Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which allows a user to check the status of a storage chamber with a camera without opening a door. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage chamber, a door rotatably coupled to the body to open or close the storage chamber, a frame coupled to the door and including a housing in which a camera configured to photograph the inside of the storage chamber is installed, and a first door bin configured to receive an object to be cooled, detachably coupled to the frame, and located on an upper portion of the housing to be supported by the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which allows a user to check the status of a storage chamber with a camera without opening a door. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage chamber, a door rotatably coupled to the body to open or close the storage chamber, a frame coupled to the door and including a housing in which a camera configured to photograph the inside of the storage chamber is installed, and a first door bin configured to receive an object to be cooled, detachably coupled to the frame, and located on an upper portion of the housing to be supported by the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which allows a user to check the status of a storage chamber with a camera without opening a door. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage chamber, a door rotatably coupled to the body to open or close the storage chamber, a frame coupled to the door and including a housing in which a camera configured to photograph the inside of the storage chamber is installed, and a first door bin configured to receive an object to be cooled, detachably coupled to the frame, and located on an upper portion of the housing to be supported by the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which allows a user to check the status of a storage chamber with a camera without opening a door. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage chamber, a door rotatably coupled to the body to open or close the storage chamber, a frame coupled to the door and including a housing in which a camera configured to photograph the inside of the storage chamber is installed, and a first door bin configured to receive an object to be cooled, detachably coupled to the frame, and located on an upper portion of the housing to be supported by the housing.

Abstract: A relay module includes a case forming an exterior of the relay module, a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) device configured to control the supply of power to the compressor, a holder mounted at the case and configured to accommodate the PTC device, a start capacitor electrically connected to the PTC device, a first connecting terminal having a first PTC connecting terminal connected to the PTC device and a first capacitor connecting terminal connected to the start capacitor, and a second connecting terminal having a second PTC connecting terminal connected to the PTC device and a second capacitor connecting terminal connected to the start capacitor. The first capacitor connecting terminal and the second capacitor connecting terminal are spaced apart a predetermined distance from a bottom surface of the case.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a refrigerator includes an ice maker tray where ice is formed and an ice removal heater arranged on the outer side of the ice maker tray for melting a side of the ice. The ice maker tray may include an ice removal heater seat for settling the ice removal heater on the outer side of the ice maker tray, and the ice removal heater comprises a plurality of longitudinal portions formed in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the ice maker tray, and a plurality of bending portions arranged between the plurality of longitudinal portions. The ice maker and refrigerator having the same, which includes an ice removal heater to increase heat transfer efficiency for the ice maker while reducing power consumption of the ice removal heater.

Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a control method thereof, wherein operation of an icemaker can be controlled according to time or function. A sleep mode to control operation of an icemaker according to time is set to prevent generation of noise due to an ice-separating operation implemented at night. In the setting of the sleep mode, a control range of the sleep mode is selected according to a desired operating function (ice-making function or ice-separating function) of the icemaker and also, a period of the sleep mode in units of days/weeks/months (or an operating term) is selected.

Abstract: A refrigerator equipped with a door opening device opening doors by driving a motor and a method of controlling the same. In the method of controlling the refrigerator includes a door opening device including a plurality of sliding bars selectively opening first and second doors, a motor opening the first door or the second door by moving back and forth the sliding bars in directions opposite to each other, a plurality of position detectors detecting at least one protrusion provided at one side of the sliding bar, a switch unit inputting door opening signals, and a controller controlling operation of the first door and the second door according to the door opening signals. If door opening signals used to open the first and second doors, the door opening device is controlled so that the first and second doors are easily open/closed.

Abstract: A refrigerator equipped with a door opening device opening doors by driving a motor and a method of controlling the same. In the method of controlling the refrigerator includes a door opening device including a plurality of sliding bars selectively opening first and second doors, a motor opening the first door or the second door by moving back and forth the sliding bars in directions opposite to each other, a plurality of position detectors detecting at least one protrusion provided at one side of the sliding bar, a switch unit inputting door opening signals, and a controller controlling operation of the first door and the second door according to the door opening signals. If door opening signals used to open the first and second doors, the door opening device is controlled so that the first and second doors are easily open/closed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a control method thereof, wherein operation of an icemaker can be controlled according to time or function. A sleep mode to control operation of an icemaker according to time is set to prevent generation of noise due to an ice-separating operation implemented at night. In the setting of the sleep mode, a control range of the sleep mode is selected according to a desired operating function (ice-making function or ice-separating function) of the icemaker and also, a period of the sleep mode in units of days/weeks/months (or an operating term) is selected.

