AU4373100A

AU4373100A - Device for automatically notifying user of reaching of filter replacement time for water purifying apparatus and method thereof

Info

Publication number: AU4373100A
Application number: AU43731/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim; Sang-Su Lee
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1999-06-30
Filing date: 2000-06-29
Publication date: 2001-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-29
Also published as: CN1132656C; CN1279119A; AU773871B2; KR100533275B1; KR20010005331A

Description

riUUU I Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: fr

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Invention Title: DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFYING USER OF REACHING OF FILTER REPLACEMENT TIME FOR WATER PURIFYING APPARTATUS AND METHOD THEREOF The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us Docuret received On: rD 2 9,t4 200 satet7- DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFYING USER OF REACHING OF FILTER REPLACEMENT TIME FOR WATER PURIFYING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention eeo *The present invention relates, in general, to a water purifying apparatus and, more particularly, to a device for 10 automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus and method thereof.

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Description of the Prior Art Recently, in line with a tendency toward multifunctional domestic electronic appliances, a water purification function and an automatic ice-making function as well as a freezing function and a refrigerating function are embodied in a refrigerator.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a typical water purifying device of a refrigerator with a water purifying filter, which has a water purifying function and an ice-making function.

The refrigerator comprises a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment 20, which are vertically partitioned by a barrier BR. A machine room 30 is formed under the refrigerator compartment 10 and the freezer compartment A first valve 32 and a second valve 34 are mounted to the machine room 30. The first valve 32 serves to intercept water entering the interior of the refrigerator from a water pipe when an old filter is exchanged for a new one, and the second valve 33 serves to dispense purified water to the various portions of the refrigerator. The first and second valves 32 and 34 are solenoid valves, and are selectively opened and closed by means of the attraction of a magnetic field that is generated when electric current is applied to the valves 32 and 34.

A water purifying filter 12 is mounted to the refrigerator compartment 10 and is connected to the first

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valve 32 via a connecting conduit D1. The water purifying filter 12 serves to purify water that has entered the refrigerator. The purified water flows into the second valve

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S"34 through the connecting conduit D2. A tank 14 is mounted to a portion of the refrigerator compartment 10, and serves to store the purified water prior to being supplied to a dispenser (will be described). A refrigerator compartment door switch 16a is mounted to the refrigerator compartment door 10, and serves to inform a microprocessor (will be described) whether the refrigerator door 16 is opened or not.

In the meantime, an ice-making unit 24 is mounted to the freezer compartment 20 and connected to the second valve 34 via a connecting conduit D4. An ice-making unit switch 24a is positioned on one side of the ice-making unit 24, and serves to transmit a signal to the microprocessor when purified water is necessary to make ice.

A dispenser 22 is mounted to one side of the freezer compartment 20 so as to supply the purified water out of the refrigerator. The dispenser 22 is connected to the tank 14 Svia a connecting conduit D5. A dispenser switch 22a is 10 mounted to the front panel (not shown) of the dispenser 22, and serves to transmit a signal to the microprocessor so as to supply the purified water to the outside of the refrigerator.

*go A freezer compartment door switch 26a is mounted to the freezer compartment door 16, and serves to inform the 15 microprocessor whether the freezer compartment door 26 is opened or not.

Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 2, a method for S" controlling the conventional water purifying device of the refrigerator with a water purifying filter will be described.

A microprocessor 40 for controlling the operation of the entire refrigerator is mounted to the upper portion of the refrigerator. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the microprocessor controls a first valve control 32a and a second valve control 34a in accordance with a preset control program in response to signals from the refrigerator compartment door switch 16a, the freezer compartment door switch 26a, the dispenser switch 22a and the ice-making unit switch 24a. That is, the first and second valve 32 and 34 are selectively opened and closed in response to the signals of the refrigerator compartment door switch 16a, the freezer compartment door switch 26a, the dispenser switch 22a and the ice-making unit switch 24a.

If the dispenser switch 22a or the ice-making unit switch 24a is switched on, the microprocessor 40 transmits signals to *9 the first valve control 32a and the second valve control 34a 10 to open the valves 32 and 34 so that water supplied from the outside is purified through the water purifying filter 12 and flows into the dispenser 22 and the ice-making unit 24.

