Semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system and method

Abstract

The application provides a semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system and method, the method comprising: obtaining the running state of a semiconductor refrigerating fin in a semiconductor refrigerator; detecting the ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator when the refrigerating fin is not in the running state; calculating the second compartment temperature according to the ambient temperature; obtaining the first compartment temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator; if the first compartment temperature is greater than the second compartment temperature, obtaining the starting voltage of the refrigerating fin according to the preset temperature interval to which the ambient temperature belongs, the preset temperature interval having a mapping relationship with the starting voltage of the semiconductor refrigerating fin; starting the semiconductor refrigerating fin according to the starting voltage; comparing the second compartment temperature with the first compartment temperature to obtain a comparison result; correcting the second compartment temperature through the ambient temperature, and adjusting the input voltage of the semiconductor refrigerating fin through the preset temperature interval, so as to realize accurate compartment temperature control, stabilize the input voltage of the refrigerating fin, improve the refrigeration efficiency, and reduce the problem of damage of the refrigerating fin caused by overheating in abnormal conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigeration equipment, and more particularly to a semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system and method. Background Technology

[0002] The core component of a semiconductor refrigeration refrigerator is a thermoelectric refrigeration module, which includes a heat sink, a semiconductor refrigeration chip, and a refrigeration block. The heat sink is located on the outside of the insulation layer of the refrigerator body, with the side closest to the insulation layer in close contact with the hot end of the semiconductor refrigeration chip. Cooling fans are installed around the heat sink to enhance heat exchange. Part of the refrigeration block is located on the inside of the insulation layer of the refrigerator body, while the other part of the refrigeration block penetrates the insulation layer and is in close contact with the cold end of the semiconductor refrigeration chip. Cooling fans are also installed around the refrigeration block to achieve a cooling effect inside the refrigerator body.

[0003] A thermoelectric cooler consists of P and N semiconductor particles arranged in an interlaced array, copper current-carrying strips, and a ceramic substrate, connected together by sintering and soldering processes. When the thermoelectric cooler is connected to direct current, heat will transfer from the cold end to the hot end. The cold and hot ends are relatively close, and the thermal expansion coefficients of the various materials differ greatly. Frequent temperature changes can adversely affect the reliability of the thermoelectric cooler. Therefore, the ideal operating mode for a thermoelectric cooler is stable operation, which reduces the frequency of power on and off, thereby reducing drastic temperature fluctuations between the cold and hot ends of the cooler.

[0004] In practical applications, due to the structure of the heat sink and the fan motor, sensors are placed at the hot end of the semiconductor to adjust the voltage of the cooling chip to avoid the cooling chip temperature from getting too high. This control method has obvious lag, the response speed to problems is relatively slow, it cannot accurately control the temperature, and the cooling chip is prone to damage due to overheating. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a temperature control system and method for a semiconductor refrigerator. The system corrects the temperature of the second compartment by adjusting the ambient temperature and adjusts the input voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip by setting a preset temperature range. This achieves precise temperature control of the compartment, stabilizes the input voltage of the cooling chip, improves cooling efficiency, and reduces the problem of damage to the cooling chip due to overheating in abnormal situations.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor refrigerator, comprising:

[0007] Obtain the operating status of the semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0008] When the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation, the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric refrigerator is detected.

[0009] The temperature of the second compartment is calculated based on the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the second compartment is the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0010] The temperature of the first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator is obtained in real time using a compartment temperature sensor.

[0011] If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the temperature of the second chamber, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is obtained according to the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs. The preset temperature range has a mapping relationship with the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler.

[0012] The semiconductor cooling chip is activated according to the activation voltage;

[0013] The temperature of the second compartment is compared with the temperature of the first compartment to obtain the comparison results;

[0014] The input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is set based on the comparison results.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, obtaining the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler based on a preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs includes:

[0016] Obtain the ambient temperature;

[0017] If the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature, the first start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip is obtained, and the first start-up voltage is the minimum start-up voltage.

[0018] If the ambient temperature is greater than the first preset temperature and less than or equal to the second preset temperature, obtain the second start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip;

[0019] If the ambient temperature is greater than the second preset temperature and less than or equal to the third preset temperature, obtain the third start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip;

[0020] If the ambient temperature is greater than the third preset temperature, the fourth start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip is obtained.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, setting the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler based on the comparison result includes:

[0022] If the temperature of the first compartment is greater than the temperature of the second compartment, the input voltage is set to be equal to the starting voltage;

[0023] If the temperature difference between the second chamber temperature and the first chamber temperature is less than the first preset value, the input voltage is increased to the preset voltage level within the rated time.

