KR100885069B1 - Operation Control Device and Method of Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an operation control apparatus and method of a refrigerator for controlling the supply / block of cold air flowing into the room. The present invention controls the closing / opening operation of the damper when selectively using a plurality of rooms to adjust the internal temperature due to cold air discharge. In other words, the damper is kept in a closed state in the unused room to block cold air inflow. Therefore, by blocking unnecessary cold air supply to the room not used, it is expected that the power consumption of the refrigerator is improved.

Refrigerator, damper

Description

A driving apparatus and method of refrigerator

1 is a configuration diagram for the introduction of cold air in the refrigerator room according to the prior art.

2 is a control block diagram for controlling the operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram for the introduction of cold air in the refrigerator room according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is an operation control flow chart for controlling the cold air inlet of the refrigerator room according to the present invention.

        Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: signal input unit 110: display unit

120: temperature detection unit 130: microcontroller

140: damper drive unit 150: power supply unit

160: fan drive 200: compressor

210: condenser 220: expansion valve

230: evaporator 240a, 240b, 250: fan

120a, 120b: Temperature sensor 180a, 180b: Damper

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an operation control apparatus and method for a refrigerator for controlling the supply of cold air when selectively using a plurality of rooms.

Looking at the operation control method of the refrigerator according to the prior art as follows.

1 is a configuration diagram for the introduction of cold air in the refrigerator room according to the prior art.

First, the illustrated cooling cycle 90 is composed of one compressor 10, one condenser 20, and one evaporator 30. The compressor 10 sucks and compresses the superheated steam evaporated by the evaporator 30 to generate high temperature / high pressure superheated steam. The condenser 20 cools the superheated steam of high temperature and high pressure compressed by the compressor 10. The evaporator 30 evaporates the superheated steam cooled in the condenser 20.

That is, the cooling cycle 90 is connected to the compressor 10 by the compressor 10 → condenser 20 → flow control valve → evaporator 30 again. At this time, the condenser 10 has a fan 40a for discharging the hot air generated by the heat exchange operation to the outside, and the fan 40b for discharging the cool air generated by the heat exchange in the evaporator 30 to the room. ) Is configured.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first temperature sensor 50a is configured at one side of the evaporator 30 provided in the first room 70. One side of the second room 80 is provided with a second temperature sensor 50b to measure the second room temperature.                         

On the other hand, a damper 60 is provided between the first room 70 and the second room 80 to control whether cold air is introduced. The damper 60 controls the opening and closing so that the cool air generated from the evaporator 30 of the first room 70 may flow into the second room 80. That is, when the damper 60 is opened, cold air having a low temperature flows from the first room 70 into the second room 80. When the damper 60 is closed, a process in which cold air of the first room 70 flows into the second room 80 is blocked. As a result, the second room temperature is controlled according to whether the damper 60 is opened or closed.

That is, the damper 60 is provided to control whether or not the cold air flows in the room according to the temperature detection. That is, when the damper 60 performs the opening operation, the cold air of the room flows into another room, and when the damper 60 performs the closing operation, the flow of the cold air flowing into the other room from the current room is blocked. do.

Therefore, when the second room temperature does not reach the reference target temperature value and is unsatisfactory, the damper 60 performs an opening operation so that cold air can be supplied to the second room 80. As the damper 60 is opened, cold air of the first room 70 flows into the second room 80, and the second room temperature reaches the reference target temperature value. When the second room temperature reaches the reference target temperature value, a control means (not shown) drives the damper driver to block the flow of cold air flowing into the second room 80.

On the other hand, when the second room temperature is in a satisfactory state where the target temperature value is lower than or equal to the target temperature value, the damper 60 is closed to block the flow of cold air into the second room 80, and the first room temperature is set to the target value. The cooling cycle is driven to supply cold air to the first room 70 until it reaches below.

