U.S. patent application number 11/600811 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for refrigerator and method for controlling the refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jong Ki Kim, Young Woon Kwon, Min Park.
Application Number | 20070137226 11/600811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38109039 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070137226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jong Ki ; et
al. |
June 21, 2007 |
Refrigerator and method for controlling the refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator and a method for controlling the refrigerator
including a plurality of storage chambers which is capable of
reducing a continuous operation time of a compressor or frequent
ON/OFF operations of the compressor of the refrigerator, to thereby
enhancing the operation efficiency of the compressor. When the
control method is applied to a refrigerator including a compressor,
a first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air,
and a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate cold
air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than
a load of the first storage chamber, the control method includes
turning off the second fan, to turn off the compressor, when the
first storage chamber is at a temperature satisfying a first
predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the
first fan, such that the second fan is turned off even when the
second storage chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a second
predetermined temperature.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jong Ki; (Gangsan-gu,
KR) ; Kwon; Young Woon; (Gwangju, KR) ; Park;
Min; (Yeosu-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700, 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
38109039 |
Appl. No.: |
11/600811 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/180 ;
62/179 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2600/112 20130101;
F25D 11/022 20130101; F25D 29/00 20130101; F25D 2400/16 20130101;
F25D 2700/123 20130101; F25B 2600/0251 20130101; F25D 17/065
20130101; F25D 2317/0682 20130101; F25D 2400/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/180 ;
62/179 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/00 20060101
F25D017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0127309 |
Jul 25, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0070014 |
Claims
1. A method for controlling a refrigerator comprising a compressor,
a first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air,
and a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate cold
air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than
a load of the first storage chamber, the method comprising: turning
off the second fan, to turn off the compressor, when the first
storage chamber is at a temperature satisfying a first
predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the
first fan, such that the second fan and the compressor are turned
off even when the second storage chamber is at a temperature not
satisfying a second predetermined temperature.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second fan
comprises an OFF condition corresponding to a third predetermined
temperature lower than the second predetermined temperature of the
second storage chamber, further comprising: turning off the second
fan when the temperature of the second storage chamber reaches the
third predetermined temperature, to satisfy the OFF condition of
the second fan.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second storage
chamber is a switchable chamber having an operation mode switchable
between a refrigerating mode and a freezing mode, further
comprising: turning off the second fan in the OFF condition of the
first fan when the operation mode of the second storage chamber is
switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such
that the second fan is turned off even when a temperature of the
second storage chamber does not satisfy a predetermined temperature
for the freezing mode.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first storage
chamber is a freezing chamber, further comprising: turning on the
second fan when the temperature of the first storage chamber does
not satisfy the first predetermined temperature corresponding to
the OFF condition of the first fan, such that the second fan is
turned on even when the temperature of the second storage chamber
satisfies the second predetermined temperature.
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:
continuously operating the first fan until the temperature of the
first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined
temperature; and intermittently operating the second fan after the
temperature of the second storage chamber satisfies the second
predetermined temperature.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: turning off
the second fan when the first storage chamber is in a power
freezing mode.
7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: turning off
the second fan when the first storage chamber is in a power
freezing mode.
8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: turning off
the second fan when the first storage chamber is in a power
freezing mode.
9. A method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor,
a freezing chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and a
switchable chamber having a second fan to circulate cold air, the
switchable chamber having an operation mode switchable between a
freezing mode and a refrigerating mode, the method comprising:
turning off the second fan in an OFF condition of the first fan
when the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from
the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such that the second
fan is turned off even when the switchable chamber is at a
temperature not satisfying a first predetermined temperature for
the freezing mode; turning on the second fan, when the temperature
of the switchable chamber does not satisfy a second predetermined
temperature, and the freezing chamber is in a general freezing
mode; and turning off the second fan, when the temperature of the
switchable chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature,
and the freezing chamber is in a power freezing mode.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the turn-on and off of
the second fan is executed when the operation mode of the
switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the
freezing mode.
11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: turning on
an automatic ice maker of the refrigerator, when the freezing
chamber is in the power freezing mode.
12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: turning
on an automatic ice maker of the refrigerator, when the freezing
chamber is in the power freezing mode.
