JP2005140345A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an attachment structure for a communication board hardly affected by magnetic noise or the like, and hardly causing range instability or a transmission accuracy error of a signal wave. <P>SOLUTION: In the refrigerator wherein an opening plane of a heat insulating box body with an outer surface formed by a steel plate is closed so it can be opened and closed by a door having a gasket built-in with a magnet, the communication board having an antenna part is installed in a ceiling outer surface of the heat insulating box body, a non-conductive resin plate is interposed between the ceiling outer surface of the heat insulating box body and the communication board, and the antenna part of the communication board is separated 3cm or more from a magnet part of the gasket. Or, an upper hinge journaled to the door so that the door can be opened and closed is installed on a ceiling outer surface of a refrigerator box body, the communication board having the antenna part is juxtaposed in an upper hinge neighborhood of the ceiling outer surface, the communication board and the upper hinge are covered by an integral hinge cover, and the hinge cover is formed by non-conductive resin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a communication board.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and the specification of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-352025, the conventional method obtains information on the home appliance itself by using the short-range communication device 2x installed in the home appliance 1x in the home. The information transmitted to the communication terminal 30 and the information transmitted to the home communication terminal 30 are notified to various servers through the information network 60 such as the Internet.

  As another conventional system example, as shown in FIG. 9 and the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-317942, the wireless communication device is installed inside the main body 30 of the refrigerator, and the rod-shaped communication antenna 9 is connected to the refrigerator. It was installed in the leg 31.

JP 2002-352025 A (Fig. 1)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-317942 (FIG. 9)

  Signal radio waves for receiving and transmitting information on household appliances such as refrigerators are usually very weak. For example, in the case of a specific low power radio stipulated by the Radio Law, the output level is about 10 mW. Even if a small-capacity magnetic substance exists between them, there are many cases in which the reception and transmission of the signal radio waves are hindered. On the other hand, in a refrigerator installed in a home, a magnet built-in type gasket is often used for a door that closes the front of the box opening so that it can be opened and closed. In other words, when adding a low-power wireless communication function to the refrigerator, the magnet-containing gasket used for the refrigerator's own door causes radio interference, so it is necessary to specify a specific relationship structure for reducing the radio interference. Arise.

  In addition, refrigerators installed in homes are usually installed in kitchens, etc., and surrounding kitchen equipment such as metal cooking tables, gas stands, or washing places are installed. There are many cases where the signal radio wave is damaged and the transmission / reception is hindered. Also, since the floor of a refrigerator installed in a kitchen or the like is easily soiled, equipment that interferes with weak radio waves such as a vacuum cleaner is often used, and the floor of the kitchen is prone to water. It is not appropriate to install a weak radio wave receiving / transmitting device near the surface.

  Regarding the above problems, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not disclose a specific structure for dealing with the problem.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a mounting structure for a communication board that is not easily affected by magnetic noise and the like, and in which the arrival distance of signal radio waves is unstable and transmission accuracy errors are less likely to occur.

  In the refrigerator in which the outer surface of the heat insulation box is formed of a metal steel plate, and the opening surface of the heat insulation box is closed so as to be opened and closed by a door having a gasket with a built-in magnet, the communication board having the antenna portion is insulated from the heat. It is installed on the outer surface of the ceiling of the box, a non-conductive resin plate is interposed between the outer surface of the ceiling of the heat insulating box and the communication board, and the antenna part of the communication board is 3 cm from the magnet part of the gasket. They were separated from each other.

  In the refrigerator of the present invention, a communication board having an antenna portion is installed on the outer surface of the ceiling of the heat insulating box that is a space for heat radiation of the refrigerator itself, and a non-conductive resin is provided between the communication board and the outer surface of the ceiling. Since the board is interposed, the antenna part of the communication board is separated from the magnet part of the gasket containing the magnet by more than the dimension that does not cause radio interference, providing a refrigerator with a structure advantageous for weak radio wave communication. it can.

