storage chamber is being defrosted, if the temperature of the priority storage chamber is not satisfied, the priority storage chamber may be cooled or heated while the cooling device of the subordinate storage chamber is being defrosted (even if this cooling or heating of the priority chamber may interfere with defrosting the cooling device of the subordinate storage chamber).

In another example, if the temperature of the priority storage chamber is not satisfied (e.g., outside of a desired temperature range) while the subordinate storage chamber is in progress of the door load response operation, the priority storage chamber may be cooled or heated during the door load response operation of the subordinate storage chamber such that the temperature of the priority storage chamber is adjusted to be within the desired temperature range.

In certain configurations, any one of the first storage chamber W and the second storage chamber C may be a storage chamber in which the temperature is adjusted by the first cooling device and the heating device, and the other is a storage chamber in which the temperature is adjusted by a second cooling mechanism or device.

In the refrigerator, a separate receiving member (or storage drawer) 4 may be additionally disposed in at least one of the first space W1 or the second space W2. In the receiving member 4, a separate space S (hereinafter, referred to as a receiving space) may be formed separately from the first space W1 and the second space W2 to accommodate goods. The refrigerator may adjust the receiving space S of the receiving member 4 to a temperature range different from that of the first space W1 and the second space W2.

The receiving member 4 may be disposed to be located in the second space W2 provided below the first space W1. The receiving space S of the receiving member 4 may be smaller than the second space W2. In one example, the storage chamber temperature of the receiving space S may be equal to or less than the storage chamber temperature of the second space W2.

In the refrigerator, in order to dispose as many shelves 2 as possible in the first storage chamber W, the length of the refrigerator itself in the vertical direction may be longer than the width in the horizontal direction, and in this case, the length of the refrigerator in the vertical direction may be more than twice the width in the horizontal direction. Meanwhile, since the refrigerator may be unstable and tip over if the length in the vertical direction is too long relative to the width in the horizontal direction, it may be preferable that the length in the vertical direction is less than three times the width in the horizontal direction. Certain examples of the length in the vertical direction that can store a plurality of the specific goods may be 2.3 to 3 times the width in a left and right direction, and a particular example may be 2.4 to 3 times the width in the left and right direction.

Meanwhile, even if the length of the refrigerator in the vertical direction is longer than the width in the left and right direction, when the length of the storage chamber in which the specific goods are substantially stored (for example, the first storage chamber W) is relatively short in a vertical direction, the number of specific goods that may be received in the storage chamber may not be high. In the refrigerator, preferably, the length of the first storage chamber W in the vertical direction is longer than the length of the second storage chamber C in the vertical direction so that the specific goods can be stored as much as possible. For example, the length of the first storage chamber W in the vertical direction may be 1.1 times to 1.5 times the length of the second storage chamber C in the vertical direction.

At least one of the first door 5 and the second door 6 may be a see-through door, and aspects of the see-through door will be described later. The refrigerator may further include door opening modules 11 and 11′ for providing a force for automatically opening at least one of the first door 5 or the second door 6 coupled to the door opening modules 11 and 11′, and the door opening modules 11 and 11′ will be described later. In at least one of the first storage chamber W, the second storage chamber C, and the first door 5, or the second door 6, a lifting module 13 capable of lifting the holder 12 may be disposed. The lifting module 13 will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a front view when a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is positioned adjacent to another refrigerator. The refrigerator described in the present disclosure may be disposed adjacent to one or more other refrigerators, and a pair of adjacent refrigerators may be disposed, for example, in the left and right direction. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2 will be referred for description thereof, and the same configuration of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2 as each other will be described using the same reference numerals for convenience of description. In one example, a refrigerator may include a plurality of storage chambers that may be located in the left and right direction and the vertical direction in one outer case, such as a side by side type refrigerator or a French door type refrigerator.

At least one of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2 may be a refrigerator to which an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. Although the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2 may have some functions that different from each other, the lengths (or heights) of the first and second refrigerators Q1 and Q2 in the vertical direction be the same or almost similar so that the overall appearance may give the same or similar feeling when disposed adjacent to each other in the left and right direction.

Each of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2 may include each of a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, and the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber may include a partition member 10 partitioning in the vertical direction, respectively, and the partition member 10 of the first refrigerator Q1 and the partition member 10 of the second refrigerator Q2 may overlap in the horizontal direction.

The upper end 6A of the second door 6 opening and closing the second storage chamber of the first refrigerator Q1 and the upper end 6A of the second door 6 opening and closing the second storage chamber of the second refrigerator Q2 can coincide with each other in the horizontal direction. Similarly, the lower end 6B of the second door 6 opening and closing the second storage chamber of the first refrigerator Q1 and the lower end 6B of the second door 6 opening and closing the second storage chamber of the second refrigerator Q2 can coincide with each other in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating on and off of a cooling device and on and off of heating device according to the temperature change of the storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As previously described, the refrigerator may be provided with cooling device and heating device that can be independently controlled to control the temperature of the storage chamber W.

The refrigerator may include cooling device and heating device for controlling the temperature of at least one storage chamber among a specific goods storage chamber, a constant temperature chamber, and a priority storage chamber. The refrigerator may be controlled in a plurality of modes for temperature adjusting of the storage chamber W, and as shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of modes may include a cooling mode E in which the storage chamber W is cooled by the cooling device, a heating mode H in which the storage chamber W is heated by the heating device, and a standby mode D in which the storage chamber W maintains the current state without cooling or heating. The refrigerator may include a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the storage chamber W and may selectively perform the cooling mode E, the heating mode H, and the standby mode D according to the storage chamber temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

The cooling mode E is not limited to a care where the storage chamber W is continuously cooled by the cooling device, and may also include, for example, a case in which the storage chamber is generally cooled by the cooling device as a whole but the storage chamber W is temporarily not being cooled by the cooling device. The cooling mode E may also include a case in which the storage chamber W is cooled by the cooling device as a whole, and the storage chamber is also temporarily being heated by the heating device. The cooling mode E may also include a case where the time for which the storage chamber is cooled by the cooling device is longer than the time for which the storage chamber W is not cooled by the cooling device. The cooling mode E may be a mode in which the cooling device is operated or stopped.

Operation of the cooling device may include the cooling device being controlled such that at least a portion of the cooling device is at a temperature lower than the temperature of the storage chamber W. The operation of the cooling device may mean that cold air is supplied to the storage space, may mean to drive a fan for supplying cold air to the storage space, and/or may mean that a damper which adjusts air flowing to the storage space opens in a case where the damper is disposed.

For example, when the cooling device is a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator, the operation of the cooling device may mean switching the refrigerant valve or driving the compressor to flow the refrigerant to the evaporator. An example of the operation of the cooling device may be to turn on only the fan to use the latent heat remaining in the evaporator while the refrigerant does not flow to the evaporator. The stopping of the cooling device may mean that the fan is turned off while the refrigerant valve is switched or the compressor is turned off (e.g., the compressor is stopped) so that the refrigerant does not flow to the evaporator.

For example, the cooling mode E may be a mode in which the refrigerant passes through the evaporator, the air in the storage chamber W is cooled by the evaporator, and then flows into the storage chamber W. In the cooling mode E, the compressor may be turned on or off according to the temperature of the storage chamber W. In the cooling mode E, the compressor may be turned on and off such that the storage chamber temperature is maintained between the target temperature upper limit value and the target temperature lower limit value. In detail, the compressor may be turned on when the storage chamber temperature reaches the target temperature upper limit value and may be turned off when the storage chamber temperature reaches the target temperature lower limit value.

As another example, when the cooling device is a heat absorbing body of the thermoelectric element, the operation of the cooling device may mean that current is applied to the thermoelectric element so that the heat of the heat absorbing body of the thermoelectric element is transferred to the heat generating body of the thermoelectric element. An example of the operation of the cooling device may be that only the fan is turned on to use the latent heat remaining in the heat absorbing body of the thermoelectric element while the current is blocked in the thermoelectric element. The stopping of the cooling device may mean that the thermoelectric element and the fan are turned off (for example, blocking the current applied to the thermoelectric element and the fan).

When the refrigerator includes an evaporator for cooling the first space W1, a fan for circulating air to the first space W1 and the evaporator, and a first damper for adjusting air blown into the first space W1, the operation of the cooling device may mean that the compressor and the fan are driven and the first damper is controlled in the open mode. When the refrigerator includes an evaporator for cooling the second space W2, a fan for circulating air to the second space W2 and the evaporator, and a second damper for adjusting the air blown into the second space W2, the operation of the cooling device may mean that the compressor and the fan are driven and the second damper is controlled in the open mode. When the refrigerator further includes a refrigerant valve for supplying or blocking the refrigerant to the evaporator, the operation of the cooling device may also or alternatively mean to control the refrigerant valve to the evaporator supply mode.

The heating mode H is not limited to the storage chamber W being continuously heated by the heating device, may also include a case where the storage chamber W is heated by the heating device as a whole, but the storage chamber W is temporarily not heated by the heating device. The heating mode H may also include a case where the storage chamber W is heated by the heating device as a whole, but the storage chamber W is temporarily cooled by the cooling device. The heating mode H may include a case where the time for which the storage chamber W is heated by the heating device is longer than the time for which the storage chamber W is not heated by the heating device.