Depending on whether the refrigerator compartment door 16 and the freezer compartment door 26 are opened or not, signals 15 are transmitted to the first valve control 32a and the second ooo.

valve control 34a so as to control the operation of the first S" valve 32 and the second valve 34.

S" Additionally, the microprocessor 40 includes a water supply time period setting unit 42 for setting a period of time for supplying water. Therefore, if the ice-making machine is empty, the first and second valves 32 and 34 are opened and water is supplied to the ice-making unit 24 for a certain period of time, under the control of the microprocessor However, the water purifying apparatus has the following problems. The water purifying filter 12 has a relatively short service life and, consequently, has to be replaced with a new one after the use of a certain period of time. In general, the water purifying filter 12 has to be replaced every six months. However, in the conventional refrigerator with a water purifying filter, no provision is provided for notifying a user of the appropriate replacement time for a water purifying filter 12. Therefore, the user has to replace an old water purifying filter with a new one at an appropriate eooo S 10 filter replacement time without a notice while remembering a purchase date and the appropriate filter replacement time by himself.

However, it is very difficult to keep an appropriate filter replacement time. Therefore, in most cases, an old water purifying filter is replaced with a new one fairly after the service life of the water purifying filter. Therefore, when an old water purifying filter is not replaced with a new one at an appropriate filter replacement time, there occurs a problem in which polluted water is supplied to the user.

Additionally, if the service life of the water purifying filter is terminated, a flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making unit and the dispenser is reduced because flow resistance is increased in the interior of the water purifying filter. As a result, the shape of ice made by the ice-making unit is incomplete and there is caused to the user inconvenience where a lever must be pushed for a considerable long period of time to dispense water through the dispenser.

Further, leakage occurs in the water purifying filter having an inherently weak seal owing to flow resistance by impurities caught in the water purifying filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION S"Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping *e e 10 in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus and method thereof, which is capable of allowing its old water purifying filter to be replaced with a new one at an optimum filter replacement time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Sdevice for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus and method thereof, which is capable of eliminating inconvenience in which a user has to confirm whether a filter replacement time is reached while remembering the purchase time of a water purifying filter and a service life of the water purifying filter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus and method thereof, which is capable of automatically intercepting water supply to terminals for use when or after a filter replacement time is reached, thereby preventing a user from drinking polluted water.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus and method thereof, which is capable of automatically notifying a user that a filter replacement time is reached.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying 1' 5 apparatus and method thereof, which is capable of preventing a water purifying filter from being replaced before a filter replacement time is reached.

S"In order to accomplish the above object, the present inention provides a device for automatically notifying a user of reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus, the water purifying apparatus including a first valve for selectively allowing and intercepting water supply from a water supply source, a water purifying filter for purifying water supplied through the first valve and a second valve for selectively allowing and intercepting supply of purified water to terminals for use, comprising: control means for accumulatively counting an opened time period of the second valve and determining whether a filter replacement time is reached; and notifying means for notifying a user of the reaching of the filter replacement time in response to a signal from the control means.

Additionally, the present invention provides a method for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus, comprising 10 the steps of: accumulatively counting a time period for which water purified by a water purifying filter is supplied to terminal for use; comparing the accumulatively counted time period with a predetermined service life of the water purifying filter; notifying a user that a filter replacement time is reached when the accumulatively counted time period is equal to or longer than the predetermined service life of the water purifying filter; and initializing the accumulatively counted time period while the filter replacement time is reached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a typical water purifying device of a refrigerator with a water purifying filter; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the control device of the typical water purifying device; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a device for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus in accordance 10 with the present invention; :Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 15 Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 6a to 6d are views showing the operation of an LED indicator in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the description of the present invention, Fig. 1 will be referred to for ease of explanation.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a device for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replaccment time for a water purifying apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

A microprocessor 50 for controlling an entire refrigerator is mounted to the upper portion of the refrigerator. Two door switches 16a and 26a for respectively S• sensing the opening and closing of a freezer compartment door 9o9o 10 16 and a refrigerator compartment door 26 are connected to the microprocessor 50. A dispenser switch 22a and an ice-making unit switch 24a are respectively connected to the microprocessor 50 so that the microprocessor 50 receives the output of the dispenser switch 22a and the ice-making unit switch 24a and controls purified water to flow into the dispenser 22 and ice-making unit 24 of the refrigerator.