[0024] If the temperature difference between the second compartment temperature and the first compartment temperature is greater than or equal to the first preset value and less than or equal to the second preset value, the semiconductor cooling chip is set to maintain the current input voltage.

[0025] If the temperature difference between the second compartment and the first compartment is greater than the second preset value, the input voltage is reduced to the preset level voltage within a specified time.

[0026] In some embodiments of this application, the method further includes:

[0027] The temperature of the first room and the ambient temperature are obtained within the specified time period;

[0028] If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the first chamber temperature threshold, and / or the ambient temperature is greater than the ambient temperature threshold, the input voltage is reduced to a preset voltage level.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, the method further includes:

[0030] Obtain the temperature of the third compartment, which is the temperature of the refrigerator compartment when the semiconductor refrigerator is not in operation;

[0031] If the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the second compartment, and / or the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the third compartment, the semiconductor cooling chip is controlled to stop working.

[0032] In some embodiments of this application, the method further includes:

[0033] Obtain the operating status of the cooling fan inside the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0034] If the fan is in an abnormal operating state, the semiconductor cooling chip will be controlled to stop working.

[0035] In some embodiments of this application, the method further includes:

[0036] The rotational speed of the cooling fan is detected within a specified time.

[0037] If the speed information of the cooling fan is not detected within the rated time, the semiconductor cooling chip is controlled to stop working;

[0038] If the speed information of the cooling fan is detected within the rated time, and the speed value is greater than the speed threshold, the input voltage is reduced to the preset level voltage. The speed information includes the speed value.

[0039] Secondly, this application provides a semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system, applied to the semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to any one of claims 1-7, the system comprising: a compartment temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a semiconductor cooling chip, and a main control board, wherein the compartment temperature sensor, the ambient temperature sensor, and the semiconductor cooling chip are connected to the main control board;

[0040] The main control board is configured as follows:

[0041] Obtain the operating status of the semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0042] When the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation, the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric refrigerator is detected.

[0043] The temperature of the second compartment is calculated based on the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the second compartment is the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0044] The temperature of the first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator is obtained in real time using a compartment temperature sensor.

[0045] If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the start-up temperature, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is obtained according to the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs. The preset temperature range has a mapping relationship with the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler.

[0046] The semiconductor cooling chip is activated according to the activation voltage;

[0047] The temperature of the second compartment is compared with the temperature of the first compartment to obtain the comparison results;

[0048] The input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is set based on the comparison results.

[0049] In some embodiments of this application, the system further includes: a cooling fan and a cooling fan, wherein the cooling fan is used to blow air onto the cold end of the semiconductor cooling chip, and the cooling fan is used to blow air onto the hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip. The cooling fan is provided with a signal feedback line, and the cooling fan is connected to the main control board through the signal feedback line.

[0050] The main control board is configured as follows:

[0051] The operating status of the cooling fan is obtained through the signal feedback line;

[0052] If the fan is in an abnormal operating state, the semiconductor cooling chip will be controlled to stop working.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, the cooling fan is provided with a Hall element, which is used to detect the wind speed information of the cooling fan and send the wind speed information to the main control board in the form of a pulse signal.

[0054] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, this application provides a temperature control system and method for a semiconductor refrigerator. The method includes: acquiring the operating status of a semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator; detecting the ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator when the semiconductor cooling chip is not in operation; calculating the temperature of a second compartment based on the ambient temperature, the second compartment temperature being the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator; acquiring the temperature of a first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator in real time through a compartment temperature sensor; if the temperature of the first compartment is greater than the temperature of the second compartment, acquiring the starting voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip based on a preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs, the preset temperature range having a mapping relationship with the starting voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip; starting the semiconductor cooling chip based on the starting voltage; comparing the temperature of the second compartment with the temperature of the first compartment to obtain a comparison result; correcting the temperature of the second compartment by the ambient temperature; adjusting the input voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip by the preset temperature range to achieve precise temperature control of the compartment, ensuring stable input voltage of the cooling chip, improving cooling efficiency, and reducing the problem of damage to the cooling chip due to overheating in abnormal situations. Attached Figure Description

[0055] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0056] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method provided in this embodiment;

[0057] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system provided in this embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0058] The embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described below do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. They are merely examples of systems and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the claims.

[0059] See Figure 1 This application provides a method for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor refrigerator, comprising:

[0060] S100: Obtain the operating status of the thermoelectric cooler in the thermoelectric refrigerator and determine whether the thermoelectric cooler in the thermoelectric refrigerator is in operation.

