Plural temperature adjustment apparatus for refrigerator

• US 5,224,355 A
• Filed: 04/01/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Seong-Seob, So, Jae-Hyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/862,609
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 62/231, 62/131, 62/126, 62/224
• US Class Current: 62/229
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plural temperature adjustment apparatus for a refrigerator whereby adequate cooling grades are automatically changed based on the temperature changes inside a refrigerator and driving time, and more particularly to a plural temperature adjustment apparatus for a refrigerator whereby prolonged of life time of a compressor, reduction of electric power consumption by way of the control of frequent intermittency of a compressor and the effect of temperature adjustment by timer operation even during blackout can be achieved by adequate control of the present temperatures in a refrigerator detected by a temperature detecting part and appropriate control of compressor drivings based on door open/close status detected at a door open/close detecting part and driving time by a timer when temperatures and driving time according to respective cooling grades randomly set up by the user thru the operation part are inputted into a micro computer.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a refrigerator comprising:

a micro computer;

an operation part for inputting temperatures and time data necessary for respective cooling grades into said micro computer;

a timer for counting time lapsed and inputting the time lapses of certain time zones in a morning and an afternoon into said micro computer;

a temperature detecting part for inputting into said micro computer temperature changes in the refrigerator by detecting the temperature for a certain period of time;

a door open/close detecting part for detecting whether the door of a refrigerator is open or closed and for generating detection signals which are input into said micro computer; and

a compressor which is controlled by the signals outputted from said micro computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicating part at an output terminal of the micro computer for indicating temperatures in the refrigerator detected by said temperature detecting part in accordance with the control of said micro computer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an charging part connected to said timer for performing a charging operation which causes the operational function of said timer for automatic temperature adjustment in said refrigerator to be performed during a blackout.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a charging part connected to said timer for performing a charging operation which causes the operational function of said time for automatic temperature adjustment in said refrigerator to be performed during a blackout.

5. A control apparatus for a refrigerator having a compressor, a door and at least one chamber, comprising:

temperature detecting means for detecting temperature changes in the at least one chamber in the refrigerator;

door detecting means for detecting whether the door is closed;

timer means for counting elapsed time of continuous closed door status;

means for storing operation mode data for at least two operation modes; and

control means for controlling operation of the compressor to operate the refrigerator in one of the at least two operation modes responsive to the temperature detecting means, the door detecting means, the timer means and the storing means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an operation part for inputting the stored operation mode data, the data comprising time zones during a 24 hour period and corresponding temperatures of operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mode data comprises a power-economizing mode for operation of the refrigerator during hours of relatively infrequent door opening and a standard mode for operation of the refrigerator during hours of relatively frequent door opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for storing stores a closed door continuation time and the control means changes operation modes if the closed door continuation time has elapsed.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising indicating means for indicating temperatures in the at least one chamber of the refrigerator detected by the temperature detecting means.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising charging means connected to the timer means for charging the timer means for maintaining operation of the temperature control apparatus during a blackout.

11. A method of controlling temperatures in a refrigerator having a compressor, a door and at least on chamber, comprising:

storing operation mode data for at least two operation modes in a computer means, the mode data including time zones in a 24 hour period and corresponding operating temperatures;

detecting temperature changes in the at least one chamber in the refrigerator;

detecting whether the door is opened;

counting elapsed time of continuous closed door status;

controlling operation of a compressor to operate the refrigerator in one of the at least two operation modes responsive to detecting the temperature changes, detecting opening of the door and the lapsing of the continuous closed door time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the mode data includes a power-economizing mode for operation of the refrigerator during hours of relatively infrequent door opening and a standard mode for operation of the refrigerator during hours of relatively infrequent door opening.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a closed door continuation time is stored and the operation mode is changed if the closed door continuation time has elapsed.