Refrigerator and controlling method the same

Abstract

A control method of a refrigerator includes the steps in which: a heating element of a sensor which is responsive to a change in the flow rate of air is turned off after being turned on for a predetermined period of time; a first sensing temperature (Ht1) of the heating element is sensed in a state in which the heating element is on, and a second sensing temperature (Ht2) of the heating element is sensed in a state in which the heating element is off; and a defrosting operation of removing frost on an evaporator is determined on the basis of the temperature difference value between the first sensing temperature (Ht1) and the second sensing detection temperature (Ht2).

1 . A method for controlling a refrigerator comprising:
 allowing a heat generating element of a sensor for reacting to a change in a flow rate of air to be turned on for a predetermined period of time and then turned off;   detecting a first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) of the heat generating element in a state in which the heat generating element is turned on and detecting a second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) of the heat generating element in a state in which the heat generating element is turned off; and   determining a defrost operation of removing frost on an evaporator based on a temperature difference between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) is a temperature detected by a sensing element of the sensor immediately after the heat generating element is turned on. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is a temperature detected by a sensing element of the sensor immediately after the heat generating element is turned off. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) is a lowest temperature value during the predetermined period of time when the heat generating element is turned on. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is a highest temperature value after the heat generating element is turned off. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether a temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than a first reference difference value; and
 performing the defrost operation of removing frost on the evaporator when the temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than a first reference difference value.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating element is turned on while a storage compartment of the refrigerator is being cooled. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat generating element is turned on while a blowing fan for cooling a storage compartment is being driven. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether a temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than a second reference difference value when the heat generating element is turned on for the predetermined period of time and then turned off,   wherein the heat generating element is turned on according to whether the temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than a second reference difference value.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the heat generating element is turned on based on an accumulated cooling operation time of the storage compartment when the temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than the second reference difference value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing the heat generating element to be turned on based on an accumulated cooling operation time of a storage compartment when the heat generating element is turned on for the predetermined period of time and then turned off.   
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a sensor including a heat generating element; and   a controller configured to:   allow the heat generating element for reacting to a change in a flow rate of air to be operated for a predetermined period of time;   determine a temperature of the heat generating element when the heat generating element is turned on; and   determine a defrost operation of removing frost on an evaporator based on a temperature difference between a first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) that is a lowest value and a second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) that is a highest value among detected temperatures of the heat generating element.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether a temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than a first reference difference value; and   perform the defrost operation of removing frost on the evaporator when the temperature difference value between the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) and the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is less than a first reference difference value.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to turn on the heat generating element while a storage compartment of the refrigerator is being cooled. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to turn on the heat generating element while a blowing fan for cooling a storage compartment is being driven. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an inner case defining a storage space;   a cooling duct to guide a flow of air in the storage space and defining a heat exchange space with the inner case;   an evaporator disposed in the heat exchange space;   a bypass passage to allow a portion of the air flow to bypass the evaporator;   a sensor including a heat generating element disposed in the bypass passage and a sensing element to detect a temperature of the heat generating element; and   a controller configured to determine a defrost operation of removing frost on an evaporator based on a temperature reference value between a first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) of the heat generating element detected in a state in which the heat generating element is turned on and a second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) of the heat generating element detected in a state in which the heat generating element is turned off.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) is a temperature detected by a sensing element immediately after the heat generating element is turned on. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is a temperature detected by a sensing element immediately after the heat generating element is turned off. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the first detection temperature (Ht 1 ) is a lowest temperature value during a period of time when the heat generating element is turned on. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second detection temperature (Ht 2 ) is a highest temperature value after the heat generating element is turned off.