WO2020129242A1 - Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator - Google Patents

Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020129242A1
WO2020129242A1 PCT/JP2018/047288 JP2018047288W WO2020129242A1 WO 2020129242 A1 WO2020129242 A1 WO 2020129242A1 JP 2018047288 W JP2018047288 W JP 2018047288W WO 2020129242 A1 WO2020129242 A1 WO 2020129242A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
water
unit
water supply
ice making
refrigerator
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2018/047288
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
孝典 諏訪
小林　史典
康成 大和
広明 横尾
Original Assignee
三菱電機株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 三菱電機株式会社 filed Critical 三菱電機株式会社
Priority to PCT/JP2018/047288 priority Critical patent/WO2020129242A1/en
Priority to JP2020561120A priority patent/JP6973666B2/en
Publication of WO2020129242A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020129242A1/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C1/00—Producing ice
    • F25C1/22—Construction of moulds; Filling devices for moulds
    • F25C1/25—Filling devices for moulds
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator having an automatic ice making function.
  • a refrigerator with an automatic ice making function holds a water supply tank that stores water for supplying water to the ice tray.
  • the ice tray is not supplied with water and ice is not made. Therefore, a sensor installed near the ice tray detects the presence or absence of water in the water supply tank, detects the opening/closing operation of the refrigerator compartment door in the water supply standby state when the water in the water supply tank is exhausted, and the opening/closing operation is performed.
  • a refrigerator configured to perform a water supply operation of supplying water to an ice tray immediately after being opened (for example, Patent Document 1).
  • the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator in which an unnecessary water supply operation to an ice tray is less likely to occur.
  • the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a water tank for ice making provided in a cold storage room, a door for the cold storage room that is opened when supplying water to the water tank for ice making, and an ice making machine to which water is supplied from the water tank for ice making.
  • a plate a water supply pump that supplies the water in the ice making water tank to the ice tray, a water supply command unit that commands the water supply pump to supply water to the ice tray, and a door open/close detection unit that detects the opening/closing of the refrigerator storage door
  • a door opening/closing history storage unit that stores opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the cold storage room door detected by the door opening/closing detection unit as a door opening/closing history, and it is determined that water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank.
  • Replenishment determination information storage unit that stores the opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the door for the cold storage as replenishment determination information, and the replenishment stored in the door opening/closing history and replenishment determination information storage unit stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit
  • An estimation unit that estimates the presence or absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank based on the determination information, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank is empty based on the estimation result of the water supply availability that was estimated by the estimation unit.
  • the water supply command unit does not command the water supply pump to supply water when the judgment unit judges that the ice making water storage tank is empty.
  • a method of controlling water supply to an ice tray of a refrigerator is a door opening/closing detection unit that detects opening/closing of a cold storage room door that is opened when water is supplied to an ice making water storage tank provided in the cold storage room.
  • the step of storing the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the door for the refrigerated storage room detected by the storage unit in the storage unit as the door opening/closing history, the door opening/closing history stored in the storage unit, and the replenishment of water to the water tank for ice making are performed.
  • the estimation unit replenishes water to the ice-making water storage tank based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit. Estimate if was done. Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit, the determination unit determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank is empty. Therefore, it is difficult to perform unnecessary water supply operation to the ice tray.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view and an AA sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 1A is a front view of the refrigerator 100.
  • FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the refrigerator 100 taken along the line AA in FIG.
  • FIG. 1C is a front view of the operation panel 111 provided on the front surface of the refrigerator 100.
  • the refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerating compartment 1 having a refrigerating compartment door 61.
  • the refrigerator 100 is provided below the refrigerating compartment 1 with an ice making compartment 2 having an ice making compartment door 62 and a switching compartment (not shown) having a switching compartment door 63.
  • the refrigerator 100 includes a freezing compartment 4 having a freezing compartment door 64 below the ice making compartment 2 and a switching compartment (not shown).
  • the refrigerator 100 includes a vegetable compartment 5 having a vegetable compartment door 65 below the freezer compartment 4.
  • the refrigerating room 1 is a storage room having a space for storing stored items such as food.
  • the temperature in the refrigerating compartment 1 is kept in the refrigerating temperature zone of +3°C to +10°C.
  • the ice making chamber 2 is a storage chamber for storing ice made.
  • the ice making chamber 2 is kept in a freezing temperature zone of, for example, ⁇ 17° C. or lower.
  • the switching chamber 3 is a storage chamber capable of switching the temperature inside the chamber to a plurality of stages such as a freezing temperature zone and a refrigerating temperature zone.
  • the freezing compartment 4 is a storage compartment in which the temperature inside the compartment is controlled in the freezing temperature zone. Therefore, the freezer compartment 4 can store the stored material for a long period of time.
  • the vegetable compartment 5 is a space for storing vegetables and the like.
  • the vegetable compartment 5 is kept in a refrigerating temperature zone of, for example, +3°C to +10°C.
  • the storage rooms such as the refrigerating room 1 and the ice making room 2 are not distinguished, they are simply described as storage rooms.
  • the storage room doors such as the refrigerating room door 61 and the ice making room door 62 are not distinguished, they are simply described as the storage room doors.
  • the storage room provided in the region of the refrigerating temperature zone will be referred to as a cold storage room
  • the storage room provided in the region of the freezing temperature zone will be referred to as a freezing storage chamber.
  • a door for a cold storage room will be referred to as a door for a cold storage room
  • a door for a freezing storage room will be referred to as a door for a freezing storage room.
  • the refrigerator 100 has an operation panel 111 shown in FIG. 1( c) in front of the refrigerating room door 61.
  • the operation panel 111 includes operation buttons 112 and an output unit 113.
  • the operation button 112 is an operation button that receives an input operation relating to temperature adjustment and various settings of each storage room.
  • the output unit 113 outputs information such as the temperature of each room such as display.
  • the operation panel 111 is provided in the refrigerating room door 61, but it may be provided in any storage room door.
  • the refrigerator 100 in the present embodiment has a box-shaped heat insulating box 110.
  • the inside of the refrigerator 100 is divided into a plurality of storage rooms by the heat insulating box 110.
  • the heat of the outside air is prevented from entering the storage chamber by the heat insulating box 110 and the storage chamber door arranged in front of each storage chamber.
  • the inside of the refrigerator 100 can be maintained in a low temperature state.
  • the heat insulating box 110 forms a plurality of storage chambers, a blowing air passage 15, a return air passage 16, and a cooling chamber 12.
  • the blowout air passage 15 and the return air passage 16 are circulation passages for circulating air.
  • the cooling chamber 12 houses various devices such as a cooler 9, a blower 10, and a defrosting heater 11.
  • the cooler 9 is, for example, a fin-tube heat exchanger in which a fin having a thin metal plate is joined to a refrigerant pipe.
  • the blower 10 sends the cool air cooled around the cooler 9 to each storage room via the blowing air passage 15. As a result, the temperature inside each storage chamber is maintained at a low temperature.
  • the blower 10 returns the air sent into each storage chamber to the cooler 9 via the return air passage 16. In this way, the air in the refrigerator 100 circulates through the circulation path formed in the heat insulating box 110 by the blower 10 and each storage chamber.
  • the defrosting heater 11 is arranged below the cooler 9.
  • the defrosting heater 11 has a glass tube heater or a carbon heater.
  • the defrosting heater 11 heats the cooler 9 to melt ice such as frost adhering to the surface.
  • the refrigerator compartment door 61 covers the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 1 so as to be openable and closable.
  • the refrigerator compartment door 61 is a double door type that covers the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 1 with two doors.
  • the double door type door 61 for a refrigerating room has a small space when opened as compared with a single door, and it is possible to suppress leakage of cold air by opening only one door. If the width of the refrigerating compartment 1 is relatively small, for example, 60 cm or less, the refrigerating compartment door 61 may be a single door.
  • the interior of the refrigerating compartment 1 is partitioned by a partition shelf 71, which enhances the storability in the refrigerating compartment 1.
  • a control panel 14 is housed in the upper part of the back of the refrigerator 100.
  • the control panel 14 controls the electric components used in the refrigerator 100.
  • the control board 14 is configured by mounting a control circuit, a storage device, and various electric components on a board.
  • Each storage room is provided with a storage room temperature sensor 50 that is a storage room temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside each storage room.
  • the storage room temperature sensor 50 includes a refrigerating room temperature sensor 51, an ice making room temperature sensor 52, a switching room temperature sensor (not shown), a freezing room temperature sensor 54, and a vegetable room temperature sensor 55.
  • a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 51 is provided in the refrigerating compartment 1.
  • An ice making chamber temperature sensor 52 is provided in the ice making chamber 2.
  • a switching chamber temperature sensor (not shown) is provided in the switching chamber 3.
  • a freezer compartment temperature sensor 54 is provided in the freezer compartment 4.
  • a vegetable compartment temperature sensor 55 is provided in the vegetable compartment 5.
  • the control panel 14 adjusts the temperature of each storage room based on the temperatures detected by the cold room temperature sensor 51, the ice making room temperature sensor 52, the switching room temperature sensor (not shown), the freezing room temperature sensor 54, and the vegetable room temperature sensor 55. Etc. are controlled.
  • the door of each storage room is provided with a storage room door open/close sensor 90 that is a door open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the door.
  • the storage room door opening/closing sensor 90 includes a refrigerator compartment door opening/closing sensor 91, an ice making room door opening/closing sensor 92, a switching room door opening/closing sensor (not shown), a freezing room door opening/closing sensor 94, and vegetables.
  • a room door open/close sensor 95 is included.
  • the refrigerator compartment door 61 is provided with a refrigerator compartment door opening/closing sensor 91. Inside the ice making chamber door 62, an ice making chamber door opening/closing sensor 92 is provided.
  • a switching chamber door opening/closing sensor (not shown) is provided in the switching chamber door 63.
  • the freezer compartment door 64 is provided with a freezer compartment door open/close sensor 94.
  • the vegetable compartment door 65 is provided with an opening/closing sensor 95 for the vegetable compartment door.
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the automatic ice making device of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion B surrounded by a broken line of the refrigerator 100 according to FIG.
  • a water storage tank 20 for ice making is provided in a refrigerating temperature zone region of the refrigerator 100, for example, in the refrigerating compartment 1.
  • the refrigerator compartment door 61 is opened and the ice making water storage tank 20 is taken out from the inside of the refrigeration compartment 1.
  • the ice making water storage tank 20 may not be provided in the refrigerating compartment 1.
  • the ice-making water storage tank 20 may be provided in a refrigerating and storing room in another refrigerating temperature zone, for example, the vegetable compartment 5.
  • the cold storage room door corresponding to the cold storage room can be opened, the ice making water storage tank 20 can be taken out from the cold storage room, and water can be supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20.
  • the ice-making water storage tank 20 does not have to be removable from the cold storage room. In that case, water may be pumped into another container, and water may be supplied from the other container to the ice-making water storage tank 20.
  • the ice-making water storage tank 20 is described as being removable from the refrigerating storage chamber.
  • An automatic ice making device 21 is provided in the freezing temperature zone, for example, in the ice making chamber 2.
  • the automatic ice making device 21 automatically makes ice using the water stored in the ice making water storage tank 20.
  • the automatic ice making device 21 has an ice making tray 24, an ice making gear box 25, and an ice storage detecting lever 26.
  • the ice tray 24 is a container for making a plurality of blocks (for example, 10 pieces) of ice by freezing the supplied water.
  • the water supply pump 22 supplies water in the ice making water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 24 of the automatic ice making device 21 via the water supply pipe 23.
  • a pipe heater 27 is provided on the water supply pipe 23 to prevent the water supply pipe 23 from freezing.
  • the ice storage case 28 is a container for storing the ice made in the ice tray 24.
  • the ice storage case 28 is provided below the ice tray 24.
  • the ice storage case 28 can be pulled out from the ice making chamber 2 with the ice making chamber door 62 opened.
  • the ice making gearbox 25 performs an ice removing operation of rotating the ice making tray 24 to turn it upside down and twisting the ice making tray 24 to drop the ice made in the ice making tray 24 into the ice storage case 28.
  • the ice storage detection lever 26 is for detecting whether the amount of ice storage in the ice storage case 28 is a predetermined amount or more.
  • the refrigerator 100 is configured so that the ice making gearbox 25 does not enter the ice removing operation when the ice storage detection lever 26 comes into contact with the ice in the ice storage case 28 and does not fall below a predetermined position. Thus, the refrigerator 100 prevents the ice making chamber 2 from overflowing with ice.
  • the pipe heater 27 prevents the water supply pipe 23 from freezing, and melts the ice adhering to the water supply pipe 23 when the water supply pipe 23 is frozen when the pipe heater 27 is off.
  • an ice tray temperature sensor 29 which is an ice tray temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the ice tray 24, is provided.
  • FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the control panel 14 includes an ice making control unit 80.
  • the internal configuration and function of the ice making control unit 80 will be described later.
  • FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of the ice making control unit of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the ice making control unit 80 includes a water supply command unit 811, a water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, a door opening/closing history input unit 813, a door opening/closing history storage unit 814, a learning unit 815, a supply determination information storage unit 816, an estimation unit. 817, the judgment part 818, and the alerting
  • the determination unit 818 includes a water supply frequency counting unit 819 and a water supply frequency comparing unit 820.
  • the water supply command unit 811 has two modes, a water supply mode and a water supply stop mode. In the water supply mode, the water supply command unit 811 issues a water supply command to the water supply pump 22 when, for example, the ice storage detection lever 26 detects that the ice storage case 28 is not full ice after the ice making gearbox 25 has dropped ice. The water supply pump 22 performs the water supply operation when receiving the water supply command from the water supply command unit 811.
  • the water supply command unit 811 does not issue a water supply command from the ice-making water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 24 to the water supply pump 22 in the water supply stop mode. That is, the water supply pump 22 does not perform the water supply operation.
  • the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 based on the temperature change of the ice tray 24 detected by the ice tray temperature sensor 29.
  • the water supply pump 22 actually pumps water to supply water from the ice-making water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 24
  • the temperature of the supplied water causes the temperature of the ice tray 24 to rise.
  • the ice tray temperature sensor 29 detects an increase in the temperature of the ice tray 24. In that case, the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has actually been supplied with water.
  • the ice making water storage tank 20 is not actually supplied with water because the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty.
  • the temperature of the ice tray 24 does not change.
  • the ice tray temperature sensor 29 does not detect an increase in the temperature of the ice tray 24.
  • the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been supplied with water.
  • the door opening/closing history input unit 813 stores each door opening/closing history detected by the storage room door opening/closing sensor 90 in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814.
  • the opening/closing history is, for example, opening/closing information (presence/absence of opening/closing) of each storage room door and opening/closing time.
  • the learning unit 815 has a function of performing machine learning.
  • supervised learning can be used.
  • Supervised learning is a method of accumulating and learning a data set in which correct labels are attached to learning data.
  • Examples of machine learning methods include algorithms such as a k-nearest neighbor method and a support vector machine.
  • the learning data in the supervised learning corresponds to the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the storage room door detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door, and the correct label corresponds to the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray 24.
  • the opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the door of each storage room detected by the storage room door open/close sensor 90 are used as learning data, and the determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 is set as a correct answer label.
  • the learning unit 815 causes the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 to store replenishment determination information for determining whether or not water is replenished to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on a data set in which the correct answer label is attached to the learning data.
  • the supply judgment information differs depending on each machine learning method.
  • the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 supplies the opening/closing information of the doors of the storage chambers detected by the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90, the opening/closing time, and the water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812. It suffices to store the determination result of the presence or absence of That is, the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 may store, as the replenishment determination information, the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the door of each storage chamber that is determined to have been replenished with water to the ice making water storage tank 20.
  • a function called a margin discriminator that determines whether or not water is supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 is created, and the opening/closing information, opening/closing time, and water supply of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door
  • the supply determination information storage unit 816 stores the result together with the determination result of the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the presence determination unit 812.
  • the supply determination information may be necessary information based on each machine learning method.
  • the estimation unit 817 estimates the presence/absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information stored in the supply determination information storage unit 816. To do.
  • the estimation method the estimation method based on the machine learning method such as the k-nearest neighbor method and the support vector machine described above is used.
  • the estimation unit 817 estimates the presence/absence of water supply to the ice-making water storage tank 20 by performing an operation of opening another storage compartment door such as the vegetable compartment door 65, for example, when a cooking material such as an egg is taken out or cooked. It can be classified as taking out tappers that store dishes.
  • the ice-making water storage tank 20 is often provided in either the left or right corner of the refrigerating compartment 1.
  • water is supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 by opening the refrigerating room door 61 on the side where the ice making water storage tank 20 is present once and taking out the ice making water storage tank 20. After that, water is replenished to the ice-making water storage tank 20 from a tap or the like. Then, the refrigerator compartment door 61 on the side where the ice making water storage tank 20 is located is opened again.
  • the determination unit 818 determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty by estimating the presence or absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank 20 by the estimation unit 817.
  • the water supply frequency counting unit 819 in the determination unit 818 counts the number of times the water supply command unit 811 has supplied water.
  • the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 in the determination unit 818 compares whether the water supply frequency counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is a predetermined number or more.
  • the predetermined number of times is, for example, the number of times water can be supplied when the water tank 20 for ice making is full. That is, the predetermined number of times is the number of times obtained from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20.
  • the predetermined number of times can be determined by dividing the capacity of the ice tray 24 from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20.
  • the ice making water storage tank 20 can be considered to be empty.
  • the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of water supply times counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 has not reached the predetermined number, it can be considered that the ice-making water storage tank 20 still contains water.
  • the notification instruction unit 821 causes the output unit 113 to output the processing status of the ice making control unit 80.
  • the notification command unit 821 includes a first air-water notification command unit 8211 and a learning-time air-water notification command unit 8212.
  • the determination unit 818 determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty
  • the first air water notification command unit 8211 causes the output unit 113 to output that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty.
  • the learning time space water notification command unit 8212 determines that the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 has not supplied water to the ice tray 24 when the learning unit 815 creates the replenishment determination information, the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty.
  • the output unit 113 is made to output the effect.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation during learning of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the learning time is, for example, a period in which it is learned whether or not water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 according to the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the door from the first operation of the refrigerator to a predetermined period. ..
  • the learning period may be arbitrary.
  • the learning period may be automatically started or ended, or the learning period may be started or ended by an operation of the user.
  • the water supply command unit 811 enters the water supply mode.
  • the water supply command unit 811 commands the water supply pump 22 to supply water to the ice tray 24, the water supply pump 22 attempts to supply water to the ice tray 24 (S101). Then, the process proceeds to S102.
  • the water supply command unit 811 may instruct the water supply pump 22 to supply water to the ice tray 24 at any timing. For example, the water supply command unit 811 may instruct the water supply pump 22 to supply water after the ice making gearbox 25 performs an ice removing operation on the ice tray 24.
  • the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines whether or not water has actually been supplied to the ice tray 24 based on the temperature change of the ice tray temperature sensor 29 (S102).
  • the process returns to S101.
  • the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been actually supplied with water (empty water supply) (Y in S102)
  • the process proceeds to S103.
  • the first air water notification command unit 8211 causes the output unit 113 to output that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty water (S103). Then, the process proceeds to S104.
  • the water supply command unit 811 sets the water supply command unit 811 to the water supply stop mode (S104). Then, the process proceeds to S105.
  • the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door monitors whether or not the opening/closing of the storage room door is detected (S105).
  • the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door does not detect the opening of the storage room door (N in S105)
  • the process of S105 is repeated.
  • the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door detects that the storage room door is opened (Y in S105)
  • the process proceeds to S106.
  • the water supply command unit 811 commands the water supply pump 22 to supply water to the ice tray 24.
  • the water supply pump 22 tries to supply water to the ice tray 24 (S106). Then, the process proceeds to S107.
  • the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines whether or not water has actually been supplied to the ice tray 24 based on the temperature change of the ice tray temperature sensor 29 (S107).
  • the learning unit 815 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information and opening/closing of the door of each storage chamber.
  • the learning data and the correct answer label are stored in association with each other by using the time as the learning data and the correct answer label as the data with water supply (S108). Then, the process returns to S101.
  • the learning unit 815 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information of the door of each storage chamber and The learning data and the correct answer label are stored with the opening/closing time as the learning data, and the correct answer label as the no water supply data (S109). Then, the process returns to S105.
  • the open/close information of the door for the cold storage room and the learning data on the presence/absence of water supply according to the open/close time are accumulated.
  • the supervised learning method of the learning unit 815 is the k-nearest neighbor method
  • the opening/closing information of the refrigerating/storage room door and the learning data itself regarding the presence or absence of water supply according to the opening/closing time can be directly used as the replenishment determination information data. ..
  • a pattern discriminator is configured based on the opening/closing information of the cold storage room door and the learning data on the presence/absence of water supply according to the opening/closing time, and the pattern identification is performed.
  • the container can be used as replenishment determination information data.
  • the pattern classifier configured by the learning unit 815 is stored in the supply determination information storage unit 816.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of the estimation operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the water supply frequency counting unit 819 initializes the counted water supply frequency (S201). Then, the process proceeds to S202.
  • the water supply frequency counting unit 819 waits until water supply is performed by the water supply command unit 811 (N in S202). When water supply is performed by the water supply command unit 811 (Y in S202), the process proceeds to S203. ..
  • the water supply frequency counting unit 819 counts up the counted water supply frequency (S203). Then, the process proceeds to S204.
  • the estimation unit 817 supplies the water to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information stored in the supply determination information storage unit 816. It is estimated whether or not has been performed (S204).
  • the estimation unit 817 determines that the water has been supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 (Y in S204)
  • the process returns to S201, and the number of times of ice-making counted by the water supply number counting unit 819 is initialized. ..
  • the estimation unit 817 determines that the water has not been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 (N in S204)
  • the process proceeds to S205.
  • the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 compares whether or not the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is a predetermined number or more (S205). If the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number obtained from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20 (Y in S205), the determination unit 818. Determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty, and proceeds to the processing of S206. Then, the first air water notification command unit 8211 causes the output unit to output that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty water (S206).
  • the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is not equal to or more than the predetermined number of times calculated from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20 (Y of S205), S202: Returning to the processing, the water supply frequency counting unit 819 waits until the water supply command unit 811 issues a water supply command.
  • the estimation unit 817 causes the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information as in the case of S204. It may be possible to automatically return to the process of S201 by estimating whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on the supply determination information stored in the storage unit. Alternatively, after the water is actually supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, the ice making count may be manually initialized by operating the operation button 112, and then the process may return to S202.
  • the water supply pump performs water supply operation when the refrigerator compartment door is opened. That is, the refrigerator in the prior art document 1 considers that the water supply tank is replenished with water simply by opening the door of the refrigerating compartment. As a result, even if the water supply tank is not replenished with water, useless water supply operation by the water supply pump is performed.
  • the estimation unit 817 uses the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit to make the ice-making water storage tank 20. Estimate if water has been replenished to the. Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit 817, the determination unit 818 determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. Therefore, when the cold room door 61 is opened and the ice making water storage tank 20 is not replenished with water, it is difficult for the water supply pump 22 to wastefully supply water to the ice tray 24. That is, it is possible to reduce the waste of energy due to wasteful water supply.
  • the refrigerator 100 in the present embodiment does not directly detect that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty by using a dedicated sensor.
  • Both the ice tray temperature sensor 29 and the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage compartment door are general components mounted in a normal refrigerator.
  • the processing of the ice making control unit 80 mounted on the control panel 14 can be realized by software mounted on the hardware on which the memory and the CPU are mounted, as will be described later. That is, the refrigerator 100 in the present embodiment has a further effect that it can be realized at a lower cost than the refrigerator using the dedicated sensor as described above.
  • FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator of the other form which concerns on this Embodiment.
  • the ice making control unit 801 of FIG. 7 does not have a learning unit 815, unlike the ice making control unit 80.
  • the supply determination information storage unit 816 may store the supply determination information in advance.
  • the above replenishment determination information may be typical replenishment determination information when an average user who has constructed in the past by some method (for example, desk calculation) supplies water to the ice making water storage tank 20. Even in that case, it is possible to reduce the waste of energy due to wasteful water supply, which is similar to the above effect.
  • the refrigerator 100 allows the refrigerator 100 to be used by a user individually (for example, a storage room door when supplying water to the ice making water storage tank 20). You can learn personal habits when opening the. That is, the learning unit 815 can build the supply determination information suitable for each user who actually uses the refrigerator 100. As a result, the estimation unit 817 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 according to the individual user, and thus the water supply pump 22 can supply the ice tray 24 to the ice-making tray 24 with higher accuracy. This has the further effect of preventing wasteful water supply.
  • the above-described effect that the ice making control unit 80 in the present embodiment can reduce energy waste caused by wasteful water supply without the notification command unit 821 is obtained.
  • the notification command unit 821 the user of the refrigerator 100 has the further effect of being able to know that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty.
  • the notification command unit 821 may include a second air-water notification command unit 8213.
  • FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram of a notification unit of another form according to the present embodiment.
  • the ice making control unit 80 in the present embodiment determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty by the estimating unit 817 and the determining unit 818. As a result, depending on the estimation result of the estimation unit 817, the determination unit 818 may erroneously determine that the ice making water storage tank 20 is not empty, although the ice making water storage tank 20 is actually empty. Get As a result, useless water is supplied to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22. When useless water supply is performed in this way, the second air-water notification command unit 8213 may cause the output unit 113 to notify that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty.
  • the second air water notification command unit 8213 You may make it notify the output part 113 that there is no water in the water tank 20 for ice making. As a result, the effect that the user of the refrigerator 100 can know more accurately that the ice-making water storage tank 20 is empty is exerted.
  • the learning unit 815 is made to learn the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the storage door when the user actually supplies water to the ice making water storage tank 20.
  • the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 may be updated.
  • the learning unit 815 determines that the cold storage door Even if the replenishment determination information is created and stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 816, the replenishment determination information is created based on the door opening/closing history and the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24. Good.
  • the estimation unit 817 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, and thus the waste water supply to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22 can be prevented with higher accuracy. There is an additional effect of being able to.
  • the notification command unit 821 may include a water supply frequency notification command unit 8214.
  • the water supply frequency notification command unit 8214 may cause the output unit to notify the information based on the water supply frequency counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819. For example, the remaining number of times ice can be made in the ice tray 24 can be calculated from the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819.
  • the water supply frequency notification command unit 8214 may notify the output unit of the number of times ice can be made. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ice-making water storage tank 20 from becoming empty.
  • the determination unit 818 includes a water supply frequency counting unit 819 and a water supply frequency comparison unit 820.
  • the estimation unit 817 estimates the water supply to the ice making water storage tank 20 and the water supply pump 22 supplies the ice tray 24 with water. It is determined whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. However, the judgment by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 and the water supply frequency comparing unit 820 need not be made.
  • the determination unit 818 determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty until the estimation unit 817 estimates that water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20. After that, when it is estimated by the estimation unit 817 that water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, the determination unit 818 may determine that the ice making water storage tank 20 is not empty. Even in that case, it is possible to reduce unnecessary water supply to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22.
  • FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of the ice making control unit according to the present embodiment.
  • the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 include, as hardware resources, a processing circuit including, for example, a processor 1001 and a memory 1002.
  • the functions of the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information storage unit 816 are realized by the memory 1002.
  • the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 execute the water supply control to the ice making tray of the refrigerator stored in the memory 1002 by the processor 1001, and thereby the water supply command unit 811, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, the door opening/closing history input unit. 813, the learning unit 815, the estimation unit 817, the determination unit 818, and the notification command unit 821 are realized.
  • the program stored in the external storage medium is installed in the memory 1002 installed in the computer, and the program is executed by the processor 1001, so that the functions are realized by the memory 1002 and the processor 1001.
  • the processor 1001 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP.
  • a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be adopted as the memory 1002.
  • the semiconductor memory that can be adopted includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM and the like.
  • a part or all of each function of the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 may be realized by hardware.
  • hardware for realizing the functions of the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 a single circuit, a decoding circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof may be adopted. ..
  • FIG. 10 is a front view and a CC sectional view of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 10A is a front view of the refrigerator 101.
  • FIG. 10B is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 10A of the refrigerator 101.
  • the refrigerator 101 is different from the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment in that a control panel 142 is provided instead of the control panel 14. Since the other points are the same as those of the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the control panel 142 differs from the control panel 14 of the first embodiment in that an ice making control unit 802 is provided instead of the ice making control unit 80. Since the other points are the same as those of the control panel 14 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • FIG. 12 is a functional configuration diagram of the ice making control unit of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the ice making control unit 802 further includes a storage room temperature history input unit 823 and a storage room temperature history storage unit 824 in addition to the ice making control unit 80 according to the first embodiment.
  • a learning unit 825 is provided instead of the learning unit 815
  • a supply determination information storage unit 826 is provided instead of the supply determination information storage unit 816
  • an estimation unit 817 is provided.
  • the estimation unit 827 is provided in the above. Since the other points are the same as those of the ice making control unit 80 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the storage room temperature history input unit 823 stores the temperature history of each storage room detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50 in the storage room temperature history storage unit 824.
  • the temperature history is, for example, the temperature in each storage and the time at which the temperature is shown.
  • the learning unit 825 adds Based on the temperature information created from the temperature inside the refrigerated storage room detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50, the supply judgment information for deciding whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is supplied with water is created, and the supply judgment information storage unit is provided. 826.
  • the temperature information means the temperature change when the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has been supplied with water, or when the water supply presence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been supplied with water. Indicates that. Specifically, for example, it indicates a temperature change before and after opening and closing the door for the cold storage room.
  • the data indicating the temperature change may be, for example, the temperature and the time at which the temperature is indicated, or the difference between the temperatures before and after the opening of the cold storage door.
  • the estimation unit 827 stores the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 826 in addition to being stored in the storage room temperature history storage unit 824. Whether or not water is being supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 is estimated based on the temperature history of each storage room.
  • an estimation method based on a machine learning method such as a k-nearest neighbor method and a support vector machine is used as in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment during learning.
  • the flowchart of FIG. 13 is almost the same as the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment.
  • the processes having the same reference numerals as those in the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment are the same processes, and thus description thereof will be omitted. Only the differences between the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment will be described.
  • the learning unit 825 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information of the door of each storage chamber, the opening/closing information.
  • the temperature information created from the time and the temperature of each storage chamber detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50 is used as learning data, and the correct answer label is stored as water-supplied data, and the learned data and correct answer label are stored in association with each other (S118). Then, the process returns to S101.
  • the learning unit 825 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information of the doors of the storage chambers.
  • the temperature information created from the opening/closing time and the temperature of each storage chamber detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50 is used as learning data, and the correct answer label is stored as no water supply data, and the learned data and the correct answer label are stored in association with each other (S119). Then, the process returns to S105.
  • the refrigerator 101 according to the present embodiment also has the same effect as the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment.
  • the storage room temperature Whether or not water is replenished to the ice making water storage tank 20 is estimated based on the temperature history of each storage room stored in the history storage unit 824. That is, the estimation unit 827 can use the temperature change in the storage chamber after the water tank 20 for ice making is inserted into the storage chamber to estimate whether or not water is supplied to the water tank 20 for ice making.
  • the estimation unit 827 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, and thus the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22 can be made with higher accuracy than the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment. This has the further effect of preventing wasteful water supply to the.
  • the ice making control unit 802 in the present embodiment does not necessarily need the learning unit 825, like the learning unit 815 in the first embodiment.
  • the supply determination information storage unit 826 may store the supply determination information in advance.
  • the above replenishment determination information may be typical replenishment determination information when an average user who has constructed in the past by some method (for example, desk calculation) supplies water to the ice making water storage tank 20. Even in that case, it is possible to reduce the waste of energy due to wasteful water supply, which is similar to the above effect.
  • the refrigerator 100 allows the user to use the refrigerator 101 (for example, the storage room door when supplying water to the ice making water storage tank 20). You can learn personal habits when opening the. That is, the learning unit 825 can construct the supply determination information suitable for each user who actually uses the refrigerator 101. As a result, the estimation unit 827 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 according to the individual user. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the water supply pump with higher accuracy. It is possible to prevent wasteful water supply to the ice tray 24 by 22.
  • the respective units denoted by reference numerals 811-814, 818-821, and 823-827 in the present embodiment also indicate the functions of the ice making control unit 802 of the refrigerator.
  • the ice making control unit 802 includes, as a hardware resource, a processing circuit including a processor 1001 and a memory 1002, for example.
  • the functions of the door opening/closing history storage unit 814, the storage room temperature history storage unit 824, and the replenishment determination information storage unit 826 are realized by the memory 1002.
  • the ice making control unit 802 executes the water supply control to the ice making tray of the refrigerator stored in the memory 1002 by the processor 1001, so that the water supply command unit 811, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, the door opening/closing history input unit 813, the storage room temperature.
  • the functions shown in the history input unit 823, the learning unit 825, the estimation unit 827, the determination unit 818, and the notification instruction unit 821 are realized.
  • the program stored in the external storage medium is installed in the memory 1002 installed in the computer, and the program is executed by the processor 1001, so that the functions are realized by the memory 1002 and the processor 1001.
  • the processor 1001 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP.
  • a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be adopted as the memory 1002.
  • the semiconductor memory that can be adopted includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM and the like.
  • a part or all of each function of the ice making control unit 802 may be realized by hardware.
  • hardware that realizes the function of the ice making control unit 802 a single circuit, a decoding circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof may be adopted.
  • FIG. 14 is a front view and a DD cross-sectional view of a refrigerator used in the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 14A is a front view of the refrigerator 102.
  • 14B is a DD sectional view of the refrigerator 102 according to FIG. 14A.
  • the refrigerator 102 is different from the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment in that a control panel 143 is provided instead of the control panel 14. Since the other points are the same as those of the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram of the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment.
  • the refrigerator management system 400 has a plurality of refrigerators 102, a network line 200, and a refrigerator management server 300.
  • the refrigerator 102 is installed, for example, in a house of each home.
  • the refrigerator management server 300 is installed, for example, in a refrigerator management center or the like.
  • the refrigerator 102 is connected to the refrigerator management server 300 via the network line 200.
  • the network line 200 may be either wired or wireless.
  • a public line or a private LAN line may be used.
  • the refrigerator management server 300 collects information (for example, temperature setting information of each storage room, door opening/closing history, etc.) in each refrigerator 102 installed in each house, and processes the information such as calculation. The processed information can be transmitted to each refrigerator 102.
  • FIG. 16 is a functional configuration diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the control panel 143 differs from the control panel 14 of the first embodiment in that it further includes a communication control unit 201 and has an ice making control unit 803 instead of the ice making control unit 80. Since the other points are the same as those of the control panel 14 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the communication control unit 201 transmits/receives data between the ice making control unit 803 and the refrigerator management server 300 via the network line 200.
  • FIG. 17 is a functional configuration diagram of the refrigerator management server according to the present embodiment.
  • the refrigerator management server 300 includes a communication control unit 301, a learning unit 335, and a supply determination information storage unit 336.
  • the communication control unit 301 receives the open/close information of the door of each storage room, the open/close time and the determination result of the water supply to the ice tray 24, which is transmitted from each refrigerator 102 connected to the network line 200, and the learning unit 335 receives the information. Send. Similar to the learning unit 815 of the first embodiment, the learning unit 335 supplies the information according to the opening/closing information of the door of each storage chamber received by the communication control unit 201, the opening/closing time, and the determination result of the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray 24. The determination information is created and stored in the supply determination information storage unit 336. Then, the communication control unit 301 transmits the determination information stored in the supply determination information storage unit 336 to each refrigerator 102.
  • FIG. 18 is a functional configuration diagram of the ice making control unit of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment.
  • the ice making control unit 803 does not include the learning unit 815, unlike the ice making control unit 80 in the first embodiment. Further, it differs from the ice making control unit 80 in the first embodiment in that a supply determination information storage unit 836 is provided instead of the supply determination information storage unit 816. Since the other points are the same as those of the ice making control unit 80 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the communication control unit 201 determines the opening/closing information of the doors of each storage room detected by the storage room door opening/closing sensor 90, the opening/closing time, and the determination result of the water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 as a network line. It transmits to the refrigerator management server 300 via 200. Further, the communication control unit 201 receives the replenishment determination information transmitted by the communication control unit 301 of the refrigerator management server 300 included in the refrigerator management server, and stores the replenishment determination information storage unit 836.
  • FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of learning of the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment.
  • the flowchart of FIG. 19 is almost the same as the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. Since the processes having the same reference numerals as those in the flowchart of FIG. 19 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment are the same processes, description thereof will be omitted. Only differences between the flowchart of FIG. 19 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment will be described.
  • the learning unit 335 informs the learning unit 335 of the opening/closing information of the doors of the storage chambers detected by the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90.
  • the determination result that the opening/closing time and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has been supplied with water is transmitted. Then, the process returns to S101.
  • the learning unit 335 causes the learning unit 335 to open/close information about the doors of the storage chambers detected by the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90.
  • the determination result that the opening/closing time and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 has determined that there is no water supply to the ice tray 24 is transmitted. Then, the process returns to S101. Then, the process returns to S105.
  • the learning unit 335 of the refrigerator management server 300 supplies the ice tray 24 with water from each refrigerator 102, the opening/closing information of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door, the opening/closing time, and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812. The learning is repeated each time the judgment result of the presence or absence of is received.
  • the refrigerator management system 400 according to the present embodiment also has the same effect as the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment.
  • the refrigerator 102 according to the present embodiment has a learning unit 335 and a supply determination information storage unit 336.
  • the opening/closing information of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room doors of the plurality of refrigerators 102, the opening/closing time, and the result of the determination of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 are displayed. Since it can be collected in the refrigerator management server 300 and learned by the learning unit 335, it is possible to prevent wasteful water supply to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22 with higher accuracy.
  • the refrigerator 102 has a learning unit 335 and a supply determination information storage unit 336.
  • the processing of the learning unit 815 having a high load in the first embodiment can be caused to be performed by the refrigerator management server 300 having a high processing capacity, so that there is an additional effect that the processing load of the ice making control unit 803 can be reduced.
  • each of the units indicated by reference numerals 811 to 814, 817 to 821, and 836 of the present embodiment also indicates the function of the ice making control unit 803 of the refrigerator.
  • the ice making control unit 803 includes a processing circuit including a processor 1001 and a memory 1002, for example, as a hardware resource.
  • the functions of the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information storage unit 836 are realized by the memory 1002.
  • the ice making control unit executes the water supply control to the ice making plate of the refrigerator stored in the memory 1002 by the processor 1001, so that the water supply command unit 811, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, the door opening/closing history input unit 813, the estimation unit 817, The functions shown in the judgment unit 818 and the notification instruction unit 821 are realized.
  • the program stored in the external storage medium is installed in the memory 1002 installed in the computer, and the program is executed by the processor 1001, so that the functions are realized by the memory 1002 and the processor 1001.
  • the processor 1001 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP.
  • a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be adopted as the memory 1002.
  • the semiconductor memory that can be adopted includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM and the like.
  • a part or all of each function of the ice making control unit 803 may be realized by hardware.
  • the hardware that realizes the function of the ice making control unit 803, a single circuit, a decoding circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof may be adopted.
  • the present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments. Within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, some of them can be changed or omitted.