[0061] In a semiconductor refrigerator, the thermoelectric cooler is activated when the cooling effect reaches its peak. Therefore, the thermoelectric cooler is not operational when the refrigerator is started. To provide the starting voltage to the thermoelectric cooler, it is first necessary to obtain its operating status.

[0062] The operating status of the thermoelectric cooler includes being in operation and not being in operation.

[0063] The ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator is detected when the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation.

[0064] In this embodiment, when the thermoelectric cooler is found to be in a non-operating state, the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric refrigerator can be detected by a detection device (e.g., a temperature sensor). For example, when the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation, a temperature sensor is installed outside the thermoelectric refrigerator to detect the ambient temperature.

[0065] Understandably, ambient temperature can be collected in real time, regardless of whether the semiconductor is in operation.

[0066] S200: Calculate the temperature of the second room based on the ambient temperature.

[0067] The temperature of the second compartment is the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator. In this embodiment, the start-up temperature is corrected using the ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator. Correcting the start-up temperature using the ambient temperature makes the temperature control of the compartment more accurate. Since the start-up temperature is calculated based on the ambient temperature, and since the ambient temperature is collected in real time, the start-up temperature also changes in real time according to the ambient temperature.

[0068] If the target temperature range of the chamber is 12℃±2℃, the start-up temperature can be calculated using the following formula:

[0069] Start-up temperature = 16.0 + (ambient temperature - 24) / 10

[0070] S300: The temperature of the first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator is obtained in real time through the compartment temperature sensor.

[0071] The first compartment temperature refers to the temperature of a refrigerator compartment when the refrigerator is not turned on or off. The refrigerator can have one or more compartments. One or more refrigerator compartment temperatures can be simultaneously detected by a detection device (e.g., a temperature sensor) and used as one or more first compartment temperatures. It is understood that the first compartment temperature also changes continuously.

[0072] For example, the room temperature sensor receives a detection command and detects the room temperature according to the detection command.

[0073] S400: If the temperature of the first chamber is higher than the start-up temperature, obtain the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler according to the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs.

[0074] The hot end of the thermoelectric refrigeration module of the semiconductor refrigerator is located on the outside of the cabinet, and the compartment sensor is located on the cabinet wall. It is affected by factors such as ambient temperature and the increase of input voltage of the refrigeration chip. The higher the ambient temperature, the greater the difference between the temperature at the location of the compartment sensor and the temperature of the compartment. The temperature is controlled by adjusting the difference between the temperature sensor and the target temperature. The temperature control deviation is relatively large under different ambient temperature conditions. In addition, the system is prone to intermittent operation of the refrigeration chip due to large overshoot. On the one hand, it will reduce the refrigeration efficiency, and on the other hand, the large temperature fluctuation of the refrigeration chip will affect the service life of the refrigeration chip.

[0075] Semiconductor refrigerators use a temperature control method based on the difference between the compartment temperature and the set temperature. The sensor samples at the critical value of voltage and power switching, which can easily cause large fluctuations in power and even frequent start-up and shutdown during operation.

[0076] To reduce the aforementioned phenomena in the semiconductor refrigerator, when the temperature of the first compartment is higher than the start-up temperature, the ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator is first detected, and the detected ambient temperature is preset within a temperature range. The temperature range includes multiple temperature segments, and different temperature segments are mapped to different semiconductor cooling chip start-up voltages. The preset temperature range has a mapping relationship with the start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip.

[0077] For example, the temperature range can be divided into N temperature segments, and each temperature segment can be set with a different start-up voltage. The start-up voltage can be U0, U1, U2, ..., Un. Specifically, each start-up voltage corresponds to a voltage level.

[0078] Specifically, in some embodiments, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is obtained based on a preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs, including:

[0079] Obtain the ambient temperature;

[0080] If the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature, the first start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip is obtained. The first start-up voltage is the minimum start-up voltage.

[0081] If the ambient temperature is greater than the first preset temperature and less than or equal to the second preset temperature, obtain the second start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip;

[0082] If the ambient temperature is greater than the second preset temperature and less than or equal to the third preset temperature, obtain the third start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip;

[0083] If the ambient temperature is higher than the third preset temperature, obtain the fourth start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip.

[0084] In this embodiment, the first preset temperature is 20°C, the second preset temperature is 30°C, and the third preset temperature is 35°C; the first starting voltage is 2V, i.e., the minimum starting voltage is 2V, the second starting voltage is 3V, the third starting voltage is 5V, and the fourth starting voltage is 8V.

[0085] For example, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler may include 20 levels, specifically: 2V, 2.5V, 3V, 3.5V, 4V, 4.5V, 5V, 5.5V, 6V, 6.5V, 7V, 7.5V, 8V, 8.5V, 9V, 9.5V, 10V, 10.5V, 11V, and 11.5V. The lowest start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is 2V, and the highest start-up voltage is 11.5V.