13. A method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor,
a freezing chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air and an
automatic ice maker to make ice, and a switchable chamber having a
second fan to circulate cold air, the switchable chamber having an
operation mode switchable between a freezing mode and a
refrigerating mode, the method comprising: turning off the second
fan in an OFF condition of the first fan when the operation mode of
the switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to
the freezing mode, such that the second fan is turned off even when
the switchable chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a first
predetermined temperature for the freezing mode; and turning off
the second fan in an ON condition of the automatic ice maker when
the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the
refrigerating mode to the freezing mode.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: turning
off the second fan when the freezing chamber is at a temperature
satisfying the first predetermined temperature corresponding to an
OFF condition of the first fan, or when the freezing chamber is in
an ice-full state requiring no further ice making operation of the
automatic ice maker, such that the second fan is turned off even
when the temperature of the switchable chamber does not satisfy a
second predetermined temperature.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second fan has an
OFF condition corresponding to a third predetermined temperature
lower than the second predetermined temperature of the switchable
chamber, further comprising: turning off the second fan when the
temperature of the switchable chamber reaches the third
predetermined temperature, to satisfy the OFF condition of the
second fan.
16. A method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor,
a first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air,
and a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate cold
air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than
a load of the first storage chamber, the method comprising: turning
off the second fan when the first storage chamber is at a
temperature satisfying a first predetermined temperature
corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, such that the
second fan is turned off even when the second storage chamber is at
a temperature not satisfying a second predetermined temperature;
and continuously operating the first fan until the temperature of
the first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined
temperature, and intermittently operating the second fan after the
temperature of the second storage chamber satisfies the second
predetermined temperature.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the intermittent
operation of the second fan is continued until the temperature of
the first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined
temperature.
18. A refrigerator comprising: a compressor to compress
refrigerant; first and second storage chambers to store food, and
respectively comprising first and second fans to circulate cold
air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than
a load of the first storage chamber, wherein the second fan and the
compressor are turned off when the first storage chamber is at a
first predetermined temperature, such that the second fan and the
compressor are turned off even when the second storage chamber is
not at a second predetermined temperature.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application Nos. 10-2005-0127309 and 10-2006-0070014, respectively
filed on Dec. 21, 2005 and July 25, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and method
for controlling the refrigerator. More particularly, to
refrigerator including a plurality of evaporators and a method for
controlling the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Refrigerators operate to decrease the internal temperature
of a storage chamber thereof, through a cooling cycle performing
compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a
refrigerant, and thus, to store food in a fresh state at a low
temperature for a prolonged period of time.
[0006] A conventional refrigerator includes a compressor which
compresses a low-temperature/low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, to
increase the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant to a
high-temperature/high-pressure gas state, a condenser which
heat-exchanges the refrigerant emerging from the compressor with
ambient air, to condense the refrigerant, an expansion device which
reduces the pressure of the condensed refrigerant emerging from the
condenser, and an evaporator which heat-exchanges the
pressure-reduced refrigerant emerging from the expansion device
with air present in a storage chamber to cause the refrigerant to
be evaporated, while absorbing heat from the air in the storage
chamber. The refrigerator also includes a fan to circulate cold air
through the storage chamber. A plurality of storage chambers are
also included in the refrigerator, such that the user may set
target cooling temperatures for the respective storage chambers. In
this case, the compressor operates together with fans, to circulate
cold air through the storage chambers, and thus, to maintain the
storage chambers at the set temperatures, respectively.
[0007] When respective current temperatures of the storage chambers
are different, and when the set temperatures of the storage
chambers are also different, the points of time when the
temperatures of the storage chambers reach the associated set
temperatures, respectively, may be different. The operation of the
compressor is stopped only when the temperatures of all the storage
chambers reach the associated set temperatures. Since the points of
time when the temperatures of the storage chambers reach the
associated set temperatures, respectively, may be different, as
described above, one storage chamber, which has reached the set
temperature thereof, may be again heated to a temperature requiring
a cooling operation before the compressor has not yet been stopped.
For this reason, the continuous operation time of the compressor
may be increased. Furthermore, the compressor may be frequently
turned on and off. As a result, the operation efficiency of the
compressor is degraded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a method for controlling a refrigerator including a
plurality of storage chambers, which is capable of reducing a
continuous operation time of a compressor or frequent ON/OFF
operations of the compressor, to thereby enhance an operation
efficiency of the compressor.
[0009] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention 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 of the present invention
are achieved by providing a method for controlling a refrigerator
including a compressor, a first storage chamber having a first fan
to circulate cold air, and a second storage chamber having a second
fan to circulate cold air, the second storage chamber having a load
relatively lower than a load of the first storage chamber, the
method including turning off the second fan, to turn off the
compressor, when the first storage chamber is at a temperature
satisfying a first predetermined temperature corresponding to an
OFF condition of the first fan, such that the second fan and the
compressor are turned off even when the second storage chamber is
at a temperature not satisfying a second predetermined
temperature.
