KR20120011522A - Refrigerator and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator and a control method thereof are provided to measure amount of a frost in real time, to decide a defrosting time, and to reduce temperature rise times within a storage. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a main body, a compressor, an evaporator, a defrost heater(70), an optical sensor(100), and a control unit(200). The main body comprises one or more storages for a cold storage. The compressor installed in the main body compresses refrigerant. The evaporator heat-exchanges air in the storage and the refrigerant provided from compressor. The defrost heater eliminates the frost in the evaporator. The optical sensor comprises a light-emitting unit(110) for emitting a light to the evaporator and a light-receiving unit(120) for receiving the emitted light from the light-emitting unit. The control unit controls an operation of the defrost heater according to amount of the light received in a light-receiving unit.

Description

Refrigerator and controlling method thereof

The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of measuring the amount of frost formed on an evaporator in real time and determining a defrosting time point and a control method thereof.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that enables low-temperature storage of food in order to keep food fresh for a long time. The refrigerator is stored by refrigeration or refrigeration by adjusting the state of cold air according to the state of the storage to be stored.

The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is generated by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant, is continuously supplied into the refrigerator while repeatedly performing a cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and the supplied refrigerant is supplied by convection. It is evenly distributed inside the refrigerator to store food in the refrigerator at a desired temperature.

Refrigerators may be classified into general refrigerators, double door refrigerators, and bottom freezer type refrigerators according to the structure of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment.

A general refrigerator has a structure in which a freezer compartment is located at an upper side and a refrigerating compartment is located at a lower side, and a double door type refrigerator (Side By Side type) has a structure in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment are adjacent to the left and right sides.

The bottom freezer type refrigerator is a type commonly used in the United States or Europe, and has a structure in which a refrigerating compartment having a larger size than the freezer is located at the top and the freezer is located at the bottom.

On the other hand, the refrigerator includes a main body having at least one storage space for low-temperature storage and rotatably mounted to the main body, the door for selectively opening and closing the storage space.

The storage space of the refrigerator is generally divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and at the rear of the storage space, an evaporator and an air of the lower space which generate cold air by heat exchange with the air of the storage space are introduced into the evaporator, and the heat exchanged cold air is stored again. A fan is provided to blow air into the space.

On the other hand, the evaporator constituting the cycle performs heat exchange between the air circulating through the storage space and the refrigerant, and since the surface temperature of the evaporator is lower than the room temperature, condensed water on the surface during heat exchange with the air circulating through the storage space Is generated.

At this time, the condensate is frozen on the surface of the evaporator to change to frost, and if frost is accumulated on the surface of the evaporator, a problem occurs that the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator is lowered.

In order to solve this problem, a method of mounting a defrost heater on one side of the evaporator and operating the defrost heater at regular time intervals is used.

This defrosting operation is performed in consideration of the operating time of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber and the opening time of the door, regardless of the actual amount of implantation of the evaporator.

However, the defrosting time predicted by the opening time of the door and the operating time of the storage space may be determined that the defrosting heater is operated or the defrosting heater is not operated even when defrosting is required even in the actual use condition of the refrigerator, even when defrosting is practically unnecessary. There is no problem.

The present invention is to solve the problem to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof that can measure the amount of frost formed on the evaporator in real time, and determine the time of defrosting.

In addition, the present invention is to solve the problem to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof that can reduce the power consumption due to unnecessary defrost, can reduce the number of temperature rise in the storage space.

In addition, the present invention is to solve the problem to provide a reliable refrigerator and a control method thereof because it performs defrost by measuring the actual amount of implantation even in a high humidity environment.

In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, the body is provided with one or more storage space for low temperature storage; A compressor provided inside the main body to compress the refrigerant; An evaporator for heat exchange between the refrigerant supplied from the compressor and the air in the storage space; A defrost heater for removing frost formed on the evaporator; An optical sensor including a light emitting unit for irradiating light toward the evaporator and a light receiving unit to which light emitted from the light emitting unit is incident; And a control unit for controlling an operation of the defrost heater based on the light reception amount incident on the light receiving unit.

In addition, the optical sensor may be disposed above the evaporator.

In addition, the optical sensor may be disposed below the evaporator.

In addition, the controller may operate the defrost heater when the amount of received light incident on the light receiver is greater than or equal to the reference value.

In addition, the optical sensor may be disposed such that an evaporator is positioned between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.

The controller may operate the defrost heater when the amount of received light incident on the light receiver is equal to or less than a reference value.

In addition, the light emitting unit of the optical sensor may include an infrared light emitting diode.

According to another aspect of the invention, (a) irradiating light toward the evaporator; (b) receiving light through the evaporator; And (c) performing defrosting based on the amount of light received.

In addition, in step (a), irradiation may be performed with an infrared light emitting diode.

