Refrigerator and method for controlling the same

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator, which includes a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a door assembly. The freezing compartment is adjacent to the refrigerating compartment. The door assembly selectively opens the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The door assembly includes a glass member defining a frontal exterior thereof and allowing an inside of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment to be seen therethrough when the door assembly is closed, a deposition treated layer formed on a rear surface of the glass member to allow light to partially pass through the glass member, and a transparent plate spaced a predetermined distance from the glass member. Gas for insulation is injected in a space formed between the glass member and the transparent plate, and the space is sealed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a first storage area and a second storage area therein, the first storage area provided at a lateral side of the second storage area, the refrigerator configured to maintain the first storage area at a first operating temperature and the second storage area at a second operating temperature that is higher than the first operating temperature; 
 a first door configured to open and close the first storage area; 
 a second door configured to open and close the second storage area, and having an opening formed therein; 
 a door basket to define a door storage and provided behind a rear surface of the second door; 
 a light unit provided on an inner side of the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the door storage; and  
 a glass assembly configured to cover the opening that defines a front surface of the second door and through which the door storage is viewable, wherein the glass assembly comprises:
 a front panel formed of a first transparent material and configured to cover the opening of the second door;, wherein the front panel has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the front panel to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light unit to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light unit, and 
 a rear panel provided behind the front panel and formed of a second transparent material, the rear panel being spaced apart from the front panel such that an insulating space is defined between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the front panel includes a first region configured to cover an entirety of a viewing region of the glass assembly, the first region has a first color and a first opacity to partially block the light emitted from the light unit and to transmit a reduced intensity of the light to an outside of the refrigerator, 
 
 wherein the door basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the opening of the second door viewing window to be visible through the opening viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein, in a first state in which the light unit is turned on, the light from the light unit is emitted through the first region viewing window, and the door basket is visible through the viewing region window, wherein the light unit is turned off after being turned on a predetermined period of time, and wherein, in a second state in which the light unit is turned off, the door basket is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state, and 
 wherein the first transparent material of the front panel extends (i) from a left edge of the second door to a right edge of the second door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the second door to a top edge of the second door. 
 
     
     
       2. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel further comprises a second region provided along a circumference of the front panel and defining the viewing region therein, the second region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the first region, and configured to block the light emitted from the light unit. 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second state in which the light unit is turned off, the first region causes the viewing region to become viewing window becomes darker than in the first state such that the door basket is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state. 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second storage area of the cabinet comprises a receiving part configured to receive food, and wherein the light unit is disposed in front of the receiving part of the second storage area. 
     
     
       5. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the light unit is arranged along a circumference of a front end of the second storage area of the cabinet. 
     
     
       6. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the light unit is disposed to face the door storage at a left side and a right side of the door storage. 
     
     
       7. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the second door consists of a single opening, and wherein the door storage is disposed such that at least one of (i) a bottom portion of the door basket is arranged lower than a top of the single opening, or (ii) a top portion of the door basket is arranged higher than a bottom of the single opening. 
     
     
       8. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a storage area; 
 a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage area and including a frame in which a first opening is formed; 
 a door basket provided at the frame to define a door storage;  
 a second door configured to open and close the first opening door storage of the first door, the second door having a second opening defined therethrough that is communicative with the first opening the door basket being provided behind the second door; 
 a door basket to define a door storage and provided behind the second door; 
 a light unit provided in the frame of the first door at the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the door storage; 
 a glass assembly that defines a front surface of the second door and that covers the second opening defined through the second door and through which the door storage is viewable, wherein the glass assembly comprises:
 a front panel formed of a first transparent material and configured to cover the opening of the second door, wherein the front panel has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the front panel to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light unit to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light unit; and 
 a rear panel provided behind the front panel and formed of a second transparent material, the rear panel being spaced apart from the front panel such that an insulating space is defined between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the front panel includes a first region configured to cover an entirety of a viewing region of the glass assembly, the first region has a first color and a first opacity to partially block the light emitted from the light unit and to transmit a reduced intensity of the light to an outside of the refrigerator, 
 
 wherein the door basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the opening of the second door viewing window to be visible through the opening viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein, in a first state in which the light unit is turned on, the light from the light unit is emitted through the first region viewing window, and the door storage basket is visible through the viewing region window, wherein the light unit is turned off after being turned on a predetermined period of time, and wherein, in a second state in which the light unit is turned off, the door storage basket is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state. 
 
     
     
       9. The refrigerator of  claim 8 , further comprising a second light unit disposed on the cabinet at the frame of the first door. 
     
     
       10. The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the second light unit emits light to the door storage at a rear side of the light unit. 
     
     
       11. The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the light unit is closer to the front panel than the second light unit. 
     
     
       12. The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the light unit extends along a vertical longitudinal direction of the first opening. 
     
