Refrigerator and refrigerator full ice detection method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a refrigerator and a method for detecting a full ice condition in a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an ice maker; an ice storage bin provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a signal transceiver, and a vibration motor; and a controller configured to: after the ice maker starts making ice, detect an electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and determine the intensity range of the electrical signal; when the electrical signal is within a first intensity range, obtain a signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits a signal; when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, control the vibration motor to vibrate using a first control parameter until the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold; when the electrical signal is within a second intensity range, control the vibration motor to vibrate using a second control parameter; and when the electrical signal is within a third intensity range, determine that the ice storage bin is full of ice and control the ice maker to stop making ice. The present invention can effectively prevent misjudgments and improve the accuracy of ice storage bin full detection results.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigerator ice making, and in particular to a refrigerator and a method for detecting when the refrigerator is full of ice. Background Art

[0002] A refrigerator is a household appliance that uses a freezing cycle system to store food. The refrigerator may be equipped with an ice maker that uses cold air to generate ice cubes and discharges the generated ice cubes into an ice storage box for storage. The ice maker can continue to generate ice cubes until the ice storage box is full of ice cubes.

[0003] In order to determine whether the ice storage box is full of ice cubes, that is, whether the ice storage box is in an ice-full state, the traditional ice-full detection method is to use an ice detection rod for detection. When there is no ice cubes in the ice storage box, the ice detection rod is in the initial position; when the ice storage box is full of ice, the ice detection rod is driven to rise, and the main control board detects this signal and determines that the ice storage box is in an ice-full state, and the ice maker stops making ice; when the ice cubes in the ice storage box are taken out, the ice detection rod is driven to fall until it returns to the initial position.

[0004] However, the traditional ice detection rod has the problem of unsuccessful resetting, or when the ice cubes in the ice storage box are unevenly distributed, the position of the ice detection rod cannot accurately reflect whether the ice storage box is full of ice cubes. These problems will cause misjudgment, resulting in inaccurate ice storage box ice full detection results. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a method for detecting whether a refrigerator is full of ice, which can effectively prevent misjudgment and improve the accuracy of the detection result of whether an ice storage box is full of ice.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising:

[0007] Ice maker, for producing ice cubes;

[0008] An ice storage box is used to store ice cubes generated by the ice maker. A positive electrode and a negative electrode are provided at two opposite upper edges of the ice storage box. A signal transceiver is also provided at one of the upper edges. A vibration motor is provided at the bottom of the ice storage box.

[0009] Controller for:

[0010] After the ice maker starts making ice, the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is detected, and the intensity range of the electrical signal is determined;

[0011] When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtaining the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is no less than the preset time threshold, and re-detecting the electrical signal to determine the intensity range within which the electrical signal is located;

[0012] When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second control parameter, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0013] When the electrical signal is within a third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage bin is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice.

[0014] Furthermore, the controller obtains the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controls the vibration motor to vibrate with the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than the preset time threshold, and controls the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold, specifically including:

[0015] Controlling the signal transceiver to transmit a signal from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, or from the negative electrode to the positive electrode;

[0016] Obtain the signal return time based on the return signal corresponding to the received transmission signal;

[0017] Determine whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold;

[0018] If so, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter, the signal return time is re-acquired after the vibration, and it is determined whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the determination result;

[0019] If not, the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating.

[0020] Furthermore, the second intensity range includes a first intensity interval and a second intensity interval, and the second control parameters include a first group of parameters and a second group of parameters;

[0021] Then, when the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the controller controls the vibration motor to vibrate with the second control parameter, and re-detects the electrical signal after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, specifically including:

[0022] When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate using the first set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0023] When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal.

[0024] Furthermore, the controller is further configured to:

[0025] A flag bit is set with an initial value of 0, and after each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the value of the flag bit is increased by 1, so that before each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the first set of parameters are adjusted according to the current value of the flag bit, and the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the adjusted first set of parameters.

[0026] Furthermore, the first set of parameters includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations. The larger the value of the flag bit is, the lower the vibration frequency is, the smaller the vibration amplitude is, and the fewer the number of vibrations is.

