KR20080028405A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided to perform the optimum non-freezing mode by controlling the operation and the intensity of the refrigerator in the non-freezing mode according to the state of contained foods. A refrigerator(100) includes a non-freezing operation unit and a state checking unit. The non-freezing operation unit performs a non-freezing mode with respect to a storage space or foods contained in the storage space. The state checking unit determines a non-freezing state of the food through a contact scheme or a non-contact scheme. The state checking unit adjusts the operation or the intensity of the non-freezing operation unit according to the check result of the non-freezing state.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that checks a state in a storage space and selectively performs a freezing mode or a freezing release mode.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, an electrostatic field atmosphere is created in a refrigerator, and thawing of meat and fish in the refrigerator is performed at a negative temperature. In addition to meat and fish, freshness of fruits is maintained.

This technique uses a supercooling phenomenon, which refers to a phenomenon in which the melt or solid does not change even when the melt or solid is cooled to below the phase transition temperature at equilibrium.

Such a technique includes the electrostatic field treatment method, the electrostatic field treatment device, and electrodes used in them.

1 is a view showing an embodiment of a thawing and freshness holding device according to the prior art, wherein the cold storage 1 is constituted by a heat insulator 2 and an outer wall 5, and the internal temperature control mechanism (not shown). Is installed. The metal shelf 7 installed in the interior of the storehouse has a two-stage structure, and on each stage, objects for thawing or freshness maintenance and ripening of vegetables, meat and fish are mounted. The metal shelf 7 is insulated from the bottom of the furnace by the insulator 9. The high voltage generator 3 can generate direct current and alternating voltage up to 0 to 5000 V, and the inside of the heat insulating material 2 is covered with an insulating plate 2a such as vinyl chloride. The high voltage cable 4 for outputting the voltage of the high voltage generator 3 is connected to the metal shelf 7 through the outer wall 5 and the heat insulator 2.

When the door 6 provided on the front side of the cold storage 1 is opened, the safety switch 13 (refer FIG. 2) which is not shown in figure is turned off, and the output of the high voltage generator 3 is interrupted | blocked.

2 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the high voltage generator 3. AC 100V is supplied to the primary side of the voltage regulating transformer 15. Reference numeral 11 denotes a power supply lamp, and reference numeral 19 denotes a lamp indicating an operating state. The relay 14 operates when the above-mentioned door 6 is closed and the safety switch 13 is turned on. This state is indicated by the relay operation lamp 12. The relay contact ( 14a, 14b, and 14c are closed, and an AC 100V power source is applied to the primary side of the voltage regulating transformer 15.

The applied voltage is adjusted by the adjusting knob 15a on the secondary side of the voltage adjusting transformer 15, and the adjusted voltage value is displayed on the voltmeter. The adjusting knob 15a is connected to the primary side of the secondary boosting transformer 17 of the voltage adjusting transformer 15. In this boosting transformer 17, the boosting voltage is boosted at a ratio of 1:50, for example. When a voltage of 60V is applied, it is stepped up to 3000V.

_One end O ₁ of the secondary side output of the boosting transformer 17 is connected to the metal shelf 7 insulated from the cold storage via the high voltage cable 4, and the other end O _{2 of the} output is earthed. In addition, since the outer wall 5 is earthed, electric shock is not caused when the user of the cold storage 1 contacts the outer wall of the cold storage. In addition, if the metal shelf 7 is exposed in the furnace in FIG. 1, since the metal shelf 7 needs to be kept insulated in the furnace, it is necessary to separate it from the walls of the furnace (the air insulates). . In addition, when the object 8 protrudes from the metal shelf 7 and contacts the inner wall, current flows to the ground through the high wall. Therefore, when the insulating plate 2a is attached to the inner wall, the drop of applied voltage is prevented. And even if the said metal shelf 7 is coat | covered with vinyl chloride material etc. without exposing in the inside, the whole inside becomes an electric field atmosphere.

First, the cold storage 1 according to the prior art controls only the magnitude of the voltage applied to the metal shelf 7 so that the supercooling is performed on the food, and by such adjustment, supercooling is caused even at -5 ° C. Disclosures on preventing freezing are disclosed. That is, the prior art only discloses applying a voltage having a magnitude corresponding to the type of food, and does not disclose a control device and method according to the state of the food.

