EP2347204B1 - Household refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household refrigerator.

The US 6,655,158 B1 discloses a refrigerator having a housing, a freezer compartment, an icemaker disposed within the freezer compartment, a fan associated with the icemaker, and a processor configured to control a set ice making rate of the macerator by controlling the temperature of the refrigerator or fan.

The EP 1 790 274 A2 discloses a dishwasher with two dishwashing units, which are controlled by a respective control device.

The US 2003/009610 A1 discloses a refrigerator with a single electronic module that controls both the refrigeration device of the refrigerator and an icemaker / water dispenser or regulates.

The US Pat. No. 6,862,499 B1 discloses a method for regulating the temperature of a freight transport device.

The EP 1 445 561 A2 discloses a system comprising a refrigeration unit and a freezer unit, which together form a freshness center. The cooling unit and the freezer unit can be placed side by side or even remote from each other and therefore also operated separately from each other.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved domestic refrigerator with an icemaker and / or water dispenser.

The object is achieved by a household refrigerator with the features of claim 1.

The household refrigerating appliance according to the invention can be, for example, a freeze-refrigeration combination appliance or a freezer and comprises the two separate electronic modules, of which the first electronic module is set up to control or regulate the refrigeration device so that, for example, the temperature of the cold room corresponds to a set target temperature. The refrigeration device includes, for example, one or more refrigeration circuits with evaporators, compressors, condensers and possibly solenoid valves, so that the first electronic module controls or regulates, for example, the operation of the refrigeration cycle or cycles.

The second electronic module is set up to control or regulate the ice maker and / or the water dispenser of the refrigerator according to the invention, for example by regulating or controlling the amount of ice and / or water supply of fresh water to the water dispenser produced by the ice maker or dispensing ice or water controls.

The domestic refrigerator according to the invention further comprises the display / input module, by means of which the first electronic module associated operating parameters are adjustable and / or displayable. An example of an operating parameter is the temperature of the household refrigerator or its cold room, so that for example the desired temperature of the cold room can be set and possibly displayed with the display / input module. But it may also be possible that the display / input module displays the actual temperature of the cold room. In addition, the display / input module is also set up, which can be actuated and / or adjusted with functions assigned to the ice maker and / or water dispenser. Thus, e.g. a water or ice dispensing can be initiated by means of the display / input module.

The display / input module communicates with the two electronic modules via the bus system.

Are e.g. the two electronic modules arranged in or on the body, which is the case for a functional variant of the domestic refrigerator according to the invention, and the display / input module is arranged in or on the door, which is the case according to a preferred embodiment of the invention Hauhaltskältegerätes, then you need only a single data line between the body and the door to allow communication between the display / input module and the electronics modules. This makes it possible to reduce the number of components required of the household refrigerator according to the invention.

According to an expedient variant of the household refrigerating appliance according to the invention, its ice maker and / or water dispenser has an ice and / or water dispensing module arranged in the door, into which the display / input module is integrated. This embodiment results in a reduced number of components and therefore cost savings.

The bus system can expediently have at least one data line, via which the display / input module communicates with the first electronic module and with the second electronic module, and a power supply line, via which the display / input module, the first electronic module and the second electronic module during normal operation of the household refrigerator are supplied with electrical energy. This embodiment of the household refrigerator according to the invention provides conditions for a reduced number of components and thus offers a cost savings.

The domestic refrigerator according to the invention thus provides a modularized solution for the control / regulation of a household refrigerator with an icemaker and / or water dispenser. The control system has the bus system, e.g. a so-called Dbuss-II. The control system may have separate control modules, however, the icemaker and / or water dispenser system may use the same display and input module as those provided for controlling the household refrigerator as such.

Other developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The invention and its developments and advantages thereof are explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung ein Gefrier-Kühlkombinationsgerät, das nach dem erfindungsgemäßen Konstruktionsprinzip aufgebaut ist,

Fig. 2

eine Wasser- und Eisausgabe des Gefrier-Kühlkombinationsgeräts von Figur 1, und

Fig. 3

Steuermodule und ein Anzeige-/Eingabemodul des Gefrier-Kühlkombinationsgeräts der Figuren 1, 2.