[0027] Furthermore, the first control parameter includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the second control parameter includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations; the vibration frequency in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration frequency in the second control parameter, and the vibration amplitude in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration amplitude in the second control parameter.

[0028] Furthermore, the signal strength of the electrical signal within the first intensity range is smaller than the signal strength of the electrical signal within the second intensity range, and the signal strength of the electrical signal within the second intensity range is smaller than the signal strength of the electrical signal within the third intensity range.

[0029] Furthermore, the signal transceiver is at least one of a laser signal transceiver, a radar signal transceiver or a lidar device; the preset time threshold is the signal return time corresponding to the signal transceiver receiving the return signal after transmitting the signal without encountering any obstacles.

[0030] Furthermore, the refrigerator further comprises:

[0031] an alarm, electrically connected to the controller;

[0032] Then, after determining that the ice storage box is full of ice, the controller is further configured to:

[0033] Control the alarm to sound an alarm.

[0034] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for detecting when a refrigerator is full of ice, which is applicable to any of the above refrigerators. The method is executed by the controller and includes:

[0035] After the ice maker starts making ice, the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is detected, and the intensity range of the electrical signal is determined;

[0036] When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtaining the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is no less than the preset time threshold, and re-detecting the electrical signal to determine the intensity range within which the electrical signal is located;

[0037] When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second control parameter, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0038] When the electrical signal is within a third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage bin is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice.

[0039] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator and a method for detecting when the refrigerator is full of ice, wherein the ice maker is used to generate ice cubes; the ice storage box is used to store the ice cubes generated by the ice maker, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are provided at two opposite upper edges of the ice storage box, a signal transceiver is further provided at one of the upper edges, and a vibration motor is provided at the bottom of the ice storage box; the controller is used to: after the ice maker starts making ice, detect the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and determine the intensity range of the electrical signal; when the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtain the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, and When the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter, until the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold, the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating, and the electrical signal is re-detected to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal; when the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second control parameter, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal; when the electrical signal is within the third intensity range, it is determined that the ice storage box is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice; thereby, it can effectively prevent misjudgment and improve the accuracy of the ice storage box full ice detection result. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an ice maker of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the top view of the ice maker and ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 5 This is a side structural diagram of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 6 This is a control circuit structure diagram of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 8 is another working flow diagram of a refrigerator controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 9 This is an example workflow diagram of a refrigerator controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 10 The present invention provides a flowchart of a method for detecting whether a refrigerator is full of ice. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this technical field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] See also Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an ice maker of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator includes an ice maker, which is used to generate ice cubes. A water valve is provided inside the ice maker, and a controller controls the opening and closing of the water valve. When the water valve is opened, water flows into the interior of the ice maker through the water valve, and the ice maker generates ice cubes based on the water.

[0052] Combine Figures 2 to 5 As shown, Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic top view of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 : is a side view of the structure of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention; the refrigerator further includes an ice storage box (such as Figure 3 As shown, the ice storage box is located below the ice maker), the ice storage box is used to store ice cubes generated by the ice maker; positive electrodes and negative electrodes are respectively provided at the front and rear upper edges of the ice storage box. Figure 2 As shown, the positive electrode is set on the upper edge of the left side of the ice storage box, and the negative electrode is set on the upper edge of the right side of the ice storage box). Ice cubes are conductors. When the ice storage box is full of ice cubes, an electrical circuit is formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. By detecting the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, it is possible to determine whether the ice storage box is full of ice, and then an alarm is issued.

[0053] A signal transceiver (such as a Figure 4 As shown, the signal transceiver is arranged on the upper edge where the positive electrode is located, and can also be arranged on the upper edge where the negative electrode is located, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present invention). The signal transceiver is used to transmit a signal from one electrode to the other electrode and receive a return signal reflected from the other electrode, so as to determine whether there is an ice protrusion between the two electrodes based on the signal return time.

[0054] A vibration motor is also provided at the bottom of the ice storage box. The vibration motor is controlled by a controller to vibrate, which can drive the ice storage box to shake, so that the ice cubes in the ice storage box are evenly distributed.

