KR20110012010A - Refrigerator and the controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator and a control method thereof are provided to improve stability by automatically turning off LEDs when a door of the refrigerator is opened for a long time. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises an LED driver(320), a door sensor(330), a controller(340), and a switch element(350). The LED driver turns on LEDs. The door sensor outputs a first signal when a door of the refrigerator is opened. When the first signal is inputted to the controller, the controller outputs a first switch signal. When the first signal exceeds setting time, the controller outputs a second switch signal. The switch element supplies and blocks LED driving power to the LED driver depending on the first and second switch signals.

Description

Refrigerator and its controlling method

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, which are easy to control the lighting time of the LED light when the refrigerator door is opened.

Generally, a refrigerator is a device used for long-term storage of fresh food, and includes a freezer compartment for freezing food, a refrigerating chamber for refrigerating plants, and a freezing cycle for cooling the freezer and refrigerator compartment. The operation control is performed by the controller.

Unlike in the past, the refrigerator is not only a space for food, but also a family room where the family members are gathering and talking and solving the food. In addition, quantitative and qualitative functional changes are required for all family members to use easily.

Meanwhile, as the functions of the refrigerator become complicated, interest in a user interface environment, etc., in which a user can recognize and select a function and the like, is increasing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, which facilitate the control of the lighting time of the LED light when the refrigerator door is opened.

The refrigerator of the present invention includes an LED driver for lighting an LED light with an LED driving power source, a door detecting unit for outputting a first signal when the refrigerator door is opened, and outputting a first switch signal when the first signal is input, wherein the first switch signal is output. When the application time of the signal exceeds the set time, the LED driving power is supplied to the LED driving unit according to the control unit for outputting a second switch signal and the first switch signal, and supplying the LED driving power according to the second switch signal. It includes; a switch element for blocking.

In addition, the refrigerator control method of the present invention, the step of outputting a first signal when opening the refrigerator door; Outputting a first switch signal when the first signal is input; Supplying LED driving power so that LED lighting is turned on when the first switch signal is input; Determining whether an application time of the first signal exceeds a preset time; And continuously supplying the LED driving power when the applying time does not exceed the set time, or outputting a second switch signal to cut off the LED driving power when the applying time exceeds the set time. Include.

The refrigerator and its control method of the present invention automatically turn on the LED when the refrigerator door is opened for a long time by an impact or fine tremor through the application time of the first signal and the first signal input when the refrigerator door is opened. By turning off the illumination, it is possible to improve the safety of preventing the deformation caused by the fire generated by the heat generated by the LED illumination and the injection around the LED illumination.

In addition, since the LED lighting can be controlled by turning on and off by software, the conventional mechanical control linked to the refrigerator door is removed, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and structure space when constructing a circuit.

The configuration and operation of the refrigerator and its control method of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is schematically illustrated by a case 110 having an internal space divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment door 120 that shields the freezer compartment, and a refrigerator compartment door 140 that shields the refrigerator compartment. Phosphorus appearance is formed.

In addition, the front surface of the freezing chamber door 120 and the refrigerating chamber door 140 is further provided with a door handle 122 protruding forward, so that the user easily grips and rotates the freezing chamber door 120 and the refrigerating chamber door 140. Make it work.

On the other hand, the front of the refrigerator compartment door 140 may be further provided with a home bar 180, which is a convenient means for allowing a user to take out a storage such as a beverage contained therein without opening the refrigerator compartment door 140.

In addition, the front side of the freezer door 120 may be provided with a dispenser 160 which is a convenient means for allowing the user to easily take out ice or drinking water without opening the freezer door 120, and such a dispenser 160. An upper side of the control panel 200 may be further provided to control the driving operation of the refrigerator 1 and to show a state of the refrigerator 1 being operated on the screen.

The control panel 200 may include an input unit 220 including a plurality of buttons, and a display unit 230 for displaying a control screen and an operation state.

