JP7518135B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Some refrigerators have an operation panel equipped with an operation unit and a display unit, which are made of a capacitive touch sensor, on the front of the door that opens and closes the front opening of the main body. When a mode or other setting is made by operating the operation unit, a corresponding display appears on the display unit.

In such refrigerators, a light source is sometimes provided to illuminate the control panel from behind to make the location of the control panel easier to find, but lighting the control panel constantly increases power consumption.

In view of this, a refrigerator has been proposed which is provided with a second operating unit that can be operated at all times separately from the operating unit, and a second light source that constantly illuminates the second operating unit from behind, in which the light source that illuminates the operating unit is turned off and operation of the operating unit is disabled until the second operating unit is operated, and when the second operating unit is operated, the light source is turned on to illuminate the operating unit and enable operation of the operating unit (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2014-40960 A

However, if the second operation unit is constantly illuminated, it may be unnecessarily displayed on the front of the door, which may result in unnecessary power consumption by the second light source that illuminates the second operation unit, impair the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator, and cause the touch sensor that constitutes the second operation unit to be easily deteriorated.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that has an operating unit consisting of a capacitive touch sensor on the front side of the door, in which the position of the operating unit is easy to understand, has excellent operability, can prevent unnecessary increases in power consumption, and can prevent deterioration of the touch sensor that constitutes the second operating unit without compromising the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator.

The refrigerator of this embodiment includes a main body having an opening on a front side, a door for opening and closing the opening, an operation unit provided in a predetermined area on the front side of the door, an outer area provided outside the operation unit on the front side of the door, a first detection unit that detects an operation to the operation unit from a change in capacitance at the operation unit and accepts a setting operation related to cooling control of the refrigerator , a second detection unit that detects an operation to the outer area from a change in capacitance in the outer area, a light source for providing an indication related to the operation, and a control unit that controls the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the light source, wherein the operation unit is illuminated by the light source and the outer area is blocked from light from the light source, and in response to the second detection unit detecting the operation to the outer area , the control unit turns on the light source to illuminate the operation unit as a control different from a control when the first detection unit accepts a setting operation related to cooling control of the refrigerator .

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the operation panel unit with all displays displayed; Block diagram showing electrical configuration Exploded perspective view of the operation unit FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the operation unit is inserted into the storage section; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the operation unit is stored in the storage section with the door front panel removed; FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the operation unit taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view of the operation unit taken along line B-B in FIG. Front view of flexible switch printed circuit board A flow chart showing the control of the operation panel unit by the operation control unit.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the exterior configuration of a refrigerator 1 in this embodiment. This refrigerator 1 is configured with multiple storage compartments inside an insulated box 2 that is a vertically long rectangular box with an open front. Specifically, from the top, a refrigerator compartment 3 and a vegetable compartment 4 are provided inside the insulated box 2, and below the vegetable compartment 4, an ice-making compartment 5 and a second freezer compartment (switchable compartment) 6 are provided side-by-side, with a first freezer compartment 7 provided at the bottom.

The refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4 are storage compartments in the refrigerator temperature range, where the temperature inside the compartment is controlled to, for example, a refrigerator temperature of about 1°C to 5°C. The ice-making compartment 5, the second freezer compartment 6, and the first freezer compartment 7 are storage compartments in the freezer temperature range, where the temperature inside the compartment is controlled to, for example, a freezer temperature of -18°C or lower. The front of the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with insulating double doors, i.e., two hinged doors 8 and 9 on the left and right. As described later, the left door 8 (hereinafter referred to as the left door 8) is provided with an operation panel unit 10, as shown in FIG. 2 and other figures. The fronts of the vegetable compartment 4, the ice-making compartment 5, the second freezer compartment 6, and the first freezer compartment 7 are opened and closed by drawer-type insulating doors 11, 12, 13, and 14, each of which has a storage container connected to its rear portion.

The refrigerator 1 incorporates a refrigeration cycle. As partially shown in FIG. 3, this refrigeration cycle is equipped with two coolers, a refrigerator cooler for cooling the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4, and a freezer cooler for cooling the ice-making compartment 5 and the first and second freezer compartments 7 and 6, as well as a compressor 15 (only shown in FIG. 3), a condenser, a switching valve 16 for switching the flow of refrigerant to the two coolers, etc.