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, the refrigerator further includes a controller. In a specific implementation, the controller is used to:

[0056] After the ice maker starts making ice, the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is detected, and the intensity range of the electrical signal is determined;

[0057] When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtaining the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is no less than the preset time threshold, and re-detecting the electrical signal to determine the intensity range within which the electrical signal is located;

[0058] When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second control parameter, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0059] When the electrical signal is within a third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage bin is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice.

[0060] See also Figure 6As shown, this is a control circuit structure diagram of an ice maker and an ice storage box of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are electrically connected through a controller, so that the controller can obtain the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode through detection; the signal transceiver is electrically connected to the controller, so that the controller can obtain the signal return time through the signal transceiver; the vibration motor is electrically connected to the controller, so that the controller can output a control signal to the vibration motor to control the vibration motor to vibrate or stop vibrating.

[0061] It should be noted that the positive electrode and the negative electrode can be regarded as a parallel structure of countless electrodes. According to Ampere's law, the electric signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is the sum of the electric signals generated by each parallel branch; when the ice storage box is full of ice, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are fully conductive, and the signal strength of the electric signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is the largest; when there are ice cubes in the ice storage box and it is not full, assuming that the ice cubes in the ice storage box are unevenly distributed, and some ice cubes protrude from the ice storage box, a certain electric signal will also be generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, but the signal strength of the electric signal is relatively small; when there are ice cubes in the ice storage box and it is not full, assuming that all the ice cubes in the ice storage box do not protrude from the ice storage box, there is basically no electric signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. An electrical signal will be generated, or if there is ice protruding from the ice storage box near one electrode and no ice protruding from the ice storage box near the other electrode, a short circuit will be caused and no electrical signal will be detected. At this time, the signal strength of the corresponding electrical signal is the smallest. Therefore, different electrical signals corresponding to different ice conditions in the ice storage box can be obtained in advance through experimental tests, and the signal strength can be divided into levels according to the signal strength of different electrical signals (for example, the intensity level corresponding to the above-mentioned "maximum signal strength" is set to level A, the intensity level corresponding to the above-mentioned "low signal strength" is set to level B, and the intensity level corresponding to the above-mentioned "minimum signal strength" is set to level C, C<B<A), and different intensity levels correspond to different intensity ranges.

[0062] The electrical signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode may be a current signal, a voltage signal, or an electrical signal generated by an oscillation circuit composed of capacitors, which is not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Combine Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a controller of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The specific working process of the controller is as follows: After the ice maker starts making ice ( Figure 7 In step S11, the controller detects in real time the electrical signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode ( Figure 7 After each detection, the intensity range of the electric signal is determined according to the signal strength of the electric signal ( Figure 7Step S13 is shown); when it is determined that the signal strength of the electrical signal is within the first strength range, the signal return time corresponding to the completion of the signal transmission and reception by the signal transceiver is obtained, and it is further determined whether the obtained signal return time is less than a preset time threshold. When it is determined that the obtained signal return time is less than the preset time threshold, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter, and the vibration motor is controlled at least once with the first control parameter until the obtained signal return time is greater than or equal to the preset time threshold, and the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating ( Figure 7 As shown in step S14, during this process, the ice maker continues to make ice, re-detects the electrical signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and re-determines the intensity range of the signal intensity of the obtained electrical signal (i.e., returns to Figure 7 Step S12 shown, and executing subsequent steps accordingly); when it is determined that the signal strength of the electrical signal is within the second strength range, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate with the second control parameter ( Figure 7 As shown in step S15), after the vibration motor vibrates, the electric signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is re-detected, and the intensity range of the signal intensity of the obtained electric signal is re-determined (i.e., returning to Figure 7 When the signal strength of the electric signal is determined to be within the third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage box is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice ( Figure 7 (shown as step S16).

[0064] A refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention provides a positive electrode and a negative electrode at the upper edge of an ice storage box. A controller can determine whether the ice storage box is full of ice by detecting an electrical signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, thereby determining whether the ice storage box is full of ice. A vibration motor is further installed at the bottom of the ice storage box, and a signal transceiver is further installed at the upper edge of the ice storage box. Based on the detected signal strength and the signal return time obtained by the signal transceiver, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate accordingly to shake the ice storage box, so that the ice cubes in the ice storage box are evenly distributed, which can effectively prevent misjudgment and achieve a true ice-full state, thereby improving the accuracy of the ice storage box ice-full detection result.

