U.S. patent application number 16/725092 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-16 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jeheon CHO, Myungjin CHUNG, Kyungseok KIM, Jeongwon PARK, Giseok SEONG.
Application Number | 20200224958 16/725092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69137736 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200224958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Jeongwon ; et
al. |
July 16, 2020 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a discharge body configured to be formed
with a discharge port and a suction port, a flow path body
configured to be disposed in the discharge body and forms a
discharge flow path for guiding air to the discharge port, an air
guide configured to be formed with a scroll and an opening that
guides air to the discharge flow path and an outlet spaced apart
from the opening, and a fan provided inside the air guide.
Inventors: |
PARK; Jeongwon; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Kyungseok; (Seoul, KR) ; SEONG;
Giseok; (Seoul, KR) ; CHUNG; Myungjin; (Seoul,
KR) ; CHO; Jeheon; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
|
Family ID: |
69137736 |
Appl. No.: |
16/725092 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/067 20130101;
F25D 17/062 20130101; F25D 17/08 20130101; F25D 17/065 20130101;
F25D 2317/0683 20130101; F25D 2317/067 20130101; F25D 11/022
20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25D 2317/063 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/08 20060101
F25D017/08; F25D 17/06 20060101 F25D017/06; F25D 11/02 20060101
F25D011/02; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 10, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0003589 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a wall that is provided in
the cabinet and is formed with a discharge port and a suction port;
flow path layer that is provided in the wall and forms a discharge
flow path that guides air to the discharge port; a fan housing that
includes a conduit that guides air to the discharge flow path, the
fan housing being formed with an opening coupled to the conduit and
an outlet spaced apart from the opening; and a fan that is received
inside the fan housing.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the conduit has a leading
end and a trailing end associated with the opening, the leading end
being provided closer to an outer circumference of the fan than the
trailing end, and wherein the fan is positioned closer to the
outlet than to the trailing end of the conduit.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising: a guide that
directs air from the fan to the outlet.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the fan is positioned
between the conduit and the guide.
5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein a length of the conduit in
a horizontal direction is greater than a length of the guide in the
horizontal direction.
6. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein a first distance between
the trailing end of the conduit and the fan is greater than a
second distance between the guide and the fan.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: an inner cover
that includes an additional discharge port and an additional
suction port; and a discharge duct that guides air flow between the
outlet of the fan housing and the additional discharge port of the
inner cover.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, further comprising: a heat exchange
device provided adjacent to the fan housing, wherein the inner
cover covers the fan housing and the temperature adjusting
device.
9. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the additional discharge
port is positioned lower than the discharge port and the suction
port.
10. The refrigerator of claim 7, further comprising: a partition
that divides an interior of the cabinet into two storage spaces and
is positioned between the suction port and the additional discharge
port.
11. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first damper
configured to adjust amount of air flowing into the discharge flow
path, and a second damper configured to adjust amount of the air
flowing to the outlet.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the discharge flow path
includes an inlet communicating with the first damper and a
plurality of branch flow paths connected to the inlet.
13. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: an outer plate
configured to cover a front surface of the wall and including
openings corresponding, respectively, to the discharge port and the
suction port.
14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the discharge flow path
includes a plurality of branch flow paths connected to the fan
housing and spaced apart from each other.
15. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the wall further includes
a diverter surface that is received in the fan housing to block air
flow to the outlet.
16. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising: an outer
plate provided at a front surface of the partition to cover the
suction port and including an opening corresponding to the
discharge port.
17. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the flow path layer
includes an expanded polystyrene (EPS) material.
18. A refrigerator comprising: a heat exchanger; a fan housing
having a cavity and first opening and a second opening to the
cavity; a fan positioned in the cavity of the fan housing to
generate air flow from the heat exchanger to one or more of the
first opening or the second opening; a cover provided over the heat
exchanger, the fan, and the fan housing, the cover including a
first discharge port; a duct that couples the first opening of the
fan housing and the first discharge port of the cover; and a guide
that defines a flow path between the second opening and a second
discharge port that is spaced from the first discharge port.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising: a diverter
that is coupled to the guide and includes a surface that is
positioned to block the first opening.
20. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the cover further
includes a first suction port through which air flows to the heat
exchanger, and the flow path housing further includes a second
suction port that is spaced from the from the first suction port,
and wherein the refrigerator further comprises a return duct
positioned to connect the second suction port and the heat
exchanger.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0003589 filed on Jan. 10,
2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
2. Background
[0003] In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows
food or other items to be stored at a relative low temperature in
an internal storage space that is accessed by a door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements, and wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an example of a
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating another example of a
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view when a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure is disposed adjacent to
another refrigerator;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating on and off of 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;
[0009] FIGS. 5 to 8 are views illustrating examples of a
refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a see-through
door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0012] 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;
[0013] 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;
[0014] FIG. 13 is a sectional view when a holder illustrated in
FIG. 12 is lifted;
[0015] FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a storage chamber of an
example of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating when the
partition member, the shelf, and the storage member according to
the embodiment of the present disclosure are separated in front of
the storage space;
[0017] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an
inner guide and an evaporator according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 17 is a rear view illustrating an inner portion of the
inner guide according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating when the air is
discharged to the second space and the storage space, as an example
of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
discharge guide and an air guide according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 20 is a rear view illustrating a return duct according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 21 is a perspective view when the return duct
illustrated in FIG. 20 is separated from the inner guide;
[0023] FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating a storage chamber of
another example of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of
the present disclosure; and
[0024] FIG. 23 is an enlarged rear view illustrating an inner guide
of the refrigerator of FIG. 22 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.degree. C. to 20.degree. 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.degree. C.
More specifically, the temperature of the storage chamber for red
wine can be adjusted to 12.degree. C. to 18.degree. C., and the
temperature of the storage chamber for white wine can be adjusted
to 6.degree. C. to 11.degree. C. In another example, the
temperature of the storage chamber for champagne can be adjusted to
about 5.degree. C.
[0027] 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.degree. C. and may be 2.degree. 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.degree. C.
