KR20080050832A - Deicing control method for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

An icing control method for a refrigerator is provided to select turning-on/off of an ice maker and a driving time of the ice maker as desired by a user. An icing control method for a refrigerator includes the steps of determining whether a driving control command is input by a user(S61), storing the driving control command to a storing part when the driving control command is input(S62), determining the existence of stored driving control command(S63), driving an ice maker for carrying out ice making under automatic control in the absence of the stored command(S64), determining whether the command is for a driving time in the presence of the stored command(S65), receiving the current time is included in an on-driving time(S66), and driving the ice maker to carry out ice making when the command is the on-commend(S67) or to stop the operation of the ice maker in the other case(S68). When the current time is not included in the on-driving time, the stored command is determined to be an on-command or not(S69), so as to return the routine to step(S64) if so or to stop the driving of the ice maker according to an off-command(S70).

Description

How to control ice making in refrigerators {DEICING CONTROL METHOD FOR REFRIGERATOR}

1 is a block diagram of a general ice making apparatus.

2 is a flow chart of the ice making control method according to the prior art of FIG.

3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an ice making apparatus for performing an ice making control method according to the present invention.

4 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of an ice making apparatus for performing an ice making control method according to the present invention.

5 is a front view of a refrigerator for performing the ice making control method according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart of an ice making control method according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

31: temporary counting means 32: water supply valve

33: heater 34: motor

35a: sensor 35b: temperature sensor

36: input unit 37: display unit

38: control unit

The present invention relates to a control method of a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an ice making control method of a refrigerator for controlling driving of an ice making device according to a user input.

1 is a block diagram of a general ice making apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making apparatus is fixed to the wall surface of the freezer compartment by using connection brackets 2a and 2b extending upward from the ice making container 12, for example, connection brackets 2a and 2b. It is fixed to the wall surface of the freezing compartment with a fastening screw using the hole formed in the. In the ice making apparatus, the ice making container 12 containing water for ice making into a predetermined shape of ice is formed of a material having excellent thermal conductivity, for example, aluminum. The water supply to the ice making container 12 is made through a feed tube connection part 4 formed at one side.

An ice lever 14 is installed at an upper portion of the ice making container 12. The ice lever 14 is configured to rotate to take out ice completely defrosted from the ice making container 12 to the outside of the ice making container by using the rotational force of the driving motor provided in the casing 20.

In addition, a heater (not shown) is provided at a lower portion of the ice making container 12 to apply a small amount of heat to separate the completed ice from the ice making container 12. Therefore, when cold air is supplied for a predetermined time and ice making is completed, the heater generates heat to space the ice attached to the ice making container 12. The ice spaced in this way is separated from the ice making container 12 by the rotation of the ice lever 14. And the ice is separated in this way, fall into the ice storage container (not shown) located below. In order to prevent the ice separated at this time from entering the inside of the ice making container 12 again, a stripper 6 is provided on the front upper surface of the ice making container 12.

And before the ice is separated from the ice making container 12, whether or not the ice is filled in the ice storage container at the bottom is detected by the ice detection lever (16). The sensing lever 16 moves up and down within a predetermined angle range by a motor (not shown) inside the casing 20, and detects whether the ice storage container is full of ice through the sensor. In addition, the sensor sensed value is transmitted to the controller, and the controller (not shown) drives the ice maker according to the determined value. Therefore, when the ice detection lever 16 moves up and down and senses that ice is filled in the ice storage container at the bottom, the ice lever 14 does not operate. However, when the ice leveling lever 16 moves up and down to detect that the ice storage container is not full of ice, the ice leveling lever 14 rotates the ice leveling lever 14 so that the ice is separated from the ice making container. Push it to fill the ice container in the bottom.