[0065] As an improvement to the above solution, the signal strength of the electrical signal in the first intensity range is smaller than the signal strength of the electrical signal in the second intensity range, and the signal strength of the electrical signal in the second intensity range is smaller than the signal strength of the electrical signal in the third intensity range.

[0066] Specifically, in combination with the above embodiments, the controller divides the signal strength into levels according to the signal strength of different electrical signals, and different strength levels correspond to different strength ranges. In the embodiment, a total of three strength ranges are divided, specifically including a first strength range, a second strength range and a third strength range, wherein the signal strength of the electrical signal in the first strength range is less than the signal strength of the electrical signal in the second strength range, and the signal strength of the electrical signal in the second strength range is less than the signal strength of the electrical signal in the third strength range.

[0067] For example, in combination with the above-mentioned intensity levels A, B and C, the first intensity range corresponds to the signal strength below level C, the second intensity range corresponds to the signal strength between level C and level A (including level B), and the third intensity range corresponds to the signal strength above level A.

[0068] It is understandable that the level and intensity range of the signal strength of the electrical signal can be set according to actual needs and are not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] As an improvement to the above scheme, the first control parameters include vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the second control parameters include vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations; the vibration frequency in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration frequency in the second control parameter, and the vibration amplitude in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration amplitude in the second control parameter.

[0070] Specifically, in combination with the above embodiments, when the controller controls the vibration motor, different control parameters are set to control the vibration motor based on the signal strength of the electrical signal being in different intensity ranges; wherein, the first control parameter specifically includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the second control parameter specifically includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the vibration frequency in the first control parameter is set to be greater than the vibration frequency in the second control parameter, and the vibration amplitude in the first control parameter is set to be greater than the vibration amplitude in the second control parameter; in addition, the number of vibrations in the first control parameter can also be set to be greater than the number of vibrations in the second control parameter.

[0071] It can be understood that, under the premise that the signal strength of the electrical signal is within the first intensity range (the signal strength is relatively small), the controller controls the vibration motor with the first control parameter. In order to evenly distribute the ice cubes in the ice storage box as quickly as possible, a larger vibration frequency and / or a larger vibration amplitude and / or a larger number of vibrations can be set. At this time, there are fewer ice cubes in the ice storage box and the ice cubes will not be shaken out; under the premise that the signal strength of the electrical signal is within the second intensity range (the signal strength is relatively large), the controller controls the vibration motor with the second control parameter. At this time, there are more ice cubes in the ice storage box. In order to prevent the ice cubes in the ice storage box from being shaken out, a smaller vibration frequency and / or a smaller vibration amplitude and / or a smaller number of vibrations can be set.

[0072] It should be noted that the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations included in the first control parameter and the second control parameter can all be obtained based on experimental tests, that is, the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations required to make the ice cubes in the ice storage box evenly distributed under different ice fullness levels are tested respectively, so as to set the first control parameter and the second control parameter accordingly, and the vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations included in the first control parameter and the second control parameter are not fixed and can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0073] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller obtains the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controls the vibration motor to vibrate with the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than the preset time threshold, and controls the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold, specifically including:

[0074] Controlling the signal transceiver to transmit a signal from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, or from the negative electrode to the positive electrode;

[0075] Obtain the signal return time based on the return signal corresponding to the received transmission signal;

[0076] Determine whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold;

[0077] If so, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter, the signal return time is re-acquired after the vibration, and it is determined whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the determination result;

[0078] If not, the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating.

