WO2016107701A1

WO2016107701A1 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2016107701A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/077483
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yusuf KUYUMCU; Mucahit Bacaksiz; Serdal Elmas; Yagiz TEZEL; Mehmet Salih OCAK; Koray Kazim MENEVSE; Oner Hatipoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-12-31
Filing date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2016-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-30

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), at least one receiver (3) and one transnnitter (4) disposed oppositely on the body (2) such that a signal transnnission occurs therebetween and a control unit (5) that provides the detection of objects between the receiver (3) and the transnnitter (4) inside the body (2) by comparing the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) with the predetermined limit signal level (SOIim1).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a cooling device that comprises a control unit.

In cooling devices such as refrigerators, deep freezers, a number of adjustments such as the adjustment of the illumination of the interior the body, controlling the refrigeration/airing system, adjusting the level of the compartments are performed by determining whether or not an object is present in the compartment.

In cooling devices, receivers and transmitters are disposed oppositely on the body so as to remain in front of the compartment in order to detect the foodstuffs placed into the body or the user reaching into the body. Depending on the change of the signal level transmitted between the receiver and the transmitter, objects remaining between the receiver and the transmitter are enabled to be detected. When the signal value detected by the receiver falls below a certain limit value, it is determined that there is an object between the receiver and the transmitter, that prevents the signal transmission.

Misalignment may occur between the receiver and transmitter disposed oppositely on the body of the cooling device due to production errors and/or unevenness or the inclination on the floor where the cooling device is placed. Misalignment between the receiver and the transmitter causes the signal level detected by the receiver to change and be different than the signal level determined by the producer. Therefore, a correct evaluation cannot be made when the signal level detected by the receiver is compared with a determined theoretical limit level and the detection of the objects inside the body becomes difficult.

In the International Patent Application No. WO2014183857A1, a cooling device is disclosed, wherein the signals transmitted between the receiver and the transmitter are evaluated in order to determine the height of the foodstuffs placed therein.

In the Chinese Patent Application No. CN103549882A, a cooling device comprising a water dispenser apparatus is disclosed, wherein the signals transmitted between the receiver and the transmitter are evaluated in order to determine the height of the containers placed therein.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the presence or absence of an object in the compartment is determined without any errors.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body, at least one receiver and one transmitter disposed oppositely on the body such that signal transmission is realized therebetween and a control unit that provides the detection of the objects inside the body between the receiver and the transmitter by comparing the signal level detected by the receiver with the predetermined limit signal level.

The cooling device of the present invention comprises the control unit
- that measures the maximum signal level detected by the receiver in the situation there isn’t any object between the receiver and the transmitter,
- that measures the minimum signal level detected by the receiver in the situation there is at least one object between the receiver and the transmitter,
- that provides the calculation of the limit signal level by evaluating the measured maximum signal level and the measured minimum signal level,
- provides the detection of objects between the receiver and the transmitter inside the body by comparing the signal level detected by the receiver with the calculated limit signal level.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a first button that is disposed on the body and the control unit that provides the measurement of the signal level detected by the receiver when the first button is activated and further the determination of the measured signal level as the maximum signal level. When the signals transmitted from the receiver reach the transmitter without encountering any barrier, the signal level detected by the receiver is maximum. When the user actuates the first button, the control unit, assuming there isn’t any barrier between the receiver and the transmitter, measures the signal level detected by the receiver and determines and saves the measured signal level as the maximum signal level.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a second button disposed on the body and the control unit that provides the measurement of the signal level detected by the receiver when the second button is activated and further the determination of the measured signal level as the minimum signal level. The second button becomes active after the maximum signal level is determined by activating the first button. When the signals transmitted from the receiver encounter any king of barrier, they cannot be delivered directly to the transmitter and the signal level detected by the receiver decreases. When the user actuates the second button, the control unit, assuming there is some kind of barrier between the receiver and the transmitter, measures the signal level detected by the receiver and determines the measured signal level as the minimum signal level. The control unit determines the limit signal level by evaluating the measured maximum signal level and the measured minimum signal level and decides if there is any object between the receiver and the transmitter depending on whether the signal level detected by the receiver is higher or lower than the limit signal level.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit calculates the ratio of the measured signal level to the predetermined limit signal level, and verifies the accuracy of the realized maximum signal level and minimum signal level measurements by comparing the calculated ratio with the ratio interval predetermined by the producer. In the case the calculated limit signal level is outside the ratio interval, the control unit decides that there might be an error during the signal measurements. If the calculated value is within the ratio interval, the control unit determines and saves the calculated value as the limit signal level.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises more than one shelf that is placed inside the body, whereon the foodstuffs are placed; at least one compartment disposed between two shelves or between the base of the body and one shelf or between the ceiling of the body and one shelf, a receiver and a transmitter disposed at each compartment, and the control unit that provides the calculation of the limit signal level for each receiver. The misalignment between the receivers and the transmitters disposed in different compartments can be in different amounts. Therefore, the signal levels measured in the receivers disposed at different compartments vary. The control unit measures the maximum signal level and the minimum signal level for each receiver disposed in the compartments separately and determines different limit signal levels for each receiver so that a correct evaluation can be made for each compartment. Thus, the signal level measured at the receiver disposed in the compartment that is analyzed for detecting the foodstuffs therein is compared by the control unit with the limit signal level determined for the respective receiver for evaluation.

