Refrigerator and method of controlling refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024118021-A1
Application number	US-202318538447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 13, 2023
Priority date	Aug 3, 2021
Publication date	Apr 11, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a temperature sensor, a cooling device, and a processor which controls the cooling device such that, when a user command to change the temperature of a storage compartment set to a first temperature to a second temperatures, is input, the temperature of the storage compartment is changed to the second temperature, based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor, and controls the cooling device such that, when a certain period of time elapses after a point in time when the user command is input, the temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature, based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.

First claim

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a storage compartment; a temperature sensor; a cooling device; and a processor configured to: based on a user command to change a temperature of the storage compartment set to a first temperature, to a second temperature, being input, control the cooling device such that the temperature of the storage compartment is changed to the second temperature based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor, and based on a certain period of time elapsing after a point in time when the user command is input, control the cooling device such that the temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to, before the certain period of time elapses, provide a notification that indicates that the temperature of the storage compartment is to return to the first temperature at a predetermined time interval.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , further comprising:
a display, wherein the processor is configured to control the display to display the notification.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , further comprising:
a communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to transmit, through the communication interface, the notification to a server that communicates with an electronic apparatus so that the notification is displayed on the electronic apparatus.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
identify a weight of an object for storage in the storage compartment at a predetermined time interval after the user command is input, and based on the identified weight of the object for storage being less than or equal to a preset weight, provide a notification to request input of a user command to return the temperature of the storage compartment to the first temperature.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , further comprising:
a communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to transmit, through the communication interface, the notification to a server that communicates with an electronic apparatus so that the notification is displayed on the electronic apparatus.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
based on a user command to return the temperature of the storage compartment to the first temperature being input before the certain period of time elapses, control the cooling device such that the temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
based on a user command to extend the certain period of time being input before the certain period of time elapses, control the cooling device such that the temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
identify whether to extend the certain period of time based on a weight of an object for storage in the storage compartment and based on identifying that the certain period of time is to be extended, if the extended certain period of time elapses, control the cooling device such that internal temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature based on the internal temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to, based on identifying that the weight of the object for storage in the storage compartment increases or is not changed, identify that the certain period of time is to be extended.

11 . A method of controlling a refrigerator, the method comprising:
based on a user command to change a temperature of a storage compartment of the refrigerator set to a first temperature, to a second temperature, being input, changing the temperature of the storage compartment to the second temperature based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by a temperature sensor; based on a certain period of time elapsing after a point in time when the user command is input, returning the temperature of the storage compartment to the first temperature based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
before the certain period of time elapses, providing a notification that indicates that the temperature of the storage compartment is to return to the first temperature at a predetermined time interval.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the providing comprises controlling a display of the refrigerator to display the notification.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the providing comprises transmitting, through a communication interface of the refrigerator, the notification to a server that communicates with an electronic apparatus so that the notification is displayed on the electronic apparatus.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
identifying a weight of an object for storage in the storage compartment at a predetermined time interval after the user command is input; and based on the identified weight of the object for storage being less than or equal to a preset weight, providing a notification to request input of a user command to return the temperature of the storage compartment to the first temperature.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seo Junghoon
• Ko Kyungtae
• Kim Ganghyun
• Ryoo Jaeuk

Classifications

• F25D29/005 Primary

  Mounting of control devices · CPC title

• F25D2600/02

  Timing · CPC title

• H04L65/40

  Support for services or applications · CPC title

• H04L67/125

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title

• H04L12/28

  characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] (wireless communication networks H04W {; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00}) · CPC title