Refrigerator

Details Refrigerator Refrigerator

2002-07-26

2003-08-19

Doerrler, William C. (Department: 3744)

Refrigeration

With indicator or tester

Position or extent of motion of movable element

C062S078000, C062S314000, C062S264000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06606869

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority benefit of Japanese application serial no.2001-227375 filed on Jul. 27, 2001 and 2001-235300 filed on Aug. 2, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a refrigerator having an antimicrobial function and a deodorization function by using an ultraviolet lamp and a light deodorization filter.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the foregoing description, an object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of performing an antimicrobial function and a deodorization function by using an ultraviolet lamp and a light deodorization filter.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method suitable for controlling the above refrigerator.
According to the object(s) mentioned above, the invention provides a refrigerator, comprising an ultraviolet discharging lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an air duct inside the refrigerator, and irradiating a visible light to a cold storage compartment of the refrigerator; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; and a controlling device for lighting the ultraviolet discharging lamp when a door of the cold storage compartment of the refrigerator is opened. The refrigerator can further comprise a fan for creating an air curtain.
The controlling device lights the ultraviolet discharging lamp after a preset (for example, 5 minutes) from a time that the door is closed. The controlling device stops the fan forming the air curtain when the door is continuously opened for a second preset time interval (for example, 1 minute). The controlling device turns off the ultraviolet discharging lamp when the door is continuously opened for a third preset time interval (for example, 1 minute).
In addition, the controlling device lights the ultraviolet discharging lamp when the door is closed for over a fourth preset time (for example, 4 hours). In addition, when the door is closed for over a fourth preset time and a cooler of the refrigerator does not defrost, the controlling device can light the ultraviolet discharging lamp.
The invention further provides a refrigerator, comprising: an ultraviolet discharging lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an air duct inside the refrigerator, and irradiating a visible light to a cold storage compartment of the refrigerator; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; an operating device for setting or disabling an antimicrobial mode of the refrigerator; and a controlling device for lighting the ultraviolet discharging lamp for a preset interval (for example, 4 hours) and turning off the ultraviolet discharging lamp when a door of the refrigerator is opened, when the antimicrobial mode is disabled.
Each of the above refrigerators can further comprise a lighting display device, arranged outside of the refrigerator, for displaying a status whether the ultraviolet discharging lamp is lit or not.
The invention further provides a refrigerator, comprising an ultraviolet lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an air duct inside the refrigerator, and irradiating a visible light to a cold storage compartment of the refrigerator; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; an operating device for setting or disabling an antimicrobial mode of the refrigerator; and a controlling device for keeping the ultraviolet discharging lamp lit, even when the antimicrobial mode is disabled and in an interval other than when a cooler of the refrigerator defrosts.
The invention further provides a refrigerator, comprising: an ultraviolet discharging lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an air duct inside the refrigerator, and irradiating a visible light to a cold storage compartment of the refrigerator; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; and a controlling device for lighting the ultraviolet discharging lamp, when a door of the refrigerator is opened, wherein the controlling device lights the ultraviolet discharging lamp after a preset interval from a time that the door is closed.
The invention further provides a refrigerator, comprising an ultraviolet lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays to an air duct inside the refrigerator, and irradiating a visible light to a cold storage compartment of the refrigerator; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; and a lighting display device, arranged outside of the refrigerator, for displaying a status whether the ultraviolet discharging lamp is lit or not.
The invention further provides a refrigerator, comprising an ultraviolet lamp, for irradiating ultraviolet rays; a light catalyst filter, installed in the air duct and activated by the ultraviolet rays; an operating device for setting or disabling an antimicrobial mode of the refrigerator; and a controlling device for keeping the ultraviolet discharging lamp lit, even when an antimicrobial mode of the refrigerator is disabled.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4108363 (1978-08-01), Susumu
patent: 4954465 (1990-09-01), Kawashima et al.
patent: 4955208 (1990-09-01), Kawashima et al.
patent: 5836669 (1998-11-01), Hed
patent: 6286330 (2001-09-01), Kopf
patent: 6328937 (2001-12-01), Glazman

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Refrigerator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Refrigerator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Refrigerator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3086983