JPH04131679A - Controller for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and surely carry out the demonstrating operation by a method wherein the present controller is provided with a controlling method determining means, determining either one of normal operation control or demonstrating operation control in accordance with the signal of an inputting means. CONSTITUTION:The signal of the demonstrating operation of a refrigerator is inputted by a forced defrosting terminal (inputting means) 26 and either one of normal operation control or demonstrating operation control is determined in accordance with the signal of the forced defrosting terminal (inputting means) 26 while the operation control of the refrigerator is effected by the determined method of control. Accordingly, the switching between the normal operation and the demonstrating operation of the refrigerator can be effected previously by the forced defrosting terminal (input means) 26 whereby the operation of switches upon every throwing of a power supply is not necessitated at every times when the demonstrating operation is effected for the poupose of the display, sales or the like of the refrigerator as in the case of so far.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a control device for a refrigerator, and more particularly to a control device for a refrigerator that can perform demonstration operations when displaying or selling refrigerators.

[Prior Art] Figs. 6 to 10 show a conventional refrigerator control device published in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-230974, and Fig. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing the conventional refrigerator control device; FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of a conventional refrigerator control mechanism, and FIGS. 8 to 10 are flowcharts showing control operations by the conventional refrigerator control device.

In Figure 6, (1) is the refrigerator body, (2) is the freezer compartment located at the top of the refrigerator body (1), and (3) is the refrigerator compartment located below the freezer compartment (2). The interior of the refrigerator body (1) is usually divided into a plurality of storage compartments.

(4) is a cooler located in the back of the freezer compartment (2);
) is a fan motor that forcibly circulates cold air inside the refrigerator, (
6) is a defrost temperature sensor that detects the temperature of frost that has adhered to the cooler (4) and outputs a defrost signal, and (7) is a defroster that removes the frost that has adhered to the cooler (4). Heater, (8) is a temperature detector that detects the temperature inside the freezer compartment (2), (9) is an internal temperature setting device that sets the temperature inside the refrigerator, (10) is a compressor that compresses the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. (11) is a control circuit of this refrigerator, and (12) is an operation panel disposed on the door of the freezer compartment (2). The control circuit (11) is composed of an operation switch detection means (23), a control method determination means (24), and a control means (25).
1) is determined by the defrost temperature signal output from the defrost temperature sensor (6), the freezer compartment temperature detection signal output from the temperature detector (8), and the refrigerator compartment temperature setting device on the operation panel (12). The fan motor (
5), the defroster heater (7), and the compressor (10) as appropriate.

Further, the specific configuration of the control circuit (11) is as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing a control mechanism of a conventional refrigerator.

In Figure 7, (13) is an AC power supply for power supply, (14
) is a resistor connected in series with the temperature sensor (8),
(15) is the resistor connected in series with the chamber temperature setting device (variable resistor) (9), and (16) is the defrost temperature detector (
6) is connected in series with a resistor, (17) is a microcomputer with a built-in timer (hereinafter simply referred to as "microcomputer"), (18), (19), (20)
are fan motor (5), compressor (10), defrost heater (
7), (18a) and (19a).

(20a) is each of the above drive circuits (18), (19) and (2).
0), each of these relay coils (18a), (19a).

(20a) is excited, each contact (18b)
, (19b) and (20b) are closed, and the fan motor (
5), the compressor (10), and the defrost heater (7) are activated.

(21) is a quick freezing command push button switch (hereinafter referred to as "quick freezing switch") that commands quick freezing, and (22) is a quick freezing indicator light that indicates that quick freezing is in progress; and quick freezing indicator light (22
) are arranged on the operation panel (12).

In the conventional refrigerator control device configured as above,
The operating state of the quick freezing switch (21) is determined by the control circuit (11).
) is detected by the operation switch detection means (23),
The control method determining means (24) determines the control method for normal operation and demonstration operation according to the operating state, and the control means (25) appropriately controls the refrigerator according to the determined control method.

Next, the operation of the refrigerator control device having this configuration will be explained.

The refrigerant is circulated in the refrigeration cycle by the operation of the compressor (10), and the cold air cooled by the cooler (4) is circulated through each chamber in the refrigerator as the fan motor (5) rotates. At this time, the compressor (10) and fan motor (5) are operated intermittently to maintain the internal temperature at the set temperature. When the cumulative operating time of the compressor (10) reaches a predetermined time, the defrost heater (7) is energized and the cooler (4) is defrosted. Also, if you press the quick freeze switch (21) during normal refrigeration operation, the quick freeze indicator light (2
2) lights up to indicate that it is in quick freezing mode.
The compressor (10) and fan motor (5) are operated continuously for a certain period of time to rapidly cool the inside of the freezer compartment (2).

