CN107830671B

CN107830671B - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN107830671B
Application number: CN201710544615.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 森胁实
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2016-09-16
Filing date: 2017-07-06
Publication date: 2021-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-06
Also published as: CN107830671A; JP6923297B2; JP2018044742A

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigerator, which comprises an image device and an audio device and can reduce the influence on a user. The refrigerator (1) of the embodiment comprises: a main body (2); a door (3), wherein the door (3) opens and closes the front surface opening of the main body (2); a display unit (17) (image device), wherein the display unit (17) displays an image on the front surface side of the door (3); a speaker (19) (sound device), the speaker (19) outputting sound; a human detection unit (an operation panel (5), a door opening switch (6), a door opening/closing sensor (7), and a proximity sensor (8)) that detects whether or not a human is present on the front surface side of the door (3); and a control unit (main control unit (9), AV control unit (16)) that, when a person is detected by the person detection unit, changes the output mode of the display unit (17) and speaker (19) to a mode different from that when no person is detected.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background

In recent years, with the spread of smart phones and tablet terminals, thin displays such as liquid crystal and organic EL, and small and thin speakers have been used in various products. Also, there appears: for example, a refrigerator is provided with a video device such as a display portion on a front surface of a door and an audio device such as a speaker on a side surface of the door (see, for example, patent document 1).

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2014-196848

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, in the case of a general television, it is recommended to observe the screen from a position away to some extent.

However, in the case of a refrigerator, since the door is opened and closed when the food is loaded and unloaded, the door needs to be close to the front surface side of the refrigerator. In addition, when the operation panel is operated, it is also necessary to be close to the front side of the refrigerator.

Therefore, when the refrigerator is provided with the video output function and the sound output function, it is estimated that there may be a case where a video is viewed at a position extremely close to the display unit or a sound is heard at a position extremely close to the speaker. In this case, the following may be given to the user: the visual sensation may be a bright white or flickering image, which causes photosensitivity when viewed at near locations, a loud sound when heard at near locations, an impact on the ear, or a hearing loss due to repeated hearing.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerator which includes an image device and an audio device and can reduce an influence on a user.

The refrigerator according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a main body; a door that opens and closes the front opening of the main body; an imaging device that displays an image on a front surface side of the door; a sound device that outputs sound; a person detection unit that detects whether or not a person is present on a front surface side of the door; and a control unit that changes the output mode of the video device and the audio device to a mode different from a case where no human is detected, when the human detection unit detects a human.

According to the above constitution, the refrigerator includes: a main body; a door that opens and closes the front opening of the main body; an imaging device that displays an image on a front surface side of the door; an audio device that outputs audio associated with the video displayed by the video device; a person detection unit that detects whether or not a person is present on a front surface side of the door; and a control unit that, when the human detection unit detects a human being, changes the output modes of the video device and the audio device to: a different pattern than in the case where no person is detected. Thus, the output mode from the video device and the audio device is changed, and the influence on the user can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 2 is the video apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the output modes of the video apparatus and the audio apparatus to: and a side capable of relatively suppressing the influence on the user.

The present invention according to claim 3 is the refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an operation unit for inputting an operation to the refrigerator as the person detection unit, wherein the control unit changes the output mode of the video device and the audio device when the input to the operation unit is detected and/or a predetermined time period elapses after the input to the operation unit is detected.

The invention according to claim 4 is the person detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an open/close detection unit that detects an open/close state of the door, wherein the control unit changes an output pattern of the video device and the audio device when the door is open, when the door is closed, during a period from after the door is open to when a predetermined time elapses, and/or during a period from after the door is closed to when a predetermined time elapses.

The invention according to claim 5 is the person detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a proximity sensor for detecting presence of a person near the door as the person detection unit, wherein the control unit changes output modes of the video device and the audio device during a period from when the proximity sensor detects a person and/or after the proximity sensor detects a person until a predetermined time elapses.

The present invention according to claim 6 is the video apparatus and the audio apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the video apparatus and the audio apparatus are capable of displaying video and outputting audio at arbitrary timings, and the control unit gradually causes the video and the audio to appear and gradually increase at timings at which the video and the audio start to be output in a state where a person is detected by the person detection unit.

The invention according to claim 7 is the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit maintains, while the human detection unit detects the human: a state in which the output modes of the video device and the audio device are changed.

