Refrigerator with ion generator and method of controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed are a refrigerator equipped with an ion generator and a method for controlling the same, capable of maintaining the density of ozone, which is generated together with ions, to a level less than a predetermined level. The refrigerator and the method for controlling the same can adjust the density of ozone in the refrigerator without employing additional equipment or the control for the equipment such that the ozone is not harmful to a human body by incorporating an operational pattern of a damper operating according to the temperatures of both a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber with the operation of the ion generator in order to control the density of the ozone generated from the insides of plural storage rooms by the operation of the ion generator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-132169, filed on Dec. 21, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly to a refrigerator equipped with an ion generator and a method of controlling the same, capable of maintaining the density of ozone, which is generated together with ions, to a level lower than a predetermined level.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]A conventional refrigerator mainly includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator, and an accumulator that form a refrigeration cycle to keep various kinds of foods in a fresh state for a long period of time. In such a refrigerator, a liquid-phase refrigerant flowing in the evaporator absorbs ambient heat when the liqu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a refrigerator and a method of controlling it that can adjust the density of ozone in the refrigerator without adding extra equipment or a controller. This is achieved by incorporating a normal operational pattern of the refrigerator with the operation of an ion generator. The refrigerator also includes a circulation fan circulating cold air in the storage rooms, a damper controlling the opening degree of the cold air path, and an ion generator generating ions inside the storage rooms. The controller controls the operation of the ion generator based on the opening degree of the damper to adjust the density of ozone created in the storage rooms. The refrigerator can also optimize a sterilization function of a storage room by uniformly distributing ions and ozone generated from the ion generator in the storage room. The refrigerator can also measure the temperatures of the storage rooms and open the damper if the temperatures are equal to or greater than preset temperatures. The circulation fan is operated when the damper is opened.

Problems solved by technology

Since the foods stored in the refrigerator are exposed to external air when a door of the refrigerator is open, the refrigerator has a problem in that various kinds of bacteria are introduced into storage rooms of the refrigerator and then are propagated in the storage rooms.

However, if the ozone is continuously accumulated in a sealed space such as the inside of a storage room, a great amount of ozone is distributed in the storage room so that a user may feel displeasure, or a bad effect may be exerted on a human body when the door of the refrigerator is open.

However, in this case, additional equipment and a control unit must be provided for the ozone removing unit, so that the manufacturing costs of the refrigerator may increase.

In addition, if both the ion generator and the ozone removing unit are installed in the refrigerator, high power consumption results.

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