KR20170092353A

KR20170092353A - Control method of refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20170092353A
Application number: KR1020160013579A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 이동근
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2016-02-03
Filing date: 2016-02-03
Publication date: 2017-08-11
Also published as: KR101803627B1

Abstract

The method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a step of entering a reserved cooling operation mode to drive a cooling cycle for a set time with a maximum notch temperature condition; And determining whether or not the set time has elapsed, wherein the opening or opening of the refrigerator door is detected before the set time elapses, and when the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is equal to or greater than a set value The compressor is operated at the maximum output.

Description

Control method of refrigerator [0002]

The present invention relates to a control method of a refrigerator.

Consumers' use of refrigerators is generally viewed at the mart once a week or every two weeks, and the purchased food is stored in the refrigerator in large quantities. In this way, when a large amount of load is put into the refrigerator at one time, the temperature of the stored food may be increased, which may adversely affect the freshness and preservation state of the food. In addition, when a large amount of load is applied at a time, the time taken for the supplied food to cool down to the refrigeration temperature becomes long, which may adversely affect the freshness of the food.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-0077088 (Dec. 26, 2010), a control method has been used to lower the internal temperature of the refrigerator to the previous state several hours before returning through the reservation function during long-term outgoing.

However, according to the above-described conventional technique, since the internal temperature returns to the temperature before going out at the returning time of the outgoing, there is a problem that the conventional problem can not be solved when a large load is put into the cabin after going out. That is, since the storage compartment is not sufficiently cooled so as to be able to cope with the loaded load before the load is applied, there is a disadvantage that the conventional problem can not be solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above problems.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a refrigerator, comprising: driving a cooling cycle for a preset time in a maximum notch temperature condition after entering a reserved cooling operation mode; And determining whether or not the set time has elapsed, wherein the opening or opening of the refrigerator door is detected before the set time elapses, and when the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is equal to or greater than a set value The compressor is operated at the maximum output.

According to the control method of the refrigerator having the above-described structure, the reserved cooling function is set and executed, and the refrigerator interior temperature is maintained in a sufficiently cooled state when returning from the field. Therefore, , There is an advantage that the phenomenon that the internal temperature rapidly increases is improved.

Furthermore, since the inside temperature is sufficiently cooled, there is an advantage that the time taken for the purchased food to be cooled to the set refrigeration or freezing temperature is reduced.

1 is a system diagram showing a refrigerator in which a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented and a mobile device communicating with the refrigerator.
2 is a control system for implementing a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart showing a method of setting a reserved cooling operation condition among control methods of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart showing a reserved cooling operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a control method of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a mobile device communicating with a refrigerator and a refrigerator in which a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 11 having a storage chamber, doors 12 and 13 mounted on the main body 11 to open and close the storage chamber, And a dispenser (14) and a control panel (20) provided on the doors (12, 13).

The doors 12 and 13 may include a refrigerator compartment door 12 and a freezer compartment door 13. The dispenser 14 and the control panel 20 may be provided in the refrigerator compartment door 12, But is not limited thereto. That is, the dispenser 14 and the control panel 20 may be provided in the freezer compartment door 13.

Water or ice is taken out through the dispenser 14 and the control panel 20 may be separately provided on the dispenser 14 or be integrated with the dispenser 14.

The control panel 20 may include an input unit 202 for inputting various commands and a display unit 201 for displaying the command input through the input unit 202 and the operation status of the refrigerator. The input unit 202 may include any one of a mechanical push button, a touch button that detects a change in capacitance, or a touch button that detects a pressure change.

The control panel of the refrigerator 10 can communicate with the mobile device 50 directly or via the Internet 30. An application 501 for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 10 is stored in the memory of the mobile device 50 and the operation mode of the refrigerator 10 or the operation mode of the refrigerator 10 The operating conditions can be set.

2 is a control system diagram for implementing a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the control method according to the embodiment of the present invention can be implemented not only by inputting operation conditions through the input unit 202 provided in the control panel 20, Can be implemented wirelessly.