The 8 th aspect of the present invention is the video apparatus according to any one of the 1 st to 7 th aspects, wherein the control unit changes the output mode outputted from the video apparatus and the audio apparatus to a side easily recognized by the user when the information is information having a high priority level.

In the invention according to claim 9 of any one of claims 1 to 8, the control unit changes the output modes of the video device and the audio device to a plurality of output modes, and preferentially changes the output modes so as to relatively suppress an influence on a user.

The invention according to claim 10 is the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a sound generation source that generates sound when the refrigerator is operated, wherein the control unit increases the sound output from the sound device when the sound generation source is operated.

The 11 th aspect of the present invention is the 10 th aspect, wherein the refrigerator includes a compressor as the sound generation source, and the operating frequency of the compressor is lowered when sound is output from the sound device.

The invention according to claim 12 is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further including: the compressor constituting the cooling mechanism for cooling the inside of the refrigerator may perform: a process of increasing the sound output from the sound device in a case where the compressor is operated; and a process of reducing the operating frequency of the compressor and executing a process selected in advance by a user when the sound is output from the sound device.

The 13 th aspect of the present invention is the 13 th aspect of the present invention, including: the compressor constituting the cooling mechanism for cooling the inside of the refrigerator may perform: a process of increasing the sound output from the sound device in a case where the compressor is operated; and a process of reducing the operating frequency of the compressor when the sound is output from the sound device, and executing: on the other hand, when the processing for increasing the sound output from the sound device is not required to perform rapid cooling in the refrigerator, the processing for performing: a process of reducing the operating frequency of the compressor.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the refrigerator.

Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a difference in output modes of brightness and volume.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of the adjustment process.

Fig. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a difference in output modes of brightness and volume in another embodiment.

Description of the symbols:

1-a refrigerator; 2-a body; 3-a door; 4-compressor (sound generating source); 4 a-compressor fan (sound generating source); 5-operation panel (human detection section); 6-door open switch (human detection section); 7-door opening/closing sensor (human detector); 8-proximity sensor (human detection section); 9-a main control section (control section); 16-AV control unit (control unit); 17-a display unit (imaging device); 19-speaker (sound device).

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5.

As shown in fig. 1, a refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment includes a main body 2 and a door 3 that opens and closes a front surface opening of the main body 2. The door 3 is assumed to be a swing door in the present embodiment. It is to be noted that although the refrigerator 1 having 1 door 3 is shown in fig. 1, in the case where a plurality of storage rooms are provided and the doors 3 are provided separately, the door provided substantially in the vicinity of the face of the user is referred to as the door 3 in the present embodiment. The door 3 is not limited to a swing type, and may be a push-pull type door or a so-called split type door.

The refrigerator 1 includes: a compressor 4, a compressor fan 4a, an operation panel 5, a door opening/closing switch 6, a door opening/closing sensor 7, a proximity sensor 8, a main control unit 9 (corresponding to a control unit), and the like.

The compressor 4 constitutes a well-known cooling mechanism for cooling the inside of a refrigerator such as a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber provided in the refrigerator 1. The operating frequency of the compressor 4 is controlled by the main control unit 9, and sound and vibration are generated during operation. That is, the compressor 4 may be a source of sound and vibration generated in the functional portion of the refrigerator 1. In operation, the compressor 4 cools air by a compressor fan 4 a.

The operation panel 5 is composed of an LED display, a switch, and the like, and inputs an operation of the refrigerator 1 by a user. At this time, the operation of the operation panel 5 means that the user is present before the door 3, and therefore, the operation panel 5 also functions as a human detection unit that detects whether or not a human is present before the door 3. The operation panel 5 is not limited to a touch type, and may be a non-touch type operation mode using voice input, or may be a mixture of a touch type and a non-touch type.

The door opening switch 6 is, for example, an electrostatic switch, and if a user touches a predetermined area on the front surface of the door 3, the touch is detected and notified to the main control unit 9. The main control unit 9 that receives the notification opens the door 3 by driving a door opener, not shown. At this time, the operation of the door opening switch 6 means that the user is present before the door 3, and therefore, the door opening switch 6 may function as a human detection unit that detects whether or not a human is present before the door 3.

The door opening/closing sensor 7 detects the opening/closing state of the door 3. Since the door 3 is normally opened by the user, it is considered that a person is present before the door 3 at the timing when the door 3 is opened and the timing when the door 3 is closed. Therefore, the door opening/closing sensor 7 may also function as a human detection unit that detects whether or not a human is present before the door 3.

