Method for controlling opening/closing of cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator

• US 6,052,999 A
• Filed: 05/28/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Park, Hae-jin, Kim, Jae-in, Yoo, Han-joo
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/084,876
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/78 B, 62/179, 62/209, 165/288, 454/258
• US Class Current: 62/179
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/12 built up of sliding members
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/045 Air flow control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/065 with compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0672 Outlet ducts
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/123 more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A method for controlling opening/closing of cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator has a device for opening/closing the ports. The device has a member for opening/closing the ports, and a motor for driving the member. A microcomputer measures temperatures at positions in a cooling compartment, and calculates a difference between the measured temperatures. When the difference is more than a predetermined value, the motor is driven so that the member repeats opening and closing of the ports. Then, the circulation effect of the cool air in the cooling compartment is enhanced, and the temperature in the cooling compartment maintained uniform.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator, said refrigerator having an opening/closing member for opening/closing the cool air discharge ports for supplying a cooling compartment with cool air and a motor for driving said opening/closing member, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring temperatures at a plurality of positions in said cooling compartment;

calculating a temperature difference between the measured temperatures; and

controlling said motor so that said opening/closing member repeats to open and close the cool air discharge ports when the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined value.

2. The method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions are two positions.

3. The method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined value is two degrees centigrade.

4. The method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of controlling an open degree of the cool air discharge ports on the basis of the measured temperatures when the temperature difference is smaller than the predetermined value.

5. The method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of controlling the open degree comprises the steps of:

calculating an average temperature of the measured temperature; and

controlling said motor so that the cool air discharge ports are totally opened when the average temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature and the cool air discharge ports are partially opened when the average temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature.

6. The method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said motor is a step motor.

7. A method for controlling an operation for opening/closing cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator, said refrigerator having a compressor for compressing refrigerant, an evaporator generating cool air when said compressor operates, a fan for blowing the cool air generated by said evaporator, an opening/closing member for opening/closing the cool air discharge ports through which the cool air blown by said fan is supplied into a cooling compartment, and a motor for driving said opening/closing member, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring temperatures at a plurality of positions in said cooling compartment;

calculating an average value of the measured temperatures;

driving said compressor and said fan when the average value is higher than a set temperature which corresponds to a cooling intensity preset by a user, and stopping operation of said compressor and said fan when the average value is lower than the set temperature;

calculating a temperature difference between the measured temperatures during the operation of said compressor and said fan; and

controlling said motor so that said opening/closing member repeats to open and close the cool air discharge ports when the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined value, and so that the higher the average temperature is, the greater an open degree of the cool air discharge ports becomes.