The microprocessor 50 includes a water supply time period 99 9 setting unit 52 for regulating the amount of supplied water.

That is, the microprocessor 50 controls purified water to be supplied to the ice-making unit 24 for a certain period of time. Therefore, if the ice-making unit 24 is empty, the first and second valves 32 and 34 of the refrigerator are opened and purified water is supplied to the ice-making unit 24, by the control of the microprocessor Accordingly, it is necessary for the microprocessor 50 to control the opening and closing of the first and second valves 32 and 34 so as to fill the ice-making unit 24 with purified water or supply purified water to the dispenser 22. To this end, a first valve control 32a is disposed between the microprocessor 50 and the first valve 32, while a second valve control 34a is disposed between the microprocessor 50 and the second valve 34.

The microprocessor 50 includes a counter 54 for Saccumulatively counting the opened time period of the second 10 valve 34. A second valve opening sensing unit 56 for sensing .the opening and closing of the second valve 34 is connected to the counter 54. When the second valve 34 is opened or closed by the switching-on of the dispenser switch 22a or the icemaking unit switch 24a, the opening and closing of the second valve 34 is sensed by the second valve opening sensing unit 56 and is input to the counter 54. Therefore, the counter 54 can 9999 accumulatively count the opened time period of the second valve 34 in response to the signals of the second valve opening sensing unit 56.

Additionally, as another embodiment, the counter 54 functions only to accumulatively count the opened time period of the second valve 34. In this case, the microprocessor must have information about the service life of the water purifying filter 12 of the refrigerator. The microprocessor 50 compares the opened time period of the second valve 34 accumulatively counted by the counter 54 with the service life of the water purifying filter 12 stored in the microprocessor and, when the opened time period and the service life coincide with each other, notifies a user that the water purifying filter 12 has to be replaced.

The microprocessor 50 includes an initializing unit 58.

An initializing button 60 is connected to the initializing unit 58. The initializing unit 58 serves to initialize the counter 54 when the user pushes the initialization button 1: 0 The initializing button 60 is preferably mounted to the front panel (not shown) of the dispenser 22 for the sake of user's convenience. However, the initialization of the •coo accumulatively counted time period may be automatically performed at a time when an old water purifying filter is 15 replaced with a new water purifying filter.

A Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator 62 is connected to the microprocessor 50. The LED indicator 62 serves to be Slighted in response to a signal, which is output from the microprocessor 50 depending upon the opened time period of the second valve 34. The LED indicator 62 may comprise one LED so that the LED is lighted when the accumulatively counted opened time period of the second valve 34 and the service life of the filter 12 coincide with each other, that is, a replacement time for the water purifying filter 12 is reached. In Figs.

6a to 6d, the LED indicator 62 comprises a plurality of LEDs so that the LEDs are lighted in proportion to the opened time period of the second valve 34.

That is, the LED indicator 62 may comprise one LED.

However, the LED indicator 62 may comprise a plurality of LEDs that are lighted by the control of the number of lighted LEDs.

The LED indicator 62 is preferably mounted to the front panel of the dispenser 22 for the sake of user's convenience.

In addition, a buzzer 64 may be connected to the microprocessor 50 so as to generate an alarm by the control of 10 the microprocessor 50 when the filter replacement time is :'"reached.

Hereinafter, there will be described a method for 5560 automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter *500 replacement time for a water purifying apparatus.

15 Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the method for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

The microprocessor 50 determines whether the initializing button 60 on the front panel of the dispenser 22 is switched on by a user (STEP If the initializing button 60 is not switched on by the user, the microprocessor 50 determines whether the filter replacement time is reached (STEP 72). STEP 72 can be performed using the accumulatively counted opened time period of the second valve 34. The opened time period of the second valve 34 is in proportion to the amount of water that has passed through the water purifying filter 12. The amount of water is directly concerned with the service life of the water purifying filter 12. As a result, the opened time period of the second valve 34 accumulatively counted by the counter 54 is utilized for determining whether the filter replacement i0. time is reached in the present invention.

