JPS63108183A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More specifically, the invention relates to a refrigerator equipped with recording and playback functions.

(b) Conventional Technology With recent advances in electronic technology, refrigerators have become increasingly electronically controlled and equipped with a variety of functions.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-62379 is equipped with a voice synthesis circuit and a speaker, and is configured to issue warnings and warnings regarding the use of the refrigerator using words prepared in advance.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention With this configuration, only the words written in the speech synthesis circuit in advance at the time of manufacturing the refrigerator can be pronounced, and there is no means for writing in arbitrary words, so for example, when a housewife is away, In order to send a message to children who have returned home to tell them whether the refrigerator is currently stocked, it is necessary to write a message on a piece of paper and paste it on the refrigerator door, which reduces the usability of the refrigerator. Improvement was expected.

The present invention solves the above problems and improves the usability of the refrigerator.

(d) Means for solving the problems The present invention provides a plurality of storage compartments (5) (6) in the refrigerator (1).
), and corresponds to the microphone (18) that converts audio into electrical signals, # (12) (13) that closes the storage chambers (5) and (6), respectively, and the storage chamber (5) < 6). a plurality of storage means (24F) (24R) for storing information from the microphone (18); input switching means (43) for selecting these and inputting information from the microphone (18); 24F) (24R) and a speaker (17) that converts the information stored in the door (24R) into audio.
12) Storage means corresponding to storage chambers (5) and (6) that close when (13) is opened <24F) (24R)
The refrigerator (1) is equipped with a speaker (17) that converts each piece of information stored in the refrigerator into audio.

(*) Function According to the present invention, information about each of a plurality of storage compartments in a refrigerator can be stored in the corresponding storage means, and can be reproduced through a speaker when each door is opened.

(f) Example The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the recording/reproducing circuit (2) of the refrigerator (1), FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator (1), and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof. In Figure 2 (3)
is an insulated box that opens at the front, and its interior is divided into upper and lower sections by an insulating partition wall (4), with a freezer compartment (5) at the top that is cooled to freezing temperature, and a refrigeration room (5) at the bottom that is maintained above the freezing point. A chamber (6) is formed. A cooler (7) included in the refrigeration cycle is housed within the partition wall (4), and a blower <8) is provided behind it. (9) is the partition wall (4)
This is a duct installed at the rear spanning the freezer compartment (5) and the refrigerator compartment (6). The cold air cooled by the cooler (7) is accelerated by the blower (8), passes through the duct (9), and is discharged. The liquid is discharged from the outlets (10) and (11) into the compartments (5) and (6), respectively, for cooling.

(12) and (13) are a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door that independently open and close the front openings of the freezer compartment (5> and refrigerator compartment (6)). (28) and (29) are the freezer Room (5
) and the refrigerating room (6), respectively. Also, in Fig. 3, (14) and (15) are the freezer compartment handle and refrigerator compartment handle of the freezer compartment door (12) and refrigerator compartment door (13), respectively. A light emitting diode (LEDI<LED2) is attached. (16) is an operation panel attached to the front upper part of the refrigerator compartment Jilt (13), and the operation panel (16) includes a speaker (17), a microphone (18), a freezer recording switch (19F), and a refrigerator compartment recording switch. Switch (19R
) is provided.

Next, the recording/reproducing circuit (2) shown in FIG. 1 will be explained. The voice input to the microphone (18) is converted into an electrical signal there, amplified by an amplifier (22), and then sent to an A/D converter (
23), the signal is converted into a digital signal and then input to the input switching means (43). The input switching means (43) stores the audio information input to the microphone (18) while the freezer compartment recording switch (19F) is fully operated.
The information is input to the freezer compartment storage means (24F) of the refrigerator compartment storage means (24F), and is input to the refrigerator compartment storage means (24R) while the refrigerator compartment recording switch (19R) is operated. Both storage means (24F>
(24R) is composed of a solid-state memory made of a semiconductor element, and can store, for example, 15 seconds of information each. The input switching means (43) also lights up a light emitting diode (LEDI) when the information is stored in the freezer compartment storage means (24F).
When the information is stored in R), the light emitting diode (LED2) is turned on. (30) and (31) are the freezer compartment door (
This is a door switch that operates in conjunction with the opening/closing operations of the refrigerator compartment #12) and the refrigerator compartment #(13), and the door switch 30> lights up the lighting lamp (28>) when the freezer compartment door 12) is opened, and also turns on the blower. (8), and the door switch (31) is horizontally wired to turn on the lighting lamp (29) when the refrigerator door (13) is opened and to stop the blower (8). (32F) ) is the freezer compartment control means, which outputs a reproduction command signal to the freezer compartment storage means (24F) when the door switch (30) detects the opening of the freezer compartment door (12).(32R) is the refrigerator compartment control means. Control means, door switch (
31) outputs a reproduction command signal to the refrigerator compartment storage means (24R) when it detects the opening of the refrigerator compartment door (13).

Both storage means (24F>(24R) each output all the information stored at the time of inputting the reproduction command signal as a digital signal, and this information is sent to the D/A via the output control means (44). After being converted into an analog signal by the converter (26), it is amplified by the amplifier (27) and can be output as audio from the speaker (17).The output control means (44) is connected to the door (12) (13). ) is released more than once, the first one is given priority for playback.