Abstract

This refrigerator (100) comprises: a door open/close history storage unit (814) for storing refrigeration chamber door open/close information and an open/close time detected by a door open/close detection unit (90) as door open/close history; a replenishment assessment information storage unit (816) for storing, as replenishment assessment information, the refrigeration chamber door open/close history in which it is assessed that replenishment of water to an ice tray water-storage tank (20) has occurred; an estimation unit (817) for estimating whether replenishment of water to the ice tray water-storage tank has occurred, the estimation being conducted according to the door open/close history stored in the door open/close history storage unit (814) and the replenishment assessment information stored in the replenishment assessment information storage unit (816); and an assessment unit (818) for assessing whether the ice tray water-storage tank (20) is empty according to the result of estimating whether replenishment of water has occurred as estimated by the estimation unit (817), the refrigerator (100) being such that a water supply command unit (811) does not command that water be supplied to a water supply pump (22) when the assessment unit (818) has assessed that the ice tray water-storage tank (20) is empty. As a result, it is possible to suppress the performance of futile operations for supplying water to an ice tray (24).

Description

冷蔵庫、冷蔵庫管理システム及び冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御方法Refrigerator, refrigerator management system and method of controlling water supply to ice tray of refrigerator
　本発明は、自動製氷機能を有する冷蔵庫に関する。 The present invention relates to a refrigerator having an automatic ice making function.
　自動製氷機能を有する冷蔵庫は、製氷皿へ給水するための水を貯める給水タンクを保持している。給水タンクの水が空になると製氷皿に水が供給されず、氷が作られない。そのため、製氷皿の近傍に設けられたセンサによって、給水タンク内の水の有無を検知し、給水タンクの水が無くなった給水待機状態で冷蔵室用扉の開閉動作を検出し、開閉動作が行なわれた直後に製氷皿へ水を供給する給水動作を行なうようにした冷蔵庫が開示されている（例えば特許文献１）。 A refrigerator with an automatic ice making function holds a water supply tank that stores water for supplying water to the ice tray. When the water in the water tank is empty, the ice tray is not supplied with water and ice is not made. Therefore, a sensor installed near the ice tray detects the presence or absence of water in the water supply tank, detects the opening/closing operation of the refrigerator compartment door in the water supply standby state when the water in the water supply tank is exhausted, and the opening/closing operation is performed. There is disclosed a refrigerator configured to perform a water supply operation of supplying water to an ice tray immediately after being opened (for example, Patent Document 1).
特開平９－７９７２１号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-79721
　特許文献１における冷蔵庫は、冷蔵室用扉の開閉動作の度に毎回製氷皿へ水を供給する給水動作が行われる。その結果、実際に給水タンクに給水が行われなかった場合においても無駄な給水動作が行われるという問題があった。 In the refrigerator in Patent Document 1, a water supply operation of supplying water to the ice tray is performed every time the refrigerator compartment door is opened and closed. As a result, there is a problem that a wasteful water supply operation is performed even when water is not actually supplied to the water supply tank.
　本発明は、上述のような課題を解決するためになされたもので、製氷皿への無駄な給水動作が行われにくい冷蔵庫を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator in which an unnecessary water supply operation to an ice tray is less likely to occur.
　本発明における冷蔵庫は、冷蔵貯蔵室に設けられた製氷用貯水槽と、製氷用貯水槽に水を補給する際に開けられる冷蔵貯蔵室用扉と、製氷用貯水槽から水が給水される製氷皿と、製氷用貯水槽内の水を製氷皿へ給水する給水ポンプと、給水ポンプに製氷皿への給水を指令する給水指令部と、冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉を検知する扉開閉検知部と、扉開閉検知部が検知した冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻とを扉開閉履歴として記憶する扉開閉履歴記憶部と、製氷用貯水槽への水の補給があったと判断される冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻を補給判断情報として記憶する補給判断情報記憶部と、扉開閉履歴記憶部に記憶されている扉開閉履歴及び補給判断情報記憶部に記憶されている補給判断情報によって製氷用貯水槽への水の補給の有無を推定する推定部と、推定部が推定した水の補給の有無の推定結果によって製氷用貯水槽が空か否かを判断する判断部と、を備え、給水指令部は、製氷用貯水槽が空であると判断部が判断した場合、給水ポンプに給水を指令しない。 The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a water tank for ice making provided in a cold storage room, a door for the cold storage room that is opened when supplying water to the water tank for ice making, and an ice making machine to which water is supplied from the water tank for ice making. A plate, a water supply pump that supplies the water in the ice making water tank to the ice tray, a water supply command unit that commands the water supply pump to supply water to the ice tray, and a door open/close detection unit that detects the opening/closing of the refrigerator storage door And a door opening/closing history storage unit that stores opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the cold storage room door detected by the door opening/closing detection unit as a door opening/closing history, and it is determined that water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank. Replenishment determination information storage unit that stores the opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the door for the cold storage as replenishment determination information, and the replenishment stored in the door opening/closing history and replenishment determination information storage unit stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit An estimation unit that estimates the presence or absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank based on the determination information, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank is empty based on the estimation result of the water supply availability that was estimated by the estimation unit. And the water supply command unit does not command the water supply pump to supply water when the judgment unit judges that the ice making water storage tank is empty.
　また、本発明における冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御方法は、冷蔵貯蔵室に設けられた製氷用貯水槽に水を補給する際に開けられる冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉を検知する扉開閉検知部が検知した冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻とを扉開閉履歴として記憶部に記憶させるステップと、記憶部に記憶されている扉開閉履歴、及び製氷用貯水槽への水の補給があったと判断される冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻である補給判断情報によって製氷用貯水槽への水の補給の有無を推定するステップと、水の補給の有無の推定結果によって製氷用貯水槽が空か否かを判断するステップと、製氷用貯水槽が空であると判断された場合、製氷皿への給水を指令し、製氷用貯水槽が空でないと判断された場合、製氷皿への給水を指令しないステップと、を備える。 Further, a method of controlling water supply to an ice tray of a refrigerator according to the present invention is a door opening/closing detection unit that detects opening/closing of a cold storage room door that is opened when water is supplied to an ice making water storage tank provided in the cold storage room. The step of storing the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the door for the refrigerated storage room detected by the storage unit in the storage unit as the door opening/closing history, the door opening/closing history stored in the storage unit, and the replenishment of water to the water tank for ice making are performed. The step of estimating the presence or absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank based on the open/close information of the cold storage door that is judged to be present and the replenishment judgment information that is the opening and closing time, and the ice making Steps for determining whether or not the water storage tank is empty, and if it is determined that the ice making water storage tank is empty, command water supply to the ice making tray, and if it is determined that the ice making water storage tank is not empty, And a step of not commanding water supply to the plate.
　本発明における半導体装置では、推定部が、扉開閉履歴記憶部に記憶されている扉開閉履歴と、補給判断情報記憶部に記憶されている補給判断情報によって、製氷用貯水槽への水の補給が行われたかどうか推定する。推定部の推定結果によって、判断部が製氷用貯水槽が空か否かを判断する。したがって、製氷皿への無駄な給水動作が行われにくい。 In the semiconductor device of the present invention, the estimation unit replenishes water to the ice-making water storage tank based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit. Estimate if was done. Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit, the determination unit determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank is empty. Therefore, it is difficult to perform unnecessary water supply operation to the ice tray.
本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の正面図及びＡ－Ａ断面図である。It is a front view and a sectional view taken along the line AA of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の自動製氷装置周辺の拡大断面図である。It is an expanded sectional view of the automatic ice-making device periphery of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の制御盤の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の学習時の動作を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows the operation|movement at the time of learning of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の推定時の動作を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows the operation|movement at the time of estimation of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る他の形態の冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator of other forms which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る他の形態の報知部の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the alerting|reporting part of the other form which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態１に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部のハードウエア構成図である。It is a hardware block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態２に係る冷蔵庫の正面図及びＣ－Ｃ断面図である。It is a front view and CC sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態２に係る冷蔵庫の制御盤の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態２に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態２に係る冷蔵庫の推定時の動作を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows the operation|movement at the time of estimation of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態３に係る冷蔵庫の正面図及びＤ－Ｄ断面図である。It is a front view and DD sectional drawing of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態３に係る冷蔵庫管理システムの全体構成図である。It is a whole block diagram of the refrigerator management system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態３に係る冷蔵庫の制御盤の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 本実施の形態の形態３に係る冷蔵庫管理サーバの機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the refrigerator management server which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this Embodiment. 本発明の実施の形態３に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。It is a functional block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 本発明の実施の形態３に係る冷蔵庫の学習時の動作を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows the operation|movement at the time of learning of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.
実施の形態１
　以下、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の構成と動作とを図１～図９を用いて説明する。図１は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の正面図及びＡ－Ａ断面図である。図１（ａ）は冷蔵庫１００の正面図である。図１（ｂ）は冷蔵庫１００の図１（ａ）におけるＡ－Ａ断面図である。図１（ｃ）は、冷蔵庫１００の正面に備えられた操作パネル１１１の正面図である。 Embodiment 1
The configuration and operation of the refrigerator according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 is a front view and an AA sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1A is a front view of the refrigerator 100. FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the refrigerator 100 taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 1C is a front view of the operation panel 111 provided on the front surface of the refrigerator 100.
　図１（ａ）及び図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、冷蔵庫１００は冷蔵室用扉６１を有する冷蔵室１を備えている。冷蔵庫１００は冷蔵室１の下に、製氷室用扉６２を有する製氷室２及び切替室用扉６３を有する切替室（図示無し）を備えている。冷蔵庫１００は、製氷室２及び切替室（図示無し）の下に、冷凍室用扉６４を有する冷凍室４を備えている。冷蔵庫１００は、冷凍室４の下に、野菜室用扉６５を有する野菜室５を備えている。 As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerating compartment 1 having a refrigerating compartment door 61. The refrigerator 100 is provided below the refrigerating compartment 1 with an ice making compartment 2 having an ice making compartment door 62 and a switching compartment (not shown) having a switching compartment door 63. The refrigerator 100 includes a freezing compartment 4 having a freezing compartment door 64 below the ice making compartment 2 and a switching compartment (not shown). The refrigerator 100 includes a vegetable compartment 5 having a vegetable compartment door 65 below the freezer compartment 4.
　冷蔵室１は、食品等の貯蔵物を収納するための空間を有する貯蔵室である。冷蔵室１内の温度は、＋３℃～＋１０℃の冷蔵温度帯に保たれている。製氷室２は、製氷された氷をためる貯蔵室である。製氷室２は、例えば－１７℃以下の冷凍温度帯に保たれている。切替室３は、室内の温度を冷凍温度帯、冷蔵温度帯等の複数の段階に切り替えることができる貯蔵室である。冷凍室４は、室内の温度が冷凍温度帯に制御される貯蔵室である。そのため、冷凍室４は、貯蔵物を長期間にわたって保存することができる。野菜室５は、野菜等を収納するための空間である。野菜室５は、例えば＋３℃～＋１０℃の冷蔵温度帯に保たれている。 The refrigerating room 1 is a storage room having a space for storing stored items such as food. The temperature in the refrigerating compartment 1 is kept in the refrigerating temperature zone of +3°C to +10°C. The ice making chamber 2 is a storage chamber for storing ice made. The ice making chamber 2 is kept in a freezing temperature zone of, for example, −17° C. or lower. The switching chamber 3 is a storage chamber capable of switching the temperature inside the chamber to a plurality of stages such as a freezing temperature zone and a refrigerating temperature zone. The freezing compartment 4 is a storage compartment in which the temperature inside the compartment is controlled in the freezing temperature zone. Therefore, the freezer compartment 4 can store the stored material for a long period of time. The vegetable compartment 5 is a space for storing vegetables and the like. The vegetable compartment 5 is kept in a refrigerating temperature zone of, for example, +3°C to +10°C.
　以下、冷蔵室１、製氷室２等の貯蔵室を区別しない場合は、単に貯蔵室と記載するものとする。また、冷蔵室用扉６１、製氷室用扉６２等の貯蔵室用扉を区別しない場合は、単に貯蔵室用扉と記載するものとする。また、冷蔵温度帯の領域に設けられた貯蔵室を冷蔵貯蔵室と記載し、冷凍温度帯の領域に設けられた貯蔵室を冷凍貯蔵室と記載するものとする。また、冷蔵貯蔵室用の扉の事を冷蔵貯蔵室用扉、冷凍貯蔵室用の扉の事を冷凍貯蔵室用扉と記載するものとする。 Hereafter, when the storage rooms such as the refrigerating room 1 and the ice making room 2 are not distinguished, they are simply described as storage rooms. Further, when the storage room doors such as the refrigerating room door 61 and the ice making room door 62 are not distinguished, they are simply described as the storage room doors. Further, the storage room provided in the region of the refrigerating temperature zone will be referred to as a cold storage room, and the storage room provided in the region of the freezing temperature zone will be referred to as a freezing storage chamber. Further, a door for a cold storage room will be referred to as a door for a cold storage room, and a door for a freezing storage room will be referred to as a door for a freezing storage room.
　図１（ａ）示すとおり、冷蔵庫１００は、冷蔵室用扉６１の正面に図１（ｃ）に示されている操作パネル１１１を有している。図１（ｃ）に示すとおり、操作パネル１１１は、操作ボタン１１２と出力部１１３を備えている。操作ボタン１１２は、各貯蔵室の温度調節及び各種設定に関する入力操作を受け付ける操作ボタンである。出力部１１３は、各室の温度などの情報を表示等の出力を行う。本実施の形態では、操作パネル１１１は、冷蔵室用扉６１に備えられている場合を示しているが、どの貯蔵室用扉に備えられていても構わない。 As shown in FIG. 1( a ), the refrigerator 100 has an operation panel 111 shown in FIG. 1( c) in front of the refrigerating room door 61. As shown in FIG. 1C, the operation panel 111 includes operation buttons 112 and an output unit 113. The operation button 112 is an operation button that receives an input operation relating to temperature adjustment and various settings of each storage room. The output unit 113 outputs information such as the temperature of each room such as display. In the present embodiment, the operation panel 111 is provided in the refrigerating room door 61, but it may be provided in any storage room door.
　図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１００は、箱形状の断熱箱体１１０を有している。断熱箱体１１０によって、冷蔵庫１００内は複数の貯蔵室に区分けされている。冷蔵庫１００は断熱箱体１１０と各貯蔵室の前方に配置された貯蔵室用扉とによって、外気の熱が貯蔵室内に侵入するのを防ぐ。これにより、冷蔵庫１００内部を、低温状態に維持することができる。図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、断熱箱体１１０によって、複数の貯蔵室、吹き出し風路１５、戻り風路１６、冷却室１２が形成されている。吹き出し風路１５及び戻り風路１６は循環する空気の循環路である。冷却室１２には、冷却器９、送風機１０及び霜取りヒータ１１等の各種装置が収容されている。 As shown in FIG. 1( b ), the refrigerator 100 in the present embodiment has a box-shaped heat insulating box 110. The inside of the refrigerator 100 is divided into a plurality of storage rooms by the heat insulating box 110. In the refrigerator 100, the heat of the outside air is prevented from entering the storage chamber by the heat insulating box 110 and the storage chamber door arranged in front of each storage chamber. Thereby, the inside of the refrigerator 100 can be maintained in a low temperature state. As shown in FIG. 1B, the heat insulating box 110 forms a plurality of storage chambers, a blowing air passage 15, a return air passage 16, and a cooling chamber 12. The blowout air passage 15 and the return air passage 16 are circulation passages for circulating air. The cooling chamber 12 houses various devices such as a cooler 9, a blower 10, and a defrosting heater 11.
　冷却器９は、例えば冷媒管に金属製の薄板を有するフィンを接合したフィンチューブ熱交換器である。冷媒管とフィンとを例えば拡管によって接合することで、冷媒管とフィンとの間の接触熱抵抗を小さくしている。これによりフィン効率を向上させ、熱交換量を向上させている。 The cooler 9 is, for example, a fin-tube heat exchanger in which a fin having a thin metal plate is joined to a refrigerant pipe. By connecting the refrigerant pipe and the fin by, for example, expanding the pipe, the contact thermal resistance between the refrigerant pipe and the fin is reduced. This improves the fin efficiency and the heat exchange amount.
　送風機１０は、冷却器９周辺で冷却された冷気を、吹き出し風路１５を経由させて各貯蔵室へと送る。これにより、各貯蔵室内の温度は低温に維持される。送風機１０は、各貯蔵室に送り込んだ空気を、戻り風路１６を経由させて冷却器９へと戻す。このようにして、冷蔵庫１００内の空気は、送風機１０によって断熱箱体１１０に形成された循環路及び各貯蔵室を循環する。 The blower 10 sends the cool air cooled around the cooler 9 to each storage room via the blowing air passage 15. As a result, the temperature inside each storage chamber is maintained at a low temperature. The blower 10 returns the air sent into each storage chamber to the cooler 9 via the return air passage 16. In this way, the air in the refrigerator 100 circulates through the circulation path formed in the heat insulating box 110 by the blower 10 and each storage chamber.
　図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、霜取りヒータ１１は、冷却器９の下方に配置されている。霜取りヒータ１１は、ガラス管ヒータあるいはカーボンヒータを有している。霜取りヒータ１１は、冷却器９を加温して表面に付着した霜をはじめとする氷を溶かす。 As shown in FIG. 1( b ), the defrosting heater 11 is arranged below the cooler 9. The defrosting heater 11 has a glass tube heater or a carbon heater. The defrosting heater 11 heats the cooler 9 to melt ice such as frost adhering to the surface.
　図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、冷蔵室用扉６１は冷蔵室１の前面の開口を開閉自在に覆う。冷蔵室用扉６１は、冷蔵室１の前面の開口を２枚の扉で覆う観音開き式のものである。観音開き式の冷蔵室用扉６１は、一枚扉に比べて開放したときのスペースが小さい、片方の扉だけを開放すれば冷気が漏洩するのを抑制できる、等の特徴がある。なお、冷蔵室１の幅が、例えば６０ｃｍ以下と比較的小さい場合には、冷蔵室用扉６１は一枚扉でもよい。また、図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、冷蔵室１内は仕切り棚７１で仕切られており、冷蔵室１内の収納性を高めている。 As shown in FIG. 1( b ), the refrigerator compartment door 61 covers the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 1 so as to be openable and closable. The refrigerator compartment door 61 is a double door type that covers the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 1 with two doors. The double door type door 61 for a refrigerating room has a small space when opened as compared with a single door, and it is possible to suppress leakage of cold air by opening only one door. If the width of the refrigerating compartment 1 is relatively small, for example, 60 cm or less, the refrigerating compartment door 61 may be a single door. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, the interior of the refrigerating compartment 1 is partitioned by a partition shelf 71, which enhances the storability in the refrigerating compartment 1.
　図１（ｂ）に示すとおり、冷蔵庫１００の背面の上部には、制御盤１４が収納されている。制御盤１４は、冷蔵庫１００に使用されている電気部品の制御を行う。制御盤１４は、制御回路、記憶装置、及び種々の電気部品が基板に実装されて構成されたものである。 As shown in FIG. 1( b ), a control panel 14 is housed in the upper part of the back of the refrigerator 100. The control panel 14 controls the electric components used in the refrigerator 100. The control board 14 is configured by mounting a control circuit, a storage device, and various electric components on a board.
　各貯蔵室には、各貯蔵室内の温度を検知する貯蔵室内温度検知部である貯蔵室温度センサ５０が設けられている。貯蔵室温度センサ５０には、冷蔵室温度センサ５１、製氷室温度センサ５２、切替室温度センサ（図示無し）、冷凍室温度センサ５４及び野菜室温度センサ５５が含まれる。冷蔵室１内には、冷蔵室温度センサ５１が備えられている。製氷室２内には、製氷室温度センサ５２が備えられている。切替室３内には、切替室温度センサ（図示無し）が備えられている。冷凍室内４内には、冷凍室温度センサ５４が設けられている。野菜室５には、野菜室温度センサ５５が設けられている。制御盤１４は、冷蔵室温度センサ５１、製氷室温度センサ５２、切替室温度センサ（図示無し）、冷凍室温度センサ５４及び野菜室温度センサ５５が検知した温度に基づいて各貯蔵室の温度調節等の制御を行う。 Each storage room is provided with a storage room temperature sensor 50 that is a storage room temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside each storage room. The storage room temperature sensor 50 includes a refrigerating room temperature sensor 51, an ice making room temperature sensor 52, a switching room temperature sensor (not shown), a freezing room temperature sensor 54, and a vegetable room temperature sensor 55. A refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 51 is provided in the refrigerating compartment 1. An ice making chamber temperature sensor 52 is provided in the ice making chamber 2. A switching chamber temperature sensor (not shown) is provided in the switching chamber 3. A freezer compartment temperature sensor 54 is provided in the freezer compartment 4. A vegetable compartment temperature sensor 55 is provided in the vegetable compartment 5. The control panel 14 adjusts the temperature of each storage room based on the temperatures detected by the cold room temperature sensor 51, the ice making room temperature sensor 52, the switching room temperature sensor (not shown), the freezing room temperature sensor 54, and the vegetable room temperature sensor 55. Etc. are controlled.