The heating mode H may be a mode in which the heating device is operated or stopped. Operation of the heating device may mean that the heating device is controlled such that at least a portion of the heating device is at a temperature higher than the temperature of the storage chamber W. For example, when the heating device is a heater such as a hot wire heater or a planar heater or a heat generating body of the thermoelectric element, the operation of the heating device may mean that the heating device is turned on (e.g., current is applied to the heating device). An example of the operation of the heating device may be that only the fan is turned on to use the latent heat remaining in the heating device while the current is blocked in the heating device. The stopping of the heating device may mean that the heating device is turned off (blocking current applied to the heating device and the fan). In the heating mode H, the heating device may be turned on or off so that the storage chamber temperature is maintained between the target temperature upper limit value and the target temperature lower limit value. Specifically, the heating device may be turned off when the storage chamber temperature reaches the target temperature upper limit value and may be turned on when the storage chamber temperature reaches the target temperature lower limit value.

When the refrigerator includes a heating device for heating the first space W1 and a fan (or heat generate (HG) fan) for circulating air to the first space W1 and the heating device, the operation of the heating device may mean that the heating device is on (operates) and the fan (or HG fan) is driven. When the refrigerator includes an additional heating device for heating the second space W2 and a fan for circulating air to the second space W2 and the additional heating device, the operation of the heating device may mean that the additional heating device is on (operates) and the fan is driven.

The standby mode D may be a mode in which each of the cooling device and the heating device is stopped. For example, the standby mode D may be a mode in which the refrigerant does not pass through the evaporator and the heater maintains the off state. The standby mode D may be a mode in which the heater also maintains the off state while the compressor maintains the off state. The standby mode D may be a mode in which the air in the storage chamber W is not forced to flow by the fan.

The plurality of modes may be performed in the order of the cooling mode E, the standby mode D, and the heating mode H over time. The plurality of modes may be performed in the order of the heating mode H, the standby mode D, and the cooling mode E over time. The plurality of modes may be performed in the order of the cooling mode E, the standby mode D, and the cooling mode E over time. The plurality of modes may be performed in the order of the heating mode H, the standby mode D, and the heating mode H over time.

In the plurality of modes, when the cooling mode E and the standby mode D are alternately performed and the starting condition of the heating mode H is reached during the standby mode D, the standby mode D can be ended, and the heating mode H can be started. In the plurality of modes, when the heating mode H and the standby mode D are alternately performed and the starting condition of the cooling mode E is reached during the standby mode D, the standby mode D can be ended, and the cooling mode E can be started. In some examples, when implementing the plurality of modes, the refrigerator may not immediately switch to the heating mode H without the standby mode D during the cooling mode E and may not immediately switch to the cooling mode E without the standby mode D during the heating mode H.

The refrigerator may include a controller 30 (see FIG. 9) for controlling various electronic devices such as a motor provided in the refrigerator. The controller 30 may control the cooling device and the heating device. The controller 30 can selectively perform one or more of a plurality of modes (E)(H)(D). As previously described, the cooling mode E may be a mode in which the controller 30 controls the cooling device such that the storage chamber W maintains the target temperature range by the cooling device. The target temperature range may range from a lower limit value of the target temperature to an upper limit value of the target temperature.

In the cooling mode E, the cooling device may be operated when the temperature of the storage chamber sensed by the temperature sensor (hereinafter, referred to as storage chamber temperature) is higher than the target temperature upper limit value and may be stopped when the storage chamber temperature is lower than the target temperature lower limit value.

The heating mode H may be a mode in which the controller 30 controls the heating device such that the storage chamber W maintains the target temperature range by the heating device. In the heating mode H, the heating device may be stopped if the storage chamber temperature is higher than the target temperature upper limit value and may be operated if the storage chamber temperature is lower than the target temperature lower limit value.

During the operation of the refrigerator, the temperature of the storage chamber W may vary according to the load of the storage chamber W and the ambient temperature of the refrigerator, and the temperature of the storage chamber W may be outside the target temperature range. An example in which the temperature of the storage chamber W is outside the target temperature range may be a case where the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature lower limit value and the lower limit temperature. Another example in which the temperature of the storage chamber W is outside the target temperature range may be a case where the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature.

The lower limit temperature may be lower than the target temperature lower limit value. The lower limit temperature may be a temperature set lower by a set temperature (for example, 2° C.) than the target temperature lower limit value. When the target temperature and the target temperature lower limit value are changed, the lower limit temperature may also be changed according to the changed target temperature and the target temperature lower limit value.

The upper limit temperature may be a temperature higher than the target temperature upper limit value. The upper limit temperature may be a temperature set higher by a set temperature (for example, 2° C.) than the target temperature upper limit value. When the target temperature and the target temperature upper limit value are changed, the upper limit temperature may also be changed according to the changed target temperature and the target temperature upper limit value.

As described above, when the temperature of the storage chamber is between the target temperature lower limit value and the lower limit temperature, or between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature, the refrigerator may be in a standby mode, and the controller 30 may stop each of the cooling device and the heating device.

An example of the standby mode D may be a mode in which the storage chamber temperature is maintained between the target temperature lower limit value and the lower limit temperature, and the refrigerator does not immediately switch to the heating mode H during the cooling mode E, and can be controlled in the order of the cooling mode E, the standby mode D, and the heating mode H. In this case, when the refrigerator maintains the standby mode D after the cooling mode E is ended and the starting condition of the heating mode H is reached during the standby mode D, the refrigerator can be switched from the standby mode D to the heating mode H.

After the cooling mode E is ended, if the time for which the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature lower limit value and the lower limit temperature is equal to or greater than the first preset time T1 (for example, 100 minutes), the refrigerator can be switched from the standby mode D to the heating mode H. After the cooling mode E is ended, the condition that the time for which the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature lower limit value and the lower limit temperature is equal to or greater than the first preset time T1 (for example, 100 minutes) may be the first start condition of the heating mode H.

The temperature of the storage chamber W, which has been temperature-controlled in the cooling mode E, may be maintained at a temperature lower than the target temperature lower limit value without rising again to a temperature equal to or higher than the target temperature lower limit for a long time while being lowered to a temperature lower than the target temperature lower limit. This may be the case where the standby mode D is maintained for a long time after the cooling mode E is ended and the refrigerator cannot be returned to the cooling mode E again.

In a case where the storage chamber W lasts for a long time in a state of being lower than the target temperature range without rising to the target temperature range, deterioration of the quality of the goods stored in the storage chamber W may occur, and in this case, the controller 30 can stop the standby mode D and start the heating mode H in order to increase the temperature of the storage chamber W by the heating device when the temperature of the storage chamber W cannot be increased using the cooling device.

After the cooling mode E is ended, if the time for which the storage chamber temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature is equal to or higher than the second preset time T2 (for example, 5 minutes), the refrigerator can be switched from the standby mode D to the heating mode H. The second set time (for example, 5 minutes) may be shorter than the first set time (for example, 100 minutes). After the cooling mode E is ended, the condition that the time for which the storage chamber temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature is equal to or greater than the second preset time T2 (for example, 5 minutes) may be a second starting condition of the heating mode H.

If the temperature of the storage chamber W, which has been temperature-controlled in the cooling mode E, reaches a lower temperature lower than the target temperature lower limit value, the temperature of the storage chamber W may be excessively lower than the target temperature range. In this case, the controller 30 can stop the standby mode D and start the heating mode H in order to increase the temperature of the storage chamber W by the heating device before the first preset time (for example, 100 minutes) is reached.

After the cooling mode E is ended, if the storage chamber temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature, the controller 30 does not wait for the second set time (for example, five minutes) and can switch immediately from the standby mode D to the heating mode H. However, the user can input a new target temperature to be lower than before through the input device while the storage chamber temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature, and the refrigerator is already switched to the heating mode H, so that the refrigerator may not respond quickly to the new target temperature input by the user.

As described above, in a case where a time for which the storage chamber temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature is equal to or greater than the second set time (for example, 5 minutes) after the cooling mode is ended, when the controller 30 switches from the standby mode D to the heating mode H, although the user inputs the new target temperature to be lower than before through the input device, the controller 30 can change the lower limit temperature to be lower than before based on the new target temperature before reaching the second set time (for example, 5 minutes), and the controller 30 may determine the switching of the heating mode H based on the newly changed lower limit temperature. In this case, the refrigerator may be switched from the standby mode D to the cooling mode E according to the newly input target temperature, and the unnecessary heating mode H may be minimized. For example, the refrigerator may respond more quickly to a change in the target temperature by the user.

