A control method for a refrigerator and a refrigerator

Abstract

A control method for a refrigerator and a refrigerator comprising a compartment, an evaporator, and a heating module are disclosed. The method includes: acquiring the current temperature of the compartment; and adjusting the operating power of the heating module according to the current temperature, so that the heating module heats the compartment to a target temperature according to the operating power, wherein different temperature ranges correspond to different operating power. This invention enables rapid and precise adjustment of the compartment temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, specifically to a control method for a refrigerator and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] As refrigerator users' needs for food storage conditions become more diverse and personalized, refrigerators with variable temperature compartments that can be adjusted over a wide range of temperatures are becoming increasingly popular.

[0003] Existing variable-temperature refrigerators can be broadly classified into two categories: First, single-cycle refrigerators where the variable-temperature compartment and freezer share a single evaporator. Taking the refrigerator disclosed in Chinese patent application 201210062354.X as an example, the variable-temperature compartment and freezer are connected by an air duct and damper, and the variable-temperature compartment is heated using a low-power temperature compensation heating wire. Due to the low power, the heating speed of the variable-temperature compartment in this type of refrigerator is quite slow. Furthermore, the single-cycle design inevitably leads to odor mixing problems, especially when the variable-temperature compartment is set as a higher characteristic temperature compartment type, such as the refrigerator compartment or cooling compartment.

[0004] Secondly, there are multi-cycle refrigerators with independent evaporators. Taking the refrigerator disclosed in Chinese patent CN106152674B as an example, it uses defrosting heating wires in the variable-temperature compartment evaporator to raise the temperature of the variable-temperature compartment. This heating method means that the evaporator will defrost, which will allow a large amount of water vapor to enter the compartment. The higher the air humidity, the more favorable it is for microbial growth. Therefore, this heating method can easily cause food stored in the variable-temperature compartment, such as vegetables and fruits, to rot and spoil. In addition, since the power of the defrosting heating wires in the evaporator is generally high, it is difficult to control them effectively and precisely. This makes it very easy to overheat the variable-temperature compartment when using defrosting heating wires, and it is difficult to maintain a small temperature fluctuation in the variable-temperature compartment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One objective of this invention is to provide an improved refrigerator and a control method for the refrigerator.

[0006] Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide a control method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a compartment, an evaporator, and a heating module, the control method including: acquiring the current temperature of the compartment; adjusting the operating power of the heating module according to the current temperature, so that the heating module heats the compartment to a target temperature according to the operating power, wherein different temperature ranges correspond to different operating powers.

[0007] This embodiment enables rapid and precise adjustment of the refrigerator compartment temperature. Specifically, the heating module's operating power is adjusted according to the current temperature range of the compartment, allowing it to operate at a power level more suitable for the compartment's current condition. This embodiment provides users with a flexible storage environment that can be adjusted over a wide temperature range.

[0008] Optionally, the control method further includes: when the current temperature of the compartment reaches a first preset temperature and the first preset temperature is lower than the target temperature, or when the heating module operates for more than a first preset time, pausing the operation of the heating module and initiating dehumidification of the compartment. Thus, by using temperature control or fixed-time control, dehumidification is performed during the compartment's heating process to reduce humidity and prevent the stored items placed in the compartment from spoiling.

[0009] For example, when the heating module includes a defrosting heating wire located in the evaporator chamber, in order to avoid excessive humidity in the chamber during the heating process, the chamber can be dehumidified when the temperature approaches the target temperature.

[0010] Optionally, the dehumidification process includes the following steps: starting the evaporator for cooling and obtaining the evaporator temperature; when the evaporator temperature drops to a preset dehumidification temperature, starting the fan to circulate gas between the compartment and the evaporator. Thus, by utilizing the evaporator's moisture-absorbing properties when below a specific temperature, dehumidification is achieved in the compartment to reduce humidity.

[0011] Optionally, the control method further includes the following steps: during dehumidification of the room, when the current temperature of the room reaches a preset dehumidification stop temperature, or when the dehumidification operation continues for a second preset time, the dehumidification operation of the room is stopped and the operation of the fan is stopped. Thus, the timing for stopping the dehumidification operation is determined through temperature control or fixed-time control, so that dehumidification is actively stopped when the humidity in the room reaches a suitable level.

[0012] For example, the preset dehumidification stop temperature can be determined based on the condensation temperature under the current environmental conditions of the room, so as to stop the dehumidification work before the dehumidification effect deteriorates.

[0013] Optionally, the difference between the first preset temperature and the target temperature is less than 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, so that the dehumidification operation is initiated when the compartment temperature approaches the target temperature. Specifically, by initiating the dehumidification operation when the compartment temperature rises to near the target temperature, the humidity of the compartment can be adjusted to a suitable level with a single dehumidification, eliminating the need for repeated dehumidification and saving refrigerator power consumption.

[0014] Optionally, adjusting the operating power of the heating module according to the current temperature to heat the chamber to the target temperature includes: when the current temperature of the chamber is lower than a first preset temperature, controlling the heating module to heat the chamber at a first operating power, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than the target temperature; when the current temperature of the chamber reaches the first preset temperature, controlling the heating module to heat the chamber at a second operating power, wherein the second operating power is less than the first operating power. Therefore, when the current temperature of the chamber differs significantly from the target temperature, the operating power of the heating module can be appropriately increased to achieve rapid heating and shorten the temperature change time. Conversely, when the current temperature of the chamber gradually approaches the target temperature, the operating power of the heating module can be appropriately reduced to effectively avoid overheating. Furthermore, low-power heating allows for fine-tuning of the chamber temperature to accurately raise it to the target temperature, offering advantages such as high control precision and minimal temperature fluctuation, thus facilitating precise maintenance of the chamber temperature at the target temperature.

[0015] Optionally, controlling the heating module to heat the compartment at a first operating power includes: intermittently controlling the heating module to operate at the first operating power to heat the compartment. Since the heating effect of the heating module has a lag, and the heating of the compartment is gradually applied from a localized area to the entire compartment, uneven local temperatures may exist within the compartment during heating. In this case, the intermittent heating mode provides sufficient reaction time, allowing the heat provided by the heating module to radiate fully to all areas of the compartment, thus avoiding inaccurately high or low measured temperatures due to uneven local temperatures. Furthermore, more accurate temperature measurement results facilitate the reasonable determination of when to adjust the operating power of the heating module, enabling the heating module to accurately switch to a second operating power at the first preset temperature.

[0016] Optionally, the time interval between two consecutive operations of the heating module is correlated with the number of times the heating module operates, so that the heat generated and accumulated during each operation of the heating module has sufficient reaction time to be transferred to the chamber. This better ensures temperature uniformity within the chamber, making the temperature measurement results more accurately reflect the actual temperature level of the chamber.

[0017] Optionally, the control method further includes: while controlling the heating module to heat the compartment at a first operating power, when the current temperature rises to the first preset temperature, controlling the heating module to switch to a second operating power to heat the compartment; while controlling the heating module to heat the compartment at the second operating power, when the current temperature continues to rise above the second preset temperature, controlling the heating module to stop heating the compartment, wherein the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature, and the second preset temperature is lower than the target temperature. Since the first operating power is relatively large, the temperature change of the compartment per unit time is correspondingly large. Therefore, controlling the heating module to first heat the compartment at a larger first operating power allows the compartment to quickly heat up to near the target temperature.

[0018] Furthermore, considering the potential delay in measuring the chamber temperature and the time required for uniform temperature across all areas within the chamber, if the heating module were to continuously heat the chamber to the target temperature and then stop operating, the actual temperature inside the chamber might have already exceeded the target temperature. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the chamber temperature reaches the first preset temperature, the heating module switches to a lower second operating power to heat the chamber, allowing the temperature to rise slowly to the target temperature. Because the second operating power is lower, the change in chamber temperature per unit time is correspondingly smaller. Therefore, the fluctuation in chamber temperature is small, preventing a sharp temperature increase and making it possible to accurately obtain the target temperature.