As a result, when the first room temperature is satisfactory, when the refrigerator door is opened to take out the storage from the second room 80, outside air flows into the second room 80, and the second room temperature is increased. Will rise. Accordingly, the second room temperature state is converted into an unsatisfactory state, and the damper 60 performs an opening operation. As a result, cold air flows into the second room 80 from the first room 70, and the cooling cycle is continuously driven until the temperature of the second room 80 reaches a target temperature value or less, thereby introducing cold air. Let's do it. The cooling cycle of the first room 70 continues to be driven even when the user opens the door in order to take out the storage from the second room 80, thereby cooling the air from the first room 70 to the second room 80. Is supplied. In this way, regardless of whether the second room 80 is used, only the second room temperature senses whether or not to reach the target temperature value and continues to control the drive of the damper (60).

Therefore, conventionally, if the second room temperature value is simply unsatisfactory regardless of whether the second room 80 is used or not, the cooling cycle continues to supply the cool air from the first room 70 to the second room 80. As a result, the power consumption of the refrigerator becomes poor as a result.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an operation control apparatus and method for a refrigerator for controlling the supply of cold air when selectively using a plurality of rooms.

Operation control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the first room is provided with an evaporator; A second room having a first temperature sensor and receiving cold air from the first room; A refrigerator having a third room having a second temperature sensor and receiving cold air from the second room, comprising: a selection step of selecting whether to use the third room; A damper driving step of controlling a damper connected between the second room and the third room in an open or closed state in accordance with the use of the third room in the selection step; A first control step of controlling temperatures of the first room and the second room when the third room is unused in the selecting step; And a second control step of controlling the temperatures of the first room, the second room, and the third room when the third room is selected as the use in the selection step, wherein the first control step comprises: a first temperature; When the temperature of the second room is satisfied based on the sensing temperature of the sensor, the damper connected between the first room and the second room is controlled to be in a closed state, and the second control step includes: sensing the second temperature sensor When the temperature of the third room is satisfied based on the temperature, the damper connected between the second room and the third room is controlled in a closed state, and the temperature of the second room is increased based on the detected temperature of the first temperature sensor. If satisfied, characterized in that for controlling the damper connected between the first room and the second room in the closed state.

And in the present invention, the first control step is characterized in that for controlling the drive of the fan installed in the first room.

In the present invention, the second control step is characterized in that for controlling the driving of the first and second fans installed in the first room and the second room, respectively.

In addition, the operation control apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises: a first room equipped with a first fan having an evaporator and circulating cold air generated in the evaporator to a room; A second room having a first temperature sensor and a second fan and receiving cold air from the first room; A third room having a second temperature sensor and receiving cold air from the second room; A first damper mounted between the first room and the second room, the first damper opening and closing the cold air supply to the second room according to a temperature sensing result of the first temperature sensor; A second damper mounted between the second room and the third room, the second damper opening and closing the cold air supply to the third room according to the temperature sensing result of the second temperature sensor; A signal input means for inputting whether or not to use the refrigerator; When the third room unused signal is input through the signal input means, it comprises a microcontroller for driving control of the second damper in the closed state.

In the present invention, the microcontroller controls the first damper to open when the third room is not in use, and then controls the temperature of the second room based on the first temperature sensor, and drives the driving of the first fan. It is characterized by controlling.

In addition, in the present invention, the microcontroller controls the second damper to the closed state when the temperature of the third room is satisfied based on the sensing temperature of the second temperature sensor when the third room is in use. When the temperature of the second room is satisfied based on the sensed temperature, the first damper is controlled to a closed state, and the driving of the first and second fans is controlled during the control.

Hereinafter, the operation control apparatus and method of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail.

2 is a control block diagram for controlling the operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention.                     

As shown in the drawing, the control configuration of the present invention includes a power supply unit 150 for supplying power to the refrigerator main body, a signal input unit 100 for inputting an operation signal (operation function, temperature, etc.) and a signal for use within the refrigerator; The display unit 110 displays the operation signal input by the user and the control state according thereto, a temperature sensing unit 120 configured to sense the temperature of the room, and is driven to control whether cold air is introduced into the room. The damper driver 140 for transmitting the power of the damper, the fan driver 160 for controlling the driving of the fan operating for the room cold air circulation, and the driving of the damper according to the temperature of the temperature sensing unit 120 It is configured to include a microcontroller 130.

