Refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention discloses a refrigerator which can keep the contents in a non-frozen state by an electric field generated by a radio frequency voltage. The refrigerator includes a setting unit for setting a amplitude and frequency of a voltage, a generating unit for generating an electric field according to the voltage having the set amplitude and frequency, and applying the electric field to a storing space for storing the contents, and a freezing cycle for cooling the storing space. The contents are kept in a non-frozen state below a phase transition temperature.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a setting unit for setting a amplitude and frequency of a voltage;   a generating unit for generating an electric field according to the voltage having the set amplitude and frequency, and applying the electric field to a storing space for storing the contents; and   a freezing cycle for cooling the storing space,   whereby the contents are kept in a non-frozen state below a phase transition temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the setting unit sets the amplitude and frequency of the voltage according to a degree of load in the storing space. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a load sensing unit for sensing the degree of load in the storing space. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator of either  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the degree of load comprises at least one of a capacity of the storing space, a kind and state of the contents, and a temperature of the storing space. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a current sensing unit for sensing a current flowing through the generating unit. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat source generating unit for forcibly raising a temperature of the storing space or the contents. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit for notifying the state of the contents to the user. 
   
   
       8 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 an energy setting unit for setting a quantity of energy according to a degree of load in a storing space for storing the contents;   an energy generating unit for generating the set quantity of energy and applying the energy to the storing space; and   a freezing cycle for cooling the storing space,   whereby the contents are kept in a non-frozen state below a phase transition temperature.   
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the energy generating unit generates and applies an electric field. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the degree of load comprises at least one of a capacity of the storing space, a kind and state of the contents, and a temperature of the storing space. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the energy setting unit sets the quantity of energy according to a amplitude and frequency of a voltage. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , further comprising a state checking unit for checking a state of the contents. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the state checking unit comprises at least one of a hardness meter, a thermometer, a voltmeter and an ammeter. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , further comprising a freezing release unit for releasing freezing according to the state of the contents. 
   
   
       15 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a setting unit for setting a amplitude of a voltage having a high frequency characteristic;   a generating unit for generating an electric field according to the set voltage, and   applying the electric field to a storing space for storing the contents; and   a freezing cycle for cooling the storing space,   whereby the contents are kept in a non-frozen state below a phase transition temperature.   
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the setting unit sets the amplitude of the voltage according to a degree of load in the storing space. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising a state checking unit for checking a non-frozen state of the contents. 
   
   
       18 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising a heat source generating unit for forcibly raising a temperature of the storing space or the contents. 
   
   
       19 . A control method of a refrigerator, comprising the steps of:
 checking a state of the contents stored in a storing space; and   executing a non-freezing mode or a freezing release mode according to the checking result.   
   
   
       20 . The control method of  claim 19 , wherein the state checking step comprises the steps of:
 measuring at least one of a temperature, hardness, voltage and current of the contents; and   deciding the state of the contents according to the measured value.   
   
   
       21 . The control method of  claim 19 , wherein the freezing release mode comprises at least a refrigerating mode. 
   
   
       22 . The control method of  claim 19 , wherein the freezing release mode comprises a heat generating mode for generating heat in the storing space or the contents. 
   
   
       23 . The control method of  claim 19 , wherein the step for executing the non-freezing mode comprises a step for controlling an operation or intensity of the non-freezing mode according to the checked result.