     
       13. The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the light unit is provided at a front portion of the inner side of the cabinet. 
     
     
       14. The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the front panel further comprises a second region provided along a circumference of the front panel and defining the viewing region therein, the second region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the first region, and configured to block the light emitted from the light unit. 
     
     
       15. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a first storage area and a second storage area therein, the first storage area provided at a lower side of the second storage area, the refrigerator configured to maintain the first storage area at a first operating temperature and the second storage area at a second operating temperature that is higher than the first operating temperature; 
 a first door configured to open and close a first portion of the second storage area; 
 a second door configured to open and close a second portion of the second storage area, the second door having an opening formed therein; 
 a door basket to define a door storage and provided behind a rear surface of the second door; 
 a light unit provided on an inner side of the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the door storage of the second door; and  
 a glass assembly configured to cover the opening that defines a front surface of the second door and through which the door basket is viewable, wherein the glass assembly comprises:
 a front panel formed of a first transparent material and configured to cover the opening of the second door;, wherein the front panel has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the front panel to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light unit to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light unit, and 
 a rear panel provided behind the front panel and formed of a second transparent material, the rear panel being spaced apart from the front panel such that an insulating space is defined between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the front panel includes a first region configured to cover an entirety of a viewing region of the glass assembly, the first region has a first color and a first opacity to partially block the light emitted from the light unit and to transmit a reduced intensity of the light to an outside of the refrigerator, wherein the door basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the opening of the second door to be visible through the opening from the outside of the refrigerator, 
 
 wherein, in a first state in which the light unit is turned on, the light from the light unit is emitted through the first region viewing window, and the door storage is visible through the viewing region window, wherein the light unit is turned off after being turned on a predetermined period of time, and wherein, in a second state in which the light unit is turned off, the door storage is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state, 
 wherein the first transparent material of the front panel extends (i) from a left edge of the second door to a right edge of the second door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the second door to a top edge of the second door. 
 
     
     
       16. The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein a door handle is provided behind the front panel, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door. 
     
     
       17. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body defining a food storage compartment therein;   a light emitting part configured to emit light toward the food storage compartment; and   a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the food storage compartment, the door including:
 an outer door part made of a first transparent material, wherein the outer door part has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the outer door part to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light emitting part to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light emitting part, and 
 an inner door part made of a second transparent material and spaced apart from the outer door part, an insulating space being defined between the outer door part and the inner door part, 
   wherein a receiving basket is provided to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator,   wherein the viewing window is configured, in a first state in which the light emitting part is turned on, to emit therethrough the light from the light emitting part such that the receiving basket is visible from the outside of the refrigerator through the viewing window,   wherein the viewing window is configured, in a second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to emit therethrough less light than in the first state such that the receiving basket is less visible through the viewing window as compared to the first state, and   wherein the first transparent material of the outer door part extends (i) from a left edge of the door to a right edge of the door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the door to a top edge of the door.   
     
     
       18. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of receiving baskets are provided at the door, and
 wherein the plurality of receiving baskets are configured to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator.   
     
     
       19. The refrigerator of  claim 18 , further comprising a manipulator that is configured to, based on user input, turn on the light emitting part, the manipulator being provided at the outer region of the outer door part. 
     
     
       20. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the light emitting part is provided at the food storage compartment. 
     
     
       21. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the light emitting part is provided at the door. 
     
     
       22. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment,
 wherein a freezing compartment is provided adjacent to the refrigerating compartment, and   wherein the door is configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment.   
     
     
       23. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, and
 wherein a freezing compartment is provided below the refrigerating compartment.   
     
     
       24. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the refrigerator is configured to transition from the first state to the second state after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       25. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising an additional door that is coupled to the door and that is configured to open and close the food storage compartment, wherein the additional door is configured, based on the door being closed, to be positioned between door and the food storage compartment. 
     
     
       26. The refrigerator of  claim 25 , wherein the receiving basket is attached to the additional door. 
     
     
       27. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the outer door part includes one or more lamination layers that are provided at an outer surface of the outer door part and that are configured to provide the first color and the first opacity to the viewing window. 
     
     
       28. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein a door handle is provided behind the outer door part, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the outer door part at a bottom surface of the door. 
     
     
       29. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the viewing window is configured, in the second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to become less visible. 
     
     
       30. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the door body is provided between the outer door part and the inner door part. 
     
     
       31. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the insulating space contains an insulating gas or is in vacuum. 
     
     
       32. The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein a sealing element is provided to seal the insulating space. 
     
