Apparatus and method for controlling output of linear compressor

Abstract

An apparatus controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator and a rotor includes a plurality of coil taps which are connected to a coil of the stator, a switching part which controls an intensity of a current flowing through the coil by being selectively connected to the plurality of coil taps, and a controller which controls the switching part to be selectively connected to the plurality of coil taps. The apparatus prevents a power factor of power provided to the coil from being decreased, increases the efficiency of the power and minimizes a copper loss and/or a iron loss on the coil.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator and a rotor, the apparatus comprising: 
 coil taps which are connected to a coil of the stator;    a switching part which is selectively connected to a desired one of the coil taps so as to control an intensity of a current flowing through the coil; and    a controller which controls the switching part.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a phase controller which changes a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to a driving signal transmitted from the controller.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the phase controller includes a triac which is turned on/off according to the driving signal and controls the phase of the voltage.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a power supply to supply electrical power to the coil, wherein the phase controller is provided in series between the switching part and the power supply.  
     
     
         5 . A method of controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator, the method comprising: 
 detecting a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied;    controlling an intensity of a current flowing through a coil of the stator according to the detected temperature; and    controlling a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to the detected temperature.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the controlling of the current intensity includes: 
 increasing the intensity of the current flowing through the coil in response to the detected temperature being higher than a predetermined temperature, and    decreasing the intensity of the current flowing through the coil in response to the detected temperature being lower than the predetermined temperature.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the controlling of the phase of the voltage comprises controlling the phase of the voltage according to a difference between the detected temperature and the predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller generates the driving signal according to a difference between a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied and a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator and a rotor, the apparatus comprising: 
 a switching part which selectively changes a resistance of a coil of the stator so as to control an intensity of a current flowing through the coil; and    a controller which controls the switching part.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the switching part comprises: 
 coil taps which are connected to the coil of the stator; and    a switching unit which is selectively connected to a desired one of the coil taps according to the controller so as to control the intensity of the current flowing through the coil.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the controller controls the switching part according to a difference between a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied and a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the output of the linear compressor is controlled according to a change of the resistance of the coil so as to improve a power factor and an efficiency of power supplied to the coil, and prevent a copper and/or an iron loss of the coil.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a phase controller which changes a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to a driving signal transmitted from the controller.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising a power supply to supply electrical power to the coil, wherein the phase controller is provided in series between the switching part and the power supply.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the intensity of the current is controlled according to a variation of the resistance of the coil under the same voltage supplied from the power supply.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the linear compressor is applied to one of a refrigerator and an air conditioner.  
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling an output of a linear compressor having a stator, the method comprising changing a resistance of a coil of the stator so as to control an intensity of a current flowing through the coil.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the changing of the resistance comprises changing the resistance of the coil according to a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 detecting a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied; and    controlling a phase of a voltage supplied to the coil according to the detected temperature.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the controlling of the phase of the voltage comprises controlling the phase of the voltage according to a difference between the detected temperature and a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the intensity of the current is controlled according to a temperature of a predetermined space to which the linear compressor is applied.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the linear compressor is applied to one of a refrigerator and an air conditioner.