BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same,
and more particularly to a refrigerator equipped with an ion generator and a method
of controlling the same, capable of maintaining the density of ozone, which is generated
together with ions, to a level lower than a predetermined level.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] A conventional refrigerator mainly includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion
device, an evaporator, and an accumulator that form a refrigeration cycle to keep
various kinds of foods in a fresh state for a long period of time. In such a refrigerator,
a liquid-phase refrigerant flowing in the evaporator absorbs ambient heat when the
liquid-phase refrigerant is evaporated so that cold air is provided to a refrigerating
chamber and a freezing chamber.
[0003] Since the foods stored in the refrigerator are exposed to external air when a door
of the refrigerator is open, the refrigerator has a problem in that various kinds
of bacteria are introduced into storage rooms of the refrigerator and then are propagated
in the storage rooms. In order to solve this problem, recently, technologies have
been developed to provide an ion generator in the storage room of the refrigerator
so as to sterilize the storage room by ions or ozone generated from the ion generator.
[0004] The conventional refrigerator includes an ion generator having a discharger, which
discharges a high voltage generated from a high-voltage generator to the atmosphere,
in order to generate ions. The ion generator using the high voltage additionally generates
ozone when generating ions.
[0005] The ozone generated together with ions sterilizes and deodorizes the inside of the
storage room at a desirable density. However, if the ozone is continuously accumulated
in a sealed space such as the inside of a storage room, a great amount of ozone is
distributed in the storage room so that a user may feel displeasure, or a bad effect
may be exerted on a human body when the door of the refrigerator is open.
[0006] In order to solve this problem, an ozone removing unit is installed in the storage
room such that the ozone removing unit operates if the density of ozone exceeds a
predetermined level. However, in this case, additional equipment and a control unit
must be provided for the ozone removing unit, so that the manufacturing costs of the
refrigerator may increase. In addition, if both the ion generator and the ozone removing
unit are installed in the refrigerator, high power consumption results.
SUMMARY
[0007] Accordingly, the present embodiment has been made to solve above-mentioned problems
occurring in the prior art, and an aspect of the present embodiment is to provide
a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, capable of adjusting a density
of ozone in the refrigerator such that the ozone may not exert a negative effect on
a human body by incorporating a normal operational pattern of the refrigerator with
the operation of an ion generator without employing additional equipment or a controller
for the equipment.
[0008] Another aspect of the present embodiment is to provide a refrigerator and a method
of controlling the same, capable of optimizing a sterilization function of a storage
room by uniformly distributing ions and ozone generated from an ion generator in a
storage room.
[0009] Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned
by practice of the invention.
[0010] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a refrigerator including
a plurality of storage rooms, a circulation fan circulating cold air in the storage
rooms through a cold air path, a damper provided in a predetermined portion of the
cold air path and controlling an opening degree of the cold air path connecting the
storage rooms, an ion generator generating ions inside the storage rooms, and a controller
controlling operation of the ion generator according to the opening degree of the
damper to adjust a density of ozone created in the storage rooms.
[0011] In addition, the ion generator is provided in at least one of the storage rooms.
[0012] Further, the storage rooms include a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber,
and the ion generator is provided in the refrigerating chamber.
[0013] The controller operates the ion generator when the damper is opened, and stops operation
of the ion generator when the damper is closed.
[0014] The refrigerator further includes a temperature sensor module measuring temperatures
of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, wherein the controller opens
the damper when the temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber
measured in the temperature sensor module are equal to or greater than set temperatures
of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, respectively.
[0015] In addition, the controller operates the circulation fan when the damper is opened.
[0016] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a method of controlling
a refrigerator including a plurality of storage rooms and a circulation fan that circulates
cold air in the storage rooms through a cold air path, including controlling an operation
of an ion generator according to an opening degree of a damper which controls an opening
degree of a cold air path connecting to the storage rooms, to adjust a density of
ozone created by the ion generator generating ions in the storage rooms.
[0017] In addition, the controller operates the ion generator when the damper is opened,
and stops operation of the ion generator when the damper is closed.
[0018] Further, internal temperatures of the storage rooms are measured in order to compare
the internal temperatures with preset temperatures of each of the storage rooms, and
then the damper is opened if the internal temperatures of the storage rooms are greater
than or equal to the preset temperatures of each of the storage rooms, respectively.
[0019] The circulation fan is operated when the damper is opened.
[0020] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a refrigerator, including
a plurality of storage rooms; a cold air path connecting the storage rooms; a damper
provided in a predetermined portion of the cold air path and controlling an opening
degree of the cold air path connecting the storage rooms; an ion generator generating
ions inside at least one of the storage rooms; and a controller controlling operation
of the ion generator according to measured temperatures of the storage rooms.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other aspects, features and advantages will be more apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a refrigerator according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure for controlling the operation of a
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a refrigerator according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements
throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by
referring to the figures.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a refrigerator according
to an embodiment.