For convenience of explanation, a case where the target temperature is 16° C., the target temperature lower limit value is 15.5° C., the lower limit temperature is 13.5° C., the target temperature upper limit value is 16.5° C., and the upper limit temperature is 18.5° C. will be described as an example. After the storage chamber temperature drops to 15.5° C. or less, the storage chamber temperature does not drop to 13.5° C. or less, can be maintained for a long time between 15.5° C. And 13.5° C., the controller 30 can count the time for which the storage chamber temperature is maintained between 15.5° C. And 13.5° C., and if the counted time is equal to or greater than the first predetermined time (for example, 100 minutes), the controller 30 can end the standby mode D and start the heating mode H.

Meanwhile, if the storage chamber temperature is lowered to 15.5° C. or less and then lowered to 13.5° C. or less, the controller 30 can count the time for which the storage chamber temperature is maintained at 13.5° C. or less, and if the counted time is equal to or greater than the second set time (For example, 5 minutes), the controller 30 can end the standby mode D and start the heating mode H. For example, the controller may start the heating mode H when any one of the first starting condition and the second starting condition of the heating mode H is satisfied during the standby mode.

Meanwhile, after the storage chamber temperature decreases to 13.5° C. or less and before the second set time (for example, 5 minutes) is reached, the user can lower the target temperature to 14° C., the controller 30 can change the target temperature lower limit value to 13.5° C., change the lower limit temperature to 11.5° C., change the target temperature upper limit value to 14.5° C., and change the upper limit temperature to 16.5° C., according to the change in the target temperature.

The controller 30 may compare the storage chamber temperature with the newly changed lower limit temperature of 11.5° C., and when the storage chamber temperature is higher than the newly changed lower limit temperature of 11.5° C., the controller 30 does not switch from the standby mode D to the heating mode H. In this case, the controller 30 may switch from the standby mode D to the cooling mode E when the storage chamber temperature is equal to or higher than the newly changed target temperature upper limit value of 14.5° C. For example, the refrigerator may quickly respond to a change in the target temperature of the user and minimize the deterioration of the quality of the goods stored in the storage chamber W.

Another example of the standby mode D may be a mode when the storage chamber temperature is maintained between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature, the refrigerator does not immediately switch to the cooling mode E during the heating mode H, and may be controlled in the order of heating mode H, the standby mode D, and the cooling mode E. In this case, the refrigerator maintains the standby mode D after the end of the heating mode H, and when the start condition of the cooling mode E is reached during the standby mode D, the can be switched from standby mode D to the cooling mode E.

After the heating mode H is ended, if the time for which the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature is equal to or greater than the first predetermined time T1 (for example, 100 minutes), the refrigerator can be switched from the standby mode D to the cooling mode E.

After the heating mode H is ended, the condition that the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature is equal to or greater than the first predetermined time T1 (for example, 100 minutes) can be the first starting condition of the cooling mode E.

The temperature of the storage chamber W, which has been temperature-adjusted in the heating mode H, may sometimes be maintained at a temperature higher than the target temperature upper limit value without dropping back to a temperature equal to or less than the target temperature upper limit value for a long time in a state of being increased to a temperature higher than the target temperature upper limit value. The case may be a case where the standby mode D is maintained for a long time after the heating mode H is ended, and the refrigerator cannot be returned to the heating mode H again.

If the storage chamber W lasts for a long time without being lowered to the target temperature range in a state higher than the target temperature range, since deterioration of the quality of the goods stored in the storage chamber W may occur, and the temperature of the storage chamber W cannot be lowered using the heating device, the controller 30 may stop the standby mode D and start the cooling mode E in order to lower the temperature of the storage chamber W by the cooling device.

After the heating mode H is ended, if the time for which the storage chamber temperature is higher than the upper limit temperature is equal to or greater than the second predetermined time T2 (for example, 5 minutes), the refrigerator can be switched from the standby mode D to the cooling mode E. The second set time (for example, 5 minutes) may be shorter than the first set time (for example, 100 minutes). After the heating mode H is ended, the condition that the time for which the storage chamber temperature is higher than the upper limit temperature is equal to or greater than the second predetermined time T2 (for example, 5 minutes) may be the second starting condition of the cooling mode E.

When the temperature of the storage chamber W, which has been temperature-controlled in the heating mode H, reaches the upper limit temperature higher than the target temperature upper limit value, the temperature of the storage chamber W may be excessively higher than the target temperature range. In this case, the controller 30 can stop the standby mode D and start the cooling mode E in order to lower the temperature of the storage chamber W by the cooling device before reaching the first predetermined time (for example, 100 minutes).

After the heating mode H is ended, the controller 30 does not wait for the second set time (for example, 5 minutes) when the storage chamber temperature is higher than the upper limit temperature, and then can switch immediately from the standby mode D to the cooling mode E. However, as described in the switching of the heating mode H from the standby mode D, the user may input a new target temperature, and the refrigerator may not quickly respond to the new target temperature input by the user. For example, in the refrigerator, after the heating mode H is ended, when the storage chamber temperature is higher than the upper limit temperature and the second set time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses, the refrigerator is preferably switched from the standby mode D to the cooling mode E.

For convenience of explanation, a case where the target temperature is 16° C., the target temperature lower limit value is 15.5° C., the lower limit temperature is 13.5° C., the target temperature upper limit value is 16.5° C., and the upper limit temperature is 18.5° C. will be described as an example. After the storage chamber temperature rises to 16.5° C. or higher, the temperature can be maintained for a long time between 16.5° C. And 18.5° C. without dropping to 16.5° C. or less, and the controller 30 can count the time for which the storage chamber temperature is maintained between 16.5° C. And 18.5° C., and if the counted time is equal to or greater than the first predetermined time (for example, 100 minutes), the controller 30 may end the standby mode D and start the cooling mode E.

Meanwhile, after the storage chamber temperature rises to 16.5° C. or more, if the storage chamber temperature is 18.5° C. or more, the controller 30 may count the time for which the storage chamber temperature maintains 18.5° C. or more, and if the counted time is equal to or greater than the second set time (For example, 5 minutes), the controller 30 may end the standby mode D and start the cooling mode E. For example, the controller 30 may start the cooling mode E when any one of the first starting condition and the second starting condition of the cooling mode E is satisfied during the standby mode E.

In some examples, the plurality of modes may further include a humidification mode for increasing the humidity of the storage chamber. The humidification mode may be a mode in which air in the storage chamber W may be humidified by flowing into the cooling device chamber by a fan, and the humidified air may flow into the storage chamber W to humidify the storage chamber, in a state where at least a portion of the cooling device is in an off state (for example, the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator is interrupted, the thermoelectric element is turned off), and at least some of the heating device is maintained in an off state (for example, the heater is turned off and the thermoelectric element is turned off).

For example, the humidification mode may be a mode in which the air in the storage chamber flows to the evaporator by a fan to humidify, and the humidified air flows into the storage chamber to humidify the storage chamber, in a state where the heater maintains in an off state while the refrigerant does not pass through the evaporator. In the humidification mode, a fan that circulates air in the storage chamber to the evaporator and the storage chamber may be driven.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a first example of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a second example of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a third example of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a fourth example of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The refrigeration cycles illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 may be applied to a refrigerator having three spaces (hereinafter, referred to as first, second, and third spaces) that may have different storage temperature ranges from each other. For example, the refrigeration cycles may be applied to at least one of i) a refrigerator having a first space W1, a separate second space W2, and a separate third space We, ii) a refrigerator having a first storage chamber W having the first space W1 and the second space W2, and a second storage chamber C partitioned from the first storage chamber W, or iii) a refrigerator having a first storage chamber W and second and third storage chambers partitioned from the first storage chamber W.

The refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 may include a compressor 100, a condenser 110, a plurality of expansion mechanisms (or valves) 130′, 130, 140, and a plurality of evaporators 150′, 150, 160 and may further include a flow path switching mechanism (or refrigerant valves) 120′. A case where the first region is the first space W1, the second region is the second space W2, and the third region is the second storage chamber C will be described below. The first, second, and third regions are also applicable to cases ii) and iii) described above.

The plurality of evaporators 150′, 150, 160 may include a pair of first evaporators 150′, 150 capable of independently cooling the first space W1 and the second space W2, respectively, and a second evaporator 160 that can cool a second storage chamber C. One of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 may be an evaporator 150′ cooling the first space W1, and the other of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 may be an evaporator 150 cooling the second space W2.

The plurality of expansion mechanisms 130′, 130, and 140 may include a pair of first expansion mechanisms 130′ and 130 connected to a pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150, and a second expansion mechanism 140 connected to a second evaporator 160. Any one of the pair of first expansion mechanisms 130′ and 130 may be an expansion mechanism 130′ connected to any one 150′ of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150, and the other of the pair of first expansion mechanisms 130′ and 130 may be an expansion mechanism 130 connected to the other one 150 of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150.

The flow path switching mechanism 120′ may include a first valve 121 capable of controlling a refrigerant flowing into the pair of first expansion mechanisms 130′ and 130, and a second valve 122 capable of controlling a refrigerant flowing into the first valve 121 and the second expansion mechanism 140.

