CN115930538A - Refrigerator, odor removal device for refrigerator and odor removal method - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a refrigerator, an odor removing device for the refrigerator and an odor removing method. The refrigerator includes an air duct for air flow and a refrigerating chamber in fluid communication with the air duct, the odor removing device including: an odor sensing unit adapted to measure and output a real-time odor concentration value of a gas within the refrigerated compartment or the air duct; a control unit electrically connected with the odor sensing unit and adapted to receive the real-time odor concentration values, determine an odor concentration level of the gas based on a preset correspondence between each odor concentration value range and each odor concentration level and the real-time odor concentration values, and perform an operation based on the odor concentration level of the gas. The problems of low degerming and odor removing efficiency, high energy consumption and the like caused by the periodic and circular operation of the degerming and odor removing unit can be avoided.

Description

Refrigerator, odor removal device for refrigerator and odor removal method

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of gas purification, in particular to a refrigerator, a smell removing device for the refrigerator and a smell removing method.

Background

The refrigerator can keep food stored in the refrigerating chamber fresh. In the environment enclosed by the refrigerated compartment, bacteria may grow over time and the food may produce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that form an off-flavor.

However, the existing means for eliminating bacteria (sterilization) and odor (deodorization) are low in efficiency and high in power consumption.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerator, odour removal apparatus for a refrigerator and method of odour removal.

To solve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides an odor removing device for a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an air duct for air flow and a refrigerating chamber in fluid communication with the air duct, the odor removing device including: an odor sensing unit adapted to measure and output a real-time odor concentration value of a gas within the refrigeration compartment or the air duct; a control unit electrically connected with the odor sensing unit and adapted to receive the real-time odor concentration values, determine odor concentration levels of the gas based on the real-time odor concentration values and preset correspondence between the respective odor concentration value ranges and the respective odor concentration levels, and perform an operation based on the odor concentration levels of the gas.

Optionally, the odour removal apparatus comprises a built-in fan arranged adjacent the odour sensing unit to convey the gases within the refrigeration chamber or the air duct to the odour sensing unit.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an evaporation fan, and a double damper having a refrigeration damper and a filter damper, the odour removal apparatus comprising an odour removal unit, the control unit being adapted to: judging whether the accumulated working time of the odor removal device exceeds a preset time or not; if the accumulated working time exceeds the preset time, judging whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than the preset temperature, if so, enabling the evaporation fan not to work, if not, firstly enabling the refrigeration air door and the filtering air door to be closed, then enabling the evaporation fan to operate for a first time, enabling the peculiar smell removing unit or the smell sensing unit to operate for a second time, and then enabling the refrigeration air door and the filtering air door to be opened.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises a display panel, the control unit being adapted to perform an operation of sending an odor concentration level relating to the gas to the display panel based on the determined odor concentration of the gas.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises a communication unit, the control unit being adapted to perform an operation of sending an odor concentration level relating to the gas to the communication unit based on the determined odor concentration of the gas.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an alert unit, the control unit being adapted to perform an operation of sending an odor concentration level relating to the gas to the alert unit based on the determined odor concentration of the gas.

Optionally, the odor sensing unit comprises a semiconductor type odor sensing unit, and a resistance value of a gas sensitive resistor of the semiconductor type odor sensing unit is in a range of greater than or equal to 10K Ω to less than or equal to 10M Ω.

Optionally, the odor concentration levels comprise low odor concentration levels, the correspondence comprising a first correspondence in which a first odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistance greater than 1M Ω and less than or equal to 10M Ω corresponds to a low odor concentration level.

Optionally, the odor removal apparatus comprises an odor removal unit, the control unit adapted to determine that the real-time odor concentration value is within a first odor concentration value range, determine the odor concentration level of the gas as a low odor concentration level based on the first correspondence, and perform an operation to deactivate the odor removal unit based on the low odor concentration level.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an evaporation fan, and a double damper having a refrigeration damper and a filtration damper, the control unit being adapted to perform operations of deactivating the odor eliminating unit, deactivating the evaporation fan, and opening both the refrigeration damper and the filtration damper based on a low odor concentration level.

Optionally, the odor concentration levels comprise higher odor concentration levels, the correspondence comprises a second correspondence in which a second odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistance being greater than or equal to 300K Ω and less than or equal to 1M Ω corresponds to the higher odor concentration levels.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an evaporation fan, and a dual damper having a refrigeration damper and a filter damper, the control unit being adapted to determine that the real-time odour concentration value lies within a second odour concentration value range, to determine the odour concentration level of the gas to be a higher odour concentration level based on the second correspondence, and to perform the following operations based on the higher odour concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than a preset temperature, if so, closing the refrigerating air door and the filtering air door and operating the evaporation fan, and if not, opening the refrigerating air door, closing the filtering air door and operating the evaporation fan.

Optionally, the odor concentration levels include very high odor concentration levels, the correspondence including a third correspondence in which a third odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistance greater than or equal to 10K Ω and less than 300K Ω corresponds to the very high odor concentration levels.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an evaporation fan, the odor removing arrangement comprises an odor removal unit, the control unit is adapted to determine that the real-time odor concentration value is within a third odor concentration value range, to determine the odor concentration level of the gas to be a very high odor concentration level based on a third correspondence, and to perform the following operations based on the very high odor concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than a preset temperature, if so, enabling the evaporation fan not to work, and if not, enabling the evaporation fan and the peculiar smell removal unit to work.

Optionally, the refrigerator includes and has a dual damper with a refrigeration damper and a filter damper, and performing the following operations based on the very high odor concentration level includes: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct is lower than a preset temperature, if not, enabling the evaporation fan and the peculiar smell removing unit to work, and enabling the refrigerating air door and the filtering air door to be closed.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a refrigerator which comprises an air duct for air flow, a refrigerating chamber communicated with the air duct in a fluid mode, and the odor removing device.

Optionally, the odor elimination device is disposed within the air duct or within the refrigerated compartment.

Optionally, the refrigerator includes a dual damper disposed in the air duct, the dual damper having a refrigeration damper disposed to selectively regulate an air flow through the refrigeration damper and a filter damper disposed to selectively regulate an air flow through the filter damper and filter the air flow through the filter damper.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises a display panel adapted to receive and display the odor concentration level of the gas output by the control unit.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises a communication unit adapted to receive and send the odor concentration level of the gas output by the control unit to the other communication device.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an alarm unit adapted to receive the odor concentration level of the gas output by the control unit and to issue a corresponding alarm signal based on the odor concentration level of the gas.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for deodorizing a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an air duct for air flow and a refrigerating chamber in fluid communication with the air duct, the method comprising: measuring a real-time odor concentration value of gas in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct; determining the odor concentration grade of the gas based on the preset corresponding relation between each odor concentration value range and each odor concentration grade and the real-time odor concentration value, and executing operation based on the odor concentration grade of the gas.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an evaporation fan, and a double damper having a refrigeration damper and a filter damper, the odour removal apparatus comprising an odour removal unit, the odour removal method being adapted to: judging whether the accumulated working time of the odor removal device exceeds a preset time or not; if the accumulated working time exceeds the preset time, judging whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than the preset temperature, if so, enabling the evaporation fan not to work, if not, firstly enabling the refrigeration air door and the filtering air door to be closed, then enabling the evaporation fan to operate for a first time length, enabling the peculiar smell removing unit to operate for a second time length, and then enabling the refrigeration air door and the filtering air door to be opened.