The proximity sensor 8 is, for example, an infrared sensor, and detects a person near the door 3. The proximity sensor 8 functions as a human detection unit.

The main control unit 9 is constituted by a microcomputer not shown in the drawings which incorporates a timer 10. In addition, the timer 10 may be installed outside the microcomputer. As shown in fig. 2, the main control unit 9 is connected to the compressor 4, the compressor fan 4a, the operation panel 5, the door opening/closing switch 6, the door opening/closing sensor 7, the proximity sensor 8, the outside air temperature sensor 11, the refrigerator fan 12, the refrigerator temperature sensor 13, the refrigerator lamp 14, the camera 15, and the like. The main control unit 9 controls the operation of the compressor 4 and the like based on the outside air temperature and the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the sensors, thereby realizing the refrigerating and freezing functions and controlling the entire refrigerator 1. The camera 15 photographs the inside or outside of the refrigerator.

The main control unit 9 is connected to an AV control unit 16 (corresponding to a control unit) and configured to be capable of transmitting and receiving various data indicating the state of the refrigerator 1 to and from the AV control unit 16. Specifically, between the main control unit 9 and the AV control unit 16, there are obtained: for example, data indicating the state of the refrigerator 1 such as whether the operation panel 5 is operated, whether the proximity sensor 8 detects a person, whether the door switch 6 is operated, whether the door 3 is in an open state or in a closed state, whether the compressor 4 is in operation or in a stop state, and the like.

The AV control unit 16 is connected to a display unit 17 (corresponding to an image device), a touch panel sensor 18, a speaker 19 (corresponding to an audio device), a microphone 20, an external input/output unit 21, an external communication unit 22, and the like. The details of the AV control unit 16 will be described later, and when a person is detected, based on an instruction to lower the brightness and the volume from the main control unit 9, the following are executed: and processing for reducing the output from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19.

As shown in fig. 1, the display portion 17 is formed to be thin, for example, by a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and is provided in the door 3 of the refrigerator 1. The display unit 17 is provided with a touch panel sensor 18 corresponding to the display area thereof. Further, the display unit 17 may be provided so as to be exposed to the front surface of the door 3 as in the present embodiment, or may be provided inside the door 3, and a portion corresponding to the display unit 17 may be attached to glass, so that it can be visually observed.

The speaker 19 outputs audio, particularly, audio related to the video displayed on the display unit 17 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the speakers 19 are provided on the left and right sides of the door 3, respectively. Note that 1 speaker 19 may be provided on the upper side of the door 3, and the number and the installation position of the speakers 19 are not limited to those exemplified in the present embodiment.

The microphone 20 inputs the voice of the user speaking and the voice outside the refrigerator. In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is configured to be operable by voice input, it may be configured to be used in combination with the voice input.

The external input/output unit 21 is configured by, for example, a memory card interface, a USB interface, an image interface, and the like, and reads and writes data with a memory card, a mobile terminal, and the like.

The external communication unit 22 is configured by a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like, and performs transmission and reception of data such as video images displayed on the display unit 17 via an external mobile terminal, the internet, or the like.

These external input/output unit 21 and external communication unit 22 receive from a memory card, a mobile terminal, the internet, or the like: video data displayed on the display unit 17, audio data output from the speaker 19, and the like. As the video data displayed on the display unit 17, for example, news provided via the internet, mail advertisements given by businesses and the like, videos such as commercial advertisements and movie channels, movies transmitted for free or charge, notifications from so-called video chat, sns (social Networking system), images captured by the camera 15, videos of TV interphones, and the like are conceivable.

In addition, it is also conceivable: for example, a food material management screen is displayed after a commercial is displayed, or an image of the inside of a refrigerator captured by the camera 15 is displayed after a commercial is displayed. That is, the display unit 17 does not necessarily display only data received from the outside.

That is, the information output from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 includes: information displayed according to the user's intention, such as movies, and information displayed without depending on the user's intention, such as TV interphone video, that is, information output at an arbitrary timing. The displayed video is not limited to moving images, and may be still images.

Next, the operation of the above-described structure will be described.

As described above, in the case of the refrigerator 1, when the user takes in and takes out the food or operates the operation panel 5, the user needs to be close to the front side of the refrigerator 1, and it is conceivable that the user views the image near the display unit 17 or listens to the sound near the speaker 19. In this case, a user may be affected by a hypersensitivity attack, a hearing loss, or the like. On the other hand, if the configuration is such that only the image is not displayed or the audio is not output, the demand for providing information to the user cannot be satisfied.