The refrigerator having the refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 may include a pair of first fans 181′ and 181, and a second fan 182 for circulating cold air in the space of the second storage chamber C to the space of the second evaporator 160 and the second storage chamber C and may further include a condensation fan 114 for blowing outside air to the condenser 110. Any one 181′ of the pair of first fans 181′ and 181 may be a fan for the first space in which cold air in the first space W1 can be circulated into any one 150′ of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 and the first space W1. In addition, the other one 181 of the pair of fans 181′ and 181 may be a fan the second space in which cold air in the second space W2 can be circulated into any one 150 of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 and the second space W2.

The refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 5 may include a first parallel flow path in which a pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected in parallel and a second parallel flow path in which a pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected to the second evaporator 160 in parallel. In this case, a one-way valve 168 may be installed at an outlet side of the second evaporator 160 to prevent the refrigerant at the outlet side of the second evaporator 160 from flowing back to the second evaporator 160.

The refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 6 may include a parallel flow path in which a pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected in parallel and a serial flow path 123 in which the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected to a second evaporator 160 in series. One end of the serial flow path 123 may be connected to a parallel flow path in which a pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected in parallel. The other end of the serial flow path 123 may be connected between the second expansion mechanism 140 and the inlet of the second evaporator 160. In this case, a one-way valve 168 may be installed at the outlet side of the second evaporator 150 to prevent the refrigerant at the outlet side of the second evaporator 160 from flowing back to the second evaporator 160.

The refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 7 may include a serial flow path 125 in which a pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected in series, and, a parallel flow path in which the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 are connected to the second evaporator 160 in parallel. One end of the serial flow path 125 may be connected to the outlet side of any one 150 of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150. The other end of the serial flow path 125 may be connected to an inlet side of the other 150′ of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150′. In this case, a one-way valve 168 may be installed at the outlet side of the second evaporator 160 to prevent the refrigerant at the outlet side of the second evaporator 160 from flowing back to the second evaporator 160.

The refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 8 may include one first evaporator 150 instead of the pair of first evaporators 150′ and 150 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, and one first expansion mechanism 130 instead of the pair of expansion mechanism 130′ and 130. In addition, the refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 8 may include a flow path switching mechanism (or valve) 120 for controlling the refrigerant flowing into the first expansion mechanism 130 and the second expansion mechanism 140, and the flow path switching mechanism 120 may include a refrigerant valve that can be switched so that the refrigerant flowing from the condenser 110 flows to the first expansion mechanism 130 or the second expansion mechanism 140. In addition, a one-way valve 168 may be installed at the outlet side of the second evaporator 160 to prevent the refrigerant at the outlet side of the second evaporator 160 from flowing back to the second evaporator 160.

Since other configurations and actions other than one first evaporator 150, one first expansion mechanism 130, a flow path switching mechanism 120, and a one-way valve 168 of the refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 8 are the same as or similar to those of the refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, a detailed description with respect to those will be omitted.

In addition, the refrigerator having a refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 8 may include a first fan 181 circulating cold air of the first storage chamber W into the first evaporator 150 and the first storage chamber W instead of the pair of first fans 181′ and 181 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7. In addition, the refrigerator having the refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIG. 8 may include a first damper 191 for controlling cold air flowing into the first space W1 after being cooled by the first evaporator 150 and a second damper 192 for controlling the cold air flowing into the second space W2 after being cooled by the first evaporator 150. Only one of the first damper 191 and the second damper 192 may be provided. Meanwhile, in the refrigerator, one damper may selectively supply air cooled by the evaporator 150 to at least one of the first space W1 and the second space W2.

Modification of the examples of the refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 may be applied to a refrigerator having two spaces having different storage temperature ranges from each other. In other words, the modification examples of the refrigeration cycle may be applied to a refrigerator having a first space W1 and a second space W2 or a refrigerator having a first storage chamber W and a second storage chamber C. In certain examples, the refrigeration cycle can be configured with a cycle which does not include the flow path switching mechanisms 120 and 122, the second expansion mechanism 140, the second evaporator 160, the second fan 182, and the one-way valve 168. The refrigeration cycle illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 may constitute a cooling device capable of cooling the storage chamber.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigerator may include a controller 30 that controls various electronic devices such as a motor provided in the refrigerator. The controller 30 may control the refrigerator according to the input value of the input device.

The input device may include at least one of a communication device 31 which receives a signal from an external device such as a remote controller such as a remote controller or a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a microphone 32 that changes a user's voice to a sound signal, a sensing unit 33 which can sense a user's motion, a proximity sensor 34 (or a distance sensor) which can sense the user's proximity, a touch sensor 35 which can sense the user's touch, a door switch 36 which can detect the opening and closing of the door, a timer 37 which can measure the lapse of time, or a control panel which can input various input values such as a target temperature by the user.

As previously described, the refrigerator may include a see-through door. The see-through door may be a door that can selectively switched between a first state in which the door is at least partially transparent and a user can see through the door (a see-through activation state), and a second state in which the door is at least partially opaque and a user cannot see through the door (a see-through deactivation state). The see-through door may be a door that is changed from a see-through deactivation state to a see-through activation state or is changed from a see-through activation state to a see-through deactivation state according to an input value provided to the controller 30 through the input device. In another example, the see-through door may be a door in which the see-through door is changed from see-through deactivation state to see-through activation state when the see-through door is closed and according to an input value provided to the controller 30 through the input device.

An example of an operation method according to the input device is now described. The sensing unit 33 may include a vibration sensor. For example, the vibration sensor may be disposed on the rear surface of the front panel, and the vibration sensor may be formed in black such that visible exposure of the vibration sensor may be minimized. For example, the sensing unit 33 may include a microphone or other audio sensor disposed, for example, on the rear surface of the front panel, and the microphone may sense sound waves of vibration applied to the front panel. When a user provides a particular input, such as tapping the panel assembly 23 a plurality of times at a predetermined time interval, the specific input may be detected through the sensing unit 33, and the controller 30 may change the see-through door to be activated or deactivated based on the detected input.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensing unit 33 may be a device for imaging a user's motion, such as a camera. It may be determined whether the image photographed by the sensing unit 33 is similar or identical to a specific motion input in advance, and the controller 30 may determine whether to activate or deactivate the see-through door according to the determination result.

Similarly, if it is determined that the user or a part of the user (e.g., the user's hand) is positioned within a predetermined distance or less (e.g., 30 cm or less) of a portion of the refrigerator according to the value detected by the proximity sensor 34, the see-through door may be changed between the activated or deactivated states. In another example, the see-through door may be changed between the activated or deactivated states when it is determined that the user positioned with a predetermined distance or less and is moving toward the refrigerator according to the value detected by the proximity sensor 34.

In another example, when the controller 30 determines that the door is closed according to the value detected by the door switch 36, the see-through door may be activated, and when it is determined that the door is open, the see-through door may be changed to be inactivated. For example, the see-through door may be in the deactivated state when opened and may remain in the deactivated state when closed, until a particular input is received that prompts the see-through door to be switched to the activated state.

The see-through door may be controlled to be deactivated after a certain time elapses after being activated according to the value input through the timer 37. For example, the see-through door may be controlled to be deactivated after a certain time elapses after an input to activate the see-through door is received. In another example, according to the value input through the timer 37, the see-through door may be controlled to be activated when a predetermined time elapses after being deactivated.

As an example in which the see-through door is activated or deactivated, there may be a case where the transparency of the see-through door itself may vary. For example, the see-through door may remain opaque when no current is applied to the panel assembly 23 and may be changed to be transparent when current is applied to the panel assembly 23. In another example, when the light source 38 installed inside the see-through door is turned on, the user may see the storage chamber through the see-through door by the light emitted from the light source 38 when active.

The light source 38 may make the panel assembly 23 appear transparent or translucent so that an inside of the refrigerator (a side of the storage chamber relative to the panel assembly) looks brighter than outside of the refrigerator (outside relative to the panel assembly). The light source 38 may be mounted on the light source mounting portion formed on the cabinet 1 or the light source mounting portion formed on the door and may be disposed to emit light toward the panel assembly 23.

In addition, the controller 30 may control the door opening module 11 according to the input value of the input device. The controller 30 may control the lifting module 13 according to the input value of the input device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a see-through door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigerator may include a door (hereinafter, a see-through door) through which a user may view the storage chamber through a see-through window without opening the door 50 from the outside of the refrigerator. The see-through door may include an outer door 22 and a panel assembly 23.

The outer door 22 may be opaque, and an opening portion 21 may be formed in (e.g., in a central region) of the outer door 22. The outer door 22 may form an outer appearance of the see-through door. The outer door 22 may be rotatably connected to or connected to the cabinet 1 to be capable of being advanced and retracted to open storage chamber W. The panel assembly 23 may be disposed in the opening portion 21. The panel assembly 23 may be disposed to shield the opening portion 21. The panel assembly 23 can form the same outer appearance as the front surface of the outer door 22.