Optionally, measuring the real-time odor concentration value of the gas within the refrigeration compartment or duct comprises: the real-time peculiar smell concentration value of the gas in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct is measured through the semiconductor type smell sensing unit, and the resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor of the semiconductor type smell sensing unit is in the range from more than or equal to 10K omega to less than or equal to 10M omega.

Optionally, the preset correspondence between the respective flavor intensity values and the respective flavor intensity levels includes: a first correspondence in which a first odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor greater than 1M Ω and less than or equal to 10M Ω corresponds to a low odor concentration level; a second correspondence in which a second odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas-sensitive resistor of 300K Ω or more and 1M Ω or less corresponds to a higher odor concentration level; a third correspondence in which a third odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor of 10K Ω or more and less than 300K Ω corresponds to a very high odor concentration level.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an odour removal unit, the odour removal method comprising: determining that the real-time odor concentration value is within a first odor concentration value range; determining the odor concentration level of the gas to be a low odor concentration level based on the first corresponding relation; the operation of deactivating the odor removal unit is performed based on the low odor concentration level.

Optionally, the refrigerator includes an evaporation fan, and a dual damper having a refrigeration damper and a filtration damper, the odor elimination method comprising: determining that the real-time odor concentration value is within a second odor concentration value range; determining the odor concentration level of the gas to be a higher odor concentration level based on the second corresponding relation; performing the following operations based on the higher odor concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than a preset temperature, if so, closing the refrigerating air door and the filtering air door and operating the evaporation fan, and if not, opening the refrigerating air door, closing the filtering air door and operating the evaporation fan.

Optionally, the refrigerator comprises an evaporation fan, the odour removal apparatus comprises an odour removal unit, and the odour removal method comprises: determining that the real-time odor concentration value is in a third odor concentration value range; determining the odor concentration level of the gas to be a very high odor concentration level based on the third corresponding relation; performing the following operations based on a very high odor concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct is lower than a preset temperature, if so, enabling the evaporation fan not to work, and if not, enabling the evaporation fan and the peculiar smell removing unit to work.

Compared with the prior art, the technical scheme of the embodiment of the invention has beneficial technical effects.

For example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may measure a real-time odor concentration value of a gas in a refrigerating chamber or an air duct, determine an odor concentration level of the gas based on a preset correspondence between each odor concentration value range and each odor concentration level and the real-time odor concentration value, and perform an operation based on the odor concentration level of the gas. The problems of low degerming and odor removing efficiency, high energy consumption and the like caused by periodic and cyclic operation of a degerming and odor removing unit of a refrigerator in the prior art can be solved.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform an operation of transmitting an odor concentration level with respect to a gas to a display panel of a refrigerator based on the odor concentration level of the gas. This allows the user to observe the odor concentration level of the air in the compartment, so as to actively perform the sterilization and deodorization operation on the refrigerator, and timely treat the food in the compartment.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform an operation of transmitting the odor concentration level of the gas to a communication unit of the refrigerator based on the odor concentration level of the gas, and the communication unit may transmit information about the odor concentration level of the gas to a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal by way of wired or wireless communication. The method can lead the user to timely obtain the information of the odor concentration grade of the gas in the refrigerating chamber of the refrigerator, thereby actively carrying out sterilization and deodorization operation on the refrigerator and timely processing the food in the refrigerating chamber.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform an operation of sending an odor concentration level related to a gas to an alarm unit of a refrigerator based on the odor concentration level of the gas, and the alarm unit may send a corresponding alarm signal based on the odor concentration level of the gas, such as an acoustic signal with different intensity or frequency, and an optical signal with different color or brightness. The method can lead the user to timely know the information of the odor concentration grade of the gas in the refrigerating chamber of the refrigerator, thereby actively carrying out sterilization and deodorization operation on the refrigerator and timely processing the food in the refrigerating chamber.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform the operation of deactivating the odor eliminating unit based on a low odor concentration level of the gas. This can prevent the odor removing unit from operating when the gas is at a low odor concentration level, thereby reducing power consumption.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform operations of not operating the odor removing unit, not operating the evaporation fan of the refrigerator, and opening both the refrigeration damper and the filter damper of the double damper in the refrigerator based on the low odor concentration level. This can both prevent the odor eliminating unit from operating when the gas is at a low odor concentration level and allow the gas to flow naturally in a loop including the refrigerating compartment and the duct based on simultaneous opening of the refrigerating damper and the filtering damper.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform an operation based on a higher odor concentration level, where the operation includes: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct is lower than a preset temperature or not, if so, closing the refrigerating air door and the filtering air door and enabling the evaporation fan to work. This can make when the temperature of the gas in the cold-storage room or wind channel is lower than the preset temperature make refrigeration damper and filtration damper close to carry out degerming and remove the operation of flavor to the gas that is in higher peculiar smell concentration.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform an operation based on a higher odor concentration level, where the operation includes: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct is lower than a preset temperature, if not, opening the refrigerating air door, closing the filtering air door and enabling the evaporation fan to work. This can give a higher priority to the demand for cooling of the air in the refrigerated compartment or duct when the temperature of the air in the refrigerated compartment or duct is not lower than a preset temperature. Namely, even if the gas is at a higher odor concentration level, if refrigeration is needed, the refrigeration damper still needs to be opened, so that part of the gas can flow in a relatively sufficient circulating manner, and meanwhile, the filtering damper is closed to filter the other part of the gas, so that the requirements of the refrigeration and the sterilization and odor removal of the gas at the higher odor concentration are met.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform an operation based on a very high odor concentration level, where the operation includes: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than a preset temperature, if so, stopping the evaporation fan, and if not, operating the evaporation fan and the peculiar smell removing unit. The air conditioner has the advantages that the evaporation fan stops working when the temperature of air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than the preset temperature, and the evaporation fan and the odor removal unit work when the temperature of air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is not lower than the preset temperature, so that odor removal can be performed on the basis of the air for refrigeration, and the requirements of both refrigeration and sterilization and odor removal are met.