By means of the present invention, a cooling device is realized wherein the foodstuffs located therein and the user reaching thereto are detected without any errors.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a cooling device.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Receiver
Transmitter
Control unit
First button
Second button
Shelf
Compartment

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), at least one receiver (3) and one transmitter (4) disposed oppositely on the body (2) such that a signal transmission occurs therebetween and a control unit (5) that determines the presence or absence of objects between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) inside the body (2) by comparing the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) with the predetermined limit signal level (SOlim1) (Figure 1).

The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises the control unit (5)
- that measures the maximum signal level (SOmax) detected by the receiver (3) in the situation there isn’t any object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4),
- that measures the minimum signal level (SOmin) detected by the receiver (3) in the situation there is at least one object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4),
- provides the calculation of the limit signal level (SOlim2) by evaluating the measured maximum signal level (SOmax) and the measured minimum signal level (SOmin),
- that determines the presence or absence of objects inside the body (2) between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) by comparing the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) with the calculated limit signal level (SOlim2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a first button (6) that is disposed on the body (2) and the control unit (5) that provides the measurement of the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) when the first button (6) is activated and further the determination of the measured signal level (SO) as the maximum signal level (SOmax). When there isn’t any object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4), the signals transmitted from the transmitter (4) are delivered to the receiver (3) without interruption. The user, after taking out the objects between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4), actuates the first button (6) and enables the control unit (5) to measure the signal level (SO) reaching the receiver (3). The control unit (5) determines and saves the measured signal level (SO) as the maximum signal level (SOmax). In this embodiment, when the user actuates the first button (6), the control unit (5) enables the user to take off the objects between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) by visual and/or audible warning. The control unit (5) waits for a certain time period after the user is warned and at the end of the determined time period measures the signal level (SO) reaching the receiver (3) assuming that the user has removed the objects between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4). Thus, erroneous measurement is prevented by realizing the measurement of the maximum signal level (SOmax) when there is no object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a second button (7) disposed on the body (2) and the control unit (5) that provides the measurement of the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) when the second button (7) is actuated and further the determination of the measured signal level (SO) as the minimum signal level (SOmin). The user, after placing a foodstuff between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4), or extending his/her hand between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4), actuates the second button (7) and enables the control unit (5) to measure the signal level (SO) reaching the receiver (3). The control unit (5) determines and saves the measured signal level (SO) as the minimum signal level (SOmin). The control unit (5) calculates and saves the limit signal level (SOlim2) by evaluating the measured maximum signal level (SOmax) and the minimum signal level (SOmin). The control unit (5) compares the signal level (SO) reaching the receiver (3) with the measured limit signal level (SOlim2) and decides that there is an object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) if the signal level (SO) reaching the receiver (3) is lower than the measured limit signal level (SOlim2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (5) calculates the ratio of the measured limit signal level (SOlim2) to the predetermined limit signal level (SOlim1) and compares the calculated ratio with the ratio interval predetermined by the producer and verifies the accuracy of the measurement of the realized maximum signal level (SOmax) and minimum signal level (SOmin) measurements. The limit signal level (SOlim2) cannot be determined correctly due to erroneous measurements in situations where an object is forgotten between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) while the control unit (5) performs the measurement of the maximum signal level (SOmax) and/or the user is not able to properly place an object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) while the control unit (5) performs the measurement of the minimum signal level (SOmin). Therefore, the evaluation performed by the control unit (5) becomes erroneous as a result of comparing the signal level (SO) reaching the receiver (3) with the measured limit signal level (SOlim2). The control unit (5), before saving the calculated limit signal level (SOlim2), calculates the ratio of the calculated value to the limit signal level (SOlim1) predetermined by the producer and compares the calculated ratio with the ratio interval predetermined by the producer. If the calculated value is within the ratio interval, the control unit (5) determines and saves the calculated value as the limit signal level (SOlim2). If the calculated value is not within the ratio interval, the control unit (5) determines that the measurements of the maximum signal level (SOmax) and/or the minimum signal level (SOmin) are performed erroneously.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (5) enables the user to be warned with visual and/or audible warning in the situation the ratio of the calculated limit signal level (SOlim2) to the predetermined limit signal level (SOlim1) is outside the limit interval predetermined by the producer. Thus, the user is informed about erroneous measurement of the maximum signal level (SOmax) and/or the minimum signal level (SOmin) and the measurements are performed again.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises more than one shelf (8) that is placed into the body (2), whereon foodstuffs are placed; at least one compartment (9) disposed between two shelves (8) or between the base of the body (2) and one shelf (8) or the ceiling of the body (2) and one shelf (8); one receiver (3) and one transmitter (4) disposed in each compartment (9), and the control unit (5) that provides the calculation of the limit signal level (SOlim2) for each receiver (3). Signal transmission levels between the receivers (3) and transmitters (4) disposed in different compartments (9) can be different and hence the signal levels (SO) reaching the receivers (3) can be different. In order to evaluate the signal levels (SO) reaching the receivers (3) correctly, the control unit (5) performs measurements of the maximum signal level (SOmax) and the minimum signal level (SOmin) for each receiver (3) and determines a different limit signal level (SOlim2) for each receiver (3). Thus, the foodstuffs placed in each compartment (9) and/or the user reaching into the compartment (9) is enabled to be determined correctly.