The see-through door may be provided to open and close the storage chamber which mainly stores goods (for example, wine) having a large quality change according to the temperature change (e.g., the goods are preferable stored in a narrow temperature range to preserve a quality of the goods). In a case where goods having a large quality change due to temperature change are mainly stored in the storage chamber W, the storage chamber W is preferably opened and closed as short as possible, the number of opening and closing is preferably minimized, and the see-through door is preferably installed to open and close the storage chamber W. For example, the see-through door is may be provided in a door for opening and closing at least one of the specific goods storage chamber, the constant temperature chamber, and the priority storage chamber.

FIG. 11 is a plan view when an example of a swinging-type door according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is opened in a door opening module. In the refrigerator, a door opening and closing the storage chamber may be an automatic door, and the door for opening and closing the specific goods storage chamber, the constant temperature chamber, and a priority storage chamber may be an automatic door. The refrigerator may include a door opening module 11 that provides a force for automatically opening the door 5. For example, the automatic door may be controlled to be opened or closed according to an input value provided to the controller 30 through the input device. For this purpose, the controller 30 may control the door opening module 11.

The door opening module 11 may automatically open the door 5 rotatably connected to the cabinet 1. The door 5 may be a rotary automatic door that is automatically opened by the door opening module 11. The cabinet 1 may be provided with a hinge mechanism 40 in which the hinge shaft 42 is connected to the door 5. The refrigerator may further include a module cover 70 that may cover the hinge mechanism 40 and the door open module 11 together. In addition, the door opening module 11 may include a drive motor 72, a power transmission unit (also referred as a transmission or gearing) 74, and a push member (or rack) 76.

When the refrigerator is turned on, the controller 30 may wait to receive an open command of the door 5. When the door opening command is input through the input device, the controller 30 may transmit an opening signal to the drive motor 72 included in the door opening module 11. When the controller 30 transmits an opening signal to the drive motor 72, the drive motor 72 may be rotated in a first direction to move the push member 76 from the initial position to the door opening position. For example, when the drive motor 72 rotates in the first direction, the power transmission unit 74 may transmit a first direction rotational force of the drive motor 72 to the push member 76, and the push member 76 may push the door while protruding forward, and the door 5 may be rotated in the forward direction with respect to the cabinet 1.

The controller 30 may determine whether the push member 76 has reached the door opening position in a process of rotating in the first direction of the drive motor 72. For example, the controller may determine that the push member 76 has reached the door opening position when the cumulative rotational speed of the drive motor 72 reaches the reference rotational speed. The controller 30 may stop the rotation of the drive motor 72 when it is determined that the push member 76 has moved to the door opening position.

In a state where the door 5 is rotated by a predetermined angle, the user can manually increase the opening angle of the door 5. When the user increases the opening angle of the door in a state where the push member 76 moves the door 5 to the door opening position, the door sensor, such as a magnet 46 and a reed switch 48, can sense the manual opening of the door 5, and if the manual opening of the door 5 is sensed by the door sensor, the controller 300 can output a return signal to the drive motor 72.

The controller 30 may transmit the return signal to the drive motor 72 so that the push member 76 returns to the initial position by the drive motor 72 being reversely rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction. If it is determined that the push member 76 has returned to the initial position, the controller 30 may stop the drive motor 72.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view when another example of a door according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is opened by a door opening module 11′. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the door is drawer that may be automatically opened by the door opening module 11′ that applies an outward force.

The door opening module 11′ illustrated in FIG. 12 may automatically open the door (or drawer) 6 disposed in the cabinet 1 to be capable of being advanced and retracted. The refrigerator may include a first door provided at a relatively higher at a greater height and a second door that is relatively lower and having a smaller height, and the door opening module 11′ may be installed to automatically open a door having a lower height than other doors. Such a door may be a retractable automatic door which is automatically opened by the door opening module 11′. The door 6 advanced and retracted by the door opening module 11′ may include a drawer body 6A and a door body 6B disposed at the drawer body 6A to open and close the storage chamber.

The door opening module 11′ may include a drive motor 80, a pinion 82, and a rack 84. The pinion 82 may be connected to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 80. The rack 84 may extend from the door 6, in particular, the drawer body 6A. The refrigerator may further include a door sensor that senses a position of the door 6, and the door sensor may sense a pair of magnets 46′ spaced apart from the door 6 and a reed switch (or Hall sensor) 48′ sensing the magnet 46′.

When the power of the refrigerator is turned on, the controller 30 may wait to receive an opening command of the door 6. When the door opening command is input through the input device, the controller 30 may transmit an opening signal to the drive motor 80.

The drive motor 80 may be activated to rotate in the first direction by the controller 30 when an opening signal is input, and the pinion 82 and the rack 84 may transmit the rotational force of the drive motor 80 to the drawer body 82. The drawer body 6A may advance the door body 6B while advancing forward in the storage chamber, and the door body 6B can be advanced to be spaced apart from the cabinet 1 toward the front of the cabinet 1. The controller 30 may sense that the door 6 has reached the opening position by the door sensor, and when the door 6 has reached the opening position, the controller 30 may stop the rotation of the drive motor 80.

When the drawer body 6A is advanced as described above, the upper surface of the drawer body 6A may be exposed. In a state where the drawer body 6A is advanced to the opening position, the user can enter a door closing command such that the drawer body 6A retracts to the closing position via the input device. For example, if the motion sensed by the sensing unit 33 coincides with a specific motion, the controller 30 may transmit a close signal to the drive motor 80. In another example, the controller 30 may sense the proximity of the user by the proximity sensor 34 and transmit a closing signal to the drive motor 80 when the proximity sensor 34 detects that the user has moved more than a predetermined distance (e.g., toward the proximity sensor 34).

When the close signal is input, the drive motor 80 may be reversely rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In reverse rotation of the drive motor 80, the pinion 82 and the rack 84 can transmit the rotational force of the drive motor 80 to the drawer body 6A, and while the drawer body 6A retracts into the storage chamber, the door body 6B can be retracted and the door body 6B can be retracted in close contact with the cabinet 1 toward the front of the cabinet 1. The controller 30 may sense that the door 6 has reached the closing position by the door sensor, and if the door 6 has reached the closing position, the controller 30 may stop the reverse rotation of the drive motor 80.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating when the holder 12 lifts while the door is opened according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As previously described, the refrigerator may further include a lifting module (also referred to as a lift or elevator) 13 which allows the holder 12 to be automatically lifted and lowered after the holder 12 is moved forward in a state where the door 50 is opened. The holder 12 may be a shelf, a drawer, a basket, or the like on which goods can be placed. The lifting module 13 may be disposed in the storage chamber or at least one of the rotatable door 5 and the advancing and retracting type door 6 for opening and closing the storage chamber. The refrigerator may have both a first holder provided higher at a greater height and a second holder provided lower at a smaller lower height.

The lifting module 13 may be disposed in a low storage chamber associated with a holder 12 having a lower height than other holders 12. In another example, the lifting module 13 may function for lowering a holder and may be arranged in a storage chamber in which a holder having a relatively greater height than other holders is located.

An example of the lifting module 13 will be described. An example of the lifting module 13 may include a lower frame 93, an upper frame 94, a lifting and lowering mechanism 92 having at least one link 95, and a drive mechanism 90 capable of lifting and lowering the upper frame 94. The drive mechanism 90 may include a lifting and lowering motor 91 and a power transmission member connected to the lifting and lowering motor 91 to transfer the drive force of the lifting and lowering motor 91 to the upper frame 94.

When the refrigerator is turned on, the controller 30 may wait for a lifting command of the holder 12 to be input. When the lifting command is input through the input device, the controller 30 may transmit a lifting signal to the lifting and lowering motor 91 included in the lifting module 13. When the controller 30 transmits an opening signal to the lifting and lowering motor 91, the upper frame 94 may lift, and the holder 12 may be lifted to the upper side of the drawer body 6B.

The user may input a lowering command through the input device, and the controller 30 may transmit a lowering signal to the lifting and lowering motor 91 when the lowering command is input through the input device. In another example, the controller 30 may automatically generate the lowering command when a lifted drawer is being closed or other, higher drawers start to be closed. For example, the lifting and lowering motor 91 may be reversely rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Upon reverse rotation of the lifting and elevating motor 91, the upper frame 94 may be lowered to the inner lower portion of the drawer body 82, and the holder 12 may be inserted into the drawer body 6B together with the upper frame 94.

FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a storage chamber of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 15 is a perspective view when the partition member according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is separated in front of the storage space, FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an inner guide and an evaporator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 17 is a rear view illustrating an inner portion of the inner guide according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The inner guide 200 may be disposed in the cabinet 1 in which the first storage chamber W is formed, and may be disposed in the inner case 8 to partition the storage space and the air flow path P. The air flow path P may be formed between the inner guide 200 and the inner case 8 of the inner space of the inner case 8 or may be formed in the inner guide 200.

The air flow path P may be provided with a temperature adjusting device for adjusting the temperature of the storage space. The air flow path P may be provided with an air flow forming mechanism for forming the air flow. In addition, the inner guide 200 may cover the inside of the storage chamber W so that the temperature adjusting device or the airflow forming mechanism is not visible.

