Refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a storage space, and the control method includes: receiving a shutdown signal for the storage space; initiating a purge to reduce the microbial content in the storage space; and introducing oxygen into the storage space to create a high-oxygen, fresh-keeping environment. By initiating the purge to reduce the microbial content in the storage space, microorganisms can be killed before creating a high-oxygen atmosphere in the storage space, thereby reducing or preventing rapid food spoilage caused by the refrigerator's controlled atmosphere process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to atmosphere-controlled freshness preservation, and in particular to a refrigerator and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Controlled atmosphere (CA) technology extends the shelf life of food by adjusting the ambient gas composition. Refrigeration and freezing equipment with CA functionality are widely popular. Among the various gas components, oxygen is of particular concern. Some foods, such as meat, are best stored in a high-oxygen environment.

[0003] Although some prior arts record solutions for creating a high-oxygen environment in a storage space by supplying oxygen to the storage space, the inventors realize that a high-oxygen environment is prone to breeding microorganisms or causing a large number of microorganisms to multiply, thereby causing the food to spoil quickly.

[0004] The above information disclosed in this background technology is only used to increase the understanding of the background technology of this application. Therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute the prior art known to ordinary technicians in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to overcome at least one technical defect in the prior art and to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to reduce or avoid the rapid spoilage of food materials caused by the atmosphere conditioning process of the refrigerator.

[0007] Another further object of the present invention is to use a simple method to kill various types of microorganisms and ensure the purification effect.

[0008] Yet another further object of the present invention is to take into account both atmosphere conditioning and freshness preservation, so that the storage space can create a good storage environment according to storage needs.

[0009] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a refrigerator is provided, wherein the refrigerator has a storage space provided therein, and the control method comprises:

[0010] Obtaining a closing signal of the storage space;

[0011] Initiating purification to reduce the microbial content of the storage space;

[0012] Oxygen is input into the storage space to form a high-oxygen fresh-keeping environment in the storage space.

[0013] Optionally, the step of initiating purification to reduce the microbial content of the storage space includes:

[0014] Inputting oxygen into the storage space to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space;

[0015] The air in the storage space is extracted to form a vacuum disinfection environment in the storage space.

[0016] Optionally, during the process of inputting oxygen into the storage space, the method further comprises:

[0017] A cooling air flow is input into the storage space to form a low-temperature environment in the storage space.

[0018] Optionally, the process of inputting cooling airflow into the storage space further includes:

[0019] The temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space are coordinated to prevent the oxygen content of the storage space from changing slowly.

[0020] Optionally, the step of coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space includes:

[0021] detecting the temperature of the storage space;

[0022] The temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space are coordinated according to the temperature of the storage space to prevent the oxygen content of the storage space from changing slowly.

[0023] Optionally, the step of coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space according to the temperature of the storage space includes:

[0024] determining whether the temperature of the storage space is about to drop to the freezing point;

[0025] If so, detecting the oxygen content of the storage space and determining whether the oxygen content of the storage space has risen to a preset target value;

[0026] If not, the cooling rate of the storage space is reduced so that the oxygen content in the storage space reaches the target value before the temperature of the storage space drops to the ice crystal point temperature.

[0027] Optionally, the step of determining whether the temperature of the storage space is about to drop to the freezing point temperature includes:

[0028] Determining whether a difference between the temperature of the storage space and the ice crystal point temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature difference threshold;

[0029] If so, it is determined that the temperature of the storage space is about to drop to the freezing point temperature.

[0030] Optionally, after the step of reducing the cooling rate of the storage space, the method further comprises:

[0031] detecting the oxygen content in the storage space;

[0032] determining whether the oxygen content in the storage space has reached a preset target value;

[0033] If so, the oxygen supply to the storage space is stopped, and the cooling rate of the storage space is increased to reduce the temperature of the storage space to a preset shutdown point temperature.

[0034] Optionally, the refrigerator is further provided with a vacuum pump connected to the storage space to extract the air in the storage space; and

[0035] The step of extracting air from the storage space includes: operating the vacuum pump.

[0036] According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided, wherein a storage space is provided therein, and the refrigerator further comprises:

[0037] A processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a machine executable program, and when the machine executable program is executed by the processor, it is used to implement the control method according to any one of the above items.

[0038] The refrigerator and control method thereof of the present invention, when determining that the storage space is closed and before inputting oxygen into the storage space to form a high-oxygen preservation environment, initiates purification to reduce the microbial content in the storage space. This can kill microorganisms before creating a high-oxygen atmosphere in the storage space, thereby reducing or avoiding the rapid spoilage of food due to the refrigerator's gas conditioning process.

