KR101395119B1 - Refrigerator and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a refrigerator which controls a reference temperature which is a control element for controlling a cooling cycle of a refrigerator,

The method includes sensing temperature of a duct space of a storage compartment; Sensing a temperature of the storage space of the storage; And performing a temperature correction for correcting an operating point temperature of the compressor according to the duct temperature using the sensed temperature of the storage space.

Description

[0002] Refrigerator and control method [0003]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method, and more particularly, to a refrigerator and a control method for controlling a reference temperature, which is a control element for controlling a cooling cycle of a refrigerator,

The refrigerator has a main body in which at least one reservoir is formed, and a refrigeration system for cooling the food stored in the reservoir.

A general refrigeration system includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor at a high temperature and a high pressure through heat dissipation, and a cooling function for absorbing latent heat in the surroundings while the refrigerant is evaporated by receiving the refrigerant from the condenser And at least one evaporator for cooling the surrounding air.

In the storage room, a blowing fan for blowing the air having passed through the evaporator to the storage room and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the storage room are provided.

The refrigerator is provided with a temperature control unit for controlling the degree of cooling of each reservoir and a control unit for controlling the load including the compressor and the blower fan according to the temperature level selected by the temperature control unit. Here, the control unit includes a microcomputer with a built-in control program, and the control unit controls the loads such as the compressor and the blower fan based on the respective temperature sensors and the set temperature level.

On the other hand, since the temperature sensor is installed on the outer wall of the reservoir and thus the temperature inside the compartment is controlled by a sensor installed on the side wall of the reservoir, scattering may occur depending on the setting characteristics of the actual space temperature.

Also, the actual temperature in the reservoir may not reach the user-set temperature level depending on the ambient temperature condition or the amount of stored food.

That is, since the actual temperature of the storage tank exceeds the upper limit or the lower limit of the temperature that can be controlled through the temperature control unit, there is a problem that the stored food is subcooled or the food is easily deteriorated due to insufficient cooling.

Therefore, when a difference between the room temperature of the storage room and the actual temperature of the storage room occurs, the detected room temperature value is corrected by a method of replacing a part such as a diode interposed between the temperature sensor and the control unit, And the temperature value is corrected by adjusting the variable resistance connected to the refrigerator. However, such a compensation method is inconvenient because the components are not easily replaced, and the resistance value of the variable resistor may change during the movement of the refrigerator. In addition, when the customer requested to modify the storage temperature, it was difficult to respond.

Conventionally, when a difference between the room temperature of the storage room and the actual temperature of the storage room is generated, a method of replacing parts such as a diode interposed between the temperature sensor and the control unit or adjusting a variable resistance connected to the temperature sensor, So that the resistance value of the variable resistor is likely to change in the process of moving the refrigerator.

In addition, since the temperature sensor is installed on the outer wall of the reservoir, the temperature in the reservoir can not be precisely measured, so that there is a problem that the temperature of the actual space must be slightly scattered.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator and a control method capable of reducing temperature defects in a storage tank by automatically correcting the temperature of a storage compartment .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator and a control method for correcting a storage temperature of a storage compartment, wherein the temperature can be conveniently compensated from the outside after the product assembly is completed.

Technical Solution According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a first temperature sensor installed outside a storage compartment to sense a temperature of a duct space; A second temperature sensor installed inside the storage room for sensing the temperature of the storage space; And a controller for controlling the temperature correction for correcting the operating point temperature of the compressor according to the duct temperature using the sensed temperature of the storage space.

And further includes a display unit for displaying a temperature correction operation.

In addition, the controller performs the temperature correction according to a user's command.

The second temperature sensor is formed in the shape of a jig, and is detachably attached through the connector.

Further, the control unit corrects the duct temperature at the on-point of the compressor to the space temperature at the on-point of the compressor, and corrects the duct temperature at the off-point of the compressor to the space temperature at the off-

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting a temperature of a duct space of a storage tank, Sensing a temperature of the storage space of the storage; And performing a temperature correction for correcting an operating point temperature of the compressor according to the duct temperature using the sensed temperature of the storage space.

In addition, the step of calibrating may further include: determining whether the average temperature of the space temperature sensed at the on and off operating points of the compressor matches a preset reference temperature; And correcting the operating point temperature of the compressor if it does not coincide with the determination result.

And correcting a duct temperature at an operating point of the compressor to a space temperature at an operating point of the compressor, and correcting a duct temperature at an off-operating point of the compressor to a space Calibrate to temperature.

According to the present invention, when the user or the manufacturing manager needs to correct the reference temperature even after completion of assembling the product or during use of the product, it is possible to visually check and correct the reference temperature correction state set by inputting the temperature correction key have.