The temperature sensing unit 120 is provided in the plurality of rooms as temperature sensing sensors 120a and 120b, respectively.

In the present invention, the reference target temperature of each room is set in advance among the plurality of rooms. Accordingly, the microcontroller 130 controls the damper driver 140 to be driven according to whether the room temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a preset room reference target temperature.

The damper driver 140 is a control configuration for transmitting power to drive the damper for controlling the cold air flow rate.

The fan driving unit 160 is provided in the inside of the refrigerator, and is a control structure that transmits power to drive a fan circulating cold air.

With the above control configuration, the process of controlling the cold air to flow into the room of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail as follows.                     

3 is a configuration diagram for the inflow of cold air in the refrigerator room according to the present invention.

First, the illustrated cooling cycle 300 is composed of one compressor 200, one condenser 210, and one evaporator 230. The compressor 200 sucks and compresses the superheated steam evaporated by the evaporator 230 to generate the high temperature / high pressure superheated steam. The condenser 210 cools the superheated steam of high temperature and high pressure compressed by the compressor 200. The evaporator 230 evaporates the superheated steam cooled in the condenser 210.

That is, the cooling cycle 300, the compressor 200 → condenser 210 → flow control valve 220 → evaporator 230 is connected to the compressor 200 again. At this time, the condenser 210 has a fan 240a for discharging the hot air generated by the heat exchange operation to the outside, and the fan 240b for discharging the cool air generated by the heat exchange in the evaporator 230 to the room. ) Is configured. The fan 240b is driven to allow the cool air to smoothly flow into the second room.

As shown in FIG. 3, one side of the second room 270 is provided with a second temperature sensor 120b to measure the second room temperature. In addition, a third temperature sensor 120a is provided at one side of the third room 280 to measure the third room temperature.

In addition, a fan 250 is provided at one side of the second room 270 to drive the cool air to circulate in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, a first damper 180b is provided between the first room 260 and the second room 270 to control whether cold air is introduced. The first damper 180b controls opening and closing so that the cooled cold air generated from the evaporator 230 of the first room may flow into the second room 270. A second damper 180a is provided between the second room 270 and the third room 280 to control whether cold air is introduced. The second damper 180a controls opening and closing so that cold air of the second room may flow into the third room 280.

Therefore, when the first damper 180b is opened, cold air having a low temperature flows from the first room 260 into the second room 270. When the first damper 180b is closed, a process of introducing cold air from the first room 260 into the second room 270 is blocked. As a result, the second room temperature is controlled according to whether the first damper 280b is opened or closed.

When the second damper 180a is opened, cold air having a low temperature flows from the second room 270 into the third room 280. In addition, when the second damper 180a is closed, a process of introducing cold air from the second room 270 into the third room 280 is blocked. As a result, the third room temperature is controlled according to whether the second damper 180a is opened or closed.

Therefore, when the second room temperature does not reach the reference target temperature value and is unsatisfactory, the first damper 180b is opened to supply cool air to the second room 270. As the first damper 180b is opened, cold air of the first room 260 flows into the second room 270, and the second room temperature reaches the reference target temperature value. When the second room temperature reaches the reference target temperature value, the microcontroller 130 drives the damper driver 140 to block the flow of cold air introduced into the second room 270. As a result, the first damper 180b is closed.

When the second room temperature reaches the target temperature value or less, the first damper 180b is closed to block the flow of cold air flowing into the second room 270. The cooling cycle is driven until the first room temperature reaches a target temperature lower than the target temperature according to the freezing function, so that cool air is supplied to the first room 260.

As a result, the first room performs the freezing function, and it becomes possible to perform the refrigerating function with a relatively higher storage temperature than the first room.