The refrigerator 10 includes a control unit 101, a control panel 20 including an input unit 202 and a display unit 201, a timer 105 for measuring an elapsed time and a current time, An output unit 103, a temperature sensor 107 for sensing the temperature in the room, a bus communication module 106 for wireless communication with the mobile device 50, and a driving unit 104 ).

More particularly, the wireless communication module 106 may include any type of wireless communication module that is currently available, including, but not limited to, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and the like.

The mobile device 50 includes a control unit 51, a display unit 52, a sound output unit 53, an input unit 54, a wireless communication module 55, And may include a stored memory 56.

The wireless communication module 55 may include the same module as the wireless communication module 106 installed in the refrigerator.

The controller 101 of the refrigerator 10 can communicate wirelessly with the mobile device 50 through the wireless communication module and can communicate with the mobile device 50 via the Internet 30. That is, when the application 501 is executed and a command is input, an instruction is transmitted to the management server (not shown) of the application through the Internet 30, and the control server of the refrigerator 10 An instruction may be received.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method of setting a reserved cooling operation condition in a control method of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Here, the reserved cooling operation can be defined to mean the operation of the refrigerator during the time for returning after going out to see the field.

Referring to FIG. 3, two methods can be used as a procedure for starting the reserved cooling operation. That is, as the first method (1), the user can set the reservation operation start condition by selecting the reserved cooling operation mode, and as the second method (2), the reservation cooling operation condition is set in advance in the main control part (not shown) , And a method (S111) in which the user inputs the reserved cooling operation command can be used.

The user can select the reserved cooling operation mode through the operation of the input unit 202 provided in the control panel 20 of the refrigerator 10. [ A separate input button for selecting the reserved cooling operation mode is provided in the input unit 202 and the reserved cooling operation mode can be displayed on the display unit 201 of the control panel by operating the input button have.

Alternatively, the mobile device 50 may be provided with an application 501 for executing the reserved cooling operation mode, and the application 501 may be executed to execute the reserved cooling operation mode. Then, the reserved cooling operation condition may be transmitted from the mobile device 50 to the control unit 101 of the refrigerator 10 by using the wireless communication through the wireless communication modules 106 and 55.

Alternatively, an operating condition may be transmitted from the mobile device to the application server using the server of the application as a medium, and may be transmitted from the application server to the control unit 101 of the refrigerator. Such a data transmission method may be implemented using a remote control method of a household appliance using a mobile device as is well known in the art.

On the other hand, when the user selects the reserved cooling operation mode through the application 501 provided in the mobile device 50 or the control panel 20 provided in the door 12 of the refrigerator (S11) A screen for guiding the user to input the reserved cooling operation condition on the display unit 52 or the display unit 201 of the refrigerator 10 is displayed.

For example, a screen for inputting the return time after going out is displayed, and the user can enter the return time after going out through the screen touch or button pressing operation (S12). Then, a screen for inputting the reservation operation time is displayed, and the user can directly set the reservation operation time (S13). However, in other ways, the reserved operating time may already be programmed to a certain time. Here, the reserved operation time means a time at which the cooling cycle is driven before the return time of the user.

The reservation operation start time is calculated through the above operation, and when the reservation cooling operation start time comes (S14), the reservation cooling operation process (A) is performed.

For example, assuming that the user selects the reserved cooling operation mode at 09:00, sets the return time after going out to 16:30, and sets the reserved operation time to 3 hours, at 13:30, Will be performed automatically. If the reserved cooling operation time is fixed to 3 hours, the user only needs to input the return time. In other words, the start time of the reserved cooling operation will be the time point of time from the time of the return to the time of the driving time.

Alternatively, the user may directly input the reserved cooling operation start time in addition to the method of inputting the ear time. Then, the reserved cooling operation will be performed from the instant when the reserved cooling operation start time arrives to the set time.

In the second method, an input button for inputting an execution command of the reserved cooling operation is separately provided in the input unit 202 of the control panel 20. When an execution command is inputted through the input button, the refrigerator 10, The program stored in the control unit 101 is executed to start the reserved cooling operation. In this case, there is a convenience that the user does not need to input separate operation conditions, operation start time, or operation time each time.