[0086] When the ambient temperature is ≤20℃, the thermoelectric cooler starts at 2V; when 20 < ambient temperature is ≤30℃, the thermoelectric cooler starts at 3V; when 30 < ambient temperature is ≤35℃, the thermoelectric cooler starts at 5V; and when the ambient temperature is >35℃, the thermoelectric cooler starts at 8V.

[0087] This application achieves rapid cooling for the refrigerator while simultaneously improving the efficiency of the thermoelectric cooler by setting different starting voltages for each ambient temperature range, resulting in stable operation and lower energy consumption. Furthermore, in practical applications, the starting voltage of the thermoelectric cooler can be set to the lowest possible value for different ambient temperatures, thereby maximizing the cooling efficiency of the thermoelectric cooler.

[0088] S500: Starts the thermoelectric cooler according to the start-up voltage.

[0089] Under high ambient temperatures, the voltage of the thermoelectric cooler increases, resulting in a significant Joule heating effect. The temperature outside the enclosure, especially at the hot end of the thermoelectric module, becomes extremely high. Due to heat conduction, the temperature at the sensor location in the compartment is higher than the actual temperature of the compartment, easily leading to excessively low compartment temperature. By setting the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler according to a preset temperature range, the temperature of the second compartment rises after correction based on the ambient temperature, thus preventing excessively low compartment temperature.

[0090] For example, if the ambient temperature is 25°C, the starting voltage is set to 3V.

[0091] S600: Compare the temperature of the second compartment with the temperature of the first compartment to obtain a comparison result.

[0092] Once the thermoelectric cooler is activated, the input voltage of the semiconductor can be adjusted by comparing the real-time temperature of the first compartment with the temperature of the second compartment.

[0093] S610: Set the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler based on the comparison results.

[0094] If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the temperature of the second chamber, set the input voltage to equal the starting voltage;

[0095] If the temperature difference between the second chamber and the first chamber is less than the first preset value, the input voltage is increased to the preset voltage level within the rated time.

[0096] If the temperature difference between the second chamber and the first chamber is greater than or equal to the first preset value and less than or equal to the second preset value, the semiconductor cooling chip is set to maintain the current input voltage.

[0097] If the temperature difference between the second chamber and the first chamber is greater than the second preset value, the input voltage will be reduced to the preset voltage level within the rated time.

[0098] In this embodiment, the input voltage level of the semiconductor is the same as the start-up voltage level. The input voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip may also include 20 levels, specifically including: 2V, 2.5V, 3V, 3.5V, 4V, 4.5V, 5V, 5.5V, 6V, 6.5V, 7V, 7.5V, 8V, 8.5V, 9V, 9.5V, 10V, 10.5V, 11V, and 11.5V.

[0099] The first preset value is 0.5℃, the second preset value is 1℃, the rated time can be 5 minutes, and the preset voltage can be any one of the 20 preset voltages. In this embodiment, the preset voltage is 1. The input voltage is reduced to the preset voltage, that is, reduced by one voltage. If the input voltage is 2.5V, the input voltage will be reduced to 2V.

[0100] For example, the temperature of the first compartment is defined as To, and the temperature of the second compartment is defined as To. If To > To, the starting voltage is 2V, and the input voltage is not changed. The refrigerator operates at 2V, meaning that the real-time temperature of the refrigerator compartment is greater than the start-up temperature corrected by the ambient temperature. If To - To < 0.5℃, the voltage level of the cooling element is increased by one level every 5 minutes. If 0.5℃ ≤ To - To ≤ 1℃, the cooling element maintains the current voltage. If To - To > 1℃, the voltage level of the cooling element is decreased by one level every 5 minutes.

[0101] In practical applications, Ton is 2°C higher than Toff. When Ton is higher than To - 0.5, the voltage of the thermoelectric cooler increases by one level every 5 minutes to increase the cooling capacity. When Ton - To is between 0.5°C and 1°C, the voltage of the thermoelectric cooler remains constant. When Ton - To is between 1°C and 1.5°C, the voltage of the thermoelectric cooler decreases by one level. Before the temperature of the first compartment reaches Toff, the voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is reduced to avoid the thermoelectric cooler from stopping working due to power-off.

[0102] In some embodiments, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler can also be jointly adjusted by the temperature of the second compartment and the ambient temperature. Exemplarily, when the refrigerator is powered on and To > Ton, and To is in temperature range 1 while the ambient temperature is also in temperature range 1, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U11; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 2, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U12; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 3, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U13, ……, when the ambient temperature is in temperature range n, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U1n.