[0019] Furthermore, the heating module is turned off before the chamber temperature reaches the target temperature, allowing sufficient reaction time for temperature changes and ensuring that the chamber temperature accurately reaches and is maintained at the target temperature. This better prevents the chamber from being heated beyond the target temperature.

[0020] Optionally, controlling the heating module to heat the compartment at a second operating power includes: intermittently controlling the heating module to operate at the second operating power to heat the compartment; during the operation of the heating module, controlling the refrigerator's fan to turn on to circulate gas between the compartment and the heating module. Thus, by providing sufficient reaction time through the intermittent heating mode, combined with the fan increasing the temperature radiation rate, the heat provided by the heating module can be fully and quickly radiated to all areas of the compartment.

[0021] This invention also provides a control method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a compartment and an evaporator, and further including a high-power heating module and a low-power heating module. The control method includes: acquiring the current temperature of the refrigerator compartment; and controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially according to the current temperature of the compartment, so that the temperature of the compartment gradually rises to a target temperature. The operating power of the high-power heating module is a first operating power, and the operating power of the low-power heating module is a second operating power, the second operating power being less than the first operating power. In the initial stage of heating, the high-power heating module is controlled to achieve rapid heating and shorten the temperature change time. In the middle and later stages of heating, the low-power heating module is switched to fine-tune the temperature of the compartment, so that the temperature of the compartment accurately rises to the target temperature. Therefore, rapid and precise adjustment of the refrigerator compartment temperature can be achieved, providing users with a flexible storage environment with a wide temperature range adjustable.

[0022] Optionally, during the process of controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially based on the current temperature of the chamber, the control method further includes: stopping the high-power heating module when it operates to bring the current temperature of the chamber to a first preset temperature, or when it operates for more than a first preset time, and starting the low-power heating module to continue heating the chamber. Thus, as the current temperature of the chamber gradually approaches the target temperature, switching to the low-power heating module effectively avoids excessive heating of the chamber due to its high control accuracy and small temperature fluctuations.

[0023] Optionally, during the process of controlling the operation of the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module sequentially based on the current temperature of the compartment, the control method further includes: stopping the operation of the high-power heating module when the current temperature of the compartment reaches a first preset temperature, or when the high-power heating module has been operating for more than a first preset time, and initiating dehumidification of the compartment; after the dehumidification is completed, activating the low-power heating module to continue heating the compartment. Thus, by using temperature control or fixed-time control, dehumidification is performed during the compartment's heating process to reduce humidity and prevent spoilage of stored items. Furthermore, after dehumidification, the low-power heating module is switched on to continue heating, ensuring the compartment reaches the target temperature within the required humidity environment.

[0024] Optionally, the dehumidification process includes the following steps: starting the evaporator for cooling and obtaining the evaporator temperature; when the evaporator temperature drops to a preset dehumidification temperature, starting the fan to circulate gas between the compartment and the evaporator. Thus, by utilizing the evaporator's moisture-absorbing properties when below a specific temperature, dehumidification is achieved in the compartment to reduce humidity.

[0025] Optionally, the control method further includes: during dehumidification of the room, when the current temperature of the room reaches a preset dehumidification stop temperature, or when the dehumidification operation continues for a second preset time, stopping the dehumidification operation of the room and stopping the operation of the fan. Thus, the timing for stopping the dehumidification operation is determined through temperature control or fixed-time control, so that dehumidification is actively stopped when the humidity of the room reaches a suitable level.

[0026] For example, the preset dehumidification stop temperature can be determined based on the condensation temperature under the current environmental conditions of the room, so as to stop the dehumidification work before the dehumidification effect deteriorates.

[0027] Optionally, controlling the operation of the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module sequentially based on the current temperature of the chamber includes: when the current temperature of the chamber is lower than a first preset temperature, controlling the high-power heating module to operate to heat the chamber; during the operation of the high-power heating module, when the current temperature reaches the first preset temperature, stopping the high-power heating module and controlling the low-power heating module to operate to continue heating the chamber. Thus, when the current temperature of the chamber differs significantly from the target temperature, the high-power heating module enables rapid heating, shortening the temperature change time. Conversely, when the current temperature of the chamber gradually approaches the target temperature, the low-power heating module effectively avoids overheating. Furthermore, low-power heating allows for fine-tuning of the chamber temperature to accurately raise it to the target temperature, offering advantages such as high control precision and minimal temperature fluctuation, thus facilitating the precise maintenance of the chamber temperature at the target temperature.

[0028] Optionally, controlling the high-power heating module to heat the compartment includes: intermittently controlling the high-power heating module to operate and heat the compartment. Since the heating effect of the heating module has a lag, and the heating of the compartment is gradually applied from a localized area to the entire compartment, uneven local temperatures may exist within the compartment during heating. In this case, the intermittent heating mode provides sufficient reaction time, allowing the heat provided by the heating module to radiate fully to all areas of the compartment, thus avoiding inaccurately high or low measured temperatures due to uneven local temperatures. Furthermore, more accurate temperature measurement results facilitate the rational determination of the switching timing between the two heating modules, accurately switching to the low-power heating module at the first preset temperature.

[0029] Optionally, the time interval between two consecutive operations of the high-power heating module is correlated with the number of times the high-power heating module operates, so that the heat generated and accumulated during each operation of the heating module has sufficient reaction time to be transferred to the room. This better ensures temperature uniformity within the room, making the temperature measurement results more accurately reflect the actual temperature level of the room.

[0030] Optionally, the operating time of the high-power heating module during each operation is determined based on the evaporator temperature. Furthermore, the evaporator temperature is related to the thickness of the frost layer on the evaporator.

[0031] Optionally, before controlling the high-power heating module to operate and heat the room, the control method further includes: controlling the high-power heating module to operate and perform a preheating operation; controlling the fan associated with the room to turn on to circulate gas between the high-power heating module and the room; if the current temperature of the room is still lower than the first preset temperature after the preheating operation is completed, then controlling the high-power heating module to operate and heat the room. The preheating operation can also be understood as a pre-defrosting operation, which can serve as a warm-up function, so that when the high-power heating module is subsequently controlled to operate and heat the room, the heat provided by the high-power heating module can be quickly radiated to the room.

[0032] Furthermore, the added preheating operation facilitates the rational determination of subsequent control logic. For example, if the preheating operation can raise the room temperature to the first preset temperature, the low-power heating module can be directly controlled to achieve fine-tuning of the temperature. Alternatively, if the room temperature is still low after preheating, the high-power heating module can be controlled to achieve rapid temperature rise.

[0033] Optionally, if the current temperature of the chamber is still lower than the first preset temperature after the preheating operation is completed, controlling the high-power heating module to heat the chamber includes: waiting for a first preset reaction time after the preheating operation is completed; if the current temperature of the chamber is still lower than the first preset temperature after waiting for the first preset reaction time, controlling the high-power heating module to heat the chamber. Thus, sufficient reaction time is also provided after preheating to ensure that the heat from the high-power heating module is fully radiated to the chamber.

[0034] Furthermore, the first preset reaction time can be determined based on the evaporator temperature, which depends on the amount of frost on the evaporator.

[0035] Optionally, while the high-power heating module is being controlled to operate and heat the room, the fan associated with the room is turned on to accelerate the rate of heat radiation between the high-power heating module and the room, as well as in various areas of the room.

[0036] Optionally, controlling the low-power heating module to heat the compartment includes: intermittently controlling the low-power heating module to operate and heat the compartment; during the operation of the low-power heating module, controlling the fan associated with the compartment to turn on to circulate gas within the compartment. Thus, by providing sufficient reaction time through the intermittent heating mode, combined with the fan increasing the temperature radiation rate, the heat provided by the low-power heating module can be fully and quickly radiated to all areas of the compartment.

[0037] Optionally, the lower the second operating power, the greater the ratio of the single operation time of the low-power heating module to the time interval between two consecutive operations of the low-power heating module, so as to reduce temperature fluctuations.

