Self-diagnostic system for a refrigerator
First Claim
1. A self-diagnostic method for a refrigerator, said self-diagnostic method comprising the steps of:
- performing a reset process for initializing the refrigerator;
performing an initial display process for turning on a plurality of display lamps of a display means upon powering on, turning off a plurality of the display lamps at a first predetermined time after said turning on, turning on a power fault display lamp of said display means in order to display a power fault state and initializing at least some of said plurality of display lamps according to a state of a reset key of a keyboard means; and
performing a main process via a microprocessor for executing at least one of a plurality of subroutines when an interrupt bit is set, said plurality of subroutines comprising;
a timer increment subroutine;
a display subroutine for displaying a plurality of functions performed and errors occurring on a real-time basis;
an input check subroutine for receiving data input through a plurality of input ports of said microprocessor and checking each of said plurality of functions;
a temperature control subroutine for controlling temperature of the refrigerator;
a quick freezing subroutine performed for a predetermined period only when a quick freezing key of a keyboard means is pushed;
a defrost subroutine performed when a bimetal is in an ON state;
a door check subroutine for checking an open status of a door of the refrigerator;
a temperature check subroutine for displaying a high temperature state when a door open state continues for a second predetermined time after the door is opened; and
a voice alarm subroutine for producing an alarm in response to an abnormal state of the refrigerator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The self-diagnostic system for refrigerator appliance controlled by the following routine steps in a control program: a reset routine for designating input and output ports and clearing all memories upon powering up, and thereafter storing initial value into a desired memory; a timer interrupt routine for being periodically carried out every time set by the reset routine and storing an elapsed time in a selected memory; an initial display subroutine for turning on all lamps, then turning off a shut-off display lamp in a predetermined time set by the timer interrupt routine, automatically turning on a normal state display lamp and an alarm lamp, and driving a compressor in order to actuate a refrigerator; a main routine for determining whether time cycle set by said timer interrupt routine has been set and executing a plurality of routines detecting malfunction of the appliances and alerting the user to the occurrence of the malfunction.
33 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-diagnostic method for a refrigerator, said self-diagnostic method comprising the steps of:
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performing a reset process for initializing the refrigerator; performing an initial display process for turning on a plurality of display lamps of a display means upon powering on, turning off a plurality of the display lamps at a first predetermined time after said turning on, turning on a power fault display lamp of said display means in order to display a power fault state and initializing at least some of said plurality of display lamps according to a state of a reset key of a keyboard means; and performing a main process via a microprocessor for executing at least one of a plurality of subroutines when an interrupt bit is set, said plurality of subroutines comprising; a timer increment subroutine; a display subroutine for displaying a plurality of functions performed and errors occurring on a real-time basis; an input check subroutine for receiving data input through a plurality of input ports of said microprocessor and checking each of said plurality of functions; a temperature control subroutine for controlling temperature of the refrigerator; a quick freezing subroutine performed for a predetermined period only when a quick freezing key of a keyboard means is pushed; a defrost subroutine performed when a bimetal is in an ON state; a door check subroutine for checking an open status of a door of the refrigerator; a temperature check subroutine for displaying a high temperature state when a door open state continues for a second predetermined time after the door is opened; and a voice alarm subroutine for producing an alarm in response to an abnormal state of the refrigerator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A self-diagnostic system for a refrigerator, said self-diagnostic system comprising:
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a reset means for initializing respective functional elements of the refrigerator; a timer interrupt means responsive to an interrupt signal according to a time cycle, for setting an interrupt bit and a timer bit, said time cycle being set by said reset means; an initial display means for turning on a plurality of display lamps upon powering on, turning off all the display lamps a predetermined time after said turning on, turning on a power fault display lamp to display a power fault state and initializing at least some of said display lamps according to a state of reset key of a keyboard means; and microprocessor means for executing a plurality of diagnostic subroutines in response to an interrupt bit being set, said plurality of subroutines comprising; a timer increment subroutine; a display subroutine for displaying a plurality of functions performed and error occurring on a real-time basis; an input check subroutine for receiving data input through a plurality of input ports of said microprocessor and checking each of said plurality of functions; a temperature control subroutine for controlling temperature of the refrigerator; a quick freezing subroutine performed for a predetermined period only when a quick freezing key of a keyboard means is pushed; a defrost subroutine performed when a bimetal is in an ON state; a door check subroutine for checking an open status of a door of the refrigerator; a temperature check subroutine for displaying a high temperature state when a door open state continues for a second predetermined time after the door is opened; and a voice alarm subroutine for producing an alarm in response to an abnormal state of the refrigerator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A self-diagnostic method for a refrigerator, said self-diagnostic method comprising the steps of:
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performing a reset subroutine for initializing the refrigerator; performing a timer interrupt subroutine in response to an interrupt signal with a time cycle for setting an interrupt bit and a timer bit, in which said time cycle was set by said reset process; performing an initial display subroutine for turning on a plurality of display lamps of a display means upon powering on, turning off said plurality of display lamps at a first predetermined time after said turning on, turning on a power fault display lamp of said display means in order to display a power fault state and initializing at least some of said plurality of display lamps of all the lamps according to a state of a reset key of a keyboard means; and performing a main routine via a microprocessor for executing at least one of a plurality of subroutines when an interrupt bit is set, said plurality of subroutines including a timer increment subroutine comprising the steps of; determining whether predetermined durations of functional states of a plurality of functional elements of said refrigerator have elapsed; and storing data indicative of said functional states of said functional elements into corresponding buffers.
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Specification