Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space and a door configured to open and close the storage space. The door includes a panel assembly including a front panel and an insulating panel spaced apart from the front panel, a door frame that is in contact with the front panel, and a door liner which is connected to the door frame and is in contact with the insulating panel, the door liner being configured to define an insulating space, in which an insulator is disposed, together with the panel assembly and the door frame. The door liner includes a contact surface that is in contact with the insulating panel, and a recessed space is defined on the contact surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet defining a storage space;   a hinge disposed at an upper surface of the cabinet;   a hinge cover disposed at the upper surface of the cabinet; and   a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space based on rotation about the hinge,   wherein the door comprises:
 a panel assembly comprising (i) a front panel that covers a portion of the hinge cover and (ii) an insulating panel spaced apart from the front panel, 
 a door frame connected to the panel assembly, 
 a door liner coupled to the door frame, the door liner having a liner opening, and 
 an insulator provided in an insulating space that is defined by the panel assembly, the door frame, and the door liner, 
   wherein the door frame comprises:
 a front wall that faces the front panel and is positioned forward relative to the hinge cover, 
 a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall, and 
 a connection wall that connects an end portion of the front wall to an end portion of the rear wall, 
   wherein the connection wall, the front wall, and the rear wall define an accommodation space that is partitioned from the insulating space, and   wherein the door further comprises:
 a frame cover that covers the accommodation space, and 
 a sensor module disposed within the accommodation space and disposed at a rear surface of the front wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor module comprises a sensor printed circuit board (PCB) and a sensor element mounted to the sensor PCB. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor element comprises an acceleration sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the front wall is configured to transmit, to the acceleration sensor, vibration that is generated by a knock applied to a front surface of the front panel. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising a lighting unit configured to emit light based on an intensity of the vibration being greater than or equal to a reference intensity, the vibration being generated by the knock that is applied to the front surface of the front panel two or more times within a predetermined time. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor module is disposed higher than the upper surface of the cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical length of the front wall is less than a vertical length of the rear wall, and
 wherein a lower end of the front wall is disposed higher than a lower end of the rear wall.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall comprises:
 a protrusion rib that protrudes forward to the front panel; and   an adhesion portion that couples the protrusion rib to a rear surface of the front panel.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion rib faces the sensor module on the rear surface of the front wall. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion rib is one of a plurality of protrusion ribs that are disposed the front wall and spaced apart from one another in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the front wall is spaced apart from a rear surface of the front panel, and
 wherein a portion of the insulator is disposed between at least the portion of the front wall and the rear surface of the front panel.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the front wall is disposed higher than the upper surface of the cabinet. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door frame comprises an upper frame, a lower frame, and a pair of side frames, and
 wherein the upper frame defines the accommodation space.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door frame comprises:
 a second side frame that defines a slot configured to accommodate at least a portion of the hinge, and   a first side frame spaced apart from the second side frame, and   wherein a distance between the second side frame and the sensor module is less than a distance between the first side frame and the sensor module.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door frame further comprises a hinge accommodation portion that is recessed and receives the hinge therein, and
 wherein the sensor module is disposed higher than the hinge accommodation portion.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door frame further comprises a coupling boss coupled to the frame cover and configured to receive a coupling member based on the frame cover being seated on a top surface of the coupling boss, the coupling member passing through the frame cover from an upper side of the frame cover and then being coupled to the coupling boss. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the frame cover comprises an extension portion that extends downward toward the connection wall, and
 wherein at least a portion of the sensor module is disposed horizontally between the extension portion of the frame cover and the front wall.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the connection wall comprises an extension portion that extends upward toward the frame cover, and
 wherein at least a portion of the sensor module is disposed vertically between the extension portion of the connection wall and the frame cover.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door frame comprises:
 a hinge accommodation portion that is recessed and receives the hinge therein, and   an injection portion configured to receive a foaming liquid therethrough that provides the insulator, and   wherein a distance between the hinge accommodation portion and the injection portion is less than a distance between the hinge accommodation portion and the sensor module.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the door frame comprises:
 a hinge accommodation portion that is recessed and receives the hinge therein, and   an injection portion configured to receive a foaming liquid therethrough that forms the insulator, and   wherein a distance between the hinge accommodation portion and the injection portion is greater than a distance between the hinge accommodation portion and the sensor module.