Refrigerator and odor purification method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a refrigerator and an odor purification method thereof. An odor purification device is installed in a storage compartment to purify odor gas in the refrigerator. In the process, different odor levels correspond to different operation modes of the odor purification device, and the corresponding odor purification mode can be adopted according to the odor concentration of the storage compartment, so that a good odor purification effect is achieved. In addition, the volume of the storage compartment of the refrigerator is obtained, and the operation mode is adjusted according to the volume of the storage compartment, so that the odor purification logic is more suitable for the storage compartment, the odor purification effect is better, and the user experience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and more particularly to a refrigerator and a method for purifying its odors. Background Technology

[0002] With the improvement of living standards, the variety of food stored in refrigerators is increasing, and food emits various odors. Currently, odor problems in refrigerators have become one of the main pain points for refrigerator users. Many refrigerator manufacturers now equip their refrigerators with gas sensors and deodorization modules. These sensors monitor odors in real time and then use ozone or ionization devices to remove them, achieving intelligent odor removal. Existing refrigerators range in capacity from 100L to 600L. While gas sensors detect gas concentration, the larger the space, the greater the total amount of odor at the same concentration, and the longer the deodorization time. However, current refrigerator odor purification methods do not take into account the volume of each storage compartment, using a fixed purification logic. This makes it impossible to apply different purification methods to different compartments, resulting in unsatisfactory odor removal effects. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator and its odor purification method, which adopts the corresponding odor purification device operation mode according to the volume of the refrigerator's storage compartment, so as to better achieve the odor removal effect and improve the user experience.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator, comprising:

[0005] A box, in which a storage room is formed, the storage room including at least a cold storage room;

[0006] A gas sensor, installed in the storage room, is used to detect the concentration of odorous gases in the storage room;

[0007] An odor purification device is installed in the storage room to purify odorous gases in the storage room.

[0008] The controller is configured as follows:

[0009] Obtain the real-time concentration of odorous gas in the current storage room as detected by the gas sensor;

[0010] The target odor level is found among several preset odor levels based on the real-time odor gas concentration, and the target operating mode of the odor purification device is obtained based on the target odor level; wherein, each odor level corresponds to an operating mode of the odor purification device.

[0011] Obtain the current volume of the storage room;

[0012] Adjust the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode according to the volume, and control the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters.

[0013] As an improvement to the above solution, the adjustable parameter is the operating cycle of the odor purification device; therefore, adjusting the adjustable parameter in the target operating mode according to the volume includes:

[0014] Calculate the volume difference between the stated volume and the preset reference volume; wherein the reference volume corresponds to several reference operating cycles with different odor levels;

[0015] The corresponding cycle adjustment parameter is obtained based on the volume difference, and the cycle adjustment parameter is superimposed on the benchmark operating cycle to obtain the target operating cycle as the adjusted adjustable parameter.

[0016] As an improvement to the above solution, the parameters in the operating mode include the operating cycle and idle time of the odor purification device; therefore, controlling the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters includes:

[0017] After the odor purification device completes one target operating cycle, the device is controlled to stop and enter an idle state.

[0018] When the duration of the idle state is detected to have reached the specified idle time, the odor purification device is controlled to enter the next target operating cycle.

[0019] As an improvement to the above scheme, the period adjustment parameter is directly proportional to the volume difference.

[0020] As an improvement to the above solution, the odor level is divided into low odor level, medium odor level and high odor level according to the concentration from low to high. The operating cycle of the low odor level is shorter than that of the medium odor level, and the operating cycle of the medium odor level is shorter than that of the high odor level. One operating cycle includes a preset start-up time and a shutdown time.

[0021] As an improvement to the above solution, the odor purification device is an ion generator.

[0022] To achieve the above objectives, this invention also provides a refrigerator odor purification method, wherein the refrigerator is equipped with an odor purification device for purifying odor gases in the storage compartment, and a gas sensor for detecting the concentration of odor gases in the storage compartment; then, the refrigerator odor purification method includes:

[0023] Obtain the real-time concentration of odorous gas in the current storage room as detected by the gas sensor;

[0024] The target odor level is found among several preset odor levels based on the real-time odor gas concentration, and the target operating mode of the odor purification device is obtained based on the target odor level; wherein, each odor level corresponds to an operating mode of the odor purification device.

