JP2008042969A - Dc power supply unit, refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a DC power supply unit which can reduce power consumption by suppressing energy loss as much as possible by a relatively simple arrangement, and to provide a refrigerator equipped with that DC power supply unit. <P>SOLUTION: The DC power supply unit comprises a DC power supply circuit α outputting a DC voltage being applied to a predetermined load 20 and a control section 7 through capacitors 2 and 52 of predetermined capacities, and conduction switching means 8 and 9 performing switching between a conduction on state performing conducting from an external AC power supply G to the DC power supply circuit α and conduction off state not performing that conduction according to a control command from the control section 7. The control section 7 judges predetermined switching conditions of the conduction on state and the conduction off state and controls the conduction switching means 8 and 9 depending on the judgment result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a DC power supply apparatus including a control unit that controls one or more loads that operate by application of a DC voltage, and a DC power supply circuit that outputs a DC voltage to the load and the control unit, and a refrigerator including the same. It is about.

Recently, various electric appliances (electrical devices) are very demanding to reduce power consumption. In particular, in refrigerators that are premised on continuous operation, a large energy saving effect can be obtained in the long term by reducing power consumption through the device configuration and automatic control, and thus demands for reducing power consumption are particularly severe.
In general, a refrigerator has a plurality of loads that operate when a DC voltage is applied, for example, a motor for driving a fan that blows cold air, or a supply amount of cold air to a cooling chamber in which an object to be cooled such as food is stored. A motor for driving the damper in the automatic ice making device, a motor for water supply in the automatic ice making device, a motor for driving the flow path control valve of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle, and the like. For this reason, the refrigerator is provided with a DC power supply device for supplying a DC voltage to those loads and a microcomputer (an example of control means) that controls the loads. This DC power supply device generates a DC voltage based on power supplied from a commercial power supply (external AC power supply), and includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, and the like.
Here, among devices to which a DC voltage is applied by a DC power supply device, a microcomputer and a sensor for detecting various states that the microcomputer uses as a control index (input) have very little power consumption. In contrast, a power system load such as a motor consumes a large amount of power. In general, the microcomputer and the sensor need to be constantly operated, whereas the load such as the motor does not need to be constantly operated, and is started and stopped by the microcomputer as necessary. Usually, in a state where the door in the front of the storage chamber is closed for a relatively long time, the time period in which the load of the motor or the like is stopped occupies most of the time.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, in a power supply circuit including a capacitor and a discharge resistor for discharging a charge stored in the capacitor when the power plug is pulled out from the commercial power source, the power plug is connected to the commercial power source. In this case, a technique for suppressing wasteful power consumption due to the discharge resistor by cutting off the connection line of the discharge resistor is shown.
JP 2001-306160 A

By the way, when the DC power supply device is connected to a commercial power supply, the DC power supply itself consumes power, and the power consumption increases as the power supply capacity increases. For this reason, a DC power supply with sufficient power supply capacity (rated output) for supplying power to various loads supplies power only to devices that consume very little power, such as microcomputers and sensors (load stops In this state, there is a problem that energy loss is large and power is consumed wastefully. In particular, a DC power supply device including a switching circuit (which may be called a switching element) that switches a DC voltage signal has an energy efficiency during operation at a very small output that is significantly higher than an energy efficiency during operation at a rated output. Getting worse. This problem cannot be solved by the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1.
On the other hand, a DC power supply for the load and a DC power supply for the microcomputer and sensor are provided independently to cut off energization (connection to the commercial power supply) to the load DC power supply while the load is stopped. Can be considered. Thereby, the energy loss of a direct-current power supply device can be reduced. However, in that case, the number of parts increases, resulting in a new problem of increasing the number of apparatus assembly steps and increasing the part cost.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a DC power supply device capable of reducing power consumption by suppressing energy loss as much as possible with a relatively simple configuration, and a The object is to provide a refrigerator.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides power supplied from a control means (such as a microcomputer) that controls one or more loads that operate by applying a DC voltage, and an external AC power supply (a commercial power supply is a typical example). And a DC power supply circuit that outputs a DC voltage to be applied to the load and the control means through a power storage means (capacitor is a typical example) having a predetermined capacity, and further includes the following (1) and (2) A DC power supply device having the configuration shown in FIG.
(1) An energization switching unit that switches between an ON state in which energization from the external AC power supply to the DC power supply circuit and an OFF state in which the energization is not performed is performed in accordance with a control command from the control unit.
(2) The control unit determines a predetermined switching condition for each of the ON state and the OFF state, and controls the energization switching unit according to the determination result.
In general, a DC power supply circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, and the like. The smoothing circuit includes a capacitor (power storage means), and a DC voltage is output through the capacitor. For this reason, even after the supply of AC power to the DC power supply circuit is interrupted, a DC voltage can be output by the amount of the capacitor capacity of the smoothing circuit.
Therefore, when it is determined that the energization control unit is in a state where the DC power supply circuit supplies only a small amount of power (a state where power is supplied only to a device with low power consumption such as the control unit), By switching to a state where the energization (supply of AC power) to the power supply circuit is cut off (the OFF state), energy loss of the DC power supply circuit can be suppressed as much as possible to reduce power consumption. Even in such a case, the control means that consumes a small amount of power can continue to operate for a while. Therefore, if the control means performs control to return to the ON state again while the control means can operate in the OFF state, no operational problem occurs.
For example, the switching condition to the OFF state may be a condition including a state in which the predetermined load (a load with high power consumption) is not operating or the state has continued for a predetermined time.
In addition, the DC power supply device according to the present invention has a particularly remarkable effect when the DC power supply circuit includes a switching circuit that switches a DC voltage signal.