In order to solve this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a method of controlling the freezing thereof so as to check the state of the storage in the storage space, to efficiently perform the freezing mode.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a non-freezing control method thereof in which the user is informed by displaying the state of the stored object.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a method of controlling the freezing thereof, which provides an optimal performance of the freezing mode by controlling the operation and strength of the freezing mode according to the state of the object.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a non-freezing control method thereof to perform a freeze release mode according to the state of the object to minimize damage to the object.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes an electrode part formed in an accommodation space for storing an object, a voltage generating part generating and applying a voltage to the electrode part, a current sensing part sensing a current flowing in the electrode part; And a control unit which receives a sensing current from the current sensing unit and checks the state of the object.

At this time, the control unit preferably checks the state of the object according to the degree of change of the sensing current.

In addition, the state of the object preferably includes whether the storage in the storage space or whether or not to maintain the freezing state of the object.

In addition, the control unit preferably further checks the amount of the object according to the sensing current.

In addition, the refrigerator preferably further includes a heat source generating unit for forcibly raising the temperature of the storage space or the storage.

The refrigerator may further include a display unit which displays a state of the object to the user.

In addition, the control unit may adjust the voltage by the voltage generator according to the sensing current.

In addition, the refrigerator of the present invention is provided with a non-freezing operation unit for performing a non-freezing mode for the storage space or the storage items stored in the storage space, and a status check unit for confirming the non-freezing state of the storage by contact or non-contact. do.

In addition, the refrigerator of the present invention includes a state checking unit for checking the state of the object in the storage space, a selection unit for selecting the operation or strength of the freezing mode according to the state of the object, and a freeze release mode according to the state of the object. It consists of a freeze release unit to perform.

In addition, the method of controlling the freezing of the refrigerator according to the present invention includes checking a state of an object stored in a storage space, and performing a freezing mode or a freezing release mode according to the checking result.

The present invention of such a configuration checks the state of the objects in the storage space, not only to inform the user, there is an effect to efficiently perform the freezing mode.

In addition, the present invention controls the operation and strength of the non-freezing mode according to the state of the object to perform the freezing mode in an optimal state, it is also effective to reduce the power consumption.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of minimizing damage to the object by performing the freeze release mode according to the state of the object.

In the following, the invention is explained in detail on the basis of the embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

3 is a configuration diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figures 4a and 4b are embodiments of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

The refrigerator 100 generates heat in the storage spaces A and B, the load sensing unit 10 for checking the state of the storage items (not shown), and the storage spaces A and B. A heat source generator 20 for cooling, a refrigeration cycle 30 for cooling the storage spaces A and B, a voltage generator 40 for generating a voltage so that an electric field is applied to the storage spaces A and B, and The electrode unit 50 generates an electric field by receiving the generated voltage, the door detecting unit 60 detecting the opening / closing of the door 120, the degree of cooling from the user, the freezing mode or the freezing release mode. An input unit 70 for receiving the performance of the refrigerator, a display unit 80 for displaying the operation state of the refrigerator 100, and a freezing mode and freezing using the supercooling phenomenon while performing freezing or refrigerating control of the refrigerator 100. The microcomputer 90 performs a release mode. However, although a power supply unit (not shown) for supplying power to the above-described elements is naturally provided, such a power supply is a technology clearly recognized by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and thus description thereof is omitted.

In detail, the load detector 10 detects or stores the state of the storage spaces A and B, and the state of the storage items stored in the storage spaces A and B, and informs the microcomputer 90 of the storage spaces. The load detector 10 stores, for example, information about the volume of the storage spaces A and B in the state of the storage spaces A and B, or senses the temperature of the storage spaces A or B. It may be a thermometer or a hardness meter, an ammeter or a voltmeter or a weight meter or an optical sensor (or a laser sensor) or a pressure sensor for checking whether the object is accommodated in the storage spaces A and B. In particular, the load sensing unit 10 may be an ammeter or a voltmeter, and when the storage spaces (A, B) are empty, and when there is an enclosure, the overall resistance value of the resistor through which the electric field flows is changed. It can be checked whether or not the storage according to the value or the current value. In addition, the microcomputer 90 may check the amount of the object and the water content of the object according to the current value, the voltage value, or the resistance value from the load sensing unit 10, and thus the kind of the object having the moisture content rate determined accordingly. Can also be identified.

In particular, the load detection unit 10 is a means for detecting whether or not the freezing of the object to be cooled in the storage mode, freezing mode and the like. For example, when the object is a liquid phase, it is a means for sensing that the phase transition of the object is made when the phase transition temperature is stored below. The load detector 10 may be a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of an object, a voltage sensor or a current sensor that measures a voltage or current caused by an electric field flowing through the object in a freezing mode, or measures the hardness of the object. It may be a hardness sensor for identifying whether the freezing by the phase transition has been made. Checking the state of the article by the load sensing unit 10 is described in detail below.