[0103] In practical applications, when To > Ton and the ambient temperature ≤ 20°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 7V; when 20 < ambient temperature ≤ 30°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 8V; when 30 < ambient temperature ≤ 35°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 11V; when the ambient temperature > 35°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 11.5V.

[0104] When To is in temperature range 2 and the ambient temperature is in temperature range 1, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U21; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 2, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U22; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 3, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U23, ……, when the ambient temperature is in temperature range n, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U2n.

[0105] In practical applications, when Ton - 0.5°C ≤ To < Ton and the ambient temperature ≤ 20°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 5V; when 20 < ambient temperature ≤ 30°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 6V; when 30 < ambient temperature ≤ 35°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 9V; when the ambient temperature > 35°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 11V.

[0106] When To is in temperature range 3 and the ambient temperature is in temperature range 1, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U31; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 2, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U32; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 3, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U33, ……, when the ambient temperature is in temperature range n, the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is U3n.

[0107] In practical applications, when Ton - 1.0°C ≤ To < Ton - 0.5°C and the ambient temperature ≤ 20°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 3V; when 20 < ambient temperature ≤ 30°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 5V; when 30 < ambient temperature ≤ 35°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 8V; when the ambient temperature > 35°C, the thermoelectric cooler is powered by 11V.

[0108] Similarly, when To is in temperature range n, the ambient temperature is in temperature range 1, and the input voltage of the cooler is Un1; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 2, the input voltage of the cooler is Un2; when the ambient temperature is in temperature range 3, the input voltage of the cooler is Un3, ..., when the ambient temperature is in temperature range n, the input voltage of the cooler is Unn.

[0109] In practical applications, when Ton-2℃ < To < Ton-1.5℃, and the ambient temperature is ≤20℃, the cooling chip is powered by 2V; when 20℃ < ambient temperature is ≤30℃, the cooling chip is powered by 3V; when 30℃ < ambient temperature is ≤35℃, the cooling chip is powered by 5V; and when the ambient temperature is >35℃, the cooling chip is powered by 8V.

[0110] The voltage setting for the cooling element mentioned above in practical applications is related to the heat load of the refrigerator. It is based on experimental measurements to ensure that the refrigerator operates stably under optimal voltage conditions in different situations.

[0111] To avoid drastic temperature fluctuations at the cold and hot ends of the thermoelectric cooler, in some embodiments, the method further includes: calculating the temperature of the third compartment; if the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the second compartment, and / or, the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the third compartment, controlling the thermoelectric cooler to stop working.

[0112] The third compartment temperature is the shutdown temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator when it stops operating, and is defined as Toff. For example, if the real-time compartment temperature obtained by the refrigerator is lower than the temperature when the refrigerator is turned on and / or turned off, no power supply is required to the semiconductor cooling chip even if the semiconductor refrigerator is operating normally.

[0113] If the target temperature range of the compartment is 12℃±2℃, the shutdown temperature can be calculated using the following formula:

[0114] Shutdown temperature = 14.0 + (ambient temperature - 24) / 10

[0115] To reduce unstable operation of the thermoelectric cooler, an overshoot can be set. This overshoot reduces the first compartment temperature and ambient temperature from reaching critical points, thus minimizing frequent voltage and power fluctuations in the thermoelectric cooler. For example, when the refrigerator is in cooling mode, if the first compartment temperature is between 12.5℃ and 13.0℃, the cooler should operate at the fifth setting. 12.5℃ is the critical point. The compartment sensor sampling period is 0.5 seconds. If a sample shows 12.4℃, the cooler operates at the fourth setting; the next sample shows 12.5℃, switching to the fifth setting. Therefore, the input voltage of the cooler is unstable at the critical point. After the cooler operates at the fifth setting for 5 minutes, the first compartment temperature drops to 12.1℃, and the cooler input stabilizes at the fourth setting, preventing frequent switching and instability. If the target temperature of the first compartment is 12.5℃, after running for 5 minutes, the temperature of the first compartment will drop below the target temperature, resulting in a certain overshoot. An appropriate overshoot can avoid unstable operation caused by sampling error of the compartment temperature sensor.

[0116] Therefore, in some embodiments, the method further includes: acquiring the temperature of a first compartment and the ambient temperature within a specified time; if the temperature of the first compartment is greater than a first compartment temperature threshold, and / or the ambient temperature is greater than an ambient temperature threshold, reducing the input voltage to a preset voltage level. The specified time is 5 minutes, during which the temperature of the first compartment and the ambient temperature are acquired and compared with the threshold to determine whether to reduce the input voltage. It is understood that the input voltage can also be reduced by lowering the input voltage level.