In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, during signal transmission between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) disposed on the body (2), decreases in the signal level detected by the receiver (3) due to production errors and/or environment conditions are detected by the control unit (5) and the signal level detected by the receiver (3) is enabled to be evaluated correctly.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), at least one receiver (3) and one transmitter (4) disposed oppositely on the body (2) such that a signal transmission occurs therebetween and a control unit (5) that determines the presence or absence of objects between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) inside the body (2) by comparing the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) with the predetermined limit signal level (SOlim1), characterized by the control unit (5)

- that measures the maximum signal level (SOmax) detected by the receiver (3) in the situation there isn’t any object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4),

- that measures the minimum signal level (SOmin) detected by the receiver (3) in the situation there is at least one object between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4),

- provides the calculation of the limit signal level (SOlim2) by evaluating the measured maximum signal level (Somax) and the measured minimum signal level (SOmin),

- that determines the presence or absence of objects inside the body (2) between the receiver (3) and the transmitter (4) by comparing the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) with the calculated limit signal level (SOlim2).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a first button (6) that is disposed on the body (2) and the control unit (5) that provides the measurement of the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) when the first button (6) is activated and further the determination of the measured signal level (SO) as the maximum signal level (SOmax).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a second button (7) disposed on the body (2) and the control unit (5) that provides the measurement of the signal level (SO) detected by the receiver (3) when the second button (7) is actuated and further the determination of the measured signal level (SO) as the minimum signal level (SOmin).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the control unit (5) that calculates the ratio of the measured limit signal level (SOlim2) to the predetermined limit signal level (SOlim1) and that compares the calculated ratio with the ratio interval predetermined by the producer and that verifies the accuracy of the measurement of the realized maximum signal level (SOmax) and minimum signal level (SOmin) measurements.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the control unit (5) that enables the user to be warned with visual and/or audible warning in the situation the ratio of the calculated limit signal level (SOlim2) to the predetermined limit signal level (SOlim1) is outside the limit interval predetermined by the producer.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by more than one shelf (8) that is placed into the body (2), whereon foodstuffs are placed; at least one compartment (9) disposed between two shelves (8) or between the base of the body (2) and one shelf (8) or the ceiling of the body (2) and one shelf (8); one receiver (3) and one transmitter (4) disposed in each compartment (9), and the control unit (5) that provides the calculation of the limit signal level (SOlim2) for each receiver (3).