EP2798290B1

EP2798290B1 - A cooling device energy consumption of which is decreased

Info

Publication number: EP2798290B1
Application number: EP12794288.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erhan Kacmaz; Ferkan Gulbas; Hasan Basar Kalyoncu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2011-12-26
Filing date: 2012-11-26
Publication date: 2016-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-26
Also published as: WO2013098013A3; PL2798290T3; EP2798290A2; WO2013098013A2

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a display device.
In cooling devices, particularly in refrigerators, display devices are used where the operating conditions of the refrigerator and/or additional information like time, calendar and weather forecast are displayed. The display devices that are usually disposed on the door are illuminated by a backlight and provide the user to be informed. The display devices cause unnecessary energy consumption when not in use since they continue to operate every moment the refrigerator operates. In some cooling devices, the display devices can be closed by the control panel. In these embodiments, since the control of the display device is in the initiative of the user, it can be forgotten and cannot be controlled effectively. In some cooling devices, the display device is closed automatically after some time the user utilizes the display device. This requires the user to reopen the display device every time it is desired to be used and makes utilization difficult.
In order to solve the said problems, sensors that detect environmental conditions and/or user presence are used. These sensors not only increase product cost but also make the production process difficult since placing them on the cooling device is laborious.
In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2011116605 , a cooling device that comprises a distance detecting sensor is described. The distance detecting sensor detects the user entering into the detection area where the cooling device is located and provides the display device to be turned on or off depending on the distance of the user to the cooling device.
In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20090074955 , a cooling device that comprises an optical sensor is described. The optical sensor that is attached to the front side of the refrigerator senses the luminosity of the surrounding area and accordingly provides controlling of the display device. The control unit decides that it is nighttime or that the ambient lights are closed when the luminosity of the surrounding area falls below a certain value and closes the display device.
In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20100078477 , a cooling device is described, comprising a display device which is activated when the user presses on the keys. In this embodiment, the display devices and the control panels in all the compartments become activated when any one key on the control panel of one of the compartments is pressed.
The WO 2011/000706 A2 discloses a cooling device comprising a control unit that regulates the operation of a compressor, a heater, and a fan according to the data received from a temperature sensor. Furthermore, an operation ratio of the compressor is determined to serve as an indication of ambient temperature.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the energy consumption is decreased. The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a control unit that controls the operation of the display device by comparing the operation ratio calculated by dividing the operation time of the compressor to the total cycle time with the first operation ratio predetermined by the producer and the second operation ratio predetermined by the producer.
The control unit actuates the time counter when the operation ratio is between the first operation ratio predetermined by the producer and the second operation ratio predetermined by the producer and closes the display device if the operation ratio remains between this interval during the critical time predetermined by the producer. Thus, it is understood that the cooling device is not used and electricity saving is maintained by preventing unnecessary operation of the display device. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first operation ratio predetermined by the producer is zero. In this embodiment, when the operation ratio is between zero and the second operation ratio predetermined by the producer, in other words, when the operation ratio is smaller than the second operation ratio predetermined by the producer, the critical time predetermined by the producer is started to be counted down.
In another embodiment of the present invention, when the display device is deactivated by controlling the operation ratio, in order to restart activation, the operation ratio is compared only with the second operation ratio predetermined by the producer and when the operation ratio exceeds the second operation ratio predetermined by the producer, the display device is reactivated. Thus, in environments having very low temperatures, the perception that the cooling device is utilized even though it is not used is avoided and the actuation of the display device unnecessarily is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a door status sensor that detects whether or not the door is open. In the case the door is opened after deactivating the display device, the door status sensor sends signal to the control unit about the door being opened and the control unit activates the display device.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a data input unit that enables the user to adjust the operational parameters. The user controls the cooling device by means of at least one button disposed on the data input unit. When any one button is pressed while the display device is closed, the display device is operated. Consequently, the user does not have to perform long operations for opening the display device.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a temperature sensor is disposed at a position near the outer surface of the cooling device. The temperature sensor measures the ambient temperature and reports to the control unit. The control unit determines the first operation ratio and the second operation ratio prerecorded in its memory for that temperature value and controls operation of the display device depending on these values. Thus, the control of the display device is performed precisely without being affected by the ambient temperature.
By means of the present invention, the display device, which is one of the components consuming the most energy, is prevented to operate unnecessarily and energy saving is provided. There is no increase in costs since an additional sensor is not used for controlling the display device.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the cooling device of the present invention.
Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the cooling device of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1.: Cooling device
2.: Cabinet
3.: Door
4.: Compressor
5.: Control unit
6.: Display device
7.: Door status sensor
8.: Data input unit
9.: Button
10.: Temperature sensor

The following symbols are used for explicating the cooling device (1) of the present invention:

t_on: Compressor (4) operation time
t_off: Compressor (4) stop time
t_on+ t_off: Total cycle time
n: Compressor (4) operation ratio
n₁: Compressor (4) first operation ratio predetermined by the producer
n₂: Compressor (4) second operation ratio predetermined by the producer
t: Critical time predetermined by the producer as the closing condition of the display device (6)