Details of the present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of installation of a refrigerator 10 and a home communication terminal 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a refrigerator having a wireless communication function. The refrigerator 10 has a communication module 50 installed on the ceiling outer surface 10e as described later, and an arbitrary room in the house where the refrigerator 10 is installed. A radio wave can be transmitted / received to / from the external antenna 2 of the home communication terminal 1 provided. Reference numeral 12 denotes a door that has a gasket containing a magnet, which will be described later, and closes the front opening surface of the heat insulating box 11 so as to be opened and closed. An operation panel 13 is configured to manually control the operation of the refrigerator, and 14 and 15 are upper hinges that pivotally support the door 12 so that the door 12 can be opened and closed.

  Next, FIG. 2 which is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which shows one Example of this invention is demonstrated. Reference numeral 18 denotes a main body substrate for controlling the refrigerator 10 itself and the communication module 50 and the like as will be described later. When the communication module 50 transmits and receives radio waves, for example, heat insulation Built in the back side of the box 11. Reference numerals 19 and 20 denote wirings for connecting the main body substrate 18 to the communication module 50 and the operation panel 13 described above. Reference numeral 16 denotes a compressor for cooling the refrigerator with a series of refrigeration cycles (not shown). Usually, the heat from the compressor 16 and a radiator (not shown) installed in the box is efficiently radiated. Therefore, an air passage (indicated by an arrow k) is formed in the back surface portion 10c of the refrigerator and the ceiling surface 10e portion of the refrigerator.

  Here, the surrounding state in the installation of the refrigerator in the home indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The refrigerator 10 used in the home is usually installed in a kitchen or the like, and on both side surfaces 10a thereof, there are a metal cooking table, a gas table, a kitchen device D such as a washing place, a hanging cabinet E, a door, or a wall F. It is installed to the extent that it almost touches. However, on the ceiling surface 10e surface side of the refrigerator, a certain amount of gap H1 is provided between the ceiling surface 10e of the refrigerator and the hanging cabinet or ceiling surface M in the house in order to secure the above-described heat-dissipating ventilation path. have. Although the gap H1 is somewhat different depending on the heat dissipation method of the refrigerator, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the gap H1 is at least 50 mm and usually set to 100 mm or more. Further, a gap H2 between the bottom surface 10b of the refrigerator and the installation floor L of the refrigerator is a gap for sending ambient air to the above-described heat release ventilation path (indicated by arrow k), and is set smaller than the above-described gap H1. This is obvious to those skilled in the art.

  In other words, the communication module 50 that can transmit and receive wireless radio waves is installed using the space (gap H1) of the refrigerator ceiling surface 10e that exists as a heat dissipation space of the refrigerator itself. The space behind the back surface 10c of the refrigerator and the space between the bottom surface 10b (gap H2) is affected by the signal radio wave due to the metal box of the refrigerator itself and the metal kitchen equipment installed around it. Those skilled in the art know that there are many cases where the transmission and reception are hindered. The signal radio waves received and transmitted by the communication module 50 are usually very weak. For example, in the case of a specific low power radio regulated by the Radio Law, the output level is about 10 mW. If there is a gasket-incorporated magnet 38 that is a small-capacity magnetic body, the magnetic force of the magnet 38 often interferes with reception and transmission of the signal radio wave. Therefore, the magnet 38 and the communication module 50 described above It is necessary to define the positional relationship of

  The positional relationship between the magnet 38 and the communication module 50 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, 10e is the above-mentioned refrigerator ceiling surface, and the outer surface 36 of the heat insulation box 11 which comprises this refrigerator ceiling surface 10e is formed with the metal steel plate. A door 12 that closes the opening so as to be openable and closable is installed in front of the opening of the heat insulating box 11, and a gasket 37 containing a magnet 38 is installed on the outer peripheral edge of the door inner plate 12 b of the door 12. ing.