[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, the second
fan includes an OFF condition corresponding to a third
predetermined temperature which is lower than the second
predetermined temperature of the second storage chamber. Thus,
according to an aspect of the present invention, the method further
includes turning off the second fan when the temperature of the
second storage chamber reaches the third predetermined temperature,
to satisfy the OFF condition of the second fan.
[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, the second
storage chamber includes a switchable chamber having an operation
mode switchable between a refrigerating mode and a freezing mode.
Thus, according to an aspect of the present invention, the method
further includes turning off the second fan in an OFF condition of
the first fan when the operation mode of the second storage chamber
is switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such
that the second fan is turned off even when the temperature of the
second storage chamber does not satisfy a predetermined temperature
for the freezing mode.
[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, the first
storage chamber includes a freezing chamber. Thus, according to an
aspect of the present invention, the method further includes
turning on the second fan when the temperature of the first storage
chamber does not satisfy the first predetermined temperature
corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, such that the
second fan is turned on even when the temperature of the second
storage chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature.
[0014] The method further includes continuously operating the first
fan until the temperature of the first storage chamber satisfies
the first predetermined temperature, and intermittently operating
the second fan after the temperature of the second storage chamber
satisfies the second predetermined temperature.
[0015] The method further includes turning off the second fan when
the first storage chamber is in a power freezing mode.
[0016] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
method to control a refrigerator including a compressor, a freezing
chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and a switchable
chamber having a second fan to circulate of cold air, the
switchable chamber having an operation mode switchable between a
freezing mode and a refrigerating mode, the method includes turning
off the second fan in an OFF condition of the first fan, when the
operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the
refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such that the second fan
is turned off even when the switchable chamber is at a temperature
not satisfying a first predetermined temperature for the freezing
mode, turning on the second fan, when the temperature of the
switchable chamber does not satisfy a second predetermined
temperature, and the freezing chamber is in a general freezing
mode, and turning off the second fan, when the temperature of the
switchable chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature,
and the freezing chamber is in a power freezing mode.
[0017] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
turn-on/off of the second fan is executed when an operation mode of
the switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to
the freezing mode.
[0018] The freezing chamber further includes an automatic ice maker
to make ice. In this case, the method further includes turning on
the automatic ice maker, when the freezing chamber is in the power
freezing mode.
[0019] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor, a
freezing chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air and an
automatic ice maker to make ice, and a switchable chamber having a
second fan to circulate cold air, the switchable chamber having an
operation mode switchable between a freezing mode and a
refrigerating mode, the method including turning off the second fan
in an OFF condition of the first fan when the operation mode of the
switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the
freezing mode, such that the second fan is turned off even when the
switchable chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a first
predetermined temperature for the freezing mode, and turning off
the second fan in an ON condition of the automatic ice maker when
the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the
refrigerating mode to the freezing mode.
[0020] The method further includes turning off the second fan when
the freezing chamber is at a temperature satisfying the first
predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the
first fan, or when the freezing chamber is in an ice-full state
requiring no further ice making operation of the automatic ice
maker, such that the second fan is turned off even when the
temperature of the switchable chamber does not satisfy a second
predetermined temperature.
[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
second fan includes an OFF condition corresponding to a third
predetermined temperature lower than the second predetermined
temperature of the switchable chamber. Thus, the method further
includes turning off the second fan when the temperature of the
switchable chamber reaches the third predetermined temperature, to
satisfy the OFF condition of the second fan.
[0022] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor, a
first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and
a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate of cold
air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than
a load of the first storage chamber, the method including turning
off the second fan when the first storage chamber is at a
temperature satisfying a first predetermined temperature
corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, such that the
second fan is turned off even when the second storage chamber is at
a temperature not satisfying a second predetermined temperature,
and continuously operating the first fan until the temperature of
the first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined
temperature, and intermittently operating the second fan after the
temperature of the second storage chamber satisfies the second
predetermined temperature.
[0023] The intermittent operation of the second fan continues until
the temperature of the first storage chamber satisfies the first
predetermined temperature.