[0025] Obtain the current volume of the storage room;

[0026] Adjust the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode according to the volume, and control the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters.

[0027] As an improvement to the above solution, the adjustable parameter is the operating cycle of the odor purification device; therefore, adjusting the adjustable parameter in the target operating mode according to the volume includes:

[0028] Calculate the volume difference between the stated volume and the preset reference volume; wherein the reference volume corresponds to several reference operating cycles with different odor levels;

[0029] The corresponding cycle adjustment parameter is obtained based on the volume difference, and the cycle adjustment parameter is superimposed on the benchmark operating cycle to obtain the target operating cycle as the adjusted adjustable parameter.

[0030] As an improvement to the above solution, the parameters in the operating mode include the operating cycle and idle time of the odor purification device; therefore, controlling the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters includes:

[0031] After the odor purification device completes one target operating cycle, the device is controlled to stop and enter an idle state.

[0032] When the duration of the idle state is detected to have reached the specified idle time, the odor purification device is controlled to enter the next target operating cycle.

[0033] As an improvement to the above scheme, the period adjustment parameter is directly proportional to the volume difference.

[0034] Compared to existing technologies, the refrigerator and its odor purification method disclosed in this invention install an odor purification device in the storage compartment to purify odor gases within the refrigerator. During this process, different odor levels correspond to different operating modes of the odor purification device, allowing for targeted odor purification based on the odor concentration in the storage compartment, achieving a superior odor purification effect. Furthermore, by simultaneously acquiring the volume of the refrigerator's storage compartment and adjusting the operating mode accordingly, the odor purification logic becomes more suitable for the specific storage compartment, resulting in a better odor removal effect and improved user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the refrigerator when the door is closed, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the storage compartment structure of the refrigerator when the door is open, provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the air duct of the refrigerator compartment provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a first working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a second working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a third workflow diagram of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 8 This is the fourth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0043] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of information interaction between the refrigerator and the client provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator odor purification method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Among them, 100 is the refrigerator; 200 is the client; 300 is the router; 400 is the server; 10 is the refrigerator compartment; 20 is the freezer compartment; 11 is the gas sensor; 12 is the odor purification device; 13 is the refrigerator fan; 101 is the refrigerator air duct; 1 is the compressor; 2 is the evaporator; 3 is the capillary tube; and 4 is the condenser. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0048] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0049] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0050] See Figures 1-2 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a refrigerator 100 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 100 in this embodiment has an approximately rectangular shape. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space and multiple doors located at the opening of the cabinet. Each door includes a door shell located outside the cabinet, a door inner liner located inside the cabinet, an upper cover, a lower cover, and an insulation layer located between the door shell, door inner liner, upper cover, and lower cover; typically, the insulation layer is filled with foam material. The cabinet has chambers, including component storage chambers for placing refrigerator components, such as a compressor compartment, and storage spaces for storing food, etc. The storage spaces can be divided into multiple storage compartments, which, depending on their purpose, can be configured as a refrigerator compartment 10 and a freezer compartment 20, and may also include a variable temperature compartment, a vacuum drawer, a humidifier drawer, etc. Each storage compartment corresponds to one or more doors, for example, in... Figure 1 The upper storage compartment features double doors. These doors can be pivotally mounted at the opening of the cabinet or can open like drawers for drawer-style storage.

[0051] See Figure 3 , Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the air duct of the refrigerator compartment 10 in the refrigerator 100 provided in this embodiment of the invention. A gas sensor 11 is installed in the refrigerator compartment 10 to detect the concentration of odor gases flowing into the compartment. An odor purification device 12 is installed in the refrigerator compartment 10. The odor purification device 12 is an ion generator, used to generate ozone to purify the odor gases in the refrigerator compartment. An ion generator is a common air purification device that purifies the air by generating negative and positive ions. A large number of ions exist in the natural atmosphere. The ion generator generates ionized gas through electrostatic interaction, adding a large number of negative and positive ions to the air, thus purifying it. A fan 13 is installed in the refrigerator air duct 101 to circulate the gas within the refrigerator air duct and the refrigerator compartment 10.