On the other hand, between the second room 270 and the third room 280 is provided with a second damper (180a) for controlling the inlet of cold air. The second damper 180a controls opening and closing so that the cool air of the second room 270 may flow into the third room 280. That is, when the second damper 180a is opened, cold air having a low temperature flows from the second room 270 into the third room 280. In addition, when the second damper 180a is closed, a process of introducing cold air from the second room 270 into the third room 280 is blocked. As a result, the third room temperature is controlled according to whether the second damper 180a is opened or closed.

Therefore, when the third room temperature does not reach the reference target temperature value and is unsatisfactory, the second damper 180a performs an opening operation so that cold air can be supplied to the third room 180. At the same time, the second fan 250 is driven to smoothly supply cool air to the third room 280. As the second damper 180a is opened, cold air of the second room 270 flows into the third room 280, and the temperature of the third room 280 reaches the reference target temperature value. When the third room temperature reaches the reference target temperature value, the microcontroller 130 drives the damper driver 140 to block the flow of cold air into the third room 280. As a result, the second damper 180a is closed.                     

On the other hand, when there is a room that is not used by the user among the rooms configured in the refrigerator as described above, in the present invention, the damper is always controlled in a closed state. To this end, a separate setting operation or control signal is input to the room that is not used, and the damper is always kept closed regardless of the room temperature.

That is, when the third room 280 illustrated in FIG. 3 is not used as a refrigerating function but is simply used as a storage space, the second damper 180a is closed so that cold air does not flow into the third room 280. The state is controlled. At the same time, only the first fan is driven to smoothly flow cold air into the second room 270. In the state where the second damper 180a is closed as described above, the cooling air is supplied only to a part of the rooms (the first room 260 and the second room 270).

That is, the cooling cycle 300 configured in the first room 260 circulates to generate cold air, and the cold air is operated between the first room 260 and the second room 270 by the operation of the first damper 180b. Circulate The room temperature is maintained at an appropriate temperature by the circulated cold air.

At this time, the second room 270 is provided with a second temperature sensor 120b for detecting the room temperature. Accordingly, the value sensed through the second temperature sensor 120b is transmitted to the microcontroller 130, and the microcontroller 130 compares the transmitted temperature value with the set value, to the second room 270. Determine and control whether cold air is supplied. If it is determined that the cold air supply is necessary, the room state of the refrigerator is changed from the closed state to the open state. As a result, cold air of the first room 260 flows into the second room 270, and the second room temperature decreases.                     

As such, when the third room 280 is used as a storage space, the third room 280 controls the cold air not to be supplied to the third room 280. That is, the second damper 180a is controlled in a closed state to block inflow of cold air. However, if the third room 280 is to use the refrigeration function, the user can switch the refrigeration function by a separate operation or signal input.

4 is an operation control flow chart for controlling the inflow of cold air in the refrigerator room according to the present invention.

In the present invention, according to whether the third room 280 is used as a refrigeration function, the user selects whether to use the third room 280 by a separate operation or signal input (step 300).

In step 300, when the user wants to use the refrigerating function of the third room 280, cold air is supplied to the room to perform the refrigerating function as in the prior art (step 310). That is, after controlling the temperature of the third room 280 in a satisfactory state, temperature control of the second room 270 and the first room 260 is performed.

However, in step 300, when the third room 280 is to be used only as a storage function, the user selects the third room 280 not to be used as a separate operation or a signal input. Accordingly, the unused signal of the third room 280 is transmitted to the microcontroller 130, and the microcontroller 130 that has received the unused signal is used only as a storage space instead of the refrigerating function. Recognize (step 320).

Accordingly, the second damper 180a provided between the second room 270 and the third room 280 to control the flow of cold air flowing into the third room 280 is always kept closed. Control (step 330). As a result, no cold air is supplied to the third room 280 used as the storage space.

Then, the temperature of the second room 270 is controlled (step 340). At this time, in order to control the inflow of cold air to the second room 270, the driving of the first damper 180b provided between the second room 270 and the first room 260 is controlled. That is, when the first damper 180b is opened, cold air flows into the second room 270, and when the first damper 180b is closed, the flow of cold air introduced into the second room 270 is blocked.

