EP 1180652 B1 20060927 - Controller and method for controlling a defrost operation in a refrigerator
Title (en)
Controller and method for controlling a defrost operation in a refrigerator
Title (de)
Steuervorrichtung und Verfahren zum Steuern des Abtauvorgangs in einem Kühlschrank
Title (fr)
Dispositif de commande et procédé pour commander l'opération de dégivrage dans un réfrigérateur
Publication
Application
Priority
EP 00117310 A 20000818
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP1180652A1] The present invention relates to a controller (1) and a method of controlling a defrost operation in a refrigerator. The duration of a refrigeration period is determined by the amount of time needed for defrosting the evaporator (2) of the refrigerator. A heater (13) is provided for supplying thermal energy to accelerate the defrost operation. If the defrost duration deviates from a target defrost duration, the next refrigeration period is adjusted accordingly to maintain the actual defrost duration close to the target defrost duration. According to the invention the target defrost duration is determined based on the detection of a power supply condition of the refrigerator. Preferably, also the thermal dispersion is detected. The invention achieves an optimized adaptive defrost even when operating the refrigerator in countries where the mains power supply suffers from load dependent voltage instabilities. <IMAGE>
IPC 8 full level
F25D 21/00 (2006.01); F25D 21/08 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
F25D 21/008 (2013.01); F25B 2700/15 (2013.01); F25B 2700/2117 (2013.01); F25D 2500/04 (2013.01); F25D 2700/02 (2013.01); F25D 2700/14 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE DK FR GB IT
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 1180652 A1 20020220; EP 1180652 B1 20060927; DE 60030971 D1 20061109; DE 60030971 T2 20070614; TR 200102371 A2 20020321; TR 200102371 A3 20020321
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 00117310 A 20000818; DE 60030971 T 20000818; TR 200102371 A 20010816