Next, the operation will be explained according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of control operations by a conventional refrigerator control device, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of step S3 in the flowchart in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of step S3 in the flowchart in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of step S4. Note that these flowcharts show an overview of the programs stored in the memory of the microcomputer (17).

In FIG. 8, when the power is turned on in step S1,
In step S2, the microcomputer (17) is initialized,
Subroutine 5UB1 of step S3 and step S4
The subroutine 5UB2 is sequentially executed to perform operation control for each purpose, and in step S5, output control for each display section of the operation panel (12) is performed.

Next, the subroutine 5UB1 of step S3 and the subroutine 5UB2 of step S4 will be explained.

First, the subroutine 5UB1 will be described.

In FIG. 9, in step S11, the input settings of each operation switch and the temperature inside the refrigerator are read. In other words, the internal temperature setting device (
The internal temperature setting signal set by step 9), the internal temperature signal detected by the temperature detector (8), the setting state of the quick freezing switch (21), etc. are taken into the microcomputer (17). In step S12, it is determined whether the demonstration flag (hereinafter referred to as demo flag) F is "1" or not. If it is "1", the compressor (10) is stopped in step 813, and the fan motor (5) is stopped in step S14. In step S15, the defrost heater (7) is stopped, and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the demo flag is not "1" in step S12, normal cooling operation control from step 816 to step 833 is performed.

Here, normal cooling operation control will be explained. In step S16, it is determined whether the compressor operation command flag F1 is "1" or not based on the data taken in in step S11. For example, when the temperature inside the refrigerator is below the set value, the compressor operation command flag F1 becomes "0", the compressor (10) is stopped in step S17, and the compressor (10) is stopped in step S81.
Stop the fan motor (5) at step 8. Further, when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises and becomes equal to or higher than the set temperature, it is determined in step S19 that the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the set temperature, and the compressor operation command flag F1 is set to "1" in step S20. The compressor (10) is operated in step S21, and the fan motor (5) is operated in step S22. Specifically, from the microcomputer (17) to the drive circuits (18) and (19)
A driving command is output to the relay coil (18a),
(19a) is excited, its contact (18b
), (19b) are closed, and power is supplied from the AC power supply (13) to the compressor (10) and fan motor (5). Then, by restarting the operation of the compressor (lO) and fan motor (5), cold air is supplied into the refrigerator, and the temperature in the refrigerator gradually decreases. The operating time of the compressor (10) is accumulated by the built-in timer of the microcomputer (17) in step 823.
In the next step 824, it is determined whether the cumulative operation time ti exceeds a predetermined time X or not. The cumulative driving time t1
has not reached the predetermined time X, step S26
Proceed to. At this time, the defrosting start flag F2 is “0”.
It is. If it is determined that the cumulative operating time t1 is equal to or longer than the predetermined time X, the defrost start flag F2 is set to "1" in step 825, and then step
Then, it is determined whether or not the internal temperature is below the set temperature. If it is determined that the temperature inside the refrigerator is below the set temperature, the compressor operation command flag F1 is set to "
0", the compressor (10) is stopped in step S17, and the fan motor (5) is stopped in step 818. Then, in step S28, it is determined whether or not the defrost start flag F2 is "1". , when the defrost start flag F2 is "1", the defrost operation from step S29 to step 83B is performed.First, in step S29, the defrost heater (7
) is turned on. That is, an actuation signal is output from the microcomputer (17) to the drive circuit (20), and the relay coil (2
0a) is energized, its contact (20b) closes, and AC f [Xifg, (13)
Power is supplied from This ON state of the defrost heater (7) continues until the frost adhering to the cooler (4) disappears, that is, until the temperature detected by the defrost temperature detector (6) reaches a predetermined temperature. In addition, at this time, the defrost temperature sensor (
6) and the resistor (16), the voltage at the connection point between the microcomputer (1
7). Then, in step S30, the voltage at the connection point between the defrost heater (7) and the resistor (16) is read, and in step S31, it is determined whether the defrost temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. If it is determined that the frost has adhered to the cooler (4), it can be determined that the frost adhering to the cooler (4) has disappeared, so the operation of the defrost heater (7) is stopped in step S32, and the operation is performed in step S833. The defrost start flag F2 is set to "0", and the process returns to the main routine again, where the compressor (10) and fan motor (5) are operated.

In this way, the compressor (1
0) is operated intermittently, and when the operating time t1 exceeds a predetermined time X, the cooler (4) is defrosted. When the temperature of the defrost temperature sensor (6) falls below a predetermined temperature, the defrost operation ends and the compressor (10) starts operating normally until the next cumulative operation time reaches a predetermined time. Driving is repeated.

In this way, when the processing of subroutine 5UBI is completed,
The program moves to subroutine 5UB2 and the program shown in FIG. 10 is executed.