　各貯蔵室の扉には、扉の開閉を検知する扉開閉検知部である貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が設けられている。貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０には、冷蔵室用扉用開閉センサ９１、製氷室用扉用開閉センサ９２、切替室用扉用開閉センサ（図示無し）、冷凍室用扉用開閉センサ９４及び野菜室用扉用開閉センサ９５が含まれる。冷蔵室用扉６１には、冷蔵室用扉用開閉センサ９１が備えられている。製氷室用扉６２内には、製氷室用扉用開閉センサ９２が備えられている。切替室用扉６３内には、切替室用扉用開閉センサ（図示無し）が備えられている。冷凍室用扉６４には、冷凍室用扉用開閉センサ９４が設けられている。野菜室用扉６５には、野菜室用扉用開閉センサ９５が設けられている。 The door of each storage room is provided with a storage room door open/close sensor 90 that is a door open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the door. The storage room door opening/closing sensor 90 includes a refrigerator compartment door opening/closing sensor 91, an ice making room door opening/closing sensor 92, a switching room door opening/closing sensor (not shown), a freezing room door opening/closing sensor 94, and vegetables. A room door open/close sensor 95 is included. The refrigerator compartment door 61 is provided with a refrigerator compartment door opening/closing sensor 91. Inside the ice making chamber door 62, an ice making chamber door opening/closing sensor 92 is provided. A switching chamber door opening/closing sensor (not shown) is provided in the switching chamber door 63. The freezer compartment door 64 is provided with a freezer compartment door open/close sensor 94. The vegetable compartment door 65 is provided with an opening/closing sensor 95 for the vegetable compartment door.
　さらに、製氷室２とその近傍の構成について、より詳しく説明する。図２は本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の自動製氷装置周辺の拡大断面図である。図２は図１（ｂ）に係る冷蔵庫１００の破線で囲まれたＢ部分の断面図である。冷蔵庫１００の冷蔵温度帯の領域、例えば冷蔵室１内には製氷用貯水槽２０が備えられている。製氷用貯水槽２０に水を補給する場合、冷蔵室用扉６１を開けて、冷蔵室１内から製氷用貯水槽２０を取り出す。製氷用貯水槽２０が備えられているのは冷蔵室１内でなくてもよい。製氷用貯水槽２０が備えられているのは他の冷蔵温度帯の冷蔵貯蔵室、例えば野菜室５でもよい。その場合、その冷蔵貯蔵室に対応する冷蔵貯蔵室用扉を開けて、冷蔵貯蔵室から製氷用貯水槽２０を取り出して製氷用貯水槽２０に水を補給することができる。また、製氷用貯水槽２０は冷蔵貯蔵室から取り出し可能でなくてもよい。その場合、別の容器に水を汲んできて、その別の容器から製氷用貯水槽２０に水を補給すればよい。本実施の形態においては、製氷用貯水槽２０は冷蔵貯蔵室から取り出し可能であるものとして記載する。 Furthermore, the structure of the ice making chamber 2 and its vicinity will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the automatic ice making device of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion B surrounded by a broken line of the refrigerator 100 according to FIG. A water storage tank 20 for ice making is provided in a refrigerating temperature zone region of the refrigerator 100, for example, in the refrigerating compartment 1. When replenishing water to the ice making water storage tank 20, the refrigerator compartment door 61 is opened and the ice making water storage tank 20 is taken out from the inside of the refrigeration compartment 1. The ice making water storage tank 20 may not be provided in the refrigerating compartment 1. The ice-making water storage tank 20 may be provided in a refrigerating and storing room in another refrigerating temperature zone, for example, the vegetable compartment 5. In this case, the cold storage room door corresponding to the cold storage room can be opened, the ice making water storage tank 20 can be taken out from the cold storage room, and water can be supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20. Further, the ice-making water storage tank 20 does not have to be removable from the cold storage room. In that case, water may be pumped into another container, and water may be supplied from the other container to the ice-making water storage tank 20. In the present embodiment, the ice-making water storage tank 20 is described as being removable from the refrigerating storage chamber.
　冷凍温度帯の領域、例えば製氷室２内には、自動製氷装置２１が備えられている。自動製氷装置２１は製氷用貯水槽２０内に貯められた水を用いて自動的に製氷する。自動製氷装置２１は、製氷皿２４、製氷ギアボックス２５及び貯氷検知レバー２６を有している。 An automatic ice making device 21 is provided in the freezing temperature zone, for example, in the ice making chamber 2. The automatic ice making device 21 automatically makes ice using the water stored in the ice making water storage tank 20. The automatic ice making device 21 has an ice making tray 24, an ice making gear box 25, and an ice storage detecting lever 26.
　製氷皿２４は、給水された水が凍結することによって複数個（例えば１０個）の氷のブロックを製氷する容器である。給水ポンプ２２は、製氷用貯水槽２０内の水を給水パイプ２３を介して自動製氷装置２１の製氷皿２４へ給水する。給水パイプ２３にはパイプヒータ２７が設けられ、給水パイプ２３が凍結することを防止している。 The ice tray 24 is a container for making a plurality of blocks (for example, 10 pieces) of ice by freezing the supplied water. The water supply pump 22 supplies water in the ice making water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 24 of the automatic ice making device 21 via the water supply pipe 23. A pipe heater 27 is provided on the water supply pipe 23 to prevent the water supply pipe 23 from freezing.
　貯氷ケース２８は、製氷皿２４内に製氷された氷を貯氷する容器である。貯氷ケース２８は、製氷皿２４の下部に設けられている。貯氷ケース２８は製氷室用扉６２を開けた状態にて製氷室２から引き出し可能である。製氷ギアボックス２５は、製氷皿２４を回転移動させて上下を反転させ、製氷皿２４を捻ることにより、製氷皿２４内に製氷された氷を貯氷ケース２８へ落下させる離氷動作を行う。 The ice storage case 28 is a container for storing the ice made in the ice tray 24. The ice storage case 28 is provided below the ice tray 24. The ice storage case 28 can be pulled out from the ice making chamber 2 with the ice making chamber door 62 opened. The ice making gearbox 25 performs an ice removing operation of rotating the ice making tray 24 to turn it upside down and twisting the ice making tray 24 to drop the ice made in the ice making tray 24 into the ice storage case 28.
　貯氷検知レバー２６は、貯氷ケース２８内の貯氷量が所定量以上であるかを検知するためのものである。冷蔵庫１００は、貯氷検知レバー２６が貯氷ケース２８内の氷と接触し、所定の位置よりも下がらない場合、製氷ギアボックス２５が離氷動作に入らないように構成されている。これにより、冷蔵庫１００は、製氷室２が氷であふれることを防止している。パイプヒータ２７は、給水パイプ２３の凍結を防止するとともに、パイプヒータ２７のオフ時に給水パイプ２３の凍結があった場合に、給水パイプ２３に付着した氷を溶かす。 The ice storage detection lever 26 is for detecting whether the amount of ice storage in the ice storage case 28 is a predetermined amount or more. The refrigerator 100 is configured so that the ice making gearbox 25 does not enter the ice removing operation when the ice storage detection lever 26 comes into contact with the ice in the ice storage case 28 and does not fall below a predetermined position. Thus, the refrigerator 100 prevents the ice making chamber 2 from overflowing with ice. The pipe heater 27 prevents the water supply pipe 23 from freezing, and melts the ice adhering to the water supply pipe 23 when the water supply pipe 23 is frozen when the pipe heater 27 is off.
　製氷皿２４近傍には、製氷皿２４の温度を検知する製氷皿温度検知部である製氷皿温度センサ２９が設けられている。 Near the ice tray 24, an ice tray temperature sensor 29, which is an ice tray temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the ice tray 24, is provided.
　図３は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の制御盤の内部構成図である。制御盤１４は製氷制御部８０を備えている。製氷制御部８０の内部構成及び機能については後述する。 FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. The control panel 14 includes an ice making control unit 80. The internal configuration and function of the ice making control unit 80 will be described later.
　図４は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。図４に示すとおり、製氷制御部８０は、給水指令部８１１、給水有無判断部８１２、扉開閉履歴入力部８１３、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４、学習部８１５、補給判断情報記憶部８１６、推定部８１７、判断部８１８及び報知指令部８２１を備えている。判断部８１８は、給水回数計数部８１９及び給水回数比較部８２０を備えている。 FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of the ice making control unit of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the ice making control unit 80 includes a water supply command unit 811, a water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, a door opening/closing history input unit 813, a door opening/closing history storage unit 814, a learning unit 815, a supply determination information storage unit 816, an estimation unit. 817, the judgment part 818, and the alerting|reporting instruction|indication part 821 are provided. The determination unit 818 includes a water supply frequency counting unit 819 and a water supply frequency comparing unit 820.
　給水指令部８１１は、給水モードと給水停止モードの２つのモードを有する。給水指令部８１１は給水モード時、例えば、製氷ギアボックス２５が氷を落下した後に貯氷検知レバー２６によって貯氷ケース２８が満氷でないと検知された場合に給水ポンプ２２への給水の指令を行う。給水ポンプ２２は、給水指令部８１１から給水指令を受けたときは給水動作を行う。 The water supply command unit 811 has two modes, a water supply mode and a water supply stop mode. In the water supply mode, the water supply command unit 811 issues a water supply command to the water supply pump 22 when, for example, the ice storage detection lever 26 detects that the ice storage case 28 is not full ice after the ice making gearbox 25 has dropped ice. The water supply pump 22 performs the water supply operation when receiving the water supply command from the water supply command unit 811.
　給水指令部８１１は給水停止モード時、製氷用貯水槽２０から製氷皿２４への給水の指令を給水ポンプ２２に対し行わない。すなわち、給水ポンプ２２は給水動作を行わない。 The water supply command unit 811 does not issue a water supply command from the ice-making water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 24 to the water supply pump 22 in the water supply stop mode. That is, the water supply pump 22 does not perform the water supply operation.
　給水有無判断部８１２は、製氷皿温度センサ２９が検知した製氷皿２４の温度変化により製氷皿２４への給水の有無を判断する。給水ポンプ２２が製氷用貯水槽２０から製氷皿２４に給水するために水をくみ上げる動作を行ったときに、実際に製氷皿２４に給水された場合、給水された水の温度によって製氷皿２４の温度が上昇する。その結果、製氷皿温度センサ２９は製氷皿２４の温度の上昇を検知する。その場合、給水有無判断部８１２は製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたと判断する。 The water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 based on the temperature change of the ice tray 24 detected by the ice tray temperature sensor 29. When the water supply pump 22 actually pumps water to supply water from the ice-making water storage tank 20 to the ice tray 24, when the water is actually supplied to the ice tray 24, the temperature of the supplied water causes the temperature of the ice tray 24 to rise. The temperature rises. As a result, the ice tray temperature sensor 29 detects an increase in the temperature of the ice tray 24. In that case, the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has actually been supplied with water.
　一方、給水ポンプ２２が製氷用貯水槽２０から製氷皿２４に給水するために水をくみ上げる動作を行ったときに、製氷用貯水槽２０が空であることにより実際に製氷皿２４に給水されなかった場合、製氷皿２４の温度は変化しない。その結果、製氷皿温度センサ２９は製氷皿２４の温度の上昇を検知しない。その場合、給水有無判断部８１２は、製氷皿２４には給水されなかったと判断する。 On the other hand, when the water supply pump 22 performs an operation of pumping water to supply water from the ice making water storage tank 20 to the ice making tray 24, the ice making water storage tank 20 is not actually supplied with water because the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. In the case of, the temperature of the ice tray 24 does not change. As a result, the ice tray temperature sensor 29 does not detect an increase in the temperature of the ice tray 24. In that case, the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been supplied with water.
　扉開閉履歴入力部８１３は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各扉開閉履歴を扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶させる。開閉履歴とは、例えば各貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報（開閉の有無）及び開閉の時刻のことである。 The door opening/closing history input unit 813 stores each door opening/closing history detected by the storage room door opening/closing sensor 90 in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814. The opening/closing history is, for example, opening/closing information (presence/absence of opening/closing) of each storage room door and opening/closing time.
　学習部８１５は、機械学習を行う機能を有する。機械学習の中でも教師あり学習を用いることができる。教師あり学習とは、学習データに正解ラベルを付けたデータセットを蓄積して学習する方法である。具体的には、教師あり学習とは、複数のデータセットを蓄積し、その複数のデータセットが有する特徴を分析してこれら複数のデータセットの特徴に最も合う関数関係ｙ＝ｆ（ｘ）を求めることである。この関数関係ｙ＝ｆ（ｘ）により、入力された未知のデータｘに対して、推定された結果ｙを与えることができる。機械学習の手法として例えば、ｋ近傍法やサポートベクタマシンなどのアルゴリズムがある。 The learning unit 815 has a function of performing machine learning. Among machine learning, supervised learning can be used. Supervised learning is a method of accumulating and learning a data set in which correct labels are attached to learning data. Specifically, the supervised learning is to accumulate a plurality of data sets, analyze the features of the plurality of data sets, and find a functional relation y=f(x) that best fits the features of the plurality of data sets. It is to ask. This functional relation y=f(x) makes it possible to give the estimated result y to the input unknown data x. Examples of machine learning methods include algorithms such as a k-nearest neighbor method and a support vector machine.
　冷蔵庫１００においては、上記教師あり学習における学習データが貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した貯蔵室扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻に相当し、正解ラベルが製氷皿２４への給水の有無に相当する。貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻を学習データとし、給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果を正解ラベルとする。学習部８１５は、その学習データに正解ラベルを付けたデータセットに基づき、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無を判断する補給判断情報を補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶させる。 In the refrigerator 100, the learning data in the supervised learning corresponds to the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the storage room door detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door, and the correct label corresponds to the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray 24. .. The opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the door of each storage room detected by the storage room door open/close sensor 90 are used as learning data, and the determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 is set as a correct answer label. .. The learning unit 815 causes the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 to store replenishment determination information for determining whether or not water is replenished to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on a data set in which the correct answer label is attached to the learning data.
　補給判断情報というのは、各機械学習法によって異なる。ｋ近傍法の場合、補給判断情報記憶部８１６は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果を記憶しておけばよい。すなわち補給判断情報記憶部８１６は、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給があったと判断される各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻を補給判断情報として記憶しておけばよい。また、サポートベクタマシンの場合、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果から、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無を判断するマージン識別器と呼ばれる関数を作成して、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果とともに、補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶させる。補給判断情報は、各機械学習法に基づいて必要な情報とすればよい。 The supply judgment information differs depending on each machine learning method. In the case of the k-nearest method, the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 supplies the opening/closing information of the doors of the storage chambers detected by the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90, the opening/closing time, and the water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812. It suffices to store the determination result of the presence or absence of That is, the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 may store, as the replenishment determination information, the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the door of each storage chamber that is determined to have been replenished with water to the ice making water storage tank 20. Further, in the case of a support vector machine, the opening/closing information of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door, the opening/closing time, and the determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812. , A function called a margin discriminator that determines whether or not water is supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 is created, and the opening/closing information, opening/closing time, and water supply of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door The supply determination information storage unit 816 stores the result together with the determination result of the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the presence determination unit 812. The supply determination information may be necessary information based on each machine learning method.
　推定部８１７は、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶されている扉の開閉履歴及び補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶されている補給判断情報によって製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無を推定する。推定方法としては、先述のｋ近傍法及びサポートベクタマシン等の機械学習法に基づく推定方法が用いられる。 The estimation unit 817 estimates the presence/absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information stored in the supply determination information storage unit 816. To do. As the estimation method, the estimation method based on the machine learning method such as the k-nearest neighbor method and the support vector machine described above is used.
　例えば、推定部８１７での製氷用貯水槽２０への給水の有無の推定は、野菜室用扉６５等の他の貯蔵室用扉を開ける動作、例えば卵などの調理材料の取り出しや調理済みの料理を保存しているタッパーの取り出しなどと分類可能である。一般に、製氷用貯水槽２０は冷蔵室１の左右のどちらかの隅に設けられていることが多い。観音開き式の冷蔵室用扉６１の場合、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給は、製氷用貯水槽２０がある側の冷蔵室用扉６１を一回開け、製氷用貯水槽２０を取り出す。その後、水道の蛇口等から製氷用貯水槽２０に水を補給する。その後再度、製氷用貯水槽２０がある側の冷蔵室用扉６１を開ける。 For example, the estimation unit 817 estimates the presence/absence of water supply to the ice-making water storage tank 20 by performing an operation of opening another storage compartment door such as the vegetable compartment door 65, for example, when a cooking material such as an egg is taken out or cooked. It can be classified as taking out tappers that store dishes. In general, the ice-making water storage tank 20 is often provided in either the left or right corner of the refrigerating compartment 1. In the case of the double door type refrigerating room door 61, water is supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 by opening the refrigerating room door 61 on the side where the ice making water storage tank 20 is present once and taking out the ice making water storage tank 20. After that, water is replenished to the ice-making water storage tank 20 from a tap or the like. Then, the refrigerator compartment door 61 on the side where the ice making water storage tank 20 is located is opened again.
　製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給をするときの冷蔵室用扉６１の開く時間や回数を他の冷蔵室用扉７に関する開閉動作と比較すると、例えば、卵は取り出すために一回しか冷蔵室用扉７の開閉がない、タッパーを取り出すためには冷蔵室用扉７を左右両方開ける必要がある等、卵やタッパーを取り出す動作などとは違う扉開閉動作をする。 Comparing the opening time and the number of times of opening the refrigerating compartment door 61 when replenishing water to the ice making water storage tank 20 with the opening/closing operation of the other refrigerating compartment doors 7, for example, refrigerating the egg only once to extract it. There is no opening/closing of the door 7 for the room, it is necessary to open both the left and right doors 7 for the refrigerating room in order to take out the tapper, and the door opening/closing operation different from the operation for taking out the egg or the tapper is performed.
　判断部８１８は、推定部８１７による製氷用貯水槽２０への給水の有無の推定によって製氷用貯水槽２０が空か否かを判断する。判断部８１８内の給水回数計数部８１９は、給水指令部８１１が給水した回数を計数する。 The determination unit 818 determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty by estimating the presence or absence of water supply to the ice making water storage tank 20 by the estimation unit 817. The water supply frequency counting unit 819 in the determination unit 818 counts the number of times the water supply command unit 811 has supplied water.
　判断部８１８内の給水回数比較部８２０は給水回数計数部８１９が計数している給水回数が、所定回数以上であるかを比較する。ここで所定回数とは、例えば製氷用貯水槽２０が満水時に給水可能な回数のことである。すなわち、所定回数とは製氷用貯水槽２０の容量から求められる回数のことである。例えば、所定回数は、製氷用貯水槽２０の容量から製氷皿２４の容量を除して求めることが可能である。 The water supply frequency comparison unit 820 in the determination unit 818 compares whether the water supply frequency counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is a predetermined number or more. Here, the predetermined number of times is, for example, the number of times water can be supplied when the water tank 20 for ice making is full. That is, the predetermined number of times is the number of times obtained from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20. For example, the predetermined number of times can be determined by dividing the capacity of the ice tray 24 from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20.
　給水回数比較部８２０が、給水回数計数部８１９が計数している給水回数が所定回数に達したと判断した場合、製氷用貯水槽２０は空であるとみなすことができる。給水回数比較部８２０が、給水回数計数部８１９が計数している給水回数が所定回数に達していないと判断した場合、製氷用貯水槽２０にはまだ水が入っているとみなすことができる。 When the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of water supply times counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 has reached a predetermined number, the ice making water storage tank 20 can be considered to be empty. When the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of water supply times counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 has not reached the predetermined number, it can be considered that the ice-making water storage tank 20 still contains water.