The stripper 6 has a plurality of branch shapes extending from the front plate 18 to the rear side. In addition, the above-mentioned ice lever 14 is designed to rotate between each stripper 6. The front plate 18 formed on the front surface of the ice making container 12 has a shape that extends downwardly from a height at which the ice making container 12 is located. This front plate 18 is for preventing the ice collected in the ice storage container substantially below it from contacting the ice making container 12. That is, when the ice accumulated in the ice storage container located below the ice making container 12 comes into contact with the ice making container 12, the ice may stick or the heat generated by the heater installed under the ice making container 12 during the ice making process. This melted water is frozen again after the heater is turned off, causing the whole ice to stick or entangle. In order to prevent this, the front plate 18 is configured in the shape of a flat plate extending from the ice making container 12 to have a predetermined length vertically downward.

Here, the ice making device itself is provided in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator as described above. And by the cold air supplied into the freezer compartment, the water inside the ice making container 12 is made of ice. Therefore, when cold air is supplied in the direction of the arrow in the freezer compartment, such cold air is brought into contact with the ice making container 12 through the rear of the front plate 18, thereby lowering the ice making container 12 and making ice making. You lose.

Heat is generated in the heater during the ice. In the normal operation state of the heater, the heater generates heat for a predetermined time and the heat generation is stopped when a predetermined time elapses of ice in the ice making container 12 elapses.

2 is a flow chart of the ice making control method according to the prior art of FIG. In detail, in step S21, the controller determines whether ice is inside the ice storage container, and if not, proceeds to step S22 and waits if it is full.

In step S22, the controller performs water supply to the ice making container 12.

In step S23, the ice making apparatus performs ice making by cold air supplied into the freezer compartment.

In step S24, the controller determines whether ice making for the water in the ice making container 12 is completed through a separate sensor (eg, a temperature sensor). If the ice making is completed, the process proceeds to step S25, otherwise, step S23 is continuously performed.

In step S25, the controller pushes the ice by operating the ice lever 14 so that the ice is separated from the ice making container 12, and performs the ice making operation so that the ice is filled in the ice storage container in the lower portion.

In the above-described embodiment, step S21 may be located between steps S24 and S25.

The ice making control method of the refrigerator according to the related art repeatedly performs an ice making process all day regardless of a user's ice making request. In the ice making operation, noise is generated in particular in the process of water supply, ice-making, and the like. The noise affects the user during the day, but at night, the noise relatively affects the user. There is a problem such that the user sleeps due to such noise.

In addition, the conventional ice making control method does not provide a method in which the control unit performs one-side control according to a predetermined ice making method, so that the user can stop or resume ice making as needed.

In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting control method of the refrigerator to enable the user to select the driving of the ice making apparatus.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling ice making of a refrigerator that allows a user to set whether to drive the ice making device and a driving time.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling ice making of a refrigerator to allow the ice maker to be driven and stopped according to a user's need.

The ice-making control method of the refrigerator of the present invention includes an input unit receiving a driving control command of an ice maker from a user, and driving the ice maker according to the input driving control command.

In this case, the driving control command is preferably an ON or OFF command of the ice maker.

In addition, the drive control command preferably includes a drive time of the ice making apparatus.

In the controlling step, when the current time corresponds to the ON driving time, the ice maker is driven, and when the current time corresponds to the OFF driving time, the ice maker is stopped.

The input step may include an input unit of a display device of a refrigerator receiving the drive control command from a user, the display device transmitting the drive control command to the ice maker, and the ice maker controlling the drive. Preferably, the method includes receiving a command.

In addition, the control method preferably includes displaying the presence or absence of the drive control command or whether the ice making device is driven through a display device of a refrigerator.

In addition, the ice-making control method of the refrigerator of the present invention includes the steps of determining the presence or absence of a predetermined driving time of the ice making apparatus, and in the determining step, comparing the current time and the driving time, if there is a driving time of the ice making apparatus; And controlling the driving of the ice making apparatus according to the result of the comparing step.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by taking a refrigerator as an example based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following examples and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an ice making apparatus for performing an ice making control method according to the present invention. The ice making apparatus applies some of the mechanical structure of FIG. 1, but includes novel components not described in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ice making device 30 includes a temporary counting means 31 for calculating a current date and time, a water supply valve 32 for controlling a water supply / water supply to the ice making container, and ice in the ice making container. A heater 33 for dissipating heat for separation, a motor 34 for providing power to drive an ice lever, etc., a sensor 35a for detecting whether the ice storage container is full of ice, and a deicing container. A temperature sensor 35b for determining whether the water is completely iced, an input unit 36 for receiving a command related to driving the ice maker from the user (hereinafter referred to as a driving control command), and a refrigerator or an ice maker. A display unit 37 for displaying information on the driving state to the user and a series of deicing processes are automatically performed, and if there is a driving control command from the user, a control for performing an ice making process according to the driving control command. Part 38 is made.