Each show schematically:

Fig. 1

1 is a perspective view of a freeze-refrigeration combination device, which is constructed according to the construction principle according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a water and ice dispensing of the freeze-refrigeration combination device of FIG. 1 , and

Fig. 3

Control modules and a display / input module of the freeze-refrigeration combination device of FIGS. 1 . 2 ,

The Fig. 1 shows a freeze-refrigerator combination device 1 as an example of a household refrigerator in a perspective view. In the case of the present embodiment, the freeze-refrigerator combination apparatus 1 has a housing 2 which delimits a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. On the housing 2, a door 3 for closing the refrigerator and a door 4 are struck for closing the freezer compartment. The door 3 has a handle 5 arranged on its outside and the door 4 has a handle 6 arranged on its outside, by means of which the doors 3, 4 can be opened. When the door is open 3 refrigerated goods can be stored in the refrigerator or refrigerated goods are removed from the refrigerator and with open door 4 can be stored in the freezer compartment frozen goods or frozen goods are removed. The refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment may have compartments, not shown, on which the refrigerated goods or the frozen goods can be stored.

The freeze-refrigerator combination apparatus 1 further comprises a refrigeration device 7 for cooling the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. The refrigeration device 7 has e.g. in a well-known and not shown manner, one or more refrigeration circuits for the freezer compartment and for the refrigerator, which include, for example, in a conventional manner at least one evaporator, a condenser and a compressor, and optionally at least one solenoid valve.

In the case of the present embodiment, the freeze-refrigerator 1 has an icemaker and a water dispenser. The water dispenser comprises e.g. a arranged in the door 4 of the freezer compartment water tank 8, which is connectable to a tap water network. The ice cube making and storing part 9 of the ice maker, the basic structure of which is known to the person skilled in the art, is arranged inside the freezer compartment.

In the case of the present embodiment, the ice maker and the water dispenser comprises a common in the Fig. 2 shown in more detail output module 10 which is arranged in a recess of the door 4 of the freezer compartment. The dispensing module 10 comprises a tray 11, on which a person not shown in the figures, for example, can turn off a glass or a cup to him or her with water from the water tank 8 or with ice from the ice cube producing and storing part. 9 to fill the icemaker.

So that the person can fill her glass placed on the shelf 11 with water or ice, the freeze-refrigerator combination device 1 comprises a in the Fig. 3 Block-image shown display / input module 12, which is part of the output module 10 in the case of the present embodiment.

The display / input module 12 comprises in the case of the present embodiment, keys 13-16, of which, for example, the key 13 with "water", the key 14 with "ice cube", the key 15 with "crushed ice" and the key 16 with "light" is labeled.

In addition, in the case of the present embodiment, the display / input module 12 additionally comprises a display 17, which may be u.a. indicates the actual temperatures of the refrigerator and the freezer compartment. The display / input module 12 also includes keys 18, 19 by means of which the target temperatures of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment can be adjusted. The keys 18, 19 include in particular the operating functions "alarm" and "super" operation.

In the case of the present embodiment, the freeze-refrigerator combination apparatus 1 in the Fig. 3 shown first electronic module 20, which has, for example, a microcontroller or microprocessor not shown and is arranged to control the refrigeration device 7 and possibly also to regulate that the temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator at least approximately set by means of the display / input module 12 target Correspond to temperatures. The electronic components of the first electronic module 20 are arranged for example on a single board, which may be surrounded in particular by a housing, not shown. Control and regulating method for temperature control or temperature control of the refrigerator or the freezer compartment are known in principle to those skilled in the art and are therefore not further explained. The first electronic module 20 is arranged, for example, in or on the housing 2.

So that the display / input module 12 can communicate with the first electronic module 20, the freeze-cooling combination 1 comprises a bus system 21, which connects the display / input module 12 to the first electronic module 20. In particular, the bus system 21 has a data bus (read / write line) 22 for exchanging data between the display / input module 12 and the first electronic module 20. In the case of the present embodiment, the bus system 21 still one or more, preferably two, power lines 23, 24, which are provided, the Display / input module 12 and the first electronic module 20 to provide electrical energy.

