Refrigerator and control method therefor

Abstract

A refrigerator that comprises a storage compartment; a case disposed in the storage compartment; a heater disposed in the case; a cooling fan configured to introduce air outside the case into an inside of the case; and a processor configured to determine a target time based on information about an object, configured to operate the heater for the target time, and configured to intermittently operate the cooling fan while operating the heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage compartment;   a case disposed in the storage compartment;   a heater disposed in the case;   a cooling fan configured to introduce air outside the case into an inside of the case; and   a processor configured to:
 determine a target time based on information about an object, 
 operate the heater for the target time, and 
 operate the cooling fan while operating the heater. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to operate the heater for the target time without stopping the heater. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to intermittently operate the cooling fan while operating the heater. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to periodically operate the cooling fan while operating the heater. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the information about the object comprises information about a packaging means for packaging the object, and   the processor is configured to determine the target time based on the information about the packaging means.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to determine different target times based on different packaging means. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control panel configured to obtain user input about the object,   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify the object and a packaging means therefor based on the user input, and 
 determine the target time based on the identified object and packaging means therefor. 
   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication module,   wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify the object and a packaging means therefor based on information obtained from an image obtained by an electronic device, and 
 determine the target time based on the identified object and packaging means therefor. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 stop the cooling fan for a first period of time while operating the heater, and   operate the cooling fan for a second period of time that is less than the first period of time while operating the heater.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to measure an internal temperature of the case,   wherein the processor is configured to operate the cooling fan based on an output signal of the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 operate the cooling fan when the measured internal temperature of the case is greater than or equal to a reference temperature; and   stop the cooling fan when the measured internal temperature of the case is less than the reference temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to stop the heater and operate the cooling fan when an operating time of the heater is greater than or equal to the target time. 
     
     
         13 . A control method of a refrigerator comprising a case disposed in a storage compartment, the control method comprising:
 determining a target time based on information about an object;   operating a heater disposed in the case for the target time; and   operating a cooling fan configured to introduce air outside the case into an inside of the case, while operating the heater.   
     
     
         14 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the operating of the heater comprises operating the heater for the target time without stopping the heater. 
     
     
         15 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the operating of the cooling fan comprises intermittently operating the cooling fan while operating the heater. 
     
     
         16 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the operating of the cooling fan comprises periodically operating the cooling fan while operating the heater. 
     
     
         17 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the information about the object comprises information about a packaging means for packaging the object, and   the determining of the target time comprises determining the target time based on information about the packaging means.   
     
     
         18 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the determining of the target time comprises determining different target times based on different packaging means. 
     
     
         19 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 obtaining user input about the object via a control panel; and   identifying the object and a packaging means therefor based on the user input,   wherein the determining of the target time comprises determining the target time based on the identified object and packaging means therefor.   
     
     
         20 . The control method of the refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying, via a communication module, the object and a packaging means therefor based on information obtained from an image obtained by an electronic device,   wherein the determining of the target time comprises determining the target time based on the identified object and packaging means therefor.