  The gasket 37 is set to have a predetermined attracting force of the magnet 38 incorporated therein in order to maintain the airtightness of the refrigerator when the door is closed. That is, the size is set so as to surely adsorb to the opening surface 36a of the heat insulating box. For example, the gasket 37 itself can be expanded and contracted by the attractive force of the magnet 38 due to the flatness error during manufacturing of the gasket 12 mounting surface 12a of the door 12 and the opening surface 36a of the heat insulation box or the thermal stress during cooling. Is set to a sufficient suction force. In order to maintain the airtightness of the refrigerator, for example, when only the vegetable compartment door 12b is opened and the opened vegetable compartment door 12b is closed at a certain strength and speed in the state shown in FIG. Even if the air in the chamber 12a is instantaneously compressed and the repulsive force of the compressed air is applied to the inner surface of the door 12, a magnet attracting force that does not open the door 12 is required.

  Therefore, in order to exert a predetermined magnetic attraction force, a predetermined magnetic force is required. Therefore, a signal radio wave transmitted / received by the communication module 50 described later by the magnetic force of the magnet 38 depends on the positional relationship. It is subject to radio interference as described below. In other words, the signal radio wave received and transmitted by the communication module 50 requires a structural consideration for ensuring a carrier sense level, which will be described later, because the radio wave intensity of the radio wave itself is reduced by the magnetic force of the magnet 38.

  Reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3 denotes a communication module installed on the ceiling surface 10e of the heat insulating box, and a communication board 51 having an antenna portion 52 is built therein. The communication board 51 has a non-conductive resin plate 55a interposed between it and the metal outer surface 36 constituting the above-described ceiling outer surface 10e, and the antenna portion 52 of the communication board 51 is connected to the above-described magnet 38. , Separated by a distance Lx described later. In other words, the signal radio wave received and transmitted by the communication module 50 is installed with a distance Lx between the antenna unit 52 and the magnet 38 so that the radio wave is not disturbed by the magnet 38. Reference numerals 53 and 55 denote an upper cover and a lower cover formed of a non-conductive resin so as to cover the entire communication substrate 51 having the antenna unit 52. A convex portion 54 that can secure a gap 55b between the communication substrate 51 and the non-conductive resin plate 55a is formed on a part of the lower cover 55. The gap 55b and the non-conductive resin plate 55a As will be described later, the degree of radio wave interference also changes depending on the size of Gx, which is the total dimension with the plate thickness.

  Here, the experimental data of the inventors regarding the degree of the radio interference will be described with reference to FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the distance between the magnet 38 and the antenna unit 52 of the communication module 50, and represents the Lx dimension shown in FIG. The vertical axis in FIG. 4 represents the carrier sense level, which is a determination value as to whether or not the radio wave itself that needs to be received has a receivable intensity. Since the carrier sense level is generally set from about minus 90 dBm to about minus 110 dBm, Qx is entered as minus 100 dBm.

  A plurality of curves G10, G20, G30, and G40 in FIG. 4 represent carrier sense levels with respect to the distance Lx between the magnet 38 and the antenna unit 52 when the Gx dimension shown in FIG. 3 is changed. Curve G10 represents the case where Gx dimension = 1 mm, curve G20 represents the case where Gx dimension = 2 mm, curve G30 represents the Gx dimension = 3 mm, and curve G40 represents the case where Gx dimension = 4 mm. As an example of the present invention, in the curve G20 in which the thickness of the non-conductive resin plate 55a in FIG. 3 is 1.5 mm and the gap 55b is 0.5 mm, the carrier sense level due to the influence of the magnet 38 is set as described above. Assuming that Qx = minus 100 dBm, which is a general numerical value, Lx = 30 mm as shown in FIG. In other words, the thickness of the non-conductive resin plate 55a is 1.5 mm, which is a general thickness of synthetic resin injection molding, and the strength of the magnet 38 is defined as the opening force standard of the door 12. When the general door opening force is 1.2 kg to 3.2 kg, if Lx = 30 mm or more, the carrier sense level Qx can be set to minus 100 dBm or more. It can be configured to be able to reliably receive and transmit radio waves.