Also, it is easy to correct the temperature of the reference temperature to control the cooling cycle of the refrigerator or the kimchi refrigerator to be used for a long time, and the reference temperature is precisely corrected according to the actual temperature in the storage space, The reliability can be enhanced.

Also, in the case of the Kimchi refrigerator, it is possible to prevent the food from being frozen or frozen due to a slight temperature difference, and thus, the quality of the Kimchi refrigerator is greatly improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a side view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a Kimchi refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1A includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor at a high temperature and a high pressure through heat dissipation, and a refrigerant from the condenser, And at least one evaporator for cooling the surrounding air by a cooling action absorbing the latent heat of the surroundings.

The refrigerator 1 is provided with at least one storage room 10 and 20 and includes a blowing fan for blowing the air having passed through the evaporator to the storage rooms 10 and 20, 2 are installed in the cool air ducts on the rear wall of the storage tanks 10 and 20 so as to indirectly detect the temperatures of the first and second storage tanks 10 and 20 respectively and to detect the duct temperature of the ducts corresponding to the first and second storage tanks 1 temperature sensors 11 and 21 are provided.

In addition, the refrigerator (1) is provided with a controller (130) for controlling a load including a compressor and a blower fan according to a set temperature of each of the storage rooms (10, 20).

Here, the control unit 130 includes a control program for on / off controlling the operation of the compressor in accordance with the cooling cycle, and controls the loads such as the compressor and the blower fan based on the respective first temperature sensors 11, do. Detailed features of the control unit 130 in the present embodiment will be described later.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 is provided with second temperature sensors 12 and 22 for sensing a room temperature in each storage compartment so as to correct the operating point temperature of the compressor stored in the controller 130. [

The second temperature sensors 12 and 22 are installed on any one of a plurality of shelves provided in the respective storage tanks 10 and 20 or on a shelf among a plurality of shelves provided in the doors of the storage tanks 10 and 20 . At this time, since the cable connected to the control unit may be short-circuited due to the movement of the shelf, the second temperature sensors 12, 22, 32, and 42 may be wirelessly connected to the control unit.

1C and FIG. 1D, the second temperature sensors 12, 22, 32 and 42 are formed in a jig shape and are installed in a specific space of the storage tank, thereby detecting the space temperature of the storage tank more precisely .

In addition, the second temperature sensors 12 and 22 are detachably connected through the connector, so that the manufacturing manager can easily correct the operating point of the compressor during service, And can be used by being electrically connected to the control unit through the connector only when necessary.

That is, the second degree sensors 12 and 22 are electrically connected to the controller 130, and when the space temperature sensing control signal is inputted from the controller 130, And transmits the sensed temperature to the controller 130.

The Kimchi refrigerator 2 shown in FIG. 1B is provided with at least one first and second storage basins 30 and 40, such as the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1A.

The first temperature sensors 31 and 41 are provided on the outer walls of the respective storage basins 30 and 40 of the Kimchi refrigerator 2 to sense the indirect temperatures of the respective storage rooms, do.

The second temperature sensors 32 and 42 are provided in the respective storage spaces 30 and 40 of the Kimchi refrigerator 2 for sensing the spatial temperature of the storage space, which is the actual temperature of each storage space.

Each of the second temperature sensors 32 and 42 senses the space temperature in each of the storage compartments according to an instruction from the control unit 130 and transmits them to the control unit 130.

2 is a configuration diagram of a temperature controller of a refrigerator according to the present invention and includes a power supply unit 110, an input unit 120, a controller 130, a first temperature sensor unit 140, a second temperature sensor unit 150, And a display unit 160, which will be described with reference to FIG. 1A.

The power supply unit 110 converts the power input from the external commercial power supply into a power supply required for the operation of each component and supplies the power to each component.

The input unit 120 receives an operation from a user and transmits a signal corresponding to the inputted operation to the control unit 130. [

Here, the input unit 120 is provided with a temperature control key for controlling the degree of cooling of each reservoir and a temperature correction key for instructing temperature correction of the operating point of the compressor.

The control unit 130 determines whether at least one storage temperature instruction signal is input from the input unit 120 while operating in a normal cooling cycle according to a preset operating point temperature of the compressor.

In addition, the temperature correction signal input to the controller 130 is set in the control program built in the controller 130, and the temperature can be automatically corrected at predetermined intervals.

Also, the controller 130 determines whether the detected temperature is greater than the midpoint of the operating point temperature of the compressor. If the detected temperature exceeds the midpoint temperature, the controller 130 controls the compressor to be turned on do.