[0052] See Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system in a single-system refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigeration system includes a compressor 1, an evaporator 2, a dryer filter (not shown in the figure), a capillary tube 3, a condenser 4, and a gas-liquid separator (not shown in the figure). The working process of the refrigeration system includes a compression process, a condensation process, a throttling process, and an evaporation process. The compression process is as follows: when the refrigerator power cord is plugged in and the thermostat contacts are closed, the compressor 1 starts working. Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 1 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure superheated gas in the cylinder of the compressor 1 before being discharged into the condenser 4. The condensation process is as follows: the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 4, and the temperature continuously decreases, gradually cooling into room-temperature, high-pressure saturated vapor, and further cooling into saturated liquid. The temperature no longer decreases; this temperature is called the condensation temperature. The pressure of the refrigerant remains almost constant throughout the condensation process. The throttling process... The process is as follows: After condensation, the saturated liquid refrigerant flows into capillary tube 3 after being filtered to remove moisture and impurities through a dryer filter. Through capillary tube 3, the refrigerant is throttled and depressurized, turning into room temperature, low pressure wet vapor. The evaporation process is as follows: The room temperature, low pressure wet vapor begins to absorb heat and vaporize in evaporator 2, which not only lowers the temperature of evaporator 2 and its surroundings, but also turns the refrigerant into a low temperature, low pressure gas. The refrigerant coming out of evaporator 2 passes through a gas-liquid separator and returns to compressor 1. The above process is repeated to transfer the heat inside the refrigerator to the outside air, thus achieving the purpose of refrigeration.

[0053] Specifically, the controller is configured to: acquire the real-time odor gas concentration of the current storage room detected by the gas sensor; search for the corresponding target odor level among a number of preset odor levels based on the real-time odor gas concentration, and acquire the target operating mode of the odor purification device based on the target odor level; wherein each odor level corresponds to an operating mode of the odor purification device; acquire the volume of the current storage room; adjust the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode based on the volume, and control the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters.

[0054] For example, see Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a first working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The controller is configured to execute steps S11 to S14. The odor levels are divided into low odor level, medium odor level, and high odor level according to the concentration from low to high. Based on research on the response of gas sensors to the odors of different foods and human sensory studies, the odors are divided into three different odor levels according to the output signals of the gas sensors. For example, 1 to X1 is the low odor level, represented by odor level A, and the corresponding operating mode of the odor eliminator is operating mode a; X1 to X2 is the medium odor level, represented by odor level B, and the corresponding operating mode of the odor eliminator is operating mode b; X2 to X3 is the high odor level, represented by odor level C, and the corresponding operating mode of the odor eliminator is operating mode c. Level A is basically odorless, level B is a slight odor, and level C is a noticeable odor. See also... Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a second workflow diagram of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. After determining the target operating mode, the volume of the current storage compartment is obtained, and then the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode are adjusted according to the volume. The odor purification device is then controlled to operate based on the adjusted adjustable parameters.

[0055] Specifically, the operating cycle of the low odor level is shorter than that of the medium odor level, and the operating cycle of the medium odor level is shorter than that of the high odor level. One operating cycle includes a preset start-up time and a shutdown time.

[0056] For example, the gas sensor detects the odor level in the storage room in real time. The controller controls the odor purification device to operate according to the operating modes in Table 1 below based on the odor level detected by the gas sensor (the ion generator easily produces ozone, which has a good odor removal effect, but ozone is harmful to the human body, so control rules are needed). The operating time is directly proportional to the odor level; as the odor level increases, the operating time in the operating cycle increases. The shutdown time is inversely proportional to the odor level; as the odor level increases, the shutdown time decreases. When the sensor determines that the odor level is A, the odor purification device is controlled to operate according to the rules of operating mode a. After completing cycle T1, it enters idle mode. If the sensor detects odor B or C during this period, the odor purification device is immediately controlled to operate according to the rules of operating mode b or operating mode c. The three processes corresponding to operating modes a to c share the same cycle count. When an odor level changes, as long as the cumulative cycle count is greater than or equal to the cycle count requirement of the process corresponding to the current odor level, the system immediately enters the idle state corresponding to the current odor level, and the cumulative total cycle count is reset to zero. It is worth noting that the values ​​of operating cycle, start-up time, stop time, and idle time in Table 1 can be preset by experience and are not specifically limited here.