[0038] Optionally, after stopping the high-power heating module and before controlling the low-power heating module to operate, the step of controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially based on the current temperature of the chamber further includes: after turning off the high-power heating module, waiting for a second preset reaction time; if, after waiting for the second preset reaction time, the current temperature of the chamber is still lower than the first preset temperature, then controlling the low-power heating module to operate. Therefore, waiting for sufficient reaction time before determining whether to continue heating facilitates more precise adjustment of the chamber temperature.

[0039] Optionally, the control method further includes: during the operation of the low-power heating module, when the current temperature of the chamber is higher than a second preset temperature, controlling the low-power heating module to stop heating the chamber, wherein the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature, and the second preset temperature is lower than the target temperature. Thus, the low-power heating module is turned off in advance before the chamber temperature reaches the target temperature, allowing sufficient reaction time for changes in chamber temperature and ensuring that the chamber temperature accurately reaches and is maintained at the target temperature. This better prevents the chamber from being heated above the target temperature.

[0040] This invention also provides a control method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a compartment and a heating module. The control method includes controlling the heating module to operate intermittently to heat the compartment to a target temperature. Considering the lag in the heating effect of the heating module, this embodiment provides sufficient reaction time through an intermittent heating mode, allowing the heat provided by the heating module to be fully radiated to all areas of the compartment, so that the compartment temperature can be accurately raised to the target temperature and maintained near that temperature.

[0041] Optionally, the lower the power of the heating module, the higher the on-off ratio of the heating module, where the on-off ratio refers to the ratio of the duration of a single operation to the time interval between two consecutive operations. This helps to reduce temperature fluctuations.

[0042] Optionally, controlling the heating module to operate intermittently to heat the chamber to the target temperature includes: acquiring the current temperature of the chamber; and controlling the heating module to operate intermittently based on the current temperature to heat the chamber to the target temperature. Considering the lag in the heating effect of the heating module, this embodiment provides sufficient reaction time through an intermittent heating mode, allowing the heat provided by the heating module to be fully radiated to all areas of the chamber, so that the chamber temperature can accurately rise to the target temperature and be maintained near that temperature.

[0043] Optionally, controlling the heating module to operate intermittently based on the current temperature to heat the chamber to the target temperature includes: when the current temperature of the chamber is lower than a first preset temperature, intermittently controlling the heating module to operate at a first working power to heat the chamber, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than the target temperature; when the current temperature of the chamber reaches the first preset temperature, intermittently controlling the heating module to operate at a second working power to heat the chamber, wherein the second working power is less than the first working power. Therefore, when the current temperature of the chamber differs significantly from the target temperature, the working power of the heating module can be appropriately increased to achieve rapid heating and shorten the temperature change time. Conversely, when the current temperature of the chamber gradually approaches the target temperature, the working power of the heating module can be appropriately reduced to effectively avoid overheating. Furthermore, low-power heating allows for fine-tuning of the chamber temperature to accurately raise the temperature to the target temperature, offering advantages such as high control precision and small temperature fluctuations, which is beneficial for accurately maintaining the chamber temperature at the target temperature.

[0044] Optionally, the control method further includes: when the current temperature of the compartment reaches a first preset temperature and the first preset temperature is lower than the target temperature, or when the heating module operates for more than a first preset time, pausing the operation of the heating module and initiating dehumidification of the compartment. Thus, by using temperature control or fixed-time control, dehumidification is performed during the compartment's heating process to reduce humidity and prevent the stored items placed in the compartment from spoiling.

[0045] This invention also provides a refrigerator, comprising: a compartment; a high-power heating module for heating the compartment at a first operating power; a low-power heating module for heating the compartment at a second operating power, wherein the second operating power is less than the first operating power; a temperature sensor disposed in the compartment and used to acquire the current temperature of the compartment; and a control module coupled to the high-power heating module, the low-power heating module, and the temperature sensor, wherein the control module receives user commands and, in response to the user commands, executes the control method described above to adjust the temperature of the compartment to the target temperature indicated by the user commands. In the initial stage of heating, the high-power heating module is controlled to operate to achieve rapid heating and shorten the temperature change time. In the middle and later stages of heating, the low-power heating module is switched to fine-tune the temperature of the compartment, so that the temperature of the compartment accurately reaches the target temperature. Thus, rapid and precise adjustment of the refrigerator compartment temperature can be achieved, providing users with a flexible storage environment with a wide temperature range adjustable.

[0046] Optionally, the high-power heating module is installed in the room so that heat can be quickly radiated into the room.

[0047] Optionally, the refrigerator further includes an evaporator compartment, wherein an evaporator is provided in the evaporator compartment, and the high-power heating module is disposed in the evaporator compartment. For example, the high-power heating module can reuse the defrosting heating wire disposed in the evaporator compartment to achieve rapid heating of the compartment without changing the refrigerator structure.

[0048] Optionally, the refrigerator further includes a fan disposed in an air duct connecting the evaporator chamber and the compartment, the fan being used to circulate gas between the evaporator chamber and the compartment to promote heat radiation to the compartment.

[0049] Optionally, the low-power heating module is installed in the room so that heat can be quickly radiated into the room.

[0050] Optionally, the low-power heating module is disposed in at least a portion of the bottom of the compartment. This minimizes the space occupied inside the refrigerator while ensuring effective heat delivery to the compartment. For example, the low-power heating module can be disposed inside the inner liner at the bottom of the compartment.

[0051] This invention also provides a refrigerator, comprising: a compartment; a heating module including multiple heating units connected by a control switch, wherein the operating power of the heating module differs when the control switch is open and closed; a temperature sensor disposed in the compartment and used to acquire the current temperature of the compartment; and a control module coupled to both the heating module and the temperature sensor, wherein the control module receives user commands and, in response to the user commands, executes the aforementioned control method to adjust the temperature of the compartment to the target temperature indicated by the user commands. This embodiment enables rapid and precise adjustment of the refrigerator compartment temperature. Specifically, by adjusting the number of heating units in operation according to the current temperature range of the compartment, the operating power of the heating module is adjusted, allowing the heating module to operate at a power more suitable for the current state of the compartment. This embodiment provides users with a flexible storage environment with a wide adjustable temperature range. Attached Figure Description

[0052] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first type of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 2 It is used for Figure 1 A flowchart of the control method for the refrigerator shown.

[0054] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A flowchart of a specific implementation of step S102;

[0055] Figure 4This is a curve showing the relationship between the operating time, power, and temperature of the heating module in this embodiment of the invention.

[0056] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of the second type of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 6 It is used for Figure 5 A flowchart of the control method for the refrigerator shown.

[0058] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A flowchart of a specific implementation of step S202;

[0059] In the attached image:

[0060] 1,2-Refrigerator; 10-Compartment; 11-High-power heating module; 12-Low-power heating module; 13-Temperature sensor; 14-Control module; 15-Evaporator chamber; 151-Evaporator; 16-Fan; 17-Air duct; 21-Heating module; 210-Heating unit; 211-Control switch. Detailed Implementation

[0061] As mentioned in the background section, existing refrigerators have many shortcomings in their structural design and control logic, resulting in poor temperature regulation of compartments such as the variable temperature compartment.

[0062] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a control method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a compartment, an evaporator, and a heating module. The control method includes: acquiring the current temperature of the compartment; adjusting the operating power of the heating module according to the current temperature, so that the heating module heats the compartment to a target temperature according to the operating power, wherein different temperature ranges correspond to different operating powers.

[0063] This embodiment enables rapid and precise adjustment of the refrigerator compartment temperature. Specifically, the heating module's operating power is adjusted according to the current temperature range of the compartment, allowing it to operate at a power level more suitable for the compartment's current condition. This embodiment provides users with a flexible storage environment that can be adjusted over a wide temperature range.

[0064] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same parts in each drawing. The embodiments are merely illustrative, and of course, partial substitutions or combinations can be made to the structures shown in different embodiments. In different embodiments, descriptions of matters common to the first embodiment are omitted, and only the differences are described. In particular, the same effects produced by the same structure will not be mentioned one by one in each embodiment.

[0065] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first type of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 It is used for Figure 1 The flowchart shows the control method of the refrigerator.