[0024] It is another aspect of the present invention, to provide a
refrigerator including a compressor to compress refrigerant, first
and second storage chambers to store food, and respectively
comprising first and second fans to circulate cold air, the second
storage chamber having a load relatively lower than a load of the
first storage chamber, wherein the second fan and the compressor
are turned off when the first storage chamber is at a first
predetermined temperature, such that the second fan and the
compressor are turned off even when the second storage chamber is
not at a second predetermined temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator
having a plurality of storage chambers according to an embodiment
of the present invention according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating configurations of
multiple storage chambers in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1, and
a cooling cycle of the refrigerator, according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of
the refrigerator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and
[0029] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling
a refrigerator having a plurality of storage chambers in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein line reference numerals refer to the
elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain
the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0031] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 1 is a perspective view
illustrating a refrigerator having a plurality of storage chambers
according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 comprises four independent storage
chambers R, CR, F, and CF which are opened or closed by doors 102R,
102CR, 102F, and 102CF provided for the storage chambers R, CR, F,
and CF, respectively. In the present invention, the number of the
storage chambers is not limited to four, as described above. That
is, the present invention may be applied to any refrigerator, as
long as the refrigerator includes at least one storage chamber, in
addition to a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating configurations of
multiple storage chambers in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1, and
a cooling cycle of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 2, four storage chambers, namely, the
storage chambers R, CR, F, and CF, are provided in the
refrigerator. The storage chamber F is a first storage chamber
functioning as a freezing chamber, the storage chamber CF is a
second storage chamber functioning as an auxiliary freezing
chamber, the storage chamber R is a third storage chamber
functioning as a refrigerating chamber, and the storage chamber CR
is a fourth storage chamber functioning as an auxiliary
refrigerating chamber. If the refrigerator is provided with only
the freezing chamber F, auxiliary freezing chamber CF, and
refrigerating chamber R, without the auxiliary refrigerating
chamber CR, the provided freezing chamber F, auxiliary freezing
chamber CF, and refrigerating chamber R may be classified into
first, second, and third storage chambers, respectively. Thus, in
this embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary freezing
chamber CF is a switchable chamber, wherein the operation mode of
the auxiliary freezing chamber is switched between a refrigerating
mode and a freezing mode. The auxiliary freezing chamber CF
comprises cooling capacity(i.e., a cooling load), relatively
smaller than that of the freezing chamber F.
[0033] Each storage chamber R, CR, F or CF comprises an evaporator
206R, 206CR, 206F and 206CF, a fan 208R, 208CR, 208F or 208CF, a
defrosting heater 210R, 210CR, 210F or 210CF, a defrosting sensor
212R, 212CR, 212F or 212CF, and a storage chamber temperature
sensor 214R, 214CR, 214F or 214CF respectively. Each evaporator
206R, 206CR, 206F or 206CF and each fan 208R, 208CR, 208F or 208CF
are provided to circulate air through an associated one of the
storage chambers R, CR, F and CF. Each defrosting heater 210R,
210CR, 210F or 210CF defrosts the surface of an associated one of
the evaporator 206R, 206CR, 206F or 206CF. Each defrosting sensor
212R, 212CR, 212F or 212CF detects a surface temperature of an
associated one of the evaporator 206R, 206CR, 206F or 206CF during
a defrosting operation, in order to enable determination of the
point of time when an associated one of the defrosting heater 210R,
210CR, 210F or 210CF is to be turned off, based on the detected
surface temperature. Each storage chamber temperature sensor 214R,
214CR, 214F or 214CF detects an internal temperature of an
associated one of the storage chambers R, CR, F, and CF. When the
refrigerator of FIG. 2 comprises only the freezing chamber F,
auxiliary freezing chamber CF, and refrigerating chamber R, without
the auxiliary refrigerating chamber CR, the freezing chamber fan
208F, auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208 CF, and refrigerating
chamber fan 208R are classified into first, second, and third fans,
respectively.
[0034] In the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerating chamber R and
freezing chamber F store food in a refrigerating state and in a
freezing state, respectively, same as that of the refrigerating and
freezing chambers in conventional refrigerators. The auxiliary
freezing chamber CF comprises operation modes such as a
refrigerating mode COOL, a soft freezing mode SOFT FREEZE, and a
freezing mode FREEZE. The set temperature for the refrigerating
mode is approximately 3.degree. C., the set temperature for the
soft freezing mode is approximately -5.degree. C., and the set
temperature for the freezing mode is between approximately
-15.degree. C. to -25.degree. C. The set temperature of the
freezing mode of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF is similar to
that of a general operation mode of the freezing chamber F. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the set temperature of the
freezing chamber F is a "first predetermined temperature", and the
set temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF is a "second
predetermined temperature" . A third predetermined temperature is
set as a condition for turning off the auxiliary freezing chamber
fan 208CF. The third predetermined temperature is slightly lower
than the second predetermined temperature. The third predetermined
temperature is set to turn off the auxiliary freezing chamber fan
208CF, when necessary, when the current temperature of the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF satisfies the third predetermined
temperature even though it has not reached the second predetermined
temperature yet.