　報知指令部８２１は、製氷制御部８０の処理状況を出力部１１３に出力させる。報知指令部８２１は第１空水報知指令部８２１１、学習時空水報知指令部８２１２を有する。第１空水報知指令部８２１１は、判断部８１８が、製氷用貯水槽２０が空であると判断した場合、製氷用貯水槽２０が空である旨を出力部１１３に出力させる。学習時空水報知指令部８２１２は、学習部８１５が補給判断情報を作成するときに、給水有無判断部８１２が製氷皿２４への給水が無かったと判断した場合、製氷用貯水槽２０が空である旨を出力部１１３に出力させる。 The notification instruction unit 821 causes the output unit 113 to output the processing status of the ice making control unit 80. The notification command unit 821 includes a first air-water notification command unit 8211 and a learning-time air-water notification command unit 8212. When the determination unit 818 determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty, the first air water notification command unit 8211 causes the output unit 113 to output that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. When the learning time space water notification command unit 8212 determines that the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 has not supplied water to the ice tray 24 when the learning unit 815 creates the replenishment determination information, the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. The output unit 113 is made to output the effect.
　次に、図５及び図６にて本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の動作、すなわち冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御方法について説明する。図５は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の学習時の動作を示すフローチャートである。学習時とは、例えば冷蔵庫を初めて動作させてから定められた期間まで、扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻に応じて製氷用貯水槽２０に給水が有ったか否かを学習させる期間のことである。学習の期間は任意でよい。自動的に学習の期間が開始または終了するようにしてもよいし、利用者の操作によって学習の期間を開始または終了できるようにしてもよい。 Next, an operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, that is, a method of controlling water supply to the ice tray of the refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation during learning of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. The learning time is, for example, a period in which it is learned whether or not water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 according to the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the door from the first operation of the refrigerator to a predetermined period. .. The learning period may be arbitrary. The learning period may be automatically started or ended, or the learning period may be started or ended by an operation of the user.
　まず、給水指令部８１１は給水モードになる。給水指令部８１１が給水ポンプ２２に製氷皿２４への給水を指令したとき、給水ポンプ２２は製氷皿２４に給水しようとする（Ｓ１０１）。その後、Ｓ１０２の処理に進む。なお、給水指令部８１１が給水ポンプ２２に製氷皿２４への給水を指令するタイミングは任意でよい。例えば、給水指令部８１１は、製氷ギアボックス２５が製氷皿２４への離氷動作を行った後に給水ポンプ２２に給水を指令するとしてよい。 First, the water supply command unit 811 enters the water supply mode. When the water supply command unit 811 commands the water supply pump 22 to supply water to the ice tray 24, the water supply pump 22 attempts to supply water to the ice tray 24 (S101). Then, the process proceeds to S102. The water supply command unit 811 may instruct the water supply pump 22 to supply water to the ice tray 24 at any timing. For example, the water supply command unit 811 may instruct the water supply pump 22 to supply water after the ice making gearbox 25 performs an ice removing operation on the ice tray 24.
　次に、給水有無判断部８１２は、製氷皿温度センサ２９の温度変化に基づき、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたかどうかを判断する（Ｓ１０２）。給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたと判断した場合（Ｓ１０２のＮ）、Ｓ１０１の処理へと戻る。給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されなかった（空給水であった）と判断した場合（Ｓ１０２のＹ）、Ｓ１０３の処理に進む。 Next, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines whether or not water has actually been supplied to the ice tray 24 based on the temperature change of the ice tray temperature sensor 29 (S102). When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has been actually supplied with water (N in S102), the process returns to S101. When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been actually supplied with water (empty water supply) (Y in S102), the process proceeds to S103.
　次に、第１空水報知指令部８２１１は、製氷用貯水槽２０が空水である旨出力部１１３に出力させる（Ｓ１０３）。その後、Ｓ１０４の処理に進む。 Next, the first air water notification command unit 8211 causes the output unit 113 to output that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty water (S103). Then, the process proceeds to S104.
　次に、給水指令部８１１は、給水指令部８１１は給水停止モードになる（Ｓ１０４）。その後、Ｓ１０５の処理に進む。 Next, the water supply command unit 811 sets the water supply command unit 811 to the water supply stop mode (S104). Then, the process proceeds to S105.
　次に、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０は、貯蔵室扉の開閉の検知の有無を監視する（Ｓ１０５）。貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が貯蔵室扉が開いたことを検知しなかった場合（Ｓ１０５のＮ）は、Ｓ１０５の処理を繰り返す。貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が貯蔵室扉が開いたことを検知した場合（Ｓ１０５のＹ）は、Ｓ１０６の処理に進む。 Next, the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door monitors whether or not the opening/closing of the storage room door is detected (S105). When the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door does not detect the opening of the storage room door (N in S105), the process of S105 is repeated. When the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door detects that the storage room door is opened (Y in S105), the process proceeds to S106.
　次に、給水指令部８１１が給水ポンプ２２に製氷皿２４への給水を指令する。その結果、給水ポンプ２２は製氷皿２４に給水しようとする（Ｓ１０６）。その後、Ｓ１０７の処理に進む。 Next, the water supply command unit 811 commands the water supply pump 22 to supply water to the ice tray 24. As a result, the water supply pump 22 tries to supply water to the ice tray 24 (S106). Then, the process proceeds to S107.
　次に、給水有無判断部８１２は、製氷皿温度センサ２９の温度変化に基づき、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたかどうかを判断する（Ｓ１０７）。 Next, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines whether or not water has actually been supplied to the ice tray 24 based on the temperature change of the ice tray temperature sensor 29 (S107).
　給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたと判断した場合（Ｓ１０７のＮ）、学習部８１５は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻を学習データとし、正解ラベルを給水有りデータとして、学習データと正解ラベルとを関連付けて記憶させる（Ｓ１０８）。その後、Ｓ１０１の処理へと戻る。 When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has actually been supplied with water (N in S107), the learning unit 815 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information and opening/closing of the door of each storage chamber. The learning data and the correct answer label are stored in association with each other by using the time as the learning data and the correct answer label as the data with water supply (S108). Then, the process returns to S101.
　給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されなかったと判断した場合（Ｓ１０７のＹ）、学習部８１５は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻を学習データとし、正解ラベルを給水無しデータとして、学習データと正解ラベルとを記憶させる（Ｓ１０９）。その後、Ｓ１０５の処理へと戻る。 When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 is not actually supplied with water (Y of S107), the learning unit 815 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information of the door of each storage chamber and The learning data and the correct answer label are stored with the opening/closing time as the learning data, and the correct answer label as the no water supply data (S109). Then, the process returns to S105.
　図５のフローチャートの処理を実行することにより、学習部８１５による学習期間が終了するまで、冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻に応じた給水の有無の学習データが蓄積される。例えば学習部８１５の教師あり学習方法がｋ近傍法である場合は、冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻に応じた給水の有無の学習データそのものを直接補給判断情報データとして用いることができる。例えば学習部８１５の教師あり学習方法がサポートベクタマシンである場合は、冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻に応じた給水の有無の学習データから、パターン識別器を構成し、そのパターン識別器を補給判断情報データとして用いることができる。学習部８１５によって構成されたパターン識別器は、補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶させる。 By executing the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 5, until the learning period by the learning unit 815 ends, the open/close information of the door for the cold storage room and the learning data on the presence/absence of water supply according to the open/close time are accumulated. For example, when the supervised learning method of the learning unit 815 is the k-nearest neighbor method, the opening/closing information of the refrigerating/storage room door and the learning data itself regarding the presence or absence of water supply according to the opening/closing time can be directly used as the replenishment determination information data. .. For example, when the supervised learning method of the learning unit 815 is a support vector machine, a pattern discriminator is configured based on the opening/closing information of the cold storage room door and the learning data on the presence/absence of water supply according to the opening/closing time, and the pattern identification is performed. The container can be used as replenishment determination information data. The pattern classifier configured by the learning unit 815 is stored in the supply determination information storage unit 816.
　図６は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の推定動作時の動作を示すフローチャートである。　まず給水回数計数部８１９は、計数している給水回数を初期化する（Ｓ２０１）。その後、Ｓ２０２の処理に進む。 FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of the estimation operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. First, the water supply frequency counting unit 819 initializes the counted water supply frequency (S201). Then, the process proceeds to S202.
　次に、給水回数計数部８１９は、給水指令部８１１によって給水が行われるまで待機する（Ｓ２０２のＮ）、給水指令部８１１によって給水が行われた場合（Ｓ２０２のＹ）、Ｓ２０３の処理に進む。 Next, the water supply frequency counting unit 819 waits until water supply is performed by the water supply command unit 811 (N in S202). When water supply is performed by the water supply command unit 811 (Y in S202), the process proceeds to S203. ..
　次に、給水回数計数部８１９は、計数している給水回数をカウントアップする（Ｓ２０３）。その後、Ｓ２０４の処理に進む。 Next, the water supply frequency counting unit 819 counts up the counted water supply frequency (S203). Then, the process proceeds to S204.
　次に、推定部８１７は、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶されている扉開閉履歴と、補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶されている補給判断情報によって、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうか推定する（Ｓ２０４）。推定部８１７が製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたと判断した場合（Ｓ２０４のＹ）、Ｓ２０１の処理に戻って、給水回数計数部８１９が計数している製氷回数を初期化する。推定部８１７が製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われていないと判断した場合（Ｓ２０４のＮ）、Ｓ２０５の処理に進む。 Next, the estimation unit 817 supplies the water to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information stored in the supply determination information storage unit 816. It is estimated whether or not has been performed (S204). When the estimation unit 817 determines that the water has been supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 (Y in S204), the process returns to S201, and the number of times of ice-making counted by the water supply number counting unit 819 is initialized. .. When the estimation unit 817 determines that the water has not been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 (N in S204), the process proceeds to S205.
　次に、給水回数比較部８２０が、給水回数計数部８１９で計数している水の給水回数が所定の回数以上であるか否かを比較する（Ｓ２０５）。給水回数比較部８２０が、給水回数計数部８１９で計数している水の給水回数が製氷用貯水槽２０の容量から求められる所定回数以上であると判断した場合（Ｓ２０５のＹ）、判断部８１８は製氷用貯水槽２０が空水であると判断したとしてＳ２０６の処理に進む。そして、第１空水報知指令部８２１１は、製氷用貯水槽２０が空水である旨出力部に出力させる（Ｓ２０６）。 Next, the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 compares whether or not the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is a predetermined number or more (S205). If the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number obtained from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20 (Y in S205), the determination unit 818. Determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty, and proceeds to the processing of S206. Then, the first air water notification command unit 8211 causes the output unit to output that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty water (S206).
　一方、給水回数比較部８２０が、給水回数計数部８１９で計数している水の給水回数が製氷用貯水槽２０の容量から求められる所定回数以上でないと判断した場合（Ｓ２０５のＹ）、Ｓ２０２の処理に戻り、給水回数計数部８１９は、給水指令部８１１によって給水の指令が行われるまで待機する。 On the other hand, when the water supply frequency comparison unit 820 determines that the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 is not equal to or more than the predetermined number of times calculated from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank 20 (Y of S205), S202: Returning to the processing, the water supply frequency counting unit 819 waits until the water supply command unit 811 issues a water supply command.
　Ｓ２０６にて製氷用貯水槽２０が空であることが報知された後は、Ｓ２０４の処理と同様、推定部８１７が、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶されている扉開閉履歴と、補給判断情報記憶部に記憶されている補給判断情報によって、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうか推定することで、自動的にＳ２０１の処理に戻ってもよい。また、実際に製氷用貯水槽２０に水の補給を行ってから、操作ボタン１１２からの操作によって手動で製氷計数の初期化を行ってから、Ｓ２０２の処理に戻ってもよい。 After it is notified in S206 that the ice-making water storage tank 20 is empty, the estimation unit 817 causes the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information as in the case of S204. It may be possible to automatically return to the process of S201 by estimating whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 based on the supply determination information stored in the storage unit. Alternatively, after the water is actually supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, the ice making count may be manually initialized by operating the operation button 112, and then the process may return to S202.
　次に、本実施の形態における発明の効果について説明する。 Next, the effect of the invention in this embodiment will be described.
　先行文献１における冷蔵庫では、冷蔵室の扉が開かれると給水ポンプは給水動作を行う。すなわち、先行文献１における冷蔵庫は、単に冷蔵室の扉が開かれただけで給水タンクに水が補給されたものとみなしている。その結果、たとえ給水タンクに水が補給されなかった場合においても、給水ポンプによる無駄な給水動作が行われる。 In the refrigerator described in Reference 1, the water supply pump performs water supply operation when the refrigerator compartment door is opened. That is, the refrigerator in the prior art document 1 considers that the water supply tank is replenished with water simply by opening the door of the refrigerating compartment. As a result, even if the water supply tank is not replenished with water, useless water supply operation by the water supply pump is performed.
　一方、本発明における冷蔵庫１００は、推定部８１７が、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶されている扉開閉履歴と、補給判断情報記憶部に記憶されている補給判断情報によって、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうか推定する。推定部８１７の推定結果によって、判断部８１８が製氷用貯水槽２０が空か否かを判断する。したがって、冷蔵室用扉６１が開かれ、かつ製氷用貯水槽２０に水が補給されなかったときに、給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水が行われにくい。すなわち、無駄な給水が行われることによるエネルギーの浪費を軽減することができるという効果を奏する。 On the other hand, in the refrigerator 100 according to the present invention, the estimation unit 817 uses the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit to make the ice-making water storage tank 20. Estimate if water has been replenished to the. Based on the estimation result of the estimation unit 817, the determination unit 818 determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. Therefore, when the cold room door 61 is opened and the ice making water storage tank 20 is not replenished with water, it is difficult for the water supply pump 22 to wastefully supply water to the ice tray 24. That is, it is possible to reduce the waste of energy due to wasteful water supply.
　また、本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１００は、製氷用貯水槽２０が空であるということを専用のセンサを用いて直接検知するということを行っていない。製氷皿温度センサ２９も貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０も通常の冷蔵庫に搭載されている一般的な部品である。制御盤１４に搭載されている製氷制御部８０の処理は、後述のとおり例えばメモリとＣＰＵが搭載されたハードウエア上に搭載されたソフトウエアで実現することが可能である。すなわち、本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１００は、上記のような専用のセンサを用いた冷蔵庫よりも小さいコストで実現できるというさらなる効果を奏する。 Moreover, the refrigerator 100 in the present embodiment does not directly detect that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty by using a dedicated sensor. Both the ice tray temperature sensor 29 and the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage compartment door are general components mounted in a normal refrigerator. The processing of the ice making control unit 80 mounted on the control panel 14 can be realized by software mounted on the hardware on which the memory and the CPU are mounted, as will be described later. That is, the refrigerator 100 in the present embodiment has a further effect that it can be realized at a lower cost than the refrigerator using the dedicated sensor as described above.
　なお、本実施の形態における製氷制御部８０は、学習部８１５は必ずしも必要ない。図７は、本実施の形態に係る他の形態の冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。図７の製氷制御部８０１は、製氷制御部８０に対して、学習部８１５を有しない。その場合、補給判断情報記憶部８１６には、あらかじめ補給判断情報を記憶させておけばよい。上記補給判断情報は、過去に何らかの方法（例えば机上の計算）で構築した平均的な利用者が製氷用貯水槽２０に給水するときの典型的な補給判断情報であってもよい。その場合においても、無駄な給水が行われることによるエネルギーの浪費を軽減することができるという上記と同様の効果を奏する。 Note that the learning unit 815 is not always necessary for the ice making control unit 80 in the present embodiment. FIG. 7: is a functional block diagram of the ice making control part of the refrigerator of the other form which concerns on this Embodiment. The ice making control unit 801 of FIG. 7 does not have a learning unit 815, unlike the ice making control unit 80. In that case, the supply determination information storage unit 816 may store the supply determination information in advance. The above replenishment determination information may be typical replenishment determination information when an average user who has constructed in the past by some method (for example, desk calculation) supplies water to the ice making water storage tank 20. Even in that case, it is possible to reduce the waste of energy due to wasteful water supply, which is similar to the above effect.
　しかしながら、図４に示すように製氷制御部８０に学習部８１５を備えることにより、冷蔵庫１００は、利用者個人の冷蔵庫１００の使用状況（例えば製氷用貯水槽２０に給水するときの貯蔵室用扉を開けるときの個人的なクセ）等を学習することができる。すなわち、学習部８１５は冷蔵庫１００を実際に使用する利用者個人に適した補給判断情報を構築することができる。その結果、推定部８１７は製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうか利用者個人に応じてより精度よく推定することができるので、より精度高く給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水を防止することができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 However, by providing the learning unit 815 in the ice making control unit 80 as shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator 100 allows the refrigerator 100 to be used by a user individually (for example, a storage room door when supplying water to the ice making water storage tank 20). You can learn personal habits when opening the. That is, the learning unit 815 can build the supply determination information suitable for each user who actually uses the refrigerator 100. As a result, the estimation unit 817 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 according to the individual user, and thus the water supply pump 22 can supply the ice tray 24 to the ice-making tray 24 with higher accuracy. This has the further effect of preventing wasteful water supply.
　また、本実施の形態における製氷制御部８０は、報知指令部８２１が無くても、無駄な給水が行われることによるエネルギーの浪費を軽減することができるという上記効果は得られる。しかしながら報知指令部８２１を備えることによって、冷蔵庫１００の利用者が製氷用貯水槽２０が空である旨を知ることができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 Also, the above-described effect that the ice making control unit 80 in the present embodiment can reduce energy waste caused by wasteful water supply without the notification command unit 821 is obtained. However, by providing the notification command unit 821, the user of the refrigerator 100 has the further effect of being able to know that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty.
　また、報知指令部８２１は第２空水報知指令部８２１３を備えてもよい。図８は、本実施の形態に係る他の形態の報知部の機能構成図である。 The notification command unit 821 may include a second air-water notification command unit 8213. FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram of a notification unit of another form according to the present embodiment.
　本実施の形態における製氷制御部８０は、推定部８１７と判断部８１８によって、製氷用貯水槽２０が空であるか否かを判断している。その結果、推定部８１７の推定結果によっては、製氷用貯水槽２０が実際には空であるにも関わらず、判断部８１８が製氷用貯水槽２０が空でないと間違った判断をすることが起こりえる。その結果、給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水が行われてしまうことになる。このように無駄な給水が行われてしまった場合、第２空水報知指令部８２１３が、製氷用貯水槽２０が空である旨を出力部１１３に報知させるようにしてもよい。すなわち、判断部８１８が製氷用貯水槽２０が空でないと判断し、かつ、給水有無判断部８１２が製氷皿２４への給水が無いと判断した場合に、第２空水報知指令部８２１３は、製氷用貯水槽２０に水が無いことを出力部１１３に報知させるようにしてもよい。その結果、冷蔵庫１００の利用者が製氷用貯水槽２０が空である旨をより正確に知ることができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 The ice making control unit 80 in the present embodiment determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty by the estimating unit 817 and the determining unit 818. As a result, depending on the estimation result of the estimation unit 817, the determination unit 818 may erroneously determine that the ice making water storage tank 20 is not empty, although the ice making water storage tank 20 is actually empty. Get As a result, useless water is supplied to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22. When useless water supply is performed in this way, the second air-water notification command unit 8213 may cause the output unit 113 to notify that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. That is, when the determination unit 818 determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is not empty and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines that there is no water supply to the ice tray 24, the second air water notification command unit 8213 You may make it notify the output part 113 that there is no water in the water tank 20 for ice making. As a result, the effect that the user of the refrigerator 100 can know more accurately that the ice-making water storage tank 20 is empty is exerted.