[0067] By adopting the solution of this embodiment, it is possible to... Figure 1 The temperature of the compartment in refrigerator 1 shown is quickly and precisely adjusted. It should be noted that... Figure 1 Only for those who adopt Figure 2 The specific structure of the compartment 10 controlled by the control method shown is illustrated by way of example.

[0068] For example, compartment 10 can be a variable temperature compartment, which refers to a compartment that can be adjusted across multiple temperature zones according to actual needs. The temperature range for this wide adjustment across multiple temperature zones can be between -18 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius, which is more conducive to the preservation of different foods such as tropical fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. In practical applications, compartment 10 can be other areas of the refrigerator 1 that require temperature regulation.

[0069] In this embodiment, the circulation of each compartment 10 of the refrigerator 1 can be independent to solve the problems of cross-contamination of odors and temperatures.

[0070] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 The refrigerator 1 described in this embodiment may include: a compartment 10; a high-power heating module 11 for heating the compartment 10 according to a first working power; a low-power heating module 12 for heating the compartment 10 according to a second working power, wherein the second working power is less than the first working power; a temperature sensor 13 disposed in the compartment 10 and used to acquire the current temperature of the compartment 10; and a control module 14 coupled to the high-power heating module 11, the low-power heating module 12, and the temperature sensor 13, wherein the control module 14 is used to receive user commands and execute commands in response to the user commands. Figure 2 The control method described in the illustrated embodiment is used to adjust the temperature of the room 10 to the target temperature indicated by the user command.

[0071] refer to Figure 2 The control method for refrigerator 1 may include the following steps:

[0072] Step S101: Obtain the current temperature of compartment 10 of the refrigerator 1;

[0073] Step S102: Based on the current temperature of the chamber 10, control the high-power heating module 11 and the low-power heating module 12 to work sequentially, so that the temperature of the chamber 10 gradually rises to the target temperature.

[0074] In a specific implementation, refer to Figure 1 The temperature sensor 13 can be installed at the top of the compartment 10, for example, on the partition between the variable temperature compartment and the refrigerator compartment above it. In specific implementations, the temperature sensor 13 can also be installed at other suitable locations on the refrigerator 1 to accurately collect the real-time temperature of the compartment 10. For example, the temperature sensor 13 can also be installed on the side wall of the compartment 10, the surface of the air duct 17, etc.

[0075] In step S101, the temperature of the room 10 can be sensed by the temperature sensor 13, and the current temperature of the room 10 can be obtained by calculation and other processing.

[0076] For example, the number of temperature sensors 13 can be multiple and distributed in different areas of the room 10. The temperature acquisition results of each temperature sensor 13 are integrated and processed to obtain the current temperature of the room 10.

[0077] In one specific embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may further include an evaporator chamber 15, wherein the evaporator chamber 15 is provided with an evaporator 151, and the high-power heating module 11 may be disposed in the evaporator chamber 15. For example, the high-power heating module 11 may reuse the defrosting heating wire disposed in the evaporator chamber 15 to achieve rapid heating of the compartment 10 without changing the structure of the refrigerator 1.

[0078] In one variation, the high-power heating module 11 may be located in the chamber 10 so that heat can be rapidly radiated into the chamber 10.

[0079] In one specific embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may further include: a fan 16 disposed in an air duct 17 connecting the evaporator chamber 15 and the compartment 10, the fan 16 being used to circulate gas between the evaporator chamber 15 and the compartment 10 (e.g., Figure 1 (As indicated by the thick arrow), to promote the radiation of heat to chamber 10.

[0080] In one specific implementation, the low-power heating module 12 can be installed in the room 10 so that heat can be quickly radiated into the room 10.

[0081] For example, the low-power heating module 12 can be a compensating heating wire and is disposed in at least a portion of the bottom of the compartment 10. This minimizes the space occupied inside the refrigerator 1 while ensuring effective heat transfer to the compartment 10. Specifically, the low-power heating module 12 can be laid flat inside the inner liner at the bottom of the compartment 10.

[0082] For example, the low-power heating module 12 can be installed on the inner surface of the air duct 17, and its heat is blown into the chamber 10 by the fan 16.

[0083] The high-power heating module 11 radiates a large amount of heat to the chamber 10 per unit time, resulting in large temperature fluctuations in the chamber 10; the low-power heating module 12 radiates a small amount of heat to the chamber 10 per unit time, resulting in small temperature fluctuations in the chamber 10.

[0084] In one specific implementation, the control module 14 can be placed in any suitable location on the refrigerator 1, such as a partition between the variable temperature compartment and other compartments of the refrigerator 1. Figure 1 The location of the control module 14 is shown only as an example.

[0085] Specifically, the control module 14 can be coupled to components such as the high-power heating module 11, the low-power heating module 12, the evaporator 151, and the fan 16, so as to control the corresponding components to perform corresponding actions when executing the method and technical solution described in this embodiment.

[0086] In one specific implementation, the refrigerator 1 may further include an input module (not shown) for receiving user commands and transmitting them to the control module 14. For example, the input module may be a touch screen disposed on the outer surface of the refrigerator 1.

[0087] The input module and control module 14 can be integrated into one unit.

[0088] Furthermore, the user instruction may include a specific numerical value of the target temperature or a temperature range.

[0089] Alternatively, the user instruction may include the operating mode of compartment 10, such as whether compartment 10 operates as a refrigerator or a freezer. In response to receiving the user instruction, the control module 14 can automatically determine the corresponding target temperature based on the indicated operating mode.

[0090] Therefore, by adopting the scheme of this embodiment, in the initial stage of heating, the high-power heating module 11 is controlled to work to achieve rapid heating and shorten the temperature change time. In the middle and later stages of heating, the low-power heating module 12 is switched to finely adjust the temperature of compartment 10, so that the temperature of compartment 10 is accurately raised to the target temperature. Thus, the temperature of compartment 10 of refrigerator 1 can be quickly and accurately adjusted, which is beneficial to providing users with a flexible storage environment with a wide temperature range.

[0091] In one specific implementation, when both the high-power heating module 11 and the low-power heating module 12 are located in the chamber 10, during the process of controlling the operation of the high-power heating module 11 and the low-power heating module 12 sequentially according to the current temperature of the chamber 10, the control method of this embodiment may further include: when the operation of the high-power heating module 11 causes the current temperature of the chamber 10 to reach a first preset temperature, stopping the operation of the high-power heating module 11 and starting the low-power heating module 12 to continue heating the chamber. Thus, when the current temperature of the chamber 10 gradually approaches the target temperature, switching to the low-power heating module 12 effectively avoids overheating of the chamber 10, leveraging the advantages of the low-power heating module 12's high control accuracy and small temperature fluctuations.

[0092] Since the humidity in the chamber 10 does not change significantly during the operation of the high-power heating module 11, the high-power heating module 11 and the low-power heating module 12 can be seamlessly switched to shorten the total heating time.

[0093] For example, the difference between the first preset temperature and the target temperature can be less than 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.

[0094] In one variation, when the high-power heating module 11 operates for more than a first preset time, the operation of the high-power heating module 11 is stopped, and the low-power heating module 12 is started to continue heating the chamber. Specifically, the first preset time can be determined based on the temperature change rate of the chamber 10 under the action of the high-power heating module 11. For example, it can be determined through theoretical calculations, experimental measurements, etc., as the time required for the temperature of the chamber 10 to change from the current temperature described in step S101 to the first preset temperature according to the high-power heating module 11 operating at a specific power for a specific time; this time is the first preset time.

[0095] In one specific implementation, when the high-power heating module 11 is installed in the evaporator chamber 15, during the process of controlling the operation of the high-power heating module 11 and the low-power heating module 12 sequentially according to the current temperature of the chamber 10, the control method of this embodiment may further include: when the operation of the high-power heating module 11 causes the current temperature of the chamber 10 to reach a first preset temperature, stopping the operation of the high-power heating module 11 and starting the dehumidification operation of the chamber 10; after the dehumidification operation is completed, starting the low-power heating module 12 to continue heating the chamber 10. Thus, by controlling the temperature, dehumidification is performed during the heating of the chamber 10 to reduce the humidity of the chamber 10 and prevent the stored items placed in the chamber 10 from spoiling and decaying. Furthermore, after the dehumidification operation is completed, switching to the low-power heating module 12 to continue heating allows the chamber 10 to heat up to the target temperature under the required humidity conditions.

