Back to results
US 5,909,950 AGranted
Method and apparatus for turning on and off a lamp in a refrigerator
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsJin-oh Seok, Bong-cheon Jung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator door handle carries a contact sensor which, when touched by user, causes an interior lamp of the refrigerator to be illuminated. Thereafter, the illumination of the lamp is controlled by a conventional switch which senses when the door is open or closed, whereby the lamp remains on until the door is sensed to be closed.
Claims5
A method for turning on and off a lamp disposed inside of a refrigerator, comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining whether a user touches a sensor mounted on an exterior of a door of the refrigerator;
- (b) turning on a fluorescent lamp of the refrigerator if it is determined that the user touches the sensor;
- (c) determining, subsequent to step b, whether the door is opened;
- and
- (d) maintaining the lamp in an on-state if it is determined in step C that the door is open, and turning off the lamp if it is determined in step C that the door is closed.
2 more elements
A refrigerator comprising:
- a body defining a refrigerating compartment;
- a door mounted on the body for opening and closing the compartment;
- a fluorescent lamp disposed in the compartment;
- a sensor unit mounted on an exterior of the door and actuable in response to being touched by a user;
- a switch arranged to be actuated by the door for indicating when the door is open;
- and
- a microcomputer connected to the lamp, the sensor unit, and the switch for illuminating the lamp in response to the sensor being touched by a user and thereafter maintaining the lamp illuminated while the door is open.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.