Abstract: A refrigerator which supplies water by driving a water valve installed on a flow path connected between a water supply source and a dispenser and a control method thereof are disclosed. A driving voltage is applied to the water valve in a start-up operation and the phase of the driving voltage applied to the water valve is controlled after the start-up operation to reduce an average voltage, thereby preventing a malfunction due to overheat of the water valve.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a valve to distribute a refrigerant to a plurality of storage compartments. The valve includes a step motor, a valve plate having at least one inlet and a plurality of outlets, and an opening/closing member rotatably coupled to the valve plate to open or close the plurality of outlets in accordance with a rotating motion thereof. In particular, the opening/closing member has one or more recesses, which are indented from the circumference of the opening/closing member by a predetermined distance, to always open only one of the plurality of outlets. With the above-described configuration, the refrigerator can reduce material costs, and can achieve not only simplified valve control, but also accurate control in temperatures of the plurality of storage compartments.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes: a main body cabinet forming a storing compartment which has a front opening formed with a predetermined height and width; and a plurality of illumination units disposed along an inner circumference of the main body cabinet and adjacent to the front opening; each illumination unit comprising a light source which has a predetermined light directivity angle ?, and each light source of the plurality of illumination units is disposed not to be superposed with each other.

Abstract: A water supplying apparatus which includes a cold water pipe supplying a cold water, a hot water pipe supplying a hot water, and a dispenser connected with the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe. The dispenser includes a housing comprising a cold water inlet through which cold water supplied from the cold water pipe flows in, a hot water inlet through which hot water supplied from the hot water pipe flows in, and a single outlet through which the hot water or the cold water flows out, an inlet regulating part reciprocating in the housing to selectively open the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet, and an outlet regulating part opening and closing the outlet. Thus, the present invention provides a water supplying apparatus and a refrigerator having the same selectively supplying a hot water and a cold water by using a single lever.

Abstract: A hot water supplying refrigerator which includes a main body having a storage compartment, a door opening and closing the storage compartment, and a dispenser provided to the door. The refrigerator includes a hot water tank storing water supplied from an outside, a heater heating water stored in the hot water tank, a hot water pipe connecting the hot water tank and the dispenser, a circulating part circulating water remained in the hot water pipe to the hot water tank, and a control part controlling the heater. Thus, the present invention provides a hot water supplying refrigerator and a control method thereof supplying hot water with a constant temperature, and preventing water remained in a hot water pipe from being wasted.

Abstract: A passage switching valve for maintaining a plurality of outlet ports to be opened and for uniformly distributing a fluid to the outlet ports and a refrigerator employing the same are disclosed. The passage switching valve includes a housing having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, an opening and closing member for opening and closing the outlet ports, and a driving device for operating the opening and closing member. The outlet ports are provided in a lower position than the inlet port. A collecting portion is formed by providing a recess in the bottom portion of the housing such that a fluid can be collected and the outlet ports are formed in the collecting portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator having a main body, enclosing a storage compartment, a door to provide access to the storage compartment, and a display to display a picture. The door may include a corresponding display accommodator to accommodate the display, a support member to support the display and to move the display between an accommodation position, where the display is accommodated in the display accommodator, and a separation position, where the display is separated from the display accommodator, a driver to move the support member to the accommodation position and the separation position, and a controller to detect whether the display has been separated from the support member and to drive the driver to move the support member from the separation position to the accommodation position. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator permitting easy attachment and detachment of a display.

Abstract: A water supply control apparatus and method for an ice maker, in which an amount of supplied water is controlled so as to supply an accurate amount of the water to an ice tray. The method includes the steps of (a) supplying water to an ice tray for a predetermined time; (b) determining whether or not a proper amount of water has been supplied to the ice tray after the predetermined time has elapsed; and (c) resetting the predetermined time based on predetermined water supply data, in case that it is determined that the proper amount of water has not supplied to the ice tray.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body cabinet formed with a storage compartment, and a door coupled to the main body cabinet and opening/closing the storage compartment. A terminal installation part is provided to at least one of the main body cabinet and the door, and a terminal is detachably coupled to the terminal installation part and communicatable with other household appliances. A slide plate is provided with a holding part interposed between the terminal and the terminal installation part and maintains the terminal so as to be held to the terminal installation part. A driving part is connected with the slide plate and slides the slide plate for the terminal to be released from the terminal installation part. Thus, the present invention provides a refrigerator allowing a terminal to be detachably mounted thereon without difficulty, thereby enhancing the user's convenience and making an external appearance thereof good.