One example of the temperature adjusting device disposed in the air flow path P may be a cooling device capable of cooling the air passing through the air flow path P, and may be, for example, a heat absorbing body of the thermoelectric element, an evaporator 150 through which the refrigerant passes, or the like.

Hereinafter, although the temperature adjusting device disposed in the refrigerant flow path P is described as an example of a cooling device, the temperature adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P is not limited to being a cooling device, and can be a heating device such as a heater. For convenience, the evaporator 150 will be described an example for the temperature adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P.

The air flow formation mechanism may be a device that flows air in the storage space to the temperature adjusting device 150 and blows air that is heat-exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 to the storage space, and, for example, may be a fan. Hereinafter, for convenience, the air flow forming mechanism disposed in the refrigerant flow path is described as the fan 181. However, it goes without saying that the temperature adjusting device disposed on the air flow path P does not include the fan 181.

The inner guide 200 may form a storage space together with the inner case 8. The inner guide 200 may be disposed in front of a rear plate of the inner case 8, disposed on the right side of a left side plate of the inner case 8, disposed on the left side of a right side plate of the inner case 8, disposed below the upper plate of the inner case 8, or disposed above the lower plate of the inner case 8.

When the inner guide 200 is disposed in front of the rear plate of the inner case 8, the storage space may be a space in front of the inner guide 200 among the interior of the inner case 8, and the air flow path P may be formed between the inner guide 200 and the rear plate of the inner case 8 or may be formed inside the inner guide 200.

The inner guide 200 may cover the temperature adjusting device 150 in front of the temperature adjusting device 150. The inner guide 200 may cover the fan 181 in front of the fan 181. The inner guide 200 may include a discharge port through which air is discharged into the storage space. In addition, the inner guide 200 may have a suction port through which air in the storage space is suctioned. Hereinafter, a more detailed structure of the inner guide 200 is described.

The inner guide 200 may function as a discharge duct for discharging air into the storage chamber W and may function as a suction duct for returning the air in the storage chamber W to the temperature adjusting device 150. The inner guide 200 may have a discharge port 204 and a suction port 205, and the discharge port 204 and the suction port 205 may be formed in the inner guide 200 to be spaced apart from each other.

The refrigerator may further include a partition member 3 disposed in the storage space to partition the storage space into a first space W1 and a second space W2. The partition member 3 may be closer to the lower end of the upper and lower ends of the storage chamber. When the refrigerator further includes the partition member 3, the discharge port 204 and the suction port 205 may be formed at a position facing the first space W1. The discharge port 204 may be formed at a position capable of discharging air into the first space W1, and the suction port 205 may be formed at a position at which air in the first space W1 may be suctioned.

If the discharge port 204 for discharging air into the first space W1 is a first discharge port, the additional discharge port 321 may be a second discharge port. If the suction port 205 through which the air in the first space W1 is suctioned is a first suction port, the additional suction port 341 may be a second suction port.

The partition member 3 may be disposed to face between the suction port 205 and the additional discharge port 321. For example, one surface of the partition member 3 may be a suction guide surface for guiding air flowing toward the suction port 205, and the other surface of the partition member 3 may be a discharge guide surface for guiding air discharged to the additional discharge port 321. The suction guide surface may be closer to the suction port 205 than the additional discharge port 321, and the discharge guide surface may be closer to the additional discharge port 321 than the suction port 205.

If the partition member 3 is disposed horizontally in the storage space, the first space W1 may be located above the second space W2, and if the partition member 3 is disposed perpendicular to the storage space, the first space W1 may be located next to the second space W2. When the partition member 3 is horizontally disposed in the storage space and the first space W1 is positioned above the second space W2, the discharge port 204 may be an upper discharge port formed at a position higher than the additional discharge port 321 and the additional suction port 341, and in this case, the additional discharge port 321 may be a lower discharge port. In addition, the suction port 205 may be an upper suction port formed at a position higher than the additional discharge port 321 and the additional suction port 341, and in this case, the additional suction port 341 may be a lower suction port.

When the partition member 3 is disposed horizontally in the storage space, the upper surface of the partition member 3 may be adjacent to the suction port 205, and the upper surface of the partition member 3 may be closer to the suction port 205 than the additional discharge port 321. In addition, the lower surface of the partition member 3 may be adjacent to the additional discharge port 321, and the lower surface of the partition member 3 may be closer to the additional discharge port 321 than the suction port 205.

The partition member 3 may be disposed to face a portion of the suction port 205. The partition member 3 may be spaced apart from the suction port 205 in the horizontal direction and may be disposed to cover a portion of the suction port 205. At least a portion of the suction port 205 may face the partition member 3 in the horizontal direction.

The gap between the partition member 3 and the suction port 205 may function as an inflow passage through which air in the first space W1 passes to be suctioned into the suction port 205, and the air in the first space W1 may pass through the gap between the partition member 3 and the suction port 205 and then may be suctioned into the suction port 205.

On the other hand, as described above, when a portion of the suction port 205 is covered by the partition member 3, it may be possible to improve the outer appearance than the case where the entire suction port 205 is visible through the periphery of the partition member 3. For example, when the partition member 3 is disposed horizontally in front of the inner guide 200, the rear end of the partition member 3 may be spaced apart from the suction port 205 in the front and rear direction X and at least a portion of the suction port 205 may face the rear end of the partition member 3, and an inflow passage through which the air in the first space W1 passes to be suctioned into the suction port 205 can be formed between the rear end of the partition member 3 and the suction port 205.

The inner guide 200 may be formed to define or to include a heat exchange flow path P1 in which the temperature adjusting device 150 and the fan 181 may be received. For example, the inner guide 200 may be formed with a discharge flow path P2 for guiding the air blown by the fan 181 to be discharged to the discharge port 204. The inner guide 200 may be provided with an additional discharge flow path P3 for guiding the air blown by the fan 181 to be discharged to the additional discharge port 321.

The heat exchange flow path P1, the discharge flow path P2, and the additional discharge flow path P3 may constitute an air flow path P for guiding air to circulate through the temperature adjusting device 150 and the storage space, and the temperature adjusting device 150 and the fan 181 may adjust the temperatures of the first space W1 and the second space W2 in a state of being received in the air flow path P.

The first damper 191 may be disposed in the air flow path P and may adjust the air supplied to the first space W1. The first damper 191 may be mounted to the inner guide 200 and may be mounted to be positioned between the fan 181 and the discharge port 204 in the air flow direction.

The second damper 192 is disposed in the air flow path P and may control the air supplied to the second space W2. The second damper 192 may be mounted to the inner guide 200 and may be mounted to be positioned between the fan 181 and the additional discharge port 321 in the air flow direction.

The inner guide 200 may be composed of a combination of a plurality of members. For example, the inner guide 200 may include a discharge guide 202 and an inner cover 300. In some implementations, the discharge guide 202 may discharge and guide the air to the storage space. The inner cover 300 may shield the temperature adjusting device 150, and the inner cover 300 may shield the fan 181.

The temperature regulating device 150 and the fan 181 may supply heat-exchanged air to the storage space and can supply air to the first space W1 and the second space W2 through the air flow path P formed by at least one of the discharge guide 202 and the inner cover 300.

The inner cover 300 may be larger than the temperature adjusting device 150. For example, the temperature adjusting device 150 may be sized to be received in the inner cover 300. The temperature adjusting device 150 may face the inner cover 300 in the front and rear direction. At least a portion of the discharge guide 202 may be disposed higher than the inner cover 300.

The discharge guide 202 and the inner cover 300 are configured to be received inside the inner case 8 together with the temperature adjusting device 150 and the fan 181, and the discharge guide 202. The inner cover 300, the temperature adjusting device 150, and fan 181 may be positioned and oriented to minimize the occupied volume.

In one example, the width L1 of the inner cover 300 in the front and rear direction may be larger than the width L2 of the temperature adjusting device 150 in the front and rear direction, and the width L3 of the discharge guide 202 in the front and rear direction may be smaller than the width (L2) of the temperature adjusting device 150 in the front and rear direction. For example, the width L1 of the inner cover 300 in the front and rear direction may be larger than the width L3 of the discharge guide 202 in the front and rear direction.

The length (or height) Z of the inner cover 300 in a vertical direction may be a factor for determining the total volume occupied by the storage space in the storage chamber W. The inner cover 300 may have a length in the vertical direction Z for receiving the fan 181, the temperature adjusting device 150, and the air guide 400, and the length in the vertical direction Z may be formed as short as possible to increase available storage area.

The fan 181 may generate a flow of the air heat exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150, and the air flowing by the fan 181 may be discharged and guided to the first space W1 and the second space W2 by the discharge guide 202 and the inner cover 300. For example, the discharge guide 202 may face the first space W1, and the discharge port 204 and the suction port 205 may be formed in the discharge guide 202.

The inner cover 300 may be connected to the discharge guide 202. The inner cover 300 may face the second space W2, and the additional discharge port 321 and the additional suction port 341 may be formed in the inner cover 300. For example, one surface of the discharge guide 202 may face the first space W1, and the discharge port 204 and the suction port 205 may be formed in an area of the discharge guide 202 facing the first space W1.