[0079] Combine Figure 8 FIG. 1 is another working flow chart of a refrigerator controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Based on the above embodiment, the controller performs Figure 7In step S14 shown in FIG, the specific working process is as follows: First, the control signal transceiver transmits a signal from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, or transmits a signal from the negative electrode to the positive electrode ( Figure 8 The specific signal transmission direction is determined by the position of the signal transceiver. If the signal transceiver is on the same side as the positive electrode, the signal transceiver is controlled to transmit the signal from the positive electrode to the negative electrode and receive the return signal reflected by the negative electrode. If the signal transceiver is on the same side as the negative electrode, the signal transceiver is controlled to transmit the signal from the negative electrode to the positive electrode and receive the return signal reflected by the positive electrode. Then, according to the return signal corresponding to the transmitted signal received by the signal transceiver, the corresponding signal return time ( Figure 8 Step S142 is shown), and it is determined whether the obtained signal return time is less than a preset time threshold ( Figure 8 Step S143 shown); when it is determined that the obtained signal return time is less than the preset time threshold, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter ( Figure 8 After the vibration motor vibrates, the control signal transceiver transmits the signal again to obtain the corresponding signal return time, and re-judges whether the signal return time is less than the preset time threshold, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate (i.e., return to normal state) according to the judgment result. Figure 8 Step S141 is shown, and subsequent steps are executed accordingly); when it is determined that the obtained signal return time is greater than or equal to the preset time threshold, the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating ( Figure 8 Step S145 is shown).

[0080] As an improvement to the above solution, the signal transceiver is at least one of a laser signal transceiver, a radar signal transceiver or a lidar device; the preset time threshold is the signal return time corresponding to the signal transceiver receiving the return signal after transmitting the signal without encountering any obstacles.

[0081] Specifically, in combination with the above embodiments, the signal transceiver used can be a laser signal transceiver, a radar signal transceiver, a laser radar device, or other devices with signal transceiver functions, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0082] It can be understood that the signal transceiver first transmits a signal, and after encountering an obstacle, the signal is reflected to generate a return signal. Based on the transmitted signal and the received return signal, the signal return time can be calculated accordingly, and the presence of an obstacle can be determined based on the signal return time. In the ice storage box, the signal transceiver transmits a signal from one electrode to the other. If there is no ice protruding between the positive electrode and the negative electrode (equivalent to no obstacle), the transmitted signal will be reflected by the electrode, and the corresponding signal return time is set to T. If there is ice protruding between the positive electrode and the negative electrode (equivalent to an obstacle), the transmitted signal will be reflected by the ice, and the corresponding signal return time is set to T'. Since the ice acts as an obstacle and is located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the signal will be reflected first when encountering an obstacle, and the corresponding signal return time is shorter than when there is no obstacle. The signal will be reflected later when there is no obstacle, and the corresponding signal return time is the longest. Therefore, T'<T.

[0083] It can be seen from this that the preset time threshold can be set to the signal return time T corresponding to the signal transceiver receiving the return signal after transmitting the signal without encountering any obstacles. The control right compares the obtained signal return time t with the preset time threshold T after each signal return time t is obtained, and it can be determined whether there is ice protruding between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, thereby deciding whether to control the vibration motor to vibrate.

[0084] As an improvement to the above solution, the second intensity range includes a first intensity interval and a second intensity interval, and the second control parameters include a first group of parameters and a second group of parameters;

[0085] Then, when the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the controller controls the vibration motor to vibrate with the second control parameter, and re-detects the electrical signal after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, specifically including:

[0086] When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate using the first set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0087] When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal.

[0088] Specifically, in combination with the above embodiment, since the second intensity range corresponds to the signal strength between level C and level A, including level B, the second intensity range can be subdivided into the first intensity interval and the second intensity interval in combination with the level B signal strength. Accordingly, the second control parameter is also divided into the first group of parameters and the second group of parameters. Then, the controller performs Figure 7 In step S15 shown, the intensity range of the signal strength of the currently obtained electric signal can be further determined. When it is determined that the signal strength of the electric signal is within the first intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters. After the vibration motor vibrates, the electric signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is re-detected, and the intensity range of the signal strength of the obtained electric signal is re-determined to determine whether to continue controlling the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electric signal; when it is determined that the electric signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second set of parameters. After the vibration motor vibrates, the electric signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is re-detected, and the intensity range of the signal strength of the obtained electric signal is re-determined to determine whether to continue controlling the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electric signal.

