# US RE50,294 E1 · Refrigerator and method for controlling the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US RE50,294 E1 - Document ID: USRE50294E1 - Status: Granted - Kind: E1 - Application number: 17/675,332 - Filed: 2022-02-18 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-01 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Eun Joo Lee; Hang Bok Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/USRE50294E1 ## CPC - A47F 3/0434: {Glass or transparent panels} - A47F 3/001: {Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation} - A47F 3/005: {with glass panels} - A47F 3/043: {Doors, covers (A47F3/0434 takes precedence)} - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 23/02: Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) - F25D 23/025: {Secondary closures} - F25D 23/028: {Details} - F25D 23/04: with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners - F25D 23/065: {Details} - F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21) - F25D 27/005: {combined with control means} - F25D 25/025: {Drawers} - F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure - F25D 2323/021: French doors - F25D 2323/023: Door in door constructions - F25D 2400/18: Aesthetic features - F25D 2400/36: Visual displays - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - 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) ## Abstract Provided is a refrigerator, which includes a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a door assembly. The freezing compartment is adjacent to the refrigerating compartment. The door assembly selectively opens the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The door assembly includes a glass member defining a frontal exterior thereof and allowing an inside of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment to be seen therethrough when the door assembly is closed, a deposition treated layer formed on a rear surface of the glass member to allow light to partially pass through the glass member, and a transparent plate spaced a predetermined distance from the glass member. Gas for insulation is injected in a space formed between the glass member and the transparent plate, and the space is sealed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet defining a first storage area and a second storage area therein, the first storage area provided at a lateral side of the second storage area, the refrigerator configured to maintain the first storage area at a first operating temperature and the second storage area at a second operating temperature that is higher than the first operating temperature; a first door configured to open and close the first storage area; a second door configured to open and close the second storage area, and having an opening formed therein; a door basket to define a door storage and provided behind a rear surface of the second door; a light unit provided on an inner side of the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the door storage; and a glass assembly configured to cover the opening that defines a front surface of the second door and through which the door storage is viewable, wherein the glass assembly comprises: a front panel formed of a first transparent material and configured to cover the opening of the second door;, wherein the front panel has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the front panel to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light unit to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light unit, and a rear panel provided behind the front panel and formed of a second transparent material, the rear panel being spaced apart from the front panel such that an insulating space is defined between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the front panel includes a first region configured to cover an entirety of a viewing region of the glass assembly, the first region has a first color and a first opacity to partially block the light emitted from the light unit and to transmit a reduced intensity of the light to an outside of the refrigerator, wherein the door basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the opening of the second door viewing window to be visible through the opening viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein, in a first state in which the light unit is turned on, the light from the light unit is emitted through the first region viewing window, and the door basket is visible through the viewing region window, wherein the light unit is turned off after being turned on a predetermined period of time, and wherein, in a second state in which the light unit is turned off, the door basket is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state, and wherein the first transparent material of the front panel extends (i) from a left edge of the second door to a right edge of the second door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the second door to a top edge of the second door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises a second region provided along a circumference of the front panel and defining the viewing region therein, the second region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the first region, and configured to block the light emitted from the light unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein, in the second state in which the light unit is turned off, the first region causes the viewing region to become viewing window becomes darker than in the first state such that the door basket is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second storage area of the cabinet comprises a receiving part configured to receive food, and wherein the light unit is disposed in front of the receiving part of the second storage area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the light unit is arranged along a circumference of a front end of the second storage area of the cabinet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the light unit is disposed to face the door storage at a left side and a right side of the door storage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the opening of the second door consists of a single opening, and wherein the door storage is disposed such that at least one of (i) a bottom portion of the door basket is arranged lower than a top of the single opening, or (ii) a top portion of the door basket is arranged higher than a bottom of the single opening. ### Claim 8 A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet defining a storage area; a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage area and including a frame in which a first opening is formed; a door basket provided at the frame to define a door storage; a second door configured to open and close the first opening door storage of the first door, the second door having a second opening defined therethrough that is communicative with the first opening the door basket being provided behind the second door; a door basket to define a door storage and provided behind the second door; a light unit provided in the frame of the first door at the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the door storage; a glass assembly that defines a front surface of the second door and that covers the second opening defined through the second door and through which the door storage is viewable, wherein the glass assembly comprises: a front panel formed of a first transparent material and configured to cover the opening of the second door, wherein the front panel has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the front panel to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light unit to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light unit; and a rear panel provided behind the front panel and formed of a second transparent material, the rear panel being spaced apart from the front panel such that an insulating space is defined between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the front panel includes a first region configured to cover an entirety of a viewing region of the glass assembly, the first region has a first color and a first opacity to partially block the light emitted from the light unit and to transmit a reduced intensity of the light to an outside of the refrigerator, wherein the door basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the opening of the second door viewing window to be visible through the opening viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein, in a first state in which the light unit is turned on, the light from the light unit is emitted through the first region viewing window, and the door storage basket is visible through the viewing region window, wherein the light unit is turned off after being turned on a predetermined period of time, and wherein, in a second state in which the light unit is turned off, the door storage basket is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising a second light unit disposed on the cabinet at the frame of the first door. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the second light unit emits light to the door storage at a rear side of the light unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the light unit is closer to the front panel than the second light unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the light unit extends along a vertical longitudinal direction of the first opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the light unit is provided at a front portion of the inner side of the cabinet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the front panel further comprises a second region provided along a circumference of the front panel and defining the viewing region therein, the second region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the first region, and configured to block the light emitted from the light unit. ### Claim 15 A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet defining a first storage area and a second storage area therein, the first storage area provided at a lower side of the second storage area, the refrigerator configured to maintain the first storage area at a first operating temperature and the second storage area at a second operating temperature that is higher than the first operating temperature; a first door configured to open and close a first portion of the second storage area; a second door configured to open and close a second portion of the second storage area, the second door having an opening formed therein; a door basket to define a door storage and provided behind a rear surface of the second door; a light unit provided on an inner side of the cabinet and configured to emit light toward the door storage of the second door; and a glass assembly configured to cover the opening that defines a front surface of the second door and through which the door basket is viewable, wherein the glass assembly comprises: a front panel formed of a first transparent material and configured to cover the opening of the second door;, wherein the front panel has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the front panel to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light unit to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light unit, and a rear panel provided behind the front panel and formed of a second transparent material, the rear panel being spaced apart from the front panel such that an insulating space is defined between the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the front panel includes a first region configured to cover an entirety of a viewing region of the glass assembly, the first region has a first color and a first opacity to partially block the light emitted from the light unit and to transmit a reduced intensity of the light to an outside of the refrigerator, wherein the door basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the opening of the second door to be visible through the opening from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein, in a first state in which the light unit is turned on, the light from the light unit is emitted through the first region viewing window, and the door storage is visible through the viewing region window, wherein the light unit is turned off after being turned on a predetermined period of time, and wherein, in a second state in which the light unit is turned off, the door storage is less visible through the viewing region window as compared to the first state, wherein the first transparent material of the front panel extends (i) from a left edge of the second door to a right edge of the second door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the second door to a top edge of the second door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein a door handle is provided behind the front panel, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door. ### Claim 17 A refrigerator, comprising: a main body defining a food storage compartment therein; a light emitting part configured to emit light toward the food storage compartment; and a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the food storage compartment, the door including: an outer door part made of a first transparent material, wherein the outer door part has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the outer door part to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light emitting part to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light emitting part, and an inner door part made of a second transparent material and spaced apart from the outer door part, an insulating space being defined between the outer door part and the inner door part, wherein a receiving basket is provided to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein the viewing window is configured, in a first state in which the light emitting part is turned on, to emit therethrough the light from the light emitting part such that the receiving basket is visible from the outside of the refrigerator through the viewing window, wherein the viewing window is configured, in a second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to emit therethrough less light than in the first state such that the receiving basket is less visible through the viewing window as compared to the first state, and wherein the first transparent material of the outer door part extends (i) from a left edge of the door to a right edge of the door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the door to a top edge of the door. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein a plurality of receiving baskets are provided at the door, and wherein the plurality of receiving baskets are configured to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a manipulator that is configured to, based on user input, turn on the light emitting part, the manipulator being provided at the outer region of the outer door part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the light emitting part is provided at the food storage compartment. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the light emitting part is provided at the door. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, wherein a freezing compartment is provided adjacent to the refrigerating compartment, and wherein the door is configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, and wherein a freezing compartment is provided below the refrigerating compartment. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the refrigerator is configured to transition from the first state to the second state after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, further comprising an additional door that is coupled to the door and that is configured to open and close the food storage compartment, wherein the additional door is configured, based on the door being closed, to be positioned between door and the food storage compartment. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The refrigerator of claim 25, wherein the receiving basket is attached to the additional door. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the outer door part includes one or more lamination layers that are provided at an outer surface of the outer door part and that are configured to provide the first color and the first opacity to the viewing window. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein a door handle is provided behind the outer door part, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the outer door part at a bottom surface of the door. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the viewing window is configured, in the second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to become less visible. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the door body is provided between the outer door part and the inner door part. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the insulating space contains an insulating gas or is in vacuum. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein a sealing element is provided to seal the insulating space. ### Claim 33 A refrigerator, comprising: a main body defining a food storage compartment therein; a light emitting part configured to emit light toward the food storage compartment; a sub-door rotatably coupled to the main body; a receiving basket provided at the sub-door; and a compartment door rotatably coupled to the sub-door or to the main body, the compartment door comprising: an outer door part made of a first transparent material, wherein the outer door part has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the outer door part to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light emitting part to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light emitting part, and an inner door part made of a second transparent material and spaced apart from the outer door part, wherein the receiving basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and is configured to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein the viewing window is configured, in a first state in which the light emitting part is turned on, to emit therethrough the light from the light emitting part such that the receiving basket is visible from the outside of the refrigerator through the viewing window, and wherein the viewing window is configured, in a second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to emit therethrough less light than in the first state such that the receiving basket is less visible through the viewing window as compared to the first state. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein a plurality of receiving baskets are provided at the sub-door, and wherein each of the plurality of receiving baskets is configured to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the light emitting part is provided at the main body. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The refrigerator of claim 35, further comprising a manipulator that is configured to, based on user input, turn on the first light emitting part and the second light emitting part together. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, wherein a freezing compartment is provided adjacent to the refrigerating compartment, and wherein the sub-door is configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the food storage compartment is a refrigerating compartment, and wherein a freezing compartment is provided below the refrigerating compartment. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the refrigerator is configured to transition from the first state to the second state after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The refrigerator of claim 36, wherein the manipulator is provided at the outer region. ### Claim 41 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the viewing window is configured, in the second state in which the light emitting part is turned off, to disappear. ### Claim 42 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the outer door part includes one or more lamination layers that are provided at an outer surface of the outer door part and that are configured to provide the first color and the first opacity to the viewing window. ### Claim 43 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein a door handle is provided behind the outer door part, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the outer door part at a bottom surface of the compartment door. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The refrigerator of claim 43, wherein the sub-door includes a sub-door handle that protrudes from a front surface of the sub-door, the sub-door including a recess part that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the sub-door handle, and wherein the sub-door handle is configured, based on the compartment door being closed, to be covered by the door handle. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The refrigerator of claim 44, wherein, based on the sub-door and the compartment door being closed, pulling out the sub-door handle simultaneously opens the sub-door and the compartment door. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The refrigerator of claim 44, wherein the sub-door handle has a shape that corresponds to the door handle. ### Claim 47 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein the first transparent material of the outer door part extends (i) from a left edge of the compartment door to a right edge of the compartment door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the compartment door to a top edge of the compartment door. ### Claim 48 (depends on 33) The refrigerator of claim 33, wherein an insulating space is defined within the door body and sealed by the outer door part and the inner door part. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The refrigerator of claim 48, wherein the insulating space contains an insulating gas or is in vacuum. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The refrigerator of claim 48, wherein a sealing element is provided to seal the insulating space. ### Claim 51 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a door handle is provided behind the front panel, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door. ### Claim 52 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein a door handle is provided behind the front panel, the door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The refrigerator of claim 52, wherein the first door includes a sub-door handle that protrudes from a front surface of the first door, the sub-door including a recess part that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the sub-door handle, and wherein the sub-door handle is configured, based on the second door being closed, to be covered by the door handle. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The refrigerator of claim 53, wherein, based on the first and second door being closed, pulling out the sub-door handle simultaneously opens the first and second doors. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The refrigerator of claim 53, wherein the sub-door handle has a shape that corresponds to the door handle. ### Claim 56 A refrigerator, comprising: a main body defining a food storage compartment therein; a light emitting part configured to emit light toward the food storage compartment; a sub-door rotatably coupled to the main body; a receiving basket provided at the sub-door; and a compartment door rotatably coupled to the sub-door or to the main body, the compartment door comprising: an outer door part made of a first transparent material, wherein the outer door part has an outer region that is provided around a boundary of the outer door part to define therein a viewing window having a first color and a first opacity to partially transmit the light from the light emitting part to an outside of the refrigerator at a reduced intensity, the outer region having a second opacity that is more opaque than the first opacity of the viewing window and being configured to block the light emitted from the light emitting part, an inner door part made of a second transparent material and spaced apart from the outer door part, an insulating space defined between the outer door part and the inner door part, and a door handle including an upward recess that is defined behind the front panel at a bottom surface of the second door, wherein the receiving basket is disposed to horizontally traverse and overlap the viewing window and is configured to be visible through the viewing window from the outside of the refrigerator, wherein the sub-door includes a sub-door handle that protrudes from a front surface of the sub-door, the sub-door including a recess part that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the sub-door handle, and wherein the sub-door handle is configured, based on the compartment door being closed, to be covered by the door handle. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The refrigerator of claim 56, wherein the outer door part extends (i) from a left edge of the compartment door to a right edge of the compartment door and (ii) from a bottom edge of the compartment door to a top edge of the compartment door. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The refrigerator of claim 56, wherein, based on the sub-door and the compartment door being closed, pulling out the sub-door handle simultaneously opens the sub-door and the compartment door. ### Claim 59 (depends on 56) The refrigerator of claim 56, wherein the sub-door handle has a shape that corresponds to the door handle.