Refrigerator and method for controlling same

Abstract

A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same are provided. A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a cabinet forming a storage space and a machine room; a compressor disposed in the machine room and configured to compress refrigerant; a condenser disposed in the machine room and configured to condense the refrigerant compressed in the compressor; an output pipe connected to the condenser and configured to discharge the refrigerant from the condenser; a machine room sensor coupled to the output pipe to measure the temperature of the output pipe; and a control unit configured to control an operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature measured by the machine room sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet that forms a storage space and a machine room;   a compressor this is provided in the machine room and is configured to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser that is provided in the machine room and is configured to condense the refrigerant received from the compressor;   an output pipe that is fluidly connected to the condenser and configured to discharge the refrigerant from the condenser;   a sensor that is configured to measure a temperature at the output pipe; and   a control unit that is configured to control an operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature measured by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to:
 in response to determining that the measured temperature is within a first range that is less than a first reference temperature, perform a normal mode that includes operating the compressor at a first frequency, and 
 in response to determining that the measured temperature is within a second range that is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature and less than a second reference temperature, perform a first protection mode that includes operating the compressor at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency. 
   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to:
 perform the normal mode further in response to determining that a time during which the measured temperature is within the second range is less than a first period, and 
 perform the first protection mode further in response to determining that the time during which the measured temperature is within the second range is greater than or equal to the first period. 
   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the second frequency is 40 Hz or more and 50 Hz or less.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first protection mode is performed for a first protection time, and   wherein the first protection time is 150 minutes or more and 210 minutes or less.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to:
 in response to determining that the measured temperature is in a third range that is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature, perform a second protection mode that includes operating the compressor at a third frequency lower than the second frequency. 
   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second protection mode is performed for a second protection time, and   wherein the control unit is configured to:
 count a number of times that the second protection mode is consecutively performed, 
 in response to determining that the number of times that the second protection mode is consecutively performed corresponds to a reference repetition number, perform the third protection mode that includes operating the compressor at the third frequency for a third protection time longer than the second protection time. 
   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the second protection time is 15 minutes or more and 25 minutes or less, and   wherein the third protection time is 100 minutes or more and 140 minutes or less.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first reference temperature is less than the second reference temperature,   wherein the first reference temperature is 65° C. or more and less than 75° C., and   wherein the second reference temperature is 70° C. or more and less than 80° C.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the third frequency is 0 Hz.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a display configured to output an indication of a current state of the refrigerator,   wherein the control unit is configured to:
 in response to performing at least one of the first protection mode or the second protection mode is performed, control the display to output a warning message. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to:
 in response to performing at least one of the first protection mode or the second protection mode, control the refrigerator to output a warning sound. 
   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to:
 in response to performing at least one of the first protection mode or the second protection mode, control the refrigerator to output a warning message to a user terminal device connected to the refrigerator. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling a refrigerator that includes a machine room; a compressor provided in the machine room; and a condenser provided in the machine room, the method comprising:
 measuring, by a sensor, a temperature at a pipe that discharges refrigerant from the condenser; and   managing, by a control unit, an operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature measured by the sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein managing the operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature includes:
 in response to determining that the temperature is less than a first reference temperature, controlling the compressor to operate at a first frequency, and 
 in response to determining that the measured temperature is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature and less than a second reference temperature, controlling the compressor to operate at a second frequency lower than the first frequency. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein managing the operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature further includes:
 controlling the compressor to operate at the first frequency further in response to determining that a time during which the temperature is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature and less than the second reference temperature is less than a first period, and 
 controlling the compressor to operate at the second frequency further in response to determining that the time during which the temperature is greater than or equal to the first reference temperature and less than the second reference temperature is greater than or equal to the first period. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein managing the operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature further includes:
 in response to determining that the temperature is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature, operating the compressor at a third frequency lower than the second frequency. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein managing the operating frequency of the compressor based on the temperature further includes:
 counting a number of times, consecutively, that the compressor is operated at the second frequency; and 
 in response to determining that the number of times that the compressor is operated at the second frequency corresponds to a reference repetition number, operating the compressor at the third frequency, 
   wherein the compressor is operated at the second frequency for a second protection time, and   wherein the compressor is operated at the third frequency for a third protection time longer than the second protection time.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the second protection time is 15 minutes or more and 25 minutes or less, and   wherein the third protection time is 100 minutes or more and 140 minutes or less.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the first reference temperature is smaller than the second reference temperature,   wherein the first reference temperature is 65° C. or more and less than 75° C., and   wherein the second reference temperature is 70° C. or more and less than 80° C.