:0..0Thereafter, the microprocessor 50 determines whether the 00 dispenser switch 22a or the ice-making unit switch 24a is 00::*1 switched on to supply purified water to the user through the "o dispenser 22 or to the ice-making unit 24 (STEP 74).

o oo ooo If the dispenser switch 22a or the ice-making unit switch 24a is switched on, the microprocessor 50 transmits a control 15 signal to the first and second valve controls 32a and 34a so S as to open the first and second valves 32 and 34 (STEP When the first and second valves 32 and 34 are opened, water is supplied from a water supply source to the water purifying filter 12 through the first valve 32 and water purified in the filter 12 is supplied to the tank 14 or the ice-making unit 24 through the second valve 34.

When the second valve 34 is opened by the switching-on of the dispenser switch 22a or the ice-making unit switch 24a, the opening and closing of the second valve 34 is sensed by the second valve opening sensing unit 56 and is input to the counter 54. Therefore, the counter 54 can accumulatively count the opened time period of the second valve 34 using the signal of the second valve opening sensing unit 56 (STEP 82).

When the accumulatively counted opened time period of the second valve 34 becomes equal to the service life of the filter 12, the counter 54 transmits a signal to the microprocessor If the filter replacement time is reached (YES in STEP 72), the microprocessor 50 transmits a signal to the first 10 valve control 32a to close the first valve 34 (STEP 84). In oooo this step, the microprocessor 50 allows the first valve 34 to be closed and intercept water supply to the interior of the refrigerator.

Thereafter, the microprocessor 50 transmits a signal to 15 the LED indicator 62, and the LED indicator 62 is lighted in response to this signal (STEP 86).

If the buzzer 64 is included in the construction of the device, the microprocessor 50 controls the buzzer 64 to be activated so as to notify the user of the reaching of the filter replacement time (STEP 88).

A user can be notified of the reaching of the filter replacement time through STEPs 86 and 88. Therefore, the replacement of the filter 12 can be performed easily and properly. That is, the user does not need to confirm whether the filter replacement time is reached while remembering a purchase date and service life of the filter 12 by himself.

Additionally, in accordance with the prior art, since an old filter is replaced with a new one after a fixed time period regardless of the used time period of the filter, the filter replacement time may be improper.- However, in accordance with the present invention, the old filter can be replaced with a new one at an appropriate filter replacement time based on the used time period of the filter 12, thereby improving the o.

effective use of the filter 12.

Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, when the filter replacement time is reached, the first valve oooo 32 is closed through STEP 84. As a result, the user is prevented from drinking polluted water, user's manipulation such as the manual closing of a valve by the user is not necessary, and water leakage owing to supplied water is prevented.

After the user is notified of the reaching of the filter replacement time and replaces an old filter with a new one through STEPs 86 and 88, the user pushes the initializing button 60 so as to be notified of the reaching of the replacement time for the new water purifying filter (STEP If the initializing button 60 has been pushed, the microprocessor 50 determines whether the filter replacement time is reached (STEP STEP 92 can be performed by confirming whether the opened time period of the second valve 34 accumulatively counted by the counter 28 reaches the service life of the filter 12.

When the user pushes the initializing button 60, the microprocessor 50 initializes the counter 54 after determining whether the filter replacement tine is reached. That is, STEP prevents the counter 28 from being wrongly initialized when the user wrongly pushes the initializing button notwithstanding that the filter replacement time is not reached.

S°o 5 10 Therefore, the microprocessor 50 initializes the counter 54, which accumulatively counts the opened time period of the second valve 34, when the filter replacement time is reached (STEP 92). Of course, during the process, an old filter has to be replaced with a new one. The replacement of the filters 15 is preferably performed just before or immediately after the manipulation of the initializing button Subsequently, the microprocessor 50 maintains the operation of the first valve 32 in a current state using the first valve control 32a (STEP 94). That is, since the first valve 32 is closed when the filter replacement time is reached, the first valve 32 is maintained in an opened state.

The microprocessor 50 deactivates the LED indicator 62 and the buzzer 34 that were activated when the filter replacement time was reached (STEPs 96 and 98).