In detail, the date / time counting means 31 calculates information (for example, current year month day and time) for the current date and time to the control part 38 and applies it to the control part 38.

The water supply valve 32, the heater 33, the motor 34, the sensing sensor 35a and the temperature sensor 35b are the same components as the corresponding components of FIG. 1, and the ice making control disclosed in FIG. The method (or ice making process) is performed in the same way.

In addition, the input unit 36 is for receiving a driving control command from a user, and may be a normal button key, an electrostatic key, or an input unit attached to the front of the display unit 37 such as a touch pad. The drive control command relates to the operation of the ice making device. For example, in the case of the ON command of the ice making device, the ice making device always performs the ice making process until another command is input according to the ON command. Alternatively, in the case of the OFF command of the ice making apparatus, the ice making apparatus immediately stops the current ice making process, and maintains the stopped state of the ice making process until another command is input. Alternatively, as an input for the driving time of the ice making device, it may be composed of an ON driving time (for example, 08:00 to 20 o'clock) and / or an OFF driving time (for example, 21 o'clock to 7 o'clock the next day). . When the user inputs only the ON driving time (for example, 08:00 to 20:00), the remaining time (that is, between 20:00 and 08:00 next day) may be automatically calculated as the OFF driving time. On the contrary, the ON driving time may be automatically calculated in the case of input of the OFF driving time.

In addition, the display unit 37 displays information on a driving state of the refrigerator and / or the ice maker. That is, the display unit 37 indicates whether the ice making apparatus is currently being driven (or operated), the state in which the ON command is input or the OFF command is input, the driving time of the ice maker (ON driving time and / or OFF driving time). Information such as whether or not) is set. In addition, in connection with the input of the drive control command, the display unit 37 has a user interface (for example, a confirmation window for the ON command, a confirmation window for the OFF command, and a drive time input) when the user inputs through the input unit 36. Time input window, menu window for inputting a driving control command, etc.) may be displayed. In addition, the display unit 37 may additionally display the state of the refrigerator (for example, the set temperature of the freezer compartment, the set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, the service type of the dispenser, the current date and time, and the weather).

In addition, the control unit 38 may perform not only an ice making process but also refrigeration and refrigeration control, and a description thereof will be omitted. If there is no driving control command from the user, the controller 38 always performs a series of ice making processes as in the prior art. On the other hand, when the control unit 38 receives the drive control command through the input unit 36, the control unit 38 stores the drive control command in an internal storage unit (not shown), and determines whether the ice making process is performed. Determine accordingly. That is, when the control unit 38 obtains the ON command, the ice making process may be continuously performed. When the control unit 38 obtains the OFF command, the ice making process may be continuously stopped. In addition, when the control unit 38 obtains a command for the driving time, the control unit 38 receives the current time from the temporary counting means 31, determines whether the current time is included in this driving time, and in the case of the ON driving time. Perform the ice making process, otherwise stop the ice making process.

In addition, the controller 38 allows the display unit 37 to display information about a driving state of the refrigerator and / or the ice making device.

In the ice making apparatus of FIG. 3, the input unit 36 and the display unit 37 are connected to one control unit 38.

4 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of an ice making apparatus for performing an ice making control method according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a front view of a refrigerator for performing an ice making control method according to the present invention. In the ice making apparatus of FIG. 3, the input unit 36 and the display unit 37 are connected to one control unit 38. However, FIG. 4 shows that the refrigerator includes a separate display apparatus 40 to control freezing refrigeration and ice making. This is a configuration diagram when communication is performed between the ice making apparatus 30a and the display apparatus 40 to be performed.

