Lg Electronics Inc.

Cheoljun Park

Jongpil Kim

Hyungkyu Park

Kwanghyun Choi

Daekil Kang

Provided are a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.

Refrigerator having panel assembly

A refrigerator has a door which is selectively transparent by providing a display behind the door and a light source inside the refrigerator that turns on and activates based on user input. When the light source is turned on, the display is activated while the door is closed such that the user sees the display through the door.

Refrigerator having a display at a rear side of a door pane through which inside can be viewed from outside thereof via user input

A refrigerator may include a first door having a first opening and a second door to open and close the first opening. The second door may include a door frame with a second opening and a panel assembly provided at the second opening. The panel assembly may include a front panel, and insulation panel, and a spacer. The door frame may include a recess to receive a knock detection device at a rear side of the front panel, which may detect a user's knocking operation on the panel assembly to turn on a lighting unit to allow the inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly. The door frame may also include at least one injection port to inject a foaming solution for molding an insulation provided in an insulation space defined by the door frame and the panel assembly.

Refrigerator having knock detection device

A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to form a storage space, a door configured to open and close the cabinet, wherein the door includes an outer plate, a door liner connected to the outer plate, and an opening, a panel assembly configured to cover the opening of the door, wherein the panel assembly includes a front panel, a rear panel spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, and a spacer provided between the front panel and the rear panel; the front panel includes a viewing area and a bezel area provided outside the viewing area, a sensor arranged at the bezel area, and an electric wire electrically connected to the sensor and a controller thereof.

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a front panel door part, a drawer part, a driving device located in the front panel door part, and an elevation device located in the drawer part. The elevation device includes a lifting assembly including rods that elevate an object in the drawer part relative to the drawer part. The driving device includes a motor assembly that provides power to the elevation device, a screw assembly connected to the motor assembly, a guide member disposed at a side of the screw assembly and configured to guide movement of a rotation gear of the screw assembly, and a lever connected to the rotation gear and configured to, as the lever rotates about the lever rotation shaft based on the rotation gear moving along the guide member, apply force that causes the rods to rotate about rod rotation shafts to elevate the elevation device.

Refrigerator

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a door including a door frame with an opening, a panel assembly provided at the opening and configured to allow an inside of the refrigerator to be seen through the panel assembly from an outside of the refrigerator, a knock detection device configured to detect a user's knocking operation on the panel assembly, and a lighting unit provided inside the refrigerator and configured to turn on or off based on a signal of the knock detection device while the door is closed. The panel assembly includes a front panel, an insulation panel spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, and a spacer bar provided between the front panel and the insulation panel. An insulation space is defined between the front panel and the insulation panel, and the knock detection device is provided outside the insulation space.

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Seoul, South Korea

Cheoljun Park