[0024] The refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 includes a freezing chamber 11 formed at an inner
upper portion of a refrigerator body 10 and a refrigerating chamber 12 formed at an
inner lower portion of the refrigerator body 10. A freezing chamber door 13 and a
refrigerating chamber door 14 are installed on front portions of the freezing chamber
11 and the refrigerating chamber 12, respectively, to open/close the freezing chamber
11 and the refrigerating chamber 12.
[0025] A typical evaporator 15 is installed at an inner rear portion of the freezing chamber
11 to create cold air, and a circulation fan 16 is installed above the evaporator
15 to forcefully circulate internal air of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating
chamber 12.
[0026] In addition, a first inner plate 17 is installed at an inner rear portion of the
freezing chamber 11 in order to separate an inner space of the freezing chamber 11
from a space in which the evaporator 15 is installed, and a box-shaped cold air duct
19 is installed at the back of the first inner plate 17 to form a first cold air path
18 together with the first inner plate 17. In addition, a plurality of cold-air exhaust
holes 17a are formed in the first inner plate 17 such that cold air guided through
the first cold air path 18 can be supplied into the freezing chamber 11.
[0027] The refrigerating chamber 12 includes a second inner plate 21, which is installed
at an inner rear portion of the refrigerating chamber 12 in order to form a second
cold air path 20 connected to the first cold air path 18, and a plurality of cold-air
exhaust holes 21 a are formed in the second inner plate 21.
[0028] An intermediate wall 22 separating the freezing chamber 11 from the refrigerating
chamber 12 is formed with a communication path 24, which connects the first cold air
path 18 to the second cold air path 20, and a cold-air return path 25 allowing cold
air supplied into the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 to return
to the evaporator 15.
[0029] In addition, a damper 30 is installed at the side of an outlet of the communication
path 24 such that the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 12 can be properly
maintained by adjusting an amount of cold air flowing toward the refrigerating chamber
12 from the freezing chamber 11 through the opening/closing of the outlet of the communication
path 24.
[0030] Further, a temperature sensor module 120 including a first temperature sensor 120a
and a second temperature sensor 120b is installed at the inside of the freezing chamber
11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 in order to measure the temperatures of the freezing
chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12, and an ion generator 40 is installed
at the inside of the refrigerating chamber 12 to generate ions.
[0031] The damper 30 adjusts the opening degree of the outlet of the communication path
24 while rotating in a forward direction or a backward direction through the driving
of a step motor (not shown), so that the temperature of the refrigerating chamber
12 can be properly maintained.
[0032] Meanwhile, the ion generator 40 according to the present embodiment, which generates
ions according to the discharge of high voltage, can be preferably realized through
one of well-known technologies.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure controlling the operation of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment.
[0034] If an operational signal of the refrigerator is input through an input module 110,
a controller 100 controls the operation of the refrigerator according to an operation
program previously stored in a memory 130 based on temperature information about the
inside of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 delivered from
a temperature sensor module 120.
[0035] If the controller 100 delivers a control signal used to drive the circulation fan
16 to a fan driving module 140 in order to supply cold air into the freezing chamber
11 and the refrigerating chamber 12, the circulation fan 16 is driven according to
the control signal so that air that has been cooled through the evaporator 15 is supplied
to the first cold air path 18, and then supplied into the freezing chamber 11 through
the cold-air exhaust holes 17a of the first inner plate 17.
[0036] In addition, the cold air of the first cold air path 18 partially flows into the
second cold air path 20 through the communication path 24 of the intermediate wall
22, so that the cold air is supplied into the refrigerating chamber 12 through the
refrigerating chamber cold air-holes 21 a. In addition, the internal air of the freezing
chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 is continuously circulated while returning
to the evaporator 15 through the cold-air return path 25 of the intermediate wall
24.
[0037] When such a cold air circulation operation is achieved, the controller 100 delivers
a control signal used to control the opening degree of the damper 30 to a damper driving
module 150 in order to adjust the flow rate of the cold air according to the temperatures
of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12, and the flow rate of
the cold air flowing into the second cold air path 20 from the first cold air path
18 is adjusted due to the operation of the damper 30 according to the control signal.
[0038] Meanwhile, the controller 100 delivers a signal used to operate the ion generator
40 to an ion generator driving module 160 according to the operation program previously
stored in the memory 130 during the operation of the refrigerator, and then ions and
ozone are generated to sterilize and deodorize stored foods through the operation
of the ion generator 40 according to the signal.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the refrigerator according
to an embodiment.
[0040] If an operational signal of the refrigerator is input to the input module 110, the
controller 100 having received the operation signal outputs a signal used to operate
the refrigerator according to the operation signal, thereby operating the refrigerator
(S210).
[0041] After S21 0, the controller 100 compares the temperature T
F of the freezing chamber 11 and the temperature T
R of the refrigerating chamber 12, which are received from the temperature sensor module
120, with a first temperature T
set1 and a second temperature T
set2 (S220 and S230).
[0042] The first temperature T
set1 and the second temperature T
set2 may be set by a user. Further, generally, the first and second temperatures are set
as temperatures required for foods stored in the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating
chamber 12.