[0057] Table 1. Operating modes of the odor purification device

[0058]

[0059] Specifically, the adjustable parameter is the operating cycle of the odor purification device; therefore, adjusting the adjustable parameter in the target operating mode according to the volume includes: calculating the volume difference between the volume and a preset reference volume; wherein the reference volume corresponds to several reference operating cycles with different odor levels; obtaining the corresponding cycle adjustment parameter based on the volume difference, and superimposing the cycle adjustment parameter on the reference operating cycle to obtain the target operating cycle as the adjusted adjustable parameter. The cycle adjustment parameter is directly proportional to the volume difference.

[0060] For example, see Figure 7 , Figure 7This is the third workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. Step S14 is configured as steps S141 to S143. If the storage compartment volume is 400L, the gas sensor determines that the odor level is B. The odor purification device runs for T2 cycles according to the above rules, and the generated negative ions or ozone can remove the odor. However, if the storage compartment volume is 500L, the gas sensor determines that the odor level is B. The odor purification device runs for T2 cycles according to the above rules, and the amount of negative ions or ozone generated is the same as before, which cannot completely remove the odor. However, due to program control, after T2 cycles, the odor purification device enters an idle state. At this time, there is still an odor in the refrigerator, which affects the user experience. Therefore, based on the refrigerator volume, the odor purification device adjusts the adjustable parameter of the running cycle in the operating mode according to the different refrigerator volumes, based on the above control. The specific adjustment process can be referred to Table 2. It is worth noting that the values ​​of the reference volume, reference running cycle, and cycle adjustment parameter in Table 2 can be preset by experience values ​​and are not specifically limited here.

[0061] Table 2 Examples of parameter adjustments for the running cycle

[0062]

[0063]

[0064] For example, the base volume is 100, and the corresponding operating cycles T1, T2, and T3 are the base operating cycles for odor levels A, B, and C, respectively. As the volume of the storage room increases, the corresponding cycle adjustment parameters also gradually increase. The cycle adjustment parameters are Y1, 1.5Y1..., Y2, 1.5Y2..., Y3, 1.5Y3... etc. in the table. Y1, Y2, and Y3 can be equal or increase sequentially, and 50*1, 50*2,..., 50*n represent the volume difference. As the volume increases, the operating cycle of the odor purification device for each odor level increases according to a certain rule (non-linear). Taking level A as an example: for every 50L increase in volume, the operating cycle increases. The more the volume increases and the larger the space, the worse the odor removal effect of the odor purification device will be, because the concentration of negative ions or ozone generated per unit time is constant. Negative ions and ozone are easily degraded. The larger the space, the lower the probability of negative ions and ozone coming into contact with odor molecules, thus reducing the odor removal effect. Therefore, the greater the increase in volume, the more cycles the odor purification device needs to operate to ensure the odor removal effect. Furthermore, compared to Grade B, Grade B odor is more intense. Therefore, for the same increase in volume, the total amount of odor in Grade B increases more. Thus, under the condition of Grade B odor, an increase in volume requires more cycles of operation for the odor purification device to maintain the odor removal effect.