If the detected temperature from the first temperature sensor is below the ON-point temperature, the controller 130 determines whether the detected temperature exceeds the OFF-point temperature of the compressor operating point temperature. If the detected temperature exceeds the OFF-point temperature, And when the temperature is equal to or lower than the off-point temperature, the operation of the compressor is controlled to be off.

In addition, the controller 130 transmits a temperature sensing command signal to detect a space temperature in the storage tank through the second temperature sensor while the compressor is operating. When the space temperature in the storage tank is transmitted through the second temperature sensor, And determines the sensed temperature at the time when the compressor is turned on and off during the temperature.

Here, the temperature sensed at the ON time during one cooling cycle in which the compressor is turned on and off is the highest temperature among the space temperatures sensed through the second temperature sensor, and the sensed temperature is sensed through the second temperature sensor The lowest temperature among the space temperatures.

That is, the controller 130 determines the highest temperature and the lowest temperature among the spatial temperatures sensed by the second temperature sensor.

Further, the controller 130 compares the highest temperature determined in the current cooling cycle with the highest temperature determined in the immediately preceding cooling cycle, and determines whether the lowest temperature determined in the current cooling cycle is the same as the lowest temperature detected in the immediately preceding cooling cycle Compare.

If the present maximum temperature, the immediately preceding maximum temperature, the present minimum temperature and the immediately preceding minimum temperature are all the same, the control unit 130 controls the compressor to perform the next cooling cycle. At this time, it is determined whether the number of cooling cycles having the lowest temperature and the highest temperature equal to each other exceeds a preset number of times.

That is, the controller 130 controls the operation of the compressor to perform the next cooling cycle when the number of times is equal to or less than the preset number, and calculates the average temperature of the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature when the number of times exceeds the preset number.

The control unit 130 compares the calculated average temperature with a preset reference temperature. When the average temperature and the reference temperature are equal, the control unit 130 operates in a normal cooling cycle after completing the correction. If the average temperature and the reference temperature are not equal, And the on-point temperature and the off-point temperature which are the point temperatures are corrected based on the error between the average temperature and the reference temperature.

Here, the predetermined reference temperature is an average value of the off-point temperature and the on-point temperature, which are operating points of the compressor in the present cooling cycle.

If the temperature of at least one of the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature is not equal to the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature of the immediately preceding cooling cycle, the control unit 130 replaces the maximum temperature sensed in the immediately preceding cooling cycle with the maximum temperature sensed in the present cooling cycle And also replaces the lowest temperature detected in the immediately preceding cooling cycle with the lowest temperature sensed in the current cooling cycle.

Further, the control unit 130 determines whether the number of replacement of the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature exceeds a preset number of times. If the number exceeds the preset number, the control unit 130 informs the user and the manager of the end of correction and the correction error, To control the operation of the compressor.

The first temperature sensor unit 140 comprises at least one first temperature sensor 11, 21 for sensing the indirect temperature of each reservoir, that is, the temperature of the cold air duct, to control the operation of the compressor.

The second temperature sensor unit 150 includes at least one first temperature sensor 12, 22 for sensing at least one space temperature in the storage space for correcting the operating point temperature of the compressor previously stored in the controller 130 .

The second temperature sensor unit 150 drives the second temperature sensor of the storage tank according to an instruction from the control unit 130 and senses the space temperature of the storage tank and transmits the sensed space temperature to the control unit 130.

In addition, the detection signal sensed through each sensor is subjected to post-A / D conversion, that is, sampling of an analog signal at a predetermined frequency in an A / D conversion unit (not shown) amplified by a predetermined electric signal in an amplification unit Converts the digital data into corresponding digital data, and transmits the digital data to the control unit. Here, the amplifying unit and the A / D converting unit may be separate from the control unit, but may be a control unit having a function of amplification and A / D conversion.

The display unit 160 indicates that the temperature is being corrected, displays the temperature correction error, displays the temperature correction completion indication, and indicates that the normal cycle operation is being performed, in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 130. [

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the refrigerator temperature control method according to the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 1A and 2.

When the temperature correction instruction signal is inputted 310 from the user or the manufacturing manager during the operation control in the cooling cycle according to the adjusted degree of cooling after the degree of cooling of each of the reservoirs 10 and 20 is controlled through the input unit 120, ), And the controller 130 determines the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor.

At this time, it is determined whether the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensors 11 and 21 exceeds an on-point temperature which is a driving point of the compressor 311. If the temperature exceeds the on-point temperature, the compressor is turned on 312, If the temperature sensed by the sensors 11 and 21 is below the ON-point temperature, it is determined 321 whether the sensed temperature exceeds the OFF-point temperature of the operating point of the compressor.