As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a refrigeration blower 17 for circulating and supplying cold air from the refrigerator cooler to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4, a freezer blower 18 for circulating and supplying cold air from the freezer cooler to the ice-making compartment 5 and the first and second freezer compartments 7 and 6, a defrost heater 19 for defrosting the freezer cooler, a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 20, a freezer compartment temperature sensor 21, and the like.

The refrigerator 1 also includes a main control device 22, which is mainly configured as a computer and controls the entire refrigerator. This main control device 22 is also connected to an operation control unit 23, which will be described later, and controls the refrigerator blower 17, freezer blower 18, compressor 15, switching valve 16, and defrost heater 19 based on signals from the operation control unit 23 and signals from the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 20 and freezer compartment temperature sensor 21, and performs cooling operation of the refrigerator 1.

Next, the configuration of the operation panel unit 10 provided on the left door 8 of the refrigerator compartment 3 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 to 9.

The left door 8 is constructed by disposing a heat insulating material between a glass door front panel 24 located on the front side and a thin plastic box with an open front located on the back side. As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel section 10 is constructed by disposing an operation unit 25 on the back side of the door front panel 24. As shown in FIG. 1, this operation panel section 10 is provided on the front side of the left door 8, on the opening side opposite the hinge, that is, in a vertically long rectangular area near the right side edge.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel unit 10 has an operation area R1 on the right side that is long in the vertical direction, and a display area R2 on the left side of the operation area R1 that is long in the vertical direction. The lower part of the display area R2 extends to the right and is also located below the operation area R1.

In the operation area R1, five first operation units 26-30 are arranged in a vertical row, and one second operation unit 31 is provided below them. Note that hereinafter, the first operation units 26-30 and the second operation unit 31 may be collectively referred to as operation units 26-31.

In the display area R2, display units 32 to 35 corresponding to the first operation units 26 to 30 are arranged in a vertical row, and a display unit 36 corresponding to the second operation unit 31 is provided below the display unit 35 and the second operation unit 31.

The first operation units 26-30 are composed of a capacitance-type touch sensor and have a first operation button 26a-30a that is virtually set on the front of the door front panel 24, and a first detection unit 26b-30b (see FIG. 9, etc.) that is located on the back side and detects changes in capacitance. Similarly to the first operation units 26-30, the second operation unit 31 is also composed of a capacitance-type touch sensor and has a second operation button 31a that is virtually set on the front of the door front panel 24, and a second detection unit 31b (see FIG. 9, etc.) that is located on the back side and detects changes in capacitance.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, from the top, there are provided a first operation section 26 (operation button 26a) for "refrigeration", a first operation section 27 (operation button 27a) for "freezing", a first operation section 28 (operation button 28a) for "freezing function", a first operation section 29 (operation button 29a) for "ice making", and a first operation section 30 (operation button 30a) for "power saving". Further below that, there is provided a second operation section 31 (operation button 31a) for "home". Of these, the first operation buttons 26a to 30a for "refrigeration", "freezing", "freezing function", "ice making", and "power saving" are configured with the corresponding letters arranged within a circle. The operation button 31a of the second operation section 31 for "home" is provided as a circular mark.

In contrast, the top display section 32 corresponds to the first operation section 26, 27 for "refrigeration" and "freezing" and is located at an intermediate height between them, and consists of the words "strong" and "weak" and five arc-shaped line marks arranged in a circle, with the number of lights indicating the intensity level. The display section 33 one level below corresponds to the operation section 28 for the "freezing function" and selectively displays the words "quick freeze", "hot food freeze", "vegetable freeze", and "dry" from the top.

The display section 34 below corresponds to the first operation section 29 for "ice making" and selectively displays the words "make ice in one go" and "off ice making". The display section 35 below corresponds to the first operation section 30 for "energy saving" and selectively displays the words "energy saving", "going out" and "peak shift" from top to bottom. The bottommost display section 36 corresponds to the second operation section 31 for "home" and displays the words "eco mode" and a "key" mark to the right of the operation area R1, and displays the words "key lock" and "press for 3 seconds" below the operation area R1.

The operation unit 25 that constitutes the operation panel section 10 is configured as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 25 is configured by stacking a circuit board 37, a shielding plate 38, a spring member 39, a flexible switch printed board 40, and a nameplate film 41 in order from the back side.

