JP2869222B2 - Refrigerator defrost control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defrosting control device for a refrigerator which performs defrosting in a time period when a door is frequently opened and closed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Prior to the present invention, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-7795
In the conventional refrigerator defrosting device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-163, the operation time of the refrigeration cycle is integrated by a timer, and defrosting is started when the refrigeration cycle is operated for a predetermined time.

However, in this type of refrigerator defroster, if the defrosting is arbitrarily started by a timer and the defrosting is started during a time period when the frequency of opening and closing the storage room door is high, the storage room is not operated. There is a drawback that outside air frequently enters in a state in which cooling is impossible, resulting in an increase in room temperature.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting control device for a refrigerator which solves the above-mentioned disadvantages and suppresses a rise in the temperature of a storage room during defrosting.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a defrosting control device for a refrigerator having a defrosting device, which counts the number of times the refrigerator door is opened and closed for each of a plurality of time periods constituting one day. Means, an opening / closing frequency memory for storing the number of times the door is opened / closed for each time zone, and a door opening / closing index setting for setting a door opening / closing index for each time zone according to the number of times the door is opened / closed for each time zone. Means, a time slot corresponding to the current time and a door opening / closing index selecting means for extracting a door opening / closing index of a small number of time zones ahead of this time zone, and a door opening / closing index extracted by the door opening / closing index selecting means. And a defrosting signal generating means for generating a defrosting start signal for controlling the defrosting device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, defrosting can be performed during a time when the frequency of opening and closing of the door is small, so that the door is frequently opened and closed when the storage room cannot be cooled, and the temperature of the storage room is abnormal. Can be prevented from rising. Also, the door opening / closing index selecting means extracts only the time slot corresponding to the current time and the door opening / closing index of a small number of time zones before this time zone, and inputs them to the defrost signal generating means. The structure of the defrosting signal generating means can be simplified by the amount of the decrease in the input data to the frosting signal generating means.

[0007]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a door opening / closing switch, which is a door (not shown) of a storage room formed inside the refrigerator body.
The number of times of opening and closing is detected. Reference numeral 2 denotes an opening / closing frequency accumulation circuit as a counting means for accumulating the number of opening / closing times detected by the door opening / closing switch 1, and reference numeral 3 denotes an opening / closing frequency memory for storing an integrated value of the opening / closing frequency accumulation circuit 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a compressor operation time integration unit, which indirectly integrates a cooling operation time of a cooler (not shown) of the storage room that forms a refrigeration cycle together with the compressor by integrating the operation time of the compressor. Reference numeral 5 denotes a defrosting operation starting unit as a defrosting signal generation means for judging the start of the defrosting operation of the cooler and generating a defrosting start signal for defrosting control. It operates based on the output from the frequency memory 3 and outputs a defrost start signal. The defrosting start signal is cooled by the defrosting device by switching the refrigerant flow switching valve of the refrigeration cycle to supply a high-temperature refrigerant to the cooler or causing the electric heater to generate heat based on this signal. Serves to defrost the vessel. Reference numeral 6 denotes a timer which divides the time of day into a plurality of time zones, and activates the opening / closing frequency memory 3 and the like at every predetermined time TC (described later).

Reference numeral 7 denotes a reading unit provided between the opening / closing frequency memory 3 and the defrosting operation starting unit 5 for each time period according to the number of times of opening and closing of the door stored in the opening / closing frequency memory 3. Door opening / closing index setting means for setting the opening / closing frequency data as the door opening / closing index, a time zone corresponding to the current time, and opening / closing frequency data _Ht , _{Ht + 1 of} a small number of time zones preceding this time zone. H t _{+ 2} and a door opening and closing index selecting means for taking the (later described), the switching frequency data H _t,
Only _{Ht + 1} and _{Ht + 2} are input to the defrosting operation starting unit 5.

The opening / closing frequency integrating circuit 2 informs the opening / closing frequency memory 3 of the cumulative number of opening / closing times C _ij within each predetermined time TC every time the opening / closing frequency memory 3 is activated every predetermined time TC. It is configured to be stored.

As shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing frequency memory 3 is constituted by an m × n matrix. Where m =
24 / TC, n is the required data storage days. The predetermined time TC is specifically set to one hour.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reading section 7
The time zone t corresponding to the current time and two prior to this time zone t
Opening / closing frequency data H for the time zones t + 1 and t + 2_t,
H_{t + 1}, H _{t + 2}Select only the defrosting operation starting unit
5 is input.

The defrosting operation starting unit 5 is constituted by a multilayer neural network of a neurocomputer. The number of cells of the input layer 8 of the neural network 5 is set to 4, the number of cells of the output layer 9 is set to 1, and the number of cells of the intermediate layer 10 is set to a necessary and sufficient number.

