초록 ▼

An illumination device for a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same are provided. The illumination device includes a lamp assembly that irradiates light to an inside of a storage chamber of the refrigerator, a base plate mounted on a side within the storage chamber, wherein the lamp assem

An illumination device for a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same are provided. The illumination device includes a lamp assembly that irradiates light to an inside of a storage chamber of the refrigerator, a base plate mounted on a side within the storage chamber, wherein the lamp assembly is provided on a side of the base plate, a watertight cover formed to enclose the lamp assembly blocking direct penetration of water into the lamp assembly, and at least one fastening device formed on a side of the base plate. The at least one fastening device surrounds an outer surface and an inner surface of entire lower edge of the watertight cover along a side of the watertight cover forming a recess-prominence engagement with the watertight cover. Lamps provided in the lamp assembly are individually controlled through a manipulation panel mounted on the main body.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body forming an external appearance of the refrigerator, the main body comprising a storage chamber that stores products in an interior thereof being opened through one side of the main body; a door that selectively shields an opening of the

What is claimed is: 1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body forming an external appearance of the refrigerator, the main body comprising a storage chamber that stores products in an interior thereof being opened through one side of the main body; a door that selectively shields an opening of the storage chamber; and an illumination device mounted on a bottom surface of the door, the illumination device comprising: a lamp assembly that irradiates light to an inside of a storage chamber of the refrigerator; a base plate mounted on a side within the storage chamber, wherein the lamp assembly is provided on a side of the base plate; a watertight cover formed to enclose the lamp assembly and block direct penetration of water into the lamp assembly; and at least one fastening device formed on a side of the base plate, wherein the at least one fastening device surrounds an outer surface and an inner surface of an entire lower edge of the watertight cover, such that the at least one fastening device and the watertight cover form a recess-prominence engagement that prevents the penetration of water into the lamp assembly, wherein the fastening device comprises: a first rib that projects from a top surface of the base plate and extends along and entirely surrounds the outer surface of the lower edge of the watertight cover; and a second rib that projects from the top surface of the base plate and extends along and entirely surrounds the inner surface of the lower edge of the watertight cover, and wherein the lamp assembly comprises: a plurality of lamps that are differently oriented from each other and that irradiate light to the interior of the storage chamber; and a manipulation panel mounted on a side of the main body, the manipulation panel connected to a power circuit individually controlling the plurality of lamps. 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the base plate further comprises a water discharge rib formed inside of the second rib so that moisture passing through the recess-prominence engagement is condensed on die water discharge rib. 3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water discharge rib is inwardly spaced from an inner side of the second rib and projects upward. 4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3 wherein the at least one fastening device includes at least one water discharge hole formed through the first rib and the second rib, and the watertight cover includes at least one water discharge opening corresponding to the at least one water discharge hole in position and shape, so that the moisture within the lamp assembly is guided to an outside of the lamp assembly. 5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp assembly comprises: the plurality of lamps; a lamp mounting device provided on the side of the base plate, wherein the plurality of lamps is fitted into the lamp mounting device from a rear side to a front side of the lamp mounting device so that the plurality of lamps is located at a predetermined position; a reflection plate mounted on a side of the lamp mounting device that reflects light emitted from the plurality of lamps; and a lamp cover that covers the lamp mounting device and is coupled to the lamp mounting device. 6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of lamps comprises: a substrate provided with a light emitting circuit; and a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the substrate, the plurality of light emitting diodes emitting light according to an electric signal transmitted through the light emitting circuit. 7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lamp mounting device comprises: the base plate forming a bottom of the lamp mounting device; a diode holder provided on the side of the base plate, the diode holder provided with a plurality of openings corresponding to each of the plurality of light emitting diodes in size, respectively, thereby providing a plurality of light emitting diode inserting spaces; and a front guide projection that projects upward from a rear side of the diode holder so as to determine the front insertion position of the at least one lamp. 8. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 7, wherein a height of the front guide projection is lower than a mounting height of the plurality of light emitting diodes so that the front guide projection is in touch with the substrate and is not in touch with the plurality of light emitting diodes. 9. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reflection plate is formed in a stair-like shape on a top surface of the base plate, wherein a height of the stair-like shape increases toward a front end thereof, and wherein each surface between two adjacent steps is inclined to be oriented forwardly upward. 10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lamp cover is partially formed from a transparent material allowing light irradiated from the at least one lamp to be transmitted into the storage chamber, wherein the lamp cover includes fixing ribs that fix the lamp cover, and wherein each of the fixing ribs projects downward from an inner surface of the lamp cover. 11. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fixing ribs comprise: a front fixing rib formed behind a diode holder so as to prevent forward insertion of the plurality of lamps beyond a predetermined position; and a rear fixing rib formed at a position spaced by a thickness of a substrate from the front fixing rib so as to prevent the plurality of lamps from releasing backward. 12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, the refrigerator comprising a storage chamber having a reflection layer coated on an inner surface thereof that reflects visible rays irradiated from the lamp assembly. 13. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door that selectively shields the storage chamber further comprises a door reflection layer on an inner surface thereof that reflects visible rays irradiated from the illumination device, the door reflection layer being formed by coating a light-reflective material. 14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of lamps are mounted to-he-oppositely oriented with reference to a center of the lamp assembly. 15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of lamps comprise: a first lamp mounted to be oriented toward a front side of the storage chamber; and a second lamp mounted to be oriented toward a rear side of the storage chamber. 16. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 15, wherein the manipulation panel comprises a plurality of buttons corresponding to the plurality of lamps, respectively, to individually control the plurality of lamps. 17. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of buttons comprise: a first button connected to a power circuit for the first lamp to control lighting of the fast lamp; and a second button connected to a power circuit for the second lamp to control lighting of the second lamp. 18. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the first button and the second button is a push button that renders a corresponding lamp to be turned on when it is pressed an odd number of times, and renders the corresponding lamp to be turned off when it is pressed an even number of times.