[0065] It should be noted that the volume changes in the table are only examples. The actual volume of the storage room may not have an equal value in the table. If the volume of the refrigerator is within the specified volume range, the determination shall be made according to the following rules: when (100 + 50 * n) - 25 < R (actual volume of the storage room) ≤ 100 + 50 * n (n ≥ 1), the odor purification device shall apply the operation rule of 100 + 50 * n (n ≥ 1); otherwise, the rule of 100 + 50 * (n - 1) shall be applied. That is, the method of "taking 50 as a unit, discarding the remainder less than 25, and taking the remainder greater than or equal to 25 as 50" can be used to find the closest reference volume from the table. For example, if the actual volume of the storage room is 238, the remainder after dividing this value by 50 is 38, and this remainder is greater than 25, then the reference volume of the storage room is 250. At this time, if it is in odor level A, the target operation period is T1 + 2.5Y1; if the actual volume of the storage room is 218, the remainder after dividing this value by 50 is 18, and this remainder is less than 25 and can be discarded, then the reference volume of the storage room is 200. At this time, if it is in odor level A, the target operation period is T1 + 1.5Y1.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present invention, the control logic in this table can be pre-written into the controllers of multiple refrigerators. Since the overall volumes of different types of refrigerators are different, and the volumes of the corresponding storage rooms are also different, the volume of each storage room in the current refrigerator is written into the database of the refrigerator before leaving the factory. When the odor purification device is actually started, the volume data pre-stored in the database is called together, so as to know the volume size of the current storage room.

[0067] Specifically, the parameters in the operation mode include the operation period and idle duration of the odor purification device; then, controlling the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters includes: after detecting that the odor purification device has completed one target operation period, controlling the odor purification device to stop and enter the idle state; when detecting that the duration of entering the idle state reaches the idle duration, controlling the odor purification device to enter the next target operation period.

[0068] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8This is the fourth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. Step S143 includes steps S1431 to S1434, and the idle time is inversely proportional to the operating cycle. When the gas sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level A, it indicates that there is basically no odor inside the refrigerator. The odor purification device operates according to the above-mentioned level A rule. After running for T1 cycles, it enters an idle state. If the idle state duration reaches K1 and the sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level A, it continues to operate according to the rule. The advantage of this mode is that it can prevent the odor purification device from still turning on at intervals of K1 to remove odors even if the odor sensor cannot detect certain food odors or the sensor malfunctions. When the sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level B, it indicates that there is a slight odor inside the refrigerator. The odor purification device operates according to the above-mentioned level B rule. After running for T2 cycles, it enters an idle state. If the idle state duration reaches K2 and the sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level B, it continues to operate according to the rule. The advantage of this mode is that when a slight odor is detected in the refrigerator (with the storage compartment volume as the baseline volume), the odor purification device operates on a cycle of t2 seconds and then (60-t2) seconds. This achieves odor removal while preventing over-operation and excessive ozone production. The idle time K2 is to prevent gas sensor malfunctions from misinterpreting the odor as a Class B odor, causing the odor purification device to activate and resulting in excessive ozone levels. Furthermore, research shows that ozone generated by the odor purification device during Class B operation is completely degraded within the K2 time. Afterward, activating the odor purification device will not pose a risk of excessive ozone levels. Similarly, the principle and advantages of the Class C operating rule are the same. Compared to the Class B operating rule, this operating rule provides a stronger odor removal effect under Class C odor conditions, eliminating odors in a shorter time while controlling ozone levels. The sensor monitors the odor situation inside the refrigerator in real time. When it is determined to be at level A, the odor purification device is controlled to operate according to rule A. If the sensor detects an odor of level B or C, the odor purification device is immediately controlled to operate according to rule B or C. However, the prerequisite is that the sensor outputs a signal every second. When the odor level changes, the odor purification device will only switch its operating rule if it continuously outputs the level change for 10 seconds. (For example, if the sensor detects that the odor level changes from A to B at time t, the odor purification device will only switch its operating rule from A to B if it is still at level B after t+10 seconds.)

[0069] See Figure 9 , Figure 9This is a schematic diagram illustrating information interaction between a refrigerator 100 and a client 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 100 establishes a data connection with the client 200 through a router 300 or a cloud server 400. When the refrigerator 100 and the client 200 communicate through the router 300, the refrigerator 100 and the client 200 are relatively close, allowing the user to view the operation status of the refrigerator placed in the kitchen or the food storage status from the living room or bedroom. When the refrigerator 100 and the client 200 communicate through the cloud server 400, the refrigerator 100 and the client 200 are relatively far apart, allowing the user to interact with the refrigerator 100 via an APP installed on the client 200, and also enabling remote control of the refrigerator 100.

