KR20090092381A - System and Method for controlling a home bar heater of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A controlling system and a controlling method of a heater of a home bar of a refrigerator are provided to reduce the power consumption for the home bar heater drive by varying the voltage supplied to the home-bar heater. A controlling system of a heater of a home bar of a refrigerator comprises the heater, a temperature sensor(130), a heater drive unit(150), and a controller(100). The heater is provided at a girth of a home bar door. The temperature sensor senses the temperature of the home bar door surrounding. The heater drive unit varies the voltage inputted in the heater relative to the temperature of the home bar door surrounding. The controller controls the operation of the heater drive unit according to a sensing value delivered from the temperature sensor.

Description

System and Method for controlling a home bar heater of refrigerator

The present invention relates to a home bar heater control system and a control method of a refrigerator.

A refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food in a chilled or frozen state.

Recently, various types and types of refrigerators have been introduced, for example, a side by side type in which the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment are respectively disposed on the left and right sides, and a bottom freezer type and the refrigerating compartment in which the refrigerating compartment is provided above the freezer compartment, And top mount methods provided.

In addition, recently, many refrigerators to which a home bar structure is applied to draw out food or drink without opening a refrigerator compartment door have been released.

In detail, the home bar structure is a structure in which a home bar door is rotatably provided on a front surface of a door of a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment, and a home bar case is provided on a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment door.

The home bar structure as described above is very useful for the user to open or remove the home bar door as needed to withdraw or store food, especially drinks, etc. stored in the home bar case.

However, a phenomenon in which outside air flows into the refrigerator in the process of opening and closing the home bar door occurs. In particular, while the outside air and cold air contact with the edge of the home bar door, a phenomenon in which moisture contained in the outside air condenses near the edge of the home bar door occurs. In order to solve this problem, a separate heater is installed near the edge of the home bar door to prevent the condensate from binding.

On the other hand, in the conventional home bar door structure, in order to control the operation of the heater, an on / off switch capable of sensing a room temperature and turning the heater on or off according to the ambient temperature is applied.

However, according to the conventional home bar door heater control as described above, since the heater is always kept in the on state when the ambient temperature is above a certain temperature, there is a disadvantage in that power consumption increases. In addition, since it is impossible to adjust the magnitude of the voltage applied to the heater, and only the heater on / off is possible, the voltage 220V drawn indoors is provided to the heater, causing unnecessary power consumption.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a home bar door heater control system and a control method which can reduce power consumption by enabling a variable control of the voltage supplied to the home bar heater. .

Home bar door control system of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, a heater provided in the edge portion of the home bar door; A temperature sensor detecting an ambient temperature of the home bar door; And a heater driver configured to vary the voltage input to the heater according to the sensed ambient temperature; and a controller for controlling the operation of the heater driver according to the sensed value transmitted from the temperature sensor.

In addition, the home bar door control method of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of sensing the ambient temperature of the home bar door by the ambient temperature sensor; the detected ambient temperature value (T) and the set temperature value (T1, T2; Comparing and determining the difference of T1 <T2); The step of controlling the voltage input to the heater driving unit in accordance with the difference in the temperature value; And The variable controlled voltage is supplied to the home bar heater.

By the home bar heater control system and control method of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration, it is possible to control the voltage supplied to the home bar heater, the effect of reducing the power consumption for driving the home bar heater There is.

In addition, there is an effect capable of controlling the voltage applied amount supplied to the home bar heater stepwise or continuously according to the ambient temperature.

1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a home bar heater control system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a voltage input in a home bar heater control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is varied step by step.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of varying an input voltage step by step among a method for controlling a home bar heater of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of continuously changing an input voltage of a home bar heater control method of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a home bar heater control apparatus and a control method of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator.

1 and 2, a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 11 having a refrigerating compartment 17 and a freezing compartment (not shown) therein, and a freezing compartment door that opens and closes the freezing compartment. 12, a refrigerating compartment door 13 for opening and closing the refrigerating compartment 17, a machine compartment 20 formed on the rear surface of the main body 11, and a compressor 19 housed in the machine compartment 20. Included. In addition, an evaporator 21 is mounted on the rear surface of the main body 11 to allow cold air to be supplied to the refrigerating chamber 17 or the freezing chamber.

In detail, the refrigerator 18 is provided with a shelf 18 and a storage box 22 for storing food, and a shelf or other storage box having the same function in the freezer compartment. Also, a plurality of door baskets 131 may be mounted on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 13.