The circuit board 37 is configured in a slightly vertically elongated rectangular shape, and a first light source 42a, a second light source 42b, and a third light source 42c, which are LEDs, are mounted on its surface (front surface). The first light source 42a is provided corresponding to each of the first operation units 26-30, and illuminates the first operation units 26-30 from behind. The second light source 42b is provided corresponding to the second operation unit 31, and illuminates the second operation unit 31 from behind. The third light source 42c is provided corresponding to each of the display units 32-36, and illuminates the display units 32-36 from behind. Note that hereinafter, the first light source 42a, the second light source 42b, and the third light source 42c may be collectively referred to as light sources 42a, 42b, and 42c.

The circuit board 37 is provided with an operation control unit 23 (shown only in FIG. 3) including a current supply circuit for the light sources 42a, 42b, and 42c, the first detection units 26b to 30b, the second detection unit 31b, and a signal processing circuit (detection unit) for a third detection unit 47 (described later), and further includes an external connection connector 43 for connection to the outside, etc. The circuit board 37 is also provided with a connector unit 44 to which a connection unit of a flexible switch printed board 40 (described later) is connected.

The shielding plate 38 is made of a colored (light-opaque) rigid plastic molding and is configured as a vertically long rectangle as a whole. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the shielding plate 38 has a vertically long rectangular front plate portion 38a, a peripheral wall portion 38b that rises backward from the periphery (four sides) of the front plate portion 38a, and a plurality of light-transmitting portions 45 provided on the front plate portion 38a. In addition, a notch portion 38c is formed at the lower end of the right side of the shielding plate 38 for electrically connecting a flexible switch printed board 40 (described later) to the circuit board 37. Furthermore, a stopper portion 49 having a spring property and having a rectangular frame shape that protrudes to the left side is provided integrally at three positions aligned in the vertical direction on the left side of the peripheral wall portion 38b of the shielding plate 38.

Each light-transmitting portion 45 provided on the shielding plate 38 is intended to guide the light emitted from each light source 42a, 42b, 42c of the circuit board 37 toward each of the operation units 26 to 31 and each of the display units 32 to 36 in front while preventing the light from leaking out. Therefore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the light-transmitting portions 45 corresponding to each of the operation units 26 to 31 are tapered (cone-shaped) toward the rear, and are located toward the right center of the shielding plate 38, with a total of six light-transmitting portions arranged vertically. In addition, the light-transmitting portions 45 corresponding to each of the display units 32 to 36 (each character or mark) are frame-shaped (for example, the part corresponding to the character is a horizontally long frame) with depth in the front and rear directions, and are arranged vertically on the left side of the shielding plate 38. This shielding plate 38 is attached to the front side of the circuit board 37 in a positioning state so as to cover it.

The spring member 39 is made of a flexible (elastic) transparent plastic material, and is integrally formed with a thick circular portion 39a that is (slightly larger than) each of the operation units 26 to 31 (operation buttons 26a to 31a), and a connecting portion 39b that connects them vertically in a generally "L" shape. This spring member 39 is attached so as to fit into a recess formed in the front right part of the front plate portion 38a of the shielding plate 38. As a result, the spring member 39 functions as a cushioning material with spring properties that is arranged on the back side of the first detection unit 26b to 30b and the second detection unit 31b of the flexible switch print board 40, and presses the first detection unit 26b to 30b and the second detection unit 31b against the back side of the door front plate 24 via the nameplate film 41.

As shown in FIG. 9, the flexible switch printed board 40 is a thin, vertically elongated rectangular sheet that covers the right half of the front plate 38a of the shielding plate 38. The flexible switch printed board 40 has the first detection units 26b-30b, the second detection unit 31b, wiring 46, the third detection unit 47, etc. printed on the surface of a base film 40a made of a flexible, transparent film such as PET, and the surface is covered with a transparent cover film made of PET.

Specifically, the first detection units 26b to 30b constituting a part of the first operation units 26 to 30 are each formed by printing a conductive polymer having a certain degree of transparency, for example, in a circular shape on the surface of the base film 40a. The second detection unit 31b constituting a part of the second operation unit 31 is also formed, like the first detection units 26b to 30b, by printing a conductive polymer having a certain degree of transparency, for example, in a circular shape on the surface of the base film 40a.

The wiring 46 is formed by printing silver paste on the surface of the base film 40a, and extends to the right from the first detection parts 26b to 30b and the second detection part 31b, then bends at a right angle and extends downward.