[0096] Since the high-power heating module 11 is located in the evaporator chamber 15, it will simultaneously defrost the evaporator 151 during operation, causing the humidity in the chamber 10 to increase. Therefore, before switching to the low-power heating module 12, the chamber 10 can be dehumidified first.

[0097] In one variation, when the high-power heating module 11 operates for more than a first preset time, the operation of the high-power heating module 11 can be stopped, and dehumidification of the chamber 10 can be initiated. That is, the timing for initiating dehumidification is determined by a fixed time interval.

[0098] In one specific implementation, the dehumidification process may include the following steps: starting the evaporator 151 for cooling and obtaining the evaporator temperature of the evaporator 151; when the evaporator temperature drops to a preset dehumidification temperature, starting the fan 16 to circulate gas between the chamber 10 and the evaporator 151. Thus, by utilizing the moisture-absorbing property of the evaporator 151 when it is below a specific temperature, dehumidification is achieved in the chamber 10 to reduce the humidity of the chamber 10.

[0099] The preset dehumidification temperature can be -15 degrees Celsius.

[0100] In one specific implementation, the control method described in this embodiment may further include: during the dehumidification operation of the chamber 10, when the current temperature of the chamber 10 reaches a preset stop dehumidification temperature, stopping the dehumidification operation of the chamber 10 and stopping the operation of the fan 16. Thus, the timing for stopping the dehumidification operation is determined through temperature control, so that dehumidification is actively stopped when the humidity of the chamber 10 reaches a suitable level.

[0101] Specifically, the preset dehumidification stop temperature can be determined based on the condensation temperature under the current environmental conditions of the room 10. For example, when the current temperature of the room 10 is lower than the condensation temperature, it indicates that condensation is likely to occur in the room 10, resulting in poor dehumidification. In this case, dehumidification can be stopped. At this time, both the evaporator 151 and the fan 16 stop working.

[0102] Alternatively, the preset dehumidification stop temperature can be determined based on the acceptable relative humidity when the room 10 is at the target temperature, so as to ensure that the humidity in the room 10 is at an appropriate level as the temperature of the room 10 increases.

[0103] In one variation, when the dehumidification operation continues for a second preset time, the dehumidification of the room 10 is stopped and the fan 16 is also stopped. Thus, by determining the timing of stopping the dehumidification operation through fixed-time control, dehumidification can be proactively stopped when the humidity in the room 10 reaches a suitable level.

[0104] For example, the second preset time can be several minutes.

[0105] Similar to the first preset time, the second preset time can be determined based on the humidity change rate of the chamber 10 under the action of the high-power heating module 11, and can also be related to the degree of frosting on the evaporator 151.

[0106] In a specific implementation, refer to Figure 3 Step S102 may include the following steps:

[0107] Step S1021: When the current temperature of the compartment 10 is lower than the first preset temperature, control the high-power heating module 11 to work to heat the compartment 10;

[0108] In step S1022, during the operation of the high-power heating module 11, when the current temperature reaches the first preset temperature, the high-power heating module 11 is stopped, and the low-power heating module 12 is controlled to continue heating the chamber 10.

[0109] Therefore, when the current temperature of chamber 10 differs significantly from the target temperature, rapid heating is achieved using the high-power heating module, shortening the temperature change time. Conversely, as the current temperature of chamber 10 gradually approaches the target temperature, overheating is effectively avoided using the low-power heating module 12. Furthermore, low-power heating allows for fine-tuning of the temperature in chamber 10, accurately raising its temperature to the target temperature. This provides advantages such as high control precision and minimal temperature fluctuation, effectively maintaining the temperature of chamber 10 precisely at the target temperature.

[0110] In step S1022, after stopping the high-power heating module 11 and before controlling the low-power heating module 12 to work, the aforementioned dehumidification work can still be performed.

[0111] In one specific implementation, step S1021 may include: intermittently controlling the high-power heating module 11 to operate in order to heat the chamber 10.

[0112] Because the heating effect of the heating module has a lag, and the heating of chamber 10 is gradually applied from a localized area of ​​chamber 10 to the entire chamber 10, uneven local temperatures may occur within chamber 10 during the heating process. In this case, an intermittent heating mode provides sufficient reaction time, allowing the heat provided by the heating module (such as the high-power heating module 11) to radiate fully to all areas of chamber 10, thus avoiding inaccurately high or low measured temperatures of chamber 10 due to uneven local temperatures.

[0113] Furthermore, more accurate temperature measurement results help to rationally determine the switching timing between the two heating modules, so as to accurately switch to the low-power heating module 12 at the first preset temperature.

[0114] Furthermore, during intermittent operation, the current temperature of the chamber 10 can be continuously acquired to determine whether to stop the operation of the high-power heating module 11.

[0115] In one specific implementation, the time interval between two consecutive operations of the high-power heating module 11 can be correlated with the number of times the high-power heating module 11 operates, so that the heat generated and accumulated during each operation of the heating module can have sufficient reaction time to be transferred to the chamber 10. Therefore, by better ensuring the temperature uniformity within the chamber 10, the temperature measurement results of the chamber 10 can more accurately reflect the actual temperature level of the chamber 10.

[0116] In one specific implementation, the operating time of the high-power heating module 11 during each operation can be determined based on the evaporator temperature of the evaporator 151. Furthermore, the evaporator temperature can be correlated with the thickness of the frost layer on the evaporator 151.

[0117] In one specific implementation, before step S1021, the control method of this embodiment may further include: controlling the high-power heating module to operate to perform a preheating operation; controlling the fan 16 associated with the chamber 10 to turn on, so as to circulate gas between the high-power heating module 11 and the chamber 10; if the current temperature of the chamber 10 is still lower than the first preset temperature after the preheating operation is completed, then controlling the high-power heating module 11 to work to heat the chamber 10.

[0118] Specifically, the preheating operation can also be understood as the pre-defrosting operation, which can serve as a warm-up function, so that when the high-power heating module 11 is subsequently controlled to work to heat the room 10, the heat provided by the high-power heating module 11 can be quickly radiated to the room 10.

[0119] Furthermore, the added preheating operation facilitates the rational determination of subsequent control logic. For example, when the temperature of chamber 10 can be raised to the first preset temperature through preheating, the low-power heating module 12 can be directly controlled to achieve temperature fine-tuning. Alternatively, if the temperature of chamber 10 is still low after preheating, the high-power heating module 11 can be controlled to heat the chamber for rapid temperature rise.

[0120] In this embodiment, during the defrosting heating wire of the evaporator chamber 15, the operation control of pre-defrosting followed by dehumidification accelerates the heating speed and avoids bringing in too much water vapor in the variable temperature chamber, thus helping to prevent the food stored in the chamber 10 from spoiling.

[0121] Furthermore, the step of controlling the high-power heating module 11 to heat the room 10 if the current temperature of the chamber 10 is still lower than the first preset temperature after the preheating operation is completed includes: waiting for a first preset reaction time after the preheating operation is completed; if the current temperature of the room 10 is still lower than the first preset temperature after waiting for the first preset reaction time, controlling the high-power heating module 11 to heat the room 10. Thus, sufficient reaction time is also provided after preheating to ensure that the heat from the high-power heating module 11 is fully radiated to the room 10.

[0122] Furthermore, the first preset reaction time can be determined based on the evaporator temperature, which depends on the amount of frost on the evaporator 151.

[0123] In one specific implementation, while the high-power heating module 11 is operating to heat the chamber 10, the fan 16 associated with the chamber 10 may be turned on to accelerate the rate of heat radiation between the high-power heating module 11 and the chamber 10, as well as in various areas of the chamber 10.