[0089] For example, in combination with the above-mentioned intensity levels A, B and C, the first intensity range corresponds to the signal strength below level C, the first intensity interval in the second intensity range corresponds to the signal strength between level C and level B, the second intensity interval in the second intensity range corresponds to the signal strength between level B and level A, and the third intensity range corresponds to the signal strength above level A.

[0090] It can be understood that the first group of parameters also includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the second group of parameters also includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the vibration frequency in the first group of parameters is set to be greater than the vibration frequency in the second group of parameters, and the vibration amplitude in the first group of parameters is set to be greater than the vibration amplitude in the second group of parameters; in addition, the number of vibrations in the first group of parameters can also be set to be greater than the number of vibrations in the second group of parameters.

[0091] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller is further configured to:

[0092] A flag bit is set with an initial value of 0, and after each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the value of the flag bit is increased by 1, so that before each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the first set of parameters are adjusted according to the current value of the flag bit, and the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the adjusted first set of parameters.

[0093] Specifically, in combination with the above embodiment, a flag bit with an initial value of 0 can be pre-set in the controller. After each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the value of the flag bit is increased by 1. On this basis, before each time the controller controls the vibration motor to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the controller can first adjust the current first set of parameters according to the current value of the flag bit, and then control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the adjusted first set of parameters.

[0094] It can be understood that during the cyclic control of the vibration motor, the larger the value of the flag bit, the closer the ice storage box is to a full ice state. At this time, the vibration frequency and / or vibration amplitude and / or number of vibrations can be adjusted accordingly according to the current flag bit value.

[0095] It should be noted that when the vibration motor is controlled with the first set of parameters, the control scheme of setting the flag bit and adjusting the first set of parameters according to the value of the flag bit adopted in this embodiment is also applicable to controlling the vibration motor with the first control parameters and controlling the vibration motor with the second set of parameters. The specific control scheme principles are the same and will not be repeated here.

[0096] As an improvement to the above solution, the first set of parameters includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations. The larger the value of the flag bit is, the lower the vibration frequency is, the smaller the vibration amplitude is, and the fewer the number of vibrations is.

[0097] Specifically, in combination with the above embodiment, the larger the value of the flag bit is, the closer the ice storage box is to a full ice state. In order to prevent the ice cubes in the ice storage box from being shaken out, the control parameters required by the vibration motor are also smaller. Therefore, the larger the value of the flag bit is, the lower the vibration frequency can be set, the smaller the vibration amplitude is, and the fewer the number of vibrations is.

[0098] As an improvement to the above solution, the refrigerator further includes:

[0099] an alarm, electrically connected to the controller;

[0100] Then, after determining that the ice storage box is full of ice, the controller is further configured to:

[0101] Control the alarm to sound an alarm.

[0102] Combine Figure 6 As shown, the refrigerator further includes an alarm, which is electrically connected to the controller so that the controller can control the alarm to sound an alarm after determining that the ice storage box is full of ice, to prompt the user to take ice.

[0103] It should be noted that after determining that the ice storage box is full of ice, the controller can generate a corresponding control signal and send the control signal to the alarm to control the alarm to start the alarm according to the control signal; wherein the alarm can be a sound alarm, a light alarm, or other types of alarms, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0104] See also Figure 9 FIG. 1 is an example workflow diagram of a refrigerator controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention. In combination with all the above embodiments, the control process is specifically as follows:

[0105] Step S21, controlling the ice maker to start making ice;

[0106] Step S22: detecting the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and recording the signal strength of the detected electrical signal as D;

[0107] Step S23: determine whether the signal strength D is less than strength level C;

[0108] Step S24: If yes (ie, D < C), the signal return time is obtained by controlling the signal transceiver, and the signal return time is recorded as t;

[0109] Step S25: determine whether the signal return time t is less than a preset time threshold T;

[0110] Step S26: If yes (i.e., t<T), control the vibration motor to vibrate n1 times (based on the first control parameter, for example, n1=4), and jump to step S24;

[0111] Step S27: If not (i.e., t≥T), the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating, and the ice maker continues to make ice, and the process jumps to step S22;