Next, the heat source generator 20 is a means for forcibly raising the temperature of the storage spaces A and B or the stored object, such as the ripening mode of the refrigerator 100, and the like. Means for generating and transferring to increase the temperature of the object, or means for raising the temperature by applying a radio wave to the object such as a microwave to generate heat in the object itself, and the like.

Next, the refrigeration cycle 30 is divided into inter-cooling and direct cooling according to the method for cooling the stored object. The embodiment of FIG. 4A is an intercooled refrigerator, and the embodiment of FIG. 4B is a direct cooled refrigerator, which is described in detail below.

In addition, the voltage generator 40 generates a DC voltage having a predetermined size or an AC voltage according to a predetermined size and frequency. The voltage generator 40 may generate at least one of the magnitude of the voltage and the frequency of the voltage to thereby generate an AC voltage. In particular, the voltage generator 40 applies an AC voltage corresponding to the set value (voltage magnitude, voltage frequency, etc.) from the microcomputer 90 to the electrode unit 50, and thus the electric field is stored in the storage space (A). , B). The voltage generator 40 in the present invention can vary the magnitude of the voltage within the range of 500V ~ 15kV. In addition, the voltage generator 40 sets the frequency of the voltage in a high frequency range of 1 to 500 kHz.

The electrode unit 50 is a means for converting an alternating voltage from the voltage generating unit 40 into an electric field and applying it to the storage spaces A and B. The electrode unit 50 is usually made of a plate or conductive wire made of a material such as copper or platinum.

The electric field applied to the storage spaces A and B or the object by the electrode unit 50 has a water molecule composed of oxygen (O) having a negative polarity and hydrogen (H) having a positive polarity. By vibrating, rotating, and translating continuously, the water molecules are not crystallized and the liquid phase is maintained even at a temperature below the phase transition temperature.

The door detection unit 60 stops the operation of the voltage generator 40 according to the opening of the door 120 that opens and closes the storage spaces A and B. The door detection unit 60 notifies the microcomputer 90 of the opening of the door 120. ) May perform the stop operation, or may be stopped by shorting the power applied to the voltage generator 40.

The input unit 70 allows the user to select the storage space (A, B) or the object in addition to the temperature setting for general refrigeration and refrigeration control, the service type of the dispenser (flake ice, water, etc.), the storage mode and the ripening mode. It is a means by which a selection of a freezing mode or a selection of a freezing mode can be entered.

The display unit 80 can basically perform the display of the refrigeration and refrigeration temperature, the service type of the dispenser, the storage mode and the ripening mode, the freezing state, the freezing mode or the freezing mode, and the storage spaces (A, B). Alternatively, the state of the object (for example, the amount of the object, whether it is stored or not, freezing, etc.) may be displayed.

The microcomputer 90 performs basic refrigeration and freezing control, and performs the freezing mode and the freezing release mode according to the present invention.

The microcomputer 90 performs the non-freezing mode by basically generating the voltage set by the voltage generator 40 and applying it to the electrode unit 50. In this case, the microcomputer 90 may allow the voltage generator 40 to generate such an AC voltage and apply it to the electrode unit 50 according to an AC voltage having a set frequency and magnitude. The set voltage or the alternating voltage may be applied to a case in which the kind of objects to be stored in the storage spaces A and B is predetermined (for example, a meat storage space, a vegetable storage space, a fruit storage space, a wine storage space, and the like). .

In addition, in performing the non-freezing mode, the microcomputer 90 adjusts the operation or the intensity of the non-freezing mode according to the detection result from the load sensing unit 10.

First, with regard to the operation of the freezing mode, when the microcomputer 90 determines that an object is not stored in the storage spaces A and B according to the detection result from the load sensing unit 10, the microcomputer 90 enters the freezing mode. There is no need to work. Therefore, the microcomputer 90 displays the state in which the contents are not stored through the display unit 80 and does not operate the freezing mode, thereby reducing power consumption and promptly notifying the user of such a situation. Can be.