[0124] In one specific implementation, controlling the low-power heating module 12 to operate to heat the chamber 10 in step S1022 may include: intermittently controlling the low-power heating module 12 to operate to heat the chamber 10; during the operation of the low-power heating module 12, controlling the fan 16 associated with the chamber 10 to turn on to circulate gas within the chamber 10.

[0125] Thus, by providing sufficient reaction time through intermittent heating mode, and by increasing the temperature radiation rate with fan 16, the heat provided by low-power heating module 12 can be fully and quickly radiated to all areas of room 10.

[0126] Furthermore, during intermittent operation, the current temperature of the chamber 10 can be continuously acquired and determined to determine whether the operation of the low-power heating module 12 should be stopped.

[0127] Furthermore, the lower the second operating power, the greater the ratio of the single operation time of the low-power heating module 12 to the time interval between two consecutive operations of the low-power heating module 12, so as to reduce temperature fluctuations.

[0128] For example, refer to Figure 4 The lower the power of the low-power heating module 12, the lower its on / off ratio (t). on / t off The larger the power rating, the smaller the temperature fluctuation. In other words, the difference between heating modules with different power ratings can be similar to that between a fixed-frequency compressor and a variable-frequency compressor.

[0129] In one specific implementation, in step S1022, after stopping the high-power heating module 11 and before controlling the low-power heating module 12 to operate, step S102 may further include: after turning off the high-power heating module 11, waiting for a second preset reaction time; if, after waiting for the second preset reaction time, the current temperature of the chamber 10 is still lower than the first preset temperature, then controlling the low-power heating module 12 to operate. Thus, waiting for sufficient reaction time before determining whether to continue heating facilitates more precise temperature control of the chamber 10.

[0130] In one specific implementation, the control method described in this embodiment may further include: during the operation of the low-power heating module 11, when the current temperature of the chamber 10 is higher than a second preset temperature, controlling the low-power heating module 12 to stop heating the chamber 10, wherein the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature, and the second preset temperature is lower than the target temperature. Thus, the low-power heating module 12 is turned off in advance before the temperature of the chamber 10 reaches the target temperature, allowing sufficient reaction time for temperature changes in the chamber 10, ensuring that the temperature of the chamber 10 accurately reaches and is maintained at the target temperature. This better prevents the chamber 10 from being heated above the target temperature.

[0131] For example, the difference between the second preset temperature and the target temperature can be 1 to 2 degrees Celsius.

[0132] exist Figures 1 to 4In a typical application scenario of the embodiment shown, the refrigerator 1 may include a high-power defrosting heating wire (i.e., a high-power heating module 11) and a low-power compensating heating wire (i.e., a low-power heating module 12). During the heating process of the variable temperature compartment (i.e., compartment 10), the high-power defrosting heating wire is used first, and then the low-power compensating heating wire is used to heat the compartment, so as to quickly and accurately adjust the temperature of the variable temperature compartment to the target temperature.

[0133] Furthermore, a high-power defrosting heating wire is installed in the evaporator chamber 15, and a low-power compensating heating wire is installed in the variable temperature chamber.

[0134] During temperature control of the variable temperature compartment, the high-power defrosting heating wire is activated first, followed by the low-power compensating heating wire. The switching timing between the two heating wires is determined based on the temperature difference between the current and target temperatures of the variable temperature compartment. Furthermore, after the defrosting heating wire finishes its operation, the dehumidification mode is immediately activated. After dehumidification is complete, the low-power compensating heating wire is activated again, allowing the temperature of the variable temperature compartment to gradually approach the target temperature.

[0135] Alternatively, both heating wires can be placed simultaneously in the variable temperature compartment and heated sequentially under the control of the control module 14. In this case, the dehumidification process can be omitted.

[0136] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of the second type of refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 It is used for Figure 5 The flowchart shows the control method of the refrigerator.

[0137] By adopting the solution of this embodiment, it is possible to... Figure 5 The temperature of the compartment in refrigerator 2 shown is quickly and precisely adjusted. It should be noted that... Figure 5 Only for those who adopt Figure 6 The specific structure of the compartment 10 controlled by the control method shown is illustrated by way of example.

[0138] For example, compartment 10 can be a temperature-controlled compartment. In practical applications, compartment 10 can be other areas of the refrigerator 2 that require temperature regulation.

[0139] Specifically, refer to Figure 5 The refrigerator 2 described in this embodiment may include: a compartment 10; a heating module 21, which may include multiple heating units 210 connected to each other via a control switch 211, wherein the operating power of the heating module 21 differs when the control switch 211 is open and closed; a temperature sensor 13 disposed in the compartment 10 and used to acquire the current temperature of the compartment 10; and a control module 14 coupled to both the heating module 21 and the temperature sensor 13, wherein the control module 14 receives user commands and executes commands in response to the user commands. Figure 6 The control method described in the illustrated embodiment is used to adjust the temperature of the room 10 to the target temperature indicated by the user command.

[0140] Furthermore, the refrigerator 2 may also include an evaporator chamber 15, which is equipped with an evaporator 151. The evaporator chamber 15 and the compartment 10 are connected by an air duct 17, in which a fan 16 is installed.

[0141] refer to Figure 6 The control method for refrigerator 2 may include the following steps:

[0142] Step S201: Obtain the current temperature of the compartment;

[0143] Step S202: Adjust the operating power of the heating module according to the current temperature so that the heating module heats the room to the target temperature according to the operating power, wherein different temperature ranges correspond to different operating powers.

[0144] For the structure of temperature sensor 13, control module 14, evaporator 151, etc., please refer to the above. Figure 1 The relevant descriptions in the first embodiment shown will not be repeated here.

[0145] In one specific implementation, the multiple sets of heating units 210 can be distributed in different locations within the chamber 10. For example, the multiple sets of heating units 210 can be dispersedly arranged on different walls of the chamber 10.

[0146] Furthermore, the heating units 210 can be coupled to each other via control switches 211. In response to control commands from the control module 14, the control switches 211 are turned on or off to adjust the number and position of the heating units 210 in operation. The operating power of each heating unit 210 can be the same or different. The more control switches 211 are turned on, the more heating units 210 are in operation, and the higher the operating power of the heating module 21.

[0147] In one variation, multiple heating units 210 can be arranged in different areas of the refrigerator 2. For example, the multiple heating units 210 may include a compensating heating wire arranged in the compartment 10, and may also include a defrosting heating wire arranged in the evaporator compartment 15. The control module 14 can control the two types of heating wires to be in an operating state or an inactive state respectively by controlling the control switch 211, so that the heating module 21 heats the compartment 10 at different operating powers.

[0148] Therefore, by adopting the solution of this embodiment, it is possible to achieve rapid and precise adjustment of the temperature of compartment 10 in refrigerator 2. Specifically, the number of heating units 210 in operation is adjusted according to the current temperature range of compartment 10, thereby adjusting the working power of heating module 21 so that heating module 21 can operate at a power more suitable for the current state of compartment 10. This embodiment solution is beneficial for providing users with a flexible storage environment with a wide temperature range adjustable.

[0149] In one specific implementation, when the heating module 21 performs the defrosting heating function, the control method of this embodiment may further include: when the current temperature of the compartment 10 reaches a first preset temperature and the first preset temperature is less than the target temperature, pausing the operation of the heating module 21 and initiating dehumidification of the compartment 10. Thus, by controlling the temperature, dehumidification is performed during the heating of the compartment 10 to reduce the humidity of the compartment 10 and prevent the stored items placed in the compartment 10 from spoiling and decaying.

[0150] For example, when the heating module 21 includes a defrosting heating wire installed in the evaporator chamber, in order to avoid excessive humidity in the chamber 10 during the heating period, the chamber 10 can be dehumidified when the temperature of the chamber 10 is close to the target temperature.

[0151] Specifically, the difference between the first preset temperature and the target temperature can be less than 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, so that the dehumidification operation can be started when the temperature of compartment 10 approaches the target temperature. In other words, starting the dehumidification operation when the temperature of compartment 10 rises to near the target temperature allows the humidity of compartment 10 to be adjusted to a suitable level with a single dehumidification, eliminating the need for repeated dehumidification and saving power consumption of refrigerator 2.

