Apparatus and method to control a linear compressor

Abstract

An apparatus and method that controls the opening/closing of a discharge passage of refrigerant in a linear compressor. The apparatus of the present invention includes a discharge passage opening/closing control unit to control an opening/closing rate of the discharge passage through which high-pressure refrigerant generated by a compression operation of the linear compressor is discharged and moved. The method of the present invention includes sensing an operating state of the linear compressor, comparing the sensed information with a preset value and determining whether the operating state of the linear compressor is abnormal, and controlling the discharge passage of the linear compressor if the operating state of the linear compressor is abnormal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus to control a linear compressor, comprising a discharge passage opening/closing control unit to control an opening/closing rate of a discharge passage through which high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the linear compressor is moved.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit comprises an automatic control valve.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the automatic control valve is installed in a discharge pipe of the linear compressor.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the automatic control valve is regulated to block the discharge passage in a range from 0% to 100%.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises a control unit to recognize and evaluate an operating state of the linear compressor and control an opening/closing rate of the automatic control valve.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises an opening/closing control unit to direct an opening/closing rate of the automatic control valve in response to an electrical signal.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises a control unit to determine the operating state of the linear compressor and control the opening/closing control unit.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises a moving distance sensor to sense a moving distance of a piston in the linear compressor and transmit information on the sensed moving distance to the control unit.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises a current sensor to sense intensity of current applied to the linear compressor and transmitting information on the sensed intensity of current to the control unit.  
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling a linear compressor, comprising: 
 sensing an operating state of the linear compressor;    comparing the sensed information with a preset value and determining whether the operating state of the linear compressor is abnormal; and    controlling a discharge passage of the linear compressor if the operating state of the linear compressor is abnormal.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensing of the operating state of the linear compressor is carried out by sensing a moving distance of a piston in the linear compressor.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensing of the operating state of the linear compressor is carried out by sensing the intensity of current applied to the linear compressor.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the comparing of the sensed information with the preset value is carried out by a control unit.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the controlling of the discharge passage of the linear compressor comprises: 
 allowing the control unit to command an opening/closing control switch so that an automatic control valve is directed to open or close the discharge passage if the operating state of the linear compressor is abnormal;    directing the automatic control valve to open or close the discharge passage; and    allowing the automatic control valve to control the discharge passage.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the directing of the automatic control valve to open or close the discharge passage is carried out by applying an electrical signal to the automatic control valve.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the discharge passage is blocked within a range from 0% to 100%.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises a moving distance sensor to sense a moving distance of a piston in the linear compressor and transmitting information on the sensed moving distance to the control unit.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the discharge passage opening/closing control unit further comprises a current sensor to sense intensity of current applied to the linear compressor and transmit information on the sensed intensity of current to the control unit.