Refrigerator with ion generator and method of controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed are a refrigerator equipped with an ion generator and a method for controlling the same, capable of maintaining the density of ozone, which is generated together with ions, to a level less than a predetermined level. The refrigerator and the method for controlling the same can adjust the density of ozone in the refrigerator without employing additional equipment or the control for the equipment such that the ozone is not harmful to a human body by incorporating an operational pattern of a damper operating according to the temperatures of both a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber with the operation of the ion generator in order to control the density of the ozone generated from the insides of plural storage rooms by the operation of the ion generator.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a plurality of storage rooms;   a circulation fan circulating cold air in the storage rooms through a cold air path;   a damper provided in a predetermined portion of the cold air path and controlling an opening degree of the cold air path connecting the storage rooms;   an ion generator generating ions inside the storage rooms; and   a controller controlling operation of the ion generator according to the opening degree of the damper to adjust a density of ozone created in the storage rooms.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ion generator is provided in at least one of the storage rooms. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage rooms include a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, and the ion generator is provided in the refrigerating chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller operates the ion generator when the damper is opened, and stops operation of the ion generator when the damper is closed. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , further comprising a temperature sensor module measuring temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, wherein the controller opens the damper when the temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber measured by the temperature sensor module are equal to or greater than set temperatures of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, respectively. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller operates the circulation fan when the damper is opened. 
   
   
       7 . A method of controlling a refrigerator including a plurality of storage rooms and a circulation fan that circulates cold air in the storage rooms through a cold air path, the method comprising:
 controlling an operation of an ion generator according to an opening degree of a damper which controls an opening degree of a cold air path connecting to the storage rooms, to adjust a density of ozone created by the ion generator generating ions in the storage rooms.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a controller operates the ion generator when the damper is opened, and stops operation of the ion generator when the damper is closed. 
   
   
       9 . The method as according to  claim 8 , wherein internal temperatures of the storage rooms are measured in order to compare the internal temperatures with preset temperatures of each of the storage rooms, and then the damper is opened if the internal temperatures of the storage rooms are greater than or equal to the preset temperatures of each of the storage rooms, respectively. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the circulation fan is operated when the damper is opened. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a plurality of storage rooms;   a cold air path connecting the storage rooms;   a damper provided in a predetermined portion of the cold air path and controlling an opening degree of the cold air path connecting the storage rooms;   an ion generator generating ions inside at least one of the storage rooms; and   a controller controlling operation of the ion generator according to measured temperatures of the storage rooms.   
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller controls the damper to control the opening degree of the cold air path to adjust a density of ozone created in the storage rooms based on the measured temperatures of the storage rooms. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , further comprising a circulation fan circulating cold air through the cold air path, wherein the controller controls an operation of the circulation fan to circulate cold air through the cold air path. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the cold air path includes a first cold air path formed through one of the storage rooms, a second cold air path formed through another of the storage rooms, and a communication path communicating between the first cold air path and the second cold air path. 
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the damper is opened if the measured temperatures of each of the storage rooms are greater than or equal to preset temperatures of each the storage rooms.