[0028] 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 (or heat exchanger), 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] The refrigerator may further include an inner guide (or flow
path housing) 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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 W3) 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.degree. C. to 7.degree. 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.degree. C. to 7.degree. 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.
[0042] 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.degree. C. to 7.degree. 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.degree. C.) entered by a user in the temperature range
(for example, 1.degree. C. to 7.degree. C.) above zero.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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.
[0048] 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.
[0049] 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).
[0050] 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 may be adjusted to be
within the desired temperature range.
[0051] In certain configurations, any one of the first storage
chamber W or 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.
[0052] 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.
[0053] 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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] At least one of the first refrigerator Q1 or 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
[0061] 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. For example, the refrigerator may include the cooling
device and the 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.
[0062] The refrigerator may be controlled in a plurality of modes
for temperature adjusting of the storage chamber W, and 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 which maintains the current state without cooling
or heating the storage chamber W. The refrigerator may include a
temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the storage chamber
W and may 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.
[0063] The cooling mode E is not limited to the storage chamber W
being continuously cooled by the cooling device and may include a
case where the storage chamber is cooled by the cooling device as a
whole, but the storage chamber W is temporarily not cooled by the
cooling device and a case where the storage chamber W is cooled by
the cooling device as a whole, but the storage chamber is
temporarily heated by the heating device. The cooling operation E
may include a case where the time when the storage chamber is
cooled by the cooling device is longer than the time when the
storage chamber W is not cooled by the cooling device.
[0064] The heating mode H is not limited to the storage chamber W
being continuously heated by the heating device and 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 and a case where the storage chamber W is heated by
the heating device as a whole, the storage chamber W is temporarily
cooled by the cooling device. The heating operation H may include a
case where the time when the storage chamber W is heated by the
heating device is longer than the time when the storage chamber W
is not heated by the heating device.
[0065] There is a case where the temperature of the storage chamber
W, which has been temperature-controlled by the cooling mode E, may
be kept below a target temperature lower limit value without
lifting above the target temperature lower limit value for a long
time in a state of being lowered below the target temperature lower
limit value. In this case, the refrigerator may start the heating
mode H so that the storage chamber W is not overcooled when the
storage chamber temperature falls below the lower limit
temperature, and the heating device can be turned on. The lower
limit temperature may be a temperature set to be lower than the
target temperature lower limit value by the predetermined
temperature.
[0066] Meanwhile, the refrigerator may start the heating mode H so
that the storage chamber temperature is not maintained in a low
state for a long time when the storage chamber temperature is
maintained between the target temperature lower limit value and the
lower limit temperature during the setting time. The heating mode H
may be started when the storage temperature is the lower limit
temperature, and the lower limit temperature may be the heating
mode start temperature.
[0067] One example of the standby mode D may be a mode in which the
storage chamber temperature is maintained between the target lower
limit value and the lower limit temperature, the refrigerator may
be controlled in the order of the cooling mode E, the standby mode
D, and the heating mode H without immediately switching to the
heating mode H during the cooling mode E.
[0068] Meanwhile, the temperature of the storage chamber W, which
has been temperature-controlled by the heating mode H, may be kept
above the target temperature upper limit value without being
lowered below the target temperature upper limit value for a long
time in a state of lifting above the target temperature upper limit
value. In this case, when the storage chamber temperature exceeds
the upper limit temperature, the refrigerator can start the cooling
mode E so that the storage chamber W is not overheated, and the
cooling device can be turned on. The upper limit temperature may be
a temperature set to be higher than a target temperature upper
limit value.
[0069] Meanwhile, the refrigerator may start the cooling mode E so
that the storage chamber temperature does not remain high for a
long time when the storage chamber temperature is maintained
between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper
limit temperature during the setting time. The cooling mode E may
be started if the storage temperature is the upper limit
temperature, and the upper limit temperature may be the cooling
mode start temperature.
[0070] Another example of the standby mode D may be a mode in which
the storage chamber temperature is maintained between the target
temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature, and
without switching to the cooling mode E immediately during the
heating mode H, the refrigerator may be controlled in the order of
the heating mode H, the standby mode D, and the cooling mode E.
[0071] 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
or off such that the storage chamber temperature is maintained
between the target temperature upper limit value and the target
temperature lower limit value. Specifically, the compressor may be
turned on because the cooling is not satisfied when the storage
chamber temperature reaches the target temperature upper limit
value and may be turned off when cooling is satisfied when the
storage chamber temperature reaches the target temperature lower
limit value.
[0072] For example, in the heating mode H, the heater 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 heater may be
turned off because heating is satisfied when the storage chamber
temperature reaches the target temperature upper limit value and
may be turned on because heating is not satisfied when the storage
chamber temperature reaches the target temperature lower limit
value.
[0073] 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
air in the storage chamber W is not forced to flow by the storage
chamber fan. The standby mode D may be a mode in which the heater
also maintains the off state while the compressor maintains the off
state.
[0074] 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).
[0075] 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.
[0076] 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.
[0077] 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 W3, 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.
[0078] 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 (or heat exchange devices) 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.
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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.
[0081] 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.
[0082] 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.
[0083] 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.
[0084] 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.
[0085] 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.
[0086] 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.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] 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.
[0090] 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.
[0091] 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, or a timer 37 which can measure the lapse of
time.
[0092] 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.
[0093] 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.
[0094] 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.
[0095] 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.
[0096] 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.
[0097] 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.
[0098] If the device for activating or deactivating the see-through
door is defined as a transparency control module, for example, the
panel assembly 23 and the light source 38 may be used. 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 maintain in
an opaque state 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, it can be a case that, 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.
[0099] 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.
[0100] In other examples, 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.
[0101] 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.
[0102] 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.
[0103] 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.
[0104] 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. 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.
[0105] The cabinet 1 may be installed 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 opening module 11 together. In
addition, the door opening module 11 may include a drive motor 72,
a power transmission unit 74, and a push member 76.
[0106] When the power of 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.
[0107] 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. 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.
[0108] 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.