In addition, the refrigerator compartment door 13 is provided with a home bar structure, so that the user can store or withdraw the drink or the drinking water without opening the refrigerator compartment door 13. In detail, the home bar structure includes a home bar door 151 rotatably provided in the refrigerating compartment door 13, a home bar case 152 provided in the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 13, and the refrigerating compartment door 13. A home bar cover 153 that can selectively open and close the home bar case 152 in an open state is included. In addition, a hole for accommodating the home bar door 151 is formed in the refrigerating compartment door 13, and a home bar heater 16 is mounted at an edge of the hole. The home bar heater 16 prevents condensed water from being generated by heating a portion between the home bar door 151 and the hole while the home bar door 151 is closed.

Meanwhile, an ice maker (not shown) may be provided inside the freezer compartment, and a dispenser 14 may be provided on the front surface of the freezer compartment door 12 to withdraw ice generated by the ice maker.

The home bar heater 16 operates according to a room temperature of a space where the refrigerator 10 is installed, or whether the home bar door 151 is opened, and is controlled by the controller to the home bar heater 16. Allow the applied voltage to be variably adjusted.

A control device and a control method for controlling the operation of the home bar heater 16 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a home bar heater control system of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a home bar heater control system of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply unit 120 to which an AC source is supplied, and zero voltage of power supplied from the power supply unit 120. A zero voltage detector 110 for detecting a temperature, a controller 100 receiving a detection signal from the zero voltage detector 110, and an ambient temperature sensor 130 for detecting a temperature of a space in which the refrigerator 10 is installed. ), A heater driver 150 controlling the driving of the home bar heater 16, and a memory 140 connected to the controller 100 and storing data on an applied voltage value according to ambient temperature. do.

In detail, the controller receives the zero voltage detection signal transmitted from the zero voltage detection unit 110 and controls the voltage to be input to the heater driving unit 150 after a predetermined time elapses from the zero voltage time point. The controller 100 receives an input voltage value corresponding to a temperature value transmitted from the ambient temperature sensor 130 from the memory 140, and then a voltage corresponding to the transmitted input voltage value is the heater driver. Control to be input to 150.

In addition, the heater driving unit 150 has conventionally used a relay means for performing only the on / off operation, in the present invention, not only the voltage can be variably input to the home bar heater 16, but also with the on / off function It is characterized by applying a feasible semiconductor switch element. The heater driving unit 150 corresponding to the semiconductor switch element as described above includes a triac or a thyristor. That is, when using the semiconductor switch element, it is possible to easily change the voltage applied amount in accordance with the ambient temperature. The voltage applied to the home bar heater 16 may be varied by varying the voltage application time point through the zero voltage detector 110.

In addition, the voltage value input to the home bar heater 15 may be variably controlled in accordance with the ambient temperature, or continuously variably controlled in accordance with the ambient temperature.

4 is a diagram illustrating a case in which a voltage input in a home bar heater control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is varied step by step.

Referring to FIG. 4, a commercial voltage 220V having an alternating current type is applied through the power supply unit 120.

In detail, in the case of using a conventional relay, a commercial voltage of 220 V is continuously input when the relay is turned on, and voltage application is stopped when the relay is turned off.

However, according to the heater driving unit of the semiconductor switch type according to the present invention, the duty time of the heater driving unit can be appropriately adjusted according to the ambient temperature, so that the applied voltage can be varied.

In detail, the on-time (duty I) of the heater driver becomes longer when the voltage application time is earlier than the zero-voltage time detected by the zero voltage detector, and the on-time (duty II) of the heater driver is delayed when the voltage application time is delayed. Will be shorter.

As described above, since the driving of the home bar heater 16 can be controlled according to the ambient temperature by adjusting the length of the on time of the heater driving unit, it is possible to prevent the moisture from getting around the edge of the home bar door 15. In addition, the power consumption for driving the home bar heater 16 is reduced.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of varying an input voltage step by step in a method of controlling a home bar heater of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, an ambient temperature T is detected from the ambient temperature sensor 130 (S10). In operation S11, it is determined whether the detected ambient temperature T is within a set temperature range T1 ≤ T ≤ T2.

If it is determined that the detected ambient temperature T is within the set temperature range, that is, when it is determined that the difference between the ambient temperature and the inside temperature is not large, the on-time of the heater driving unit 150 is shortened. DUTY II) (S12).

In addition, when it is determined that the detected ambient temperature T is higher than the set temperature T2, that is, when it is determined that the difference between the ambient temperature and the inside temperature is large, the on-time of the heater driving unit 150 is long (DUTY). I) (S14). In other words, the time at which the heater driver 150 is turned on from the time of zero voltage is shortened. Then, as the on time of the heater driver 150 becomes longer, the voltage input to the home bar heater 16 increases.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the detected ambient temperature (T) is lower than the set temperature (T1), that is, when it is determined that the ambient temperature is low enough so that condensation of moisture does not occur in the edge portion of the home bar door 15, the heater The driving unit 150 is turned off (S15). Then, since no power is applied to the home bar heater 16, there is no power consumption.

