Refrigerator

Abstract

There is disclosed a refrigerator; a lighting device provided in the storage chamber, a first door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the storage chamber, an auxiliary storage chamber provided in the first door, a second door, a front panel formed of a transparent material, an evaporation treatment unit evaporated on an overall back surface of the front panel to transmit lights partially, a variable transparency film attached to a back surface of the evaporation treatment unit provided in the front panel to get transparent when the power is supplied, a frame unit with an opening having a corresponding size to an opening provided in the first door, an insulation panel distant from the front panel, a power supply unit for supplying an electric power to the variable transparency film and the lighting device, a proximity sensor provided in the second door to sense a user's approaching.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 detecting approach of a user to the refrigerator via a proximity sensor; and   turning on at least one lighting device inside the refrigerator in response to the detection of the approach of the user to the refrigerator such that an inside of the refrigerator is visible through at least one door of the refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises:
 a case having a storage chamber; and 
 the at least one door to open and close the storage chamber, wherein the at least one door includes a first door and a second door rotatably coupled to the case and disposed laterally with respect to each other, the second door comprising:
 a frame having a hole defined therethrough, the frame comprising:
 a first side surface adjacent to a side surface of the first door; and 
 a second side surface laterally opposite to the first side surface; 
 a front panel configured to cover the hole of the frame and formed of a transparent material; and 
 an insulation panel formed of a transparent material, the insulation panel being located behind the front panel; 
 the at least one lighting device configured to illuminate an inner space of the storage chamber; 
 the proximity sensor which is mounted on the frame and which is configured to detect whether the user is within a predetermined distance from the refrigerator; and 
 at least one processor configured to operate the at least one lighting device to make viewable to the user the inner space of the storage chamber through the hole of the frame when the proximity sensor senses that the user is within the predetermined distance from the refrigerator, and wherein the proximity sensor is located closer to the first side surface of the frame than the second side surface of the frame. 
 
 
   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to be covered by the front panel of the second door. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to sense a change in capacitance based on the approach of the user to the refrigerator. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to increase an amount of electric current supplied to the at least one lighting device to increase a brightness level of the at least one lighting device in response to the approach of the user to the refrigerator. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the at least one lighting device to decrease a brightness level of the at least one lighting device as the user moves away from the refrigerator. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a button configured to receive an input manipulation to activate and deactivate the at least one lighting device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting device comprises:
 a first lighting device disposed inside of the storage chamber; and   a second lighting device, wherein a distance between the second lighting device and the second door is smaller than a distance between the first lighting device and the second door.   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate the second lighting device based on the proximity sensor detecting the approach of the user to the refrigerator. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second lighting device is configured to illuminate an auxiliary storage chamber of the second door. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising a door switch configured to detect an opening of the first door or the second door, wherein the at least one processor is configured to, based on the door switch detecting the opening of the first door or the second door, simultaneously activate the first lighting device and the second lighting device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is disposed on a front side of the frame of the second door which is positioned between the first side surface and a side edge of the hole of the frame. 
     