For another example, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention may perform the following operations based on the very high odor concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber or the air channel is lower than a preset temperature, if not, enabling the evaporation fan and the peculiar smell removing unit to work, and enabling the refrigerating air door and the filtering air door to be closed. This does not flow the gas through the refrigeration damper but only filters and flows the gas through the closed filter damper when the gas is at a very high odor concentration level, thereby more effectively performing degerming and deodorization while performing refrigeration.

Further features of the invention will appear from the claims, from the drawings and from the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations specified in the above description and/or in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be present not only in the combination specified but also in other combinations or individually without departing from the scope of the invention. Embodiments of the invention which are not described and are not specifically shown in the drawings but can be conceived from detailed embodiments and derived from a combination of features, are thus to be considered to be included and disclosed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 isbase:Sub>A cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a dual damper embodiment of the present invention with both dampers closed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a dual damper embodiment of the present invention with both dampers open;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the construction of an odor elimination apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a housing of an odor elimination apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an odor sensing unit and a control unit mounted on a substrate in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an odor elimination method for a refrigerator in an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The gas in the cold storage room or the air duct usually has an offensive odor, which on the one hand can be sensed more sensitively by a person, and on the other hand the existing odor sensing unit cannot detect quantitatively.

To this technical problem, in an embodiment of the present invention, a test is performed based on an odor sensing unit (e.g., a semiconductor-type odor sensing unit), a quantitative correspondence is established between several odor concentration ranges and several odor concentration levels, and a corresponding, specific odor concentration level thereof can be determined based on a real-time odor concentration value, so that a corresponding operation can be effectively performed.

The existing refrigerator only has a degerming unit or a smell removal unit, but does not have a peculiar smell detection unit, and the degerming unit or the smell removal unit can only work circularly based on a fixed period, but can not be used for purposefully starting the smell removal unit according to the peculiar smell concentration, so that the gas in a refrigerating chamber or an air duct is possibly not started when the gas has a high peculiar smell concentration value, and the smell removal unit is started when the gas has a low peculiar smell concentration value, so that the degerming and smell removal efficiency is low, and the smell removal unit consumes more energy.

To solve the technical problem, in an embodiment of the present invention, an odor sensing unit may measure and output a real-time odor concentration value of a gas in a refrigerating chamber or an air duct, and a control unit may determine an odor concentration level of the gas based on a preset correspondence between each odor concentration value range and each odor concentration level and the real-time odor concentration value, and perform an operation based on the odor concentration level of the gas, so that the sterilization and odor removal may be performed in a targeted manner, which not only improves the efficiency of the sterilization and odor removal, but also prevents the odor removal unit from consuming more energy.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas in the refrigerating chamber or the air duct includes volatile gas, such as sulfide, amine ester, aldehyde, or ketone, and the odor sensing unit can detect the odor concentration value (i.e. real-time odor concentration value) related to the gas in real time.

In order to make the objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator.

Refrigerators are refrigerating apparatuses that provide a cooled space (e.g., a refrigerating compartment such as a refrigerating chamber, a temperature-changing chamber, an ice-making chamber, a freezing chamber, etc.) and are used, for example, to cryogenically preserve articles such as food, including household refrigerators, industrial refrigerators, freezers, and the like.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 10 includes a freezing chamber 11, a refrigerating chamber 12 surrounded by a cabinet 13 and refrigerator doors (including a refrigerating chamber door 14 and a freezing chamber door).

The refrigerator 10 may include an odor elimination apparatus 200 for sterilizing and deodorizing.

The compressor 151, the condenser, the dryer, the capillary tube, the evaporator 152, and the compressor 151 in the refrigerator 10 may be sequentially connected to form a refrigeration circuit.

An evaporation fan 153 located near the evaporator 152 may circulate air around the evaporator 152 through the air duct 154 and the refrigeration compartment.

For example, the evaporation fan 153 may circulate air around it through the air duct 154, through the air inlet 155 of the refrigerating compartment 12 into the refrigerating compartment 12, and through the air outlet 156 of the refrigerating compartment 12 back to the air duct 154, thereby achieving a circulating flow of air.

The evaporation fan 153 circulates the air in the refrigerator, which facilitates both the input of cool air near the evaporator into the refrigerating compartment to improve the refrigerating efficiency and the rapid introduction of the air to the odor removal device 200 and/or the filter damper (described below), thereby improving the efficiency of sterilization and odor removal.

The evaporation fan 153 may be controlled to be selectively operated (e.g., to start operating or maintain operating) or not operated (e.g., to stop operating or maintain non-operating) based on the odor concentration level of the gas in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the duct 154, so that the efficiency of sterilization and odor removal is high and the energy consumed by the evaporation fan 153 is low.

For example, the control unit of the odor elimination device 200 may send a control signal to the evaporation fan 153 to make it active or inactive.

The odor elimination device 200 can be disposed within the refrigerated compartment 12 or within the air duct 154.

Specifically, the odor elimination device 200 may be disposed at the location of the top wall 121, the side wall 122 (including the left and right side walls), or the rear wall 123 of the refrigeration compartment 12.

The odor elimination device 200 can also be disposed in the air duct 154 near the evaporation fan 153, the air inlet 155 or the air outlet 156.

For example, by providing the odor elimination device 200 within the air duct 154 near the air outlet 156, the air exiting the refrigerated compartment 12 through the air outlet 156 and entering the air duct 154 can be made to flow mostly or entirely through the odor elimination device 200, which improves the efficiency of sterilization and odor elimination.

In one embodiment, the refrigerator includes an air filter 157 fixedly disposed within the air duct 154 for sterilizing and deodorizing the air within the air duct 154.

The air filter 157 includes a filter material, such as activated carbon, ceramic catalytic material. The active carbon has a porous structure, and can adsorb molecules or particles related to peculiar smell so as to perform deodorization and sterilization. Ceramic catalytic materials include ceramic materials with catalysts (e.g., semiconductor oxides, precious metals) added to their surfaces, which catalysts can decompose odor molecules, thereby deodorizing and sterilizing.

As shown in fig. 2-4, the refrigerator 10 may include dual dampers 160 disposed within the air ducts 154.

The dual damper 160 may include a refrigeration damper 161 and a filtration damper 162.

In one embodiment, dual dampers 160 may be positioned upstream of the refrigerated compartment 12 in the direction of the air flow so that the amount of air entering the refrigerated compartment 12 can be selectively controlled and the air entering the refrigerated compartment 12 can be selectively filtered.

In another embodiment, dual dampers 160 may be disposed downstream of the refrigerated compartment 12 in the direction of the gas flow, so that the amount of gas within the air duct 154 downstream of the refrigerated compartment 12 may be selectively controlled and the gas therein may be selectively filtered.

The refrigeration damper 161 may be configured to selectively regulate the amount of airflow through the refrigeration damper 161.