  Next, the relationship between the state of magnetic field lines due to the box structure and the communication module 50 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 34 denotes an inner box that forms a storage room of the refrigerator, and reference numeral 40 denotes a metal clamping portion that clamps the flange 34a of the inner box to the back surface of the box opening surface 36a. Since the metal clamping portion 40 is formed by bending and extending the box opening surface 36a as shown in FIG. 3, and is in close contact with the metal box opening surface 36a to which the magnet 38 is adsorbed, The magnetic field lines of the magnet 38 may be disturbed. In particular, when the door 12 is opened and closed, the magnetic field lines of the magnet 38 change while passing through the metal box opening surface 36a and the metal clamping part 40, so that the magnetic field lines are disturbed, thereby causing eddy currents in the metal steel sheet. When induced, the induced eddy current may interfere with the signal radio wave of the communication module 50 described above, and reception / transmission of the communication module 50 may become uncertain.

  Accordingly, the inventors experimented while opening and closing the door 12 by changing the distance L2 between the portion 40a closest to the antenna portion 52 of the communication module 50 and the antenna portion 52 of the metal clamping portion 40. As a result, if the L2 dimension is positive, the carrier sense level described above can be reduced to minus 100 dBm or more. That is, it has been found that communication failure is not induced unless the metal clamping unit 40 and the antenna unit 52 are overlapped in the plane projection plane direction.

  Next, FIG. 5 which is a refrigerator ceiling surface explanatory view showing a first embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 6 which is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5 will be described. A relay board 24 relays the main body board 18 and the operation panel board 25 installed in the door. As shown in FIG. 5, the wiring 20 between the relay substrate 24 and the main body substrate 18 is provided in a plurality of wiring fixtures 21 so as to be held in a set position even during foam filling of the heat insulating material. It is fixed by. The wiring 20 comes out of the box from a through hole 32 provided in the ceiling surface 10e, and is connected to the relay board 24 installed on the ceiling surface 10e. The wiring 19b between the relay board 24 and the operation panel board 25 is configured to be routed through the hinge shaft 14a of the upper hinge 14, and the wiring 19b, the through hole 32, and the relay board 24 are made of non-conductive resin. The cover is covered with a hinge cover 23 formed in this manner.

  50a shows an example of the installation position of the communication module 50 described above, and the distance L3 dimension of the communication module 50a from the opening surface of the heat insulation box is configured to satisfy the LX dimension explained in FIG. It is. That is, it is set at a position where the radio wave interference of the magnet 38 built in the gasket can be reduced to a level that does not cause a problem in practice. However, the user may place various articles on the ceiling surface 10e of the refrigerator. Alternatively, there is a possibility of installing a metal hanging cupboard or the like that induces radio interference near the ceiling surface of the refrigerator. In this case, the above-described communication module 50 is configured to be installed at a position with the least radio interference on the ceiling surface 10e of the refrigerator. As an example, the distance L4 from the heat insulating box opening surface (L4> L3) It is configured to be installed at an arbitrary position 50b. The lengths of the wirings 19d and 19c are set so that the position of the above-described 50b can be set to an arbitrary position on the ceiling surface 10e of the refrigerator. The wirings 19d and 19c enter the hinge cover 23 and are connected to the main body substrate 18 through the through holes 32 together with the wiring 20 described above. Therefore, a special fixing tool and through hole for the communication modules 50a and 50b are not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the door dew prevention heater and its wiring 28 as shown in 26 of FIG. 5 usually add about 100 V to 200 V, which is a commercial voltage, and may impair a weak signal radio wave. . Therefore, it is obvious that the distance L5 from the communication module 50b needs to consider the carrier sense level described in FIG. The wiring 28 is configured to be routed through the hinge shaft 15a of the upper hinge 15 similarly to the wiring 19b.

  In FIG. 6, 31 is an insulating part that insulates the hinge 14 from the ceiling surface 10 e of the refrigerator, and 33 is provided to prevent the wires 19 b and 20 from coming into contact with the edge part of the through hole 32 and being damaged. It is a guard part. The communication module 50 is connected to the wiring 19d by a connector portion, and the connector portion includes a communication module side connector 51a and a wiring side connector 19e. If the communication module side connector 51a and the wiring side connector 19e are detachable, workability is improved when the position of the communication module 50 is changed to an arbitrary position. Reference numeral 22 denotes a hinge pin of the hinge 14, which is made of metal that is not magnetic.