[0070] Compared to existing technologies, the refrigerator disclosed in this invention incorporates an odor purification device in the storage compartment to purify odor gases. During this process, different odor levels correspond to different operating modes of the odor purification device, allowing for targeted odor purification based on the odor concentration in the storage compartment, achieving excellent odor removal results. Furthermore, the volume of the refrigerator's storage compartment is simultaneously acquired, and the operating mode is adjusted accordingly, making the odor purification logic more suitable for the specific compartment, thus achieving better odor removal and enhancing the user experience.

[0071] See Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator odor purification method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator is equipped with an odor purification device for purifying odor gases in the storage compartment, and a gas sensor for detecting the concentration of odor gases in the storage compartment. The refrigerator odor purification method includes:

[0072] S1. Obtain the real-time odor gas concentration in the storage room detected by the gas sensor;

[0073] S2. Based on the real-time odor gas concentration, find the corresponding target odor level among a number of preset odor levels, and obtain the target operating mode of the odor purification device based on the target odor level; wherein, each odor level corresponds to an operating mode of the odor purification device.

[0074] S3. Obtain the current volume of the storage room;

[0075] S4. Adjust the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode according to the volume, and control the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters.

[0076] For example, the odor levels are divided into low odor, medium odor, and high odor levels according to the concentration from low to high. By studying the response of gas sensors to the odors of different foods and human sensory perception, the odors are divided into three different odor levels based on the output signals of the gas sensors. For example, 1 to X1 represents the low odor level, denoted as odor level A, and the corresponding operating mode of the odor purifying device is operating mode a; X1 to X2 represents the medium odor level, denoted as odor level B, and the corresponding operating mode of the odor purifying device is operating mode b; X2 to X3 represents the high odor level, denoted as odor level C, and the corresponding operating mode of the odor purifying device is operating mode c. Level A is essentially odorless, level B is a slight odor, and level C is a noticeable odor. After determining the target operating mode, the volume of the current storage room is obtained, and then the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode are adjusted according to the volume. The odor purification device is then controlled based on the adjusted adjustable parameters.

[0077] Specifically, the operating cycle of the low odor level is shorter than that of the medium odor level, and the operating cycle of the medium odor level is shorter than that of the high odor level. One operating cycle includes a preset start-up time and a shutdown time.

[0078] For example, the operating time is directly proportional to the odor level; as the odor level increases, the operating time during the cycle increases. Conversely, the shutdown time is inversely proportional to the odor level; as the odor level increases, the shutdown time decreases. When the sensor determines the odor level to be A, the odor purification device is controlled to operate according to the rules of operating mode a. After completing cycle T1, it enters idle mode. If the sensor detects an odor of B or C during this period, the odor purification device is immediately controlled to operate according to the rules of operating mode b or operating mode c. The three processes corresponding to operating modes a to c share the same cycle count. When there is an odor level change, as long as the cumulative cycle count is greater than or equal to the cycle count requirement of the process corresponding to the current odor level, it immediately enters the idle state corresponding to the current odor level, and the cumulative total cycle count is reset to zero.

[0079] Specifically, the adjustable parameter is the operating cycle of the odor purification device; therefore, adjusting the adjustable parameter in the target operating mode according to the volume includes: calculating the volume difference between the volume and a preset reference volume; wherein the reference volume corresponds to several reference operating cycles with different odor levels; obtaining the corresponding cycle adjustment parameter based on the volume difference, and superimposing the cycle adjustment parameter on the reference operating cycle to obtain the target operating cycle as the adjusted adjustable parameter. The cycle adjustment parameter is directly proportional to the volume difference.

[0080] For example, if the storage compartment volume is 400L, and the gas sensor determines that the odor level is B, the odor purification device will run for T2 cycles according to the above rules. The generated negative ions or ozone can remove the odor. However, if the storage compartment volume is 500L, and the gas sensor determines that the odor level is B, the odor purification device will run for T2 cycles according to the above rules. The amount of negative ions or ozone generated will be the same as before, and it will not be able to completely remove the odor. However, due to program control, after T2 cycles, the odor purification device enters an idle state. At this time, there is still an odor in the refrigerator, which affects the user experience. Therefore, based on the refrigerator volume, the odor purification device adjusts the adjustable parameter of the running cycle in the operating mode according to the different refrigerator volumes, based on the above control.