The third detection section 47 includes a number of land sections 47a and a connecting section 47b, and is printed together with (simultaneously with) the wiring 46 by printing silver paste on the surface of the base film 40a. The land sections 47a are provided adjacent to the portions of the wiring 46 that extend to the right from the first detection sections 26b to 30b and the second detection section 31b. The connecting section 47b is made of wiring that connects the multiple land sections 47a, and is arranged to surround the first detection sections 26b to 30b. It is arranged together with the multiple wirings 46 on the right side of the flexible switch printed board 40 (to the right of the first detection sections 26b to 30b and the second detection section 31b) and extends vertically with a narrow gap between them.

The third detection unit 47 detects changes in capacitance within the operation area R1, outside the first detection units 26b to 30b, and detects (prevents erroneous detection) when the operation units 26 to 31 are not operated correctly, such as when the user unintentionally touches the operation units 26 to 31.

Specifically, when a user touches not only the operation units 26 to 31 but also their surroundings at the same time, the operation control unit 23 detects a change in capacitance not only in the first detection units 26b to 30b and the second detection unit 31b, but also in the third detection unit 47. In such a case, the operation control unit 23 disables the touch operation on the operation units 26 to 31.

The first detection units 26b-30b, second detection unit 31b, and third detection unit 47 are detection units provided in the operation area R1, and by detecting changes in capacitance at different positions in the operation area R1, the first detection units 26b-30b detect touch operations on the first operation units 26-30, the second detection unit 31b detects touch operations on the second operation unit 31, and the third detection unit 47 detects touch operations outside the first operation units 26-30. This makes it possible to detect touch operations by the user in almost the entire operation area R1.

The flexible switch printed board 40 is located at the lower end of the right side, has an extension 40b that extends downward in a narrow width and has the multiple wirings 46, and a connection 48 is provided at the tip of the extension 40b so as to bend to the left. At the tip (left side) of this connection 48, multiple carbon contacts to which the wirings 46 are connected are provided. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the flexible switch printed board 40 is placed in front of the front plate 38a (spring member 39) of the shielding plate 38, but the extension 40b passes through the cutout 38c of the shielding plate 38 without being folded back and falls onto the surface side of the circuit board 37, so that the connection 48 is connected to the connector 44.

The nameplate film 41 is configured by providing a light-shielding portion and a light-transmitting portion for display on the surface of a vertically elongated rectangular transparent film. The light-transmitting portions for display are formed (cut out transparently) to correspond to marks and letters for displaying the first operation buttons 26a-30a and the second operation button 31a, as well as each of the letters and marks that make up each of the display portions 32-36.

When the first light source 42a is turned on, light passes through the display translucent portion of the nameplate film 41, projecting the first operation buttons 26a-30a, consisting of letters and marks, onto the door front panel 24, displaying the first operation units 26-30. When the first light source 42a is turned off, the first operation buttons 26a-30a projected onto the door front panel 24 disappear, and the first operation units 26-30 are no longer displayed.

When the second light source 42b is turned on, light passes through the display translucent portion of the nameplate film 41, projecting the second operation button 31a consisting of a mark on the door front panel 24 (operation panel section 10) and displaying the second operation section 31. When the second light source 42b is turned off, the second operation button 31a projected on the door front panel 24 disappears, and the second operation section 31 is no longer displayed.

When the third light source 42c is turned on, light passes through the display translucent portion of the nameplate film 41, projecting characters and marks onto the door front panel 24 and displaying the display areas 32 to 36. When the third light source 42c is turned off, the display areas 32 to 36 projected onto the door front panel 24 are no longer displayed.

As described above, when the light sources 42a, 42b, and 42c are turned off and the first operation unit 26-30, the second operation unit 31, and the display unit 32-36 are no longer displayed, the operation area R1 and the display area R2 have the same appearance as the other areas of the door front panel 24.