Therefore, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment can reduce the influence on the user as described below, and can satisfy the demand for providing information to the user.

First, the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 generally include: adjusting brightness when outputting image and volume when outputting sound. Specifically, the solid line graph shown in fig. 3 represents the output value of the luminance or the sound in the normal state, that is, in the state where the output is not adjusted. In the present embodiment, the output value of brightness refers to brightness of a screen, and the output value of sound refers to volume. In addition, the term "normal time" means: the brightness and the volume are set by the product when the product is delivered from the factory or reset by the user.

When the reduction in the brightness or the volume is reduced as compared with the normal time, the output value of the brightness or the sound is lower than the normal time as shown by the broken line. Further, if the brightness or the sound volume is reduced as such, it is considered that: the possibility of causing an impact on the user. In addition, the ratio of reducing the brightness and the volume is preset.

Therefore, the refrigerator 1 determines whether to adjust the brightness or the volume based on a condition set in advance. In the present embodiment, it is set that a human is detected as a reduction condition for reducing the brightness or the sound volume. More specifically, the reduction conditions in the present embodiment are set as follows: the input to the operation panel 5 is at least one of when an operation is detected, when the door 3 is opened, when the door 3 is closed, and when a person is detected by the proximity sensor 8.

Then, when refrigerator 1 executes the adjustment processing shown in fig. 4 and determines that the reduction condition is satisfied (S1: YES), it executes: the operation of lowering the brightness or the volume is output in a state lower than the normal state (S2). That is, when the lowering condition is satisfied, the refrigerator 1 changes the mode output from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 to a side where the influence on the user can be relatively suppressed. This can suppress the influence on the user. At this time, although not shown, the refrigerator 1 maintains the state in which the output mode is changed in the state in which a person is detected, and returns the output mode to the normal state in response to an instruction from the main control section 9 if no person is detected.

However, when the brightness or the sound volume is increased more than in the normal state, the output value of the brightness or the sound is larger than in the normal state as shown by the one-dot chain line in fig. 3. If the brightness or the volume is increased in this way, it is considered that the possibility of the user being affected at the time of output is increased, but if the information is of a high priority level, the effect can be further reduced by reliably transmitting the information to the user. In addition, the ratio of increasing the brightness and the volume is preset.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, information to be transmitted to the user is set as an increase condition for increasing the brightness or the volume. Information such as disaster information such as earthquake prediction, and fire alarm notification for informing that a fire has occurred on another floor in a concentrated residential area is considered to be information with a high priority street and a high degree of urgency. Note that a schedule such as an out-of-home schedule is considered to be information with a high priority to be notified to the user.

Therefore, in the adjustment process shown in fig. 4, if it is determined that the increase condition is satisfied (S1: NO, S3: YES), the refrigerator 1 executes: the operation of increasing the brightness or the volume is output in a state of being increased from the normal state (S4). That is, when the increase condition is satisfied, the refrigerator 1 changes the mode output from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 to a side that can be easily recognized by the user. This enables information to be reliably transmitted to the user. At this time, although not shown, the refrigerator 1 maintains the state in which the output mode is changed in the state in which a person is detected, and returns the output mode to the normal state in response to an instruction from the main control section 9 if no person is detected.

As described above, the information output from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 includes: information to be output at the user's will and information to be output at any time. Then, it is considered that the information outputted at an arbitrary timing is outputted even when no person is present before the gate 3.

Therefore, when the refrigerator 1 determines that neither the lowering condition nor the increasing condition is satisfied (S1: NO, S3: NO), the following are executed: and a normal operation of outputting the brightness or the volume in the same state as the normal state (S5). That is, in the case where neither the lowering condition nor the increasing condition is satisfied, the refrigerator 1 does not change the output mode from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19. This makes it possible to transmit information to a person existing in the vicinity of the refrigerator 1 even if the person is not in front of the door 3.

Thereby, refrigerator 1 changes the output mode from display unit 17 and speaker 19.

According to the above-described embodiments, the following effects can be obtained.

The refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment includes: a main body 2; a door 3, the door 3 opening and closing the front surface opening of the main body 2; a display unit 17 (imaging device) for displaying an image on the front surface side of the door 3 by the display unit 17 (imaging device); a speaker 19 (audio device) that outputs audio associated with the video displayed on the display unit 17; a person detection unit that detects whether or not a person is present on the front surface side of the door 3; and an AV control unit 16 (control unit) that, when the human detection unit detects a human being, changes the output modes of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 to: a different pattern than in the case where no person is detected. This changes the output mode from the display unit 17 and the speaker 19, and can reduce the influence on the user.

When a person is detected by the person detection unit, the refrigerator 1 changes the output modes of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 to: and a side capable of relatively suppressing the influence on the user. This can prevent a user from being influenced by watching a high-brightness video or listening to a large-volume sound at a short distance in front of the door 3.

The refrigerator 1 includes an operation panel 5 (operation unit) as a human detection unit for inputting an operation to the refrigerator 1, and the AV control unit 16 changes the output mode of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 when detecting the input to the operation panel 5. This enables the presence of a person in front of the door 3 to be accurately detected, and thus the influence on the user can be reliably reduced.

The refrigerator 1 includes, as a person detection unit, an open/close sensor (open/close detection unit) that detects an open/close state of the door 3, and changes the output mode of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 when the door 3 is opened. This enables the presence of a person in front of the door 3 to be accurately detected, and thus the influence on the user can be reliably reduced.

The refrigerator 1 includes, as a person detection unit, a proximity sensor 8 for detecting a person present near the door 3, and changes the output mode of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 when the proximity sensor 8 detects a person. This enables the presence of a person in front of the door 3 to be accurately detected, and thus the influence on the user can be reliably reduced.

The refrigerator 1 maintains, while a person is detected by the person detection section: the output mode of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 is changed. In this case, if the video and audio are output, the brightness and the volume are kept constant, and if the video and audio are not output, the non-output state is maintained. Although it is considered that the user will be noticed on the contrary if the brightness and the sound volume change abruptly, maintaining the output mode can suppress: for example, when a food material is taken in or out of the refrigerator 1, the image and the sound volume change suddenly.

Therefore, the attention of the user can not be attracted, so that the user can pay attention to taking and placing the food materials, and therefore the following effects are prevented: the food material can be carelessly dropped due to the change of the image and the volume, and the danger degree can be reduced.

In this case, it is conceivable that the original brightness and volume are lower than those in the lowering operation by the image source and the sound source, but the configuration of maintaining the output mode further includes: the luminance of the display is not changed even if the luminance of the source is reduced, that is, the display is not flickered. In other words, the case where the display mode is not changed and is not regarded as a failure is also included.

When receiving information that can be determined to be high in priority and urgency, such as disaster information, for example, refrigerator 1 changes the output mode output from display unit 17 and speaker 19 to: a side that is easily approved by the user. Specifically, the following is performed: and an increasing operation for increasing the brightness and the volume compared with the normal operation. From this, it can be considered that: the advantage of making evacuation prompt by reliably making a warning of information such as earthquake warning or fire warning is far greater than the disadvantage of adversely affecting the user. Therefore, by changing the output mode to a side easily recognized by the user with respect to the information having a high priority to be notified to the user, a great advantage can be given to the user as a result.

(other embodiments)

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, an example is given in which the output is reduced or increased in proportion as a whole, but as shown in fig. 5, an upper limit of the output during the reduction operation can be set and the brightness or the sound volume exceeding the upper limit can be removed. Even with such a configuration, the influence on the user can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to adopt: a component that decreases or increases in absolute value, rather than in proportion.

In the present embodiment, the output pattern is changed mainly at the timing when a person is detected, and: an example of the output mode that can be maintained while a person is detected is not limited to this. For example, the refrigerator 1 may be: for example, the output mode is changed within a predetermined time after the detection of the person. In this case, the predetermined time may be set to a time when the user is supposed to leave the door 3.

Specifically, there can be adopted: the output mode is changed during a period from when a predetermined time has elapsed after an input is made to the operation panel 5, during a period from when the door 3 is opened until when a predetermined time has elapsed, during a period from when the door 3 is closed until when a predetermined time has elapsed, and during a period from when a person is detected by the proximity sensor 8 until when a predetermined time has elapsed. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to avoid: the user can be less affected by watching a high-brightness image at a close distance or listening to a large-volume sound at a close distance.

