# US 12,007,163 B2 · Refrigerator calibration method and system, and refrigerator

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- Number: US 12,007,163 B2
- Document ID: US12007163B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/296,168
- Filed: 2019-06-13
- Published: 2022-01-20
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-06-13
- Assignees: Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co., Ltd.; Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co., Ltd.; Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Xueqiang Tang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007163B2

## CPC

- F25D 11/022: {with two or more evaporators}
- F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B 2500/18: Optimization, e.g. high integration of refrigeration components
- F25B 2600/2511: Evaporator distribution valves
- F25D 2300/00: Special arrangements or features for refrigerators; cold rooms; ice-boxes; Cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A refrigerator calibration method and system, and a refrigeration device is described. According to some embodiments of the refrigerator calibration method, by means of the variation in the temperatures of a plurality of compartments after any one refrigeration system operates for a predetermined time, a correlation between the refrigeration system and a compartment can be determined, such that a connection between the refrigeration system and the compartment does not need to be pre-specified. Therefore, a refrigerator being unable to perform normal refrigeration due to a connection error during a production process can be effectively avoided, and the probability of needing to repair the refrigerator is reduced, thereby improving the production efficiency of the refrigerator and the reliability of the refrigerator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A calibration method for a refrigerator including a compressor, a plurality of compartments and a plurality of refrigeration systems for cooling the plurality of compartments in a one-to-one correspondence, the calibration method comprising:
starting the compressor of the refrigerator, and detecting temperatures of the plurality of compartments;
controlling a first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate for a first predetermined time, and detecting the temperatures of the plurality of compartments for a second time;
determining, based on temperature variations of the plurality of compartments, a correspondence between the first refrigeration system and a first compartment of the plurality of compartments;
controlling a second refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate for a second predetermined time, and detecting the temperatures of the plurality of compartments for a third time;
determining, based on temperature variations of the plurality of compartments, a correspondence between the second refrigeration system and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments; and
after correspondences between the plurality of refrigeration systems and the plurality of compartments are determined, calibrating the refrigerator based on the correspondences between the plurality of refrigeration systems and the plurality of compartments.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The calibration method according to claim 1, further comprising:
restarting the compressor of the refrigerator to control the first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate;
determining whether a temperature of the first compartment is changed after a third predetermined time;
determining that the correspondence between the first refrigeration system and the first compartment of the plurality of compartments is correct if the temperature of the first compartment is changed; and
correcting the calibration if the temperature of the first compartment is not changed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The calibration method according to claim 2, wherein correcting the calibration if the temperature of the first compartment is not changed comprises:
if a temperature of the second compartment is changed,
changing the correspondence of the first refrigeration system with the first compartment into with the second compartment, changing the correspondence of the second refrigeration system with the second compartment into with the first compartment, and correcting the calibration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The calibration method according to claim 3, after correcting the calibration, further comprising:
controlling the second refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate;
determining whether the temperature of the first compartment is changed after a fourth predetermined time; and
determining that the corrected calibration is correct if the temperature of the first compartment is changed, otherwise, determining that the refrigerator is abnormal.

### Claim 5

A calibration system for a refrigerator including a compressor, a plurality of compartments and a plurality of refrigeration systems for cooling the plurality of compartments in a one-to-one correspondence, the calibration system comprising:
a detecting module, configured to detect temperatures of the plurality of compartments after the compressor of the refrigerator is started, and detect the temperatures of the plurality of compartments for a second time after a first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems operates for a first predetermined time; and
a control module, configured to control the first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate, and determine, based on temperature variations of the plurality of compartments, a correspondence between the first refrigeration system and a first compartment of the plurality of compartments,
wherein the detecting module is further configured to detect the temperatures of the plurality of compartments for a third time after a second refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems operates for a second predetermined time; and
wherein the control module is further configured to:
control the second refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate;
determine, based on temperature variations of the plurality of compartments, a correspondence between the second refrigeration system and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments; and
after correspondences between the plurality of refrigeration systems and the plurality of compartments are determined, calibrate the refrigerator based on the correspondences between the plurality of refrigeration systems and the plurality of compartments.

### Claim 6

A calibration system for a refrigerator including a compressor, a plurality of compartments and a plurality of refrigeration systems for cooling the plurality of compartments in a one-to-one correspondence, the calibration system comprising:
a detecting module, configured to detect temperatures of the plurality of compartments after the compressor of the refrigerator is started and detect the temperatures of the plurality of compartments for a second time after a first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems operates for a first predetermined time; and
a control module configured to control the first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate, and determine, based on temperature variations of the plurality of compartments, a correspondence between the first refrigeration system and a first compartment of the plurality of compartments,
wherein the control module is further configured to:
restart the compressor of the refrigerator to control the first refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate;
determine whether a temperature of the first compartment is changed after a third predetermined time;
determine that the correspondence between the first refrigeration system and the first compartment of the plurality of compartments is correct if the temperature of the first compartment is changed; and
correct the calibration if the temperature of the first compartment is not changed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The calibration system according to claim 6, wherein if the temperature of the first compartment is not changed, the control module is further configured to:
determine whether a temperature of the second compartment is changed,
if the temperature of the second compartment is changed, change the correspondence of the first refrigeration system with the first compartment into with the second compartment, change the correspondence of the second refrigeration system with the second compartment into with the first compartment, and correct the calibration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The calibration system according to claim 7, after the calibration is corrected, the control module is further configured to:
control the second refrigeration system of the plurality of refrigeration systems to operate;
determine whether the temperature of the first compartment is changed after a fourth predetermined time; and
determine that the corrected calibration is correct if the temperature of the first compartment is changed, otherwise, determining that the refrigerator is abnormal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A non-temporary computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a calibration program for a refrigerator, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the calibration method for the refrigerator according to claim 1.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A refrigeration device, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory have stored therein a calibration program for a refrigerator that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the calibration method for the refrigerator according to claim 1.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The refrigeration device according to claim 10, wherein the refrigeration device includes a refrigerator.