The display unit 230 displays information such as a control screen, an operation state, and a temperature inside the refrigerator. For example, the display unit 230 may display a service type of the dispenser (eg, ice, water, flake ice), a set temperature of the freezer compartment, and a set temperature of the refrigerator compartment.

The display unit 230 may be implemented in various ways, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. In addition, the display unit 230 may be implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the function of the input unit 220.

The input unit 220 may include a plurality of operation buttons. For example, the input unit 220 may include a dispenser setting button (not shown) for setting a service type of the dispenser (ice ice, water, crushed ice, etc.) and a freezer temperature setting button (not shown) for setting a freezer temperature. And, it may include a refrigerator compartment temperature setting button (not shown) for setting the freezer compartment temperature. The input unit 220 may be implemented as a touch screen that can also perform the function of the display unit 230.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the double door type illustrated in the drawings, but the one door type, the sliding door type, and the curtain door type. Regardless of its form, such as a (Curtain Door Type), it is sufficient to provide only the LED lighting described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

2, the refrigerator 1 receives the compressor 112, a condenser 116 condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 112, and a refrigerant condensed in the condenser 116 to be evaporated. The refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 and the freezer compartment evaporator 124 disposed in the refrigerator compartment (not shown) and the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 116 are transferred to the refrigerator compartment evaporator 122 or the freezer compartment evaporator 124. A three-way valve 130 to supply, a refrigerating chamber expansion valve 132 for expanding the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerating chamber evaporator 122, and a freezing chamber expansion valve 134 for expanding the refrigerant supplied to the freezing chamber evaporator 124. do.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 may further include a gas-liquid separator (not shown) in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporators 122 and 124 is separated into a liquid and a gas.

In addition, the refrigerator 1 sucks cold air that has passed through the compressor electric motor 113 that drives the compressor 112, the refrigerator compartment evaporator 122, and the freezer compartment evaporator 124, respectively, and stores a refrigerator compartment (not shown) and a freezer compartment ( And a refrigerator compartment fan 142 and a freezer compartment fan 144 to be blown to the refrigerator, a refrigerator compartment fan motor 143 and a refrigerator compartment motor 145 for driving the refrigerator compartment fan 142 and the freezer compartment fan 144. Can be.

3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a driving circuit for detecting a door of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 shows the freezer compartment door 120 and the refrigerating compartment door 140 illustrated in FIG. 1 as a refrigerator door 310.

Referring to FIG. 3, the driving circuit 300 includes an LED driver 320, a door detector 330, a controller 340, and a switch element 350.

The LED driver 320 turns on and off the LED lights 325 in the refrigerator according to the opened and closed states of the refrigerator door 310.

That is, the LED driving unit 320 is supplied when the LED driving power (V1) is supplied when the refrigerator door 310 is opened to light the LED light 325, when the LED driving power (V1) is cut off the LED light (325). Let's do it.

The door detection unit 330 is connected to the refrigerator door 310 by a mechanical contact, so that the door switch 332 and the door switch 332 are switched on when the refrigerator door 310 is opened and switched off when the refrigerator door 310 is closed. And a signal generator 334 for generating the first and second signals S1 and S2 according to the switch on or off.

Here, the signal generator 334 outputs the second signal S2 when the refrigerator door 310 is closed to the controller 340, and outputs the first signal S1 when the refrigerator door 310 is opened.

The control unit 340 determines that the refrigerator door 310 is open when the first signal S1 is input, outputs the first switch signal SW1 to the switch element 350, and the refrigerator when the second signal S2 is input. The door 310 is determined to be closed and the second switch signal SW2 is output to the switch element 350.