In the case of the operation panel 5, a method of detecting an input to the operation panel 5 is not particularly limited, and if a switch or the like on the operation panel 5 is touched, it may be regarded as being in operation, an operation end button (operation confirmation button) or the like may be provided on the operation panel 5, and when a finger is separated from the operation button for several seconds, it may be regarded as being in operation end, and the language of "operation start" or "operation end" may be recognized by voice recognition, thereby confirming the start and end of the operation. That is, the predetermined time may be set for the time after the input to the operation panel 5 is detected for the first time, or the predetermined time may be set for the time after the input to the operation panel 5 is detected for the last time.

In the case where the refrigerator 1 outputs the display of the image and the sound at a timing when the person is detected by the person detection unit, the image may be gradually displayed and the sound volume may be gradually increased, that is, the image may be gradually seen and the sound volume may be gradually increased. If the brightness and the volume change suddenly, it is considered that the user will be noticed by the user, but by gradually increasing the brightness and the volume (fade in), it is possible to suppress: the image and the sound volume change suddenly when, for example, the food is taken into and put out of the refrigerator 1. This can suppress sudden output of video and audio when a person is near the refrigerator 1, and can prevent the user from being frightened.

The refrigerator 1 includes a sound generation source that generates sound when operating, and is configured to: when the sound generation source is operated, the sound output from the speaker 19 is increased. The refrigerator 1 includes: a compressor 4 constituting, for example, a cooling mechanism. Since the compressor 4 applies pressure to circulate the refrigerant, a rotational sound is emitted from the compressor 4. Therefore, if the cooling mechanism is operated while the sound is being output from the speaker 19, the sound of the speaker 19 is not easily heard due to the rotational sound of the compressor 4.

Therefore, when the compressor 4 is operated, the sound output from the speaker 19 is increased, thereby improving the situation where the sound is hard to hear. In this case, by performing control so as to increase/decrease the volume seamlessly, the volume can be changed without being noticed by the user. The sound generating source includes not only the compressor 4 but also a compressor fan 4a, an ice making device, and the like.

In this case, it is possible to adopt: when a person is near the refrigerator, the sound volume of the speaker 19 is lowered, but the sound volume is larger than the rotating sound of the compressor 4. Thereby, it is possible to simultaneously realize: influence on human and easy to hear.

The refrigerator 1 may employ: when the speaker 19 outputs the sound, the operating frequency of the compressor 4 is lowered. This reduces the rotational sound of the compressor 4, and improves the situation where the sound is hard to hear.

In this case, when the user wants to make ice in a short time, the rotational frequency of the compressor 4 is increased to perform the refrigerant circulation at a high speed, and thus the rotational frequency is increased and the rotational sound is also increased. Therefore, the ratio of increasing the sound volume can be adjusted in accordance with the rotational frequency of the compressor 4 (low speed, medium speed, high speed, etc.), for example, by increasing the sound volume by 5% at low speed, by 10% at medium speed, and by 20% at high speed.

The refrigerator 1 may be constituted such that: it is possible to execute processing for increasing the sound output from the speaker 19 in the case where the compressor 4 is operated, and processing for decreasing the operating frequency of the compressor 4 in the case where the sound is output from the speaker 19, and to execute processing selected in advance by the user.

The perception associated with sound varies from person to person. Therefore, it is considered that a person who is sensitive to sound is very conscious of mixing noise (abnormal sound) in the sound from the speaker 19, and on the other hand, a person who is less conscious of mixing noise can be imagined.

Thus, the user can select, according to the respective sensations: the refrigerator 1 is relatively convenient to use by performing a process of increasing the sound output from the speaker 19 when the compressor 4 is operated, and a process of decreasing the operating frequency of the compressor 4 when the sound is output from the speaker 19. The selection operation can be set by displaying a combination of "increase/non-increase of the sound emitted from the speaker 19" and "decrease/non-decrease of the operating sound of the compressor 4" on the operation panel 5 or the display unit 17, for example.

The refrigerator 1 may be constituted such that: the processing of increasing the sound output from the speaker 19 when the compressor 4 is operated (hereinafter, referred to as the former processing for convenience) and the processing of decreasing the operating frequency of the compressor 4 when the sound is output from the speaker 19 (hereinafter, referred to as the latter processing for convenience) may be executed, the processing of increasing the sound output from the speaker 19 when rapid cooling in the refrigerator is required, and the processing of decreasing the operating frequency of the compressor 4 when rapid cooling in the refrigerator is not required.