After performing step 340, if it is determined that the temperature of the second room 270 maintains the proper temperature, the temperature of the first room 260 is controlled (step 350). That is, the cool air generated through the cooling cycle flows into the first room 260 to adjust the temperature of the first room 260 to an appropriate temperature.

In the present invention, it is possible to use one of a plurality of rooms as a storage space in a refrigerator having a refrigerating function and a freezing function. At this time, the interior of the premises used as a storage space, the space is located farthest based on the cold air supply distance (or evaporator). In addition, in order to control the temperature of the room performing the freezing function, characterized in that the control to separate the refrigeration function and the freezing function.

As described above, the present invention uses the unused room as a storage space, and controls the driving of the damper that controls the supply flow path of cold air in order to prevent unnecessary supply of cold air to the storage space. It is thought.                     

The rights of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, but are defined by the claims, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the claims. It is self-evident.

Therefore, the following effects can be expected due to the operation control apparatus and method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

The present invention can be controlled to selectively use the space used in the refrigerator to variably control the use capacity of the refrigerator.

That is, the present invention utilized a room not used as a storage space. In addition, the damper is controlled to completely block the supply of cold air to the room used as the storage space, and at the same time, the cooling air is supplied only to the room currently used as the refrigeration / freezing function. Therefore, the present invention prevents unnecessary cold air leakage in a room not in use, thereby preventing the refrigeration efficiency from dropping and improving the power consumption of the refrigerator.

Claims (6)

A first room equipped with an evaporator; A second room having a first temperature sensor and receiving cold air from the first room; A refrigerator having a third room having a second temperature sensor and receiving cold air from the second room: A selection step of selecting whether to use the third room; A damper driving step of controlling a damper connected between the second room and the third room in an open or closed state in accordance with the use of the third room in the selection step; A first control step of controlling temperatures of the first room and the second room when the third room is unused in the selecting step; And a second control step of controlling the temperature of the first room, the second room, and the third room when the third room is selected as the use in the selection step, The first control step, When the temperature of the second room is satisfied based on the detected temperature of the first temperature sensor, the damper connected between the first room and the second room is controlled in a closed state, The second control step, When the temperature of the third room is satisfied based on the sensing temperature of the second temperature sensor, the damper connected between the second room and the third room is controlled in a closed state, and based on the sensing temperature of the first temperature sensor. And controlling the damper connected between the first and second rooms in the closed state when the temperature of the second room is satisfied. The method of claim 1, The first control step, And controlling the driving of the fan installed in the first room. The method of claim 1, The second control step, And controlling driving of the first and second fans installed in the first and second rooms, respectively. A first room having an evaporator and equipped with a first fan circulating cold air generated in the evaporator in the room; A second room having a first temperature sensor and a second fan and receiving cold air from the first room; A third room having a second temperature sensor and receiving cold air from the second room; A first damper mounted between the first room and the second room, the first damper opening and closing the cold air supply to the second room according to a temperature sensing result of the first temperature sensor; A second damper mounted between the second room and the third room, the second damper opening and closing the cold air supply to the third room according to the temperature sensing result of the second temperature sensor; A signal input means for inputting whether or not to use the refrigerator; When the third room unused signal is input through the signal input means, the second damper comprises a microcontroller for driving control in a closed state. The method of claim 4, wherein The microcontroller controls the first damper to open when the third room is not in use, and controls the driving of the first fan of the first room to control the temperature of the second room based on the first temperature sensor. Operation control apparatus of the refrigerator, characterized in that. The method of claim 4, wherein The microcontroller controls the second damper to the closed state when the temperature of the third room is satisfied based on the sensing temperature of the second temperature sensor when the third room is in use, and based on the sensing temperature of the first temperature sensor. And controlling the first damper in the closed state when the temperature of the second room is satisfied, and controlling the driving of the first and second fans during the control.

Images