　また、上記のように無駄な給水が行われてしまった後に、実際に利用者が製氷用貯水槽２０に給水を行ったときの貯蔵庫用扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻を学習部８１５に学習させ、補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶している補給判断情報を更新するようにしてもよい。すなわち、判断部８１８が製氷用貯水槽２０が空でないと判断し、かつ、給水有無判断部８１２が製氷皿２４への給水が無いと判断した場合に、学習部８１５は、冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の扉開閉履歴及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果に基づき補給判断情報を作成し、補給判断情報を補給判断情報記憶部８１６に記憶させるようにしてもよい。その結果、推定部８１７は製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうかより精度よく推定することができるので、より精度高く給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水を防止することができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 Further, after the wasteful water supply is performed as described above, the learning unit 815 is made to learn the opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the storage door when the user actually supplies water to the ice making water storage tank 20. The replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 816 may be updated. That is, when the determination unit 818 determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is not empty and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines that there is no water supply to the ice tray 24, the learning unit 815 determines that the cold storage door Even if the replenishment determination information is created and stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 816, the replenishment determination information is created based on the door opening/closing history and the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24. Good. As a result, the estimation unit 817 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, and thus the waste water supply to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22 can be prevented with higher accuracy. There is an additional effect of being able to.
　また、図８に示すとおり、報知指令部８２１は給水回数報知指令部８２１４を備えてもよい。給水回数報知指令部８２１４は、給水回数計数部８１９が計数している給水回数に基づく情報を出力部に報知させるようにすればよい。例えば、給水回数計数部８１９が計数している給水回数から、製氷皿２４の残りの製氷可能回数を計算することが出来る。給水回数報知指令部８２１４はその製氷可能回数を出力部に報知させるようにすればよい。その結果、製氷用貯水槽２０が空になることを事前に防止することが出来るというさらなる効果を奏する。 Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the notification command unit 821 may include a water supply frequency notification command unit 8214. The water supply frequency notification command unit 8214 may cause the output unit to notify the information based on the water supply frequency counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819. For example, the remaining number of times ice can be made in the ice tray 24 can be calculated from the number of times of water supply counted by the water supply frequency counting unit 819. The water supply frequency notification command unit 8214 may notify the output unit of the number of times ice can be made. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ice-making water storage tank 20 from becoming empty.
　また、判断部８１８は給水回数計数部８１９と給水回数比較部８２０を備え、推定部８１７による製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の推定と、給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への給水の回数によって、製氷用貯水槽２０が空であるかどうかを判断している。しかしながら、給水回数計数部８１９と給水回数比較部８２０による判断である必要はない。 The determination unit 818 includes a water supply frequency counting unit 819 and a water supply frequency comparison unit 820. The estimation unit 817 estimates the water supply to the ice making water storage tank 20 and the water supply pump 22 supplies the ice tray 24 with water. It is determined whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty. However, the judgment by the water supply frequency counting unit 819 and the water supply frequency comparing unit 820 need not be made.
　例えば、給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水が行われてしまった場合を考える。その場合、推定部８１７によって製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が有ったと推定されるまで判断部８１８は製氷用貯水槽２０が空であると判断する。その後、推定部８１７によって製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が有ったと推定されたときに、判断部８１８は製氷用貯水槽２０は空で無いと判断するようにすればよい。その場合においても、給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水は減るという効果を奏する。 Consider, for example, a case where water is not supplied to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22. In this case, the determination unit 818 determines that the ice making water storage tank 20 is empty until the estimation unit 817 estimates that water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20. After that, when it is estimated by the estimation unit 817 that water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, the determination unit 818 may determine that the ice making water storage tank 20 is not empty. Even in that case, it is possible to reduce unnecessary water supply to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22.
　本実施の形態における符号８１１～８２１に示す各部は、冷蔵庫の製氷制御部８０及び製氷制御部８０１が有する機能を示す。図９は、本実施の形態に係る製氷制御部のハードウェア構成図である。製氷制御部８０及び製氷制御部８０１は、ハードウェア資源として、例えばプロセッサ１００１とメモリ１００２とを含む処理回路を備える。扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４、補給判断情報記憶部８１６が有する機能はメモリ１００２によって実現される。製氷制御部８０及び製氷制御部８０１は、メモリ１００２に記憶された冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御をプロセッサ１００１によって実行することにより、給水指令部８１１、給水有無判断部８１２、扉開閉履歴入力部８１３、学習部８１５、推定部８１７、判断部８１８及び報知指令部８２１に示す機能を実現する。もしくは、外部記憶媒体に記憶されたプログラムをコンピュータに搭載されたメモリ１００２にインストールし、そのプログラムをプロセッサ１００１で実行することによって、上記メモリ１００２及びプロセッサ１００１で上記機能を実現する。 Each unit indicated by reference numerals 811 to 821 in the present embodiment indicates the functions of the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 of the refrigerator. FIG. 9 is a hardware configuration diagram of the ice making control unit according to the present embodiment. The ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 include, as hardware resources, a processing circuit including, for example, a processor 1001 and a memory 1002. The functions of the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information storage unit 816 are realized by the memory 1002. The ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 execute the water supply control to the ice making tray of the refrigerator stored in the memory 1002 by the processor 1001, and thereby the water supply command unit 811, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, the door opening/closing history input unit. 813, the learning unit 815, the estimation unit 817, the determination unit 818, and the notification command unit 821 are realized. Alternatively, the program stored in the external storage medium is installed in the memory 1002 installed in the computer, and the program is executed by the processor 1001, so that the functions are realized by the memory 1002 and the processor 1001.
　プロセッサ１００１は、ＣＰＵ（Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ　Ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇ　Ｕｎｉｔ）、中央処理装置、処理装置、演算装置、マイクロプロセッサ、マイクロコンピュータ或いはＤＳＰともいわれる。メモリ１００２として、半導体メモリ、磁気ディスク、フレキシブルディスク、光ディスク、コンパクトディスク、ミニディスク或いはＤＶＤを採用してもよい。採用可能な半導体メモリには、ＲＡＭ、ＲＯＭ、フラッシュメモリ、ＥＰＲＯＭ及びＥＥＰＲＯＭ等が含まれる。 The processor 1001 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. A semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be adopted as the memory 1002. The semiconductor memory that can be adopted includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM and the like.
　製氷制御部８０及び製氷制御部８０１が有する各機能の一部又は全部をハードウエアによって実現してもよい。製氷制御部８０及び製氷制御部８０１の機能を実現するハードウエアとして、単一回路、復号回路、プログラム化したプロセッサ、並列プログラム化したプロセッサ、ＡＳＩＣ、ＦＰＧＡ、又はこれらの組み合わせを採用してもよい。 A part or all of each function of the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801 may be realized by hardware. As hardware for realizing the functions of the ice making control unit 80 and the ice making control unit 801, a single circuit, a decoding circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof may be adopted. ..
実施の形態２
　以下、本実施の形態の構成を図１０～図１３を用いて説明する。図１０は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の正面図及びＣ－Ｃ断面図である。図１０（ａ）は冷蔵庫１０１の正面図である。図１０（ｂ）は冷蔵庫１０１の図１０（ａ）に係るＣ－Ｃ断面図である。図１０（ｂ）に示すとおり、冷蔵庫１０１は実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００に対して、制御盤１４の代わりに制御盤１４２を有する点で相違する。それ以外の点については、実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００と同じにつき、詳細な説明は省略する。 Embodiment 2
The configuration of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a front view and a CC sectional view of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10A is a front view of the refrigerator 101. FIG. 10B is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 10A of the refrigerator 101. As shown in FIG. 10B, the refrigerator 101 is different from the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment in that a control panel 142 is provided instead of the control panel 14. Since the other points are the same as those of the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
　図１１は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の制御盤の機能構成図である。図１１に示すとおり、制御盤１４２は実施の形態１の制御盤１４に対して、製氷制御部８０の代わりに製氷制御部８０２を有する点で相違する。それ以外の点については、実施の形態１の制御盤１４と同じにつき、詳細な説明は省略する。 FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the control panel 142 differs from the control panel 14 of the first embodiment in that an ice making control unit 802 is provided instead of the ice making control unit 80. Since the other points are the same as those of the control panel 14 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
　図１２は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。図１２に示すとおり、製氷制御部８０２は、実施の形態１における製氷制御部８０に対して、貯蔵室温度履歴入力部８２３及び貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部８２４を更に備えている。また、実施の形態１における製氷制御部８０に対して、学習部８１５の代わりに学習部８２５を備え、補給判断情報記憶部８１６の代わりに補給判断情報記憶部８２６を備え、推定部８１７の代わりに推定部８２７を備えている点で相違する。それ以外の点については、実施の形態１の製氷制御部８０と同じにつき、詳細な説明は省略する。 FIG. 12 is a functional configuration diagram of the ice making control unit of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the ice making control unit 802 further includes a storage room temperature history input unit 823 and a storage room temperature history storage unit 824 in addition to the ice making control unit 80 according to the first embodiment. Further, with respect to the ice making control unit 80 in the first embodiment, a learning unit 825 is provided instead of the learning unit 815, a supply determination information storage unit 826 is provided instead of the supply determination information storage unit 816, and an estimation unit 817 is provided. The difference is that the estimation unit 827 is provided in the above. Since the other points are the same as those of the ice making control unit 80 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
　貯蔵室温度履歴入力部８２３は、貯蔵室温度センサ５０が検知した各貯蔵室の温度履歴を貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部８２４に記憶させる。温度履歴とは、例えば各貯蔵庫内の温度及びその温度を示した時刻のことである。 The storage room temperature history input unit 823 stores the temperature history of each storage room detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50 in the storage room temperature history storage unit 824. The temperature history is, for example, the temperature in each storage and the time at which the temperature is shown.
　学習部８２５は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報及び開閉時刻、及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果に加えて、貯蔵室温度センサ５０が検知した冷蔵貯蔵室内の温度から作成される温度情報によって、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無を判断する補給判断情報を作成して、補給判断情報記憶部８２６に記憶させる。ここで温度情報とは、給水有無判断部８１２が製氷皿２４への給水が有ったと判断したとき、若しくは給水有無判断部８１２が製氷皿２４への給水が無かったと判断したときの温度変化のことを示す。具体的には、例えば冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉前後の温度変化のことを示す。温度変化を示すデータとしては、例えば温度とその温度を示した時刻でもよいし、冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉前後の温度の差でもよい。 In addition to the open/close information of the cold storage room door detected by the storage room door open/close sensor 90 and the open/close time, and the determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination section 812, the learning unit 825 adds Based on the temperature information created from the temperature inside the refrigerated storage room detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50, the supply judgment information for deciding whether or not the ice making water storage tank 20 is supplied with water is created, and the supply judgment information storage unit is provided. 826. Here, the temperature information means the temperature change when the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has been supplied with water, or when the water supply presence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been supplied with water. Indicates that. Specifically, for example, it indicates a temperature change before and after opening and closing the door for the cold storage room. The data indicating the temperature change may be, for example, the temperature and the time at which the temperature is indicated, or the difference between the temperatures before and after the opening of the cold storage door.
　推定部８２７は、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶されている扉の開閉履歴、及び補給判断情報記憶部８２６に記憶されている補給判断情報に加えて、貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部８２４に記憶されている各貯蔵室の温度履歴によって製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無を推定する。推定方法としては実施の形態１と同様、ｋ近傍法及びサポートベクタマシン等の機械学習法に基づく推定方法が用いられる。 The estimation unit 827 stores the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 826 in addition to being stored in the storage room temperature history storage unit 824. Whether or not water is being supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20 is estimated based on the temperature history of each storage room. As the estimation method, an estimation method based on a machine learning method such as a k-nearest neighbor method and a support vector machine is used as in the first embodiment.
　次に、図１３にて本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の動作、すなわち冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御方法について説明する。図１３は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の学習時の動作を示すフローチャートである。図１３のフローチャートは、実施の形態１の図５のフローチャートとほぼ同等である。図１３のフローチャートと実施の形態１の図５のフローチャートと符号が同一の処理については、同じ処理であるので、説明を省略する。図１３のフローチャートと実施の形態１の図５のフローチャートの相違点についてのみ説明する。 Next, an operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, that is, a method of controlling water supply to the ice tray of the refrigerator will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment during learning. The flowchart of FIG. 13 is almost the same as the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. The processes having the same reference numerals as those in the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment are the same processes, and thus description thereof will be omitted. Only the differences between the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment will be described.
　給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたと判断した場合（Ｓ１０７のＮ）、学習部８２５は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び貯蔵室温度センサ５０が検知した各貯槽室の温度から作成される温度情報を学習データとし、正解ラベルを給水有りデータとして、学習データと正解ラベルとを関連付けて記憶させる（Ｓ１１８）。その後、Ｓ１０１の処理へと戻る。 When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 is actually supplied with water (N in S107), the learning unit 825 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information of the door of each storage chamber, the opening/closing information. The temperature information created from the time and the temperature of each storage chamber detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50 is used as learning data, and the correct answer label is stored as water-supplied data, and the learned data and correct answer label are stored in association with each other (S118). Then, the process returns to S101.
　給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されなかったと判断した場合（Ｓ１０７のＹ）、学習部８２５は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び貯蔵室温度センサ５０が検知した各貯槽室の温度から作成される温度情報を学習データとし、正解ラベルを給水無しデータとして、学習データと正解ラベルとを関連付けて記憶させる（Ｓ１１９）。その後、Ｓ１０５の処理へと戻る。 When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has not been actually supplied with water (Y in S107), the learning unit 825 causes the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90 to detect the opening/closing information of the doors of the storage chambers. The temperature information created from the opening/closing time and the temperature of each storage chamber detected by the storage room temperature sensor 50 is used as learning data, and the correct answer label is stored as no water supply data, and the learned data and the correct answer label are stored in association with each other (S119). Then, the process returns to S105.
　次に、本実施の形態における発明の効果について説明する。 Next, the effect of the invention in this embodiment will be described.
　本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１０１においても、実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００と同様の効果を奏する。それに加え、本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１０１では、扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４に記憶されている扉の開閉履歴、及び補給判断情報記憶部８２６に記憶されている補給判断情報に加えて、貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部８２４に記憶されている各貯蔵室の温度履歴によって製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無を推定している。すなわち、推定部８２７は、貯蔵室内に製氷用貯水槽２０が挿入されてからの貯蔵室内の温度変化を、製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給の有無の推定に用いることができる。その結果、推定部８２７は製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうかより精度よく推定することができるので、実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００よりも精度高く給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水を防止することができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 The refrigerator 101 according to the present embodiment also has the same effect as the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment. In addition, in the refrigerator 101 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit 826, the storage room temperature Whether or not water is replenished to the ice making water storage tank 20 is estimated based on the temperature history of each storage room stored in the history storage unit 824. That is, the estimation unit 827 can use the temperature change in the storage chamber after the water tank 20 for ice making is inserted into the storage chamber to estimate whether or not water is supplied to the water tank 20 for ice making. As a result, the estimation unit 827 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice making water storage tank 20, and thus the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22 can be made with higher accuracy than the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment. This has the further effect of preventing wasteful water supply to the.
　なお、本実施の形態における製氷制御部８０２は、実施の形態１の学習部８１５と同様、学習部８２５は必ずしも必要ない。その場合、補給判断情報記憶部８２６には、あらかじめ補給判断情報を記憶させておけばよい。上記補給判断情報は、過去に何らかの方法（例えば机上の計算）で構築した平均的な利用者が製氷用貯水槽２０に給水するときの典型的な補給判断情報であってもよい。その場合においても、無駄な給水が行われることによるエネルギーの浪費を軽減することができるという上記と同様の効果を奏する。 Note that the ice making control unit 802 in the present embodiment does not necessarily need the learning unit 825, like the learning unit 815 in the first embodiment. In that case, the supply determination information storage unit 826 may store the supply determination information in advance. The above replenishment determination information may be typical replenishment determination information when an average user who has constructed in the past by some method (for example, desk calculation) supplies water to the ice making water storage tank 20. Even in that case, it is possible to reduce the waste of energy due to wasteful water supply, which is similar to the above effect.
　しかしながら、図１１に示すように製氷制御部８０２に学習部８２５を備えることにより、冷蔵庫１００は、利用者個人の冷蔵庫１０１の使用状況（例えば製氷用貯水槽２０に給水するときの貯蔵室用扉を開けるときの個人的なクセ）等を学習することができる。すなわち、学習部８２５は冷蔵庫１０１を実際に使用する利用者個人に適した補給判断情報を構築することができる。その結果、推定部８２７は製氷用貯水槽２０への水の補給が行われたかどうか利用者個人に応じてより精度よく推定することができるので、実施の形態１と同様、より精度高く給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水を防止することができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 However, by providing the learning unit 825 in the ice making control unit 802 as shown in FIG. 11, the refrigerator 100 allows the user to use the refrigerator 101 (for example, the storage room door when supplying water to the ice making water storage tank 20). You can learn personal habits when opening the. That is, the learning unit 825 can construct the supply determination information suitable for each user who actually uses the refrigerator 101. As a result, the estimation unit 827 can more accurately estimate whether or not the water has been supplied to the ice-making water storage tank 20 according to the individual user. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the water supply pump with higher accuracy. It is possible to prevent wasteful water supply to the ice tray 24 by 22.