[0109] 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 including 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
30 can output a return signal to the drive motor 72.
[0110] The controller 30 may transmit the return signal to the
drive motor 72 so that the push member 76 returns to the initial
position and the drive motor 72 may be 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.
[0111] 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.
[0112] 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.
[0113] 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, such as 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'.
[0114] 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.
[0115] 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.
[0116] 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).
[0117] 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.
[0118] 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.
[0119] 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.
[0120] 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.
[0121] 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.
[0122] 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.
[0123] FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a storage chamber of an
example of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating when the
partition member, the shelf, and the storage member according to
the embodiment of the present disclosure are 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
illustrating when the air is discharged to the second space and the
storage space, as an example of a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 19 is an exploded
perspective view illustrating a discharge guide and an air guide
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 20 is a
rear view illustrating a return duct according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure, and FIG. 21 is a perspective view when the
return duct illustrated in FIG. 20 is separated from the inner
guide.
[0124] Hereinafter, although the temperature adjusting device
disposed in the air flow path P will be described as an example of
a cooling device, the temperature adjusting device disposed in the
air flow path P is not limited to being a cooling device, but may
be a heating device, such as a heater, or may include a device that
selectively heats or cools. For convenience, the temperature
control device disposed in the air flow path P will be described
with the same reference numeral 150 as the evaporator, which is
provided as an example of the temperature control device.
Hereinafter, the airflow forming mechanism disposed in the air flow
path P will be described as the fan 181.
[0125] When the storage chamber W is opened, the front surface of
the inner guide 200 may face the front of the storage chamber W.
The inner guide 200 may be formed so that its front surface has a
substantially planar shape. The inner guide 200 may further include
a portion (that is, a bent portion or region) that is bent at
another portion of the periphery or a portion (that is, a
protrusion portion) that protrudes more than the other portion of
the periphery.
[0126] When the inner guide 200 is a combination of a plurality of
members, the boundary L of the plurality of members or the coupling
portion of the plurality of members may be positioned the rear or
the side of another structure (for example, the shelf 2, the
partition member 3, receiving member 4, or the like) disposed
inside the storage chamber W, and thus may be concealed by the
other configuration or located close to the other configuration.
When the boundary L or the coupling portion is minimized, the outer
appearance of the inner guide 200 may be simplified, and the
refrigerator may be advanced.
[0127] Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the inner guide 200
is described. The inner guide 200 may function to define a
discharge duct for discharging air into the storage chamber W and
may function to define a suction duct for returning the air in the
storage chamber W to the temperature adjusting device 150. For
example, the inner guide 200 may have a discharge port 204 and a
suction port 205, and the discharge hole 204 and the suction port
205 may be formed to be spaced apart from the inner guide 200. When
the suction port is not visible as much as possible in front of the
storage chamber W as described above, the outer appearance of the
inner guide 200 may be more concise, and the refrigerator may be
advanced.
[0128] 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.
[0129] In the refrigerator, a discharge port 204 (hereinafter,
referred to as a first discharge port) for discharging air into the
first space W1 and a suction port 205 (hereinafter, referred to as
a first suction port) for suctioning air in the first space W1 may
be formed at a position facing the first space W1. In the
refrigerator, an additional discharge port 321 (hereinafter,
referred to as a second discharge port) for discharging air into
the second space W2 and an additional suction port 341
(hereinafter, referred to as a second suction port) formed in a
guide 340 for suctioning air in the second space W2 may be formed
at a position facing the second space W2. The first discharge port
may be provided at a position higher than the first suction port.
The second discharge port may be provided at a position higher than
the second suction port.
[0130] 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 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.
[0131] The gap between the partition member 3 and the suction port
205 may function as an inlet 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 be suctioned to the suction port 205
after passing through the gap between the partition member 3 and
the suction port 205. As described above, when a portion of the
suction port 205 is covered by the partition member 3, the outer
appearance of the suction port 205 may be more advanced than when
the entire suction port 205 is visible through the periphery of the
partition member 3.
[0132] Meanwhile, the inner guide 200 may have a heat exchange flow
path P1 in which the temperature adjusting device 150 and the fan
181 are received. The inner guide 200 may have a discharge flow
path P2 through which air blown by the fan 181 is guided 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 between the temperature adjusting
device 150 and the storage space, and the temperature adjusting
device 150 and the fan 181 may adjust the temperature of the first
space W1 and the second space W2 in a state received in the air
flow path P.
[0133] 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.
[0134] The second damper 192 may be disposed in the air flow path P
and may adjust 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.
[0135] The inner guide 200 may include a discharge port 204 for
discharging air into the first space W1, a discharge guide 202
disposed to face the first space W1, an additional discharge port
321 for discharging air to the second space W2, and an inner cover
(or cover) 300 disposed to shield the temperature adjusting device
150, facing the second space W2. The cover 300 may define a cavity
(also referred to as a machine room) to receive the temperature
adjusting device 150, an air guide (also referred to as a fan
housing) 400, and the fan 181. One of the discharge guide 202 or
the inner cover 300 may be disposed higher than the other one of
the discharge guide 202 or the inner cover 300.
[0136] For 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.
[0137] In this case, the temperature adjusting device 150 may be
closer to the lower end of the upper and lower ends of the storage
chamber (W). The fan 181 and the temperature adjusting device 150
may be positioned lower than the upper end of the inner cover 300
and may be received and covered by the inner cover 300. A portion
of the inner guide 200 in which the lower end of the discharge
guide 202 and the upper end of the inner cover 300 contact each
other may be a boundary L between the discharge guide 202 and the
inner cover 300.
[0138] The inner cover 300 may be connected to the lower end of the
discharge guide 202, and the inner cover 300 may be disposed to
have a step with the discharge guide 202. For example, the inner
cover 300 may be a portion that protrudes relatively further in the
forward direction than the discharge guide 202.