The flexible switch print board 40 and the nameplate film 41 are attached in a superimposed position on the front surface of the shielding plate 38, thus forming the unitized operation unit 25.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the operation unit 25 configured as described above is stored removably in a storage section 50 provided in the lower right portion of the left door 8. A vertically long opening 50a is provided in the right side wall 8a of the left door 8 for inserting and removing the operation unit 25. The storage section 50 is a space partitioned by a plastic storage case 51 provided inside the left door 8.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the storage case 51 is a thin rectangular box with an open front and a thin front-rear direction in which the operation unit 25 can be stored. In this case, the storage case 51 has an integral back panel 51a in the shape of a vertically long rectangular plate, peripheral walls 51b rising forward from the upper, left and lower sides of the back panel 51a, and flanges 51c located at the front ends of the peripheral walls. At this time, the front surface of the flanges 51c is arranged to abut against the rear surface of the door front panel 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 25 is slid from the opening 50a into the storage case 51 (storage section 50) and stored. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a cover member 52 is removably attached to the opening 50a. This cover member 52 closes the opening 50a, and uses two upper and lower arms 52a to hold the operation unit 25 against the storage case 51 without rattling. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, three springy stopper sections 49 protruding to the left from the operation unit 25 (shielding plate 38) are pressed against the storage case 51.

A connector that is connected to the external connection connector 43 of the circuit board 37 is provided in the storage section 50 while being connected to a lead wire, and the lead wire is provided with enough slack to be pulled out to the outside from the opening 50a. Thus, the operation unit 25 is stored in the storage section 50 after the connector is connected to the external connection connector 43 outside the left door 8. The connection of the connector establishes an electrical connection between the main control device 22 and the operation control section 23 (operation unit 25) shown in FIG. 3.

Next, the operation of the operation panel unit 10 in the refrigerator 1 configured as above will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

If there is no operation on the first operation unit 26-30 and the second operation unit 31 for a predetermined period of time, the operation control unit 23 turns off all light sources 42a, 42b, 42c, and sets the operation panel unit 10 to a first state in which the first operation units 26-30, the second operation unit 31, and the display units 32-36 are not displayed on the door front panel 24 (step S1).

In this first state, all detection units provided in the operation area R1, i.e., the first detection units 26b to 30b, the second detection unit 31b and the third detection unit 47, detect changes in capacitance and detect touch operations by the user in almost the entire operation area R1.

When the user touches the operation area R1 in the first state, at least one of the first detection units 26b to 30b, the second detection unit 31b, and the third detection unit 47 detects a change in capacitance (Yes in step S2), and the operation control unit 23 sets the operation panel unit 10 to the second state (step S3).

In the second state, the operation control unit 23 turns on the second light source 42b to display the second operation button 31a on the door front panel 24, and continues to detect changes in capacitance with the second detection unit 31b and the third detection unit 47, validating (accepting) touch operations on the second operation unit 31. In the second state, the operation control unit 23 also turns off the first light source 42a and the third light source 42c to prevent the first operation units 26-30 and the display units 32-36 from being displayed, and also suspends capacitance detection with the first detection units 26b-30b, invalidating (not accepting) touch operations on the first operation units 26-30.

When the user touches the second operation unit 31 in the second state, the second detection unit 31b detects a change in capacitance (Yes in step S4), and the operation control unit 23 sets the operation panel unit 10 to the third state (step S5).

In the third state, the operation control unit 23 turns on the second light source 42b and the first light source 42a to display the first operation buttons 26a-30a and the second operation button 31a on the door front panel 24, detects a change in capacitance in the first detection units 26b-30b, the second detection unit 31b, and the third detection unit 47, and validates (accepts) touch operations on the first operation units 26-30, the second operation unit 31, and the third detection unit 47. In the third state, the operation control unit 23 also turns on the third light source 42c to display the current setting status of the refrigerator 1 on the display units 32-36.

When the user touches the first operation units 26-30 or the second operation unit 31 in the third state, the first detection units 26b-30b and the second detection unit 31b detect a change in capacitance (Yes in step S6). As a result, the operation control unit 23 changes the settings corresponding to the operation units 26-31 that have received the touch operation, and changes the display content of the corresponding display units 32-36 (step S7). Then, the process returns to step S6, and the touch operation is detected in the first operation units 26-30 and the second operation unit 31.

In addition, in the second state, if the user does not touch the second operation unit 31 (No in step S4) and the second state continues for a predetermined time (No in step S8), or in the third state, if the user does not touch the first operation units 26 to 30 or the second operation unit 31 (No in step S6) and the third state continues for a predetermined time (No in step S8), the operation control unit 23 turns off all the light sources 42a, 42b, 42c that are turned on, and sets the operation panel unit 10 to the first state (step S1).

