Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021055042-A1
Application number	US-201916961202-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2019
Priority date	Jan 10, 2018
Publication date	Feb 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a storage chamber is formed, a cooler configured to cool the storage chamber, a heater configured to heat the storage chamber, a temperature sensor configured to sense a storage chamber temperature, and a controller configured to control the cooler and the heater, in which the controller selectively performs a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes include a cooling mode in which the cooler is operated or stopped, a heating mode in which the heater is operated or stopped, and a standby mode in which the cooler and the heater are stopped, and the plurality of modes are performed in the order of the cooling mode, the standby mode, and heating mode, or are performed in the order of the heating mode, the standby mode, and the cooling mode.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet in which a storage chamber is formed; a cooler to cool the storage chamber; a heater to heat the storage chamber; a temperature sensor to sense a storage chamber temperature; and a controller configured to control the cooler and the heater, wherein the controller is configured to selectively perform a plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes include:
a cooling mode in which the cooler is operated or stopped,
a heating mode in which the heater is operated or stopped, and
a standby mode in which the cooler and the heater are stopped, and
wherein the plurality of modes are performed in the order of the cooling mode, the standby mode, and heating mode, or are performed in the order of the heating mode, the standby mode, and the cooling mode.

19 . The refrigerator of claim 18 ,
wherein, in the cooling mode, the cooler is operated when the storage chamber temperature sensed by the temperature sensor exceeds a target temperature upper limit value and is stopped when the storage chamber temperature is lower than a target temperature lower limit value, and wherein, in the heating mode, the heater is stopped when the storage chamber temperature exceeds the target temperature upper limit value and is operated when the storage chamber temperature is lower than the target temperature lower limit value.

20 . The refrigerator of claim 19 ,
wherein, in the standby mode, the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature lower limit value and a lower limit temperature, or between the target temperature upper limit value and an upper limit temperature, wherein the lower limit temperature is a temperature lower than the target temperature lower limit value, and wherein the upper limit temperature is a temperature higher than the target temperature upper limit value.

21 . The refrigerator of claim 20 ,
wherein, after the cooling mode is ended, when a time in which the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature lower limit value and the lower limit temperature is equal to or greater than a first set time, the controller is configured to switch from the standby mode to the heating mode.

22 . The refrigerator of claim 21 ,
wherein, after the cooling mode is ended, when a time in which the storage chamber temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature is equal to or greater than a second set time, the controller is configured to switch from the standby mode to the heating mode.

23 . The refrigerator of claim 22 ,
wherein the second set time is shorter than the first set time.

24 . The refrigerator of claim 20 ,
wherein, after the heating mode is ended, when a time in which the storage chamber temperature is between the target temperature upper limit value and the upper limit temperature is equal to or greater than a first set time, the controller is configured to switch from the standby mode to the cooling mode.

25 . The refrigerator of claim 24 ,
wherein, after the heating mode is ended, when a time in which the storage chamber temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature is equal to or greater than a second set time, the controller is configured to switch from the standby mode to the cooling mode.

26 . The refrigerator of claim 25 ,
wherein the second set time is shorter than the first set time.

27 . The refrigerator of claim 18 , further comprising:
a timer; and an input unit to receive an input of a target temperature, wherein the controller is configured to selectively perform the plurality of modes according to the input received by the input unit, a value of the timer, and the storage chamber temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

28 . The refrigerator of claim 18 , further comprising:
an airflow forming mechanism to flow air in the storage chamber, wherein the controller is configured to operate the airflow forming mechanism in the cooling mode.

29 . The refrigerator of claim 18 , further comprising:
an airflow forming mechanism to flow air in the storage chamber, wherein the controller is configured to stop the airflow forming mechanism from operating in the standby mode.

30 . The refrigerator of claim 18 , further comprising:
an airflow forming mechanism to flow air in the storage chamber, wherein the controller is configured to the airflow forming mechanism in the heating mode.

31 . The refrigerator of claim 18 ,
wherein the cabinet includes an inner case in which the storage chamber is formed, further comprising: an inner guide to partition the storage chamber into a storage space and an air flow path disposed inside the inner case, and an airflow forming mechanism including a circulation fan which is disposed in the inner case or the inner guide to circulate air in the storage space.

32 . The refrigerator of claim 18 ,
wherein the cabinet includes an inner case in which the storage chamber is formed, an inner guide to partition the storage chamber into a storage space and an air flow path disposed in the inner case, a partition member which partitions the storage space into a first space and a second space disposed in the storage space, and wherein the heater is a plurality of heaters provided for each of the first space and the second space.

33 . The refrigerator of claim 18 ,
wherein the cabinet includes an inner case in which the storage chamber is formed, further comprising an inner guide which faces a rear body of the inner case, and the heater includes a side heating device installed on a side body of the inner case.

34 . The refrigerator of claim 33 , further comprising
a partition member which partitions the storage space into a first space and a second space disposed in the storage space, wherein the heater includes an inner heating device disposed on the partition member.

35 . The refrigerator of claim 31 , further comprising
a circulation flow path partitioned from the air flow path and in communication with the storage chamber, wherein the circulation flow path is formed so that air passing through the circulation flow path is not mixed with air passing through the air flow path while passing through the circulation flow path.

36 . The refrigerator of claim 35 ,
wherein the circulation flow path is formed in the inner guide.

37 . The refrigerator of claim 35 ,
wherein the airflow forming mechanism includes a first fan disposed in the air flow path to blow the air passing through the air flow path and a second fan disposed outside of the air flow path to blow the air passing through the circulation flow path.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chung Myungjin
• Kim Kyungseok
• Kim Kyeongyun
• Seong Giseok
• Ahn Seunguk
• Park Jeongwon
• Suh Yonghun

Classifications

• F25D2600/02

  Timing · CPC title

• F25D2317/0682

  Two or more fans · CPC title

• F25D31/005 Primary

  Combined cooling and heating devices · CPC title

• F25D2331/803

  Bottles · CPC title

• F25D17/065

  with compartments at different temperatures · CPC title