[0081] For example, as the volume increases, the operating cycle of the odor purification device increases according to a certain pattern (non-linear). Taking grade A as an example: for every 50L increase in volume, the operating cycle increases. The more the volume increases, the larger the space, and the worse the odor removal effect of the odor purification device will be. This is because the concentration of negative ions or ozone generated per unit time is constant. Negative ions and ozone are easily degraded. The larger the space, the lower the probability of negative ions and ozone coming into contact with odor molecules, thus reducing the odor removal effect. Therefore, the more the volume increases, the more operating cycles the odor purification device needs to increase to maintain the odor removal effect. At the same time, compared with grade B, grade B has a stronger odor. Therefore, for the same increase in volume, the total amount of odor in grade B increases more. So, under the condition of grade B odor, after increasing the volume, the more operating cycles the odor purification device needs to increase to maintain the odor removal effect.

[0082] In this embodiment of the invention, the control logic in this table can be pre-written into the controllers of multiple refrigerators. Since different types of refrigerators have different overall volumes and different volumes of each storage compartment, the volume of each storage compartment in the refrigerator is written into the refrigerator's database before the refrigerator leaves the factory. When the odor purification device is actually started, the volume data pre-stored in the database is called to determine the current storage compartment's volume.

[0083] Specifically, the parameters in the operating mode include the operating cycle and idle time of the odor purification device; then, controlling the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters includes: after detecting that the odor purification device has completed one target operating cycle, controlling the odor purification device to stop to enter an idle state; and when detecting that the duration of entering the idle state has reached the idle time, controlling the odor purification device to enter the next target operating cycle.

[0084] For example, the idle time is inversely proportional to the operating cycle. When the gas sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level A, it indicates that there is basically no odor inside the refrigerator. The odor purification device operates according to the above-mentioned level A rule, and enters an idle state after running for T1 cycles. If the idle state lasts for K1 hours and the sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level A, it continues to operate according to the same rule. The advantage of this mode is that it can prevent the odor purification device from still turning on at intervals of K1 hours to remove odors even if the odor sensor cannot detect certain food odors or the sensor malfunctions. When the sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level B, it indicates that there is a slight odor inside the refrigerator. The odor purification device operates according to the above-mentioned level B rule, and enters an idle state after running for T2 cycles. If the idle state lasts for K2 hours and the sensor detects that the refrigerator is at level B, it continues to operate according to the same rule. The advantage of this mode is that when a slight odor is detected in the refrigerator (with the storage compartment volume as the baseline volume), the odor purification device operates on a cycle of t2 seconds and then (60-t2) seconds. This achieves odor removal while preventing over-operation and excessive ozone production. The idle time K2 is to prevent gas sensor malfunctions from misinterpreting the odor as a Class B odor, causing the odor purification device to activate and resulting in excessive ozone levels. Furthermore, research shows that ozone generated by the odor purification device during Class B operation is completely degraded within the K2 time. Afterward, activating the odor purification device will not pose a risk of excessive ozone levels. Similarly, the principle and advantages of the Class C operating rule are the same. Compared to the Class B operating rule, this operating rule provides a stronger odor removal effect under Class C odor conditions, eliminating odors in a shorter time while controlling ozone levels. The sensor monitors the odor situation inside the refrigerator in real time. When it is determined to be at level A, the odor purification device is controlled to operate according to rule A. If the sensor detects an odor of level B or C, the odor purification device is immediately controlled to operate according to rule B or C. However, the prerequisite is that the sensor outputs a signal every second. When the odor level changes, the odor purification device will only switch its operating rule if it continuously outputs the level change for 10 seconds. (For example, if the sensor detects that the odor level changes from A to B at time t, the odor purification device will only switch its operating rule from A to B if it is still at level B after t+10 seconds.)