That is, the control unit 340 is a time measuring unit 342 for measuring the application time of the first signal S1 when the first signal S1 is input, and the comparison unit 344 comparing whether the application time exceeds the set time. ) And a first switch signal SW1 is generated when the application time does not exceed the set time as a result of the comparison between the first signal S1 input or the comparison unit 344 and the second signal S2 input or comparison unit The comparison result 344 includes a microcomputer 346 that generates the second switch signal SW2 to control the switch element 350 when the application time exceeds the set time.

The switch element 350 is switched on or off by the first and second switch signals SW1 and SW2 to supply or cut off the LED driving power V1 to the LED driver 320.

The switch element 350 may be a field effect transistor (not shown) or an op amp (not shown), and may be an electronic component that performs a switching operation.

4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a driving circuit shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a signal flowchart illustrating a signal direction when the refrigerator door is closed in the driving circuit of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a signal direction when the refrigerator door is opened in the driving circuit of FIG. 4. Is a signal flow diagram.

Referring to FIG. 4, the driving circuit 300 includes an LED driver 320, a door detector 330, a controller 340, and a switch element 350.

The LED driver 320 lights or turns off the LED lights 325 through the LED driving power V1.

The door detection unit 330 generates the first and second signals S1 and S2 according to a switch on or off operation of the door switch 332 and the door switch 332 interlocked with the refrigerator door 310 as a mechanical contact. A signal power supply VS supplying a signal power supply Vss, a plurality of resistors R and capacitors C generating the first and second signals S1 and S2 using the signal power supply Vss. It includes a signal generator 334 comprising a.

 5 and 6, since the signal generator 334 is in a state in which the door switch 332 is switched off when the refrigerator door 310 is closed, the signal power source Vss is connected to the plurality of resistors R and the capacitor C. FIG. Generates a second signal S2 having a predetermined voltage level and supplies it to the controller 340, and the door switch 332 is switched on when the refrigerator door 310 is opened during the supply of the second signal S2. The signal power supply VS and the ground G are connected to each other, and the signal power supply Vss is passed to the ground G connected to the door switch 332 to supply the first signal S1 to the controller 340. .

That is, when the second signal S2 is a high level signal, the first signal S1 is a ground level signal, and it may be considered that the second signal S2 is blocked while the second signal S2 is supplied.

In this case, the control unit 340 includes a time measuring unit 342, a comparator 344, and a microcomputer, and the time measuring unit 342 applies the first signal S1 when the first signal S1 is applied. Is measured and transmitted to the comparator 344.

The comparison unit 344 compares whether the application time exceeds the set time, and the microcomputer 346 generates the first and second switch signals SW1 and SW2 according to the comparison result of the comparison unit 344 to switch device 350. ) Is switched on or off to limit the supply of the LED driving power V1 to the LED driver 320.

That is, the microcomputer 346 outputs the first switch signal SW1 to switch on the switch element 350, and when the fraud application time of the first signal S1 exceeds the predetermined time as a result of the comparison by the comparator 344. The second switch signal SW2 is supplied to switch off the switch element 350.

The switch element 350 is connected to a driving power supply unit V having a source S terminal supplying the LED driving power V1 and a gate G terminal connected to the microcomputer 346 so that the first and second switch signals SW1 and SW2 are supplied, and the drain (D) end is connected to the LED driver 320.

Here, the switch element 350 maintains the switched-off state when the second switch signal SW2 is supplied, thereby preventing the LED driving power V1 from being supplied to the LED driver 320, and the first switch signal SW1. ) Is supplied, the LED driving power V1 is supplied to the LED driving unit 320 by connecting the source (S) terminal and the drain (D) terminal.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the switch element 350 is described as a field effect transistor. However, the switch element 350 may be a transistor BJT or an OP-amp.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a refrigerator control method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the refrigerator outputs first and second signals according to an open or closed state of the refrigerator door (S100).

That is, the door detector 320 outputs first and second signals S1 and S2 according to the on or off of the door switch 332 which is formed by mechanical contact with the refrigerator door 310.