[0152] In one variation, when the heating module 21 operates for more than a first preset time, the operation of the heating module 21 can be paused, and dehumidification of the chamber 10 can be initiated. That is, the timing for initiating dehumidification is determined by a fixed time interval.

[0153] In one specific implementation, the dehumidification process may include the following steps: starting the evaporator 151 for cooling and obtaining the evaporator temperature of the evaporator 151; when the evaporator temperature drops to a preset dehumidification temperature, starting the fan 16 to circulate gas between the chamber 10 and the evaporator 151. Thus, by utilizing the moisture-absorbing property of the evaporator 151 when it is below a specific temperature, dehumidification is achieved in the chamber 10 to reduce the humidity of the chamber 10.

[0154] The preset dehumidification temperature can be -15 degrees Celsius.

[0155] In one specific implementation, the control method described in this embodiment may further include: during the dehumidification operation of the chamber 10, when the current temperature of the chamber 10 reaches a preset stop dehumidification temperature, stopping the dehumidification operation of the chamber 10 and stopping the operation of the fan 16. Thus, the timing for stopping the dehumidification operation is determined through temperature control, so that dehumidification is actively stopped when the humidity of the chamber 10 reaches a suitable level.

[0156] Specifically, the preset dehumidification stop temperature can be determined based on the condensation temperature under the current environmental conditions of the room 10. For example, when the current temperature of the room 10 is lower than the condensation temperature, it indicates that condensation is likely to occur in the room 10, resulting in poor dehumidification. In this case, dehumidification can be stopped. At this time, both the evaporator 151 and the fan 16 stop working.

[0157] Alternatively, the preset dehumidification stop temperature can be determined based on the acceptable relative humidity when the room 10 is at the target temperature, so as to ensure that the humidity in the room 10 is at an appropriate level as the temperature of the room 10 increases.

[0158] In one variation, when the dehumidification operation continues for a second preset time, the dehumidification of the room 10 is stopped and the fan 16 is also stopped. Thus, by determining the timing of stopping the dehumidification operation through fixed-time control, dehumidification can be proactively stopped when the humidity in the room 10 reaches a suitable level.

[0159] For example, the second preset time can be several minutes.

[0160] Similar to the first preset time, the second preset time can be determined based on the humidity change rate of the chamber 10 under the action of the high-power heating module 11, and can also be related to the degree of frosting on the evaporator 151.

[0161] In a specific implementation, refer to Figure 7 Step S202 may include the following steps:

[0162] Step S2021: When the current temperature of the compartment 10 is lower than the first preset temperature, control the heating module 21 to heat the compartment 10 according to the first working power, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than the target temperature;

[0163] Step S2022: When the current temperature of the chamber 10 reaches the first preset temperature, the heating module 21 is controlled to heat the chamber 10 according to the second working power, wherein the second working power is less than the first working power.

[0164] For example, the heating module 21 operating at the first operating power can be similar to the one described above. Figure 1The high-power heating module 11 described in the illustrated embodiment, and the heating module 21 operating at the second working power, can be similar to the one described above. Figure 1 The low-power heating module 12 shown in the embodiment.

[0165] Therefore, when the current temperature of chamber 10 differs significantly from the target temperature, the operating power of the heating module 21 can be appropriately increased to achieve rapid heating and shorten the temperature change time. Conversely, as the current temperature of chamber 10 gradually approaches the target temperature, the operating power of the heating module 21 can be appropriately reduced to effectively avoid overheating. Furthermore, low-power heating allows for fine-tuning of the temperature of chamber 10, accurately raising its temperature to the target temperature. This provides advantages such as high control precision and minimal temperature fluctuation, facilitating the precise maintenance of chamber 10's temperature at the target temperature.

[0166] In one specific implementation, step S2021 may include: intermittently controlling the heating module 21 to operate at the first operating power to heat the chamber 10.

[0167] Because the heating effect of the heating module 21 has a lag, and the heating of the chamber 10 is gradually applied from a localized area of ​​the chamber 10 to the entire chamber 10, uneven local temperatures may exist within the chamber 10 during heating. In this case, the intermittent heating mode provides sufficient reaction time, allowing the heat provided by the heating module 21 to radiate fully to all areas of the chamber 10, thus avoiding inaccurately high or low measured temperatures due to uneven local temperatures within the chamber 10. Furthermore, more accurate temperature measurement results facilitate the rational determination of when to adjust the operating power of the heating module 21, enabling the heating module 21 to accurately switch to the second operating power at the first preset temperature.

[0168] Furthermore, the time interval between two consecutive operations of the heating module 21 is correlated with the number of times the heating module 21 operates, so that the heat generated and accumulated by the heating module 21 during each operation can have sufficient reaction time to be transferred to the chamber 10. Thus, by better ensuring the temperature uniformity within the chamber 10, the temperature measurement results of the chamber 10 can more accurately reflect the actual temperature level of the chamber 10.

[0169] In one specific implementation, the control method described in this embodiment may further include: during the period when the heating module 21 is controlling the heating module 21 to heat the chamber 10 according to the first working power, when the current temperature rises to the first preset temperature, controlling the heating module 21 to switch to the second working power to heat the chamber 10; during the period when the heating module 21 is controlling the heating module 21 to heat the chamber 10 according to the second working power, when the current temperature continues to rise to a level higher than the second preset temperature, controlling the heating module 21 to stop heating the chamber 10, wherein the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature, and the second preset temperature is lower than the target temperature.

[0170] Because the initial operating power is relatively high, the temperature change of chamber 10 per unit time is correspondingly large. Therefore, the heating module 21 first heats chamber 10 at a relatively high initial operating power to rapidly raise the temperature of chamber 10 to near the target temperature.

[0171] Furthermore, considering the potential delay in measuring the temperature of chamber 10, and the time required for temperature uniformity to be achieved in all areas of chamber 10, if the heating module 21 is stopped after heating chamber 10 to the target temperature using the first operating power, the actual temperature inside chamber 10 may have already exceeded the target temperature. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the temperature of chamber 10 reaches the first preset temperature, the heating module 21 is controlled to switch to a lower second operating power to heat chamber 10, allowing the temperature of chamber 10 to rise slowly to the target temperature. Because the second operating power is lower, the temperature change of chamber 10 per unit time is correspondingly smaller. Therefore, the temperature fluctuation of chamber 10 is small, and there will be no sudden temperature increase, making it possible to accurately obtain the target temperature for chamber 10.

[0172] Furthermore, the heating module 21 is turned off before the temperature of chamber 10 reaches the target temperature, so as to allow sufficient reaction time for temperature changes in chamber 10 and ensure that the temperature of chamber 10 accurately reaches and is maintained at the target temperature. This better prevents chamber 10 from being heated to a temperature exceeding the target temperature.

[0173] The second preset temperature can be determined based on the cooling shutdown temperature of compartment 10, the temperature correction of heating module 21, and the switching difference of heating module 21. Among them, the temperature correction of heating module 21 is related to the current temperature of compartment 10, and the switching difference of heating module 21 is used to characterize the temperature change of compartment 10 during a single operation of heating module 21.

[0174] In one specific implementation, step S2022 may include: intermittently controlling the heating module 21 to operate at the second operating power to heat the compartment 10; during the operation of the heating module 21, controlling the fan 16 of the refrigerator 2 to turn on to circulate gas between the compartment 10 and the heating module 21. Thus, by providing sufficient reaction time through the intermittent heating mode, combined with the fan 16 increasing the temperature radiation rate, the heat provided by the heating module 21 can be fully and quickly radiated to all areas of the compartment 10.

[0175] Although specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, even when only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. The examples of features provided in this disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not limiting, unless otherwise stated. In practice, one or more technical features of the dependent claims may be combined with technical features of the independent claims, and technical features from the respective independent claims may be combined in any suitable manner rather than solely by the specific combinations listed in the claims.