At this time, if the temperature sensed from the first temperature sensors 11 and 21 exceeds the off-point temperature, the compressor is continuously operated to continue the cooling cycle. If the temperature is lower than the off-point temperature, the compressor is turned off 322 .

When the temperature sensing command signal is transmitted through the second temperature sensors 12 and 22 to detect the space temperature in the storage space during the cooling cycle, the second temperature sensor senses the space temperature in the storage space To the control unit.

At this time, the controller 130 discriminates 313 the sensed temperature at the time when the compressor is turned on and off among the space temperatures transmitted through the second temperature sensors 12 and 22.

Here, the temperature sensed at the compressor's on-time during the one cooling cycle while the compressor is on and off is the highest of the compressor room temperatures sensed through the second compressor, It is the lowest temperature among the space temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor.

That is, the highest temperature and the lowest temperature among the spatial temperatures sensed by the second temperature sensors 12 and 22 are discriminated.

Next, the highest temperature determined in the current cooling cycle is compared with the highest temperature determined in the immediately preceding cooling cycle, and the comparison is made (314) whether the lowest temperature currently sensed and the lowest temperature sensed in the immediately preceding cooling cycle are the same.

The drive of the compressor is controlled so as to perform the next cooling cycle when the next highest temperature and the immediately preceding maximum temperature and both the present minimum temperature and the immediately previous minimum temperature are the same.

At this time, it is determined (315, 316) whether the number of cycles having the lowest temperature and the highest temperature exceed the predetermined number (n).

That is, when the number of times is equal to or less than the set number n, the driving of the compressor is controlled so as to perform the next cooling cycle. When the set number n is exceeded, the average temperature T2avg of the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature is calculated.

If the average temperature (T2avg) and the reference temperature are the same, the correction is terminated (318). Then, the operation is performed in a normal cooling cycle (319) If the temperatures are not the same, the operating point (T1on) and the off-point temperature (T1off), which are the operating points of the compressor, are corrected (320).

The reference temperature is an average value of the off-point temperature and the on-point temperature, which are operating points of the compressor in the present cooling cycle.

If at least one of the highest temperature and the lowest temperature is not equal to the highest temperature and the lowest temperature in the immediately preceding cooling cycle in step 314 of comparing the highest temperature and the lowest temperature, Replacing the detected maximum temperature in the cooling cycle and also replacing the lowest temperature detected in the immediately preceding cooling cycle with the lowest temperature sensed in the current cooling cycle (323).

(324) whether or not the number of times of the cooling cycle for replacing the next highest temperature and the lowest temperature exceeds a preset number of times (S). If the number of times of cooling cycles exceeds the preset number of times (S) And notifies the user and manager by generating a display and an audible alarm (326), and if so, controls the operation of the compressor to perform the next cooling cycle.

1A is a side view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

1B is a perspective view of a Kimchi refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

1C is a side view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

1D is a perspective view of a Kimchi refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a control block diagram of a temperature control apparatus for a refrigerator according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a temperature of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

1: Refrigerator 2: Kimchi refrigerator

10, 30: first storage bin 20, 40: second storage bin

11, 21, 31, 41: a first temperature sensor

12, 22, 32, 42: a second temperature sensor

110: power supply unit 120: input unit

130: control unit 140: first temperature sensor unit

150: second temperature sensor unit 160: display unit

Claims (8)

A first temperature sensor installed outside the storage space for sensing the temperature of the duct space; A second temperature sensor installed inside the storage room for sensing the temperature of the storage space; And a controller for performing temperature correction for correcting the operating point temperature of the compressor according to the duct temperature using the sensed temperature of the storage space. The method according to claim 1, And a display unit for displaying the temperature correction operation. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the controller performs the temperature correction according to a user's instruction. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the second temperature sensor is removably attachable to a connector formed on the inner side of the storage case. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the controller corrects the duct temperature at the on-operation point of the compressor to the space temperature at the on-operation point of the compressor and adjusts the duct temperature at the off-operation point of the compressor to the space temperature at the off- And correcting the temperature of the refrigerator. Sensing the temperature of the duct space of the reservoir; Sensing a temperature of the storage space of the storage; And correcting the operating point temperature of the compressor according to the duct temperature based on the sensed temperature of the storage space. The method according to claim 6, Wherein the correcting step comprises: determining whether an average temperature of the space temperature sensed at the on and off operating points of the compressor matches a preset reference temperature; And correcting the operating point temperature of the compressor if the temperature does not coincide with the result of the determination. 8. The method of claim 7, Wherein the correcting step corrects the duct temperature at the on-operation point of the compressor to the space temperature at the on-operation point of the compressor, and adjusts the duct temperature at the off- The temperature of the refrigerator is corrected by the temperature.

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