Refrigerator and method for controlling the refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator and a method for controlling the refrigerator including a plurality of storage chambers which is capable of reducing a continuous operation time of a compressor or frequent ON/OFF operations of the compressor of the refrigerator, to thereby enhancing the operation efficiency of the compressor. When the control method is applied to a refrigerator including a compressor, a first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate cold air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than a load of the first storage chamber, the control method includes turning off the second fan, to turn off the compressor, when the first storage chamber is at a temperature satisfying a first predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, such that the second fan is turned off even when the second storage chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a second predetermined temperature.

1 . A method for controlling a refrigerator comprising a compressor, a first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate cold air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than a load of the first storage chamber, the method comprising:
 turning off the second fan, to turn off the compressor, when the first storage chamber is at a temperature satisfying a first predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, such that the second fan and the compressor are turned off even when the second storage chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a second predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fan comprises an OFF condition corresponding to a third predetermined temperature lower than the second predetermined temperature of the second storage chamber, further comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the temperature of the second storage chamber reaches the third predetermined temperature, to satisfy the OFF condition of the second fan.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the second storage chamber is a switchable chamber having an operation mode switchable between a refrigerating mode and a freezing mode, further comprising:
 turning off the second fan in the OFF condition of the first fan when the operation mode of the second storage chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such that the second fan is turned off even when a temperature of the second storage chamber does not satisfy a predetermined temperature for the freezing mode.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first storage chamber is a freezing chamber, further comprising:
 turning on the second fan when the temperature of the first storage chamber does not satisfy the first predetermined temperature corresponding to the OFF condition of the first fan, such that the second fan is turned on even when the temperature of the second storage chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 continuously operating the first fan until the temperature of the first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined temperature; and   intermittently operating the second fan after the temperature of the second storage chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the first storage chamber is in a power freezing mode.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the first storage chamber is in a power freezing mode.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the first storage chamber is in a power freezing mode.   
   
   
       9 . A method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor, a freezing chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and a switchable chamber having a second fan to circulate cold air, the switchable chamber having an operation mode switchable between a freezing mode and a refrigerating mode, the method comprising:
 turning off the second fan in an OFF condition of the first fan when the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such that the second fan is turned off even when the switchable chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a first predetermined temperature for the freezing mode;   turning on the second fan, when the temperature of the switchable chamber does not satisfy a second predetermined temperature, and the freezing chamber is in a general freezing mode; and   turning off the second fan, when the temperature of the switchable chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature, and the freezing chamber is in a power freezing mode.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the turn-on and off of the second fan is executed when the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 turning on an automatic ice maker of the refrigerator, when the freezing chamber is in the power freezing mode.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 turning on an automatic ice maker of the refrigerator, when the freezing chamber is in the power freezing mode.   
   
   
       13 . A method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor, a freezing chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air and an automatic ice maker to make ice, and a switchable chamber having a second fan to circulate cold air, the switchable chamber having an operation mode switchable between a freezing mode and a refrigerating mode, the method comprising:
 turning off the second fan in an OFF condition of the first fan when the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode, such that the second fan is turned off even when the switchable chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a first predetermined temperature for the freezing mode; and   turning off the second fan in an ON condition of the automatic ice maker when the operation mode of the switchable chamber is switched from the refrigerating mode to the freezing mode.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the freezing chamber is at a temperature satisfying the first predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, or when the freezing chamber is in an ice-full state requiring no further ice making operation of the automatic ice maker, such that the second fan is turned off even when the temperature of the switchable chamber does not satisfy a second predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the second fan has an OFF condition corresponding to a third predetermined temperature lower than the second predetermined temperature of the switchable chamber, further comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the temperature of the switchable chamber reaches the third predetermined temperature, to satisfy the OFF condition of the second fan.   
   
   
       16 . A method for controlling a refrigerator including a compressor, a first storage chamber having a first fan to circulate cold air, and a second storage chamber having a second fan to circulate cold air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than a load of the first storage chamber, the method comprising:
 turning off the second fan when the first storage chamber is at a temperature satisfying a first predetermined temperature corresponding to an OFF condition of the first fan, such that the second fan is turned off even when the second storage chamber is at a temperature not satisfying a second predetermined temperature; and   continuously operating the first fan until the temperature of the first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined temperature, and intermittently operating the second fan after the temperature of the second storage chamber satisfies the second predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the intermittent operation of the second fan is continued until the temperature of the first storage chamber satisfies the first predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor to compress refrigerant;   first and second storage chambers to store food, and respectively comprising first and second fans to circulate cold air, the second storage chamber having a load relatively lower than a load of the first storage chamber,   wherein the second fan and the compressor are turned off when the first storage chamber is at a first predetermined temperature, such that the second fan and the compressor are turned off even when the second storage chamber is not at a second predetermined temperature.