# US 11,898,788 B2 · Refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,788 B2 - Document ID: US11898788B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/542,708 - Filed: 2021-12-06 - Published: 2022-03-24 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-03 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Kyoung Ae Lim; Yoo Lim Baek; Mi A Oh; Sae Mi Kim; Da Hey Yoo; Kyung Hoon Lee; Tae Hyoung Cho; Jung Hwi Eun; Ye Kyung Yoo; Mun Keun Lee; Young Bin Jung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898788B2 ## CPC - F25D 23/028: {Details} - F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - G06Q 10/0875: Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 2400/361: Interactive visual displays - F25D 2500/06: Stock management - F25D 2600/02: Timing - F25D 2700/02: Sensors detecting door opening - F25D 2700/04: Sensors detecting the presence of a person - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - 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) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A refrigerator provides visual information indicating a map of the refrigerator and technical operations of the corresponding regions. The refrigerator includes a voice recognition function using a proximity sensor. The refrigerator has input/output (I/O) management functions for foods stored therein. The refrigerator communicates with a peripheral device over a network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a proximity sensor; a display; a microphone; a main body including at least one or more chambers; at least one chamber door including the proximity sensor, the display and the microphone, and coupled to the main body via a hinge; and at least one processor configured to: based on a first predetermined condition being detected by the proximity sensor while the refrigerator is in a voice recognition deactivation state, control the display to display a first image indicating a voice recognition preparation step of a voice recognition activation state, based on a first voice command being received by the microphone while the refrigerator is in the voice recognition activation state and the first image being displayed, control the display to display a second image indicating a voice processing step of the voice recognition activation state, and perform a function associated with the first voice command, wherein the first image comprises a first animation indicating that the first voice command is currently being input, and the second image comprises a second animation indicating that the first voice command is currently being processed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined condition comprises detecting an initiation of access to the refrigerator in a sensing region of the proximity sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second image includes images of text and an animation according to a progress of the voice processing step. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: after controlling the display to display the second image indicating the voice processing step, control the display to display a third image indicating a result providing step of the voice recognition activation state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: control the display to display temperature information of at least one of the one or more chambers of the main body based on a second predetermined condition being satisfied, the second predetermined condition comprising detecting a change in a state of the at least one chamber door. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: based on a voice recognition deactivation command being received while the refrigerator is in the voice recognition activation state, switch from the voice recognition activation state to the voice recognition deactivation state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the voice recognition deactivation command includes a state change of the at least one chamber door. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a control panel including at least one button at a front surface of the at least one chamber door, wherein the display is integrated into the control panel and the at least one button is disposed separately from the display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: based on an input for changing a power consumption parameter being received, apply an energy saver function to change a power consumption pattern of the refrigerator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the one or more chambers of the main body include an upper chamber and a lower chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the at least one chamber door includes a first door, a second door associated with the upper chamber, and a third door associated with the lower chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor, the display, and the microphone are disposed in the second door associated with the upper chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the first door is disposed on a left side of the upper chamber and the second door is disposed on a right side of the upper chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: control the display to display information associated with a temperature of the at least one chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the display information associated with the temperature of the at least one chamber includes information for setting a temperature of the at least one chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: in a case that a predetermined time has elapsed, control the display to turn off. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: in response to a second predetermined condition being detected, control the display to turn on. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the second predetermined condition includes at least one of detecting a change of state of the at least one chamber door to an open position, detecting an input associated with the at least one chamber door, or detecting an input using the proximity sensor.