[0085] Compared to existing technologies, the refrigerator odor purification method disclosed in this invention involves installing an odor purification device in the storage compartment to purify odor gases within the refrigerator. During this process, different odor levels correspond to different operating modes of the odor purification device, allowing for targeted odor purification based on the odor concentration in the storage compartment, achieving a superior odor purification effect. Furthermore, by simultaneously acquiring the volume of the refrigerator's storage compartment and adjusting the operating mode accordingly, the odor purification logic is better suited to the specific storage compartment, resulting in a more effective odor removal and improved user experience.

[0086] The above description represents the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A box, in which a storage room is formed, the storage room including at least a cold storage room; A gas sensor, installed in the storage room, is used to detect the concentration of odorous gases in the storage room; An odor purification device is installed in the storage room to purify odorous gases in the storage room. The controller is configured as follows: Obtain the real-time concentration of odorous gas in the current storage room as detected by the gas sensor; The target odor level is found among several preset odor levels based on the real-time odor gas concentration, and the target operating mode of the odor purification device is obtained based on the target odor level; wherein, each odor level corresponds to an operating mode of the odor purification device. Obtain the current volume of the storage room; Adjust the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode according to the volume, and control the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters; Wherein, the adjustable parameter is the operating cycle of the odor purification device; therefore, adjusting the adjustable parameter in the target operating mode according to the volume includes: Calculate the volume difference between the stated volume and the preset reference volume; wherein the reference volume corresponds to several reference operating cycles with different odor levels; The corresponding cycle adjustment parameter is obtained based on the volume difference, and the cycle adjustment parameter is superimposed on the benchmark operating cycle to obtain the target operating cycle as the adjusted adjustable parameter.

2. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The parameters in the operating mode include the operating cycle and idle time of the odor purification device; therefore, controlling the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters includes: After the odor purification device completes one target operating cycle, the device is controlled to stop and enter an idle state. When the duration of the idle state is detected to have reached the specified idle time, the odor purification device is controlled to enter the next target operating cycle.

3. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The periodic adjustment parameter is directly proportional to the volume difference.

4. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The odor levels are divided into low odor level, medium odor level and high odor level according to the concentration from low to high. The operating cycle of the low odor level is shorter than that of the medium odor level, and the operating cycle of the medium odor level is shorter than that of the high odor level. One operating cycle includes a preset start-up time and a shutdown time.

5. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The odor purification device is an ion generator.

6. A method for purifying refrigerator odors, characterized in that, The refrigerator is equipped with an odor purification device for purifying odor gases in the storage compartment, and a gas sensor for detecting the concentration of odor gases in the storage compartment; therefore, the refrigerator odor purification method includes: Obtain the real-time concentration of odorous gas in the current storage room as detected by the gas sensor; The target odor level is found among several preset odor levels based on the real-time odor gas concentration, and the target operating mode of the odor purification device is obtained based on the target odor level; wherein, each odor level corresponds to an operating mode of the odor purification device. Obtain the current volume of the storage room; Adjust the adjustable parameters in the target operating mode according to the volume, and control the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters; Wherein, the adjustable parameter is the operating cycle of the odor purification device; therefore, adjusting the adjustable parameter in the target operating mode according to the volume includes: Calculate the volume difference between the stated volume and the preset reference volume; wherein the reference volume corresponds to several reference operating cycles with different odor levels; The corresponding cycle adjustment parameter is obtained based on the volume difference, and the cycle adjustment parameter is superimposed on the benchmark operating cycle to obtain the target operating cycle as the adjusted adjustable parameter.

7. The refrigerator odor purification method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The parameters in the operating mode include the operating cycle and idle time of the odor purification device; therefore, controlling the operation of the odor purification device based on the adjusted adjustable parameters includes: After the odor purification device completes one target operating cycle, the device is controlled to stop and enter an idle state. When the duration of the idle state is detected to have reached the specified idle time, the odor purification device is controlled to enter the next target operating cycle.

8. The refrigerator odor purification method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The periodic adjustment parameter is directly proportional to the volume difference.

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