[0112] Step S28: If not (i.e., D ≥ C), determine whether the signal strength D is less than strength level B;

[0113] Step S29: If yes (i.e., C≤D<B), control the vibration motor to vibrate n2 times (based on the first set of parameters, for example, n2=3), and jump to step S22;

[0114] Step S30: If not (i.e., D≥B), determine whether the signal strength D is less than strength level A;

[0115] Step S31: If yes (i.e., B≤D<A), control the vibration motor to vibrate n3 times (based on the second set of parameters, for example, n2=2), and jump to step S22;

[0116] Step S32: If not (ie, D≥A), it is determined that the ice storage box is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice.

[0117] The present invention also provides a method for detecting that a refrigerator is full of ice. Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for detecting a full ice condition in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method is applicable to the refrigerator according to any of the above embodiments. The method is executed by the controller and includes steps S101 to S104.

[0118] Step S101: After the ice maker starts making ice, detect the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and determine the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0119] Step S102: When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtaining a signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using a first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, and controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold, and re-detecting the electrical signal to determine the intensity range within which the electrical signal is located;

[0120] Step S103: When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate with the second control parameter, and re-detecting the electrical signal after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0121] Step S104: When the electrical signal is within a third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage box is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice.

[0122] In some embodiments, obtaining a signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits a signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using a first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, and controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold, specifically includes:

[0123] Controlling the signal transceiver to transmit a signal from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, or from the negative electrode to the positive electrode;

[0124] Obtain the signal return time based on the return signal corresponding to the received transmission signal;

[0125] Determine whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold;

[0126] If so, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter, the signal return time is re-acquired after the vibration, and it is determined whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the determination result;

[0127] If not, the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating.

[0128] In some embodiments, the second intensity range includes a first intensity interval and a second intensity interval, and the second control parameters include a first set of parameters and a second set of parameters;

[0129] Then, when the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate with the second control parameter, and re-detecting the electrical signal after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, specifically includes:

[0130] When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate using the first set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal;

[0131] When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal.

[0132] In some embodiments, during the process of controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using the first set of parameters, the method further includes:

[0133] A flag bit is set with an initial value of 0, and after each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the value of the flag bit is increased by 1, so that before each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the first set of parameters are adjusted according to the current value of the flag bit, and the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the adjusted first set of parameters.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first set of parameters includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, and number of vibrations. The larger the value of the flag bit is, the lower the vibration frequency is, the smaller the vibration amplitude is, and the fewer the number of vibrations is.

[0135] In some embodiments, the first control parameter includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations, and the second control parameter includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and number of vibrations; the vibration frequency in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration frequency in the second control parameter, and the vibration amplitude in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration amplitude in the second control parameter.

[0136] In some embodiments, the signal strength of the electrical signal within the first intensity range is less than the signal strength of the electrical signal within the second intensity range, and the signal strength of the electrical signal within the second intensity range is less than the signal strength of the electrical signal within the third intensity range.

[0137] In some embodiments, the signal transceiver is at least one of a laser signal transceiver, a radar signal transceiver or a lidar device; the preset time threshold is the signal return time corresponding to the signal transceiver receiving the return signal after transmitting the signal without encountering any obstacles.

[0138] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further comprises:

[0139] an alarm, electrically connected to the controller;

[0140] Then, after determining that the ice storage box is full of ice, the method further includes:

[0141] Control the alarm to sound an alarm.

[0142] It should be noted that the refrigerator full ice detection method provided in the embodiment of the present invention can realize all the working processes of the refrigerator described in any of the above embodiments. The specific implementation plan and the technical effects achieved corresponding to the method are respectively the same as the specific implementation plan and the technical effects achieved of the refrigerator described in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0143] In summary, the embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator and a method for detecting whether the refrigerator is full of ice. By arranging a positive electrode and a negative electrode at the upper edge of the ice storage box, the controller can judge whether the ice storage box is full of ice based on the electrical signal generated between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, thereby determining whether the ice storage box is full of ice. By further arranging a vibration motor at the bottom of the ice storage box and further arranging a signal transceiver at the upper edge of the ice storage box, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate accordingly based on the detected signal strength and the signal return time obtained by the signal transceiver to shake the ice storage box, so that the ice cubes in the ice storage box are evenly distributed, which can effectively prevent misjudgment and achieve a true ice-full state, thereby improving the accuracy of the ice storage box ice-full detection result.

