Electronic defrost timer for mechanical refregerator

Abstract

An electronic defrost timer for a mechanical refrigerator is disclosed, which includes an input unit applying its power to the defrost timer and receiving an input of time for controlling the defrost timer, a control unit controlling a compression mode or a defrost mode by using the input time and a program, and an output unit directly controlling the compression mode or the defrost mode under the control of the control unit. According to the electronic defrost timer, since the input unit, the control unit, and the output unit are mounted on a PCB and the compression mode or the defrost mode is controlled by the program, the compression/defrost operation time of the refrigerator can be promptly controlled by a simple modification of the program, without any modification of moldings, and thus the manufacturing cost and time can be saved.

1 . An electronic defrost timer for a mechanical refrigerator, comprising: 
 an input unit applying its power to the defrost timer and receiving an input of time for controlling the defrost timer;    a control unit controlling a compression mode or a defrost mode by using the input time and a program; and    an output unit directly controlling the compression mode or the defrost mode under the control of the control unit.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the compression mode or the defrost mode by using either of the input time and a sensor sensing the state in the compression mode or the defrost mode.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a memory automatically storing an accumulated time when the mechanical refrigerator is operated or when the power supply is cut off.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 1 , wherein the program of the control unit comprises: 
 a control module controlling the compression mode and the defrost mode by counting a compression/defrost operation time and a defrost pause time inputted from the input unit;    a compression control module operating the compression mode under the control of the control module; and    a defrost control module operating the defrost mode under the control of the control module.    
   
   
       5 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 4 , wherein the control module of the control unit executes a timer routine for checking a system to match the time inputted by a user, stores the accumulated time in a memory if the power supply to the mechanical refrigerator is cut off, and re-operates the compression mode or the defrost mode by using the accumulated time stored in the memory if the power is applied to the mechanical refrigerator.  
   
   
       6 . An electronic defrost timer for a mechanical refrigerator, comprising: 
 an input unit receiving an input of time for controlling the defrost timer;    a control unit controlling a compression mode and a defrost mode by using the input time and a program; and    an output unit directly controlling the compression mode or the defrost mode under the control of the control unit.    
   
   
       7 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 6 , wherein the control unit comprises a memory storing an accumulated time irrespective of the on/off state of an input power.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 1 , wherein the program is automatically reset or branched when a predetermined time elapses in as much as frost accumulated on an evaporator of the refrigerator is evaporated at room temperature due to a long-time power cutoff of the mechanical refrigerator.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 1 , wherein if an operation time of a defrost heater exceeds a preset time in a state that a defrost temperature switch controlling the operation time of the defrost heater malfunctions, the program is automatically reset to cut off the power supply to the defrost heater and to produce a compression mode output signal or a signal in accordance with a user's request.  
   
   
       10 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 6 , wherein the program is automatically reset or branched when a predetermined time elapses in as much as frost accumulated on an evaporator of the refrigerator is evaporated at room temperature due to a long-time power cutoff of the mechanical refrigerator.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic defrost timer of  claim 6 , wherein if an operation time of a defrost heater exceeds a preset time in a state that a defrost temperature switch controlling the operation time of the defrost heater malfunctions, the program is automatically reset to cut off the power supply to the defrost heater and to produce a compression mode output signal or a signal in accordance with a user's request.