IP Library Granted Patent US 9,790,721
Granted Patent B2
US 9,790,721 · App. 14/992,868 · Granted Oct 17, 2017

Refrigerator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,790,721
App. No.
14/992,868
Granted
Oct 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator of this embodiment includes a housing that includes a storeroom, a door that is rotatably provided in the housing through a hinge portion and opens or closes an opening of the storeroom by the rotation, a connection line that is led out to the vicinity of the hinge portion, and a wireless communication apparatus that includes a wireless communication unit and is connected to the connection line.

Claims (60)

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing that includes a storeroom;

a door that is rotatably provided in the housing through a hinge portion and configured to open and close an opening of the storeroom by rotation;

a connection line that is led out to the vicinity of the hinge portion; and

a wireless communication apparatus connected to the connection line, the wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to communicate using a radio wave having a wavelength, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is disposed at a position where a distance between the wireless communication unit and the housing does not correspond to a multiple of a half of the wavelength of the radio wave.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is disposed in the vicinity of the hinge portion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a hinge cover that covers the hinge portion,

wherein a mounting portion is provided in the hinge cover to mount the wireless communication apparatus.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a hinge cover that covers the hinge portion,

wherein the connection line is led out to the hinge cover, and the connection line and the wireless communication apparatus are capable of being connected through a connector.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a hinge cover that covers the hinge portion;

a storage portion that is provided in the hinge cover and stores the wireless communication apparatus; and

a communication unit cover that covers the wireless communication apparatus stored in the storage portion.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 ,

wherein the communication unit cover also covers a connection line lead-out portion through which the connection line is led out.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is positioned on a rear side of the hinge portion.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 ,

wherein a connection line lead-out portion through which the connection line is led out is positioned between the hinge portion and the wireless communication apparatus.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , further comprising

a connection line led out to the door side,

wherein the connection line connected to the wireless communication apparatus and the connection line led out to the door side are divided in the connection line lead-out portion for a wireless communication apparatus side and for a hinge portion side.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is disposed at a position where a distance between the wireless communication unit and the housing is equal to or less than a half of the wavelength of the radio wave.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 ,

wherein the wireless communication apparatus is disposed at a position where a distance between the wireless communication unit and the housing corresponds to about a quarter of the wavelength of the radio wave.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a case in which the wireless communication apparatus is mounted; and

a mounting regulation member in the case configured to position the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication apparatus to face upward.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a case in which the wireless communication apparatus is mounted such that the wireless communication unit faces downward,

wherein a connector of the wireless communication apparatus is positioned above an upper surface of the housing.

14. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing that includes a storeroom;

a door that is rotatably provided in the housing through a hinge portion and configured to open and close an opening of the storeroom by rotation;

a connection line that is led out to the vicinity of the hinge portion; and

a wireless communication apparatus connected to the connection line, the wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to communicate using a radio wave having a wavelength, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is disposed at a position where a distance between the wireless communication unit and the housing is equal to or less than a half of the wavelength of the radio wave.

15. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing that includes a storeroom;

a door that is rotatably provided in the housing through a hinge portion and configured to open and close an opening of the storeroom by rotation;

a connection line that is led out to the vicinity of the hinge portion; and

a wireless communication apparatus connected to the connection line, the wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to communicate using a radio wave having a wavelength, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is disposed at a position where a distance between the wireless communication unit and the housing corresponds to about a quarter of the wavelength of the radio wave.

16. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing that includes a storeroom;

a door that is rotatably provided in the housing through a hinge portion and configured to open and close an opening of the storeroom by rotation;

a connection line that is led out to the vicinity of the hinge portion;

a wireless communication apparatus connected to the connection line, the wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to communicate using a radio wave having a wavelength;

a case in which the wireless communication apparatus is mounted; and

a mounting regulation member in the case configured to position the wireless communication unit of the wireless communication apparatus to face upward.

17. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing that includes a storeroom;

a door that is rotatably provided in the housing through a hinge portion and configured to open and close an opening of the storeroom by rotation;

a connection line that is led out to the vicinity of the hinge portion;

a wireless communication apparatus connected to the connection line, the wireless communication apparatus including a wireless communication unit configured to communicate using a radio wave having a wavelength; and

a case in which the wireless communication apparatus is mounted such that the wireless communication unit faces downward,

wherein a connector of the wireless communication apparatus is positioned above an upper surface of the housing.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
To: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 075520/0170 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2017
From: UEYAMA, HIDEO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043547/0841 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039396/0715 →