In addition, with respect to the strength of the freezing mode, the microcomputer 90 determines the amount of objects contained in the storage spaces A and B according to the detection result from the load sensing unit 10, The intensity of the freezing mode is adjusted by adjusting the magnitude and frequency of the voltage so that an electric field can be applied. By adjusting the intensity, the microcomputer 90 may reduce power consumption by generating an electric field of an appropriate intensity according to the amount of the object. In addition, the microcomputer 90 displays the information on the amount of the object according to the detection result to the user through the display unit 80, so that the user does not need to check the storage space (A, B), the information about the free space Can be obtained.

In addition, the microcomputer 90 recognizes whether the object is frozen according to the detected value or the measured value from the load sensing unit 10, and performs the freeze release mode accordingly. When the freezing mode is being performed by the freezing cycle 30, the microcomputer 90 converts the mode to the refrigeration mode to release the freezing of the contents, or generates the heat source together with the refrigeration mode. By operating the unit 20, the freezing state can be released by forcibly raising the temperature of the storage spaces A and B or the stored object. In the case of the freeze release by the heat source generator 20, all the objects in the storage spaces A and B are affected, so that the microcomputer 90 is accurately determined according to the detection result from the load detector 10. Judgment should be made as to whether the items are frozen.

The determination method of the microcomputer 90 described above is described below.

4a and 4b are embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present invention. Figure 4a is a cross-sectional view of the intercooled refrigerator, Figure 4b is a cross-sectional view of the direct-cooling refrigerator.

The intercooled refrigerator has a case 110 having one side open and a storage space A formed therein, and a case 110 having a shelf 130 that partially divides the storage space A, and opening and closing an open one surface of the case 110. The door 120 is made.

The heat source generator 20 is shown in the form of a hot wire such as a heater inserted into the inner surface 112b of the case 110.

The refrigeration cycle 30 of the intercooled refrigerator includes a compressor 32 for compressing a refrigerant, an evaporator 33 for generating cold air (indicated by an arrow) for cooling the storage space A or the stored object, and the generated cold air. A fan 34 forcibly flowing, an inlet duct 36 for introducing cold air into the storage space A, and a discharge duct 38 for guiding the cold air passing through the storage space A to the evaporator 33. . In addition, the freezing cycle 30 may include a condenser, a dryer, an expansion device, and the like, which are not shown.

Electrode portions 50a and 50b are formed between the inner surfaces 112a and 112c facing the storage space A and the outer surface of the case 110, and each of the electrode portions 50a and 50b faces the storage space A. It is formed, so that the electric field can be applied to the entire storage space (A). In addition, the storage space A is spaced apart from the ends of the electrode portions 50a and 50b inwardly or in the center direction of the electrode portions 50a and 50b by a predetermined interval so that a uniform electric field is stored in the storage space A or the storage space. Allow to be applied to water.

In addition, the inner surface 112b of the case 110 is spaced apart from the heat source generator 20 by a predetermined distance to form the inlet duct 36 and the discharge duct 38. In addition, the surface of the inner surface (112a, 112b, 112c) of the case 110 is made of a hydrophobic material, so that the surface tension of water, such as water is reduced to prevent freezing during the non-freezing mode. Of course, the outer surface and the inner surface (112a, 112b, 112c) of the case 110 is made of an insulating material, so that the user is not electric shock from the electrode portions (50a, 50b) and at the same time the objects are inner surface (112a, 112b, The electrical contact with the electrode portions 50a and 50b through the 112c is prevented.

Next, the case 110, the door 120, the shelf 130, and the heat source generator 20 of the direct cooling refrigerator of FIG. 4B are the same as the intercooling refrigerator of FIG. 4A, and the inner surfaces 114a and 114b of the case 110. , 114c is the same except for the inlet duct 36 and the discharge duct 38 compared to the cases 112a, 112b, 112c.

The freezing cycle 30 of the direct-cooling refrigerator of FIG. 4B is installed in the case 110 adjacent to the compressor 32 compressing the refrigerant and the case inner surfaces 114a, 114b, and 114c around the storage space B. It consists of an evaporator 39 which evaporates. However, the direct-cooling refrigeration cycle 30 is configured to include a condenser (not shown) and expansion valve (not shown).

In particular, the electrode portions 50c and 50d are inserted between the evaporator 39 and the case 110 to prevent the cold air from being blocked by the evaporator 39.

5A and 5B are graphs illustrating a relationship between the current sensing method by the current sensor and the amount of the current and the package.

5A relates to a method of configuring the load sensing unit 10 that is a current sensor, and the load sensing unit 10 should be connected in series with respect to the power source and the electrode units 50a and 50b. That is, the load sensing unit 10 is a current applied to the electrode units 50a and 50b and senses a current flowing through the storage space A and the storage object. 5A is an example of the intercooling freezing refrigerator of FIG. 4A, but may be applied to the direct cooling freezing storage of FIG. 4B using the same connection method.