In FIG. 10, first, in step S41, it is determined whether the switching flag E is "1". However, this switching flag E
is set to “0” by initialization in step S2 of the main routine.
It has become. If the switching flag E is determined to be "1", the process returns to the main routine. If it is not "1", it is determined in step 842 whether the quick freezing switch (21) is on. This determination is made by determining the input state of the quick freezing switch (21) among the input states of the operation switches read in step Sll of subroutine 5UBI. If it is determined that the quick freezing switch (21) is on, the process advances to step 843 and the demo flag F is turned on.
is set to "1", the switching flag E is set to "1" in step S44, and the process returns to the main routine. Also, step 8
If the quick freezing switch (21) is not turned on at 42,
Proceeding to step S45, the demo flag F is set to "0", and then, in step 844, the switching flag E is set to "1" and the process returns to the main routine.

When the subroutine 5UB2 ends in this way, the process advances to step S5 of the main routine in FIG.
The output control of the display section 12) is performed.

As mentioned above, in the conventional refrigerator control device, by turning on the quick freezing switch (21) when the power is turned on, the demo flag F becomes "1", and as a result, the compressor (1
0), the fan motor (5), the defrost heater (7), etc. are stopped to perform demonstration operation control. In other cases, normal operation control is performed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional refrigerator control device as described above, when performing a demonstration operation of the refrigerator, it was necessary to operate a switch on the operation panel (12) when turning on the power.

Therefore, if you forget to operate this switch, normal operation control will be performed, so when displaying the refrigerator or performing demonstration operation at sales, etc., you will need to operate the switch each time you turn on the power. The operation was cumbersome and cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator control device that allows demonstration operation of a refrigerator to be performed easily and reliably.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A refrigerator control device according to the present invention includes an input means that is incorporated in a control circuit of the refrigerator and is capable of inputting a signal for performing a demonstration operation, and a control device that responds to the signal of the input means. and a control means for controlling the operation of the refrigerator according to the control method determined by the control method determining means.

[Function] In the present invention, an input means capable of inputting a signal for performing demonstration operation of the refrigerator is built into the control circuit of the refrigerator, and normal operation control and demonstration operation control are performed according to the signal from this input means. Since the operation of the refrigerator is controlled according to the determined control method, the refrigerator can be switched between normal operation and demonstration operation in advance by manual means.

[Example] Examples of the present invention will be described below.

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a control device for a refrigerator which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control mechanism of a refrigerator which is an embodiment of the invention, and Figs. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation by a refrigerator control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and symbols as those in the above conventional example indicate constituent parts that are the same as or correspond to those in the above conventional example.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, (26) is a forced defrost terminal that can be forcibly defrosted from the outside, and is used when checking the product of a refrigerator. (27) is a control circuit composed of a forced defrost terminal (26), control method determining means (24), and control means (25).

In the refrigerator control device of this embodiment configured as described above, the control method determining means (24) performs normal operation and demonstration depending on the operating state of the forced defrost terminal (26) in the control circuit (27). A control method for the operation is determined, and the control means (25) appropriately controls the refrigerator according to the determined control method.

Next, the operation of the refrigerator control device having this configuration will be explained. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of control operations by the refrigerator control device which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is step S53 in the flowchart of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of step 854 in the flowchart of FIG. Note that this FIG. 3 shows step 353 instead of step S3 in FIG. 8 of the conventional example.
, step S54 is used instead of step S4, and FIG.
61 and step S62 are added, and further,
In FIG. 5, step S72 is used instead of step S42 in FIG. 10 of the conventional example.

In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on in step S1,
In step S2, the microcomputer (17) is initialized,
Subroutine 5UB3 of step 853 and step S
54 subroutines 5UB52 are sequentially executed to perform operation control for each purpose, and in step S5, the operation panel (1
2) Output control of each display section is performed.

Next, the subroutine 5UB3 of step 853 and the subroutine 5UB4 of step S54 will be explained.

First, subroutine 5UB3 will be described.

In FIG. 4, in step 811, the input settings of each operation switch and the temperature inside the refrigerator are read. In other words, the internal temperature setting device (
The internal temperature setting signal set by step 9), the internal temperature signal detected by the temperature detector (8), the setting state of the quick freezing switch (21), etc. are taken into the microcomputer (17). In step S12, it is determined whether the demo flag F is "1" or not. If it is "1", the compressor (
10), and in step 814, the fan motor (5) is stopped.
), the defrost heater (7) is stopped in step S15, and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the demo flag is "0" in step S12,
Proceeding to step S61, it is determined whether there is a forced defrost input from the forced defrost terminal (26), and if there is no forced defrost input, normal operation control from step S16 to step 833 is performed. If there is a forced defrost input, the defrost start flag F2 is set to "1" in step S62, and then normal operation control from step 816 to step 833 is performed. Note that from step S16 to step 8
Since each operation of 33 is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 9, the explanation thereof will be omitted here.