     
       12. A method for controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 detecting approach of a user to the refrigerator via with a proximity sensor of the refrigerator; and 
 based on a first door and a second door of the refrigerator being closed, turning on at least onea lighting device insideof the refrigerator in response to the detection of the approach of the user to the refrigerator such that an inside of the refrigerator is visible through at least onethe second door of the refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises:
 a case having a storage chamber; and,   the at least one door rotatably coupled to the case and including a first door and a second door, wherein the first door comprises:
 a first frame having a first hole, the second door covering the first hole and including:
 a second frame having a second hole; 
 a front panel configured to cover the second hole of the second frame and formed of a transparent material; and 
 an insulation panel formed of a transparent material, the insulation panel being located behind the front panel; 
 the proximity sensor which is mounted on the second frame and configured to detect whether the user is within a predetermined distance from the refrigerator; and 
 at least one processor configured to operate the at least one lighting device to make viewable to the user the inner space of the storage chamber through the first and second holes of the first and second frames when the proximity sensor senses that the user is within the predetermined distance from the refrigerator, and wherein the proximity sensor is located closer to a first side surface of the second frame than a second side surface of the second frame 
     the lighting device configured to illuminate the storage chamber,   the first door configured to open and close the storage chamber, the first door being rotatably coupled to the case and defining a first hole,   a door basket coupled to the first door,   the second door configured to open and close the first hole, the second door being rotatably coupled to the first door or the case, and   a door switch configured to detect whether the first door is open or closed,   wherein the second door comprises:
 a frame having a second hole defined therethrough, 
 a transparent front panel cnofigured to cover the second hole of the frame and having a first color, 
 a transparent insulation panel located in the second hole, 
 an opaque insulation material provided in the frame around the second hole, 
 the proximity sensor configured to detect whether the user is within a predetermined distance from the refrigerator, and 
 a control unit configured to operate the lighting device based on inputs from the proximity sensor and the door switch, 
   wherein the frame comprises:
 an outer case that defines a front frame, and 
 an inner liner that defines a back surface of the door, 
 wherein the opaque insulation material is filled in a space defined between the outer case and the inner liner, and 
 wherein the transparent front panel overlaps the opaque insulation material in a horizontal direction, and 
   wherein a latch device is provided on one of the first door or the second door, and a hook member configured to selectively couple to the latch device is provided on the other of the first door or the second door.   
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one lighting device is mounted on the first door. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first frame comprises a groove and the at least one lighting device comprises a plurality of LEDs that are arranged in the groove of the first frame, and a cover arranged to cover the plurality of LEDs and covered by a cover. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim  14   12 , wherein the first door further comprises a coupling projection to which a the door basket is coupled, and wherein the at least one lighting device is disposed between the coupling projection and the transparent insulation panel. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein a latch is provided on the first door, and a hook selectively coupled to the latch is provided on the second door. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one lighting device is disposed behind the insulation panel wherein the second door defines a handle recess configured to be manipulated by the user to open and close the second door, the handle recess being defined at a lower side of the second door. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerator further comprises a button configured to receive an input manipulation to activate and deactivate the at least one lighting device the control unit is configured to activate and deactivate the lighting device based on manual user input at the door. 
     
     
       19. A method for controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 detecting approach of a user to the refrigerator via a proximity sensor; and   turning on at least one lighting device inside the refrigerator in response to the detection of the approach of the user to the refrigerator such that an inside of the refrigerator is visible through at least one door of the refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator comprises:
 a case having a storage chamber; and 
 the at least one door to open and close the storage chamber, wherein the at least one door includes a first door and a second door rotatably coupled to the case and disposed laterally with respect to each other, the second door comprising:
 a frame having a hole defined therethrough, the frame comprising:
 a front panel configured to cover the hole of the frame and formed of a transparent material; and 
 an insulation panel formed of a transparent material, the insulation panel being located behind the front panel; 
 the at least one lighting device configured to illuminate an inner space of the storage chamber; 
 the proximity sensor which is mounted on the frame and which is configured to detect whether the user is within a predetermined distance from the refrigerator; and 
 at least one processor configured to operate the at least one lighting device to make viewable to the user the inner space of the storage chamber through the hole of the frame when the proximity sensor senses that the user is within the predetermined distance from the refrigerator, and wherein the proximity sensor is located on the frame behind the insulation panel. 
 
 
   
     
     
       20. The method of claim  19   12 , wherein the at least one lighting device comprises:
 a first lighting device provided inside of the storage chamber; and 
 a second lighting device provided on the first door or the second door, 
 wherein the control unit is configured to operate the second lighting device based on the proximity sensor detecting the approach of the user to the refrigerator. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of claim  20   12 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate the second lighting device based on the proximity sensor detecting the approach of the user to the refrigerator first door is coupled to the case by a first hinge that is coupled to the case, and the second door is coupled to the first door by a second hinge that is coupled to the first door, and
 wherein the transparent front panel is configured to shield the first hinge and the second hinge based on the first door and the second door being closed. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to sense a change in capacitance based on the approach of the user to the refrigerator. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a latch unlocking device configured to selectively unlock the coupling between the latch device and the hook member. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising a latch unlocking button provided at the second door to operate the latch unlocking device,
 wherein a push rod of the latch unlocking device is projected from a back surface of the first door elastically, when a latch unlocking button of the second door is pushed, and   wherein the push rod is configured to push a latch rod provided in the first door such that a latch cam provided in the latch device is unlocked to rotate.   
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the proximity sensor is provided at the second door. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the proximity sensor is installed at the outer case of the second door. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent front panel is configured to cover the proximity sensor. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent front panel is configured to cover a front surface of the outer case. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transparent insulation panel includes first and second glass panels that are spaced apart from the transparent front panel, and
 wherein a sealing member is arranged between the first and second glass panels to define an insulation space between the first and second glass panels.