On the other hand, as the condition for switching to the ON state, a condition including one or more of the following conditions (a) to (d) can be considered.
(A) A condition that a predetermined time has passed since the switch was turned off.
(B) In the case where voltage drop detecting means for detecting that the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit is lower than a predetermined set voltage is provided, the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit is set to a predetermined set voltage by the voltage drop detecting means. The condition that it was detected that the value was below.
(C) When the control unit executes a power consumption amount estimation process for estimating the amount of power consumed by the control unit and the load after the OFF state, the estimated power by the power consumption amount estimation process A condition that the amount exceeds a predetermined set power amount.
(D) A condition that a condition for operating the load (load with large power consumption) predetermined by the control means is established.
In the case of the condition (a), the determination of the switching condition to the ON state can be performed very simply. However, since the power consumption of the load and the control means may fluctuate in the OFF state, the time for which the OFF state is continued needs to be set shorter on the safe side.
In the case of the condition (b), since the state in which the output voltage drops is actually detected, it is possible to reliably grasp the timing for returning to the ON state. For this reason, the time for which the OFF state is continued can be extended to the maximum.
Further, in the case of the condition (c), it is possible to more accurately manage the timing for returning to the ON state than in the case (a) where the time is simply managed. For this reason, the time for continuing the OFF state can be extended to a state close to the maximum.
Further, the condition (d) is preferably adopted in combination with the condition (a) or the like when the storage capacity of the DC power supply circuit is insufficient to operate any of the loads.
Moreover, this invention can also be grasped | ascertained as a refrigerator provided with the direct-current power supply device shown above.

According to the present invention, when it is determined that the DC power supply circuit is in a state where only a small amount of power is supplied, the control means executes control to cut off the energization (supply of AC power) to the DC power supply circuit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption by suppressing the energy loss of the DC power supply circuit as much as possible. Even in such a case, while the control means is operable in the OFF state, the control means performs control to return to the ON state again, so that no operational problem occurs.
And the direct-current power supply device and refrigerator which concern on this invention are realizable by the very simple structure of adding the said electricity supply switching means with respect to the conventional structure.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: It is not the thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the refrigerator X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of energization control for the DC power supply circuit α in the refrigerator X1, and FIG. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the principal part of refrigerator X2 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of invention.