[0139] The length of the inner cover 300 in the vertical direction
Z may be a factor for determining the total volume occupied by the
storage space in the storage chamber W. The inner cover 300 has a
length in the vertical direction Z which can receive the fan 181,
the temperature adjusting device 150, and the air guide 400,
wherein the length in the vertical direction Z is preferably formed
as short as possible. In another example, when the inner cover 300
is connected to the lower portion of the discharge guide 202, and
the temperature adjusting device 150 is close to the lower surface
of the inner case 8, the length of the inner cover 300 in the
vertical direction Z may be short, and the volume occupied by the
storage space in the storage chamber W may be large.
[0140] When the upper end height H1 of the temperature adjusting
device 150 is lower than the lower end height H2 of the partition
member 3, the portion of the inner cover 300 facing the first space
W1 is minimized or absent, and the volume of the first space W1 can
be maximized. A portion of the discharge guide 202 facing the first
space W1 may be provided with a heating air generation module (HG)
module 184 and a temperature sensor T2. The HG module 184 may
further include an air purification filter.
[0141] The inner guide 200 may further include an air guide (or fan
housing) 400. The fan 181 may be disposed inside the air guide 400
and may be received in the air guide 400. The air guide 400 may be
connected 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.
[0142] The air guide 400 may be formed with a shroud 411 opened
toward the temperature adjusting device 150, and when the fan 181
is driven, the air heat exchanged with the temperature adjusting
device 150 may pass through the shroud 411 to flow into the air
guide 400. The air guide 400 may overlap the temperature regulating
device 150 in the front and rear direction X or in the vertical
direction Z.
[0143] When the air guide 400 and the temperature adjusting device
150 overlap in the front and rear direction X, the length of a
space in which the air guide 400 and the temperature adjusting
device 150 occupies in the vertical direction is short while the
width of the space in the front and rear direction may be large. In
this case, the width L1 of the inner cover 400 in the front and
rear direction X is also large, and the width of the second space
W2 in the front and rear direction X is small.
[0144] Meanwhile, the inner cover 300 may be further formed with a
receiving member discharge port 331 through which the air blown
from the receiving member fan 183 passes to be blown toward the
receiving member. The inner cover 300 may include a receiving
member fan mounting portion (or fan mount) 330 on which the
receiving member fan 183 is mounted. The receiving member fan 183
may be disposed in the inner cover 300.
[0145] Meanwhile, the refrigerator may further include a receiving
member cover 2' facing the upper surface of the receiving member 4.
The receiving member cover 2' may be disposed on the shelf 2
disposed in the second space W2. The receiving member cover 2' may
be disposed to be spaced apart from the upper end of the receiving
member 4, and the air discharged through the receiving member
discharge port 331 can flow to the receiving space P of the
receiving member (4) through the gap between the receiving member
cover 2' and the receiving member 4.
[0146] 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 (or discharge plate) 210 and a flow path body (or
flow path layer) 230 disposed on the rear surface of the discharge
body 210. The discharge guide 202 may further include a cover body
(or rear cover plate) 220 spaced apart from the discharge body 210
in the front and rear direction.
[0147] 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 exchanged with the
temperature adjusting device 150 to the discharge port 204. The
flow path body 230 may be provided between the discharge body 210
and the cover body 220.
[0148] The discharge guide 202 may further include an outer plate
(or front cover plate) 250 disposed on the front surface of the
discharge body 210. The outer plate 250 may form an outer
appearance of the rear wall surface of the first space W1 and may
be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel. The outer
plate 250 may have openings 251, 252, 253, and 255 having sizes
corresponding to positions corresponding to the discharge ports
204, the purification module mounting portion 212, the temperature
sensor mounting portion (or sensor opening) 213, and the suction
port 205, respectively.
[0149] The cover body 220 may have a plate shape and may be spaced
apart from the discharge body 210 by the flow path body 230. The
discharge flow path P2 may be defined as an area in which the flow
path body 230 is not located among the areas between the discharge
body 210 and the cover body 220.
[0150] The lower end of the discharge flow path P2 may communicate
with the air guide 400, and may be branched to both left and right
sides by the first member 231 and may extend upward. The first
member 231 may be formed such that the left and right widths become
wider from the lower end to the upper side, and both left and right
side surfaces may be formed to have a predetermined curvature to
provide a smooth flow of air. A purification module recessed
portion 231a may be further formed on the upper portion of the
first member 231 so that the purification module 184 may be
recessed thereon, and if necessary, the first member 231 may
further include a flow path for allowing air in the first space W1
to enter and exit the purification module 184.
[0151] The second member 232 and the third member 233 may be spaced
apart from the left and right sides of the first member 231 to form
the discharge flow path P2, and the side facing the first member
231 may be formed round in a shape corresponding to each other. The
discharge ports 204 formed in the discharge body 210 may be formed
toward the discharge flow path P2 branched into a pair. Meanwhile,
a through-hole 233a corresponding to the suction port 205 may be
formed at one lower side of the third member 233, and the
through-hole 233a communicates with the return duct 500, which will
be described later and thus the air recovered at the storage
chamber W may flow into the return duct 500.
[0152] Meanwhile, the heat insulating sheet 290 may be provided on
the rear surface of the discharge flow path P2 formed by the flow
path body 230. The heat insulating sheet 290 may be formed in a
shape corresponding to the shape of the discharge flow path P2 and
may be attached to the front surface of the cover body 220.
[0153] The refrigerator may include a guide 234 for guiding air
forcedly flowing by the fan 181 inside the air guide 400. Guide 234
may be formed to guide the air blown from the fan 181 to the outlet
(or first opening) 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 guide 234 approaches the outlet 412 in 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.
[0154] The guide 234 can be formed integrally with any one of the
discharge body 210, the flow path body 230, and the cover body 220,
and can be coupled to one of the discharge body 210, the flow path
body 230, and the cover body 220. The guide 234 may be formed to
protrude from the lower portion of the flow path body 230, and, for
example, the guide 234 may be formed to protrude from the third
member 233.
[0155] 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.
[0156] 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.
[0157] 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 allows air that is
heat-exchanged with the temperature adjusting device 150 to be
selectively supplied to the first space W1 and the second space
W2.