     
       33. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body defining a food storage compartment therein;   a light emitting part configured to emit light toward the food storage compartment;   a sub-door rotatably coupled to the main body;   a receiving basket provided at the sub-door; and   a compartment door rotatably coupled to the sub-door or to the main body, the compartment door comprising:
 an outer door part made of a first transparent material, wherein the outer door part has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the outer door part to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light emitting part to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light emitting part, and 
 an inner door part made of a second transparent material and spaced apart from the outer door part, 
   wherein the receiving basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and is configured to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator,   wherein the viewing window is configured, in a first state in which the light emitting part is turned on, to emit therethrough the light from the light emitting part such that the receiving basket is visible from the outside of the refrigerator through the viewing window, and   wherein the viewing window is configured, in a second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to emit therethrough less light than in the first state such that the receiving basket is less visible through the viewing window as compared to the first state.   
     
     
       34. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein a plurality of receiving baskets are provided at the sub-door, and
 wherein each of the plurality of receiving baskets is configured to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator.   
     
     
       35. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the light emitting part is provided at the main body. 
     
     
       36. The refrigerator of  claim 35 , further comprising a manipulator that is configured to, based on user input, turn on the first light emitting part and the second light emitting part together. 
     
     
       37. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment,
 wherein a freezing compartment is provided adjacent to the refrigerating compartment, and   wherein the sub-door is configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment.   
     
     
       38. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, and
 wherein a freezing compartment is provided below the refrigerating compartment.   
     
     
       39. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the refrigerator is configured to transition from the first state to the second state after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       40. The refrigerator of  claim 36 , wherein the manipulator is provided at the outer region. 
     
     
       41. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the viewing window is configured, in the second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to disappear. 
     
     
       42. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the outer door part includes one or more lamination layers that are provided at an outer surface of the outer door part and that are configured to provide the first color and the first opacity to the viewing window. 
     
     
       43. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein a door handle is provided behind the outer door part, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the outer door part at a bottom surface of the compartment door. 
     
     
       44. The refrigerator of  claim 43 , wherein the sub-door includes a sub-door handle that protrudes from a front surface of the sub-door, the sub-door including a recess part that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the sub-door handle, and
 wherein the sub-door handle is configured, based on the compartment door being closed, to be covered by the door handle.   
     
     
       45. The refrigerator of  claim 44 , wherein, based on the sub-door and the compartment door being closed, pulling out the sub-door handle simultaneously opens the sub-door and the compartment door. 
     
     
       46. The refrigerator of  claim 44 , wherein the sub-door handle has a shape that corresponds to the door handle. 
     
     
       47. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein the first transparent material of the outer door part extends (i) from a left edge of the compartment door to a right edge of the compartment door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the compartment door to a top edge of the compartment door. 
     
     
       48. The refrigerator of  claim 33 , wherein an insulating space is defined within the door body and sealed by the outer door part and the inner door part. 
     
     
       49. The refrigerator of  claim 48 , wherein the insulating space contains an insulating gas or is in vacuum. 
     
     
       50. The refrigerator of  claim 48 , wherein a sealing element is provided to seal the insulating space. 
     
     
       51. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a door handle is provided behind the front panel, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door. 
     
     
       52. The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein a door handle is provided behind the front panel, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door. 
     
     
       53. The refrigerator of  claim 52 , wherein the first door includes a sub-door handle that protrudes from a front surface of the first door, the sub-door including a recess part that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the sub-door handle, and
 wherein the sub-door handle is configured, based on the second door being closed, to be covered by the door handle.   
     
     
       54. The refrigerator of  claim 53 , wherein, based on the first and second door being closed, pulling out the sub-door handle simultaneously opens the first and second doors. 
     
     
       55. The refrigerator of  claim 53 , wherein the sub-door handle has a shape that corresponds to the door handle. 
     
     
       56. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body defining a food storage compartment therein;   a light emitting part configured to emit light toward the food storage compartment;   a sub-door rotatably coupled to the main body;   a receiving basket provided at the sub-door; and   a compartment door rotatably coupled to the sub-door or to the main body, the compartment door comprising:
 an outer door part made of a first transparent material, wherein the outer door part has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the outer door part to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light emitting part to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light emitting part, 
 an inner door part made of a second transparent material and spaced apart from the outer door part, 
 an insulating space defined between the outer door part and the inner door part, and 
 a door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door, 
   wherein the receiving basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and is configured to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator,   wherein the sub-door includes a sub-door handle that protrudes from a front surface of the sub-door, the sub-door including a recess part that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the sub-door handle, and   wherein the sub-door handle is configured, based on the compartment door being closed, to be covered by the door handle.   
     
     
       57. The refrigerator of  claim 56 , wherein the outer door part extends (i) from a left edge of the compartment door to a right edge of the compartment door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the compartment door to a top edge of the compartment door. 
     
     
       58. The refrigerator of  claim 56 , wherein, based on the sub-door and the compartment door being closed, pulling out the sub-door handle simultaneously opens the sub-door and the compartment door. 
     
     
       59. The refrigerator of  claim 56 , wherein the sub-door handle has a shape that corresponds to the door handle.