# US 10,767,918 B2 · Refrigerator with position sensor and control method for opening a refrigerator door > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,918 B2 - Document ID: US10767918B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/532,806 - Filed: 2016-04-27 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-27 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Minsub Kim; Hongsik Kwon; Dongjeong Kim; Jungjae Lee; Jaehoon Shin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767918B2 ## CPC - F25D 23/028: {Details} - E05F 15/619: using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements - E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects - E05F 15/75: responsive to the weight or other physical contact of a person or object - F21V 5/008: {Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis} - F21V 5/04: of lens shape - F21V 14/06: by movement of refractors {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635)} - F21V 17/12: by screwing - F21V 19/0015: {Fastening arrangements intended to retain light sources} - F21V 23/0471: {the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person} - F21V 33/0044: {Household appliances, e.g. washing machines or vacuum cleaners} - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 23/02: Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) - F25D 27/005: {combined with control means} - F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - F25D 29/003: {for movable devices} - F25D 29/005: {Mounting of control devices} - H05B 47/16: by timing means - E05F 2015/765: {using optical sensors} - E05Y 2400/44: Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement - E05Y 2400/45: Control modes - E05Y 2400/858: by body parts, e.g. by feet - E05Y 2900/31: for refrigerators - F21W 2131/305: for refrigerators - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F25D 2323/021: French doors - F25D 2323/023: Door in door constructions - F25D 2600/02: Timing - F25D 2700/02: Sensors detecting door opening - F25D 2700/04: Sensors detecting the presence of a person - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Provided is a refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door. While a user is holding an object in both hands, a door may be automatically and additionally opened using another part of a body other than hands. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment; a refrigerating compartment door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment, the refrigerating compartment door being configured to rotatably open to a preset automatic range by a driving motor positioned within the refrigerator; a freezing compartment door disposed vertically below the refrigerating compartment door and connected to the cabinet; a sensing assembly disposed at the freezing compartment door; and a detection device disposed at the refrigerating compartment door and configured to detect a presence of a user within a predetermined distance, wherein the sensing assembly is configured to detect the user's movement in response to the detection device detecting the user's presence within the predetermined distance, wherein the refrigerating compartment door is configured, based upon detection by the sensing assembly of the user's movement, to be opened to the preset automatic range by the driving motor, wherein the sensing assembly comprises: a projector configured to emit light to thereby project an optical pattern to a ground surface in front of the refrigerator, and a first position sensing device comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part, wherein the projector is configured to define at least a portion of the optical pattern to be within a detection range of the first position sensing device, and wherein both of the light emitted from the projector and light emitted from the light emitting part pass through a bottom portion of the freezing compartment door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensing assembly is disposed at the refrigerating compartment door at a position that is vertically lower than the detection device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerating compartment door is configured to open and close by rotating about a vertical axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the detection range of the first position sensing device is less than 15 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the detection device further includes a second position sensing device, a detection range of the second position sensing device being between approximately 15 and 100 cm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the sensing assembly is configured to determine whether a foot of the user is present within the detection range of the first position sensing device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a vertical position of the detection device is equal to or greater than one half of a height of the cabinet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the detection device is positioned 1 meter or higher above ground. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sensing assembly is disposed at a downward facing surface of the freezing compartment door. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the projector is configured, based upon the detection by the detection device of the user's presence, to project the optical pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the projector is configured, based upon earlier of motorized opening of the refrigerating compartment door or elapsing of a preset time, to stop projecting the optical pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the optical pattern includes a text message that reads “Open Door,” “Open,” or “Auto Door.” ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the projector is disposed at an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the ground surface and defined at the bottom portion of the freezing compartment door. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting part is disposed vertically above the projector. ### Claim 15 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, the refrigerating compartment disposed at a lateral side of the freezing compartment; a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment and connected to the cabinet; a freezing compartment door configured to open and close the freezing compartment and connected to the cabinet; a door opening device configured to open at least one of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door, the door opening device including a driving motor and a push rod driven by the driving motor; a sensing assembly disposed at one of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door; and a detection device disposed at the one of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door and configured to detect a presence of a user within a predetermined distance, wherein the detection device is positioned higher than the sensing assembly, wherein the sensing assembly is configured to detect the user's movement in response to the detection device detecting the user's presence within the predetermined distance, wherein the one of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door is configured, based upon detection by the sensing assembly of the user's movement, to be opened by the push rod, wherein the sensing assembly comprises: a projector configured to emit light to thereby project an optical pattern to a ground surface in front of the refrigerator, and a first position sensing device comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part, wherein the projector is configured to define at least a portion of the optical pattern to be within a detection range of the first position sensing device, and wherein both of the light emitted from the projector and light emitted from the light emitting part pass through a bottom portion of the one of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the projector is disposed at an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the ground surface and defined at the bottom portion of the one of the refrigerating compartment door or the freezing compartment door. ### Claim 17 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment; a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment and connected to the cabinet; a freezing compartment door disposed vertically above the refrigerating compartment door and connected to the cabinet; a door opening device configured to open the freezing compartment door, the door opening device including a driving motor and a push rod driven by the driving motor; a sensing assembly disposed at the refrigerating compartment door; and a detection device disposed at the freezing compartment door and configured to detect a presence of a user within a predetermined distance, wherein the sensing assembly is configured to detect the user's movement in response to the detection device detecting the user's presence within the predetermined distance, wherein the freezing compartment door is configured, based upon detection by the sensing assembly of the user's movement, to be opened by the push rod, wherein the sensing assembly comprises: a projector configured to emit light to thereby project an optical pattern to a ground surface in front of the refrigerator, and a first position sensing device comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part, wherein the projector is configured to define at least a portion of the optical pattern to be within a detection range of the first position sensing device, and wherein both of the light emitted from the projector and light emitted from the light emitting part pass through a bottom portion of the refrigerating compartment door. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the optical pattern is positioned vertically underneath the refrigerating compartment door. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the projector is disposed at an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the ground surface and defined at the bottom portion of the refrigerating compartment door.