While the dispenser 22 and the ice-making unit 24 are not switched on,,the microprocessor 50 allows the first and second valves 32 and 34 to be switched off through the first and second valve controls 32a and 34a (STEP 76). Water supply from the outside to the interior of the refrigerator is intercepted by the closing of tte first valve 32, and water supply to the dispenser 22 or the ice-making unit 24 is intercepted by the closing of the second valve 34.

i. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter 10 replacement time for a water purifying apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 6a to 6d are views showing the operation of an LED indicator in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with the second embodiment, as described above, an LED indicator 62 comprises a plurality of LEDs, for example, six LEDs (LED 1 to LED The microprocessor allows LED 1 to be lighted when one month lapses after the replacement of the filters, allows LED 2 to be lighted when two months lapse after the replacement of the filters, allows LED 6 to be lighted when six months lapse after the replacement of the filters, etc. The lighting of the LED 6 means that the filter replacement time is reached.

That is, the microprocessor 50 controls the lighting of the LEDs depending upon the opened time period of the second valve 34. The number and the operating time of the LEDs may be changed and regulated.

In accordance with the second embodiment, STEPs 72' to 82' are identical to STEPs 72 to 82. In STEP 83', the microprocessor 50 lights the LED indicator 62 in proportion to the opened time period of the second valve 34 accumulatively counted by the counter 54. Fig. 6a shows the operation of the LED indicator 62 when three months do not pass after the replacement of the water purifying filters. In this drawing, no LED is lighted. Fig. 6b shows the operation of the LED a..

indicator 62 when three months have passed after the replacement of the water purifying filters. In this drawing, LEDs 1 to 3 are lighted. Fig. 6c shows the operation of the LED indicator 62 when five months have passed after the replacement of the water purifying filters. In this drawing, LEDs 1 to 6 are lighted. Fig. 6d shows the operation of the a. a LED indicator 62 when the filter replacement time is reached and six LEDs 1 to 6 are lighted. The operation of the LED indicator 62 is controlled by the microprocessor 50, and the microprocessor 50 controls the operation of the LED indicator 62 depending upon the opened time period of the second valve 34 accumulatively counted by the counter 54.

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, the opened time period of a second valve, for which water is supplied to a dispenser and an ice-making unit, is accumulatively counted. When the accumulatively counted opened time period of the second valve is equal to the service life of a water purifying filter, a signal for notifying its user of the reaching of the filter replacement time is issued.

A notice for the reaching of th6 filter replacement time is shown in response to the signal. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is eliminated inconvenience S'in which a user has to confirm whether a filter replacement oo*.

time is reached or not while remembering the purchase date and service life of the water purifying filter by himself.

Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, when a filter replacement time is reached, water supply to the *o interior of the refrigerator is intercepted. As a result, water is not only prevented from leaking while an old water 00 15 purifying filter is displaced with a new one, but also a user is prevented from drinking polluted water.

0. Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, since the step of determining whether a filter replacement time is reached is performed when an initializing button is pushed, a user is prevented from wrongly initializing a counter at a time when the filter replacement time is not reached.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

"Ccmprises/ccmprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated featufes, integers, steps or ccmponents but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a first valve control, said first valve control allowing said first valve to be closed while the filter replacement time is reached.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said notifying means comprises a plurality of lighting elements, said lighting elements being lighted in proportion to the opened time period of said second valve.
4. The device according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising initializing means for initializing the opened time period of said second valve acdumulatively counted by said control means. S2 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said initializing means is capable of initializing the opened time 10 period of said second valve when the accumulatively counted opened time period is equal to or longer than the o predetermined service life of the.water purifying filter.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said water purifying filter is mounted to an interior of the refrigerator.
7. A method for automatically notifying a user of the reaching of a filter replacement time for a water purifying apparatus, comprising the steps of: accumulatively counting a time period for which water purified by a water purifying filter is supplied to terminal for use; comparing the accumulatively counted time period with a predetermined service life of the water purifying filter; 1 notifying a user that a filter replacement time is reached when the accumulatively counted time period is equal to or longer than the predetermined service life of the water purifying filter; and initializing the accumulatively counted time period while the filter replacement time is reached. 0:osee 00 .0C The method according to claim 7, further comprising **oo the step of intercepting water supplied to said water 10 purifying filter while the filter replacement time is reached.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said initialization of the accumulatively counted time period is performed by a user.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said initialization of the accumulatively counted time period is automatically performed at a time when an old water purifying filter is replaced with a new water purifying filter. DATED this 29th day of June 2000. LG ELECTRONICS INC. WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN. VIC. 3122.