US20210199374A1

US20210199374A1 - Refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise

Info

Publication number: US20210199374A1
Application number: US16/832,438
Authority: US
Inventors: Shaowei Zhou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-27
Filing date: 2020-03-27
Publication date: 2021-07-01
Also published as: KR20210086389A; CN111023686A; JP2021107759A; EP3842718A1; JP6989978B2

Abstract

A refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise comprising a refrigerator, a lower door hinge cover arranged at the lower end of the refrigerator, and a light-sensing device installed in the lower door hinge cover. The light-sensing device is electrically connected to the refrigerator through a wireless transmission or a wire connection mode. The light-sensing device is internally provided with a light-sensing element, a power supply module, a controller, a refrigerator refrigeration system and a light intensity storage module. The light-sensing element is configured to convert a detected light signal into an electrical signal and transmit the electrical signal to the controller. The controller may then determine a target temperature according to the intensity of the converted electrical signal. Through the refrigerator light-sensing system, the power consumption of the refrigerator can be reduced, and the noise can be reduced, providing a better user experience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to the technical field of manufacturing refrigerators, and more particularly, to a refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise.

BACKGROUND

Refrigerators sold on the market, especially those used for hotel rooms, basically have a refrigeration system controlled based on the temperature inside the refrigerator. When a hotel customer rests at night, the refrigerator isn't used anymore, but the refrigeration system continues operating according to the preset temperature. Under such circumstances, the customer may be disturbed by the noise generated during the refrigeration process, and the electric energy cannot be saved, resulting in a poor user experience.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise.
To achieve the above purpose, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solution:
A refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise, comprising: a refrigerator, a lower door hinge cover arranged at the lower end of the refrigerator, and a light-sensing device installed in the lower door hinge cover, wherein the light-sensing device is electrically connected to the refrigerator through a wireless transmission or a wire connection mode.
In another preferred embodiment, the light-sensing device is internally provided with a light-sensing element, a power supply module, a controller, a refrigerator refrigeration system and a light intensity storage module, wherein the light-sensing element is connected to the controller through a wireless transmission or a wire, and the light-sensing element is configured to convert a detected optical signal into an electrical signal, wherein the light intensity storage module in the light-sensing device is configured to store a light intensity value preset by a user.
In another preferred embodiment, the controller in the light-sensing device is configured to determine a target temperature in the refrigerator according to the intensity of the light signal detected by the light-sensing element, wherein when the light intensity is lower than the preset value in the light intensity storage module, the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from an original temperature to an updated temperature, wherein the updated temperature is higher than the original temperature, wherein when the light-sensing device senses that the light intensity outside the refrigerator is restored to or greater than the preset value, the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from the updated temperature back to the original temperature.
In another preferred embodiment, the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from an original temperature to an updated temperature comprises directly reducing the power of the refrigeration system to rise the target temperature from the original temperature to the updated temperature, wherein the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from the updated temperature back to the original temperature comprises increasing the power of the refrigeration system to set the target temperature from the updated temperature back to the original temperature.
In another preferred embodiment, the original temperature is set to 5° C., wherein the updated temperature is set to 15° C.
The present disclosure provides a refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise. The refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise of the present disclosure adopts a light-sensing element to convert a detected light signal into an electrical signal. The electrical signal can be transmitted to the controller through a wireless transmission or a wired transmission. The controller compares the received signal with a preset light intensity value. When the light intensity is lower than the preset light intensity value, the controller adjusts a target temperature in the refrigerator from an original temperature to an updated temperature. For example, the controller may reduce or switch-off the output power of the whole refrigeration system to rise the temperature in the refrigerator from 5° C. to about 15° C. Although the temperature rises, the refrigeration of food is not affected. When the user rests, the refrigerator is no longer used, not affecting the user experience. Meanwhile, the electric energy can be saved, and the noise can be reduced. When the light intensity is greater than the preset value, the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from the updated temperature back to the original temperature. For example, the controller may increase the refrigeration output power of the whole refrigerator to make the refrigeration system return to the original temperature. Thus, the user experience can be greatly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of the refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise.

FIG. 2 is a control principle diagram of the refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise of the present disclosure.

