IPC分类号：
A47F3/04 | F25D23/02 | F25D27/00 | F25D29/00
当前申请(专利权)人：
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
原始申请(专利权)人：
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
128, Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, SEOUL,, KR
代理机构：
VOSSIUS & PARTNER PATENTANWÄLTE RECHTSANWÄLTE MBB
摘要：
Provided are a refrigerator (1) and a control method thereof. The refrigerator (1) is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door (40, 50) to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator (1) while the refrigerator door (40, 50) is closed.
技术问题语段：
The technical problem addressed in this patent is to provide a refrigerator with a selectively transparent door that allows the user to see the inside of the refrigerator without opening the entire refrigerator door, while also insulating the refrigerator and preventing leakage of cooling air. Various solutions are proposed, including the use of a transparent material on the front surface of the refrigerator door or a half glass material.
技术功效语段：
The invention is a refrigerator with a panel assembly that allows the user to see through the doors when closed, which improves recognition and reliability of operations. The refrigerator door is also insulated to maintain a consistent temperature.
权利要求：
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet (10) forming a storage space, a main control part (2) which controls the operation of the refrigerator, a lighting unit (85) provided at the storage space to illuminate the storage space; a main door (40) to open and close the storage space and having an opening part (403); and a sub door (50) to open and close the opening part (403) and including a panel assembly (54) through which light from the lighting unit (85) is transmitted to an outside of the refrigerator, wherein the panel assembly (54) comprises a front panel (541) forming a front surface of the sub door (50), the front panel (541) includes a see-through area through which light from the lighting unit (85) is transmitted when the lighting unit (84) is turned on, and a bezel area on which a bezel (5411) is formed and provided outside the see through area, wherein there is a detection device (81) being attached to the rear surface of the front panel (541) and checking whether a user stands in front of the refrigerator, characterised in that the refrigerator further comprises a knock detection device (82) to detect a user's knocking operation applied on the front panel (541), wherein the lighting unit (85) is turned on/off when the knock detection device (82) detects the user's knocking operation applied on the front panel (541) while the sub door (50) is closed, wherein the front panel (541) is being formed of a half mirror reflecting a part of the light and transmitting a part of the light to be selectively transparent, and wherein the see-through area of the front panel (541) allows the user to view an inside of the refrigerator when the lighting unit (85) is turned on while the sub door (50) is closed, and forms a mirror surface while the lighting unit (85) is turned off.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the bezel (5411) is formed along a perimeter of the rear surface of the front panel (541).
3. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the knock detection device (82) is provided on a rear surface of the front panel (541).
4. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the knock detection device (82) is disposed at the bezel (5411).
5. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the knock detection device (82) comprises a microphone to sense a sound wave and a microphone accommodation part (8212) to accommodate the microphone (8211).
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the microphone accommodation part (8212) is in contact with the rear surface of the front panel (541).
7. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sub door (50) further comprises a door frame including a detection device accommodation part (582) in which the knock detection device (82) is installed.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the door frame comprises side frames (55, 56) which form both side surfaces of the sub-door (50), a sub-door liner (59) which forms a perimeter of the rear surface of the sub-door (50), and an upper cap decoration (57) and a lower cap decoration (58) which form an upper surface and a lower surface of the sub-door (50), and wherein the detection device accommodation part (582) is formed at the lower cap decoration (58).
9. The refrigerator of claim 7 or 8, wherein the sub door (50) further comprises an accommodation part cover (583) to shield the detection device accommodation part (582).