The above-described embodiment provides the following advantages:

When there is no operation on the operation units 26-31 for a predetermined period of time, the operation control unit 23 sets the operation panel unit 10 to a first state in which all light sources 42a, 42b, 42c are turned off while making it possible to detect changes in capacitance in all detection units 26b-31b, 47 provided in the operation area R1. This prevents the operation units 26-31 from being unnecessarily illuminated by the door front panel 24, thereby preventing unnecessary increases in power consumption and preventing deterioration of the first detection units 26b-30b and second detection unit 31b that constitute the operation units 26-31 without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator 1.

In addition, in the first state, since the detection units 26b-31b, 47 provided in the operation area R1 can detect changes in capacitance, the user only needs to touch a position where the operation area R1 is likely to be, and this operation is detected, and the second operation button 31a is displayed on the door front panel 24, while transitioning to the second state in which touch operations on the second operation unit 31 are enabled. Therefore, even if all light sources 42a, 42b, 42c are turned off in the first state, it is possible to easily transition to a state in which operations from the user can be accepted.

In particular, in this embodiment, in the first state, not only the first detection units 26b to 30b and the second detection unit 31b but also the third detection unit 47, which detects operations to the outside of these, detects touch operations, so that touch operations can be detected over a wide range of the operation area R1, making it easier to transition from the first state to the second state.

In the above embodiment, the case has been described where the refrigerator transitions to the second state when the first operating units 26-30 and the second operating unit 31 are operated in the first state, but for example, the refrigerator may transition from the first state to the third state without passing through the second state when the second operating unit 31 is operated in the first state. This allows the user to transition to the third state where various settings of the refrigerator 1 can be made without passing through the second state, allowing for simple operation.

In the above embodiment, the detection sensitivity of the first detection units 26b-30b and the second detection unit 31b may be set to a constant value in the first state, the second state, and the third state, or the detection sensitivity may be set to be higher in the first state than in the second state and the third state. By setting the detection sensitivity higher in the first state, it becomes easier to detect a touch operation on the operation area R1 in the first state, and it is possible to more easily transition from the first state to the second state.

Other Embodiments
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and gist of the invention.

1...refrigerator, 2...insulating box, 8...left door, 9...right door, 10...operation panel, 22...main control device, 23...operation control section, 24...front panel, 25...operation unit, 26-30...first operation section, 31...second operation section, 26a-30a...first operation button, 31a...second operation button, 26b-30b...first detection section, 31b...second detection section, 32-36...display section, 42a...first light source, 42b...second light source, 42c...third light source, 47...third detection section

Claims (8)

A main body having an opening on a front surface;
A door for opening and closing the opening;
An operation unit provided in a predetermined area on the front surface of the door;
An outer area provided on the front surface of the door outside the operation unit;
a first detection unit that detects an operation on the operation unit from a change in capacitance of the operation unit and receives a setting operation related to cooling control of the refrigerator ;
a second detection unit that detects an operation to the outer region based on a change in capacitance in the outer region;
a light source for displaying information regarding an operation;
a control unit that controls the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the light source,
The operation unit is illuminated by the light source, and the outer area is blocked from light from the light source;
In response to the second detection unit detecting an operation to the outer area, the control unit turns on the light source to illuminate the operation unit , as control different from that performed when the first detection unit receives a setting operation related to cooling control of the refrigerator . The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns on the light source when the first detection unit detects an operation on the operation unit and the second detection unit detects an operation on the outer area while the light source is turned off. the second detection unit is disposed so as to surround the first detection unit,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit invalidates an operation on the operation unit when the second detection unit detects a change in capacitance together with the first detection unit. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit sets the detection sensitivity of the first detection unit higher when the light source is turned off than when the light source is turned on. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit sets a wider area in which the first detection unit and the second detection unit detect a change in capacitance when the light source is turned off compared to when the light source is turned on. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising wiring for the first detection unit and wiring for the second detection unit. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which a plurality of the operation units are provided, and the light source is turned on in response to detection of an operation on the outer area disposed between the plurality of operation units. The control unit performs control to switch between a state in which a change in a setting of the cooling operation is accepted and a state in which a change in the setting of the cooling operation is not accepted in response to an operation on the operation unit,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in a state where a setting change of a cooling operation is accepted in response to an operation on the operation unit, if it is determined that an operation on the operation unit and an operation on the outer area have been performed simultaneously, the refrigerator does not accept an operation on the operation unit.

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