4 is a flowchart showing a reserved cooling operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the reserved cooling operation is started through the selection of the user or execution of the program stored in the control unit 101 of the refrigerator, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is controlled such that the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment operate at the maximum notch temperature (maximum notch temperature) (S15).

Here, the notch temperature means the set temperature of the freezing compartment or the freezing compartment, and the maximum notch temperature means the minimum temperature at which the freezing compartment or the freezing compartment can reach. For example, normally, the refrigerator is set at 3 degrees Celsius and the freezer is set at minus 18 degrees Celsius, and this temperature can be defined as the normal notch temperature. On the other hand, the maximum notch temperature of the refrigerator compartment can be set to 1 degree Celsius, the maximum notch temperature of the freezer compartment can be set to minus 24 degrees Celsius, and the maximum notch temperature can be set differently according to refrigerator specifications.

As described above, driving the cooling cycle so that the storage room of the refrigerator is cooled at the lowest achievable temperature can be defined as the maximum notch operation. And, for the maximum notch operation, the compressor does not necessarily have to be operated at the maximum output, but may be operated at an output lower than the maximum output. That is, it is sufficient if the internal temperature reaches the maximum notch temperature within the set time, so that the compressor does not necessarily have to operate at the maximum output.

Specifically, after the maximum notch operation has been started, it is determined whether or not the reserved cooling operation time set by the user or automatically set by the refrigerator main controller has elapsed (S16), as described in Fig. Here, the reserved cooling operation time may be 3 hours. If it is determined that the set preliminary cooling operation time has elapsed, the maximum notch operation ends and the pre-cooling operation mode returns to the so-called "normal notch operation" That is, the operation of the cooling cycle is stopped or the cooling cycle is controlled to operate with low cooling power.

On the other hand, in a state where the set time has not elapsed, whether the refrigerator door is opened or closed after opening is detected in real time (S18). If the door is opened or the door is not closed after the opening time has elapsed, the maximum notch operation is maintained until the set time has elapsed. If the door is opened or the door is closed after the set time has elapsed , The difference between the maximum notch temperature and the inside temperature sensed after the door is opened is calculated.

In detail, since the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are each provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the inside temperature, the inside temperature can be sensed in real time. In addition, since the detection switch for detecting the opening of the refrigerator compartment door and the freezer compartment door is provided on the front surface of the refrigerator, the temperature sensor is operated at the moment when the opening of the refrigerator compartment door and the freezer compartment door is detected, And can be programmed to sense the internal temperature.

More specifically, when the inside temperature of the refrigerator door is detected after the opening or opening of the refrigerator door is detected, it is determined whether or not the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the sensed temperature is equal to or greater than the set value? T (S19). If it is determined that the absolute value of the difference is equal to or greater than the set value? T, it is determined that the high load has been turned on and the compressor is controlled to operate at the maximum output (S20). That is, a large amount of food purchased by the user from a shopping mall is introduced into the freezing room or the freezing room, which means that the internal load has increased sharply. Therefore, in order to minimize the rapid rise of the internal temperature, the cooling cycle should be operated at the maximum cooling power irrespective of whether the internal temperature has fallen to the maximum notch temperature. Here, when the compressor constituting the cooling cycle is a linear inverter compressor, it is controlled to operate in a top dead center.

If the internal temperature is already maintained at the maximum notch temperature at the time of load application, the maximum cooling power operation time of the cooling cycle will be shorter than that when not. This will be the case when the user's return time is close to the end of the reserved cooling operation time.

Conversely, if the house is returned home earlier than expected, the load may be put into the furnace before the furnace temperature reaches the maximum notch temperature, and in this case the maximum cooling operation time of the cooling cycle will be relatively long.

During the operation of the compressor at the maximum output (or maximum stroke), the internal temperature is periodically sensed, and it is determined whether the detected internal temperature has fallen below the pre-cooling operation temperature, i.e., the normal notch temperature (S21) . If it is determined that the sensed temperature has dropped to the pre-pre-cooling temperature, the refrigerator returns to the normal notch operation mode, which is the state before the pre-cooling operation.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the sensed temperature is smaller than the set value DELTA T, three control methods can be proposed, and any one of the three control methods can be applied.