[0176] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A control method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a compartment, an evaporator, and a heating module, characterized in that, The control method includes: Obtain the current temperature of the compartment; The operating power of the heating module is adjusted according to the current temperature so that the heating module heats the room to the target temperature according to the operating power, wherein different temperature ranges correspond to different operating powers; the control method further includes: when the current temperature of the room reaches a first preset temperature and the first preset temperature is less than the target temperature, or when the heating module operates for more than a first preset time, the operation of the heating module is paused and the dehumidification of the room is started; the dehumidification includes the following steps: The evaporator is started for cooling, and the evaporator temperature is obtained; When the evaporator temperature drops to the preset dehumidification temperature, the fan is started to circulate the gas between the chamber and the evaporator.

2. The control method for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control method further includes the following steps: during the dehumidification of the room, when the current temperature of the room reaches a preset stop dehumidification temperature, or when the dehumidification operation continues for a second preset time, the dehumidification operation of the room is stopped and the operation of the fan is stopped.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The difference between the first preset temperature and the target temperature is less than 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.

4. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the operating power of the heating module according to the current temperature, so that the heating module heats the room to the target temperature according to the operating power, includes: When the current temperature of the compartment is lower than the first preset temperature, the heating module is controlled to heat the compartment according to the first working power, wherein the first preset temperature is lower than the target temperature; When the current temperature of the chamber reaches the first preset temperature, the heating module is controlled to heat the chamber according to the second working power, wherein the second working power is less than the first working power.

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The control of the heating module to heat the room according to the first operating power includes: The heating module is intermittently controlled to operate at the first operating power to heat the room.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The time interval between two consecutive runs of the heating module is related to the number of times the heating module runs.

7. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The control method further includes: While the heating module is controlling the heating of the room at a first operating power, when the current temperature rises to the first preset temperature, the heating module is controlled to switch to a second operating power to heat the room. While the heating module is controlling the heating of the compartment at a second operating power, when the current temperature continues to rise above a second preset temperature, the heating module is controlled to stop heating the compartment, wherein the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature and lower than the target temperature.

8. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The control of the heating module to heat the room according to the second operating power includes: The heating module is intermittently controlled to operate at the second operating power to heat the room; During the operation of the heating module, the refrigerator's fan is turned on to circulate gas between the compartment and the heating module.

9. A control method for a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a compartment and an evaporator, characterized in that, The refrigerator further includes a high-power heating module and a low-power heating module. The high-power heating module (11) is disposed in the evaporator chamber (15) to defrost the evaporator (151) disposed in the evaporator chamber. The low-power heating module (12) is disposed in the compartment (10) or in at least a portion of the bottom of the compartment (10). The control method includes: Obtain the current temperature of the refrigerator compartment; The high-power heating module and the low-power heating module are controlled to work sequentially according to the current temperature of the chamber, so that the temperature of the chamber gradually rises to the target temperature. The working power of the high-power heating module is the first working power, and the working power of the low-power heating module is the second working power, which is less than the first working power.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, During the process of controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially based on the current temperature of the compartment, the control method further includes: When the high-power heating module is controlled to operate so that the current temperature of the room reaches the first preset temperature, or when the high-power heating module operates for more than the first preset time, the high-power heating module is stopped and the low-power heating module is started to continue heating the room.

11. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, During the process of controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially based on the current temperature of the compartment, the control method further includes: When the high-power heating module is controlled to operate so that the current temperature of the room reaches the first preset temperature, or when the high-power heating module operates for more than the first preset time, the operation of the high-power heating module is stopped and the dehumidification of the room is started. After the dehumidification process is completed, the low-power heating module is activated to continue heating the room.

12. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The dehumidification process includes the following steps: The evaporator is started for cooling, and the evaporator temperature is obtained; When the evaporator temperature drops to the preset dehumidification temperature, the fan is started to circulate the gas between the chamber and the evaporator.

13. The control method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Also includes: During the dehumidification process of the room, when the current temperature of the room reaches the preset dehumidification stop temperature, or when the dehumidification process continues for a second preset time, the dehumidification process of the room is stopped and the operation of the fan is stopped.

14. The control method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that, The step of controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially based on the current temperature of the chamber includes: When the current temperature of the room is lower than the first preset temperature, the high-power heating module is controlled to work to heat the room; During the operation of the high-power heating module, when the current temperature reaches the first preset temperature, the high-power heating module is stopped, and the low-power heating module is controlled to continue heating the room.

15. The control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The control of the high-power heating module to heat the room includes: The high-power heating module is intermittently controlled to operate in order to heat the room.

16. The control method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The time interval between two consecutive runs of the high-power heating module is related to the number of times the high-power heating module runs.

17. The control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The operating time of the high-power heating module is determined based on the evaporator temperature of the evaporator.

18. The control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, Before controlling the high-power heating module to operate and heat the compartment, the control method further includes: Control the high-power heating module to perform a preheating operation; The fan associated with the compartment is turned on to circulate gas between the high-power heating module and the compartment; If the current temperature of the room is still lower than the first preset temperature after the preheating operation is completed, the high-power heating module is controlled to work to heat the room.

19. The control method according to claim 18, characterized in that, If, after the preheating operation is completed, the current temperature of the room is still lower than the first preset temperature, then controlling the high-power heating module to operate to heat the room includes: After the preheating operation is completed, wait for the first preset reaction time; If the current temperature of the chamber is still lower than the first preset temperature after waiting for the first preset reaction time, then the high-power heating module is controlled to work to heat the chamber.

20. The control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, While the high-power heating module is being operated to heat the compartment, the fan associated with the compartment is turned on.

21. The control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The control of the low-power heating module to heat the room includes: The low-power heating module is intermittently controlled to operate in order to heat the room; During the operation of the low-power heating module, the fan associated with the compartment is turned on to circulate gas within the compartment.

22. The control method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The lower the second operating power, the greater the ratio of the single operation time of the low-power heating module to the time interval between two consecutive operations of the low-power heating module.

23. The control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, After stopping the high-power heating module and before controlling the low-power heating module to operate, the step of controlling the high-power heating module and the low-power heating module to operate sequentially according to the current temperature of the room further includes: After turning off the high-power heating module, wait for the second preset reaction time; If, after waiting for the second preset reaction time, the current temperature of the chamber is still lower than the first preset temperature, then the low-power heating module is controlled to operate.

24. The control method according to claim 23, characterized in that, Also includes: During the operation of the low-power heating module, when the current temperature of the chamber is higher than the second preset temperature, the low-power heating module is controlled to stop heating the chamber, wherein the second preset temperature is higher than the first preset temperature and lower than the target temperature.

25. A refrigerator (1), characterized in that, include: Room (10); A high-power heating module (11) is provided in the evaporator chamber (15) for defrosting the evaporator (151) provided in the evaporator chamber and for heating the chamber (10) according to a first working power. A low-power heating module (12) is used to heat the chamber (10) according to a second working power, the second working power being less than the first working power. The low-power heating module (12) is disposed in the chamber (10) or in at least a portion of the bottom area of ​​the chamber (10). A temperature sensor (13) is disposed in the compartment (10) and used to acquire the current temperature of the compartment (10); The control module (14) is coupled to the high-power heating module (11), the low-power heating module (12) and the temperature sensor (13) respectively. The control module (14) is used to receive user instructions and execute the control method of any one of claims 9 to 24 in response to the user instructions to adjust the temperature of the room (10) to the target temperature indicated by the user instructions.

26. A refrigerator (2), characterized in that, include: Room (10); Heating module (21), the heating module (21) includes multiple heating units (210), the multiple heating units (210) are connected to each other through a control switch (211), the working power of the heating module (21) is different when the control switch (211) is open and closed; A temperature sensor (13) is disposed in the compartment (10) and used to acquire the current temperature of the compartment (10); The control module (14) is coupled to the heating module (21) and the temperature sensor (13) respectively. The control module (14) is used to receive user instructions and execute the control method of any one of claims 1 to 24 in response to the user instructions to adjust the temperature of the room (10) to the target temperature indicated by the user instructions.

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