For example, the chilled air near the evaporator can be passed through the duct 154, through a refrigeration damper 161 therein, and to the refrigerated compartment 12 to provide refrigeration.

The refrigeration damper 161 includes a first blocking portion 161a that can be driven by a motor 163 to selectively fully open, partially open, or close an inlet 161b of the refrigeration damper 161, thereby selectively regulating the amount of air flow 161c flowing through the refrigeration damper 161.

The damper 162 may be configured to selectively regulate the amount of airflow through the damper 162 and to filter the airflow through the damper 162.

Specifically, on the one hand, the cool air near the evaporator can pass through the duct 154, through the filter damper 162 therein, to the refrigerating chamber 12, thereby cooling; on the other hand, the filter damper 162 can filter the odor in the gas passing therethrough, thereby performing sterilization and deodorization.

The filter damper 162 may include a second blocking portion 162b having a filter material 162a that may be driven by a motor 163 to selectively fully open, partially open, or close an inlet 162c of the filter damper 162, thereby selectively regulating the amount of airflow 162d flowing through the filter damper 162 and filtering the airflow 162d passing through the filter damper 162.

The filter material 162a is, for example, activated carbon or ceramic catalyst material.

Both refrigeration damper 161 and filter damper 162 may be controlled to selectively adjust the amount of airflow therethrough based on the concentration of odors in the refrigerated compartment 12 or the air duct 154, thereby making the effectiveness of the sterilization and odor elimination high.

For example, the control unit 220 may send a control signal to the refrigeration damper 161 to cause it to selectively adjust the first obstruction 161a to control the amount of airflow therethrough.

For example, the control unit 220 may send a control signal to the filter damper 162 to cause it to selectively adjust the second curtain portion 162b to control the amount of airflow therethrough.

The refrigerator 10 may include a display panel that may receive signals output by the odor elimination apparatus 200 relating to the odor concentration level of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the air duct 154 and may display the odor concentration level based thereon.

The refrigerator 10 may include a communication unit that may receive signals output by the odor elimination apparatus 200 relating to the odor concentration level of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the air duct 154, and may transmit information including the odor concentration level to other communication devices. This facilitates users holding other communication devices to know this information in a timely manner, providing a reference to whether they are performing relevant operations in real time or programmatically.

In particular, other communication devices may include mobile terminals (e.g. cell phones, PADs, laptops) and fixed terminals (e.g. desktop computers). The communication unit and other communication devices can communicate in a wired or wireless mode.

The refrigerator 10 may include an alarm unit that may receive a signal output by the odor elimination apparatus 200 related to the odor concentration level of the gas within the fresh food compartment 12 or the air duct 154 and may issue a corresponding alarm signal based on the signal.

For example, the odor concentration levels may include a low odor concentration level, a higher odor concentration level, and a very high odor concentration level, and the alarm unit may respectively emit light signals of different colors or brightnesses, sound signals of different volumes or frequencies, or corresponding voice prompts based on the received different odor concentration levels. This facilitates the user to know the information in a timely manner, and provides a reference for whether the user performs the relevant operation in real time or in a planned manner.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide an odor elimination apparatus 200 for a refrigerator 10.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, the odor removing device 200 includes a housing provided with an inner space to accommodate the odor sensing unit 210 and the control unit 220, the odor sensing unit 210, and the control unit 220.

In one embodiment, the housing includes a first portion 230a and a second portion 230b, and the first portion 230a and the second portion 230b may be joined to form an interior space.

In a specific implementation, as shown in fig. 5 and 7, the odor sensing unit 210 and the control unit 220 may be disposed on a substrate 211. In the example of fig. 5, the odor sensing unit 210 and the control unit 220 are disposed on a surface of the substrate 211 facing away from the viewing angle. In the example of fig. 6, the odor sensing unit 210 and the control unit 220 are arranged on a surface of the substrate 211 facing the viewing angle.

The odor sensing unit 210 and the control unit 220 may be electrically connected to each other directly through a wire, or may be electrically connected through a wire disposed on the substrate 211.

The odor sensing unit 210 may measure a real-time odor concentration value of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the duct 154 and output the real-time odor concentration value to the control unit 220.

In an implementation, the odor sensing unit 210 may continuously or periodically measure the odor concentration value of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the duct 154 in real-time.

The odor concentration value can be expressed by the proportion of odor molecules or particles in the gas in the refrigerator compartment 12 or the duct 154, such as a volume concentration value, a mass-volume concentration value, and the like.

The real-time odor concentration value is obtained by the odor sensing unit 210 measuring the gas in the refrigerator compartment 12 or the duct 154 in real time to obtain the odor concentration value of the gas in the current state.

In embodiments of the invention, the range of off-note concentration values comprises first, second and third ranges of off-note concentration values. An off-flavor concentration value greater than or equal to 0ppb (part per billion) and less than 100ppb can be determined as the first off-flavor concentration value range, which has a low off-flavor concentration; determining an off-flavor concentration value of greater than or equal to 100ppb and less than 300ppb as a second off-flavor concentration value range having a higher off-flavor concentration; an off-flavor concentration value of greater than or equal to 300ppb is determined as the third range of off-flavor concentration values, which has a very high off-flavor concentration.

In an implementation, the odor sensing unit 210 includes a semiconductor type odor sensing unit, such as a metal oxide odor sensing unit (MOS odor sensing unit). The real-time odor concentration value of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the air duct 154 may be measured by a semiconductor-type odor sensing unit.

The semiconductor type odor sensing unit can convert the measurement parameters such as the composition, the volume, the mass and/or the concentration of the sensed gas into electric parameters.

In an embodiment of the invention, the electrical parameter comprises a resistance value of a thermistor in the semiconductor type odour sensing unit.

The odor concentration value range corresponds to a range of the gas resistance having a resistance value of 10K Ω (kilo-ohm) or more and 10M Ω (mega-ohm) or less.

The first odor concentration value range corresponds to a range in which the resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor is greater than 1M Ω and less than or equal to 10M Ω.

The second odor concentration value range corresponds to a range in which the resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor is greater than or equal to 300K Ω and less than or equal to 1M Ω.

The third flavor concentration value range corresponds to a range in which the resistance value of the gas resistance is greater than or equal to 10K Ω and less than 300K Ω.

The control unit 220 is electrically connected to the odor sensing unit 210 so as to receive a signal output by the odor sensing unit 210 regarding information such as a real-time odor concentration value of the gas in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the air duct 154.

The control unit 220 may also send control signals to the odor sensing unit 210 to control the operating parameters of the odor sensing unit 210; the operation parameters include a time when the odor sensing unit 210 starts to operate or starts to be not operated, a length of time when the odor sensing unit starts to operate or is not operated, a sensing period, and the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, a correspondence is established between the respective flavor intensity value ranges and the respective flavor intensity grades, based on a preliminary test.