Each of the four cells of the input layer 8 has integrated data ST of the operating time of the compressor from the end of the previous defrosting, and the opening / closing frequency data _Ht , _{Ht + 1} , _{Ht + 1.} And enter. The input signals H _t , H _{t + 1} , H _{t + 2,} etc. of the input layer 8 are opening / closing evaluation indices at each time of day, and more specifically, doors of the past n days in each hour of each hour. Indicates the average number of open / close integration of

[0015]

(Equation 1)

## EQU1 ##

In the neural network 5, at any time, a value obtained by normalizing the time to the correct time, the accumulated operation time of the compressor up to that time, and past door opening / closing frequency data up to that time are stored in the neural network 5. When input to the network 5, it is determined whether it is appropriate to execute the defrosting operation at that time. Specifically, the neural network 5 accumulates the operation time of the compressor and, when a predetermined time elapses, the opening / closing frequency data _Ht , _{Ht + 1} , H
Compare and examine _{t + 2} , judge the increase / decrease tendency of the door opening / closing frequency from this data, and if the opening / closing frequency is increasing, immediately output a defrosting start signal at the present time, and conversely, the opening / closing frequency is decreasing In this case, the defrosting start time is extended from the present time and a defrosting start signal is output after a predetermined time has elapsed (specifically, after 5 to 6 hours).

The learning process of the neural network 5, pre desired data ST, the combination of H _i, the data whether or not to start the defrosting operation in advance input as a teacher signal, learning such backpropagation Is determined in advance so that the error between the teacher signal and the output result is equal to or less than a certain value.

By performing the learning as described above, the neural network 5 automatically performs the interpolation when the input signal other than the teacher signal, specifically, the input signal during the actual operation of the refrigerator is input. It is possible to generate a defrost signal during a time period when the frequency of door opening / closing is small.

[0020] Note that the switching frequency data of the door, when determination as to start the defrosting operation only by switching frequency data H _t of a single time zone t is the simplest configuration of the neural network 5 However, since the opening / closing state of the door before the current time cannot be predicted, the number of doors is determined to be three in consideration of this point. The number of the opening / closing frequency data is slightly increased or decreased depending on how much complexity and size of the neural network 5 are allowed.

As for the defrosting operation starting unit 5,
In addition to the above-mentioned neural network, one that obtains the same function by using a fuzzy inferencer is also implemented.

In the defrost control device, the operation time of the compressor is integrated from the end of the previous defrost, and the opening / closing frequency data _Ht , _{Ht + 1} , H
Compare and examine _{t + 2} , judge the increase / decrease tendency of the door opening / closing frequency from this data, and if the opening / closing frequency is increasing, immediately output a defrosting start signal at the present time, and conversely, the opening / closing frequency is decreasing In the case of, the defrosting start time is extended from the present time and a defrosting start signal is output after a predetermined time (after 5 to 6 hours), so that the defrosting is performed in a time period when the door opening and closing frequency is small. Therefore, the door is frequently opened and closed in a state where the storage room cannot be cooled, and an abnormal rise in the temperature of the storage room due to this is prevented.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, defrosting can be performed during a time when the door is not frequently opened and closed, and the door is frequently opened and closed when the storage room cannot be cooled. It is possible to prevent the temperature of the storage room from rising abnormally. Also, the door opening / closing index selecting means extracts only the time slot corresponding to the current time and the door opening / closing index of a small number of time zones before this time zone, and inputs them to the defrost signal generating means. The structure of the defrosting signal generating means can be simplified by the amount of the decrease in the input data to the frosting signal generating means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an opening / closing frequency memory provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Opening / closing frequency memory 4 Compressor operation time accumulating unit 5 Defrosting operation start unit 7 Reading unit _Ht opening / closing frequency data _{Ht + 1} opening / closing frequency data _{Ht + 2} opening / closing frequency data

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiji Fukushima 2-18-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshimichi Hirata 2-18-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-54-28055 (JP, A) JP-A-63-254379 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F25D 21/06-21 / 12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A defrosting control device for a refrigerator having a defrosting device, comprising: counting means for counting the number of times the refrigerator door is opened and closed for each of a plurality of time zones constituting one day; Opening / closing frequency memory for storing the number of times the door is opened / closed, door opening / closing index setting means for setting the door opening / closing index for each time zone according to the number of times the door is opened / closed for each time zone, Door opening / closing index selecting means for extracting a door opening / closing index of a time zone and a small number of time zones prior to the time zone; and controlling the defrosting device based on the door opening / closing index extracted by the door opening / closing index selecting means. A defrost control device for a refrigerator, comprising: a defrost signal generating means for generating a defrost start signal. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said defrosting signal generating means comprises a neural network for generating said defrosting start signal based on said door opening / closing index.
A defrosting control device for a refrigerator as described in the above.