[0043] If the temperature T
F of the freezing chamber 11 is greater than or equal to the first temperature T
set1, and the temperature T
R of the refrigerating chamber 12 is greater than or equal to the second temperature
T
set2 in S230, the controller 100 opens the damper 30 and turns on the circulation fan
16 such that cold air created by the evaporator 15 circulates through the insides
of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 by the cold air paths
18 and 20, and the communication path 24. As a result, the internal temperatures T
F and T
R of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 become lower than the
first and second temperatures T
set1 and T
set2 (S240).
[0044] In addition, the controller 100 operates the ion generator 40 in step 240, so that
ions and ozone generated from the ion generator 40 are uniformly distributed over
the insides of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 while circulating
together with the cold air.
[0045] Meanwhile, if the temperatures T
F and T
R of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 are less than the first
and second temperatures T
set1 and T
set2 in 230, the controller 100 closes the damper 30 and turns off the circulation fan
16 in order to maintain the temperatures of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating
chamber 12 (S250).
[0046] Further, the controller 100 stops the operation of the ion generator 40 in order
to prevent the concentration of ozone generated from the refrigerating chamber 12,
which is equipped with the ion generator 40, by operating the ion generator 40 in
a state in which the freezing chamber 11 is separated from the refrigerating chamber
12 so as to form a sealed space.
[0047] As described above, the refrigerator according to the present embodiment can prevent
ozone of the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 12 from being concentrated
without employing additional equipment or the control for the equipment by combining
the operation pattern of the damper, which performs a typical operation in order to
maintain the temperature of each storage room of the refrigerator, with the operation
of the ion generator 40.
[0048] After S240 or S250, the controller 100 determines whether an off signal of the refrigerator
is input in S260. If the off signal is input, the controller 100 terminates the control
operation. If the off signal is not input, the control operation returns to S220.
[0049] As described above, a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same according
to the present embodiment can adjust the density of ozone in the refrigerator without
employing additional equipment or the control for the equipment such that the ozone
is not harmful to a human body by incorporating an operational pattern of a damper
operating according to the temperatures of both a freezing chamber and a refrigerating
chamber with the operation of the ion generator in order to control the density of
the ozone generated from the insides of plural storage rooms by the operation of the
ion generator.
[0050] In addition, the refrigerator and the method of controlling the same according to
the present embodiment can optimally deodorize and sterilize the storage rooms without
additional equipment and the controller for the equipment by uniformly distributing
ions and ozone in the storage rooms using the circulation fan which is operated in
a state in which the damper is opened.
[0051] Although embodiments has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled
in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions
are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed
in the accompanying claims.
1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a plurality of storage rooms;
a circulation fan circulating cold air in the storage rooms through a cold air path;
a damper provided in a predetermined portion of the cold air path and controlling
an opening degree of the cold air path connecting the storage rooms;
an ion generator generating ions inside the storage rooms; and
a controller controlling operation of the ion generator according to the opening degree
of the damper to adjust a density of ozone created in the storage rooms.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ion generator is provided in at
least one of the storage rooms.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the storage rooms include a freezing
chamber and a refrigerating chamber, and the ion generator is provided in the refrigerating
chamber.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controller operates the ion generator
when the damper is opened, and stops operation of the ion generator when the damper
is closed.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising a temperature sensor module
measuring temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, wherein
the controller opens the damper when the temperatures of the refrigerating chamber
and the freezing chamber measured by the temperature sensor module are equal to or
greater than set temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber,
respectively.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controller operates the circulation
fan when the damper is opened.
7. A method of controlling a refrigerator including a plurality of storage rooms and
a circulation fan that circulates cold air in the storage rooms through a cold air
path, the method comprising:
controlling an operation of an ion generator according to an opening degree of a damper
which controls an opening degree of a cold air path connecting to the storage rooms,
to adjust a density of ozone created by the ion generator generating ions in the storage
rooms.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a controller operates the ion generator when
the damper is opened, and stops operation of the ion generator when the damper is
closed.
9. The method as according to claim 8, wherein internal temperatures of the storage rooms
are measured in order to compare the internal temperatures with preset temperatures
of each of the storage rooms, and then the damper is opened if the internal temperatures
of the storage rooms are greater than or equal to the preset temperatures of each
of the storage rooms, respectively.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the circulation fan is operated when the
damper is opened.
11. A refrigerator, comprising:
a plurality of storage rooms;
a cold air path connecting the storage rooms;
a damper provided in a predetermined portion of the cold air path and controlling
an opening degree of the cold air path connecting the storage rooms;
an ion generator generating ions inside at least one of the storage rooms; and
a controller controlling operation of the ion generator according to measured temperatures
of the storage rooms.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the controller controls the damper
to control the opening degree of the cold air path to adjust a density of ozone created
in the storage rooms based on the measured temperatures of the storage rooms.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising a circulation fan circulating
cold air through the cold air path, wherein the controller controls an operation of
the circulation fan to circulate cold air through the cold air path.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the cold air path includes a first
cold air path formed through one of the storage rooms, a second cold air path formed
through another of the storage rooms, and a communication path communicating between
the first cold air path and the second cold air path.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the damper is opened if the measured
temperatures of each of the storage rooms are greater than or equal to preset temperatures
of each the storage rooms.