[First Embodiment]
First, the configuration of the refrigerator X1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
The refrigerator X1 is a load based on power supplied from a control unit 7 (an example of a control unit) that controls a plurality of loads 20 that operate by application of a DC voltage and an external AC power supply G (usually a commercial power supply). 20 and a DC power supply circuit α that outputs a DC voltage applied to the control unit 7. Here, the DC power supply circuit α outputs a DC voltage through electrolytic capacitors 2 and 52 (an example of power storage means) having a predetermined capacity.
Furthermore, the refrigerator X1 also includes a step-down circuit 6, a switch switching circuit 8, a contact switch 9, various sensors (door open / close sensor 11, internal temperature sensor 12 and the like), a cooling strength input unit 13, and the like.
Here, the door open / close sensor 11 is a sensor that detects an open / closed state of a door provided in front of a cooling chamber (storage chamber) in which an object to be cooled such as food is stored. The internal temperature sensor 12 is a sensor that detects the temperature in the cooling chamber. The detection results of these sensors 11 and 12 are transmitted to the control unit 7. In the present embodiment, since the control unit 7 controls the load 20 based on the detection results of the sensors 11 and 12, the combination of the sensors 11 and 12 and the control unit 7 controls the load 20. An example of the control means is configured.
The cooling strength input unit 13 is an operation input unit for setting the cooling strength (that is, the target temperature) in the cooling chamber. The set cooling intensity is transmitted to the control unit 7.
In addition, although the refrigerator X1 is also provided with other various components with which a general refrigerator is provided, since it does not make the characteristic of this invention, description is abbreviate | omitted here.

The DC power supply circuit α includes a diode bridge circuit 1, an electrolytic capacitor 2, a switching IC 3, a switching transformer 4, and a smoothing circuit 5. The DC power supply circuit α has a primary side (input side) connected to an external AC power supply G (commercial power supply), and a secondary side (output side) for each of a plurality of loads 20 (DC loads). They are connected via a drive circuit (not shown).
The AC electricity supplied from the AC power source G is full-wave rectified by the diode bridge circuit 1 and further smoothed by the electrolytic capacitor 2 to be converted into DC electricity (DC voltage signal). Further, the DC electricity is subjected to switching processing by a switching IC 3 (an example of a switching circuit). The switching output from the switching IC 3 is subjected to voltage conversion at a constant voltage ratio by the switching transformer 4 and then smoothed by the smoothing circuit 5 to become a DC voltage Vo. The smoothing circuit 5 includes a diode 51 and an electrolytic capacitor 52. As described above, the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α is output through the electrolytic capacitors 2 and 52 (an example of the storage means).
As a result, the DC power supply circuit α can output a DC voltage until the power corresponding to the capacity of the electrolytic capacitors 2 and 52 is consumed even after the power supply from the AC power supply G is cut off. .
The step-down circuit 6 is a circuit that converts (steps down) the output voltage Vo of the DC power supply circuit α into the rated voltage of the control unit 7. The output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α is applied to the control unit 7 through the step-down circuit 6.

The load 20 included in the refrigerator X1 includes, for example, a damper motor, a fan motor, an ice removing motor, a water supply motor, a refrigerant valve motor, and the like.
The fan motor is provided for driving a cooling fan that forcibly blows cold air generated by heat exchange in an evaporator provided in a refrigeration cycle (not shown) to a cooling chamber in which an object to be cooled such as food is stored. It is.
The damper motor is a motor provided for driving a damper that distributes the cool air sent by the cooling fan to each of the plurality of cooling chambers and adjusts the distribution amount (the amount of cool air supplied to the cooling chamber). For example, it is constituted by a stepping motor. By controlling the rotation angle of the damper motor, the opening / closing angle of the baffle provided in the damper is controlled, and the supply amount (distribution amount) of cold air to the cooling chamber is adjusted. A plurality of damper motors are provided for each of the plurality of cooling chambers.
The ice removing motor and the water supply motor constitute an automatic ice making device (not shown). The automatic ice making device supplies water from a predetermined water supply tank to an ice tray by a water supply pump driven by the water supply motor, and after the water in the ice tray becomes ice, the ice making motor makes the ice from the ice tray, It is a device that drops the ice into a predetermined ice container. Since the mechanism of the automatic ice making apparatus is well known, a detailed explanation is omitted here.
The refrigerant valve motor is a motor provided for driving a refrigerant flow control valve (refrigerant valve) provided at a branch portion of a refrigerant path (refrigerant pipe) in a refrigeration cycle (not shown). It is composed of a motor.
Each of these loads 20 is supplied (applied) / shut off the output voltage Vo of the DC power supply circuit α in accordance with an operation control signal output from the control unit 7 by a drive circuit (not shown) provided corresponding to each of the loads 20. Is switched, and its operation / stop is controlled.

