Refrigerator

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator. Data about operations and states of the refrigerator are accumulated in a portable memory unit detachably attached to the refrigerator. Therefore, the portable memory unit can be detached from the refrigerator and connected to a personal computer (PC) to analyze reasons of errors of the refrigerator and find out potential errors of the refrigerator. Accordingly, maintenance of the refrigerator can be easily carried out.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a load unit comprising devices necessary for operation of the refrigerator;   a detection unit configured to detect operations of the load unit and states of the refrigerator;   a control unit configured to control operations of the load unit, the control unit comprising a memory unit to receive data about operations and states of the refrigerator from the detection unit; and   a history data memory unit comprising a detachable portable memory unit connected to the control unit,   wherein data input to the memory unit of the control unit are periodically copied to the portable memory unit so as to accumulate data about operations and states of the refrigerator.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the history data memory unit and the control unit are provided as one part. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the history data memory unit is disposed at a side of the refrigerator spaced apart from the control unit. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the history data memory unit is disposed at a side of a hinge to which a shaft of a door of the refrigerator is coupled. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the history data memory unit is disposed at a door deco formed around a door of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the history data memory unit is disposed at a side of a display that is disposed on a door of the refrigerator to display operational states of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable memory unit is a secure digital (SD) card. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the history data memory unit further comprises a capacitor configured to supply power for shutting down a file system of the portable memory unit. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising an output unit configured to report a backup period of the portable memory unit. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the output unit is a display disposed on a door of the refrigerator to display operational states of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein data about states of the refrigerator and components of the refrigerator are temporarily stored in the memory unit until the data are backed up to the portable memory unit. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable memory unit accumulates data about states of the refrigerator and components of the refrigerator, and if the data accumulated in the portable memory unit reaches a preset amount, new data are stored in the portable memory unit while deleting the oldest entries of the accumulated data. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable memory unit accumulates data about states of the refrigerator and components of the refrigerator, and then the portable memory unit is detached from the refrigerator and connected to a personal computer (PC) on which an error diagnosis program is installed, so as to diagnose whether the refrigerator behaves abnormally. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the portable memory unit accumulates data about states of the refrigerator and components of the refrigerator, and then the portable memory unit is detached from the refrigerator and connected to a personal computer (PC) so as to transmit the data to a server through the internet for diagnosing whether the refrigerator behaves abnormally.