JP6851245B2 - Refrigerator and refrigerator system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to refrigerators and refrigerator systems.

There are known home appliances that can be remotely controlled by an external terminal via a server and that are remotely controlled when a remote service is activated.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-50711

In Patent Document 1, since the main body of control exists on the home electric appliance side, the performance of the control unit to be provided on the home electric appliance side is required to be relatively high.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can communicate with a server via a network, a compressor, a storage chamber, a fan that supplies air to the storage chamber, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the storage chamber, and a network. A refrigerator having a communication unit, the server transmits the detection value of the temperature sensor to the server, and the server creates a control command using the detection value of the temperature sensor and transmits the control command to the refrigerator. It is characterized in that it receives a control command of the server and controls the compressor and the fan based on the control command.

Schematic of the refrigerator system of Example 1 The figure which shows the control sequence of the refrigerator of (a) comparative example and (b) Example 1. The figure which shows the user interface when changing the temperature zone setting of the storage chamber of Example 1.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator system according to the present embodiment, and is a diagram showing a refrigerator 1a, a server 1b, an information communication terminal 1d, and a network 1c that enables information to be exchanged between them.
The refrigerator 1a includes a communication unit capable of communicating with the server 1b and the communication terminal 1d wirelessly or by wire via a network 1c such as the Internet or WAN.
Further, the refrigerator 1a is generated by a refrigerating cycle including a storage chamber, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for radiating the refrigerant, a decompressor for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant, and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant to generate cold air. It has a fan that supplies the cold air to the storage chamber and a damper that adjusts the amount of cold air that flows into the storage chamber and the amount of cold air that flows out of the storage chamber. Further, the refrigerator 1a includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the storage room, a door sensor that detects the opening and closing of the door of the storage room, a heater provided near the evaporator, and an evaporator sensor that detects the temperature of the evaporator. Has.
The server 1b has cooling control software which is software for controlling the compressor, fan, and heater of the refrigerator 1a, and various types such as a temperature sensor, a door sensor, and an evaporator sensor are provided from the refrigerator 1a via the network 1c. Receive sensor information. The server 1b calculates an appropriate compressor rotation speed, fan rotation speed, and heater ON / OFF timing by cooling control software based on the received sensor information. Then, the server 1b transmits the calculated appropriate drive information of the compressor, the fan, and the like to the refrigerator 1a via the network 1c. The communication unit transmits the received control command to the compressor, fan, and heater, and the compressor, fan, and heater are driven based on this information. For the interpretation of the control command, the refrigerator 1 may be provided with a control board that controls information processing, or information processing may be performed by a plurality of control boards. For example, the compressor may be provided with an independent control board.

The communication unit of the refrigerator 1a transmits the above-mentioned sensor information to the server 1b via the network 1c.

In this way, the refrigerator 1a establishes communication with the server 1b via the network 1c, transmits sensor information to the server 1b, and outputs (drives) various members such as a compressor, a fan, and a heater from the server 1b. State) is controlled.

The cooling control software is configured to be able to switch a plurality of control tendency settings, and the user of the refrigerator 1a can select the control tendency setting of the refrigerator 1a through the operation of the information communication terminal 1d. For example, the cooling control software supplies the refrigerator 1a in addition to the normal mode, (1) a "power saving mode" that drives the refrigerator 1a so as to reduce power consumption, and (2) supplies a storage room with a larger amount of cold air than in the normal mode. It is set to be switchable to various modes such as "quick cooling mode". Further, the target temperature of the storage chamber is set to be switchable. For example, the target temperature of the storage chamber in the refrigerating temperature zone can be switched from 1 ° C. to 9 ° C. Furthermore, the temperature zone of the storage chamber can be changed. For example, by switching the setting, the same storage room can be used as a refrigerator room, a vegetable room, a freezer room, or a wine cellar.

In this way, the cooling control software is installed on the server 1b, and the setting of the control tendency can be changed on the communication terminal 1d. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange a relatively high-performance control board, memory, etc. on the refrigerator 1a side. The sex can be reduced.

Further, since the setting is changed via the communication terminal 1d, it is possible to reduce the need to provide the refrigerator 1a with a user interface or the like (display or the like) for receiving the setting change command of the user.

Further, since the administrator of the server 1b can update the cooling control software as appropriate, it becomes easy to update the cooling control to reflect the needs of the user after the refrigerator 1a is sold. At this time, the application of the update may be selected by the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing (a) a comparative example and (b) a control sequence of the refrigerator 1a of the present embodiment. In the comparative example, the compressor, fan, damper, etc. are completely controlled by the control board mounted on the refrigerator. As shown in steps S01 and S02, in the comparative example, only the functions installed in the refrigerator from the beginning can be used.

In this embodiment, when communication with the server 1b of the refrigerator 1a is established, the server 1b refers to the setting of the temperature zone of each storage room of the refrigerator 1a set via the information terminal 1d, and corresponds to this. Control is performed corresponding to the storage room temperature setting (step S11).

Next, the server 1b confirms the mode or the like set via the information terminal 1d, refers to, for example, whether it is the "power saving mode" or the "quick cooling mode", and performs control corresponding to the mode. (Step S12).

The server 1b that has started the control receives the sensor value sent from the refrigerator 1a and refers to it (steps S13 and S14), calculates the appropriate drive state of the compressor, fan, heater, etc., and calculates the drive state of the refrigerator 1a. (Steps S15 and S16). As a result, the refrigerator 1a is controlled (step S17).

