Automatic door opening/closing apparatus and refrigerator having the same

1. An automatic door opening/closing apparatus to automatically open or close a sliding door that is mounted, in a drawer manner, to a refrigerator body, comprising:

the sliding door;

a drive device coupled to the sliding door to automatically open or close the sliding door with respect to the refrigerator body;

an input part to receive a user input and to operate the drive device based on the user input;

a sensing part to sense an open or closed state of the sliding door; and

a controller to operate the drive device based on signals from the input part and signals from the sensing part,

wherein the sensing part includes a first sensor and a second sensor provided at the refrigerator body to sense the closed state of the sliding door and to sense the maximally open state of the sliding door, respectively, and a first sensor operator and a second sensor operator provided at the sliding door to operate the first and second sensors, respectively,

wherein the drive device includes a drive motor and a gear unit to transmit rotating power of the drive motor to the sliding door,

wherein the sliding door includes a rack gear corresponding to the gear unit so as to be moved forward or rearward by rotation of the gear unit, and a connecting rod unit to connect a pair of sliding devices provided at the sliding door to prevent unbalanced opening/closing operation of the sliding door, and

wherein the controller is configured to operate the drive device if an input signal is applied from the input part, and is configured to terminate the operation of the drive device if a signal informing of the open or closed state of the sliding door is applied from the sensing part.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the connecting rod unit includes a pair of pinions, and a rod member to connect the pair of pinions to each other; and

the refrigerator body includes a pair of rack gears corresponding to the pair of pinions.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:

the drive device is mounted to the sliding door; and

the gear unit is connected to the rod member to transmit rotating power of the drive motor to the connecting rod unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a power cable to supply power to the drive device; and

a cable guide unit to prevent breakage of the power cable during opening/closing operation of the sliding door.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input part includes an open key to open the sliding door and a close key to close the sliding door, the open key and close key being provided at one of two refrigerator doors mounted to the refrigerator body.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the drive device is operated in correspondence to an operating time of the open key.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input part includes a voice recognizer that transmits door opening/closing signals to the controller based on recognition of a user's voice.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding door includes a gasket attached to a rim of a rear surface thereof,

the sensing part is configured such that the closed state of the sliding door is sensed after the gasket of the sliding door initially establishes contact with the refrigerator body.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first sensor operator presses the first sensor when the sliding door is closed to allow the first sensor to sense the sliding door is completely closed, and the second sensor operator presses the second sensor when the sliding door is opened to allow the second sensor to sense the sliding door is opened to the maximum extend.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator body having a storage compartment;

a sliding door to open or close the storage compartment;

a pair of sliding devices provided at the sliding door;

a pair of first rack gears provided at opposite inner side surfaces of the storage compartment;

a connecting rod unit to connect the pair of sliding devices to each other, the connecting rod unit including a pair of pinions corresponding to the first rack gears and a rod member to connect the pair of pinions to each other; and

an automatic door opening/closing apparatus to automatically open or close the sliding door,

wherein the automatic door opening/closing apparatus includes a drive device, an input part to receive input from a user, a sensing part to sense an open or closed state of the door, and a controller to operate the drive device based on the input from the user and the sensed open or closed state of the door,

wherein the sensing part includes a first sensor and a second sensor provided at the storage compartment to sense the closed state of the sliding door and to sense the maximally open state of the sliding door, respectively, and a first sensor operator and a second sensor operator provided at the sliding door to operate the first and second sensors, respectively, and

wherein the controller is configured to operate the drive device if an input signal is applied from the input part, and is configured to terminate the operation of the drive device if a signal informing of the open or closed state of the sliding door is applied from the sensing part.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the drive device includes a drive motor mounted to the sliding door, configured to transmit rotating power of the drive motor to the connecting rod unit.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11 , wherein the drive device includes a reduction gear directly connected to the rod member, serving to transmit rotating power of the drive motor to the connecting rod unit.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein:

the sliding door includes a rack gear; and

the drive device includes a drive motor mounted to the storage compartment, and a gear unit connected to the drive motor, the gear unit being engaged with the rack gear of the sliding door.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the sliding door includes a gasket attached to a rim of a rear surface thereof,

the sensing part is configured such that the closed state of the sliding door is sensed after the gasket of the sliding door initially establishes contact with the refrigerator body.

15. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator body;

a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment vertically divided in the refrigerator body;

a drawer type door to open or close the freezing compartment;

a pair of sliding devices provided at the drawer type door;

a connecting rod unit to connect the pair of sliding devices to each other, to prevent unbalanced opening/closing operation of the door;

pinions provided respectively at both ends of the connecting rod unit;

a pair of first rack gears provided at side surfaces of the freezing compartment to correspond to the pinions;

a drive motor mounted to the freezing compartment;

a gear unit connected to the drive motor;

a second rack gear provided at the drawer type door and serving to convert rotation of the gear unit into linear movement so as to move the drawer type door forward or rearward;

an input part to receive a user input and to operate the drive motor based on the user input;

a sensing part to sense an open or closed state of the sliding door; and

a controller to operate the drive motor based on signals from the input part and signals from the sensing part,

wherein the sensing part includes a first sensor and a second sensor provided at the freezing compartment to sense the closed state of the drawer type door and to sense the maximally open state of the drawer type door, respectively, and a first sensor operator and a second sensor operator provided at the drawer type door to operate the first and second sensors, respectively, and

wherein the controller is configured to operate the drive motor if an input signal is applied from the input part, and is configured to terminate the operation of the drive motor if a signal informing of the open or closed state of the sliding door is applied from the sensing part.

16. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator body in which first and second storage compartments are vertically defined;

a second storage compartment door to open or close the second storage compartment defined in a lower region of the refrigerator body;

a handle unit movably coupled to the second storage compartment door;

a push member to press the refrigerator body in linkage with movement of the handle unit, allowing the second storage compartment door to be spaced apart from the refrigerator body by a predetermined distance;

a drive device coupled to the second storage compartment door, serving to automatically open or close the second storage compartment door in a sliding manner with respect to the refrigerator body;

a sensing part to sense that the second storage compartment door is spaced apart from the refrigerator body by the predetermined distance;

a controller that is configured to operate the drive device to open the second storage compartment door if the sensing part senses that the second storage compartment door is spaced apart from the refrigerator body by the predetermined distance; and

an input part to receive a user input and to operate the drive device based on the user input,

wherein the sensing part includes a first sensor and a second sensor provided at the second storage compartment to sense the closed state of the second storage compartment door and to sense the maximally open state of the second storage compartment, respectively, and a first sensor operator and a second sensor operator provided at the second storage compartment door to operate the first and second sensors, respectively, and

wherein the controller is configured to operate the drive device if the input part generates an opening signal in response to user manipulation, and if the sensing part senses that the second storage compartment door is spaced apart from the refrigerator body.