The heat generation (HG) module 184 for purifying the air in the first space W1 and the first temperature sensor T2 for sensing the temperature of a first space W1 may be provided in a portion of the discharge guide 202 facing the first space W1. The HG module 184 may include an HG fan capable of flowing the air in the storage chamber W to the heating device. The HG fan can be driven in the heating mode of the first space W1, allowing the air in the first space W1 to flow to the heating device so that the first space W1 can be heated more quickly by the heating device. The HG module 184 may further include a purification unit such as an air purification filter.

The inner cover 300 is not limited to the function of covering the temperature adjusting device 150 and may help to adjust the temperature of the second space W2. One surface of the inner cover 300 may face the second space W2, and the additional discharge port 321 and the additional suction port 341 may be formed in an area of the inner cover 300 facing the second space W2. The height of the additional discharge port 321 may be higher than the height of the additional suction port 341. The additional discharge ports 321 may be formed on the inner cover 300, and the air blown by the fan 181 may be discharged into the second space W2 through the additional discharge ports 321.

A suction guide portion 340 in which an additional suction port 341 may be formed may be formed below the inner cover 300. The air suctioned into the additional suction port 341 may flow to the temperature adjusting device 150. The additional suction port 341 may be formed at the bottom surface of the suction guide portion 340. A portion of the inner cover 300 facing the second space W2 may be provided with a second temperature sensor T3 for sensing the temperature of the second space W2.

The inner guide 200 may further include an air guide (or passage) 400. The fan 181 may be disposed to be received in the air guide 400. The air guide 400 may be connected, for example, to the lower end of the discharge guide 202. The air guide 400 and the temperature adjusting device 150 may be covered by the inner cover 300.

The air guide 400 may be formed with a shroud 411 opened toward the temperature adjusting device 150, and the air heat exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 when the fan 181 is driven may pass through the shroud 411 to flow inside the air guide 400, such as in a cavity between a rear surface of the shroud 411 and an outer surface of the inner case 8.

The air guide 400 may be received in the inner cover 300 together with the temperature adjusting device 150. The inner cover 300 may be formed to a size to receive the temperature adjusting device 150 and the air guide 400. For example, the air guide 400 may overlap the temperature regulating device 150 in the front and rear direction X or in the vertical direction Z.

Meanwhile, the discharge guide 202 may be formed of a combination of a plurality of members. The discharge guide 202 may further include a discharge body 210 and a flow path body 230 disposed on the rear surface of the discharge body 210. Discharge ports 204 and suction ports 205 may be formed in the discharge body 210.

The flow path body 230 may be disposed in the discharge body 210 to form a discharge flow path P2 for guiding air to the discharge port 204. The flow path body 230 may form a discharge flow path P2 for guiding the air heat-exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 to the discharge port 204. The lower end of the discharge flow path P2 may be in communication with the air guide 400. The discharge ports 204 formed in the discharge body 210 may be formed toward the discharge flow path P2 branched into a pair.

The refrigerator may include a guide 234 for guiding an air flow generated by the fan 181 inside the air guide 400. The guide 234 may be formed to guide the air blown from the fan 181 to the outlet 412 which will be described later. To this end, the guide 234 may be formed to have a predetermined curvature. The guide 234 may be formed farther from the outer circumference of the fan 181 as the outlet 412 approaches the air flow direction. The guide 234 may be formed in the discharge guide 202 and may be inserted into the air guide 400 to be positioned around the fan 181. The guide 234 may be formed to protrude from the lower portion of the flow path body 230.

The air guide 400 may be a fan housing surrounding the fan 181. An inner air flow path may be formed in the air guide 400 in which air heat-exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 is distributed to the first damper 191 and the second damper 192. The first damper 191 and the second damper 192 may be installed in the air guide 400. The air guide 400 may be a damper built-in fan housing. In this case, the air guide 400 may be a fan housing capable of guiding the air flowing by the fan 181 to the first damper 191 and the second damper 192.

The air guide 400 may be coupled to the lower end of the discharge body 210, and the fan 181, the first damper 191, and the second damper 192 may be provided inside the air guide 400. When the first damper 191 and the second damper 192 are operated when the fan 181 is driven, the refrigerator can selectively supply the air heat-exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 to the first space W1 and the second space W2.

The air guide 400 may include a front housing 410 and a rear housing 420. The fan 181, the first damper 191, and the second damper 192 may be received in a space formed by the coupling of the front housing 410 and the rear housing 420. The fan 181 may be a centrifugal fan or a turbofan that suctions in the axial direction and discharges in the circumferential direction.

The air guide 400 may have a scroll 413 and an opening portion 414 for guiding air to the discharge flow path P2. The scroll 413 may guide the air blown from the fan 181 to the opening portion 414. The scroll 413 may be formed to have a predetermined curvature. The scroll 413 may be formed far from the outer circumference of the fan 181 as it approaches the opening portion 414 in the air flow direction. The opening portion 414 may communicate with the lower end of the discharge flow path P2.

The first damper 191 may interrupt the flow of air through the opening portion 414. The first damper 191 may control the flow of the air flowing in the fan 181 to the discharge flow path P2. The air supply of the discharge flow path P2 may be determined based on whether the first damper 191 is opened and closed. The first damper 191 may be disposed in the opening portion 414 and may be disposed before the opening portion 414 or after the opening portion 414 in the air flow direction. When the first damper 191 is disposed in the opening portion 414 in the air flow direction, the first damper 191 may be disposed in the air guide 400.

The shroud 411 may be formed in the front housing 410. When the fan 181 is driven, the air in front of the front housing 410 may be suctioned into the air guide 400 through the shroud 411 and may be discharged in the circumferential direction of the fan 181.

The air guide 400, in particular, the front housing 410 may be formed with an outlet 412 communicating with the additional discharge port 321. The outlet 412 may be formed to face the additional discharge port 321 to discharge air to the additional discharge port 321 and may also communicate with the additional discharge port 321 through the discharge duct 360. The outlet 412 may be formed to be spaced apart from the opening portion 414 through which the discharge flow path P2 communicates.

The inner guide 200 may further include a discharge duct 360 that guides the air passing through the outlet 412 to the additional discharge port 321 after flowing by the fan 181. The discharge duct 360 may connect the air guide 400 and the inner cover 300, and guide the air blown from the air guide 400 to the additional discharge port 321. The discharge duct 360 may form an air flow path P3 (for example, an additional discharge flow path P3) so that the air blown by the fan 181 may be directed to the additional discharge port 321.

The discharge duct 360 may include an inlet portion 361 connected to the second damper 192 and an outlet portion 362 connected to the additional discharge port 321. The inlet portion 361 and the outlet portion 362 may extend in a direction crossing each other. The outlet portion 362 may extend from the inlet portion 361 to be lengthened in the horizontal direction and may be formed to open forward. The outlet portion 362 may face the additional discharge port 321. An edge 363 in close contact with the inner cover 300 may be formed on the front surface of the outlet portion 362.

The outlet 412 may be formed to be spaced apart from the shroud 411 and the opening portion 414 in the air guide 400, and the outlet 412 may be an air guide discharge port for supplying air to the second space W2. The second damper 192 may be disposed to be located before the outlet 412 in the air flow direction, and the second damper 192 may adjust the air flow through the outlet 412. When the fan 181 is driven and the second damper 192 is opened, the air heat exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 may be supplied to the second space W2 through the discharge duct 360.

The inner duct 200 may be connected to a return duct 500 for recovering air in the first space W1 to the temperature adjusting device 150. The return duct 500 may be connected to the inner guide 200 and may be in communication with the suction port 205. The return duct 500 may guide the air suctioned into the suction port 205 to the temperature adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P.

The inner case 8 may include a first body (or first inner case region) 8C facing the first space W1 and a second body (or second inner case region) 8D facing the second space W2. The inner case 8 may include a left body (or left surface), a right body (or right surface), and a rear body (or rear surface). The inner case may further include an upper body (or upper surface)and a lower body (or lower surface). The first body 8C may be defined as a portion facing the first space W1 of the inner case 8, and the second body 8D may be defined as a portion facing the second space W2 of the inner case 8.

The refrigerator may include at least one heating device for heating the storage space, and the refrigerator may perform the heating mode H (see FIG. 4) using the heating device. The at least one heating device may be constituted by an electric heater such as a hot wire heater or a planar heater or may be constituted by a heat generating body of the thermoelectric element. The heating device is not limited to the type, and various devices can be applied as long as the heating device is capable of generating heat of approximately 20° C. or more. The at least one heating device may be operated independently from the temperature adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P.

The refrigerator may perform the cooling mode E (see FIG. 4) by the temperature adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P and perform the heating mode H by using the at least one heating device. At least one heating device may be disposed outside of the air flow path P. The at least one heating device may be configured to increase the temperature of the storage space, and in consideration of energy efficiency, it is preferable to be installed at a position thermally separated from the temperature adjusting device disposed in the air flow path P. For example, the inner guide 200 may be configured to be cooled by a temperature adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P, and the heating device may be disposed in addition to the inner guide 200.