Compared to the ice making device 30 of FIG. 3, the ice making device 30a according to the present invention does not include the input unit 36 and the display unit 37. Instead, the display device 40 includes the input unit 41, The display unit 42 and the control unit 43 are provided. That is, the control unit 38a of the ice making device 30a differs in that it receives the drive control command from the control unit 43. The control unit 43 obtains a drive control command from the user through the input unit 41, and transmits the obtained drive control command to the control unit 38a.

 In addition, the control unit 38a of the ice making unit 30a transmits information on the driving state of the refrigerator and / or the ice making unit to the control unit 43, and makes the control unit 43 display through the display unit 42. Do. The control unit 43 also stores a user interface necessary for inputting a drive control command in an internal storage unit (not shown), and displays it on the display unit 42 when necessary. Other control processes are performed in the ice making apparatus 30a and the ice making apparatus 30 in the same manner.

As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerator having an ice making device according to the present invention is formed so that a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment are partitioned at both sides in the refrigerator main body 60, and each of the freezer compartment doors 64a is provided at the front of the refrigerator main body 60. And the refrigerator compartment door 64b is hinged to open and close, the front of the freezer compartment 64a is equipped with a display device 40 and a dispenser 66 for displaying information, in particular, the refrigerator compartment door 64b is a refrigerator main body 60 The display device 40 and the ice making device 30a communicate with each other through a hinge cover 70 that is hinged.

Here, the refrigerator main body 60 is formed so that the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are partitioned on both sides by a partition wall (not shown), and a refrigeration cycle including an evaporator (not shown) and a fan for cold air circulation (not shown). A cold air supply hole (not shown) is formed to allow the cold air around the evaporator to be supplied to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment for circulation.

Next, the hinge cover 70 is installed to open and close the freezer compartment door 64a and the refrigerating compartment door 64b to the front of the refrigerator main body 60, respectively, in particular the hinge cover 70 is installed at the upper side at the bottom of one side. A hinge is formed at the same time that a hinge protrusion (not shown) is formed so as to protrude and a portion where the hinge protrusion is not formed is fixed to an upper surface of the refrigerator main body 60. It is hinged to the shaft.

At this time, the hinge cover 20 is installed so that external power supplying power to each component of the refrigerator is connected by an electric wire (not shown), and communication lines between the ice making device 30a and the display device 40 are installed. .

3 and 4, the description of the power supply unit (not shown) for applying the use power to the inside of the refrigerator by receiving external power is omitted, but such a power supply is easy for those familiar with the technical field to which the present invention belongs. It's just enough to be recognized.

6 is a flowchart of an ice making control method according to the present invention. The ice making control method of FIG. 6 is described with reference to the ice making device of FIG. 3, but is performed in the same manner in the embodiment of FIG. 4, except that communication between the controller 43 and the controller 38a is added. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this can be easily appreciated.

In detail, in step S61, the user determines whether there is an input of a driving control command to the ice making device 30 through the input of the input unit 36. Here, the drive control command includes input of an ON command, an OFF command, and a drive time. If there is a drive control command, the process proceeds to step S62, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S63.

In step S62, the controller 38 displays the user interface via the display unit 37 so that the user can easily input the drive control command so that the user can set the ON command, the OFF command, the ON drive time and / or the OFF drive time. Enter the settings. The control unit 38 stores the drive control command in the storage unit.

Steps S61 and S62 described above are processes in which a user inputs a driving control command for the ice making apparatus 30, and thus may be performed as a separate process from steps S63 to S70 disclosed below. . That is, if there is no drive control command in step S61, it may be terminated without performing another step to perform a drive control command or automatic drive for the current ice making device 30.

In step S63, the controller 38 determines whether there is a pre-stored drive control command. If there is a drive control command, the process proceeds to step S65. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S64 to perform an ice making process by the ice making device 30.