Also in step (b), the light reflected from the evaporator can be collected.

In addition, defrosting may be performed when the reflected light amount is greater than or equal to the reference value.

Alternatively, in step (b), light passing through the evaporator can be collected.

In addition, defrosting may be performed when the amount of light passed is equal to or less than the reference value.

As described above, according to the refrigerator and a control method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the amount of frost formed on the evaporator may be measured in real time, and the defrosting time may be determined.

In addition, according to the refrigerator and a control method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, power consumption due to unnecessary defrosting can be reduced, and the number of temperature rises in the storage space can be reduced.

In addition, according to the refrigerator and a control method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, since the defrosting is performed by measuring the actual amount of implantation even in a high humidity environment, the reliability is high.

1 is a perspective view showing a partially open state of a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1;
3 is a main configuration diagram of a control unit constituting a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 to 7 are views for explaining the mounting position of the optical sensor constituting the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a graph for explaining a method of determining a defrosting time point according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a refrigerator related to one embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show exemplary forms of the present invention, which are provided to explain the present invention in more detail, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition, irrespective of the reference numerals, the same or corresponding components will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. For convenience of description, the size and shape of each component may be exaggerated or reduced. have.

On the other hand, terms including ordinal numbers such as first or second may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms, and the terms are defined by one component from another component. It is used only for the purpose of distinguishing.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a partially opened state of a door of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.

The refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to all refrigerators of various forms (for example, a general type, a double door type, or a bottom freezer type), but for convenience of description, the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are disposed side by side. An embodiment applied to a double-door refrigerator selectively opened and closed by each door will be described as an example.

Refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided in the main body 10 and the main body 10 is provided with one or more storage space for low temperature storage, the compressor 90 for compressing the refrigerant and the compressor An evaporator 60 for heat exchange between the refrigerant supplied from 90 and the air in the storage space 40 and a defrost heater 70 and the evaporator 60 for removing frost formed on the evaporator 60. To control the operation of the defrost heater 70 based on a light sensor (not shown) including a light emitting unit for irradiating light toward the light and a light receiving unit to which light irradiated from the light emitting unit is incident, and a light receiving amount incident on the light receiving unit. Control unit (not shown).

1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 for providing a space and an appearance for storing food and food containers in a low temperature state, the main body ( 10) may have an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the front surface thereof may be formed with an open front surface for storing food and food containers.

The body 10 of the refrigerator 1 may include an outer case (unsigned) and an inner case (unsigned) disposed in the outer case and providing a storage space for refrigeration or freezing of food. .

Doors 20 and 30 are rotatably mounted on the open front surface of the main body 10 to selectively open and close the open front surface of the storage space of the main body 10. 1 shows a double door refrigerator, and a case in which the first door 20 and the second door 30 are mounted on the main body 10 to open and close the left storage space and the right storage space 40, respectively. It is.

In addition, in recent years, various functions are added for convenience of use of the refrigerator 1, and in order to implement such a function, a dispenser 21 and a predetermined amount of food or water may directly extract purified water or ice from an external space. A home bar 31 and the like may be further provided on the doors 20 and 30 for easily storing and storing food containers.

In addition, one or more baskets 33 and storage boxes 32 may be mounted on the rear surface of the door 30.

In addition, in the case of the refrigerator 10 of the double-door type, the internal space of the main body 10 may be divided into a left space and a right space, and usually the left space is a freezer (not shown) that accommodates food and food containers at subzero temperatures. And the right space performs the function of the refrigerating chamber 40 to accommodate the food and the food container at the temperature of the image.

The freezer compartment is used for long-term storage of the food stored by freezing the food stored in the internal space to the sub-zero temperature, the refrigerating chamber 40 is to maintain the temperature of the image lower than room temperature, if the food is stored fresh Used for

In the interior space of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment 40 are provided with a plurality of shelves 41 for raising food and food containers, and thus the internal space of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment 40 is divided into a plurality of layers and divided into a plurality of storage spaces. Can be. In addition, a drawer 42 may be further provided to accommodate food, such as vegetables and fruits.

In the refrigerator, not only vegetables and fruits, but also meat, fish, various food ingredients and finished foods are stored, and the main body 10 is provided with a plurality of storage spaces such as shelves and drawers, so it is possible to separately store food types.

In addition, a cold air generating chamber (unsigned) is provided at the rear of the storage space 40 to accommodate the evaporator 60 for heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air of the storage cavity, and is generated by the evaporator 60 in the cold air generating chamber. Drain for collecting defrost water below the defrost heater 70 and the defrost heater 70 for removing the frost formed on the blowing fan 50 and the evaporator 60 for discharging the cold air to the storage space 40 The unit 80 is provided.