In the case of the present embodiment, the freeze-refrigerator combination apparatus 1 in the Fig. 3 illustrated second electronic module 25, the uA controls the function of the ice cube producing and storing part 9 of the ice maker and / or the filling of the water tank 8 and possibly regulates. The second electronic module 25 includes, for example, a microcontroller or microprocessor, not shown, and also controls the output module 10 such that due to pressing the labeled "water" button 13, the parked on the tray 11 glass filled with water from the water tank 8, when Press the labeled with "ice cube" button 14 the parked on the tray 11 glass filled with ice cubes from the ice cubes producing and storing part 9 of the ice maker and parked on the tray 11 when pressing the labeled "crushed ice" button 15 Glass with crushed ice (so-called "crushed ice") is filled, which is an unspecified ice crusher (so-called "Ice Crusher") from the ice cubes, which are located in the ice cube producing and storing part 9 of the ice maker produces. The second electronic module 25 also regulates, for example, the amount of ice that the ice cube producing and storing part 9 of the ice maker or a supply of water from the fresh water mains in the water tank 8. The second electronic module 25 is arranged for example in or on the housing 2.

So that the display / input module 12 can communicate with the second electronic module 25, the Eisbereiterelektronikmodul 25 is also connected to the bus system 21. Thus, the display / input module 12 and the second electronics module 25 can exchange data via the data bus 22 and communicate with each other. In the case of the present embodiment, the second electronic module 25 is also connected to the power lines 23, 24 to be supplied with electrical energy.

By this coupling of the second electronic module 25, which is responsible for the control of the water dispenser and / or the icemaker, and the display / input module 12 to the first electronic module 20 via a common bus system, such as 21, is in a simple way a reliable setting of one or more operating parameters of the water dispenser and / or icemaker at the same operating location as the other function settings, such as the temperature setting for the Refrigerator compartment and freezer, the freezer-fridge combination device ensured. In particular, the interaction of the functions of the various functional components of the freeze-refrigeration combination device is simplified.

In general, therefore, the second electronic module 25 uses the data bus system 21 of the first electronic module 20 the same common, i. unitarily provided, display / input module 12 as the other functional components, such. the refrigeration cycle for the refrigeration compartment or the freezer compartment of the freezer-cooling combination device. A key press on one of the keys 18, 19, 13-16 initiates at least one control signal, which is transmitted to the first electronic module 20 via the common bus system 21. This passes control signals, which relate to the second electronic module 25, to the latter via the bus system 21: In the reverse direction, the first electronic module 20 transmits a control signal emanating from the second electronic module 25 via the bus system 21 to the common display / input module 12 ,

Since the second electronic module 25 is coupled to the first electronic module 20 via the bus system 21 in terms of control technology, and the display / input module 12 is used, the ice maker / water dispenser components can now be easily incorporated into different types of freezer-refrigerator combination units and already existing by the way control or adjust the first electronic module. In particular, this integration simplifies the integration of the ice maker / water dispenser components into new refrigeration appliances.

Claims (5)

1. Household refrigeration appliance, having a carcass (2) and a door (3, 4) which can be hinged to said carcass (2), which, when the door (3, 4) is closed, delimit a heat-insulated refrigeration chamber, a refrigeration device (7) for refrigerating the refrigeration chamber, an icemaker and/or water dispenser (8, 9), a first electronic module (20) for controlling/regulating the refrigeration device (7), a display/input module (12) which can be used to adjust and/or display operating parameters associated with the first electronic module (20), and a bus system (21) connecting the display/input module (12) to the first electronic module (20), characterised by a second electronic module (25) separate from the first electronic module (20) for controlling/regulating the icemaker and/or water dispenser (8, 9), wherein the display/input module (12) can be used to actuate and/or adjust functions associated with the icemaker and/or water dispenser (8, 9) and the display/input module (12) is connected to the second electronic module (25) by way of the bus system (21), wherein the second electronic module (25) is coupled using control technology to the first electronic module (20) by way of the bus system (21), and shares the display/input module (12).
2. Household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, the first and/or second electronic module (20, 25) of which is arranged in or on the carcass (2).
3. Household refrigeration appliance according to claim 1 or 2, the display/input module (12) of which is arranged in or on the door (4) and can be operated from the outside of the door (4).
4. Household refrigeration appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, the icemaker and/or water dispenser (8, 9) of which has an ice and/or water dispensing module (10) arranged in the door (4), into which the display/input module (12) is integrated.
5. Household refrigeration appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, the bus system (21) of which has at least one data line (22) by way of which the display/input module (12) communicates with the first electronic module (20) and with the second electronic module (25), and a power supply line (23, 24) by way of which the display/input module (12), the first electronic module (20) and the second electronic module (25) are supplied with electrical energy during the intended use of the household refrigeration appliance (1).

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