The cooling device (1) comprises a cabinet (2) wherein objects to be cooled are placed, at least one door (3) providing access into the cabinet (2), a compressor (4) that circulates the refrigerant fluid in the refrigeration cycle by compressing, a control unit (5) that measures the compressor (4) stop time (t_off) and the operation time (t_on) and that calculates the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) by dividing the compressor (4) operation time (t_on) by the total cycle time (t_on+t_off) and a display device (6) that displays the operational parameters and/or additional information like time, weather forecast and calendar. The compressor (4) operates such that the interior of the cabinet (2) is kept at the desired temperature and stops when the required temperature is attained. The control unit (5) that controls the operation of the cooling device (1) regularly monitors and records the compressor (4) operation ratio (n). When the cooling device (1) door (3) opens and closes frequently, the compressor (4) is required to operate more and the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) increases (Figure 1).
In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the control unit (5) closes the display device (6) when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) remains between a first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer and a second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer, which is greater than the first operation ratio (n₁), as long as the critical time (t) predetermined by the producer. The control unit (5) decides that the cooling device (1) is not used when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) remains between the first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer and the second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer, as long as the critical time (t) predetermined by the producer. In this case, the control unit (5) closes the display device (6) since the display device (6) is not required and prevents unnecessary energy consumption. Consequently, electricity saving is obtained. Furthermore, the lifespan of the display device (6) is prolonged since it does not operate continuously. In a version of this embodiment, assuming that the cooling device (1) is at room conditions, the first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer is selected as 30 %, the second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer as 40 % and the critical time (t) predetermined by the producer as 26 hours.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (5) closes the display device (6) when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) remains below the second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer as long as the critical time (t) predetermined by the producer. In this embodiment, the first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer is zero. Only the second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer is taken into consideration as the closing condition of the display device (6). Accordingly, even at very low ambient temperatures, the utilization of the cooling device (1) is determined correctly and the display device (6) is provided to be controlled in an effective manner.
In another embodiment of the present invention, after the display device (6) is closed, the control unit (5) does not operate the display device (6) even if the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) falls below the first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer. Consequently, the display device (6) is prevented from being actuated accidentally at very low ambient temperatures and energy saving is provided.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (5) operates the display device (6) again when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) exceeds the second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer. In this embodiment, due to increase in the compressor (4) operation ratio (n), it is presumed that the cooling device (1) is utilized by the user and the display device (6) is operated.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a door status sensor (7) that detects the opening of the door (3). In this embodiment, after the display device (6) is closed, the control unit (5) operates the display device (6) again when data is received from the door status sensor (7) about opening of the door (3). Thus, it is detected that the cooling device (1) is started to be used and the display device (6) is made ready for utilization (Figure 2).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a data input unit (8) having at least one button (9) that provides operational parameters to be set by the user. In this embodiment, after the display device (6) is closed, the control unit (5) operates the display device (6) again when any one button (9) is pressed. In this embodiment, the data input unit (8) is disposed next to the display device (6). The changes made by means of the data input unit (8) can be monitored from the display device (6) (Figure 1).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises a temperature sensor (10) that detects the ambient temperature. In this embodiment, the control unit (5) changes the first operation ratio (n₁) and the second operation ratio (n₂) depending on the data received from the temperature sensor (10). A first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer and a second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer for every ambient temperature are recorded in the memory of the control unit (5). The first operation ratio (n₁) and the second operation ratio (n₂) are designated depending on the value delivered from the temperature sensor (10) and the display device (6) is controlled according to these values. Consequently, a more precise control is provided (Figure 2).
By means of the present invention, energy saving is obtained by preventing the display device (6) from operating unnecessarily. Furthermore, the lifespan of the display device (6) is prolonged since it operates for a shorter period of time.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a cabinet (2) wherein the foodstuffs to be cooled are placed, at least one door (3) providing access into the cabinet (2), a compressor (4) that circulates the refrigerant fluid in the refrigeration cycle by compressing, a control unit (5) that measures the compressor (4) stop time (t_off) and the operation time (t_on) and that calculates the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) by dividing the compressor (4) operation time (t_on) by the total cycle time (t_on+t_off) and a display device (6) that displays the operational parameters and/or additional information like time, weather forecast and calendar, characterized by the control unit (5) that switches off the display device (6) when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) remains between a first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer and a second operation ratio (n_z) predetermined by the producer, which is greater than the first operation ratio (n₁), during a critical time predetermined by the producer.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (5) that switches off the display device (6) when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) remains below the second operation ratio (n₂) predetermined by the producer during the critical time (t) predetermined by the producer.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit (5) that does not operate the display device (6) even if the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) falls below the first operation ratio (n₁) predetermined by the producer after the display device (6) is switched off.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the control unit (5) that operates the display device (6) again when the compressor (4) operation ratio (n) exceeds the second operation ratio (n_z) predetermined by the producer.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a door status sensor (7) that detects the opening of the door (3) and the control unit (5) that operates the display device (6) again when data is received from the door status sensor (7) about the open status of the door (3).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a data input unit (8) having at least one button (9) that provides operational parameters to be set by the user and the control unit (5) that operates the display device (6) again when any one button (9) is pressed after the display device (6) is switched off.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a temperature sensor (10) that detects the ambient temperature and the control unit (5) that changes the first operation ratio (n₁) and the second operation ratio (n_z) depending on the data received from the temperature sensor (10).