[0035] The freezing chamber F also comprises an ice making mode
which is a mode for freezing water, to thereby make ice. In this
mode, the freezing chamber F is maintained at a temperature of not
higher than approximately 0.degree. C. (for example, -25.degree.
C.). The user can switch the ice making mode between an activation
state "ICE ON" and a deactivation state "ICE OFF" through a user
input unit (shown in FIG. 3). In the activation state "ICE ON", ice
making is carried out. On the other hand, in the deactivation state
"ICE OFF", no ice making is carried out. The freezing chamber F
further comprises a power freezing mode POWER FREEZE in which the
compressor 202 and fan 208f operate continuously for 2 hours and 30
minutes.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of
the refrigerator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, a controller
302 is illustrated which controls an overall operation of the
refrigerator. The storage chamber temperature sensors 214R, 214CR,
214F and 214CF of the storage chambers R, CR, F, and CF, an ice
full detector 304, and the user input unit 306 are connected to an
input of the controller 302. The fans 208R, 208CR, 208F and 208CF,
an automatic ice maker 308, and the compressor 202 are connected to
an output of the controller 302. The controller 302 receives
information as to the internal temperatures of the storage chambers
R, CR, F, and CF from the storage chamber temperature sensors 214R,
214CR, 214F and 214CF, and controls the compressor 202, condenser
204, and fans 208R, 208CR, 208F and 208CF, based on the received
information, to cause the refrigerator to perform a desired cooling
operation. The automatic ice maker 308 is arranged in the freezing
chamber F, to automatically make a predetermined amount of ice in
the ice making mode ICE ON. Once the predetermined amount of ice is
made, the automatic ice maker 308 no longer makes ice even when the
ice making mode ICE ON is still in an activation state thereof.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for controlling
the refrigerator, which comprises a plurality of storage chambers,
as described above, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The control method according to an embodiment of the
present invention as illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, minimizes
an operation of the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF during
operation of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF in the freezing mode
FREEZE, and thus, reduces the number of continued operations or
repeated ON/OFF operations of the compressor 202.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with the control method,
when the auxiliary freezing chamber CF is switched from the soft
freezing mode SOFT FREEZE or refrigerating mode COOL to the
freezing mode FREEZE ("YES" at operation 402), it is monitored
whether the temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF
reaches (satisfies) a set target temperature (the second
predetermined temperature), in order to control an ON/OFF operation
of the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF in accordance with the
result of the monitoring.
[0039] When it is determined in operation 406 that the temperature
of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF approximates to the set
temperature in an OFF condition of the freezing chamber fan 208CF
("YES" at operation 406), the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF
is turned off (operation 408). On the other hand, when the
temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF is too
insufficient to reach the set temperature ("NO" at operation 406)
even though the freezing chamber fan 208F is in an OFF condition
thereof, the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is maintained in
an ON state thereof (operation 410). Although the compressor 202
must be turned off in the OFF condition of the freezing chamber fan
208F, the compressor 202 may still operate continuously without
being turned off, due to operation of the auxiliary freezing
chamber fan 208CF, even in the OFF condition of the freezing fan
208F. In this case, the continuous operation time of the compressor
202 is undesirably increased. When a condition to turn off the
auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is subsequently established,
the compressor 202 must be turned off. However, the compressor 202
may still operate continuously without being turned off when the
OFF condition of the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is
established in an ON condition of the freezing chamber fan 208F.
Also, even in the case in which the compressor 202 is turned off in
accordance with the OFF condition of the auxiliary freezing chamber
fan 208CF, the compressor 202 will be again turned on in accordance
with a subsequent ON condition of the freezing chamber fan 208F.
