Cooler having a transparent display

Abstract

A cooler having a transparent display is provided. The cooler may include a body forming a predetermined space configured to receive products therein; a cooling unit or device installed in the body and configured to supply cooled air into the space; a door installed in or on the body to open and dose the space; and a transparent display assembly installed in the door and configured to provide predetermined information related to the products to a user. The transparent display assembly may include a transparent display panel, a dispersion panel arranged at a rear of the transparent display panel and configured to scatter light, which is incident upon a side of the dispersion panel, and a light source that irradiates light from the side of the dispersion panel to an inside of the dispersion panel. A transparency of the dispersion panel may be controlled depending on a distance between a user and the cooler to allow the user to selectively see the products.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooler having a transparent display, the cooler comprising:
 a body forming a predetermined space configured to receive products therein;   a cooling device installed in the body and configured to supply cooled air into the space;   a door installed on the body to open and close the space; and   a transparent display assembly installed at the door and configured to display predetermined information related to the products, wherein the transparent display assembly includes:
 a transparent display panel; 
 a dispersion panel arranged at a rear of the transparent display panel and configured to scatter light, which is incident upon the dispersion panel; and 
 a light source that irradiates light to an inside of the dispersion panel, wherein a transparency of the dispersion panel is controlled depending on a distance between a user and the cooler to allow the user to selectively see the products. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein an operation of the light source is determined depending on the distance between the user and the cooler, and wherein the transparency of the dispersion panel is controlled depending on the operation of the light source. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the user is located at a predetermined distance from the cooler or located farther away than the predetermined distance, the dispersion panel is configured to have reduced transparency, and if the user is located to be closer to the cooler than the predetermined distance, the dispersion panel is transparent. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the user is located at a predetermined distance from the cooler or located farther away than the predetermined distance, the light source is configured to irradiate light to the dispersion panel and the dispersion panel has reduced transparency due to the irradiated light, and if the user is located to be closer to the cooler than the predetermined distance, the light source is configured so as not to irradiate light, and the dispersion panel maintains its transparent state. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the light source irradiates light to the dispersion panel, the dispersion panel is configured to scatter the light irradiated thereinto and thus have reduced transparency. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersion panel is made of a transparent material, and is configured so as not to generate scattering of any light, thereby maintaining transparency if there is no light directly incident upon the dispersion panel. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the user is located at a predetermined distance from the cooler or located farther away than the predetermined distance, the dispersion panel has reduced transparency, and the products are covered by the dispersion panel to prevent the product from being seen by the user, and if the user is located to be closer to the cooler than the predetermined distance, the dispersion panel is transparent and the products are viewable by the user through the transparent display panel and the dispersion panel. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor that measures the distance between the user and the cooler. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispersion panel includes:
 a body made of a first material; and   particles arranged in the body and made of a second material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the first material.   
     
     
         10 . The cooler according to  claim 9 , wherein the particles are configured to scatter light, which is irradiated from the light source, into the dispersion panel, due to the refractive index different from the refractive index of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second materials are transparent, and are configured to continue to maintain a transparent state if there is no light directly incident upon the dispersion panel. 
     
     
         12 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the user is located at a predetermined distance from the cooler or located farther away than the predetermined distance, the transparent display panel is configured to provide information on the products kept in the cooler and/or information of a product which is not kept in the cooler. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the user is located to be closer to the cooler than the predetermined distance, the transparent display panel provides only information on the products kept in the cooler or does not provide any information. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the door includes:
 a frame; and   front and rear glasses inserted into the frame and spaced apart from each other to form a space to receive the transparent display assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The cooler according to  claim 14 , wherein the transparent display panel is spaced apart from the front glass at a predetermined interval or adhered to the front glass. 
     
     
         16 . A showcase having a transparent display, the showcase comprising:
 a body having a storage space configured to receive products therein;   a door installed on the body to open and close the storage space; and   a display assembly installed in the door and configured to display predetermined information related to the products, wherein a transparency of the display assembly is controlled depending on a distance between a user and the showcase to allow the user to selectively see the products.   
     
     
         17 . The showcase according to  claim 16 , wherein the display apparatus comprises:
 a transparent display panel;   a dispersion panel arranged at a rear of the transparent display panel and configured to scatter light, which is incident upon the dispersion panel; and   a light source that irradiates light to an inside of the dispersion panel, wherein a transparency of the dispersion panel is controlled depending on the distance between the user and the showcase to allow the user to selectively see the products   
     
     
         18 . The cooler according to  claim 17 , wherein an operation of the light source is determined depending on the distance between the user and the showcase, and wherein the transparency of the dispersion panel is controlled depending on the operation of the light source. 
     
     
         19 . The showcase according to  claim 17 , wherein the dispersion panel includes:
 a body made of a first material; and   particles arranged in the body and made of a second material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the first material.   
     
     
         20 . The showcase according to  claim 19 , wherein the particles are configured to scatter light, which is irradiated from the light source, into the dispersion panel, due to the refractive index different from the refractive index of the body. 
     
     
         21 . The showcase according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and second materials are transparent, and are configured to continue to maintain a transparent state if there is no light directly incident upon the dispersion panel. 
     
     
         22 . The showcase according to  claim 17 , wherein the door includes:
 a frame; and   front and rear glasses inserted into the frame and spaced apart from each other to form a space to receive the display assembly, and wherein the transparent display panel is spaced apart from the front glass at a predetermined interval or adhered to the front glass.