Since the cooling control software, which is an application on the server 1b, is used in this way, the cooling control software can be appropriately updated as compared with the comparative example to enable fine control and various control modes. Can be provided. A user interface may be provided in the refrigerator 1a instead of the information terminal 1d.

FIG. 3 shows a user interface displayed on the information terminal 1d when the setting of the application on the server 1b is changed. Here, the user interface related to the change of the room temperature setting in step S11 is shown.

When trying to change the room temperature setting of the storage room of the refrigerator 1a, the user operates the information terminal 1d to open the customization menu (FIG. 3A). In this embodiment, "Easy setting 10" that specifies only the storage chamber whose setting is changed and the approximate temperature range of this storage chamber, and "Details" that specifies the storage chamber whose setting is changed and the target control temperature of this storage chamber. "Setting 20" can be selected.

When the simple setting 10 is selected, the screen transitions to the screen for selecting the storage room for which the setting is to be changed (storage room selection screen), as illustrated in FIG. 3 (b). In a part of the screen, an image imitating each storage room of the refrigerator 1a is displayed. Here, a scene is shown in which the upper freezing chamber 2 is selected from the upper storage chamber 2, the middle storage chamber 3, and the lower storage chamber 4, which are the storage chambers.
The storage room temperature zone display unit 30 indicates to which temperature zone the storage room to be selected, which is indicated by an image imitating each storage room of the refrigerator 1a, is currently controlled. FIG. 3A shows that the upper storage chamber 2 is currently controlled as a refrigerating chamber.

When any of the storage chambers is selected, the screen transitions to a screen (temperature zone designation screen) for designating the approximate temperature zone for controlling the selected storage chamber in the future (FIG. 3 (d)). In this embodiment, the "hot food freezer" virtual button 41 set in the quick freezer, the "wine cellar" virtual button 42 that controls the temperature zone suitable for storing wine as a target, and the refrigerating temperature range are used for rapid cooling. It can be selected from the "quick cooling" virtual button 43. When any of the virtual buttons is selected, the selected contents are transmitted to the server 1b, and the server 1b changes the control mode of the corresponding storage room of the refrigerator 1a. Specifically, the mode of supplying cold air to the upper storage chamber 2 which is the previously selected storage chamber is changed. For example, when the "hot food freezing" virtual button 41 is selected, the temperature zone of the upper storage chamber 2 is changed to the freezing temperature zone (step S11), and the rotation speed of the compressor is set to a relatively high range, which is normal. A large amount of cold air is supplied as compared with the storage chamber in the freezing temperature zone (step S12).

On the other hand, when the detailed setting 20 is selected, the place where the storage room for which the setting is to be changed is selected can be performed in the same manner as in the simple setting 10 (FIG. 3 (c)). After selecting the storage chamber, the screen transitions to a screen for specifying which temperature to control the selected storage chamber as a target in the future (step S11; FIG. 3 (e)). Specifically, the storage room temperature zone display unit 30 changes to the target temperature setting unit 40, and the user can specify, for example, the target temperature in a predetermined unit, for example, in units of 1 ° C.

In this way, the temperature setting of the storage room of each refrigerator can be set in detail according to the request of the user.

In this embodiment, the server 1b controls the control of the compressor and the like, but the refrigerator 1a may be able to perform a part of the control. For example, when some problem occurs in the network 1c and the communication between the refrigerator 1a and the server 1b cannot be established, the program recorded in advance in the refrigerator 1a can be started. The program may be, for example, as long as the refrigerator 1a can maintain the supply of cold air to each storage chamber. Specific examples thereof include a set temperature zone holding unit that stores a set temperature zone of each storage chamber, and a damper opening / closing time holding unit that stores a damper opening / closing switching time according to each set temperature zone.

As soon as the network 1c is restored, communication with the server 1b is established and appropriate control is started. In this case, it is possible to give priority to detecting the amount of frost formed on the evaporator and determining the necessity of defrosting.

1a Refrigerator 1b Server 1c Network 1d Information communication terminal

Claims (4)

A compressor, a storage room, a fan that supplies air to the storage room, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the storage room, and a communication unit that can communicate with an administrator's server via a network including the Internet or WAN. And, which is a refrigerator used by users of home appliances,
The detection value of the temperature sensor is transmitted to the server via the network, and the detection value is transmitted to the server.
The server has cooling control software that creates a control command to the refrigerator based on the detected value received via the network, and the cooling control software utilizes the detected value of the temperature sensor. A control command for the number of revolutions of the compressor and the number of revolutions of the fan is created and transmitted to the refrigerator.
While the connection with the server is established via the network, the control command of the server is received, and the compressor is based on the compressor rotation speed command and the fan rotation speed command included in the control command. A refrigerator characterized by controlling the fan and the fan. The tendency of the control command created by the server changes according to the setting change of the control tendency via the user interface.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is activated when communication with the server cannot be established, and holds a program capable of maintaining the supply of cold air to the storage chamber. The program to be started when communication with the server cannot be established
2. The second aspect of the present invention includes a set temperature zone holding unit that stores a set temperature zone of the storage chamber, and a damper opening / closing time holding unit that stores a damper opening / closing switching time according to the set temperature zone. The refrigerator described in. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and
With the server
A refrigerator system with a communication terminal
By operating the communication terminal, the temperature zone of the storage room can be changed.
The communication terminal is
An image that imitates each storage room of the refrigerator and
A storage room selection screen including a storage room temperature zone display unit that displays the current set temperature zone of the storage room to be selected, which is specified by the image, and a storage room selection screen.
A refrigerator system that displays a temperature zone designation screen for selecting a future set temperature zone for the storage chamber selected on the storage chamber selection screen.

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