[0117] In this embodiment, the temperature of the first compartment and the ambient temperature are acquired within a specified time. If the temperature of the first compartment is greater than a first compartment temperature threshold, and / or the ambient temperature is greater than an ambient temperature threshold, the input voltage is reduced to a preset voltage level. The preset voltage level is 4V, meaning that in the event of a cooling failure or over-temperature alarm, the thermoelectric cooler is powered down to 4V. The cooling failure and over-temperature alarm rules primarily address improper user operation (such as blocked air vents) to prevent irreversible damage caused by excessively high temperatures.

[0118] A thermoelectric cooling chip is used as a heating element in a semiconductor refrigerator. The thermoelectric cooling chip includes a cold end and a hot end. The semiconductor refrigerator also includes a cooling fan and a cooling fan. The cooling fan blows air onto the cold end of the thermoelectric cooling chip to enhance air convection inside the refrigerator and promote cooling. The cooling fan blows air onto the hot end of the thermoelectric cooling chip to enhance air convection between the inside and outside of the refrigerator and promote heat dissipation.

[0119] The cooling fan drives the fan to rotate and blow air onto the hot end of the cooling chip. When the fan stops rotating, it cannot blow air onto the hot end of the cooling chip, resulting in slow heat dissipation efficiency and easy damage to the cooling chip. Therefore, in some embodiments, when the cooling chip is in operation, it is also necessary to obtain the fan operation status of the cooling fan in the semiconductor refrigerator for a certain period of time; if the fan operation status is abnormal, the semiconductor cooling chip is controlled to stop working.

[0120] For example, when the thermoelectric cooler is in operation, the fan's operating status can be acquired in real time. If the fan's operating status is abnormal, the thermoelectric cooler can be stopped in time to protect it.

[0121] In addition to the influence of the fan's operating status on the thermoelectric cooler, the fan speed also affects the thermoelectric cooler. In some embodiments, the speed information of the cooling fan is detected within a rated time. If the speed information of the cooling fan is not detected within the rated time, the thermoelectric cooler is controlled to stop working. If the speed information of the cooling fan is detected within the rated time, and the speed value is greater than the speed threshold, the input voltage is reduced to a preset level voltage. The speed information includes the speed value.

[0122] If the fan speed is not detected within the rated time, it indicates that the fan is blocked. To protect the cooling coil, the cooling coil will be stopped.

[0123] In this embodiment, the speed threshold is the normal speed value +200 rpm. When the speed deviates by 200 rpm, the input voltage is reduced to the preset gear voltage, where the preset gear voltage is 4V.

[0124] The method provided in this embodiment collects the ambient temperature when the semiconductor refrigerator is powered on and calculates the start-up temperature based on the ambient temperature. When the temperature of the first compartment is higher than the start-up temperature, the semiconductor cooling chip starts and enters the operating state. The semiconductor cooling chip gradually increases the voltage from a lower level. The semiconductor cooling chip determines whether to increase, maintain, or decrease the voltage based on the difference between the temperature of the second compartment and the temperature of the first compartment. As the refrigerator runs, the temperature of the first compartment will approach the temperature of the third compartment, thus ensuring cooling efficiency and minimizing downtime. In some cases, when the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the third compartment, the semiconductor cooling chip stops operating until the temperature of the first compartment rises back to the temperature of the second compartment, at which point the semiconductor cooling chip restarts.

[0125] The method provided in this embodiment divides the ambient temperature into multiple temperature zones, each corresponding to a different cooling chip start-up voltage. Then, by comparing the temperature of the first compartment with that of the second compartment, the input voltage of the cooling chip is adjusted to ensure stable operation and precise temperature control of the semiconductor refrigerator, and to achieve over-temperature protection of the cooling chip.

[0126] See Figure 2 Based on the above-mentioned method for controlling the temperature of a semiconductor refrigerator, this application also provides a semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system, which includes: a compartment temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a semiconductor cooling chip, and a main control board, wherein the compartment temperature sensor, the ambient temperature sensor, and the semiconductor cooling chip are connected to the main control board.

[0127] The main control board is configured as follows:

[0128] Obtain the operating status of the semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0129] When the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation, the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric refrigerator is detected.

[0130] The temperature of the second compartment is calculated based on the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the second compartment is the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator;

[0131] The temperature of the first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator is obtained in real time using a compartment temperature sensor.

[0132] If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the start-up temperature, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is obtained according to the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs. The preset temperature range and the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler have a mapping relationship.

[0133] Based on the starting voltage, the thermoelectric cooling chip is activated, and the temperature of the second compartment is obtained through the compartment temperature sensor. The temperature of the second compartment is the temperature of the refrigerator compartment when the thermoelectric cooling chip is activated.