　本実施の形態における符号８１１～８１４、８１８～８２１、及び８２３～８２７に示す各部も実施の形態１の製氷制御部８０と同様に、冷蔵庫の製氷制御部８０２が有する機能を示す。製氷制御部８０２は、ハードウェア資源として、図９に示すとおり、例えばプロセッサ１００１とメモリ１００２とを含む処理回路を備える。扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４、貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部８２４、補給判断情報記憶部８２６が有する機能はメモリ１００２によって実現される。製氷制御部８０２は、メモリ１００２に記憶された冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御をプロセッサ１００１によって実行することにより、給水指令部８１１、給水有無判断部８１２、扉開閉履歴入力部８１３、貯蔵室温度履歴入力部８２３、学習部８２５、推定部８２７、判断部８１８及び報知指令部８２１に示す機能を実現する。もしくは、外部記憶媒体に記憶されたプログラムをコンピュータに搭載されたメモリ１００２にインストールし、そのプログラムをプロセッサ１００１で実行することによって、上記メモリ１００２及びプロセッサ１００１で上記機能を実現する。 Like the ice making control unit 80 of the first embodiment, the respective units denoted by reference numerals 811-814, 818-821, and 823-827 in the present embodiment also indicate the functions of the ice making control unit 802 of the refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 9, the ice making control unit 802 includes, as a hardware resource, a processing circuit including a processor 1001 and a memory 1002, for example. The functions of the door opening/closing history storage unit 814, the storage room temperature history storage unit 824, and the replenishment determination information storage unit 826 are realized by the memory 1002. The ice making control unit 802 executes the water supply control to the ice making tray of the refrigerator stored in the memory 1002 by the processor 1001, so that the water supply command unit 811, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, the door opening/closing history input unit 813, the storage room temperature. The functions shown in the history input unit 823, the learning unit 825, the estimation unit 827, the determination unit 818, and the notification instruction unit 821 are realized. Alternatively, the program stored in the external storage medium is installed in the memory 1002 installed in the computer, and the program is executed by the processor 1001, so that the functions are realized by the memory 1002 and the processor 1001.
　プロセッサ１００１は、ＣＰＵ（Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ　Ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇ　Ｕｎｉｔ）、中央処理装置、処理装置、演算装置、マイクロプロセッサ、マイクロコンピュータ或いはＤＳＰともいわれる。メモリ１００２として、半導体メモリ、磁気ディスク、フレキシブルディスク、光ディスク、コンパクトディスク、ミニディスク或いはＤＶＤを採用してもよい。採用可能な半導体メモリには、ＲＡＭ、ＲＯＭ、フラッシュメモリ、ＥＰＲＯＭ及びＥＥＰＲＯＭ等が含まれる。 The processor 1001 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. A semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be adopted as the memory 1002. The semiconductor memory that can be adopted includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM and the like.
　製氷制御部８０２が有する各機能の一部又は全部をハードウエアによって実現してもよい。製氷制御部８０２の機能を実現するハードウエアとして、単一回路、復号回路、プログラム化したプロセッサ、並列プログラム化したプロセッサ、ＡＳＩＣ、ＦＰＧＡ、又はこれらの組み合わせを採用してもよい。 A part or all of each function of the ice making control unit 802 may be realized by hardware. As hardware that realizes the function of the ice making control unit 802, a single circuit, a decoding circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof may be adopted.
実施の形態３
　本実施の形態では、複数の冷蔵庫をネットワークを介してサーバと接続する冷蔵庫管理システムについて説明する。以下、本実施の形態の構成を図１４～図１９を用いて説明する。図１４は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫管理システムに用いられている冷蔵庫の正面図及びＤ－Ｄ断面図である。図１４（ａ）は冷蔵庫１０２の正面図である。図１４（ｂ）は冷蔵庫１０２の図１４（ａ）に係るＤ－Ｄ断面図である。図１４（ｂ）に示すとおり、冷蔵庫１０２は実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００に対して、制御盤１４の代わりに制御盤１４３を有する点で相違する。それ以外の点については、実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００と同じにつき、詳細な説明は省略する。 Embodiment 3
In this embodiment, a refrigerator management system in which a plurality of refrigerators are connected to a server via a network will be described. The configuration of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 14 to 19. FIG. 14 is a front view and a DD cross-sectional view of a refrigerator used in the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 14A is a front view of the refrigerator 102. 14B is a DD sectional view of the refrigerator 102 according to FIG. 14A. As shown in FIG. 14B, the refrigerator 102 is different from the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment in that a control panel 143 is provided instead of the control panel 14. Since the other points are the same as those of the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
　図１５は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫管理システムの概略構成図である。冷蔵庫管理システム４００は、複数の冷蔵庫１０２、ネットワーク回線２００及び冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００を有している。冷蔵庫１０２は、例えば各家庭の家屋等に設置されている。冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００は、例えば冷蔵庫管理センター等に設置されている。冷蔵庫１０２はネットワーク回線２００を介して冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００に接続されている。ネットワーク回線２００は、無線有線どちらでもよい。例えば公衆回線でもプライベートなＬＡＮ回線でもなんでもよい。冷蔵庫管理サーバ―３００は、各家屋に設置されている各冷蔵庫１０２内の情報（例えば、各貯蔵室の温度設定情報、扉の開閉履歴等）を収集し、その情報を演算等の処理をし、処理済みの情報を各冷蔵庫１０２に送信することができる。 FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram of the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment. The refrigerator management system 400 has a plurality of refrigerators 102, a network line 200, and a refrigerator management server 300. The refrigerator 102 is installed, for example, in a house of each home. The refrigerator management server 300 is installed, for example, in a refrigerator management center or the like. The refrigerator 102 is connected to the refrigerator management server 300 via the network line 200. The network line 200 may be either wired or wireless. For example, a public line or a private LAN line may be used. The refrigerator management server 300 collects information (for example, temperature setting information of each storage room, door opening/closing history, etc.) in each refrigerator 102 installed in each house, and processes the information such as calculation. The processed information can be transmitted to each refrigerator 102.
　図１６は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の制御盤の機能構成図である。図１６に示すとおり、制御盤１４３は実施の形態１の制御盤１４に対して、通信制御部２０１を更に備え、製氷制御部８０の代わりに製氷制御部８０３を有する点で相違する。それ以外の点については、実施の形態１の制御盤１４と同じにつき、詳細な説明は省略する。 FIG. 16 is a functional configuration diagram of the control panel of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the control panel 143 differs from the control panel 14 of the first embodiment in that it further includes a communication control unit 201 and has an ice making control unit 803 instead of the ice making control unit 80. Since the other points are the same as those of the control panel 14 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
　通信制御部２０１は製氷制御部８０３と冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００との間でネットワーク回線２００を介してデータの送受信を行う。 The communication control unit 201 transmits/receives data between the ice making control unit 803 and the refrigerator management server 300 via the network line 200.
　図１７は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫管理サーバの機能構成図である。図１７に示すとおり、冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００は、通信制御部３０１、学習部３３５、補給判断情報記憶部３３６を有する。 FIG. 17 is a functional configuration diagram of the refrigerator management server according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the refrigerator management server 300 includes a communication control unit 301, a learning unit 335, and a supply determination information storage unit 336.
　通信制御部３０１はネットワーク回線２００に接続されている各冷蔵庫１０２が送信した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果を受信し、学習部３３５に送信する。学習部３３５は、実施の形態１の学習部８１５と同様に、通信制御部２０１が受信した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果によって、補給判断情報を作成して、補給判断情報記憶部３３６に記憶させる。そして、通信制御部３０１は補給判断情報記憶部３３６に記憶されている判断情報を各冷蔵庫１０２に送信する。 The communication control unit 301 receives the open/close information of the door of each storage room, the open/close time and the determination result of the water supply to the ice tray 24, which is transmitted from each refrigerator 102 connected to the network line 200, and the learning unit 335 receives the information. Send. Similar to the learning unit 815 of the first embodiment, the learning unit 335 supplies the information according to the opening/closing information of the door of each storage chamber received by the communication control unit 201, the opening/closing time, and the determination result of the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray 24. The determination information is created and stored in the supply determination information storage unit 336. Then, the communication control unit 301 transmits the determination information stored in the supply determination information storage unit 336 to each refrigerator 102.
　図１８は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫の製氷制御部の機能構成図である。図１８に示すとおり、製氷制御部８０３は、実施の形態１における製氷制御部８０に対して、学習部８１５を備えていない。また、実施の形態１における製氷制御部８０に対して、補給判断情報記憶部８１６の代わりに補給判断情報記憶部８３６を備えている点で相違する。それ以外の点については、実施の形態１の製氷制御部８０と同じにつき、詳細な説明は省略する。 FIG. 18 is a functional configuration diagram of the ice making control unit of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the ice making control unit 803 does not include the learning unit 815, unlike the ice making control unit 80 in the first embodiment. Further, it differs from the ice making control unit 80 in the first embodiment in that a supply determination information storage unit 836 is provided instead of the supply determination information storage unit 816. Since the other points are the same as those of the ice making control unit 80 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
　通信制御部２０１は、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果をネットワーク回線２００を介して冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００に送信する。また、通信制御部２０１は、冷蔵庫管理サーバに備えられている冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００の通信制御部３０１が送信した補給判断情報を受信し、補給判断情報記憶部８３６に記憶させる。 The communication control unit 201 determines the opening/closing information of the doors of each storage room detected by the storage room door opening/closing sensor 90, the opening/closing time, and the determination result of the water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 as a network line. It transmits to the refrigerator management server 300 via 200. Further, the communication control unit 201 receives the replenishment determination information transmitted by the communication control unit 301 of the refrigerator management server 300 included in the refrigerator management server, and stores the replenishment determination information storage unit 836.
　次に、図１９にて本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫管理システムの動作、すなわち冷蔵庫管理システムにおける冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御方法について説明する。図１９は、本実施の形態に係る冷蔵庫管理システムの学習時の動作を示すフローチャートである。図１９のフローチャートは、実施の形態１の図５のフローチャートとほぼ同等である。図１９のフローチャートと実施の形態１の図５のフローチャートと符号が同一の処理については、同じ処理であるので、説明を省略する。図１９のフローチャートと実施の形態１の図５のフローチャートの相違点についてのみ説明する。 Next, an operation of the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment, that is, a method of controlling water supply to the ice tray of the refrigerator in the refrigerator management system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of learning of the refrigerator management system according to the present embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 19 is almost the same as the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. Since the processes having the same reference numerals as those in the flowchart of FIG. 19 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment are the same processes, description thereof will be omitted. Only differences between the flowchart of FIG. 19 and the flowchart of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment will be described.
　給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたと判断した場合（Ｓ１０７のＮ）、学習部３３５には、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水が有ったという判断結果が送信される。その後、Ｓ１０１の処理へと戻る。 When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has actually been supplied with water (N in S107), the learning unit 335 informs the learning unit 335 of the opening/closing information of the doors of the storage chambers detected by the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90. The determination result that the opening/closing time and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has been supplied with water is transmitted. Then, the process returns to S101.
　給水有無判断部８１２が、製氷皿２４に実際に給水されたと判断した場合（Ｓ１０７のＹ）、学習部３３５には、貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水が無かったという判断結果が送信される。その後、Ｓ１０１の処理へと戻る。その後、Ｓ１０５の処理へと戻る。 When the water supply presence/absence determining unit 812 determines that the ice tray 24 has actually been supplied with water (Y in S107), the learning unit 335 causes the learning unit 335 to open/close information about the doors of the storage chambers detected by the storage chamber door opening/closing sensor 90. The determination result that the opening/closing time and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 has determined that there is no water supply to the ice tray 24 is transmitted. Then, the process returns to S101. Then, the process returns to S105.
　冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００の学習部３３５は、各冷蔵庫１０２から貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果を受信するたびに学習を繰り返す。 The learning unit 335 of the refrigerator management server 300 supplies the ice tray 24 with water from each refrigerator 102, the opening/closing information of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room door, the opening/closing time, and the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812. The learning is repeated each time the judgment result of the presence or absence of is received.
　次に、本実施の形態における発明の効果について説明する。 Next, the effect of the invention in this embodiment will be described.
　本実施の形態における冷蔵庫管理システム４００においても、実施の形態１の冷蔵庫１００と同様の効果を奏する。それに加え、本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１０２では、学習部３３５、補給判断情報記憶部３３６を有する。その結果、複数の冷蔵庫１０２の貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ９０が検知した各貯蔵室の扉の開閉情報、開閉時刻及び給水有無判断部８１２が判断した製氷皿２４への給水の有無の判断結果を冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００に集約して学習部３３５に学習させることができるので、より精度高く給水ポンプ２２による製氷皿２４への無駄な給水を防止することができるというさらなる効果を奏する。 The refrigerator management system 400 according to the present embodiment also has the same effect as the refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the refrigerator 102 according to the present embodiment has a learning unit 335 and a supply determination information storage unit 336. As a result, the opening/closing information of the door of each storage room detected by the opening/closing sensor 90 for the storage room doors of the plurality of refrigerators 102, the opening/closing time, and the result of the determination of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray 24 determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812 are displayed. Since it can be collected in the refrigerator management server 300 and learned by the learning unit 335, it is possible to prevent wasteful water supply to the ice tray 24 by the water supply pump 22 with higher accuracy.
　また、本実施の形態における冷蔵庫１０２では、学習部３３５、補給判断情報記憶部３３６を有する。その結果、実施の形態１における負荷の高い学習部８１５の処理を処理能力の高い冷蔵庫管理サーバ３００に行わせることができるので、製氷制御部８０３の処理の負荷を軽減できるというさらなる効果を奏する。 Further, the refrigerator 102 according to the present embodiment has a learning unit 335 and a supply determination information storage unit 336. As a result, the processing of the learning unit 815 having a high load in the first embodiment can be caused to be performed by the refrigerator management server 300 having a high processing capacity, so that there is an additional effect that the processing load of the ice making control unit 803 can be reduced.
　本実施の形態の符号８１１～８１４、８１７～８２１、及び８３６に示す各部も実施の形態１の製氷制御部８０と同様に、冷蔵庫の製氷制御部８０３が有する機能を示す。製氷制御部８０３は、ハードウエア資源として、図９に示すとおり、例えばプロセッサ１００１とメモリ１００２とを含む処理回路を備える。扉開閉履歴記憶部８１４、補給判断情報記憶部８３６が有する機能はメモリ１００２によって実現される。製氷制御部は、メモリ１００２に記憶された冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御をプロセッサ１００１によって実行することにより、給水指令部８１１、給水有無判断部８１２、扉開閉履歴入力部８１３、推定部８１７、判断部８１８及び報知指令部８２１に示す機能を実現する。もしくは、外部記憶媒体に記憶されたプログラムをコンピュータに搭載されたメモリ１００２にインストールし、そのプログラムをプロセッサ１００１で実行することによって、上記メモリ１００２及びプロセッサ１００１で上記機能を実現する。 Like the ice making control unit 80 of the first embodiment, each of the units indicated by reference numerals 811 to 814, 817 to 821, and 836 of the present embodiment also indicates the function of the ice making control unit 803 of the refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 9, the ice making control unit 803 includes a processing circuit including a processor 1001 and a memory 1002, for example, as a hardware resource. The functions of the door opening/closing history storage unit 814 and the supply determination information storage unit 836 are realized by the memory 1002. The ice making control unit executes the water supply control to the ice making plate of the refrigerator stored in the memory 1002 by the processor 1001, so that the water supply command unit 811, the water supply presence/absence determination unit 812, the door opening/closing history input unit 813, the estimation unit 817, The functions shown in the judgment unit 818 and the notification instruction unit 821 are realized. Alternatively, the program stored in the external storage medium is installed in the memory 1002 installed in the computer, and the program is executed by the processor 1001, so that the functions are realized by the memory 1002 and the processor 1001.
　プロセッサ１００１は、ＣＰＵ（Ｃｅｎｔｒａｌ　Ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇ　Ｕｎｉｔ）、中央処理装置、処理装置、演算装置、マイクロプロセッサ、マイクロコンピュータ或いはＤＳＰともいわれる。メモリ１００２として、半導体メモリ、磁気ディスク、フレキシブルディスク、光ディスク、コンパクトディスク、ミニディスク或いはＤＶＤを採用してもよい。採用可能な半導体メモリには、ＲＡＭ、ＲＯＭ、フラッシュメモリ、ＥＰＲＯＭ及びＥＥＰＲＯＭ等が含まれる。 The processor 1001 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. A semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD may be adopted as the memory 1002. The semiconductor memory that can be adopted includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM and the like.
　製氷制御部８０３が有する各機能の一部又は全部をハードウエアによって実現してもよい。製氷制御部８０３の機能を実現するハードウエアとして、単一回路、復号回路、プログラム化したプロセッサ、並列プログラム化したプロセッサ、ＡＳＩＣ、ＦＰＧＡ、又はこれらの組み合わせを採用してもよい。 A part or all of each function of the ice making control unit 803 may be realized by hardware. As the hardware that realizes the function of the ice making control unit 803, a single circuit, a decoding circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof may be adopted.
　本発明は、実施の形態１～３に限られない。本発明の技術思想の範囲内において、その一部を変更、省略等することが可能である。 The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments. Within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, some of them can be changed or omitted.
１　冷蔵室、２　製氷室、４　冷凍室、５　野菜室、
９　冷却器、１０　送風機、１１　霜取りヒータ、１２　冷却室、
１４、１４２、１４３　制御盤、
１５　吹き出し風路、１６　戻り風路、
２０　製氷用貯水槽、２１　自動製氷装置、２２　給水ポンプ、２３　給水パイプ、
２４　製氷皿、２５　製氷ギアボックス、２６　貯氷検知レバー、２７　パイプヒータ、２８　貯氷ケース、２９　製氷皿温度センサ、
５０貯蔵室温度センサ、５１　冷蔵室温度センサ、５２　製氷室温度センサ、
５３　切替室温度センサ、５４　冷凍室温度センサ、５５　野菜室温度センサ、
６１　冷蔵室用扉、６２　製氷室用扉、６３　切替室用扉、
６４　冷凍室用扉、６５　野菜室用扉、７１　仕切り棚、
８０、８０１、８０２、８０３　製氷制御部、
９０　貯蔵室扉用開閉センサ、９１　冷蔵室用扉用開閉センサ、９２　製氷室用扉用開閉センサ、
９４　冷凍室用扉用開閉センサ、９５　野菜室用扉用開閉センサ、
１００、１０１、１０２　冷蔵庫、
１１０　断熱箱体、
１１１　操作パネル、１１２　操作ボタン、１１３　出力部、
２００　ネットワーク回線、３００　冷蔵庫管理サーバ、４００　冷蔵庫管理システム、
２０１、３０１　通信制御部、
８１１　給水指令部、８１２　給水有無判断部、
８１３　扉開閉履歴入力部、
８１４　扉開閉履歴記憶部、
８１５、８２５、３３５　学習部、
８１６、８２６、８３６、３３６　補給判断情報記憶部、
８１７、８２７　推定部、
８１８　判断部、８１９　給水回数計数部、８２０　給水回数比較部、
８２１　報知指令部、
８２１１　第１空水報知指令部、８２１２　学習時空水報知指令部、
８２１３　第２空水報知指令部、８２１４　給水回数報知指令部、
８２３　貯蔵室温度履歴入力部、
８２４　貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部、
１００１　プロセッサ、１００２　メモリ。 1 refrigerating room, 2 ice making room, 4 freezing room, 5 vegetable room,
9 cooler, 10 blower, 11 defrost heater, 12 cooling chamber,
14, 142, 143 control panel,
15 blowout air passages, 16 return air passages,
20 water tank for ice making, 21 automatic ice making device, 22 water supply pump, 23 water supply pipe,
24 ice tray, 25 ice gearbox, 26 ice storage detection lever, 27 pipe heater, 28 ice storage case, 29 ice tray temperature sensor,
50 storage room temperature sensor, 51 refrigerating room temperature sensor, 52 ice making room temperature sensor,
53 switching room temperature sensor, 54 freezing room temperature sensor, 55 vegetable room temperature sensor,
61 refrigerating room door, 62 ice making room door, 63 switching room door,
64 freezer compartment door, 65 vegetable compartment door, 71 partition shelf,
80, 801, 802, 803 Ice making control unit,
90 open/close sensor for storage room door, 91 open/close sensor for door for refrigerating room, 92 open/close sensor for door for ice making room,
94 Open/Close sensor for freezer door, 95 Open/close sensor for vegetable room door,
100, 101, 102 refrigerator,
110 heat insulation box,
111 operation panel, 112 operation buttons, 113 output section,
200 network line, 300 refrigerator management server, 400 refrigerator management system,
201, 301 communication control unit,
811 water supply command unit, 812 water supply presence/absence determination unit,
813 Door opening/closing history input section,
814 Door opening/closing history storage unit,
815, 825, 335 learning unit,
816, 826, 836, 336 supply determination information storage unit,
817, 827 Estimator,
818 determination unit, 819 water supply frequency counting unit, 820 water supply frequency comparison unit,
821 Notification command unit,
8211 first air-water notification command unit, 8212 learning-time air-water notification command unit,
8213 second air water notification command unit, 8214 water supply frequency notification command unit,
823 Storage room temperature history input section,
824 storage room temperature history storage unit,
1001 processor, 1002 memory.

