Condensation prevention apparatus and method

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a housing with an interior space defined by an exterior surface. A heater is configured to heat a portion of the exterior surface. A processor is configured to control the heater based on a dew point temperature outside the housing.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a housing including an interior space defined by an exterior surface;   a heater configured to heat a portion of the exterior surface; and   a processor configured to control the heater based on a dew point temperature outside the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a dew point temperature calculator configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on a relative humidity outside the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the housing,   wherein the processor is configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on the temperature outside the housing.   
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a relative humidity sensor configured to measure a relative humidity outside the housing,   wherein the processor is configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on the relative humidity outside the housing.   
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a surface temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater,   wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the heater based on the temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater.   
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the housing adjacent the refrigerator; and   a relative humidity sensor configured to measure a relative humidity outside the housing adjacent the refrigerator;   wherein each of the sensors is disposed on the exterior surface of the refrigerator, and   wherein the processor is configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on the measured temperature and the measured relative humidity.   
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater,   wherein the processor is configured to control the heater based on the measured temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater.   
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater,   wherein the processor is configured to control the heater based on the measured temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater.   
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cooling system configured to cool the interior of the housing,   wherein the housing comprises a freezer compartment, the cooling system configured to cool an interior of the freezer compartment, and   wherein the heater is disposed to heat the exterior surface of the refrigerator that is exterior to the freezer compartment.   
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the processor comprises a dew point temperature calculator configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on a relative humidity outside the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the housing,   wherein the processor is configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on the temperature outside the housing.   
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a relative humidity sensor configured to measure a relative humidity outside the housing,   wherein the processor is configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the housing based on the relative humidity outside the housing.   
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a surface temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater,   wherein the processor is configured to control the operation of the heater based on the temperature of the portion of the exterior surface heated by the heater.   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for preventing condensation on an exterior surface of a refrigerator comprising:
 a heater configured to heat a portion of the exterior surface; and   a processor configured to control the heater based on a dew point temperature outside the refrigerator.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside the refrigerator; and   a relative humidity sensor configured to measure a relative humidity outside the refrigerator;   wherein the processor is configured to calculate the dew point temperature outside the refrigerator based on the measured temperature and the measured relative humidity.   
   
   
       16 . A method of heating an exterior surface of a refrigerator to prevent condensation thereon, the method comprising:
 determining a dew point temperature outside of the refrigerator; and   heating the exterior surface of the refrigerator in response to the determined dew point temperature.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein heating comprises heating the exterior surface of the refrigerator when a temperature of the exterior surface is below the dew point temperature. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein heating comprises heating the exterior surface of the refrigerator when a temperature of the exterior surface is one of below the dew point temperature, at the dew point temperature, and within a predetermined temperature range of the dew point temperature. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 preventing further heating of the exterior surface of the refrigerator when the exterior surface reaches a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein preventing comprises preventing further heating when the exterior surface reaches the predetermined temperature that is greater than the dew point temperature.