[0144] The above are only some embodiments of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that: include: Ice maker, for producing ice cubes; An ice storage box is used to store ice cubes generated by the ice maker. A positive electrode and a negative electrode are provided at two opposite upper edges of the ice storage box. A signal transceiver is also provided at one of the upper edges. A vibration motor is provided at the bottom of the ice storage box. Controller for: After the ice maker starts making ice, the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is detected, and the intensity range of the electrical signal is determined; When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtaining the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is no less than the preset time threshold, and re-detecting the electrical signal to determine the intensity range within which the electrical signal is located; When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second control parameter, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal; When the electrical signal is within a third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage bin is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice; The signal strength of the electrical signal within the first intensity range is less than the signal strength of the electrical signal within the second intensity range, and the signal strength of the electrical signal within the second intensity range is less than the signal strength of the electrical signal within the third intensity range; The preset time threshold is the signal return time corresponding to the signal transceiver receiving the return signal after transmitting the signal under the condition that no obstacles are encountered; The first control parameters include vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and vibration times, and the second control parameters include vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and vibration times; The vibration frequency in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration frequency in the second control parameter, and the vibration amplitude in the first control parameter is greater than the vibration amplitude in the second control parameter.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The controller obtains a signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits a signal, controls the vibration motor to vibrate using a first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, and controls the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is not less than the preset time threshold, specifically including: Controlling the signal transceiver to transmit a signal from the positive electrode to the negative electrode, or from the negative electrode to the positive electrode; Obtain the signal return time based on the return signal corresponding to the received transmission signal; Determine whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold; If so, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first control parameter, the signal return time is re-acquired after the vibration, and it is determined whether the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the determination result; If not, the vibration motor is controlled to stop vibrating.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The second intensity range includes a first intensity interval and a second intensity interval, and the second control parameters include a first group of parameters and a second group of parameters; Then, when the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the controller controls the vibration motor to vibrate with the second control parameter, and re-detects the electrical signal after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, specifically including: When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate using the first set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal; When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second set of parameters, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal, so as to determine whether to continue to control the vibration motor to vibrate according to the intensity range of the electrical signal.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein The controller is further configured to: A flag bit is set with an initial value of 0, and after each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the value of the flag bit is increased by 1, so that before each time the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the first set of parameters, the first set of parameters are adjusted according to the current value of the flag bit, and the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the adjusted first set of parameters.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein: The first group of parameters includes vibration frequency, vibration amplitude and vibration times. The larger the value of the flag bit is, the lower the vibration frequency is, the smaller the vibration amplitude is, and the fewer the vibration times are.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The signal transceiver is at least one of a laser signal transceiver, a radar signal transceiver or a laser radar device.

7. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The refrigerator further comprises: an alarm, electrically connected to the controller; Then, after determining that the ice storage box is full of ice, the controller is further configured to: Control the alarm to sound an alarm.

8. A method for detecting whether a refrigerator is full of ice, characterized in that: Applicable to the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method is executed by the controller, and the method includes: After the ice maker starts making ice, the electrical signal between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is detected, and the intensity range of the electrical signal is determined; When the electrical signal is within the first intensity range, obtaining the signal return time after the signal transceiver transmits the signal, controlling the vibration motor to vibrate using the first control parameter when the signal return time is less than a preset time threshold, controlling the vibration motor to stop vibrating when the signal return time is no less than the preset time threshold, and re-detecting the electrical signal to determine the intensity range within which the electrical signal is located; When the electrical signal is within the second intensity range, the vibration motor is controlled to vibrate with the second control parameter, and the electrical signal is re-detected after the vibration to determine the intensity range of the electrical signal; When the electrical signal is within a third strength range, it is determined that the ice storage bin is full of ice, and the ice maker is controlled to stop making ice.

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