[0134] Compare the temperature of the second chamber with that of the first chamber to obtain a comparison result;

[0135] The input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is set based on the comparison results.

[0136] To obtain the operating status of the thermoelectric cooler, it is understood that a communication connection is established between the thermoelectric cooler and a main control board. The main control board includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores data and computer programs, while the processor executes these programs to produce results. For example, the processor obtains the operating status information of the thermoelectric cooler, the memory stores the operating status information, and the processor converts the operating status information into an operating status result, which includes whether the device is in an operating state or not.

[0137] The compartment temperature sensor is used to receive detection commands from the main control board and detect the temperatures of the first, second, and third compartments. The ambient temperature sensor is used to receive detection commands from the main control board and detect the ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator. In this embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor can be a temperature and humidity chip to detect the ambient temperature. The ambient temperature sensor is located on the outside of the cabinet to reduce the influence of the heat sink of the thermoelectric module.

[0138] Because the ambient temperature sensor in this embodiment is a temperature and humidity chip, during the operation of the semiconductor refrigerator, moisture in the air accumulates on the surface of the cooling block in the semiconductor cooling chip and is drained through the drain hole on the cabinet to the vicinity of the heat sink in the semiconductor cooling chip outside the cabinet for evaporation. When the ambient humidity is high, the amount of condensate produced increases. The main control board controls the temperature and humidity chip to collect humidity data. In this embodiment, when the humidity is greater than 75%RH, the power supply voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip increases, the temperature of the hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip increases, the amount of condensate evaporation increases, and the voltage of the cooling chip increases. Although the cooling efficiency will decrease, it is beneficial to increase the amount of condensate evaporation and reduce the problem of excessive condensate overflow in high humidity environments.

[0139] In this embodiment, when the humidity is greater than 75%RH and the voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is ≤8V, the thermoelectric cooler's setting is increased by 5 levels to increase the amount of condensate evaporation.

[0140] In some embodiments, the system further includes: a cooling fan and a cooling fan, wherein the cooling fan is used to blow air onto the cold end of the semiconductor cooling chip, and the cooling fan is used to blow air onto the hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip. The cooling fan is provided with a signal feedback line, and the cooling fan is connected to the main control board through the signal feedback line.

[0141] The main control board is configured as follows:

[0142] The operating status of the cooling fan is obtained through the signal feedback line;

[0143] If the fan is in an abnormal operating state, the control semiconductor cooling chip will stop working.

[0144] The signal feedback line of the cooling fan receives the acquisition command from the main control board to obtain the fan's operating status. If the fan's operating status is abnormal, it can promptly control the semiconductor cooling chip to stop working in order to protect the cooling chip.

[0145] In some embodiments, the cooling fan is equipped with a Hall element, which is used to detect the fan speed information and send the fan speed information to the main control board in the form of a pulse signal.

[0146] A Hall effect sensor is a type of magnetic sensor that detects changes in a magnetic field. In this embodiment, the Hall effect sensor in the cooling fan can detect the fan's rotational speed. Specifically, when the fan blades rotate, they cut through the magnetic field, causing a change in the magnetic field strength detected by the Hall effect sensor, thus determining the fan's rotational speed. The Hall effect sensor then sends the detected rotational speed information to the main control board in the form of pulse signals. These pulse signals are digital signals that manifest as a series of pulses in voltage or current, each pulse representing specific information. In this embodiment, each pulse represents a detected rotational speed value.

[0147] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of this application provide a temperature control system and method for a semiconductor refrigerator. The method includes: acquiring the operating status of a semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator; detecting the ambient temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator when the semiconductor cooling chip is not in operation; calculating the temperature of a second compartment based on the ambient temperature, the second compartment temperature being the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator; acquiring the temperature of a first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator in real time through a compartment temperature sensor; if the temperature of the first compartment is greater than the temperature of the second compartment, acquiring the starting voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip based on a preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs, the preset temperature range having a mapping relationship with the starting voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip; starting the semiconductor cooling chip based on the starting voltage; comparing the temperature of the second compartment with the temperature of the first compartment to obtain a comparison result; correcting the temperature of the second compartment based on the ambient temperature; adjusting the input voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip through the preset temperature range to achieve precise temperature control of the compartments, ensuring stable input voltage of the cooling chip, improving cooling efficiency, and reducing the problem of damage to the cooling chip due to overheating in abnormal situations.

