US 6,658,878 B2 · Multi-compartment type refrigerator and method for controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a multi-compartment type refrigerator and method for controlling the same. The refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments. A plurality of evaporators are each positioned in each of the storage compartments, respectively. A compressor supplies refrigerant to the evaporators through a branched refrigerant conduit. A plurality of opening/closing valves are each positioned on a refrigerant conduit upstream of each of the evaporators for selectively controlling supply of refrigerant to the evaporators. Reference compartment defining means defines as a reference storage compartment one of the storage compartments that has a relatively great load. Control means controls starting of the compressor depending on a change of a temperature of the reference storage compartment.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A multi-compartment type refrigerator, comprising:

a plurality of storage compartments;
a plurality of evaporators each positioned in each of said storage compartments, respectively;
a compressor for supplying refrigerant to said evaporators through a branched refrigerant conduit;
a plurality of opening/closing valves each positioned on a refrigerant conduit upstream of each of said evaporators for controlling supply of refrigerant to said evaporators;
reference compartment defining means for defining as a reference storage compartment one of said storage compartments that has a relatively great load;
and
control means for controlling starting of said compressor depending on a change of a temperature of said reference storage compartment.

4 more elements

A method for controlling a multi-compartment type refrigerator, said multi-compartment type refrigerator having a plurality of storage compartments each provided with a temperature sensor for sensing temperatures of said storage compartments, a plurality of evaporators for each refrigerating each of said storage compartments, a compressor for supplying refrigerant to said evaporators via a branched refrigerant conduit, and a plurality of opening/closing valves positioned on a refrigerant conduit upstream of said evaporators for controlling supply of refrigerant to said evaporators, comprising the steps of:

defining as a reference storage compartment one of said storage compartments that has a relatively great refrigeration load (a reference compartment defining step);
and
controlling starting of said compressor on a temperature of said reference storage compartment selected in said reference compartment defining step (a reference compartment control step).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-compartment type refrigerator and method for controlling the same

Life of this patent

Multi-compartment type refrigerator and method for controlling the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10