The correspondence may include a first correspondence. In the first correspondence, a first odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value having a gas-sensitive resistance greater than 1M Ω and less than or equal to 10M Ω corresponds to a low odor concentration level.

The correspondence may include a second correspondence. In the second correspondence, the second odor concentration value range associated with the resistance value of which the gas-sensitive resistance is greater than or equal to 300K Ω and less than or equal to 1M Ω corresponds to a higher odor concentration level.

The correspondence may include a third correspondence. In the third correspondence relationship, the third odor concentration value range associated with the resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor of 10K Ω or more and less than 300K Ω corresponds to a very high odor concentration level.

The control unit 220 may determine the odor concentration level of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the duct 154 based on the received real-time odor concentration values for the gas and the preset correspondence between the respective odor concentration value ranges and the respective odor concentration levels.

Specifically, the control unit 220 may receive the real-time odor concentration value output by the odor sensing unit 110, compare the real-time odor concentration value with preset ranges of different odor concentration values, thereby determining a range of odor concentration values in which the real-time odor concentration value is located, and determine an odor concentration level corresponding to the real-time odor concentration value based on a preset correspondence between each range of odor concentration values and each odor concentration level.

After determining a specific odor concentration level of the gas, the control unit 220 may send a signal regarding the odor concentration level to a display panel of the refrigerator 10, and the display panel may display the odor concentration level after receiving the signal.

After determining a specific odor concentration level of the gas, the control unit 220 may send a signal regarding the odor concentration level to a communication unit of the refrigerator 10, which, upon receiving the signal, may send information including the odor concentration level to other communication devices.

After determining the specific odor concentration level of the gas, the control unit 220 may send a signal related to the odor concentration level to an alarm unit of the refrigerator 10, and the alarm unit may send a corresponding alarm signal after receiving the signal.

The odor elimination device 200 can include an internal fan 240 disposed within the interior space enclosed by the housing.

The built-in fan 240 is adjacent to the odor sensing unit 210 to convey the air in the refrigerator compartment 12 or the duct 154 to the odor sensing unit 210.

For example, an air inlet (such as air inlet 231 shown in FIG. 6) can be provided at a corresponding location on the housing of the odor elimination device 200; the built-in fan 240 causes air to enter the interior space of the odor elimination device 200 through the air inlet, flow past the odor sensing unit 210, and exit the interior space from the air outlets 232a, 232 b.

The odor elimination device 200 can include an odor elimination unit. The peculiar smell removing unit can remove bacteria and remove smell by filtering or decomposing peculiar smell molecules or particles and the like.

In some embodiments of the invention, the odor removal unit comprises an ionizer assembly.

As shown in fig. 5, the ionizer assembly includes an ionizer 251a, a power supply module 251b, and a transformer. The transformer may raise a regular voltage to a high voltage and apply the high voltage to the electrodes of the ionizer 251a to perform electric discharge, thereby generating a large amount of negative ions and a small amount of ozone; the negative ions and ozone released into the surrounding environment can remove bacteria and odor and purify gas.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the odor eliminating unit may include a filter, and the filter may include activated carbon or a ceramic catalytic material.

As shown in FIG. 5, a filter 252 located within the housing of the odor elimination device 200 can directly adsorb or decompose particles or molecules associated with the odor.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, the odor removing unit may include an ultraviolet ray generator.

The ultraviolet generator comprises an ultraviolet light source which can generate ultraviolet rays, and odor molecules irradiated by the ultraviolet rays are easily decomposed, so that the sterilization and the odor removal can be realized. In some applications, the ultraviolet generator may further include a photocatalyst, and some active substances (such as hydroxyl radicals and trace ozone) are generated on the surface of the photocatalyst under the irradiation of ultraviolet rays, so that the ultraviolet generator has a better sterilization and odor removal effect.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the odor removing unit may be controlled (e.g., by the control unit 220) to operate or not operate.

For example, odor elimination device 200 may include an airflow directing unit that control unit 220 may control to pass airflow into odor elimination device 200 through or without the activated carbon purification module, thereby activating or deactivating the activated carbon purification module.

As another example, odor elimination apparatus 200 may include a flow direction unit, and control unit 220 may control the flow direction unit to allow air flow into odor elimination apparatus 200 to pass or not pass through the ceramic catalytic purification module, thereby activating or deactivating the ceramic catalytic purification module.

For another example, the control unit 220 may send a control signal to the ultraviolet generator, or control a switch of the ultraviolet generator to operate or not operate.

For another example, the control unit 220 may send a control signal to the ionizer assembly or control a switch of the ionizer assembly to operate or not operate.

In embodiments of the present invention, different types of odor eliminating units may be used alone or in combination within the odor elimination apparatus 200. For example, the ionizer assembly, the filter and the ultraviolet ray generator can be used individually or in combination in the odor elimination device 200 to achieve a better sterilization and odor elimination effect.

The odor elimination unit can be controlled to be selectively operative (e.g., to bring it into operation or maintain it in an operational state) or inoperative (e.g., to bring it out of operation or maintain it in an inoperative state) based on the odor concentration level of the gas in the refrigeration compartment 12 or the duct 154, thereby making the effectiveness of the sterilization and odor elimination higher and also making the odor elimination unit less energy consuming.

For example, the control unit 220 may send a control signal to the odor removal unit to operate or not operate it.

The odor elimination device 200 can include an indicator light 260. The control unit 220 controls the indicator lamp 260 to emit light signals of different colors or brightnesses according to the odor concentration level of the gas. The user can know the odor concentration level of the gas by observing the light signal when opening the refrigerator door.

The control unit 220 may determine a specific odor concentration value range in which the real-time odor concentration value is located, determine an odor concentration level of the gas based on a preset correspondence between each odor concentration value range and each odor concentration level, and perform an operation based on the determined specific odor concentration level.

This predetermined correspondence may be stored locally to the odor elimination device 200. For example, the odor elimination device 200 includes a memory in which the preset correspondence is stored in advance; after the control unit 200 receives the real-time odor concentration value, the control unit 200 may read the preset corresponding relationship from the memory, so as to determine a specific odor concentration value range in which the real-time odor concentration value is located and an odor concentration level of the gas.

In particular implementations, the control unit 220 may control the odor removal unit, the evaporation fan 153, the refrigeration damper 161, and/or the filter damper 162 to be selectively operated or not operated based on the determined, particular odor concentration level.

In a specific implementation, the control unit 220 may compare the preset temperature with the temperature of the refrigerating compartment measured by the temperature sensor. When the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 12 or the air duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature, the refrigerating chamber 12 does not need to be refrigerated or the temperature is lowered; when the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 12 or the air duct 154 is not lower than the preset temperature, the refrigerating chamber 12 needs to be refrigerated or the temperature is lowered. The preset temperature may be preset according to different regions, environments, or user habits. The preset temperature is, for example, 0 degrees celsius.

