Refrigerator and method for controlling constant temperature thereof
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsYong Hyeon Cho, Sunghee Kang, Kihwang Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, which is for controlling a temperature of a refrigerating compartment, includes cooling the refrigerating compartment, cooling the freezing compartment, determining a temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and based on the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, controlling the refrigerating compartment to a constant temperature range by controlling opening and closing of first and second passages of a three-way valve of the refrigerator to alternate cooling the refrigerating compartment and cooling the freezing compartment.
Claims20
A method for controlling a temperature of a refrigerating compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a compressor configured to supply a compressed refrigerant, a refrigerating compartment evaporator configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to generate first cold air for cooling the refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment evaporator configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor and to generate second cold air for cooling a freezing compartment, and a three-way valve configured to selectively open and close one of a first passage connecting the compressor and the refrigerating compartment evaporator and a second passage connecting the compressor and the freezing compartment evaporator, the method comprising:
- cooling the refrigerating compartment;
- cooling the freezing compartment;
- determining the temperature of the refrigerating compartment;
- based on the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, controlling the refrigerating compartment to a constant temperature range by controlling opening and closing of the first and second passages of the three-way valve to alternate cooling the refrigerating compartment and cooling the freezing compartment;
- comparing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to a set minimum temperature;
- based on the comparison of the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to the set minimum temperature, determining whether the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is less than or equal to the set minimum temperature;
- based on a determination that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is less than or equal to the set minimum temperature, cooling the freezing compartment;
- comparing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to a set maximum temperature;
- based on the comparison of the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to the set maximum temperature, determining whether the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is greater than or equal to the set maximum temperature;
- and
- based on a determination that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is greater than or equal to the set maximum temperature, cooling the refrigerating compartment.
A refrigerator comprising:
- a main body defining a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;
- a compressor provided at the main body and configured to compress refrigerant and supply the compressed refrigerant;
- a refrigerating compartment evaporator configured to receive the compressed refrigerant and to generate first cold air for cooling the refrigerating compartment;
- a freezing compartment evaporator configured to receive the compressed refrigerant and to generate second cold air for cooling the freezing compartment;
- a three-way valve configured to selectively open and close one of a first passage connecting the compressor and the refrigerating compartment evaporator and a second passage connecting the compressor and the freezing compartment evaporator;
- a refrigerating fan configured to supply the first cold air to the refrigerating compartment;
- a refrigerating compartment temperature measuring sensor configured to measure a temperature of the refrigerating compartment;
- and
- a controller configured to control the compressor, the three-way vale, and the refrigerating fan to alternate cooling of the refrigerating compartment and cooling of the freezing compartment,
- wherein the controller is configured to control the refrigerating compartment to a constant temperature range by controlling opening and closing of the first and second passages of the three-way valve to alternate cooling of the refrigerating compartment and cooling of the freezing compartment based on the temperature of the refrigerating compartment measured by the refrigerating compartment temperature measuring sensor,
- wherein the controller is further configured to:
- compare the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to a set minimum temperature,
- based on the comparison of the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to the set minimum temperature, determine whether the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is less than or equal to the set minimum temperature,
- cool the freezing compartment based on a determination that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is less than or equal to the set minimum temperature,
- compare the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to a set maximum temperature,
- based on the comparison of the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to the set maximum temperature, determine whether the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is greater than or equal to the set maximum temperature, and
- cool the refrigerating compartment based on a determination that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is greater than or equal to the set maximum temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.