Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator having a vegetable storage chamber for maintaining freshness of vegetables stored therein for a long time and minimizing nutrient degradation of the vegetables. When a large quantity of vegetables are stacked and stored in the vegetable storage chamber, sufficient light reaches the vegetables located at inner and lower parts of the vegetable storage chamber, thereby facilitating photosynthesis of the vegetables. The refrigerator includes the vegetable storage chamber to store vegetables, light emitting diodes (LEDs) to irradiate light onto the vegetables stored in the vegetable storage chamber so that the vegetables photosynthesize, and a control unit to receive data corresponding to types of the stored vegetables and to control the LEDs so that the LEDs emit light, having characteristics corresponding to the types of the stored vegetables, onto the vegetables.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Applications No. 2004-67629, filed Aug. 26, 2004 and No. 2005-42063, filed May 19, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator, which includes a separate vegetable storage chamber for storing vegetables. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In a conventional refrigerator having at least two storage chambers, the storage chambers are divided by an intermediate wall, and are respectively opened and closed by doors. An evaporator for generating cold air and a fan for blowing the generated cold air to the inside of the corresponding one of the storage chambers are installed in each of the storage chambers. The storage chambers are independently cooled by th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a refrigerator with a vegetable storage chamber that can maintain the freshness of vegetables and minimize nutrient degradation. This is achieved by using LEDs that emit light onto the vegetables to promote photosynthesis. The LEDs are controlled based on the type of vegetables stored to emit light with the appropriate wavelength, intensity, and irradiation time. The refrigerator also includes a moisture supply device and a light-setting unit to receive data on the type of vegetables and control the LEDs accordingly. The LEDs are arranged on the internal surfaces of the vegetable storage chamber and can emit different colors of light onto the vegetables. The invention also includes a control unit that receives data on the type of vegetables and controls the LEDs accordingly. Overall, the invention provides a refrigerator that can effectively maintain the freshness and nutritional value of vegetables.

Problems solved by technology

Although the storage at the low temperature allows vegetables to maintain freshness for a long time, many nutrients of the vegetables, which were stored at the low temperature, are destroyed, and a time for maintaining the freshness of the vegetables is comparatively short.

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