In this way, when the processing of subroutine 5UB3 is completed,
The program moves to subroutine 5UB4 and the program shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

In FIG. 5, first, in step S41, the switching flag E
It is determined whether the switching flag E is "1" or not, and if it is determined that the switching flag E is "1", the process returns to the main routine. If it is "0" instead of "1", it is determined in step S72 whether there is a forced defrost input from the forced defrost terminal (26), and if there is a forced defrost input, the process advances to step 843. , the demo flag F is set to "1", the switching flag E is set to "1" in step S44, and the process returns to the main routine. If there is no forced defrost input, the process proceeds to step S45, where the demo flag F is set to "0", and then the switching flag E is set to "1" at step S44, and the process returns to the main routine.

When the subroutine 5UB4 ends in this way, the process advances to step S5 of the main routine in FIG.
The output control of the display section 12) is performed.

Further, the forced defrost terminal (26) is incorporated in the control circuit (27), and the presence or absence of input is transmitted to the microcomputer (17) by short-circuiting or opening the two terminals. Then, by operating this forced defrost terminal (26), the demo flag F
By setting "1" to "1", demonstration operation control is performed in which the compressor (10), fan motor (5), defroster heater (7), etc. are stopped. In other cases, normal operation control is performed.

As described above, the refrigerator control device of this embodiment is a manual means consisting of a forced defrost terminal (26) which is incorporated into the refrigerator control circuit (27) and into which a signal for performing demonstration operation can be input. , a control method determining means (24) comprising a subroutine 5UB4 that determines either normal operation control or demonstration operation control according to the signal from the forced defrost terminal (input means) (26);
a subroutine 5U for controlling the operation of the refrigerator according to the control method determined by the control method determining means 24;
A control means (25) consisting of B3 is provided.

Then, a signal for performing demonstration operation of the refrigerator is input through the forced defrost terminal (input means) (26), and normal operation control and demonstration operation are controlled according to the signal from the forced defrost terminal (input means) (26). The operation of the refrigerator is controlled according to the determined control method. Therefore, it is possible to switch the refrigerator between normal operation and demonstration operation using the forced defrost terminal (manual means) (26) in advance. When carrying out a demonstration operation, for example, there is no need to operate a switch each time the power is turned on, and there is no need to perform normal operation control due to forgetting to operate a switch. As a result, if the forced defrost terminal (input means) (26) is set for demonstration operation in advance, demonstration operation of the refrigerator can be performed reliably.

By the way, in the above embodiment, in order to control the demonstration operation of the refrigerator, the forced defrost terminal (26) incorporated in the control circuit (27) is set for demonstration operation, but the conventional example They may be combined in such a way that switching to demonstration operation control can be performed using a switch operation on the operation panel (12).

Further, in the above embodiment, the forced defrost terminal (26) is used as an input means capable of inputting a signal for performing a demonstration operation built into the control circuit (27) of the refrigerator.
Of course, a dedicated terminal for controlling the demonstration operation may be incorporated into the control circuit (27).

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the refrigerator control device of the present invention includes a human power means, a control method determining means, and a control means built into the control circuit of the refrigerator, and allows demonstration of the refrigerator by the human power means. A simple configuration in which a signal for operating the refrigerator is input, the normal operation control or the demonstration operation control is determined according to the signal from the input means, and the operation of the refrigerator is controlled according to the determined control method. , the refrigerator can be switched between normal operation and demonstration operation using the input means in advance, and if it is set for demonstration operation, the switch can be operated each time the refrigerator is displayed, sold, etc. Since this is not necessary, demonstration operation can be carried out easily and reliably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a control device for a refrigerator which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control mechanism of a refrigerator which is an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. A flowchart showing the overall flow of control operations by a refrigerator control device according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine used in the flowchart of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a routine used in the flowchart of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing a conventional refrigerator control device, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing a conventional refrigerator control mechanism. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the overall flow of control operations by a conventional refrigerator control device, Figure 9 is a flowchart of a routine used in the flowchart in Figure 8, and Figure 10 is also used in the flowchart in Figure 8. It is a flowchart of a routine. In the figure, 1: Refrigerator body 2: Freezer compartment 3: Refrigerator compartment 6: Box temperature detector 8: Temperature detector 9: Internal temperature setting device 17: Microcomputer 21: Quick freezing switch 24: Control method determining means 25 : Control means 27: Control circuit. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and the same symbols indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Patent attorney Masahiro Oiwa and 2 others

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An input means that is incorporated into a control circuit of the refrigerator and is capable of inputting a signal for performing demonstration operation; and a control circuit that performs either normal operation control or demonstration operation control in accordance with the signal from the input means. A control device for a refrigerator, comprising: a control method determining means for determining a control method; and a control means for controlling the operation of the refrigerator according to the control method determined by the control method determining means.