[0158] The air guide 400 may include a front housing 410 and a rear
housing 420, and the fan 181, the first damper 191, and the second
damper 192 may be received in the space formed by the combination
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.
[0159] The air guide 400 may have a scroll (or conduit) 413 and an
opening portion or opening (also referred to as a second opening)
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. A cross-section area of the scroll
413 may increase between the fan 181 and toward the opening portion
414. The opening portion 414 may communicate with the lower end of
the discharge flow path P2.
[0160] The size of the first space W1 may be larger than that of
the second space W2, and the air guide 400 may be formed in a shape
such that a large amount of air may rapidly flow into the discharge
flow path P2. The fan 181 may be disposed between the scroll 413
and the guide 234. In the refrigerator, the flow path sectional
area between the outer circumference of the fan 181 and the scroll
413 in the air flow direction may be larger than the flow path
sectional area between the outer circumference of the fan 181 and
the guide 234. The scroll 413 may have a leading end 413a closest
to the outer circumference of the fan 181 and a trailing end 413b
farthest from the outer circumference of the fan 181.
[0161] The fan 181 may be disposed closer to the outlet 412 than to
the trailing end 413b of the scroll 413. In addition, the length of
the scroll 413 may be longer than the length of the guide 234. The
length of the scroll 413 may be an air flow direction length of a
surface of the scroll 413 facing the outer circumferential surface
of the fan 181, and the length of the guide 234 may be defined as
the length of the air flow direction of the surface facing the
outer circumferential surface of the fan 181 of the guide 234.
[0162] If the fan 181 is disposed closer to the outlet 412 than the
trailing end 413b of the scroll 413 and the length of the scroll
413 is longer than the length of the guide 234, then the first
distance L7 between the trailing end 413b of the scroll 413 and the
fans 181 may be longer than the second distance L8 between the
trailing end of the guide 234 and the fan 181. In this case, the
fan 181 may be eccentrically positioned to one side of the left and
right in the inner guide. In this case, the fan 181 and the scroll
413 can quickly supply a large amount of air to the discharge flow
path P2.
[0163] The first damper 191 may interrupt the flow of air through
the opening portion 414. The first damper 191 may interrupt 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
when the first damper 191 is opened and closed.
[0164] 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.
[0165] The discharge guide 202 is preferably configured to be as
slim as possible so that the volume of the first space W1 is
maximized. In addition, the width of the first damper 191 in the
front and rear direction may be greater than the width of the
discharge guide 202 in the front and rear direction. When the width
of the first damper 191 in the front and rear direction are larger
than the width of the discharge guide 202 in the front and rear
direction, the first damper 191 may be preferably positioned before
the opening portion or in the opening portion in the air flow
direction. The first damper 191 is preferably disposed in the air
guide 400.
[0166] The air guide 400 may have a shroud 411 through which air
may be suctioned into the fan 181. The shroud 411 may be formed in
the front housing 410. When the fan 181 is driven, 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.
[0167] The first damper 191, the second damper 192, the fan 181,
the air guide 400, and the temperature adjusting device 150 is
configured to be received in the inner cover 300, and it is
preferable to be located as close as possible. For example, the
positions of each of the first damper 191, the second damper 192,
and the fan 181 may be determined by the air guide 400, and if the
air guide 400 overlaps the evaporator 140 in the vertical direction
Z, at least a portion of each of the first damper 191, the fan 181,
and the second damper 192 may be disposed to be overlapped with the
temperature adjusting device 150 in the vertical direction Z.
[0168] The first damper 191 and the second damper 192 may be spaced
apart in the horizontal direction, particularly in the left and
right directions Y, and a portion of the fan 181 can be located
between the first damper 191 and the second damper 192. At least a
portion of the first damper 191 may be disposed to overlap the fan
191 in the horizontal direction, for example, the left and right
directions Y. The first damper 191 may be eccentrically disposed on
one side of the left and right sides of the air flow path P. The
first damper 191 may be disposed at a height H3 overlapping the
partition member 3 in the horizontal direction, particularly in the
front and rear direction X.
[0169] The first damper 191 may overlap the partition member 3 in
the horizontal direction in a state where a portion of the air
guide 200 is interposed between the first damper and the partition
member 3. The first damper 191 may overlap the rear end of the
partition member 3 in the front and rear direction X in a state
where the air guide 400 is disposed between the first damper and
the inner cover 300.
[0170] At least a portion of the second damper 192 may be disposed
to overlap the fan 191 in a horizontal direction, for example, in a
left and right direction Y. The second damper 192 may be disposed
eccentrically to the other side of the air flow path P in the left
and right direction. At least a portion of the second damper 192
may be disposed to overlap the partition member 3 in the horizontal
direction, for example, in the front and rear direction X.
[0171] The second damper 192 may overlap the partition member 3 in
the horizontal direction, for example, the front and rear direction
X, in a state where a portion of the air guide 200 is interposed
between the second damper and the partition member 3. A portion of
the inner cover 300 and a portion of the air guide 400 of the air
guide 200 may be located between the partition member 3 and the
second damper 192. The second damper 192 may overlap the rear end
of the partition member 3 in the front and rear direction X in a
state where the air guide 400 is disposed between the inner cover
300 and the second damper 192.
[0172] When the first damper 191, the second damper 192, and the
fan 181 are disposed at the above positions, the size of the air
guide 400 may be minimized, and the first damper 191, the second
damper 192, the fan 181, the air guide 400, and the temperature
adjusting device 150 may be disposed as compactly as possible in
the inner case 8.
[0173] Meanwhile, an outlet 412 communicating with the additional
discharge port 321 may be formed in the air guide 400, for example,
the front housing 410. 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.
[0174] 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 being flowed 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.
[0175] 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.
[0176] The outlet portion 362 may extend in the horizontal
direction from the inlet portion 361 to be lengthened and may be
formed to open forward. The outlet portion 362 may face the
additional outlet port 321. An edge 363 which is in close contact
with the inner cover 300may be formed on the front surface of the
outlet portion 362. The additional discharge holes 321 may face the
inner region of the outlet portion 362 in the front and rear
direction X, and all of the air guided through the discharge duct
360 may be discharged to the second space W2 through the additional
discharge holes 321.
