Refrigerator controlling method

Abstract

A refrigerating controlling method that is capable of independently controlling cooling systems separately mounted in freezing and refrigerating chambers, each of which includes an evaporator and a fan, and reducing the number of starts of a compressor and the fans, thereby decreasing power consumption and noise and increasing service lives of the compressor and the fans. The refrigerator controlling method includes comparing a freezing chamber temperature with a freezing chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a freezing chamber, if the freezing chamber temperature is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature, comparing a refrigerating chamber temperature with a refrigerating chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a refrigerating chamber, examining whether the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for a predetermined period of time, and if the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, controlling a compressor and a refrigerating chamber fan to be turned on and a freezing chamber fan to be turned off such that the refrigerating chamber is cooled.

1 . A refrigerator controlling method comprising: 
 (a) comparing a freezing chamber temperature with a freezing chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a freezing chamber;    (b) if the freezing chamber temperature is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature in Operation (a), comparing a refrigerating chamber temperature with a refrigerating chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a refrigerating chamber;    (c) examining whether the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for a predetermined period of time in Operation (b); and    (d) if the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, controlling a compressor and a refrigerating chamber fan to be turned on and a freezing chamber fan to be turned off such that the refrigerating chamber is cooled.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerating chamber temperature is detected twice at an interval of a first set time in Operation (c), and, if the detected refrigerating chamber temperature is higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature, it is determined that the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, and Operation (d) is carried out.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously detected for a second set time in Operation (c), and, if the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the second set time, it is determined that the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, and Operation (d) is carried out.  
   
   
       4 . A refrigerator controlling method comprising: 
 (a) comparing a freezing chamber temperature with a freezing chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a freezing chamber;    (b) if the freezing chamber temperature is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature in Operation (a), comparing a refrigerating chamber temperature with a refrigerating chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a refrigerating chamber;    (c) detecting the refrigerating chamber temperature, in Operation (b), to examine whether the refrigerating chamber temperature rises above the refrigerating chamber reference temperature predetermined times or more; and    (d) if the refrigerating chamber temperature rises above the refrigerating chamber reference temperature the predetermined times or more, determining that the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, and controlling a compressor and a refrigerating chamber fan to be turned on and a freezing chamber fan to be turned off such that the refrigerating chamber is cooled.    
   
   
       5 . A refrigerator controlling method comprising: 
 (a) comparing a freezing chamber temperature with a freezing chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a freezing chamber;    (b) comparing a refrigerating chamber temperature with a refrigerating chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a refrigerating chamber;    (c) if the refrigerating chamber temperature and the freezing chamber temperature are higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature and the freezing chamber reference temperature, respectively, operating a compressor, a freezing chamber fan, and a refrigerating chamber fan to cool both the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber;    (d) if the refrigerating chamber temperature is lower than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature in Operation (b), turning on the compressor and the freezing chamber fan and turning off the refrigerating chamber fan, and repeating Operation (b);    (e) if the freezing chamber temperature is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature in Operation (a), comparing the refrigerating chamber temperature with the refrigerating chamber reference temperature;    (f) examining whether the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for a predetermined period of time in Operation (e); and    (g) if the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, controlling the compressor and the refrigerating chamber fan to be turned on and the freezing chamber fan to be turned off such that the refrigerating chamber is cooled.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 (h) after turning on the compressor, the refrigerating chamber fan, and the freezing chamber fan in Operation (c), comparing the freezing chamber temperature with the freezing chamber reference temperature;    (i) if the freezing chamber temperature is higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature in Operation (h), repeating Operation (b); and    (j) if the freezing chamber temperature is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature, turning on the compressor and the refrigerating chamber fan and turning off the freezing chamber fan.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 (k) after performing Operation  0 ), comparing the refrigerating chamber temperature with the refrigerating chamber reference temperature;    (l) if the refrigerating chamber temperature is not higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature in Operation (k), repeating Operation (a);    (m) if the refrigerating chamber temperature is higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature, comparing the freezing chamber temperature with the freezing chamber reference temperature; and    (n) if the freezing chamber temperature is higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature in Operation (m), repeating Operation (b).    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 (o) if the refrigerating chamber temperature is not higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature in Operation (e), turning off the compressor, the freezing chamber fan, and the refrigerating chamber fan.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 (p) after performing Operation (o), comparing a first surface temperature of a first evaporator with 0° C.; and    (q) if the first surface temperature is not higher than 0° C., turning off the compressor and the freezing chamber fan and turning on the refrigerating chamber fan.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the freezing chamber reference temperature is −15° C. to −21° C., and the refrigerating chamber reference temperature is −1° C. to 6° C.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator, comprising: 
 a compressor;    an insulation-structured body partitioned into a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber by an intermediate partition;    a first evaporator and a refrigerating chamber fan mounted at a rear wall of the refrigerating chamber;    a second evaporator and a freezing chamber fan mounted at a rear wall of the freezing chamber;    a refrigerating chamber temperature sensor connected to the input side of the control unit to detect a temperature of the refrigerating chamber;    a freezing chamber temperature sensor connected to the input side of the control unit to detect a temperature of the freezing chamber;    an outside air temperature sensor connected to the input side of the control unit; and    a control unit compares the temperature of the freezing chamber with a predetermined freezing chamber reference temperature, compares the temperature of the refrigerating chamber with a predetermined refrigerating chamber reference temperature suitable to store goods in a refrigerating chamber, and if the temperature of the refrigerating chamber and the temperature of the freezing chamber are higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature and the freezing chamber reference, respectively, operates the compressor, the freezing chamber fan, and the refrigerating chamber fan to cool both the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, and if the temperature of the refrigerating chamber is lower than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature, turns of the compressor and the freezing chamber fan and turns off the refrigerating chamber fan, and if the temperature of the freezing chamber is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature, compares the temperature of the refrigerating chamber with the refrigerating chamber reference temperature and examines whether the temperature of the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for a predetermined period of time, and if the refrigerating chamber temperature is continuously higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature for the predetermined period of time, controls the compressor and refrigerating chamber fan to be turned on and the freezing chamber fan to be turned off such that the refrigerating chamber is cooled.    
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit compares the temperature of the freezing chamber with the freezing chamber reference temperature, and if the temperature of the freezing chamber is not higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature, turns of the compressor and the refrigerating chamber fan and turns off the freezing chamber fan.  
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit compares the temperature of the refrigerating chamber with the refrigerating chamber reference temperature, and if the temperature of the refrigerating chamber is higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature, compares the freezing chamber temperature with the freezing chamber reference temperature, and if the temperature of the freezing chamber is higher than the freezing chamber reference temperature, operates the compressor, the freezing chamber fan and the refrigerating chamber fan.  
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit determines that if the refrigerating chamber temperature is not higher than the refrigerating chamber reference temperature to turn off the compressor, the freezing chamber fan, and the refrigerating chamber fan.  
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first evaporator surface sensor connected to the input side of the control unit to detect a first surface temperature;    a second evaporator surface sensor connected to the input side of the control unit to detect a second surface temperature;    wherein the control unit compares the first surface temperature with 0° C., and if the first surface temperature is not higher than 0° C., turns off the compressor and the freezing chamber fan and turns on the refrigerating chamber fan.