Claims (10)

  1. 　冷蔵貯蔵室に設けられた製氷用貯水槽と、
    　前記製氷用貯水槽に水を補給する際に開けられる冷蔵貯蔵室用扉と、
    　前記製氷用貯水槽から水が給水される製氷皿と、
    　前記製氷用貯水槽内の水を前記製氷皿へ給水する給水ポンプと、
    　前記給水ポンプに前記製氷皿への給水を指令する給水指令部と、
    　前記冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉を検知する扉開閉検知部と、
    　前記扉開閉検知部が検知した前記冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻とを扉開閉履歴として記憶する扉開閉履歴記憶部と、
    　前記製氷用貯水槽への水の補給があったと判断される前記冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻を補給判断情報として記憶する補給判断情報記憶部と、
    　前記扉開閉履歴記憶部に記憶されている前記扉開閉履歴及び前記補給判断情報記憶部に記憶されている前記補給判断情報によって前記製氷用貯水槽への水の補給の有無を推定する推定部と、
    　前記推定部が推定した前記水の補給の有無の推定結果によって前記製氷用貯水槽が空か否かを判断する判断部と、を備え、
    　前記給水指令部は、前記製氷用貯水槽が空であると前記判断部が判断した場合、前記給水ポンプに給水を指令しない冷蔵庫。     A water storage tank for ice making provided in the cold storage room,
    A door for a cold storage room that is opened when water is supplied to the ice making water storage tank,
    An ice tray to which water is supplied from the ice making water storage tank,
    A water supply pump for supplying water in the ice making water storage tank to the ice making tray;
    A water supply command unit for instructing the water supply pump to supply water to the ice tray,
    A door open/close detection unit for detecting opening/closing of the cold storage room door,
    A door opening/closing history storage unit that stores opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the refrigerating storage room door detected by the door opening/closing detection unit,
    A replenishment determination information storage unit that stores, as replenishment determination information, opening/closing information and opening/closing time of the cold storage compartment door that is determined to have been replenished with water to the ice making water storage tank,
    An estimation unit that estimates whether or not water is replenished to the ice making water storage tank based on the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit and the replenishment determination information stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit. ,
    A determination unit that determines whether or not the ice making water storage tank is empty based on the estimation result of the presence or absence of the water supply estimated by the estimation unit,
    The water supply command unit is a refrigerator that does not command the water supply pump to supply water when the determination unit determines that the ice making water storage tank is empty.
  2. 　前記製氷皿の温度を検知する製氷皿温度検知部と、
    　前記製氷皿温度検知部が検知した前記製氷皿の温度により前記製氷皿への給水の有無を判断する給水有無判断部と、
    　前記扉開閉履歴記憶部に記憶された前記扉開閉履歴及び前記給水有無判断部が検知した前記製氷皿への給水の有無の判断結果から前記補給判断情報を作成し、前記補給判断情報を前記補給判断情報記憶部に記憶させる学習部と、
    を備えた請求項１に記載の冷蔵庫。     An ice tray temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the ice tray,
    A water supply presence/absence determining unit that determines the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray according to the temperature of the ice tray detected by the ice tray temperature detecting unit,
    The replenishment determination information is created from the door opening/closing history stored in the door opening/closing history storage unit and the determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray detected by the water supply presence/absence determination unit, and the replenishment determination information is replenished. A learning unit to be stored in the judgment information storage unit,
    The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:
  3. 　前記判断部が前記製氷用貯水槽が空でないと判断し、かつ、前記給水有無判断部が前記製氷皿への給水が無いと判断した場合に、前記学習部は、前記冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の扉開閉履歴及び前記給水有無判断部が判断した前記製氷皿への給水の有無の判断結果に基づき前記補給判断情報を作成し、前記補給判断情報を前記補給判断情報記憶部に記憶させる請求項２に記載の冷蔵庫。 When the determination unit determines that the ice making water storage tank is not empty, and when the water supply presence/absence determination unit determines that there is no water supply to the ice tray, the learning unit causes the cold storage compartment door to be closed. The replenishment determination information is created based on a door opening/closing history and a determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray determined by the water supply presence/absence determination unit, and the replenishment determination information is stored in the replenishment determination information storage unit. Refrigerator described in.
  4. 　前記冷蔵貯蔵室に設けられ前記冷蔵貯蔵室内の温度を検知する貯蔵室内温度検知部と、
    　前記貯蔵室内温度検知部が検知した前記冷蔵貯蔵室内の温度と前記温度の時刻を温度履歴として記憶する貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部と、を備え、
    　前記学習部は、前記冷蔵貯蔵室内の温度から前記製氷用貯水槽への水の補給があったと判断される前記冷蔵貯蔵室内の温度情報を作成し、前記温度情報をさらなる補給判断情報として前記補給判断情報記憶部に記憶させ、
    　前記推定部は、前記貯蔵室温度履歴記憶部に記憶されている前記温度履歴によって前記製氷用貯水槽への水の補給の有無を推定する請求項２又は請求項３に記載の冷蔵庫。     A storage room temperature detection unit provided in the refrigerated storage room for detecting the temperature in the refrigerated storage room,
    A storage room temperature history storage section that stores the temperature in the refrigerated storage room detected by the storage room temperature detection section and the time of the temperature as a temperature history;
    The learning unit creates temperature information in the refrigerating and storing chamber, which is determined to have been replenished with water from the temperature in the refrigerating and storing chamber to the ice-making water storage tank, and the temperature information is further replenished as further replenishment determination information. Store in the judgment information storage unit,
    The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the estimation unit estimates whether or not water is replenished to the ice making water storage tank based on the temperature history stored in the storage room temperature history storage unit.
  5. 　前記判断部は、
    　前記給水指令部が前記給水ポンプに給水を指令した場合、給水された回数を計数し、前記推定部が前記製氷用貯水槽への給水が有ったと推定した場合、給水された回数を初期化する給水回数計数部と、
    　前記給水回数計数部が計数した回数が、前記製氷用貯水槽の容量から求められる所定回数に達した場合、前記製氷用貯水槽の水が無いと判断する給水回数比較部と、
    を備えた請求項１から請求項４のいずれか一項に記載の冷蔵庫。     The judgment unit is
    When the water supply command unit commands the water supply pump to supply water, the number of times of water supply is counted, and when the estimation unit estimates that there is water supply to the ice making water storage tank, the number of times of water supply is initialized. And a water supply counter that
    When the number of times the water supply frequency counting unit has counted reaches a predetermined number of times obtained from the capacity of the ice making water storage tank, a water supply frequency comparing unit that determines that there is no water in the ice making water storage tank,
    The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
  6. 　前記判断部が前記製氷用貯水槽の水が空であると判断したことを出力部に報知させる第１空水報知指令部を備えた請求項１から請求項５のいずれか一項に記載の冷蔵庫。 The 1st empty water alerting|reporting part which alert|reports to an output part that the said determination part determined that the water of the said water tank for ice making was empty was provided, The statement of any one of Claims 1-5. refrigerator.
  7. 　前記判断部は、前記判断部が前記製氷用貯水槽が空でないと判断し、かつ、前記給水有無判断部が前記製氷皿への給水が無いと判断した場合に、前記製氷用貯水槽に水が無いことを出力部に報知させる第２空水報知指令部を備えた請求項２から請求項４のいずれか一項に記載の冷蔵庫。 When the determination unit determines that the ice making water storage tank is not empty, and the water supply presence/absence determination unit determines that there is no water supply to the ice tray, water is stored in the ice making water storage tank. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a second air-water notification command unit that causes the output unit to notify that there is not any.
  8. 　前記給水回数計数部が計数した前記回数に基づく情報を出力部に報知させる給水回数報知指令部を備えた請求項５に記載の冷蔵庫。 The refrigerator according to claim 5, further comprising: a water supply frequency instructing unit that informs an output unit of information based on the number of times counted by the water supply frequency counting unit.
  9. 　請求項１に記載の冷蔵庫と、
    　前記冷蔵庫とネットワークを介して接続されている冷蔵庫管理サーバと、を備え、
    　前記冷蔵庫は、前記製氷皿の温度を検知する製氷皿温度検知部、及び前記製氷皿温度検知部が検知した前記製氷皿の温度により前記製氷皿への給水の有無を判断する給水有無判断部、を有し、
    　前記冷蔵庫管理サーバは、前記扉開閉履歴及び前記給水有無判断部が検知した前記製氷皿への給水の有無の判断結果を前記冷蔵庫から受信して前記補給判断情報を作成する学習部を有し、
    　前記冷蔵庫の前記補給判断情報記憶部は、前記冷蔵庫管理サーバから送信された前記補給判断情報を記憶する冷蔵庫管理システム。     The refrigerator according to claim 1,
    A refrigerator management server connected to the refrigerator via a network;
    The refrigerator is an ice tray temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the ice tray, and a water supply presence/absence determination unit that determines the presence or absence of water supply to the ice tray by the temperature of the ice tray detected by the ice tray temperature detection unit, Have
    The refrigerator management server has a learning unit that receives the determination result of the presence/absence of water supply to the ice tray detected by the door opening/closing history and the water supply presence/absence determination unit from the refrigerator to create the supply determination information,
    The refrigerator management system in which the supply determination information storage unit of the refrigerator stores the supply determination information transmitted from the refrigerator management server.
  10. 　冷蔵貯蔵室に設けられた製氷用貯水槽に水を補給する際に開けられる冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉を検知する扉開閉検知部が検知した前記冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻とを扉開閉履歴として記憶部に記憶させるステップと、
    　前記記憶部に記憶されている前記扉開閉履歴、及び前記製氷用貯水槽への水の補給があったと判断される前記冷蔵貯蔵室用扉の開閉情報と開閉時刻である補給判断情報によって前記製氷用貯水槽への水の補給の有無を推定するステップと、
    　前記水の補給の有無の推定結果によって前記製氷用貯水槽が空か否かを判断するステップと、
    　前記製氷用貯水槽が空であると判断された場合、製氷皿への給水を指令し、前記製氷用貯水槽が空でないと判断された場合、前記製氷皿への給水を指令しないステップと、
    を備える冷蔵庫の製氷皿への給水制御方法。     The opening/closing information and the opening/closing time of the cold storage room door detected by the door open/close detection unit that detects the opening/closing of the cold storage room door that is opened when water is supplied to the ice making water storage tank provided in the cold storage room. To store in the storage unit as a door opening/closing history,
    The ice making is performed based on the door opening/closing history stored in the storage unit and the opening/closing information of the cold storage compartment door that is determined to have been replenished with water to the ice making water storage tank and the replenishment determination information that is the opening/closing time. Estimating whether or not water is being replenished to the water storage tank,
    A step of determining whether or not the ice-making water storage tank is empty based on the estimation result of whether or not the water is supplied;
    If it is determined that the ice making water storage tank is empty, command water supply to the ice making tray, if it is determined that the ice making water storage tank is not empty, a step of not commanding water supply to the ice making tray,
    For controlling water supply to an ice tray of a refrigerator equipped with.
PCT/JP2018/047288 2018-12-21 2018-12-21 Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator WO2020129242A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2018/047288 WO2020129242A1 (en) 2018-12-21 2018-12-21 Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator
JP2020561120A JP6973666B2 (en) 2018-12-21 2018-12-21 Refrigerator, refrigerator management system and water supply control method for the ice tray of the refrigerator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2018/047288 WO2020129242A1 (en) 2018-12-21 2018-12-21 Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020129242A1 true WO2020129242A1 (en) 2020-06-25