Next, the operation of the circuit (2) in FIG. 1 will be explained while giving an example of the use of the refrigerator (1) of the present invention. For example, when a housewife is away from home, she can leave a message for her children when she returns home. That is, the cold storage compartment (6) of the refrigerator (1)
), operate (for example, press) the refrigerator compartment recording switch (19R) on the refrigerator compartment door (13), and use the input switching means (43) to record the sound from the microphone (18) to the refrigerator compartment storage unit (24R). (During this time, press the refrigerator compartment recording switch (19).
(Keep pressing R)), even if you are away from home, if the child returns home later and opens the refrigerator door (13), the message from the mother that was already stored in the refrigerator storage means (24R) will be output and output to the speaker. Since it is emitted as a voice from (17), you can listen to the message while looking inside the refrigerator compartment (6) and instantly confirm that there is a snack in the refrigerator compartment (6). Also, when regenerating, the light emitting diode (LED2) on the refrigerator compartment handle (15)
) is lit, so the message is stored in the refrigerator compartment (24R).
You can easily recognize what is stored in your memory. Therefore, there is no need to write a message on paper and paste it on the refrigerator (1). Furthermore, by including the location of the snack in the message, the child does not have to search inside the refrigerator (6) afterwards, and the leakage of cold air from the refrigerator (6) during that time can be reduced.

Also, for example, if frozen food that is not to be eaten immediately is stored in the freezer compartment (5), the stored storage information is stored in the freezer compartment storage means (24F).
), even if you forget it, it will be replayed when you open the freezer compartment door (12), eliminating the inconvenience of forgetting it, especially when the freezer compartment (5) is full of food. It is effective when In this case, the freezer compartment handle (
Since the light emitting diode (LEDI) 14) is lit, it can be easily recognized that information is stored in the freezer compartment storage means (24F).

Furthermore, for example, when food is stored in the refrigerator (6), the storage time limit is set, such as "How many days should I eat it?" and the refrigerator storage storage means (6).
24R), even if you forget the date and time when the food was stored, you can know the storage limit of the food by opening the door (13) afterwards, eliminating the inconvenience of spoiling the food. . That is, it can be used as a warning means.

Furthermore, if you store food that you want to freeze quickly in the freezer compartment (5), or if you are concerned about children playing with the food in the compartment, you can enter a message in the memory means (24F) or (24R) that says "Do not open it." If you remember this, the door (1
2) or (13) is played on the speaker (17) when the door is opened, making it possible to issue a warning to the person opening the door.

In the above configuration, the storage means (24F) or (24F)
When reproducing messages from R), the door switches (30) and (31) can be used for both purposes without providing a special reproduction switch, reducing costs and improving assembly work efficiency by reducing the number of parts. Especially the freezer compartment (5) and the refrigerator compartment (
6) Separate storage means (
24F>(24R), it is possible to sufficiently cope with the diversification of stored foods.

Note that the information stored in the storage means (24F) (24R) may be erased arbitrarily by providing a suitable reset switch, or may be erased at the same time as the reproduction ends. Further, in the embodiment, the storage means (24F) (24R) is constituted by a solid-state memory, but is not limited to this, and may be recorded on a magnetic tape or the like.

Further, in the embodiment, the inside of the refrigerator is divided into two compartments, but more storage compartments may be constructed and storage means may be provided corresponding to each storage compartment.

(g) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, arbitrary words can be stored in the storage means from the microphone installed in the refrigerator, and then played back by the speaker installed in the refrigerator when the door is opened, so that when the user returns home while the user is away, For example, it is possible to notify a person that food is stored in the refrigerator, improving usability. Also, if you store information about the stored food in the storage device, the explanation will be provided audibly while looking at the stored food when you open the door, so you can check even when the food is stored in a cluttered manner. This makes it easier to store data, and also allows you to receive a warning regarding the storage period. Furthermore, since a sound is emitted when the door is opened, by storing warning information in the storage means, it can also be used as a door opening warning device. In particular, in the present invention, a plurality of storage means are provided corresponding to a plurality of storage compartments of the refrigerator, so that information on food stored in each storage compartment can be stored separately, and the door of each corresponding storage compartment can be opened. Since the refrigerator can be regenerated by using the refrigerator, it is easy to operate and can sufficiently respond to the diversification of foods, thereby further promoting the effective use of the refrigerator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a recording/reproducing circuit of a refrigerator, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator, and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof. (1)...Refrigerator, (5)...Freezer, (6)
... Refrigerator room, (12) ... Freezer room door, (13).
... Refrigerator door, (17) ... Speaker, (18
) Microphone, (24F) Freezer storage means, (24R) Refrigerator storage means, (30)
(31)...door switch, (43)...input switching means. Applicant Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. and 1 other representative Patent attorney Takuji Nishino and 1 other person No. 1121

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of storage chambers partitioned into a warehouse, and a plurality of doors that open and close the openings of each of the plurality of storage chambers;
a microphone for converting sound into an electrical signal; a plurality of storage means corresponding to the plurality of storage chambers for storing information from the microphone; an input switching means for inputting information; a speaker for converting the information stored in the storage means into audio; and a speaker for converting the information stored in the storage means into audio; A refrigerator characterized in that it is equipped with a control means for playing through the speaker.