[0177] 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.
[0178] 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. When the second damper 192 is embedded in the
air guide 400, a second separate damper receiver does not need to
be formed in the inner cover 300, and a portion of the inner cover
300 which protrudes toward the second space W2 can be minimized and
the volume of the second space W2 can be maximized.
[0179] Meanwhile, a fan motor mounting portion (or fan mount) 421
in which the fan 181 is mounted may be formed in the air guide 400,
for example, the rear housing 420. The first damper mounting
portion 422 may be formed on one side of the left and right sides
of the fan motor mounting portion 421, and the second damper
mounting portion 423 may be formed on the other side of the fan
motor mounting portion 421. The first damper mounting portion 422
and the second damper mounting portion 423 may be positioned
opposite to each other in a state where the fan motor mounting
portion 421 is interposed between the first damper mounting portion
422 and the second damper mounting portion 423.
[0180] Meanwhile, the refrigerator may be configured to discharge
air into the first space W1 from the storage chamber W,
particularly from the upper portion of the first space W1. The flow
path body 230 may extend to the upper end of the discharge body
210, and the upper end of the flow path body 230 may be coupled to
the duct connecting member 270. In addition, the inner case 8 may
be an upper duct 280 for guiding air to be discharged into the
first space W1.
[0181] The upper duct 280 may be disposed on the upper surface of
the inner case 8. The upper duct 280 may be formed with an inner
flow path for guiding the air passing through the discharge flow
path P2 to be discharged into the first space W1, and a top
discharge port through which the air guided in the inner flow path
is discharged to the first space W1. The top discharge port may be
formed under the upper duct 280 and may be formed to be open toward
the first space W1.
[0182] The duct connecting member 270 allows the interior of the
discharge flow path P2 and the upper duct 280 to communicate with
each other and may be mounted on the upper end of the passage body
230. The duct connecting member 270 may include a connecting
portion 272 connecting between the pair of flow passage portions
271 and the pair of flow passage portions 271 respectively
connected to the discharge flow path P2 and the upper duct 280.
[0183] The duct connecting member 270 may be disposed to penetrate
the inner case 8 and may connect the upper end of the discharge
guide 202 inside the inner case 102 and the rear end of the upper
duct 280 outside the inner case 102. A pair of upper ducts 280 may
be provided in the refrigerator. The upper duct 280 may be disposed
to penetrate the inner case 8, and the top discharge port may face
the first space W1.
[0184] The inner guide 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 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.
[0185] The return duct 500 may include an inlet portion 510 through
which air is suctioned. The inlet portion 510 may be formed on the
upper portion of the return duct 500. The return duct 500 may
further include a discharge unit 520 for discharging air to a
temperature adjusting device, for example, the temperature
adjusting device 150 disposed in the air flow path P. The discharge
portion 520 may be formed under the return flow path 500.
[0186] The inner case 8 may have a through-hole 8A through which a
portion of the return duct 500 may pass. The through-hole 8A may be
formed at the position facing the air guide 400, particularly the
rear housing 420, of the inner case 8. In addition, an inlet 424
corresponding to the inlet portion 510 may be formed in the air
guide 400. The inlet 424 may be formed in the rear housing 420 of
the air guide 400.
[0187] The inlet 424 may be formed at a position corresponding to
the suction portion 205 and the inlet portion 510 and may be in
communication with each of the suction port 205 and the inlet
portion 510. For example, the suction port 205 and the return duct
500 may be communicated by the inlet 424 formed in the air guide
400.
[0188] The inner case 8 may have an outlet 8B corresponding to the
outlet portion 520. The outlet 8A may face the lower end of the
temperature adjusting device 150 or downward of the temperature
adjusting device 150. The outlet 8B may be in communication with
the outlet portion 520. The heat exchange flow path P1 and the
return duct 500 in which the temperature adjusting device 150 is
received may be communicated by the outlet 8B formed in the inner
case 8. The outlet 8A may be formed at a lower height than the
additional discharge port 321 and the receiving member discharge
port 331.
[0189] The inlet portion 510 may be disposed in communication with
the suction port 205. The outlet portion 520 may be disposed to
face the temperature adjusting device 150 or the lower side of the
temperature adjusting device 150. The outlet portion 520 may be
disposed to face the lower portion of the temperature adjusting
device 150.
[0190] The return duct 500 connects between the inlet portion 510
and the outlet portion 520 and may include a body portion 530. The
body portion 530 may be provided with a return flow path P4 for
guiding the air suctioned in the first space W1 to the temperature
adjusting device 150.
[0191] The size of the outlet portion 520 may be larger than that
of the inlet portion 510, and the body portion 530 may be formed to
be wider toward the outlet portion 520. The air flowing into the
temperature adjusting device 150 through the outlet portion 520 may
be supplied to the widest area of the temperature adjusting device
150.
[0192] The return duct 500 may include an overlap portion 532
overlapping the fan 191 in the front and rear direction X. The
overlap portion 532 may be positioned behind the fan 191 in a state
where the air guide 200 for example, a portion of the rear housing
420 is interposed between the overlap portion and fan. The fan
motor mounting portion 421 formed in the rear housing 420 may be
positioned between the fan 191 and the overlap portion 532, and the
front surface of the fan motor mounting portion 421 may face the
fan 191. The rear surface of the fan motor mounting portion 421 may
face the overlap portion 532. For example, the overlap portion 532
may overlap the fan 191 in the front and rear direction X in a
state where the fan motor mounting portion 421 is interposed
between the overlap portion 532 and the fan 191.
[0193] In the return duct 500, an expansion portion 534 may be
formed at a lower side of the overlap portion 532 to extend in a
horizontal direction, for example, in a left and right direction Y,
toward the outlet portion 520. The expansion portion 534 may be
formed to gradually expand as the return flow path P4 goes
downward, and after the air passing through the return duct 500
spreads wide in the left and right directions Y while passing
through the expansion portion 534, the air may flow to the
temperature adjusting device 150.
