Moisture control apparatus and moisture control method

A control apparatus, comprising:

• at least one electrode configured to receive a predetermined voltage including a direct current component or an alternating current component, and to direct an electromagnetic field toward a substance;
• a server configured to set a control parameter suitable for a type or a state of the substance;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• control an interfacial polarization or interfacial tension between a moisture phase and another phase in the substance, and formation of pearl chain of the moisture in the substance, by controlling the voltage or current applied to the at least one electrode based on the control parameter,
• wherein
• (1) the at least one electrode is located along a side wall surface, ceiling surface, shelf, bottom surface, door side inner surface, or back side of a refrigerator,
• (2) the type or state of the substance is received by the controller based on input information from a man-machine interface or detection information from a substance detection sensor including at least one of the following information:
• an image from a camera inside the refrigerator, a detection signal related to the moisture of the substance by a moisture content sensor, a detection signal from a temperature sensor inside the refrigerator, a detection signal from a humidity sensor inside the refrigerator, or a detection signal from a sensor built in the refrigerator,
• (3) before the voltage or current is applied to the at least one electrode, the server sets the control parameter suitable for the type or the state of the substance based on a relationship between the electromagnetic field and the degree of increase in interfacial polarization or the degree of decrease in interfacial tension, with further reference to the refrigerator's incoming/outgoing, storage status, or inventory control information,
• (4) the server is configured to select a voltage value of the voltage applied from a range of 0 to 2,000 Vpp/cm and by selecting a frequency of the alternating current component of the voltage from a range of 0 Hz to 1 MHz according to the control parameter suitable for the type or the state of the substance, and
• (5) the controller is configured to cause the at least one electrode to output signal representing the selected voltage value or the frequency to the at least one electrode to control the interfacial polarization or interfacial tension according to the electromagnetic field generated by the electrode.