On the other hand, the above process is repeatedly performed before the power of the refrigerator is turned off (16) (S16). That is, when the refrigerator 10 is in operation, the ambient temperature is periodically sensed so that the voltage supplied to the home bar heater 16 is variably controlled.

 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of continuously changing an input voltage of a home bar heater control method of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a state S20 in which the home bar heater 16 is turned on by the basic input voltage V, the ambient temperature T is detected from the ambient temperature sensor 130 (S21).

When the ambient temperature T is judged to be compared (S22), and the ambient temperature T is determined to be lower than the set temperature T1, the home bar heater 16 is turned off (S23). That is, the voltage is not applied to the heater driver 150.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the ambient temperature T is higher than the set temperature T1, it is determined whether the temperature has increased from the previous ambient temperature T0 (S25). If it is determined that the current ambient temperature is higher than the previous ambient temperature, the heater input voltage is increased (S26). That is, the voltage input by adding the voltage increment ΔV to the existing input voltage (V).

On the other hand, the control unit 100 determines whether the increased input voltage reaches the maximum input voltage (220V) (S27). If the increased input voltage is equal to or greater than the maximum input voltage, it is maintained at the maximum input voltage (S28). On the contrary, when the increased input voltage is lower than the maximum input voltage, the process of sensing the ambient temperature (S21) is repeatedly performed, thereby repeatedly performing the process of increasing or decreasing the input voltage.

In addition, when the current ambient temperature (T) does not increase than the previous ambient temperature (T0), it is determined whether or not the current ambient temperature (T) has been reduced (S29), and if it is determined that the decrease, so that the heater input voltage is reduced (S30). That is, the voltage input by subtracting the voltage decrease Δ is input to the existing input voltage (V). In operation S32, it is determined whether the reduced input voltage is 0, and when the reduced input voltage is 0, the input of the voltage to the heater driving unit 150 is stopped so that the home bar heater 16 is turned off 31. (S33).

In addition, when the current ambient temperature T is maintained to be the same as the previous ambient temperature T0, the heater input voltage is maintained as it is (S31).

On the other hand, the above operation is to be repeatedly performed until the power of the refrigerator is turned off (S24).

By the control method as described above, by controlling the amount of the voltage supplied to the home bar heater 16 according to the ambient temperature, the condensation of the water in the edge of the home bar door 15 to prevent the phenomenon of condensation and at the same time reduce the power consumption The effect can be obtained.

Claims (12)

A heater provided at an edge of the home bar door; A temperature sensor detecting an ambient temperature of the home bar door; A heater driver configured to vary a voltage input to the heater according to a sensed ambient temperature; and And a control unit for controlling an operation of the heater driving unit according to the detected value transmitted from the temperature sensor. The method of claim 1, The heater driving unit is a home bar heater control system of a refrigerator, characterized in that the semiconductor switch element to enable a variable control of the input voltage. The method of claim 1, The heater drive unit, the home bar heater control system of the refrigerator including a triac or thyristor. The method of claim 1, According to the ambient temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor, the voltage input to the heater driving unit is variable stepwise or continuously variable home bar heater of the refrigerator. Detecting an ambient temperature of the home bar door by an ambient temperature sensor; Comparing and determining a difference between the sensed ambient temperature value T and the set temperature values T1 and T2; Variably controlling the voltage input to the heater driver according to the difference in the temperature value; And The method of controlling a home bar heater of a refrigerator comprising the step of supplying a variable controlled voltage to the home bar heater. The method of claim 5, wherein When the detected ambient temperature value (T) is higher than the set temperature (T2), the on-time heater control method for a home bar heater of a refrigerator, characterized in that controlled by the control unit to be longer (DUTY I). The method of claim 5, wherein When the detected ambient temperature value (T) is lower than the set temperature (T1), the control of the home bar heater control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that the voltage input to the heater driving unit is controlled to be stopped. The method of claim 5, wherein And if the detected ambient temperature value (T) is higher than the set temperature (T1), determining whether the ambient temperature value (T) has been increased above the previously detected ambient temperature (T0). The method of claim 8, When the detected ambient temperature value (T1) is higher than the previous ambient temperature (T0), the input voltage is continuously increased. The method of claim 8, If the detected ambient temperature value T1 is lower than the previous ambient temperature T0, the input voltage is continuously reduced. The method of claim 5, wherein The method of controlling a home bar heater of a refrigerator, wherein the input voltage to the heater driving unit is controlled to be variable step by step according to an ambient temperature value of the home bar door. The method of claim 5, wherein The method of controlling a home bar heater of a refrigerator, wherein the input voltage to the heater driving unit is continuously controlled according to an ambient temperature value of the home bar door.