Apparatus and method for controlling lamp of refrigerator

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling lamps which are provided in a dispenser and a backlight of a manipulation button array. According to the present invention, at least one lamp is provided in the dispenser and an illumination sensor for sensing the surrounding brightness of a refrigerator or a sensor for detecting a user approaching the refrigerator is also provided. There is also provided a memory unit for previously storing a reference luminous intensity, the value of which is capable of being changed by the user. There is also provided a lamp driving unit for selectively controlling the brightness of the lamp by controlling the output signal thereof according to a driving control signal of a control unit. According to the present invention, the user can easily take ice or water from the dispenser because the lamp is turned on. In addition, because the reference luminous intensity can be changed and stored in relation to the surrounding brightness of the refrigerator, it is possible to control the condition for turning on or off the lamp according to the surrounding environment or the user's taste. Moreover, because the dispenser and the backlight are normally illuminated with the minimum brightness, it is easy to use the dispenser, and because the dispenser and the backlight are illuminated with the maximum brightness for a predetermined length of time and then the illumination is gradually returned to the minimum brightness or turned off, it is possible to efficiently use the dispenser.

1 . An apparatus for controlling a lamp of a refrigerator, comprising:
 at least one lamp for illuminating a dispenser provided on a refrigerator door;   a sensor formed on the front surface of the refrigerator or within the dispenser for measuring the surrounding brightness; and   a control unit which compares the measured luminous intensity and a previously set reference luminous intensity and controls the lamp according to the result of comparison.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display unit for displaying the measured luminous intensity and/or the reference luminous intensity;   a memory unit for storing the reference luminous intensity; and   a manipulation button array for renewing the reference luminous intensity.   
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reference luminous intensity is a reference value for lightening the lamp. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit stores the reference luminous intensity changed through the manipulation button array. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit increases or reduces the reference luminous intensity. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the reference luminous intensity and the measured luminous intensity are indicated by numerical characters, graphs, geometrical figures, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for controlling a lamp of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a dispenser provided in a refrigerator door;   a lamp positioned in a recess of the dispenser for illuminating the recess with a brightness corresponding to an input of a power source voltage;   a lamp driving unit for supplying the power source voltage corresponding to driving control signal;   a sensor for sensing the surrounding brightness of the refrigerator; and   a control unit which is capable of varying the driving control signal in such a manner that the brightness of the lamp is changed in response to the output of the sensor.   
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a button lamp positioned behind a manipulation panel which is provided with a manipulation button array for manipulating the operation condition of the refrigerator, wherein the button lamp illuminates the manipulation panel with a predetermined level of luminous intensity. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the control unit outputs a driving control signal for render the lamp to be lightened with a minimum brightness in response to the output of the sensor, outputs the driving signal in a changed form so as to render the lamp to be adjusted to a maximum brightness in response to the operation of a operation lever provided in the dispenser, and outputs the driving signal in a variable form so as to render the luminous intensity of the lamp to be gradually changed from the maximum brightness to the minimum brightness when the operation lever is released. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a living organism sensor for detecting living organisms existing around the refrigerator, wherein the control unit is operated in such a manner as to supply driving control signals for rendering the lamp to be lightened with a minimum brightness to the lamp driving unit in response to the output of the sensor, to change the driving control signal in such a manner that the lamp is adjusted to a maximum brightness if living organisms are detected by the living organism sensor, and to make the driving control signal variable in such a manner that the luminous intensity of the lamp is gradually reduced from the maximum brightness to the minimum brightness. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 7 , wherein the driving control signal have a first driving mode for lightening the lamp and/or the button lamp with the minimum brightness, a second driving mode for lightening the lamp and/or the button lamp with the maximum brightness, a third driving mode for rendering the lamp and/or the button lamp to be variable from the maximum brightness to the minimum brightness during a predetermined length of time, and a fourth driving mode for rendering the lamp and/or the button lamp to be reduced in brightness from a maximum brightness to an off status during a predetermined length of time. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the lamp and the button lamp are connected to the output of the lamp driving unit in parallel and concurrently controlled when the operation lever or the manipulation button array is operated. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the living organism sensor is a remote infrared sensor or a pyroelectric sensor which senses heat emanating from a human body. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a light guide plate is interposed between the button lamp and the manipulation button array so as to guide light projected from the button lamp to a wide area. 
   
   
       15 . A method for controlling a lamp of a refrigerator, comprising steps of:
 comparing a previously set reference luminous intensity and a surrounding brightness;   turning on at least one lamp for illuminating a dispenser provided on a refrigerator door when it is determined that the surrounding brightness is equal to or lower than the reference luminous intensity as the result of the comparison.   
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising step of displaying at least one of the reference luminous intensity and the surrounding intensity. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the reference luminous intensity is changed by being increased or decreased by a predetermined increment when a demand of changing the reference luminous intensity is made. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the comparison between the reference luminous intensity and the surrounding brightness is executed when an operation lever is operated, the operation lever being provided in the dispenser. 
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein when the demand of changing the reference luminous intensity is made, the reference luminous intensity is displayed after the predetermined increment of increase or decrease is applied to the reference luminous intensity, so that the changed reference luminous intensity is confirmed in comparison to the surrounding brightness.