The control unit 7 includes a microcomputer (not shown), a ROM, and the like, and controls the load 20 and the switch switching circuit 8 by the microcomputer executing a predetermined control program stored in advance in the ROM.
For example, the control unit 7 sets a target temperature in the cooling chamber according to the cooling intensity set by the cooling intensity input unit 13, and the fan motor or the like so that the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 12 approaches the target temperature. The operation / stop of the damper motor is controlled.
Further, when the door opening / closing sensor 11 detects that the door is opened, the control unit 7 stops the fan motor in order to prevent an increase in the internal temperature.
The contact switch 9 is a switch for switching between a state where energization from the external AC power supply G to the DC power supply circuit α (hereinafter referred to as energization ON state) and a state where the energization is not performed (hereinafter referred to as energization OFF state). is there. The switch switching circuit 8 is a circuit that switches between the energization ON state and the energization OFF state by outputting a switching signal to the contact switch 9 in accordance with a control command from the control unit 7. . Note that the contact switch 9 and the switch switching circuit 8 are examples of energization switching means.
Here, the contact switch 9 and the switch switching circuit 8 are configured to be in the energized ON state in a default state, that is, in a state where no control command is received from the control unit 7. As a result, if the control unit 7 stops due to insufficient power supply from the DC power supply circuit α in the energization OFF state, the contact switch 9 is switched so as to be in the energization ON state.
Note that the DC power supply circuit α, the control unit 7, the switch switching circuit 8, and the contact switch 9 constitute an example of a DC power supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Next, a procedure for energization control for the DC power supply circuit α in the refrigerator X1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This energization control is started when the refrigerator X1 is connected to an external AC power supply G. The energization control is realized by the control unit 7 (microcomputer) executing a predetermined control program. Note that S1, S2,... Shown below represent identification codes of processing procedures (steps).
First, the control unit 7 determines whether the energization state (switching state of the contact switch 9) for the DC power supply circuit α is the energization ON state or the energization OFF state (S1).
Here, when determining that the energization is in the ON state, the control unit 7 determines whether or not a predetermined energization OFF condition (a condition for switching to the energization OFF state) is satisfied (S2).
The energization OFF condition is, for example, a state where all of the power system load 20 (an example of a predetermined load) is not operating (stopped state), or a state where the state continues for a predetermined time or more. That is. That is, the energization OFF condition is a condition indicating that the DC power supply circuit α is in a state of supplying a very small amount of power (hereinafter referred to as a microload operation state) or that the state has continued for a predetermined time or more. is there.
In addition, since the control part 7 controls each load 20, it grasps | ascertains based on the operation state of each load 20. FIG.

When determining that the energization OFF condition is not satisfied, the control unit 7 returns the process to step S1 described above.
On the other hand, when the control unit 7 determines that the energization OFF condition is satisfied, the control unit 7 outputs a predetermined control signal to the switch switching circuit 8, thereby energizing the DC power supply circuit α (switching state of the contact switch 9). Is switched to the energization OFF state (S3). As a result, the DC power supply circuit α can output a DC voltage only until power corresponding to the capacity of the electrolytic capacitors 2 and 52 is consumed.
Further, the control unit 7 starts (including restart) a timer process for counting time by counting the output signal (periodic signal) of a predetermined clock oscillator provided in the control unit 7 (S4). Thereby, the control part 7 time-measures the elapsed time (continuation time of an electricity supply OFF state) after becoming the said electricity supply OFF state.