The rotational speed of the evaporation fan 153 may vary.

For example, the higher the measured temperature of the refrigerating compartment 12 with respect to the preset temperature, the higher the rotation speed of the evaporation fan 153 may be.

For another example, when the odor concentration level of the gas increases from a low odor concentration level, a high odor concentration level, and a very high odor concentration level, the rotation speed of the evaporation fan 153 may be increased accordingly when it is operated.

In some embodiments, the control unit 220 determines that the real-time odour concentration value is within a first odour concentration value range, and determines that the odour concentration level of the gas is a low odour concentration level based on the first correspondence. In the case of gases at low odour concentration levels, no degerming or odour removal may be required. Accordingly, the control unit 220 may perform an operation of deactivating the odor eliminating unit based on the low odor concentration level.

In one embodiment, the control unit 220 performs operations of deactivating the odor eliminating unit, deactivating the evaporation fan 153, and opening both the refrigeration damper 161 and the filter damper 162 (e.g., fully open or partially open) based on a low odor concentration level such that air flows naturally within the refrigeration compartment 12 or the duct 154.

In another embodiment, the control unit 220 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if the determination result is yes, the control unit 220 makes the odor removal unit not operate; since the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the air duct 154 is lower than a preset temperature, refrigeration is not required, and thus the evaporation fan 153 is not operated; both the refrigeration damper 161 and the filtering damper 162 are opened (e.g., fully opened or partially opened) so that the air flows naturally in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154.

In yet another embodiment, the control unit 220 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the gas inside the refrigerator compartment 12 or the wind tunnel 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas inside the refrigerator compartment 12 or the wind tunnel 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if not, the control unit 220 makes the odor removing unit not work; since the temperature of the air in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is not lower than the preset temperature and cooling is required, the evaporation fan 153 is operated to open both the cooling damper 161 and the filtering damper 162 (e.g., fully or partially open) so that the air circulates in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154.

In other embodiments, the control unit 220 determines that the real-time odor concentration value is within a second range of odor concentration values and determines the odor concentration level of the gas to be a higher odor concentration level based on the second correspondence. In case the gas is at a higher odor concentration level, the control unit 220 may perform the relevant operation.

In one embodiment, the control unit 220 compares a preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if yes, the control unit 220 operates the evaporation fan 153 and closes both the refrigeration damper 161 and the filter damper 162 so that the gas is filtered through the filter material 162a of the filter damper 162 to reduce the odor concentration of the gas because the gas is at a higher odor concentration level.

In another embodiment, the control unit 220 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if the determination result is negative, the control unit 220 operates the evaporation fan 153, opens all or part of the cooling damper 161, and closes the filtering damper 162. That is, both the refrigeration compartment 12 is effectively refrigerated by the open refrigeration damper 161 allowing a portion of the air to circulate relatively fully and the other portion of the air is filtered and circulated by the closed filtration damper 162, thereby satisfying the requirements of both refrigeration and sterilization and deodorization of air at higher concentrations of odors.

In still other embodiments, the control unit 220 determines that the real-time odor concentration value is within the third odor concentration value range, and determines the odor concentration level of the gas to be an even higher odor concentration level based on the third correspondence. In case the gas is at a very high odour concentration level, the control unit 220 may perform the relevant operations.

In one embodiment, the control unit 220 compares a preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; when the determination result is yes, the control unit 220 disables the evaporation fan 153 so as not to circulate the gas at the very high odor concentration level in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154.

In another embodiment, the control unit 220 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if the determination result is yes, the control unit 220 deactivates the evaporation fan 153 and closes the refrigeration damper 161 and the filtration damper 162, so that the gas having the very high odor concentration level is not caused to flow in the refrigeration compartment 12 or the duct 154 in a circulating manner, the natural flow of the gas having the very high odor concentration level in the refrigeration compartment 12 or the duct 154 is also reduced, and the gas is filtered through the filtration material 162a of the filtration damper 162 to reduce the odor concentration of the gas.

In yet another embodiment, the control unit 220 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if the determination result is negative, the control unit 220 operates the evaporation fan 153 and the odor removing unit. Odor removal is carried out on the basis of gas used for refrigeration, so that the requirements of refrigeration and degerming and odor removal are met.

In yet another embodiment, the control unit 220 compares the preset temperature with the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 measured by the temperature sensor, and determines whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature; if the determination result is no, the control unit 220 operates the evaporation fan 153 and the odor eliminating unit, and closes the cooling damper 161 and the filtering damper 162. When the gas is at a very high odor concentration level, the gas is not flowed through refrigerating damper 161 but is flowed and filtered only through closed filtering damper 162, thereby performing sterilization and deodorization more effectively while performing refrigeration.

The odor sensing unit 210 or odor removing unit (e.g., ionizer assembly, ultraviolet ray generator) may include semiconductor elements therein. In the unclean air with bacteria or peculiar smell for a long time, the working base lines of the semiconductor elements can drift, the sensitivity can be reduced, errors can exist in the sensed real-time peculiar smell concentration value, or the efficiency of processing the peculiar smell can be reduced.

Therefore, the odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210 needs to be periodically cleaned and calibrated.

The control unit 220 can determine whether the cumulative operating time of the odor removing apparatus 200, during which the odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210 is not calibrated, exceeds a preset time.

The preset time may be determined according to the area and environment where the refrigerator 10 is located, and the cumulative operating time for performing the sterilization and deodorization.

In one embodiment, the preset time may be selected from the range of 3 days to 1 month.

If the accumulated operating time does not exceed the preset time, the control unit 220 does not perform the operation related to the calibration.

If the accumulated operating time exceeds the preset time, the control unit 220 determines whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than the preset temperature.

If the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the duct 154 is lower than a preset temperature, the evaporation fan 153 is deactivated so that the odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210 is not calibrated when cooling is not performed.

The odor eliminating unit or the odor sensing unit 210 may be calibrated while cooling if the temperature of the air in the refrigeration compartment 12 or the duct 154 is not lower than a preset temperature. This takes into account both the refrigeration and calibration requirements.

Specifically, if the temperature of the air in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is not lower than the preset temperature, both the refrigerating damper 161 and the filtering damper 162 may be closed, and then the evaporation fan 153 may be operated for a first time period, and the odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210 may be operated for a second time period.

For example, the first time period may be selected from the range of 0.5 to 6 hours.

For another example, the second length of time may be selected from the range of 0.5 to 6 hours.