Thus, the number of repeated ON/OFF operations of the compressor
202 will be increased. To this end, when the temperature of the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF approximates to the set temperature
in the OFF condition of the freezing chamber fan 208F (for example,
when the current temperature is about 23.degree. C., and the set
temperature is 25.degree. C.), the auxiliary freezing chamber fan
208CF is forcibly turned off even when the temperature of the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF has not reached the set temperature
yet, in order to prevent an increase in the continuous operation
time of the compressor 202 or an increase in the number of repeated
ON/OFF operations of the compressor 202 caused by an operation of
the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF in the OFF state of the
freezing chamber fan 208F. That is, when the difference between the
current temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF and the
set temperature is small, even though the temperature of the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF has not reached the set temperature
yet, the operation of the compressor 202 is stopped, in order to
reduce the continuous operation time of the compressor 202 or the
number of repeated ON/OFF operations of the compressor 202. The
difference between the current temperature and the set temperature
required for the forcible turn-off of the auxiliary freezing
chamber fan 208CF is determined to be within a range having no
significant influence on the cooling operation required in the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF even though the range causes the
temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF to insufficiently
satisfy the set temperature.
[0040] When it is determined in operation 412 that the freezing
chamber F is not in the ice making mode ("ICE OFF"), or the
freezing chamber F is in the ice making mode, but is in an ice-full
state in accordance with completion of an ice making operation,
namely, in a state requiring no further ice making operation, in
the OFF condition of the freezing chamber fan 208CF ("YES"
operation 412), the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is
forcibly turned off (operation 408). In this case, similarly to the
above-described case, the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is
also turned off because the freezing chamber F is not required to
be cooled, in order to prevent the compressor 202 from being
further operated due to the operation of the auxiliary freezing
chamber fan 208CF alone, and thus, to reduce the continuous
operation time of the compressor 202 or the number of repeated
ON/OFF operations of the compressor 202.
[0041] When it is determined in operation 414 that the freezing
chamber F is in the ice making mode ("ICE ON"), but is not in an
ice-full state, so that an ice making operation is continued ("YES"
at operation 414), it is unnecessary to forcibly turn off the
auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF because the freezing chamber F
must be maintained at -25.degree. C. In other words, when the
compressor 202 should operate to cool the freezing chamber F, it is
unnecessary to forcibly turn off the auxiliary freezing chamber fan
208CF. In this case, the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is
selectively turned on or off in accordance with whether or not the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF is required to be cooled (operation
416). On the other hand, when the freezing chamber F is not in the
ice making mode ("ICE OFF"), or when the freezing chamber F is in
the ice making mode, but is in an ice-full state ("NO" at operation
414), the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is turned on to
enable the temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF to
reach the set temperature (410).
[0042] When it is determined in operation 418 that the freezing
chamber F is in a power freezing mode, so that the compressor 202
operates continuously for a predetermined long time (for example, 2
hours and 30 minutes) ("YES" at operation 418), the auxiliary
freezing fan 208CF is turned off (416). On the other hand, when the
freezing chamber F is not in the power freezing mode ("NO" at
operation 418), the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is
maintained in an ON state thereof, to enable the temperature of the
auxiliary freezing chamber CF to reach the set temperature
(operation 410).
[0043] When it is determined in operation 420 that the temperature
of the freezing chamber F does not satisfy a set target temperature
(the first predetermined temperature) in an ON condition of the
freezing chamber fan 208F ("YES" at operation 420), the auxiliary
freezing chamber fan 208CF is turned on, irrespective of whether or
not the temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF satisfies
the set temperature associated therewith. That is, in this case,
the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is turned on even when the
temperature of the auxiliary freezing chamber CF satisfies the set
temperature associated therewith.
[0044] In this case, the freezing chamber fan 208F is continuously
operated, but the auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is
intermittently operated such that the auxiliary freezing chamber
fan 208CF is repeatedly turned on and off, until the temperature of
the freezing chamber F reaches the set temperature associated
therewith. That is, when the temperature of the freezing chamber F
has not satisfied the set temperature associated therewith yet, the
auxiliary freezing chamber fan 208CF is intermittently operated to
contribute to a freezing operation for the freezing mode of the
freezing chamber CF, because the compressor 202 should operate
continuously.
[0045] As apparent from the above description, in accordance with
the control method of and embodiment as the present invention,
which controls a cooling operation of a refrigerator including a
plurality of storage chambers, the cooling control for one or more
of the storage chambers depends on cooling conditions of the
remaining storage chambers, in order to prevent an increase in the
continuous operation time of a compressor or an increase in the
number of repeated ON/OFF operations of the compressor possibly
occurring when the remaining storage chambers are independently
controlled.
[0046] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
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