Further, when the control unit 7 determines in step S1 that the energization is OFF, or when the process of step S4 is executed (that is, when the energization is OFF), a predetermined energization ON condition ( It is determined whether or not the condition for switching to the energization ON state is satisfied (S5). Here, the control unit 7 repeats the determination process of the energization ON condition until the condition is satisfied.
As the energization ON condition, for example, an OR condition of the following first condition and second condition (the energization ON condition is satisfied when at least one of the conditions is satisfied) can be considered.
Here, the first condition is a condition that an elapsed time after the energization is turned off is equal to or longer than a predetermined set time ta.
The set time ta in the first condition is for the device (the control unit 7 and the sensors 11 and 12) in which the DC power supply circuit α is operating according to its power storage capacity (capacitance of the capacitors 2 and 52) in the energization OFF state. Thus, the maximum time for which power can be reliably supplied for normal operation is set. The set value (value of time ta) is preset experimentally or logically (by capacity calculation) and stored in the storage unit of the control unit 7.
The second condition is a condition that a condition for operating (starting up) one or more (an example of a predetermined load) of all the loads 20 of the power system by the control unit 7 is established. For example, when the door opening / closing sensor 11 detects that the door has been opened, or when the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor 12 exceeds the target temperature by a predetermined temperature or more, the control unit 7 It is determined that the condition is met. When the second condition is satisfied, the control unit 7 executes the process of the next step S6 (process for switching to the energization ON state) before operating (starting up) the corresponding load 20.
Thereby, when it is the said electricity supply OFF state, the control part 7 can start the load 20 newly and can prevent the situation where power supply is insufficient.

When the control unit 7 determines that the energization ON condition is satisfied, the control unit 7 outputs a predetermined control signal to the switch switching circuit 8 to change the energization state (switching state of the contact switch 9) to the DC power supply circuit α. Switching to the energization ON state (S6), and then the process returns to step S1 described above. As a result, the DC power supply circuit α is in a state where it can output a DC voltage to the load 20 of the power system.
As described above, in the refrigerator X1, the control unit 7 determines predetermined switching conditions (the energization ON condition and the energization OFF condition) for the energization ON state and the energization OFF state (S2). , S5), the switch switching circuit 8 (an example of energization switching means) is controlled in accordance with the determination result.
Here, when it is determined that the DC power supply circuit is in a state where only a small amount of power is supplied (the microload operation state) (Y in S2), the control unit 7 cuts off the power supply to the DC power supply circuit α. Switch to the energization OFF state. Thereby, the energy loss of DC power supply circuit (alpha) can be suppressed low, and the power consumption of DC power supply circuit (alpha) itself can be reduced. Even in such a case, the control unit 7 and the sensors 11 and 12 with low power consumption can continue to operate for a while.
Here, the DC power supply circuit α includes a switching IC 3 (an example of a switching circuit) that switches a DC voltage signal. The switching IC 3 has a very low output state although its energy efficiency exceeds 80% in a rated output state. Then, the energy efficiency is reduced to less than half of the rated value (the energy loss is large). For this reason, if energization control shown in Drawing 2 is performed about DC power supply circuit alpha provided with switching IC3 like refrigerator X1, especially remarkable power saving effect is acquired.
Further, since the control unit 7 returns to the energization ON state again while the control unit 7 and the sensors 11 and 12 are operable in the energization OFF state (S6), no operational problem occurs.