In step S64, the controller 38 controls the water supply valve 32, the heater 33, the motor 34, the sensor 35a, and the temperature sensor 35b as described above to perform an ice making process.

In step S65, the controller 38 determines whether the previously stored drive control command is set for the drive time. If the drive time is set, the process proceeds to step S66. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S69 because it is an ON command or an OFF command.

In step S66, the control unit 38 receives the current date and time from the one-hour counting means 31, and determines whether the current time is included in the ON driving time of the driving time. If the current time is included in the ON drive time, the process proceeds to step S67. Otherwise, if it is included in the OFF drive time, the process proceeds to step S68.

In step S67, the controller 38 drives the ice maker 30 described above to perform an ice making process.

In operation S68, the controller 38 stops driving the ice maker 30 so that the ice making process is not performed. Alternatively, the controller 38 may stop driving only for steps in which noise is generated relatively, such as ice and water supply by the embankment 30.

After step S67 and step S68, the controller 38 proceeds to step S65 to perform control. Alternatively, after steps S67 and S68, the controller 38 may proceed to step S61 to determine whether there are additional user settings.

In step S69, the controller 38 determines whether the pre-stored drive control command is an ON command. If it is an ON command, it proceeds to step S64, otherwise it is an OFF command, and therefore proceeds to step S70.

In step S70, the controller 38 stops driving the ice maker 30 according to the OFF command so that the ice making process is not performed. Alternatively, the controller 38 may stop driving only for steps in which noise is generated relatively, such as ice and water supply by the dam device 30.

After step S64 and step S70, step S61 may be performed again so that the controller 38 continuously performs the ice making control method according to the present invention.

Further, in the ice making control method according to the present invention, in the setting and storing of the drive control command in step S62, the controller 38 displays the set drive control command through the display unit 37 to display a character, an icon, or an avatar. You can also perform the steps. This display step allows the user to easily recognize the drive control command for the current ice making device 30.

In addition, in the ice making control method according to the present invention, in steps S64, S67, S68, and S70, the driving state of the ice making device 30 is displayed through a character, an icon, or an avatar through the display unit 37. Can also be displayed. The user can easily check whether the ice making device 30 is currently driven through the display.

The present invention of such a configuration has an effect that the user can select the driving of the ice making apparatus, so that the user can directly control the driving.

In addition, the present invention allows the user to set whether the ice making device is driven and the driving time, so that the ice making device is driven at the time desired by the user, so that the ease of use and the ice consumption is appropriately adjusted It has the effect of reducing power consumption.

In addition, the present invention has the effect that the drive and stop of the ice making device according to the user's needs, the direct control to meet the needs of the user is made.

Claims (9)

Receiving, by the input unit, a drive control command of the ice making apparatus from a user; And an ice maker driving the ice maker according to the input drive control command. The method of claim 1, And the drive control command is an ON or OFF command of the ice maker. The method of claim 1, And the driving control command includes a driving time of the ice making device. The method of claim 3, The ice-making control method of the refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ice making device is driven when the current time corresponds to the ON driving time, and the ice making device is stopped when the current time corresponds to the OFF driving time. The method of claim 1, The input step may include an input unit of a display device of a refrigerator receiving the drive control command from a user, the display device transmitting the drive control command to the ice maker, and the ice making device to execute the drive control command. Refrigerating control method of the refrigerator comprising the step of receiving. The method of claim 1, The control method includes the step of displaying the presence or absence of the drive control command or whether the ice maker is driven through the display device of the refrigerator. Determining the presence or absence of a predetermined driving time of the ice making apparatus; In the determining step, comparing a current time and a driving time when there is a predetermined driving time of the ice making device; And controlling the driving of the ice maker according to the result of the comparing step. The method of claim 7, wherein In the comparison step, when the current time corresponds to the ON driving time, the control step drives the ice making device. In the comparison step, when the current time corresponds to the OFF driving time, the control step includes the ice making device. Ice making control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that for stopping. The method of claim 7, wherein The control method may include displaying whether the ice making device is driven through a display device of a refrigerator.

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