Refrigerator and control method thereof

• US 9,534,821 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Sinn Bong, Chang, Eui Young, Choi, Jong Chul, Kim, Yong Han, Lee, Won Je, Si, Jong Eon
• Primary Examiner(s): Elve, M. Alexandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRENSHAW, HENRY T
• Application Number:
  US13/559,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20130025303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2600/02 Timing
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/08 by heating bodies in contact with the ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/006 with electronic control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/122 of freezer compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/85 Food storage or conservation, e.g. cooling or drying

Abstract

A control method of a refrigerator including a compressor to supply refrigerant to an evaporator to cool a storage compartment, a valve to adjust flow of the refrigerant, a fan to blow air heat-exchanged by the evaporator, and a heater to remove frost from the evaporator. The control method includes, upon receiving a power-saving signal, determining whether the received power-saving signal is a first or second power-saving mode signal, upon determining that the power-saving signal is the first power-saving mode signal, performing at least one selected from among resetting of target temperature of the storage compartment, adjustment of an operation rate of the compressor, and adjustment of operation time of the heater to execute a first power-saving mode, and, upon determining that the power-saving signal is the second power-saving mode signal, controlling the compressor, the fan, and the heater to be off to execute a second power-saving mode.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

an evaporator to cool a storage compartment;

a compressor to supply a refrigerant to the evaporator;

a valve to adjust flow of the refrigerant supplied from the compressor to the evaporator;

a fan to blow air heat-exchanged by the evaporator;

a heater to remove frost from the evaporator; and

a control device to perform communication with a server of utility company and to control an operation of at least one selected from among the compressor, the valve, the fan, and the heater so that a power-saving mode is executed upon receiving a power-saving signal from the server,

wherein the power-saving signal comprises a first power-saving mode based on a concentration degree of power consumption, the first power-saving mode comprising a first power-saving level and a second power-saving level divided based on a reduction amount of power,

when the power-saving signal is the first power-saving level of the first power-saving mode, the control device controls an operation of at least one selected from among the compressor, the valve, the fan, and the heater for a first execution time so that a temperature of the storage compartment rises, and

when the power-saving signal is the second power-saving level of the first power-saving mode, the control device controls the same operation as the operation performed in the first power-saving level, determines whether it is an ice-making operation time and, upon determining that it is the ice-making operation time, lowers an operation rate of the compressor, as compared with the operation rate of the compressor prior to receiving the power-saving signal in sequence.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the power-saving signal further comprises a second power-saving mode based on the concentration degree of power consumption.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first power-saving mode further comprises a third power-saving level, and

when the power-saving signal is the third power-saving level of the first power-saving mode, the control device determines whether it is ice-making operation time and, upon determining that it is the ice-making operation time, delays an ice-making operation for the first execution time.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, when the power-saving signal is the first power-saving mode, the control device raises target temperature of the storage compartment by a predetermined temperature and resets the target temperature, and controls the operation of the compressor, the valve, and the fan so that the temperature of the storage compartment is maintained at the reset target temperature.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein, when the power-saving signal is the second power-saving mode, the control device controls the compressor, the valve, the fan, and the heater to be off for second execution time.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein, when the power-saving signal is the third power-saving level of the first power-saving mode, the control device determines whether it is defrosting operation time and, upon determining that it is the defrosting operation time, controls the heater to be off for first execution time.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising:

an ice-making compartment;

a tray provided in the ice-making compartment to make ice;

a water supply valve to adjust supply of water to the tray;

an ice-making evaporator to cool the tray;

an ice-making valve to adjust flow of a refrigerant supplied to the ice-making evaporator; and

an ice-separating heater to separate the ice from the tray.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the control device upon the determining that it is the ice-making operation time, controls the water supply valve, the ice-separating heater and the ice-making valve to be off for the first execution time to delay the ice-making operation.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein, when the power-saving signal is the third power-saving level of the first power-saving mode, the control device determines whether the ice-making operation is being performed and, upon determining that the ice-making operation is being performed, completes the ice-making operation and ice separation, and upon determining that it is a next ice-making operation time, controls the water supply valve, the ice-separating heater and the ice-making valve to be off until first execution time elapses to delay the next ice-making operation.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises a freezer compartment to store food in a frozen state.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising:

a refrigerator compartment to store food in a refrigerated state;

a refrigerating evaporator to cool the refrigerator compartment; and

a defrosting heater of the refrigerating evaporator to remove frost from the refrigerating evaporator, wherein

upon receiving the power-saving signal from the utility company, the control device determines whether it is defrosting operation time of the refrigerating evaporator and, upon determining that it is the defrosting operation time of the refrigerating evaporator, controls an operation of the defrosting heater of the refrigerating evaporator to execute the power-saving mode.