During the first period of operation of the evaporation fan 153, since both the refrigeration damper 161 and the filtering damper 162 are closed, the gas passes through the filtering material 162a of the filtering damper 162 continuously. The first time period is long enough to gradually reduce the odor in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the air duct 154 to obtain clean air.

The odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210 operates for a second period of time, which is long enough, so that the gradually-cleaned gas continuously passes through the odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210, thereby recovering the working baseline thereof, and further recovering the sensed real-time odor concentration value or the odor processing efficiency to be normal.

After the odor removal unit or odor sensing unit 210 is fully calibrated, the refrigeration damper 161 and the filtration damper 162 may be partially or fully opened so that air may flow within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the air duct 154.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide an odor elimination method 300 for a refrigerator 10.

In the performance of step 310, the odor sensing unit 210 measures a real-time odor concentration value of the gas within the refrigerated compartment 12 or the duct 154.

In the execution of step 320, the control unit 220 determines an odor concentration level of the gas based on a preset correspondence between each of the odor concentration value ranges and each of the odor concentration levels and the real-time odor concentration value, and performs an operation based on the odor concentration level of the gas.

In a specific implementation, the control unit 220 may determine whether the accumulated operating time of the odor removing device 200 exceeds a preset time, determine whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the air duct 154 is lower than a preset temperature if the accumulated operating time exceeds the preset time, if so, disable the evaporation fan 153, if not, close the refrigeration damper 161 and the filtering damper 162, then operate the evaporation fan 153 for a first duration, operate the odor removing unit or the odor sensing unit 210 for a second duration, and then open the refrigeration damper 161 and the filtering damper 162.

In a specific implementation, the control unit 220 may determine that the real-time odor concentration value is within a first odor concentration value range, determine that the odor concentration level of the gas is a low odor concentration level based on the first correspondence, and perform an operation of deactivating the odor removal unit based on the low odor concentration level.

In a specific implementation, the control unit 220 may determine that the real-time odor concentration value is within a second odor concentration value range, determine that the odor concentration level of the gas is a higher odor concentration level based on the second correspondence, and perform the following operations based on the higher odor concentration level: it is determined whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating compartment 12 or the duct 154 is lower than a preset temperature, and if yes, the refrigerating damper 161 and the filtering damper 162 are closed and the evaporation fan 153 is operated, and if no, the refrigerating damper 161 is opened, the filtering damper 162 is closed and the evaporation fan 153 is operated.

In a specific implementation, the control unit 220 may determine that the real-time odor concentration value is within the third odor concentration value range, determine the odor concentration level of the gas to be the very high odor concentration level based on the third correspondence, and perform the following operations based on the very high odor concentration level: it is judged whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber 12 or the duct 154 is lower than a preset temperature, and if so, the evaporation fan 153 is deactivated, and if not, the evaporation fan 153 and the odor removing unit are operated.

For more details on the implementation of the odor elimination method 300, reference may be made to the description of the refrigerator and the odor elimination apparatus in connection with fig. 1-7, which are not repeated here.

While specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, even if only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. The characteristic examples provided in the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative, not limiting, unless stated differently. In particular implementations, the features of one or more dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims as technically feasible according to the actual requirements, and the features from the respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely by the specific combinations enumerated in the claims.

Although the present invention is disclosed above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (28)

1. An odour removal apparatus (200) for a refrigerator (10), said refrigerator (10) comprising a duct (154) for the flow of gases and a refrigerated chamber (12) in fluid communication with said duct (154), characterised in that said odour removal apparatus (200) comprises:

an odor sensing unit (210) adapted to measure and output a real-time odor concentration value of a gas within the refrigerated compartment (12) or the air duct (154);

a control unit (220) electrically connected with the odor sensing unit (210) and adapted to receive the real-time odor concentration value, determine an odor concentration level of the gas based on a preset correspondence between respective odor concentration value ranges and respective odor concentration levels and the real-time odor concentration value, and perform an operation based on the odor concentration level of the gas.

2. The odor elimination device (200) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a built-in fan (240), said built-in fan (240) being disposed adjacent to said odor sensing unit (210) to convey gas within said refrigeration compartment (12) or said air duct (154) to said odor sensing unit (210).

3. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises an evaporation fan (153) and a double damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filter damper (162), the odour removal apparatus (200) comprising an odour removal unit, the control unit (220) being adapted to:

judging whether the accumulated working time of the smell removal device (200) exceeds a preset time or not;

if the accumulated working time exceeds the preset time, judging whether the temperature of the refrigerating chamber (12) or the gas in the air duct (154) is lower than the preset temperature or not, if so, enabling the evaporation fan (153) not to work, if not, firstly enabling the refrigeration damper (161) and the filtering damper (162) to be closed, then enabling the evaporation fan (153) to operate for a first time length, and enabling the peculiar smell removing unit or the smell sensing unit (210) to operate for a second time length, and then enabling the refrigeration damper (161) and the filtering damper (162) to be opened.

4. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises a display panel, and the control unit (220) is adapted to perform an operation of sending an odour concentration level in respect of the gas to the display panel based on the determined odour concentration of the gas.

5. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises a communication unit, and the control unit (220) is adapted to perform an operation of sending an odour concentration level in respect of the gas to the communication unit based on the determined odour concentration of the gas.

6. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises an alarm unit, the control unit (220) being adapted to perform an operation of sending an odour concentration level in relation to the gas to the alarm unit based on the determined odour concentration of the gas.

7. The odor elimination device (200) of claim 1, wherein the odor sensing unit (210) comprises a semiconductor-type odor sensing unit having a gas sensitive resistor with a resistance value in a range of greater than or equal to 10K Ω to less than or equal to 10M Ω.

8. The odor elimination device (200) of claim 7, wherein the odor elimination level comprises a low odor concentration level, the correspondence comprising a first correspondence in which a first odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistance greater than 1M Ω and less than or equal to 10M Ω corresponds to the low odor concentration level.

9. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 8, wherein the odour removal apparatus (200) comprises an odour removal unit, and the control unit (220) is adapted to determine that the real-time odour concentration value lies within the first odour concentration value range, to determine the odour concentration level of the gas as the low odour concentration level based on the first correspondence, and to perform an operation to deactivate the odour removal unit based on the low odour concentration level.

10. The odor elimination device (200) of claim 9, wherein said refrigerator (10) comprises an evaporation fan (153), and a dual damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filter damper (162), said control unit (220) being adapted to perform operations of deactivating said odor eliminating unit, deactivating said evaporation fan (153), and opening both said refrigeration damper (161) and said filter damper (162) based on said low odor concentration level.

11. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 7, wherein the odour concentration levels comprise higher odour concentration levels, and the correspondence comprises a second correspondence in which a second range of odour concentration values associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor greater than or equal to 300K Ω and less than or equal to 1M Ω corresponds to a higher odour concentration level.

12. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 11, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises an evaporation fan (153) and a double damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filter damper (162), the control unit (220) being adapted to determine that the real-time odour concentration value lies in the second odour concentration value range, to determine the odour concentration level of the gas to be the higher odour concentration level based on the second correspondence, and to perform the following operations based on the higher odour concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating chamber (12) or the air duct (154) is lower than a preset temperature or not, if so, closing the refrigerating damper (161) and the filtering damper (162) and operating the evaporation fan (153), and if not, opening the refrigerating damper (161), closing the filtering damper (162) and operating the evaporation fan (153).

13. The odor elimination device (200) of claim 7, wherein the odor elimination level comprises a very high odor concentration level, the correspondence comprising a third correspondence in which a third odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistance being greater than or equal to 10K Ω and less than 300K Ω corresponds to the very high odor concentration level.

14. An odour removal apparatus (200) according to claim 13, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises an evaporation fan (153), the odour removal apparatus (200) comprises an odour removal unit, the control unit (220) is adapted to determine that the real-time odour concentration value is in the third odour concentration value range, to determine the odour concentration level of the gas to be the very high odour concentration level based on the third correspondence, and to perform the following operations based on the very high odour concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber (12) or the air duct (154) is lower than the preset temperature, if so, enabling the evaporation fan (153) not to work, and if not, enabling the evaporation fan (153) and the peculiar smell removing unit to work.

15. The odor elimination apparatus (200) of claim 14, wherein said refrigerator (10) includes and dual damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filtration damper (162), said performing the following operations based on said very high odor concentration level comprising: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber (12) or the air duct (154) is lower than the preset temperature, if not, enabling the evaporation fan (153) and the peculiar smell removing unit to work, and enabling the refrigerating air door (161) and the filtering air door (162) to be closed.

16. A refrigerator (10) comprising a duct (154) for the flow of gases and a refrigerating chamber (12) in fluid communication with said duct (154), characterized in that said refrigerator (10) comprises an odor elimination device (200) according to any one of claims 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13.

17. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the odour removal apparatus (200) is provided within the air duct (154) or within the cooling chamber (12).

18. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 16 including a dual damper (160) disposed within the air duct (154), the dual damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filtration damper (162), the refrigeration damper (161) being arranged to selectively regulate the amount of air flow through the refrigeration damper (161), the filtration damper (162) being arranged to selectively regulate the amount of air flow through the filtration damper (162) and to filter the air flow passing through the filtration damper (162).

19. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 16, characterized by comprising a display panel adapted to receive and display the odor concentration level of the gas output by the control unit (220).

20. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 16, characterized by comprising a communication unit adapted to receive and transmit to other communication devices the odor concentration level of the gas output by the control unit (220).

21. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 16, characterized by comprising an alarm unit adapted to receive the odor concentration level of the gas output by the control unit (220) and to issue a corresponding alarm signal based on the odor concentration level of the gas.

22. An odour removal method for a refrigerator (10), said refrigerator (10) comprising a duct (154) for the flow of gases and a refrigerating chamber (12) in fluid communication with said duct (154), characterized in that it comprises:

measuring a real-time odor concentration value of a gas within the refrigerated compartment (12) or the air duct (154);

determining the odor concentration grade of the gas based on the preset corresponding relation between each odor concentration value range and each odor concentration grade and the real-time odor concentration value, and executing operation based on the odor concentration grade of the gas.

23. A method of deodorising according to claim 22, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises an evaporation fan (153) and a double damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filter damper (162), the deodorising apparatus (200) comprising an odour removal unit, the method being adapted to:

judging whether the accumulated working time of the smell removal device (200) exceeds a preset time or not;

if the accumulated working time exceeds the preset time, judging whether the temperature of the refrigerating chamber (12) or the gas in the air duct (154) is lower than the preset temperature or not, if so, enabling the evaporation fan (153) not to work, if not, firstly enabling the refrigeration damper (161) and the filtering damper (162) to be closed, then enabling the evaporation fan (153) to operate for a first time length, and enabling the peculiar smell removing unit or the smell sensing unit (210) to operate for a second time length, and then enabling the refrigeration damper (161) and the filtering damper (162) to be opened.

24. The method of odor elimination according to claim 22, wherein said measuring a real-time odor concentration value of a gas within said refrigerator compartment (12) or said duct (154) comprises: measuring a real-time odor concentration value of gas in the refrigerating chamber (12) or the air duct (154) through a semiconductor type odor sensing unit (210), wherein the resistance value of a gas sensitive resistor of the semiconductor type odor sensing unit (210) is in a range from more than or equal to 10K omega to less than or equal to 10M omega.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined correspondence between individual flavor concentration values and individual flavor concentration levels comprises:

a first correspondence in which a first odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor greater than 1M Ω and less than or equal to 10M Ω corresponds to the low odor concentration level;

a second correspondence in which a second odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas-sensitive resistor greater than or equal to 300K Ω and less than or equal to 1M Ω corresponds to a higher odor concentration level;

a third correspondence relationship in which a third odor concentration value range associated with a resistance value of the gas sensitive resistor being greater than or equal to 10K Ω and less than 300K Ω corresponds to a very high odor concentration level.

26. A method of deodorising according to claim 25, wherein the refrigerator (10) includes an odour removal unit, the method comprising:

determining that the real-time odor concentration value is within the first odor concentration value range;

determining the odor concentration level of the gas as the low odor concentration level based on the first correspondence;

performing an operation to deactivate the odor removal unit based on the low odor concentration level.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the refrigerator (10) includes an evaporation fan (153), and a double damper (160) having a refrigeration damper (161) and a filter damper (162), the method comprising:

determining that the real-time odor concentration value is within the second odor concentration value range;

determining the odor concentration level of the gas as the higher odor concentration level based on the second correspondence;

performing the following operations based on the higher odor concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the gas in the refrigerating chamber (12) or the air duct (154) is lower than a preset temperature or not, if so, closing the refrigerating damper (161) and the filtering damper (162) and operating the evaporation fan (153), and if not, opening the refrigerating damper (161), closing the filtering damper (162) and operating the evaporation fan (153).

28. The odor elimination method of claim 25, wherein the refrigerator (10) comprises an evaporation fan (153), wherein the odor elimination apparatus (200) comprises an odor elimination unit, and wherein the odor elimination method comprises: determining that the real-time odor concentration value is within the third odor concentration value range;

determining the odor concentration level of the gas to be the very high odor concentration level based on the third correspondence;

performing the following operations based on the very high odor concentration level: and judging whether the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chamber (12) or the air duct (154) is lower than the preset temperature, if so, enabling the evaporation fan (153) not to work, and if not, enabling the evaporation fan (153) and the peculiar smell removal unit to work.

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