3 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a control unit 200 constituting a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are attached to the optical sensor 100 constituting a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a diagram for describing a position, and FIG. 8 is a graph for explaining a method of determining a defrosting time point according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the evaporator 60 constituting the cycle of the refrigerator 1 performs heat exchange between the air circulating through the storage space and the refrigerant, and because the surface temperature of the evaporator 60 is lower than the room temperature, storage Condensate is generated on the surface during the heat exchange process with the air circulating through the space.

At this time, the condensed water is frozen on the surface of the evaporator 60 to change to frost, and when the frost is accumulated on the surface of the evaporator 60, the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator 60 occurs.

In order to solve this problem, a defrost heater 70 is mounted on one side of the evaporator 60, and the defrost heater 70 is operated to remove frost formed on the surface of the evaporator 60.

At this time, if frost is formed on the evaporator 60, the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator 60 is reduced. In addition, in order to reduce power consumption due to unnecessary defrosting and to reduce the number of times the temperature rises in the storage space, it is important to determine the exact time of defrosting by grasping the amount of frost formed on the evaporator 60 in real time.

Referring to FIG. 3, the optical sensor 100 includes a light emitting unit 110 for irradiating light toward an evaporator and a light receiving unit 120 to which light emitted from the light emitting unit 110 is incident.

In one embodiment, the optical sensor 100 detects the amount of light received by the light irradiated toward the evaporator is reflected on the frost formed on the evaporator and collected by the light receiving unit 120, the control unit 200 is incident to the light receiving unit 120 The defrosting time is determined based on the received amount of received light, and the defrost heater 70 is operated.

For example, as the amount of frost formed on the evaporator 60 increases, the amount of received light reflected by the frost increases, so that the control unit 200 compares the previously received experimental value with the received light amount. The defrost heater 70 may be operated.

In addition, the light emitting unit 110 of the optical sensor 100 may be a light source for irradiating light of infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths, and may preferably include an infrared light emitting diode.

Referring to FIG. 4, the evaporator 110 may include a coolant tube 61 for allowing a coolant to flow, and a plurality of fins 62 to increase the heat exchange area.

In this case, the optical sensor may be disposed above the evaporator 60. That is, both the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120 may be disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper end of the evaporator 60 by a predetermined interval.

The optical sensor 100 detects the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 120 reflected by the frost (F) implanted on the evaporator, and the control unit 200 receives the amount of light incident on the light receiving unit 120 The defrosting time point is determined based on the operation, and the defrost heater 70 is operated.

4 and 8 (a), the amount of light received reflected by the frost (F) will increase as the amount of frost formed on the evaporator 60 increases, compared with a reference value (S1) measured in advance experimentally. Thus, when the amount of received light is greater than or equal to the reference value S1, the controller 200 may operate the defrost heater 70.

Referring to FIG. 5, the optical sensor may be disposed below the evaporator 60. That is, both the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120 may be disposed at a position spaced apart from the lower end of the evaporator 60 by a predetermined interval.

Even when the optical sensor is disposed below the evaporator 60, the process of determining the defrost time by determining the amount of frost and driving the defrost heater is the same as the case described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8A.

On the other hand, when looking at the pattern in which the frost (F) is implanted in the evaporator 60, the frost (F) may be implanted toward the lower end from the upper end of the evaporator, or may be implanted toward the upper end from the lower end of the evaporator. Such an implantation pattern may vary depending on the flow path of the cold air generating chamber and the structure of the evaporator. However, in general, the optical sensor is disposed above the lower end of the evaporator, so that the optical sensor is preferably disposed above the evaporator.

Referring to FIG. 6, the optical sensor may be disposed such that the evaporator 60 is positioned between the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120. For example, the light emitting unit 110 may be disposed above the evaporator 60, and the light receiving unit 120 may be disposed below the evaporator, and the positions thereof may be reversed. In addition, the light emitting unit 110 may be disposed in front of the evaporator 60, and the light receiving unit 120 may be disposed at the rear of the evaporator, and the positions thereof may be reversed.

6 and 8 (b), the light sensor 100 does not pass through the evaporator 60 when the light irradiated toward the evaporator is reflected to the frost (F) implanted on the evaporator, the light receiving unit Since it is not collected at 120, the amount of received light will decrease as the amount of frost formed on the evaporator 60 increases. Therefore, the control unit 200 may operate the defrost heater 70 when the received amount of light is less than or equal to the reference value S2 experimentally measured in advance.

Referring to FIG. 7, in order to increase the reliability of the measurement, the distance d between the light sensor (light emitting unit 110 and light receiving unit 120) and the evaporator is preferably kept constant.

The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a bracket 130 connecting the light sensor and the evaporator.