[0148] Similar parts between the embodiments provided in this application can be referred to mutually. The specific implementation methods provided above are only a few examples under the overall concept of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application. For those skilled in the art, any other implementation methods extended from the solution of this application without creative effort shall fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for temperature control in a semiconductor refrigerator, characterized in that, include: Obtain the operating status of the semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator; When the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation, the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric refrigerator is detected. The temperature of the second compartment is calculated based on the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the second compartment is the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator; The temperature of the first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator is obtained in real time using a compartment temperature sensor. If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the temperature of the second chamber, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is obtained according to the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs. The preset temperature range has a mapping relationship with the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler. The semiconductor cooling chip is activated according to the activation voltage; The temperatures of the first and second compartments were compared to obtain the comparison results. The input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is set based on the comparison results.

2. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler based on the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs includes: Obtain the ambient temperature; If the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature, the first start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip is obtained, and the first start-up voltage is the minimum start-up voltage. If the ambient temperature is greater than the first preset temperature and less than or equal to the second preset temperature, obtain the second start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip; If the ambient temperature is greater than the second preset temperature and less than or equal to the third preset temperature, obtain the third start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip; If the ambient temperature is greater than the third preset temperature, the fourth start-up voltage of the semiconductor cooling chip is obtained.

3. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Setting the input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler based on the comparison result includes: If the temperature of the first compartment is greater than the temperature of the second compartment, the input voltage is set to be equal to the starting voltage; If the temperature difference between the second chamber temperature and the first chamber temperature is less than the first preset value, the input voltage is increased to the preset voltage level within the rated time. If the temperature difference between the second compartment temperature and the first compartment temperature is greater than or equal to the first preset value and less than or equal to the second preset value, the semiconductor cooling chip is set to maintain the current input voltage. If the temperature difference between the second compartment and the first compartment is greater than the second preset value, the input voltage is reduced to the preset level voltage within a specified time.

4. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: The temperature of the first room and the ambient temperature are obtained within the specified time period; If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the first chamber temperature threshold, and / or the ambient temperature is greater than the ambient temperature threshold, the input voltage is reduced to a preset voltage level.

5. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the temperature of the third compartment, which is the temperature of the refrigerator compartment when the semiconductor refrigerator is not in operation; If the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the second compartment, and / or the temperature of the first compartment is less than or equal to the temperature of the third compartment, the semiconductor cooling chip is controlled to stop working.

6. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain the operating status of the cooling fan inside the semiconductor refrigerator; If the fan is in an abnormal operating state, the semiconductor cooling chip will be controlled to stop working.

7. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: The rotational speed of the cooling fan is detected within a specified time. If the speed information of the cooling fan is not detected within the rated time, the semiconductor cooling chip is controlled to stop working; If the speed information of the cooling fan is detected within the rated time, and the speed value is greater than the speed threshold, the input voltage is reduced to the preset level voltage. The speed information includes the speed value.

8. A semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system, characterized in that, The system for temperature control of a semiconductor refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-7 includes: a compartment temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a semiconductor cooling chip, and a main control board, wherein the compartment temperature sensor, the ambient temperature sensor, and the semiconductor cooling chip are connected to the main control board. The main control board is configured as follows: Obtain the operating status of the semiconductor cooling chip in the semiconductor refrigerator; When the thermoelectric cooler is not in operation, the ambient temperature of the thermoelectric refrigerator is detected. The temperature of the second compartment is calculated based on the ambient temperature, and the temperature of the second compartment is the start-up temperature of the semiconductor refrigerator; The temperature of the first compartment of the semiconductor refrigerator is obtained in real time using a compartment temperature sensor. If the temperature of the first chamber is greater than the start-up temperature, the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is obtained according to the preset temperature range to which the ambient temperature belongs. The preset temperature range has a mapping relationship with the start-up voltage of the thermoelectric cooler. The semiconductor cooling chip is activated according to the activation voltage; The temperature of the second compartment is compared with the temperature of the first compartment to obtain the comparison results; The input voltage of the thermoelectric cooler is set based on the comparison results.

9. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The system further includes a cooling fan and a cooling fan. The cooling fan is used to blow air onto the cold end of the semiconductor cooling chip, and the cooling fan is used to blow air onto the hot end of the semiconductor cooling chip. The cooling fan is equipped with a signal feedback line, and the cooling fan is connected to the main control board through the signal feedback line. The main control board is configured as follows: The operating status of the cooling fan is obtained through the signal feedback line; If the fan is in an abnormal operating state, the semiconductor cooling chip will be controlled to stop working.

10. The semiconductor refrigerator temperature control system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The cooling fan is equipped with a Hall element, which is used to detect the fan speed information and send the fan speed information to the main control board in the form of a pulse signal.

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