  Next, an embodiment of communication control according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The wired communication control unit 51f in the communication board 51 exchanges information with the central control unit 18a in the main body board 18 that controls the operation of the refrigerator. Necessary information in the information is transmitted to the wireless communication control unit 51d through the central control unit 51e and transmitted from the antenna unit 52 through the transmission circuit 51b. In transmission, the refrigerator oscillates at about 430 MHz, but may oscillate at about 5 GHz, which is an AV frequency. In the case of reception, the transmission circuit 51b and the reception circuit 51c are switched over in time and received by the same antenna unit 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the relay board 24 juxtaposed with the communication board 51 is arranged in parallel to the central control unit 18a of the main body board. The frequency oscillated from the display alarm unit 13b and the operation switch unit 13a is It is obvious that the frequency is set so as not to interfere with the oscillation frequency transmitted and received by the antenna unit.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a refrigerator ceiling surface showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
The feature of the second embodiment is that an upper hinge 78 that pivotally supports the door so that it can be opened and closed is installed on the ceiling outer surface 70a of the refrigerator box, and the antenna portion 75b is located near the upper hinge 78 of the ceiling outer surface. The relay board 76 that receives and transmits signals between the operation panel 77 installed in the door and the main body board 71 that performs operation control is juxtaposed in the vicinity of the upper hinge 78. In this configuration, the communication module 75 and the relay board 76 including the upper hinge 78 and the communication board 75a are covered with an integral hinge cover 80 formed of a non-conductive resin. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator with less communication radio wave interference and excellent in appearance.

It is installation explanatory drawing of the refrigerator and household communication terminal which show one Example of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which shows one Example of this invention. It is positional relationship explanatory drawing of the communication module 50 and the magnet built-in type gasket 37 which show one Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the distance from a magnet, and a carrier sense level. It is refrigerator top surface explanatory drawing which shows the 1st Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. It is a block diagram of communication control which shows one Example of this invention. It is refrigerator top surface explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd Example of this invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 8.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Domestic communication terminal, 10 ... Refrigerator, 10e ... Ceiling surface, 11 ... Heat insulation box, 12 ... Door, 13 ... Operation panel, 14, 15 ... Upper hinge, 17 ... Heat insulation box, 18 ... Main body board, 19 , 20 ... wiring, 21 ... wiring fixing tool, 23 ... hinge cover, 24 ... relay board, 25 ... operation panel board, 34 ... inner box, 34a ... inner box flange, 36 ... outer surface, 36a ... opening of heat insulation box Surface, 37 ... gasket, 38 ... magnet part, 40 ... metal clamping part, 50 ... communication module, 51 ... communication board, 52 ... antenna part, 53 ... upper cover, 55 ... lower cover.

Claims (4)

  In a refrigerator in which an opening surface of a heat insulating box whose outer surface is formed of a metal steel plate is closed so as to be opened and closed by a door having a gasket with a built-in magnet, a communication board having an antenna portion is placed outside the ceiling of the heat insulating box. Installed on the surface, interposing a non-conductive resin plate between the outer surface of the ceiling of the heat insulation box and the communication board, and separating the antenna part of the communication board from the magnet part of the gasket by 3 cm or more A refrigerator characterized by.   A metal holding part that holds an inner box flange on the back surface of the opening surface of the heat insulation box, the metal holding part, and a communication substrate having an antenna part installed on the ceiling outer surface of the heat insulation box, The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is installed at a position that does not overlap in the plane projection plane direction.   An upper hinge that pivotally supports the door so that it can be opened and closed is installed on the outer surface of the ceiling of the refrigerator box, a communication board having an antenna portion is juxtaposed in the vicinity of the upper hinge of the outer surface of the ceiling, and the communication board and the upper hinge are The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is covered with an integral hinge cover, and the hinge cover is formed of a non-conductive resin. In a refrigerator having an operation panel on the door surface, a relay board for receiving and transmitting signals is provided between the operation panel and the main board for operation control, and the relay board is installed on the outer surface of the ceiling of the refrigerator box. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the relay board and the communication board having the antenna portion are covered with an integral hinge cover.

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