[0194] FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating a storage chamber of
another example of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of
the present disclosure, and FIG. 23 is an enlarged rear view
illustrating an inner guide of another example of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. While the
refrigerator illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 21 (hereinafter, referred
to as a first refrigerator Q1) may include a storage chamber W in
which the first space W1 and the second space W2 can be
independently temperature-adjusted, the refrigerator illustrated in
FIGS. 22 and 23 may be a refrigerator (hereinafter referred to as a
second refrigerator Q2) in which one entire storage chamber (W',
see FIG. 22) can be temperature-adjusted based on the same target
temperature.
[0195] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first refrigerator Q1 and the
second refrigerator Q2 may be disposed adjacently to be used
together, and if as many components as possible are shared, the
overall cost for manufacturing all of the plurality of first
refrigerators Q1 and the plurality of second refrigerators Q2 can
be minimized. In the first and second refrigerators Q1 and Q2, the
fan 181 and the temperature adjusting device 150 may be shared with
each other, and some components of the inner guides 200 and 200'
may be shared. In the first and second refrigerators Q1 and Q2, as
many components as possible among the components constituting the
inner guide 200 and 200' (see FIGS. 22 and 23) may be formed in the
same structure, and the components of the inner guide 200 and 200'
are preferably formed to allow rapid air flow while minimizing flow
path resistance of each of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second
refrigerator Q2.
[0196] For example, the inner guides 200, 200' of each of the first
refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2 may include a
discharge body 210 in which a discharge port 204 and a suction port
205 are formed, flow path bodies 230 and 230' which are disposed in
the discharge body 210 and form discharge flow paths for guiding
air to the discharge ports 204; and an air guide 400 in which a
scroll 413 and an opening portion 414 for guiding air to the
discharge flow path are formed and in which an outlet 412 spaced
apart from the opening portion 414 is formed. In addition, the
second refrigerator Q2 may have a structure capable of blocking the
inlet 205 of the discharge body 205 and the outlet 412 of the air
guide 400.
[0197] Each of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second
refrigerator Q2 may include a fan 181 received in the air guide
400. Each of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator
Q2 may further include a temperature adjusting device 150 adjacent
to the air guide 400. The components of the discharge body 210, the
air guide 400, the fan 181, and the temperature adjusting device
150 may be shared in the manufacture of the first refrigerator Q1
and the second refrigerator Q2, and the flow path body 230, 230'
and/or inner cover 300, 300' may be configured differently for each
of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator Q2.
[0198] Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are used for the
common configuration (that is, a configuration that the components
can be shared) of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second
refrigerator Q2, and a detailed description thereof will be
omitted. As previously described, the first refrigerator Q1 may
include a discharge port 204, a suction port 205, an additional
discharge port 321, and an additional suction port 341 in the inner
guide 200 to independently adjust the temperature of the first
space W1 and the second space W2, and a partition member 3 disposed
toward between the suction port 205 and the additional discharge
port 321 may be disposed in the storage space. The first
refrigerator Q1 may include a first damper 191 for adjusting air
flowing into the discharge flow path P and a second damper 192 for
adjusting air flowing to the outlet 412. have.
[0199] On the other hand, the second refrigerator (Q2) may be
formed with the discharge port 204 and the additional suction port
341 in the inner guide 200' so as to adjust the temperature of the
storage chamber W', as illustrated in FIG. 22, the discharge port
204 and the additional suction port 341, but the additional
discharge port 321 of the first refrigerator Q1 does not need to be
formed in the inner guide 200'.
[0200] While an additional discharge port 321 and an additional
suction port 341 are formed in the inner cover 300 of the first
refrigerator Q1, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the additional
discharge port 321 of the first refrigerator need not be formed in
the inner cover 300' of the second refrigerator Q2. While, the
components of the first refrigerator Q1 and the second refrigerator
Q2 share the inner cover 300 having the additional discharge port
321 and the additional suction port 341, it is also possible to
block the additional discharge port 321 formed in the inner cover
300 of the second refrigerator Q2 with a separate shield member (or
cover) that can shield the additional discharge port 321 formed on
the inner cover 300 of the second refrigerator Q2.
[0201] Hereinafter, the inner guide 200' of the second refrigerator
Q2 will be described in detail. The second refrigerator Q2 includes
a discharge guide 202' in which a discharge port 204 is formed and
in which a discharge flow path P2' for guiding air to the discharge
port 204 is formed, wherein the discharge guide 202' may include a
discharge body 210 and a separate flow path body 230'. Since the
discharge body 210 of the second refrigerator Q2 has the same
configuration as that of the discharge body 210 of the first
refrigerator Q1 so as to share the components, a detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0202] At least one of a shape and a size of the flow path body
230' of the second refrigerator Q2 may different from at least one
of a shape and a size of the flow path body 230 of the first
refrigerator Q1. The flow path body 230' of the second refrigerator
Q2 may have the same number as the flow path body 230 of the first
refrigerator Q1, and may include the first, second, and third
members 231', 232, and 233'.
[0203] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the discharge flow path P2 of the
first refrigerator Q1, as previously described, may include an
inlet communicating with the first damper 191 and a plurality of
branch flow paths connected to the inlet. The discharge flow path
P2 of the first refrigerator Q1 may allow the air passing through
the first damper 191 to be dispersed in the discharge flow path
P2.
[0204] On the other hand, the discharge flow path P2' of the second
refrigerator Q2 may include a plurality of branch flow paths P21
and P22 connected to the air guide 400 and spaced apart from each
other, as illustrated in FIG. 23. The plurality of branch flow
paths P21 and P22 may include a first branch flow path P21
connected to the air guide 400 so that the air blown from the fan
181 is not guided to the scroll 413 but flows into the scroll 413
and a second branch flow path P22 connected to the air guide 400 to
be guided to the scroll 413 and the opening portion 414 after being
blown from the air guide 400.