In the first method (3), when the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the detected temperature is smaller than the set value, there is no rapid increase in the load, so that the reserved cooling operation can be terminated and return to the previous normal notch operating state .

In this case, the user who set the reserved cooling operation plans to store a large amount of food in the first place. However, unlike the plan, he opened the refrigerator door after returning home without looking at the room, And the preliminary cooling operation is terminated.

If the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the sensed temperature is smaller than the set value, it is determined that there is no food drop and that there is only the opening of the refrigerator door, and the maximum notch operation is not interrupted, It can be maintained until the elapsed time. In this case, it is assumed that the refrigerator door has been opened to take out the food stored in the refrigerator by a person other than the user who has set the reserved cooling operation, and the reserved cooling operation is continued until the time set by the user elapses . That is, it can be interpreted that the user who sets the reserved cooling operation waits until the set time has elapsed without excluding the possibility that the user puts a large amount of food into the living room.

When the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the sensed temperature is less than the set value at the same time, it is determined whether or not the reserved cooling operation cancel command is input by the user (S22) may be performed. If the reserved cooling operation cancel command is not inputted, the maximum notch operation can be maintained. Conversely, when the reserved cooling operation cancel command is input, the reserved cooling operation can be ended and return to the previous operation mode, that is, the normal notch operation mode.

According to this method, it is possible to confirm whether the person who closed the refrigerator door after opening or opening the refrigerator door before the set time has passed is the same person as the person who set the reserved cooling operation. For example, if the reserved cooling operation setter finishes the shopping earlier than expected and returns home, the reserved cooling operation mode may be canceled to save power consumption.

According to the above-described reserved cooling operation control method, even if a user purchases a large amount of food and puts it in the oven at once, the possibility that the inside temperature rapidly increases can be minimized and the time taken for the input food to cool to the set temperature Can be obtained.

Claims

A control method for a refrigerator,
Entering the reserved cooling operation mode and driving the cooling cycle for the set time with the maximum notch temperature condition; And
Determining whether the set time has elapsed,
Wherein the compressor is operated at a maximum output when it is determined that the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, Control method.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein when it is determined that the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is less than the preset value, the reserved cooling operation mode is terminated and returned to the normal notch operating state.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein when the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is less than the set value, the maximum notch operation is maintained until the preset time elapses.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein when it is determined that the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is less than the predetermined value, it is determined whether or not a reserved cooling operation cancel command is inputted.

5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein when the reserved cooling operation cancel command is inputted, the reserved cooling operation mode is ended and returned to the normal notch operation mode.

5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the maximum notch operation is maintained until the preset time elapses if the command for canceling the reserved cooling operation is not input.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein when the difference between the maximum notch temperature and the current sensed temperature is greater than a predetermined value, the compressor constituting the cooling cycle is operated at a maximum output.

8. The method of claim 7,
When the compressor is operating at the maximum output, if it is determined that the present sensed temperature is equal to or lower than the normal notch temperature set before the reserved cooling operation, the reserved cooling operation mode is terminated and returned to the normal notch operation mode Control method of refrigerator.

The method according to claim 1,
And when the set time elapses, the reserved cooling operation mode is ended and returned to the normal notch operating state.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pre-cooling operation mode is entered when the pre-cooling operation command is input through operation of an input unit provided on a control panel of the refrigerator.

The method according to claim 1,
Selecting the reserved cooling operation mode through an operation of an input unit provided on a control panel of the refrigerator; And
Wherein a condition for starting the reserved cooling operation is inputted and the start time of the reserved cooling operation is determined,
And when the start time of the reserved cooling operation comes, the controller enters the reserved cooling operation mode automatically.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the information input to determine the start time of the reserved cooling operation includes a return time after going out and the set time,
The set time is a time input by the user or a preset time by the controller of the refrigerator,
Wherein the start time of the reserved cooling operation is a time from the earliest time back by the set time.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the start time of the reserved cooling operation is a time directly inputted by the user.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the set time is 3 hours.