In other words, when the refrigerator door 310 is closed, the door detector 320 switches off the door switch 332 and supplies the second signal S2 generated by the signal generator 334 to the controller 340. When the refrigerator door 310 is opened, the door switch 332 is switched on and supplies the first signal S1 generated by the signal generator 334 to the controller 340.

It is determined whether the first signal is input (S102), and generates a first switch signal when the first signal is input (S104).

That is, the microcomputer 346 of the controller 340 determines whether the first signal S1 is input from the door detector 320, and generates a first switch signal SW1 when the first signal S1 is input. To the switch element 350.

In addition, when the second signal S1 is input from the door detector 320, the microcomputer 346 generates the second switch signal SW2 and supplies it to the switch element 350.

In addition, the time measuring unit 342 measures an application time of the first signal S1 when the first signal S1 is input, and transmits the measured time to the comparator 344.

When the first switch signal is input, the LED light is turned on (S106), and after the LED light is turned on, it is determined whether the application time of the first signal exceeds a set time (S108).

That is, the switch element 350 switches on when the first switch signal SW1 is input from the microcomputer 346 to supply the LED driving power V1 to the LED driver 320 to light the LED light 325. .

At this time, the time measuring unit 342 measures the application time of the first signal S1 and transmits it to the comparison unit 344, and the comparison unit 344 compares whether the application time exceeds the set time.

As a result of the comparison, when the application time exceeds the set time, a second switch signal is generated, and when the application time does not exceed the set time, the first switch signal is continuously supplied (S110).

That is, the microcomputer 346 generates a second switch signal SW2 and supplies it to the switch element 350 when the application time exceeds the predetermined time as a result of the comparison of the comparator 344, and thus, the power supply of the LED driving power V1. By blocking the supply, the LED lighting 325 is controlled to turn off, and when the comparison time of the comparison unit 344 does not exceed the set time, the first switch signal SW1 is continuously supplied to supply the LED driving power. Make sure that (V1) is supplied.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood that the invention may be practiced. Therefore, the embodiments described above are to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive in all aspects. In addition, the scope of the present invention is shown by the claims below, rather than the above detailed description. Also, it is to be construed that all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a driving circuit for detecting a door of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a driving circuit for detecting a door of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the driving circuit shown in FIG. 3.

5 is a signal flowchart illustrating a signal direction when the refrigerator door is closed in the driving circuit of FIG. 4.

6 is a signal flowchart illustrating a signal direction when the refrigerator door is opened in the driving circuit of FIG. 4.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a refrigerator control method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (5)

LED driving unit for lighting the LED light by the LED driving power; A door detector configured to output a first signal when the refrigerator door is opened; A control unit which outputs a first switch signal when the first signal is input and outputs a second switch signal when an application time of the first signal exceeds a set time; And And a switch element configured to supply the LED driving power to the LED driving unit according to the first switch signal and to cut off the LED driving power according to the second switch signal. The method of claim 1, wherein the door detection unit, A door switch configured to switch on or off when the refrigerator door is opened or closed; And And a signal generator for outputting the first signal when the door switch is switched on and outputting a second signal when the door switch is switched off. The method of claim 2, wherein the control unit, A time measuring unit measuring the application time; A comparison unit for comparing whether the application time exceeds the set time; And The first switch signal is generated when the first signal is input or when the application time does not exceed the set time as a result of the comparison of the comparator. The application time is set when the second signal is input or as a result of the comparison. And a microcomputer generating the second switch signal when the time exceeds the refrigerator. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch element, A refrigerator comprising a field effect transistor. Outputting a first signal when the refrigerator door is opened; Outputting a first switch signal when the first signal is input; Supplying LED driving power so that LED lighting is turned on when the first switch signal is input; Determining whether an application time of the first signal exceeds a preset time; And Continuously supplying the LED driving power when the applying time does not exceed the set time, or outputting a second switch signal to cut off the LED driving power when the applying time exceeds the set time; How to control the refrigerator.

Images