Apparatus and method for controlling output of linear compressor

• US 20040042904A1
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Gyeong-Don
• Application Number:
  US10/653,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20040042904A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/44.11
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0401 Current
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0402 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/045 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/034 Voice coil motors voice coil motors driven by DC H02P7/025
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/18 with arrangements for switching the windings, e.g. with mechanical switches or relays

Abstract

An apparatus controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator and a rotor includes a plurality of coil taps which are connected to a coil of the stator, a switching part which controls an intensity of a current flowing through the coil by being selectively connected to the plurality of coil taps, and a controller which controls the switching part to be selectively connected to the plurality of coil taps. The apparatus prevents a power factor of power provided to the coil from being decreased, increases the efficiency of the power and minimizes a copper loss and/or a iron loss on the coil.

Claims

1. An apparatus controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator and a rotor, the apparatus comprising:

coil taps which are connected to a coil of the stator;

a switching part which is selectively connected to a desired one of the coil taps so as to control an intensity of a current flowing through the coil; and

a controller which controls the switching part.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a phase controller which changes a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to a driving signal transmitted from the controller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the phase controller includes a triac which is turned on/off according to the driving signal and controls the phase of the voltage.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a power supply to supply electrical power to the coil, wherein the phase controller is provided in series between the switching part and the power supply.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller generates the driving signal according to a difference between a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied and a predetermined temperature.

5. A method of controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator, the method comprising:

detecting a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied;

controlling an intensity of a current flowing through a coil of the stator according to the detected temperature; and

controlling a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to the detected temperature.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the controlling of the current intensity includes:

increasing the intensity of the current flowing through the coil in response to the detected temperature being higher than a predetermined temperature, and

decreasing the intensity of the current flowing through the coil in response to the detected temperature being lower than the predetermined temperature.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the controlling of the phase of the voltage comprises controlling the phase of the voltage according to a difference between the detected temperature and the predetermined temperature.

9. An apparatus controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator and a rotor, the apparatus comprising:

a switching part which selectively changes a resistance of a coil of the stator so as to control an intensity of a current flowing through the coil; and

a controller which controls the switching part.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the switching part comprises:

coil taps which are connected to the coil of the stator; and

a switching unit which is selectively connected to a desired one of the coil taps according to the controller so as to control the intensity of the current flowing through the coil.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller controls the switching part according to a difference between a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied and a predetermined temperature.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the output of the linear compressor is controlled according to a change of the resistance of the coil so as to improve a power factor and an efficiency of power supplied to the coil, and prevent a copper and/or an iron loss of the coil.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a phase controller which changes a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to a driving signal transmitted from the controller.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a power supply to supply electrical power to the coil, wherein the phase controller is provided in series between the switching part and the power supply.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the intensity of the current is controlled according to a variation of the resistance of the coil under the same voltage supplied from the power supply.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the linear compressor is applied to one of a refrigerator and an air conditioner.

17. A method of controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator, the method comprising changing a resistance of a coil of the stator so as to control an intensity of a current flowing through the coil.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the changing of the resistance comprises changing the resistance of the coil according to a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied; and

controlling a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to the detected temperature.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the controlling of the phase of the voltage comprises controlling the phase of the voltage according to a difference between the detected temperature and a predetermined temperature.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the intensity of the current is controlled according to a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the linear compressor is applied to one of a refrigerator and an air conditioner.