In the first embodiment described above, the energization ON condition is a condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the energization OFF state, and a predetermined load 20 (a load with high power consumption) is operated by the control unit 7. It was based on the condition that the condition to activate (activate) was satisfied.
However, it is also conceivable that the control unit 7 determines the energization ON condition by the following process.
For example, the control unit 7 executes a predetermined program to estimate the power consumed by the control unit 7 and the sensors 11 and 12 (an example of a control unit) and the load 20 after the energization is turned off. To perform the process (power consumption estimation process). For example, the control unit 7 stores power consumption per unit time in advance in the storage unit for each of the control unit 7, the sensors 11 and 12, and each load 20 (hereinafter referred to as each device), and the energization OFF In the state, the power consumption of each device is integrated (estimated) based on the power consumption per unit time and the operation time of each device.
Further, the control unit 7 determines that the energization ON condition is satisfied when the estimated power consumption (integrated amount) exceeds a preset power consumption. Here, the set power amount is the same as that for the devices (the control unit 7 and the sensors 11 and 12) in which the DC power supply circuit α is operating with the storage capacity (capacitance of the capacitors 2 and 52) in the energized OFF state. The maximum amount of power is set within a range in which power supply sufficient for normal operation can be reliably performed.
Note that the above-described determination method of the energization ON condition is exactly the same even if it is replaced with the following determination method.
That is, assuming the amount of power corresponding to the power storage capacity of the DC power supply circuit α, the remaining power amount obtained by subtracting the estimated power consumption amount (integrated amount) from the power amount is equal to or less than a preset power amount. This is the same as determining that the energization ON condition is satisfied.
As a result, the timing to return to the energized ON state can be more accurately managed as compared to the case where the time is simply managed as shown in the first embodiment. For this reason, the time for which the energization OFF state is continued can be extended to a state close to the maximum, and the power saving effect can be further enhanced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the refrigerator X2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
This refrigerator X2 also has the same effects as the refrigerator X1.
The difference (difference) between the refrigerator X2 and the refrigerator X1 is the following two points, and other configurations and operations are the same as those of the refrigerator X1. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in the refrigerator X1 shown in FIG.
Here, one of the differences is that the refrigerator X2 detects that the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α has fallen below a predetermined set voltage in the energized OFF state (the voltage drop detecting means). An example).
The second difference is that the control unit 7 of the refrigerator X2 detects that the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α has fallen below a predetermined set voltage by the DC voltage monitoring circuit 10 in the energization OFF state. Is determined as the energization ON condition.
Note that the DC power supply circuit α, the control unit 7, the switch switching circuit 8, the contact switch 9, and the DC voltage monitoring circuit 10 constitute an example of a DC power supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Thus, since the state where the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α drops is actually detected by the DC voltage monitoring circuit 10, the control unit 7 can surely grasp the timing for returning to the energization ON state. it can. For this reason, the time for which the energization OFF state is continued can be extended to the maximum, and the power saving effect can be further enhanced.
Here, the DC voltage monitoring circuit 10 is, for example, This is a circuit that detects whether or not the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α has fallen below a predetermined set voltage by a comparator IC or the like. In addition, a configuration in which the DC voltage monitoring circuit 10 detects the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit α and the control unit 7 determines whether or not the voltage is lower than a set voltage is also conceivable. In this case, the DC voltage monitoring circuit 10 and the control unit 7 constitute an example of a voltage drop detection unit.
It should be noted that the DC power supply device described above can obtain the same effects even when applied to other electrical devices other than the refrigerator.

    The present invention can be used for a refrigerator.

The block diagram showing the structure of the principal part of the refrigerator X1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart showing the procedure of the electricity supply control with respect to DC power supply circuit alpha in refrigerator X1. The block diagram showing the structure of the principal part of the refrigerator X2 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

X1, X2 ... Refrigerator α ... DC power supply circuit 1 ... Diode bridge circuit 2, 52 ... Electrolytic capacitor 3 ... Switching IC
4 ... switching transformer 5 ... smoothing circuit 6 ... step-down circuit 7 ... control unit 8 ... switch switching circuit 9 ... contact switch 10 ... DC voltage monitoring circuits S1, S2,. . ... Processing procedure (step)

Claims (8)

Based on power supplied from an external AC power supply, control means for controlling one or a plurality of loads that operate by applying a DC voltage, and outputs a DC voltage applied to the load and the control means through a storage device having a predetermined capacity A direct current power supply device comprising:
In accordance with a control command from the control means, comprising an energization switching means for switching between an ON state in which energization from the external AC power supply to the DC power supply circuit and an OFF state in which the energization is not performed,
The DC power supply apparatus, wherein the control means determines a predetermined switching condition for each of the ON state and the OFF state, and controls the energization switching means according to the determination result.   2. The DC power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the switching condition to the OFF state includes a state where the predetermined load is not operated or the state continues for a predetermined time.   3. The DC power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the switching condition to the ON state includes that a predetermined time has elapsed since the switching to the OFF state. Voltage drop detection means for detecting that the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit has fallen below a predetermined set voltage,
The switching condition to the ON state includes that the output voltage of the DC power supply circuit is detected to be lower than a predetermined set voltage by the voltage drop detection means. DC power supply. The control means executes a power consumption amount estimation process for estimating the amount of power consumed by the control means and the load after being in the OFF state,
The DC power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the switching condition to the ON state includes that the estimated power amount by the power consumption amount estimating unit exceeds a predetermined set power amount.   The DC power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the switching condition to the ON state includes that a condition for operating the load predetermined by the control unit is satisfied.   The DC power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the DC power supply circuit includes a switching circuit that switches a DC voltage signal.   A refrigerator comprising the DC power supply device according to claim 1.

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