The bracket 130 extends along a height direction (upward or downward) of the evaporator, and a body 131 and one of the bodies 131 provided with at least one slot 132 through which the refrigerant tube 61 is inserted. It may be bent inward from the end portion, and may include a mounting portion 133 for mounting the optical sensor toward the evaporator 60.

In addition, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the structure of the body 131 may be applied when the optical sensor is disposed above or below the evaporator 60, and the body 131 may be substantially It may be shaped like "a". In this structure, the controller may operate the defrost heater when the amount of received light incident on the light receiving unit is equal to or greater than the reference value as described above.

The slot 132 preferably has elasticity, and may be detachably mounted to the refrigerant tube 62 for the convenience of replacement or repair.

Alternatively, the bracket may include: a body extending along a height direction of the evaporator and having one or more slots for inserting the refrigerant tube; And bent inwardly from both ends of the body, and may include mounting portions for mounting an optical sensor toward the evaporator.

In this case, one end of the body may be equipped with a light emitting part, and the other end may be equipped with a light receiving part.

In addition, the body structure as described above may be applied when the evaporator 60 is disposed between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor as described with reference to FIG. 6, and the body may be substantially “c” shaped. have. In this structure, as described above, the controller may operate the defrost heater when the light receiving amount incident on the light receiving unit is equal to or less than a reference value.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a case in which an optical sensor is disposed at a position of FIG. 6.

The control method of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of (a) irradiating light toward the evaporator (S102) and (b) receiving light passing through the evaporator (S103) and (c) the amount of light collected. Performing defrosting on the basis (S104, 105).

Step (a) and step (b) may be performed through the above-described optical sensor 100, step (a) may further comprise a step (S101) of checking whether the measurement time has been reached, As a result, power is supplied to the optical sensor only when measurement is required, thereby reducing power consumption.

In addition, the position of the optical sensor is the same as described with reference to Figures 4 to 6, when the optical sensor is disposed in the position of Figures 4 and 5, it is possible to collect the light reflected from the evaporator in step (b). Defrosting may be performed when the reflected light amount is greater than or equal to the reference value.

Alternatively, when the light sensor is disposed at the position of FIG. 6, light passing through the evaporator may be collected in step (b), and defrosting may be performed when the amount of light passed is equal to or less than a reference value.

As described above, according to the refrigerator and a control method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the amount of frost formed on the evaporator may be measured in real time, and the defrosting time may be determined.

In addition, according to the refrigerator and a control method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, power consumption due to unnecessary defrosting can be reduced, and the number of temperature rises in the storage space can be reduced.

In addition, according to the refrigerator and a control method thereof according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, since the defrosting is performed by measuring the actual amount of implantation even in a high humidity environment, the reliability is high.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art having various ordinary knowledge of the present invention may make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention. And additions should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

1: refrigerator 10: main body
20, 30: door 33: basket
40: storage space 41: shelf
42: drawer 33: basket
70: defrost heater 100: light sensor

Claims (13)

A body provided with at least one storage space for low temperature storage;
A compressor provided inside the main body to compress the refrigerant;
An evaporator for heat exchange between the refrigerant supplied from the compressor and the air in the storage space;
A defrost heater for removing frost formed on the evaporator;
An optical sensor including a light emitting unit for irradiating light toward the evaporator and a light receiving unit to which light emitted from the light emitting unit is incident; And
And a controller configured to control an operation of the defrost heater based on the amount of light received by the light receiver. The method of claim 1,
The optical sensor is a refrigerator, characterized in that disposed above the evaporator. The method of claim 1,
The optical sensor is a refrigerator, characterized in that disposed below the evaporator. The method according to claim 2 or 3,
The control unit operates a defrost heater when the amount of received light incident on the light receiving unit is equal to or greater than a reference value. The method of claim 1,
The optical sensor is a refrigerator, characterized in that the evaporator is disposed between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. The method of claim 5, wherein
The control unit operates a defrost heater when the amount of received light incident on the light receiving unit is equal to or less than a reference value. The method of claim 1,
The light emitting unit of the optical sensor, characterized in that the refrigerator comprises an infrared light emitting diode. (a) irradiating light toward the evaporator;
(b) receiving light through the evaporator; And
(C) a control method of the refrigerator comprising performing defrosting based on the amount of light received. The process of claim 8, wherein in step (a):
A control method of a refrigerator, characterized by irradiating with an infrared light emitting diode. The process of claim 8, wherein in step (b),
A control method of a refrigerator, characterized by collecting light reflected from the evaporator. The method of claim 10,
Defrosting is performed when the amount of reflected light is greater than or equal to the reference value. The process of claim 8, wherein in step (b),
A control method of a refrigerator, characterized by collecting light passing through the evaporator. The method of claim 12,
Defrosting is performed when the amount of light passed is less than the reference value.

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