The refrigerator may include a heating device 171 disposed on at least one of the first body 8C or the partition member (or partition shelf) 3. The heating device 171 may be disposed so that a specific region of the first space W1 is not overcooled and may be disposed to heat a region that is relatively more easily supercooled than other regions of the first space W1. For example, air discharged from the discharge port 204 into the first space W1 may fall and be suctioned through the suction port 205, and an area of the storage space closer to the suction port 205 may be a region which is relatively more easily supercooled than a region farther from the suction port 205. Thus, the heating device may be installed in close proximity to the suction port 205 and may heat an area of the storage space close to the suction port 205.

The heating device 171 may include a pair of first side heating devices 173 and 174 disposed on the first body 8C. The heating device 171 may further include an inner heating device 175 disposed in the storage space.

The refrigerator may include a shelf 2 and a partition member 3 disposed in a storage space, and the inner heating device 178 may be disposed on the partition member 3 or the shelf 2 and can heat the storage space at the partition member 3 or the shelf 2. In other examples, the inner heating device 178 may not disposed on the partition member 3 or the shelf 2 and, instead, may be mounted on a heating body separately disposed in the storage space.

For example, the inner heating device 178 may be disposed on the partition member 3, the shelf or the heating body disposed in the storage space, and the inner heating device 178 may heat the air in the storage space. The inner heating device is built in the partition member 3, the shelf 2, or the heating body, and can heat the storage space by heating the partition member 3, the shelf 2, or the heating body.

The inner heating device 178 is disposed to be exposed to the outer surface of the partition member 3, the shelf 2, or the heating body to directly heat the air in the storage space. The inner heating device 178 may be disposed to be heated before the air in the storage space is suctioned into the suction port 205. The inner heating device 178 may be disposed in a region of the storage space which is close to the suction port 205 and a region close to the suction port 205a of a region far from the suction port 205. For example, the inner heating device 178 may be installed to heat the lowermost region of the first space W1 and may be installed in the partition member 3. In another example, the inner heating device 178 may be disposed in the partition member 3 proximate the suction port 205, the suction port 205 may face upward of the inner heating device 178, and the air around the partition member 3 can be quickly heated by the partition member 3 and the inner heating device 178.

The refrigerator may further include an additional heating device 172 disposed on the second body 8D. The air discharged from the additional discharge port 321 to the second space W2 may fall and be suctioned through the additional suction port 341, and a region of the second space W2 which is close to the additional suction port 342 may be a region that is relatively more easily supercooled than the region farther from the additional suction port 341. The additional heating device 172 may be installed in proximity to the additional suction port 341 and may heat a region of the storage space close to the additional suction port 341.

The additional heating device 172 may include a pair of second side heating devices 176 and 177 disposed on the second body 8D. The additional heating device 172 may further include a lower heating device 178 disposed on the lower body of the inner case 8.

Referring to FIG. 15, when the temperature difference between the first space W1 and the second space W2 is relatively large (e.g., more than 3° C.), the refrigerator may be formed as a structure which may minimize heat conduction of the body of the inner case 8 between the first space W1 and the second space W2. At least one hole 8E may be formed between the first body 8C and the second body 8D.

For example, when the inner guide 200 faces the rear body and the storage space is formed in front of the inner guide 200, the body of the inner case 8 which is toward both the first space W1 and the second space W2 may be a heat transfer passage between the first space W1 and the second space W2. For example, when the partition member 3 is disposed between the left body and the right body, the first space W1 is 18° C., and the second space W2 is 6° C., the heat in the first space W2 may be transferred to the second space W2 through the left body and the right body, which are the bodies of the inner case 8 facing the storage space, and the first space W1 may be supercooled. Since heat is not transmitted through the at least one hole 8E, the at least one hole 8E may function as a heat shielding portion that can block heat transfer between the first body 8C and the second body 8D.

When the first body 8C and the second body 8D are not directly connected, heat transfer between the first body 8C and the second body 8D may be minimized. Meanwhile, for the convenience of manufacturing and aesthetics of the inner case 8, the inner case 8 may be formed with the first body 8C and the second body 8D integrally, and the first body 8C and the second body 8D may be connected to at least one bridge (or inner case surface region) 8F. The at least one bridge 8F may be a portion of the inner case 8 located around the at least one hole 8E, and the hole 8E may be formed between the pair of bridges 8F.

At least one hole 8E may face the storage space. At least one hole 8E may face the partition member 3. For example, the at least one hole 8E may face the outer circumferential surface of the partition member 3.

When the inner guide 200 is disposed in front of the rear body of the inner case 8 and faces the rear body, and the partition member 3 is disposed in front of the inner guide 200, the partition member 3 may include a front face facing forward (e.g., toward an opening closed and opened by the door), a left surface facing the left body of the inner case 8, a right surface facing the right body of the inner case 8, and a rear surface facing the inner guide 200. In addition, the at least one hole 8E may be formed in each of the left body and the right body, which are the bodies facing the storage space of the inner case 8, and may face the left surface or the right surface of the partition member 3.

At least one hole 8E may be smaller than the partition member 3. In addition, at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the at least one hole 8E may face the partition member 3. The at least one hole 8E can be maximally covered by the partition member 3 when the partition member 3 is disposed in the storage space. The bridge 8F may be located around at least one hole 8E and may face the partition member 3 together with the at least one hole 8E.

In the inner case 8, a plurality of holes 8E may be formed in a line. For example, when the partition member 3 is disposed horizontally, the plurality of holes 8E may be formed in a line that extends in a front and rear direction.

The bridge 8F may face an air flow path or a storage space. A plurality of bridges 8F may be formed in the inner case 8. The plurality of bridges 8F may include a first bridge 8G formed in front of the foremost hole among the plurality of holes, and a second bridge 8H formed behind the rearmost hole of the plurality of holes 8E. The plurality of bridges 8G, 8H, and 81 may include at least one third bridge 81 formed between the adjacent pair of holes 8E.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the inner case 8 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A plurality of bridges 8F′ may be formed in the inner case 8′, and the plurality of bridges 8F′ may correspond to a pair of bridges 8G and 8H spaced apart in the front and rear direction. In the inner case 8′, a long hole 8E′ can be formed between the pair of bridges 8G and 81 in the horizontal direction.

The inner case 8′ illustrated in FIG. 19 may have a smaller amount of heat transfer between the first body 8C and the second body 8D than the inner case 8 illustrated in FIG. 15. For example, a longitudinal length of the hole 8E′ formed in the horizontal direction may be shorter than the longitudinal length of the partition member 3, this hole 8E′ may face the peripheral surface of the partition member 3, and when the partition member 3 is disposed in the storage space, the hole 8E′ may be substantially hidden by the partition member 3 as much as possible.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator capable of adjusting the temperature of a plurality of storage spaces in a different temperature range as much as possible. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator capable of minimizing the supercooling of at least one of the plurality of storage spaces, and reliably storing each of the various goods having high quality changes and different storage chamber temperature ranges according to temperature changes.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet configured to have an inner case in which a storage space is formed, and a partition member configured to partition the storage space into a first space and a second space. The inner case may include a first body facing the first space, and a second body facing the second space. A heat insulating portion can be provided between the first body and the second body so as to minimize heat transfer therebetween. At least one hole is formed between the first body and the second body. Such a hole can minimize heat transfer between the first body and the second body.

The at least one hole may face an outer circumferential surface of the partition member. The at least one hole may be smaller than the partition member. The first body and the second body may be connected by a bridge. The plurality of holes may be aligned in a line in the inner case. A plurality of bridges may be formed in the inner case, and the plurality of bridges may include a pair of bridges spaced in the front and rear direction. The hole may be formed to be lengthened between the pair of bridges in a horizontal direction.

The refrigerator may further include an inner guide configured to be disposed in the inner case and to partition an inner portion of the inner case into the storage space and an air flow path, and a temperature adjusting device and a fan configured to be disposed in the air flow path. The bridge may face the air flow path or storage space. At least one hole may face the storage space.

The refrigerator may further include a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the first space; a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the second space; a first damper configured to adjust air supplied to the first space, and a second damper configured to adjust air supplied to the second space.

The refrigerator may further include a heating device configured to be disposed on at least one of the first body and the partition member. The refrigerator may further include an additional heating device configured to be disposed in the second body.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, heat transfer between the first body facing the first space and the second body facing the second space may be minimized by the holes, temperatures of the first space and the second space can be adjusted to be at different temperatures from each other, and the supercooling of either the first space or the second space may be minimized. In addition, at least one hole is concealed by the partition member to allow for high quality. In addition, since the first body and the second body are connected by a bridge, the number of components may be minimized when the first body and the second body are separate members, and the manufacturing process of the refrigerator may be simplified.

This application is also related to U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1615), U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1617), U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1619), U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1620), U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1621), U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1622), and U.S. Application No. filed (Attorney Docket No. HI-1623), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present disclosure, and a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present disclosure but to describe the present disclosure, and the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on” another element or layer, the element or layer can be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “lower”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “lower” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “upper” relative to the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the disclosure. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

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