In the former case, the cooling performance is not changed, but power consumption is increased to increase the sound volume. On the other hand, in the case of executing the latter process, although power consumption can be suppressed, cooling performance is lowered. Therefore, the former process and the latter process are automatically switched depending on whether rapid cooling is necessary or not.

For example, when the outside air temperature is high (25 ℃ or higher), the temperature in the refrigerator rises according to the number of times the door 3 is opened and closed or the opening time of the door 3, and therefore, rapid cooling is performed regardless of whether the detection value of the temperature sensor 13 in the refrigerator rises. When the user instructs the operation panel 5 to start the ice making function, the chilling function, and the quick freezing function, the quick cooling is also performed.

Therefore, when rapid cooling is performed, the following are issued: the instruction to increase the volume of sound outputted from the speaker 19 is to decrease the rotational frequency of the compressor 4 when the speaker 19 outputs sound during normal operation of the compressor 4 other than during rapid cooling. This makes it possible to automatically switch between the former process and the latter process, and to perform appropriate operations according to the situation.

The refrigerator 1 can change the output modes of the display unit 17 and the speaker 19 by a plurality of times, and preferentially change the mode in which the influence on the user can be relatively suppressed. When the above-described various output modes are changed, for example, when the door 3 is opened or closed, the operation panel 5 is operated, or the proximity sensor 8 detects a person, the following processing is set at a high priority: the process of lowering the brightness and the sound volume, the process of gradually raising/gradually increasing, and the process of maintaining the output mode are performed, and the priority levels of the process of raising the sound volume of the speaker 19 and the process of lowering the rotational frequency of the compressor 4 are set to be lower. Accordingly, the operation of reducing the possibility of: a situation that affects the user, frightens the user, or impairs the user's attention.

In the present embodiment, there are given: however, the main control unit 9 may notify the AV control unit 16 of information related to whether or not a person is detected, and may determine whether or not the output mode is changed by the AV control unit 16. Further, the main control unit 9 and the AV control unit 16 may perform control for changing the output mode in a coordinated manner.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments may be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized by comprising:

a main body;

a door that opens and closes a front opening of the main body;

a sound device that outputs sound;

a person detection unit that detects whether or not a person is present on a front surface side of the door; and

a control unit that changes an output mode of the audio device to a mode different from a case where no human is detected, when the human is detected by the human detection unit,

the output mode of the audio device when the human detection unit detects a human being is: an output mode in which the volume is smaller than that in a case where no human is detected by the human detection section.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1,

the human detection unit includes an operation unit for inputting an operation to the refrigerator,

the control unit changes the output mode of the audio device when an input to the operation unit is detected and/or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the input to the operation unit.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

the person detection unit includes an open/close detection unit that detects an open/close state of the door,

the control unit changes an output mode of the audio device when the door is opened, when the door is closed, during a period from when the door is opened to when a predetermined time elapses, and/or during a period from when the door is closed to when a predetermined time elapses.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

the person detection unit includes a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of a person near the door,

the control unit changes the output mode of the audio device during a period from when the proximity sensor detects a person and/or after a predetermined time period has elapsed since the proximity sensor detected a person.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

the sound device can output sound at any time,

the control unit gradually increases the sound at a timing when the sound starts to be output in a state where the human detection unit detects a human.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

while the person is detected by the person detection unit, the control unit maintains: a state in which an output mode of the audio device is changed.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

in the case of information having a high priority level, the control unit changes the output mode output from the audio device to a side easily recognized by the user.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

the control unit changes the output mode of the audio device to a plurality of modes, and changes the mode priority in such a manner that the influence on the user can be relatively suppressed.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

the refrigerator is provided with a sound generating source which emits sound when in work,

the control unit increases the sound output from the sound device when the sound generation source is operated.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9,

the refrigerator is provided with a compressor as the sound generating source,

when the sound is output from the sound device, the operating frequency of the compressor is reduced.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

the disclosed device is provided with: a compressor constituting a cooling mechanism for cooling the inside of the refrigerator,

may perform: a process of increasing the sound output from the sound device in a case where the compressor is operated; and a process of lowering an operating frequency of the compressor in a case where sound is output from the sound device,

and performs a process selected in advance by the user.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2,

when rapid cooling in the refrigerator is required, the following steps are executed: on the other hand, when the processing for increasing the sound output from the sound device is not required to perform rapid cooling in the refrigerator, the processing for performing: a process of reducing the operating frequency of the compressor.