Family

ID=71102678

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2018/047288 WO2020129242A1 (en) 2018-12-21 2018-12-21 Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator

Country Status (2)

Country Link
JP (1) JP6973666B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2020129242A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11747071B2 (en) 2021-10-07 2023-09-05 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Systems and methods for detecting and monitoring ice formation within an ice maker

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04320776A (en) * 1991-04-18 1992-11-11 Fujitsu General Ltd Ice making device of refrigerator
JP2005042959A (en) * 2003-07-24 2005-02-17 Toshiba Corp Refrigerator

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0979721A (en) * 1995-09-18 1997-03-28 Hitachi Ltd Refrigerator with automatic ice making device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH04320776A (en) * 1991-04-18 1992-11-11 Fujitsu General Ltd Ice making device of refrigerator
JP2005042959A (en) * 2003-07-24 2005-02-17 Toshiba Corp Refrigerator

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11747071B2 (en) 2021-10-07 2023-09-05 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Systems and methods for detecting and monitoring ice formation within an ice maker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPWO2020129242A1 (en) 2021-09-09
JP6973666B2 (en) 2021-12-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP6305122B2 (en) Refrigerator and network system equipped with refrigerator
JP5571044B2 (en) refrigerator
JP2010002071A (en) Refrigerator
EP3260800A1 (en) Refrigeration system with condenser temperature differential setpoint control
JP2011137593A (en) Cold storage
JP2012007760A (en) Refrigerator
WO2020129242A1 (en) Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and method for controlling supply of water to ice tray in refrigerator
JP2015038409A (en) Refrigerator
JP2013200084A (en) Cooling storage
JP4759406B2 (en) Cooling storage
JP6608773B2 (en) refrigerator
JP5384271B2 (en) Cooling system
JP2019199974A (en) Refrigerator, refrigerator control method, refrigerator control program
JP6594831B2 (en) refrigerator
JP2015143579A (en) refrigerator
WO2022013926A1 (en) Refrigerator
JP6837423B2 (en) refrigerator
JP2015042924A (en) Refrigerator
JP5376796B2 (en) refrigerator
JPWO2005038364A1 (en) Cooling storage and cooling equipment
JP2013007510A (en) Refrigerator
JP5511735B2 (en) refrigerator
WO2017075931A1 (en) Refrigeration device and method for control super-cooling
JP2015148440A (en) refrigerator system
JP2017020746A (en) Cooling storage

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 18943590

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2020561120

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 18943590

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1