Appliance

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an appliance having an input switch that receives a knock input at the front of a main body, and a transmitting member connecting to the input switch that transfers vibration caused by the knock to a sensor disposed at the rear of the main body.

What claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance comprising:
 a main body having an accommodation space with an access opening;   a lamp installed on the main body and configured to illuminate the accommodation space;   a door configured to open and close the accommodation space, the door including a transparent viewing window configured to make viewable the accommodation space when the lamp is turned on;   a first sensing module installed on the main body and configured to detect a user's knock on applied to a front surface of the door; and   a controller configured to determine the user's knock and control an operation of the lamp,   wherein the first sensing module comprises:
 an input switch contacts with a rear surface of the door and configured to receive vibration that caused by the user's knock; 
 a sensor installed at a position that spaced apart from the input switch and configured to detect the vibration; and 
 a transmitting member disposed between the input switch and the sensor and configured to transmit the vibration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a contactor at least partially disposed between the main body and the door, the contactor being installed on the door so as to receive vibration from the door. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising a support member inserted into the contactor,
 wherein at least a portion of the contactor is disposed between the input switch and the support member,   wherein the contactor is formed of an elastically deformable material, and   wherein the support member is formed of a material having greater strength than the contactor.   
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the main body comprises:
 a cavity forming the accommodation space therein; and   a front panel disposed in front of the cavity, forming the front surface of the main body, and supporting the input switch,   wherein at least a portion of the input switch is disposed between the front panel and the contactor and exposed toward the contactor.   
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supporter configured to support the sensor and change its posture in response to vibration transmitted via the transmitting member; and   a supporter holder installed in the main body and configured to support the supporter in a posture-changeable manner,   wherein the supporter holder comprises:
 a holder body coupled to the rear of the cavity and disposed below the supporter; and 
 rotational protrusion supports protruding upward from the holder body and configured to rotatably support the supporter, 
   wherein the front-rear position of the sensor changes in interlock with the posture change of the supporter.   
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the supporter holder further comprises a front wall protruding upward from the holder body and disposed in front of the supporter. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the supporter holder further comprises a rod support protruding from the front wall and disposed along the movement path of the transmitting member,   wherein the transmitting member is supported by the rod support to be movable in the front-rear direction.   
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the rod support comprises a passage hole formed to penetrate in the front-rear direction,   wherein the transmitting member passes through the rod support via the passage hole, and   wherein the rod support comprises an opening hole formed to open the passage hole in the diameter direction.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first sensing module further comprises a harness connected to the sensor,   the supporter holder further comprises a harness support configured to support the harness and regulate its lateral and up-down position,   the harness is supported by the harness support to be movable in the front-rear direction, and   wherein the harness support protrudes laterally from the front wall and is disposed above the connection portion between the sensor and the harness.   
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the main body comprises:
 a cavity forming the accommodation space; and   a rear panel disposed on the rear side of the cavity,   wherein the rear panel comprises:
 a panel body forming a plane parallel to the rear surface of the cavity; 
 a first extension part extending rearward from a lateral end of the panel body; and 
 a second extension part extending laterally from a rear end of the first extension part in a direction away from the panel body, 
   wherein the supporter holder is installed on the rear panel and disposed in a space surrounded by the first and second extension parts.   
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the supporter holder further comprises a lateral protrusion protruding toward the first extension part,   wherein at least a portion of the lateral protrusion is disposed between the first extension part and the supporter in the lateral direction, and   wherein the lateral protrusion protrudes from at least one of the holder body and the front wall toward the first extension part.   
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensing module configured to detect opening and closing of the door. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the second sensing module is installed in the main body,   the input switch and the second sensing module are disposed apart from each other with the accommodation space interposed therebetween.   
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the main body comprises a front panel forming the front surface of the main body,   at least a portion of the input switch and the second sensing module is supported by the front panel and exposed forward from the front panel.   
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
 a three-axis sensor module configured to detect vibration transmitted in three directions; and   a sensor micom configured to determine whether a signal detected by the three-axis sensor module corresponds to a vibration caused by a user's knock.   
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the input switch comprises a movable member configured to move in the front-rear direction in conjunction with movement of the door, and   the transmitting member is connected to the movable member and configured to move together in the front-rear direction.   
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the input switch further comprises an elastic member configured to elastically support the movable member,   at least a portion of the movable member moved forward protrudes forward of the main body toward the door, and   the elastic member biases the movable member forward.   
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a supporter configured to transmit vibration from the transmitting member to the sensor,
 wherein the sensor is detachably coupled to the supporter.   
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the supporter comprises:
 a rear support surface configured to support a substrate on which the sensor is mounted;   a side walls extending from an edge of the rear support surface and surrounding the rear support surface from the outside; and   a fastening protrusion protruding from the side walls and spaced apart from the rear support surface,   
       wherein the substrate is inserted between the rear support surface and the fastening protrusion. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supporter configured to support the sensor;   a supporter holder configured to support the supporter in a posture-changeable manner; and   an elastic member configured to elastically support the supporter,   wherein the supporter changes its posture upon contact with the transmitting member, and the clastic member biases the supporter into contact with the transmitting member.