Refrigerator, system and method for driving a drawer of the refrigerator
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsMyung Keun YOO, Yong Hwan EOM, Hyoun Jeong SHIN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for driving a drawer of a refrigerator and a refrigerator employing this system is provided. This system and method allows the drawer to substantially immediately and automatically stop when the drawer encounters an obstacle. This type of automatic control of the drawer may enhance the safe operation of the drawer, prevent injuries to users, and prevent overload and subsequent malfunction of a drive motor used to move the drawer.
Claims34
A method of operating a drawer of a refrigerator, the method comprising:
- activating a drive motor;
- detecting an RPM of the drive motor;
- and
- based on the detected RPM, either (1) containing to move the drawer using the drive motor, or (2) stopping the drive motor such that a movement of the drawer stops.
A drawer driving system for a refrigerator, the system comprising:
- a drive motor that supplies a driving force for moving the drawer;
- and
- a controller that controls operation of the drive motor, wherein the controller receives information corresponding to an RPM of the drive motor and based on the information, the controller stops operation of the drive motor such that the drawer does not move.
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a main body having a plurality of storage compartments formed therein;
- a refrigeration system that provides cool air to the plurality of storage compartments, including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion member;
- a drawer that is slideable in one of the storage compartments;
- a drive motor that provides a driving force for moving the drawer;
- means for detecting an impediment to a movement of the drawer;
- and
- a controller that controls operation of the drive motor.
A method of controlling a movement of a drawer relative to a compartment provided in a refrigerator, the method comprising:
- automatically moving the drawer based on activation of a drive motor;
- detecting an impediment to the automatic movement of the drawer;
- and
- halting the operation of the drive motor upon detecting the impediment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.