The graph of FIG. 5B is a graph of the relationship between the detected current value and the amount of containment accordingly. As shown, when the current value is close to zero, it is determined that there are no objects in the storage spaces A and B, and the amount of the object increases as the current value increases. From the relationship graph of FIG. 5B, the microcomputer 90 may determine whether the received object is in the state of the stored object and the amount of the stored object. Through this determination, the microcomputer 90 adjusts the operation of the freezing mode and the intensity so that efficient control is performed.

6A-6C are graphs of data sensed by a current or voltage sensor. Here, the object is data about the case of water. When the water is frozen in the freezing state and then frozen immediately, the current, power, etc. are rapidly increased, and the sudden increase is sensed by a current sensor or a voltage sensor to check whether the water is frozen.

FIG. 6A is a change graph of power factor, FIG. 6B is a change graph of power, and FIG. 6C is a change graph of current. These are the case where an AC voltage of 20 kHz is applied. In each graph, the rapid rise of power factor, power, and current occurs when the freezing starts. Thus, the microcomputer 90 determines that the freezing is performed when it is confirmed that such a sudden rise is caused from the measured value from the load sensing unit 10.

In addition, when the load sensor 10 is a hardness sensor that is a contact sensor, since the measured hardness will increase rapidly when freezing is started on the object, it is determined that the freezing was performed at such a sharp increase.

7 is a temperature graph of an enclosure by a temperature sensor. The temperature shown in FIG. 7 is an example when the thing is water. This temperature sensor may be contact or non-contact.

As shown, when the internal temperature, i.e., the control temperature, is maintained at about -7 ° C, the temperature of the water gradually decreases, and suddenly rises to near the phase transition temperature before about -6 ° C. This rapid rise in temperature near the phase transition temperature means that the phase transition is made in water. This means that the water is frozen in ice. Accordingly, the microcomputer 90 may check that the temperature rises from the temperature measured by the load sensor 10 to the temperature rise up to the temperature and the phase transition temperature, thereby confirming that freezing has occurred in the water contained in the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows embodiment of the thawing and freshness holding | maintenance apparatus by a prior art.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the high voltage generator 3 of FIG.

3 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

4a and 4b are embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are graphs illustrating a relationship between the current sensing method by the current sensor and the amount of the current and the package.

6A-6C are graphs of data sensed by a current or voltage sensor.

7 is a temperature graph of an enclosure by a temperature sensor.

Claims (13)

A freezing operation unit which performs a freezing mode with respect to the storage space or the storage items stored in the storage space; And a state checking unit for checking the non-freezing state of the storage in a contact manner or a non-contact manner. The method of claim 1, The state check unit is a refrigerator, characterized in that for adjusting the operation or strength of the non-freezing operation unit according to the result of the confirmation of the non-freezing state. The method of claim 1, The status check unit is a refrigerator comprising at least one of a hardness meter, a thermometer, a voltmeter, and an ammeter. A state checking unit for checking a state of an object in the storage space; A selection unit for selecting an operation or strength of the freezing mode according to the state of the object; And a freezing release unit configured to perform a freezing release mode according to the state of the article. The method of claim 4, wherein And the state of the object includes at least one of whether the object is stored in the storage space, whether the object is maintained in a freezing state, and the amount of the object. The method of claim 4, wherein And the freezing release unit is a heat source generating unit forcibly raising the temperature of the storage space or the storage object. Confirming a state of the object accommodated in the storage space; And a non-freezing mode or a freezing release mode according to the check result. The method of claim 7, wherein The status checking step includes measuring at least one of a temperature, a hardness, a voltage, and a current of the package, and determining the state according to the measured value. The method of claim 7, wherein And the freezing release mode comprises at least a refrigeration mode. The method of claim 7, wherein The freezing release mode is a freezing control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that it comprises a heating mode for generating heat in the storage space or the object. The method of claim 7, wherein The non-freezing control method further comprises the step of adjusting the operation or strength of the non-freezing mode according to the confirmation result. The method according to claim 7 or 11, wherein The freezing control method is a freezing control method of the refrigerator comprising the step of adjusting the operation or strength of the freezing mode according to the freezing state or frozen state of the storage or the amount of the storage . The method of claim 12, The strength of the non-freezing mode includes the cooling strength of the package and the strength of the electric field applied to the package.

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