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Samsung patents fridge that stops door pusher if lower door is open

Samsung describes a refrigerator with a touch sensor on the upper door and a mechanical pusher that opens it. The system checks if the lower door is open before allowing the pusher to move, keeping the pusher in place to prevent interference.

Why it mattersThis filing details a specific safety mechanism for automated fridge doors, ensuring the opening mechanism does not activate when the lower section is already in use.

In the filing’s own words

A refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, a first door provided on the main body, a second door disposed below the first door, a touch sensor on a lower end of the first door, a door opening device including a door pusher movable between first and second positions to open the first door, first and second opening and closing sensors, and a processor. Based on receiving a touch signal from the touch sensor, the processor identifies states of the first and second doors based on detection information from the first and second opening and closing sensors. Based on the first door being closed and the second door being open, the processor controls the door opening device to maintain the door pusher at the first position.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body comprising a storage compartment; a first door provided on the main body; a touch sensor disposed on a lower end of the first door and configured to receive a touch input from a user; a door opening device including a door pusher movable between a first position and a second position, the door pusher being configured to open the first door by moving from the first position to the second position; a second door provided on the main body and disposed below the first door; a first opening and closing sensor configured to detect an open state of the first door and a closed state of the first door; a second opening and closing sensor configured to detect an open state of the second door and a closed state of the second door; and a processor configured to: based on a touch signal being received from the touch sensor: identify a state of the first door based on first detection information received from the first opening and closing sensor; and identify a state of the second door based on second detection information received from the second opening and closing sensor, and based on the identified state of the first door being the closed state of the first door and the identified state of the second door being the open state of the second door, control the door opening device to maintain the door pusher at the first position.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME
Publication number
US20260275795A1
Application number
19684427
Filed
May 21, 2026
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

E05F 15/611 Buildings & constructionF25D 23/028 Mechanical engineeringF25D 29/00 Mechanical engineeringE05Y 2900/31 Buildings & constructionF25D 2700/02 Mechanical engineering
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.