Marking Instructions of the Drawings: 1—Refrigerator, 2—Lower Door Hinge Cover, 3—Light-sensing Device, 4—Light-sensing Element, 5—Controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To make the technical means, inventive features, purpose and effect of the present disclosure easy to understand, detailed embodiments are combined hereinafter to elaborate the technical solution of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise comprises a refrigerator 1, a lower door hinge cover 2 arranged at the lower end of the refrigerator 1, and a light-sensing device 3 installed in the lower door hinge cover 2, wherein the light-sensing device 3 is electrically connected to the refrigerator 1 through a wireless transmission or a wire connection mode. The light-sensing device 3 is internally provided with a light-sensing element 4, a power supply module, a controller 5, a refrigerator refrigeration system and a light intensity storage module. The light-sensing element 4 is connected to the controller 5 through a wireless transmission or a wire, and the light-sensing element 4 can convert the detected optical signal into an electrical signal. The light intensity storage module in the light-sensing device 3 can store a light intensity value preset by a user. The light-sensing device 3 not only can be installed at the position shown in FIG. 1, but can be installed outside the refrigerator 1 at any position where the light intensity changes can be easily sensed. The modules in the light-sensing device 3 can also be separated and installed in different positions through electrical connection. The controller in the light-sensing device 3 can judge the operation mode of the refrigeration system according to the intensity of the light signal detected by the light-sensing element 4. When the light intensity is lower than the predetermined value in the light intensity storage module, the controller 5 adjusts the temperature inside the refrigerator 1, for instance, adjusting the temperature from 5° C. to 15° C., or directly reducing or switching-off the power of the refrigeration system, thereby enabling the temperature inside the refrigerator to slowly rise to about 15° C. When the light-sensing device 4 senses that the light intensity outside the refrigerator 1 is restored to or greater than the preset value, the controller 5 adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator back to the original stage of temperature, e.g., 5° C. As the target temperature (5° C.) is far lower than the existing temperature (15° C.) in the refrigerator, the refrigeration system increases the refrigeration output power of the whole refrigerator 1 under the control of the controller 5, or immediately switches to a full-powered operation of refrigeration from the original (stopped) state, thereby making the refrigeration system return to the originally-set temperature and operate according to the control logic.
In conclusion, during the use of the present disclosure, the light signal outside the refrigerator 1 can be detected and converted into an electrical signal by the light-sensing element 4 in the light-sensing device 3, and the electrical signal can be transmitted to the controller 5 through a wireless transmission. At this point, the controller 5 judges the operation mode of the refrigeration system according to the intensity of the converted electrical signal, and the controller 5 compares the intensity of the light signal with the preset light intensity value stored in the light intensity storage module. When the light intensity outside the refrigerator 1 sensed by the light-sensing element 4 in the light-sensing device 3 is lower than the preset light intensity value, for refrigerators with a compressor or an absorption refrigeration system, the controller 5 adjusts the temperature inside the refrigerator 1, for example, from the original 5° C. to about 15° C. For refrigerators with a semiconductor refrigeration system, the output power of the whole refrigeration system can be reduced, thus reducing the input power of the semiconductor refrigeration chip and the fan. In this way, the noise can be greatly reduced, providing the user a comfortable environment when resting, and the electric energy can be saved. When the light-sensing element 4 in the light-sensing device 3 senses that the light intensity outside the refrigerator 1 is restored to or greater than the preset value, for refrigerators with a compressor or an absorption refrigeration system, the controller 5 adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator back to the original temperature, e.g., 5° C. As the target temperature (5° C.) is far lower than the existing temperature (15° C.) in the refrigerator, the refrigeration system increases the refrigeration output power of the whole refrigerator 1 under the control of the controller 5, or immediately switches to a full-powered operation of refrigeration from the original (stopped) state, thereby making the refrigeration system return to the originally-set temperature and operate according to the control logic. According to the aforesaid, the electric energy is saved, the noise of the refrigerator is reduced, providing the user a comfortable and quiet environment. Meanwhile, the practicability of the refrigerator is enhanced, effectively improving the user experience.
The basic principles, main features and advantages of the present disclosure are shown and described above. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited by the aforesaid embodiments, and they are only used for elaborating the principles of the present disclosure. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, variations and improvements should all fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise, comprising:

a refrigerator,

a lower door hinge cover arranged at the lower end of the refrigerator, and

a light-sensing device installed in the lower door hinge cover, wherein the light-sensing device is electrically connected to the refrigerator through a wireless transmission or a wire connection mode.

2. The refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise of claim 1, wherein the light-sensing device is internally provided with a light-sensing element, a power supply module, a controller, a refrigerator refrigeration system and a light intensity storage module, wherein the light-sensing element is connected to the controller through a wireless transmission or a wire, and the light-sensing element is configured to convert a detected optical signal into an electrical signal, wherein the light intensity storage module in the light-sensing device is configured to store a light intensity value preset by a user.

3. The refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise of claim 1, wherein the controller in the light-sensing device is configured to determine a target temperature in the refrigerator according to the intensity of the light signal detected by the light-sensing element,

wherein when the light intensity is lower than the preset value in the light intensity storage module, the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from an original temperature to an updated temperature, wherein the updated temperature is higher than the original temperature,

wherein when the light-sensing device senses that the light intensity outside the refrigerator is restored to or greater than the preset value, the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from the updated temperature back to the original temperature.

4. The refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise of claim 3, wherein the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from an original temperature to an updated temperature comprises directly reducing the power of the refrigeration system to rise the target temperature from the original temperature to the updated temperature, wherein the controller adjusts the target temperature in the refrigerator from the updated temperature back to the original temperature comprises increasing the power of the refrigeration system to set the target temperature from the updated temperature back to the original temperature.

5. The refrigerator light-sensing system capable of saving energy and reducing noise of claim 3, wherein the original temperature is set to 5° C., wherein the updated temperature is set to 5° C.