[0205] The flow path body 230 of the first refrigerator Q1 and the
flow path body 230' of the second refrigerator Q2 may be an
expanded polystyrene (EPS) material, the air guide 400 may be an
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, and the discharge
body 210 of the outer plate may be made of steel. In a case where
the components of the air guide 400 or the discharge body 210 being
a component which are more expensive than the flow path body 230
and 230' and are difficult to process, are shared and the flow path
bodies 230, 230' which are made of EPS material, which is easier to
process than ABS or steel, and is manufactured at a lower cost are
separately manufactured for each of the first and second
refrigerators Q1 and Q2, the overall manufacturing cost of the
first and second refrigerators Q1 and Q2 may be reduced.
[0206] The inner guide 200' of the second refrigerator Q2
configured as described above includes a discharge body 210 and an
air guide 400, which are common components with the first
refrigerator Q1, wherein a separate flow path body 230' may be
included instead of the flow path body 230 of the first
refrigerator Q1, and a separate inner cover 300' may be included
instead of the inner cover 300 of the first refrigerator Q1.
[0207] Meanwhile, the second refrigerator Q2 may not discharge air
through the outlet 412 of the air guide 400, and the shielding body
(or diverter) 236 shielding the outlet 412 needs to be provided in
the second refrigerator Q2. The shielding body 236 may be
integrally formed with the flow path body 230'. The shielding body
236 may include a guide surface 227 for guiding the air blown from
the fan 181 to one of the plurality of branch flow paths P21 and
P222.
[0208] Some of the air blown in the radial direction from the fan
181 of the second refrigerator Q2 is not guided to the scroll 413
but can be guided to any one p21 of the plurality of branch flow
paths P21 and P22 by the guide surface 227 of the shielding body
236. On the other hand, the remaining of the air blown in the
radial direction in the fan 181 of the second refrigerator Q2 can
be guided to the scroll 413 and then can be supplied to the other
one P22 of the plurality of branch flow paths P21, P22.
[0209] The second refrigerator Q2 may be configured to block the
suction port 205 of the discharge body 210 without being opened,
and the outlet plate 250' covering the front surface of the
discharge body 210 is formed with an opening 252 corresponding to
the discharge port 204 like a first refrigerator, wherein, unlike
the first refrigerator, the opening 255 corresponding to the
suction port 205 may not be formed. The outer plate 250' may be
provided with a shield portion 255' (see FIG. 22) as a portion that
blocks the suction port 205 formed in the discharge body 210.
[0210] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator
that can be shared components and can reduce the manufacturing
cost. A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure includes a discharge body configured to be formed with a
discharge port and a suction port, a flow path body configured to
be disposed in the discharge body and forms a discharge flow path
for guiding air to the discharge port, an air guide configured to
be formed with a scroll and an opening portion for guiding air to
the discharge flow path and an outlet spaced apart from the opening
portion, and a fan configured to be disposed inside the air
guide.
[0211] The fan may be disposed closer to the outlet than to the
trailing end of the scroll. The flow path body may be formed with a
guide for guiding air to the outlet. The fan may be disposed
between the scroll and the guide. A length of the scroll may be
longer than a length of the guide. A first distance between the
trailing end of the scroll and the fan may be longer than a second
distance between the trailing end of the guide and the fan.
[0212] The refrigerator may further include an inner cover
configured to form an additional discharge port and an additional
suction port, and a discharge duct configured to communicate the
outlet with the additional discharge port. The refrigerator may
further include a temperature adjusting device configured to be
adjacent to the air guide. The inner cover may cover the air guide
and the temperature adjusting device. The additional discharge port
may be formed at a lower height than the discharge port and the
suction port. The refrigerator may further include a partition
member configured to face between the suction port and the
additional discharge port. The refrigerator may further include a
first damper configured to adjust air flowing into the discharge
flow path, and a second damper configured to adjust air flowing to
the outlet. The discharge flow path may include an inlet
communicating with the first damper and a plurality of branch flow
paths connected to the inlet.
[0213] The refrigerator may further include an outer plate
configured to cover a front surface of the discharge body and to be
formed with an opening corresponding to each of the discharge port
and the suction port. The discharge flow path may include a
plurality of branch flow paths connected to the air guides,
respectively, and spaced apart from each other. The flow path body
may be provided with a shielding body for shielding the outlet. The
refrigerator may further include an outer plate configured to cover
a front surface of the discharge body and to be formed with an
opening corresponding to the discharge hole. The flow path body may
be made of EPS material.
[0214] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure includes a first refrigerator and a second refrigerator
configured to be disposed so as to be adjacent to each other, in
which each of the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator
includes a discharge body configured to be formed with a discharge
port and a suction port, a flow path body configured to be disposed
in the discharge body and forms a discharge flow path for guiding
air to the discharge port, an air guide configured to be formed
with a scroll and an opening portion for guiding air to the
discharge flow path, and an outlet spaced apart from the opening
portion, and a fan configured to be disposed inside the air guide.
The first refrigerator further includes a first damper for
adjusting air flowing into the discharge flow path and a second
damper for adjusting air flowing to the outlet. The second
refrigerator is provided with a shielding body for shielding the
outlet.
[0215] The first refrigerator may include a guide for guiding air
to the outlet. The fan may be disposed closer to the outlet than to
the trailing end of the scroll. The length of the scroll may be
longer than the length of the guide. A first distance between the
trailing end of the scroll and the fan may be longer than a second
distance between the trailing end of the guide and the fan.
[0216] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the
components of the discharge body, the air guide, and the fan can be
shared. In addition, the fan can allow a relatively large amount of
air to be blown into the discharge flow path having a large flow
path resistance, so that a large amount of air can be rapidly
discharged through the discharge port, and the temperature of the
storage space can be quickly adjusted. In addition, the
refrigerators are easy to manufacture, and the flow path bodies of
the low-cost EPS material may be configured differently.
[0217] 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-1618), 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.
[0218] 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.
[0219] 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.
[0220] 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.
[0221] 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.
[0222] 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.
[0223] 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.
[0224] 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.
[0225] 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.
[0226] 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.
* * * * *