[0039] Furthermore, in the refrigerator and control method thereof of the present invention, during the step of starting purification, oxygen is input into the storage space to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space, which can kill anaerobic microorganisms. Air is extracted from the storage space to form a vacuum disinfection environment in the storage space, which can kill aerobic microorganisms. Therefore, by adopting the scheme of the present invention, various types of microorganisms can be killed based on a simple method, thereby ensuring the purification effect.

[0040] Furthermore, the refrigerator and control method of the present invention, in the process of inputting oxygen into the storage space to form a high-oxygen fresh-keeping environment, inputs refrigeration airflow into the storage space to form a low-temperature environment in the storage space, thereby achieving both air conditioning and fresh-keeping, which is beneficial for creating a good storage environment for the storage space according to storage needs.

[0041] Based on the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will become more aware of the above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Hereinafter, some specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in an exemplary and non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings indicate the same or similar components or parts. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the accompanying drawings:

[0043] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an oxygen processing device of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic exploded view of the oxygen handling device of the refrigerator shown;

[0047] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 is a control flow chart of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The various embodiments provided are intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limit it. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used in conjunction with another embodiment to produce yet another embodiment. Therefore, the present invention is intended to cover such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0050] Refer to the following Figures 1 to 6 Unless otherwise specifically defined, when a feature "includes or contains" one or more of the features it covers, unless otherwise specifically described, this indicates that other features are not excluded and other features may be further included.

[0051] In the description of the present embodiment, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "some examples," or "an example" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with that embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0052] The embodiment of the present invention first provides a refrigerator 20 . Figure 1 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 20 in this embodiment of the present invention should be broadly understood and may be a refrigeration device with low-temperature storage capabilities, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a freezer, or a refrigerator. Refrigerator 20 generally includes a processor 110 and a memory 120, and may further include a housing 600. The interior of housing 600 defines a storage space 610 for storing food.

[0053] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a refrigerator 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 20 of this embodiment may further include an oxygen processing device 300 for regulating the oxygen content in the storage space 610 through an electrochemical reaction, for example, to provide oxygen to the storage space 610. The oxygen processing device 300 can generate oxygen through an electrochemical reaction under the action of an electrolytic voltage, thereby serving as an oxygen supply source for the storage space 610. Alternatively, the oxygen processing device 300 can consume oxygen through the electrochemical reaction to reduce the oxygen content in the storage space 610.

[0054] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an oxygen processing device 300 of a refrigerator 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic exploded view of the oxygen processing device 300 of the refrigerator 20 is shown. In some optional embodiments, the oxygen processing device 300 may include a housing 320, a cathode plate 330, and an anode plate 340. The housing 320 has a lateral opening 321. For example, the housing 320 may be in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped. The lateral opening 321 may be provided on any surface of the housing 320, such as the top, bottom, or side. In one example, the lateral opening 321 may be provided on the surface of the housing 320 with the largest area.

[0055] The cathode plate 330 is disposed at the side opening 321 to define together with the housing 320 an electrolytic chamber for containing electrolyte and for consuming oxygen through electrochemical reaction under the action of the electrolytic voltage. Under the action of the electrolytic voltage, oxygen in the air can undergo a reduction reaction at the cathode plate 330, i.e., O2 + 2H2O + 4e - →4OH - .

[0056] The anode plate 340 and the cathode plate 330 are spaced apart from each other and are arranged in the electrolysis chamber, and are used to provide reactants to the cathode plate 330 through electrochemical reaction and generate oxygen. - An oxidation reaction may occur at the anode plate 340 and generate oxygen, ie: 4OH-→O2+2H2O+4e - . An exhaust hole 323 may be provided on the shell 320 for discharging the oxygen generated by the anode plate 340, for example, to the above-mentioned storage space 610. The exhaust hole 323 and the storage space 610 may be connected via a pipeline. A fluid replenishment port 322 may also be provided on the shell 320, and the fluid replenishment port 322 may be connected to an external liquid source via a pipeline, so that the liquid from the external liquid source can flow into the electrolysis chamber to achieve fluid replenishment. In one example, the exhaust hole 323 may be connected to the storage space 610 via a pipeline. In another example, the cathode plate 330 may be in airflow communication with the storage space 610 to utilize oxygen from the storage space 610 as a reactant for the electrochemical reaction.

[0057] The above examples of electrochemical reactions of the cathode plate 330 and the anode plate 340 are merely illustrative. Based on an understanding of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should be able to easily change the type of electrochemical reaction or expand the structure of the oxygen treatment device 300 for other types of electrochemical reactions. Such changes and expansions should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0058] The oxygen processing device 300 can be disposed within the refrigerator 20. In one example, the oxygen processing device 300 can be disposed outside the storage space 610. In a further example, the oxygen processing device 300 can be disposed within the foam layer or the compressor chamber of the refrigerator 20 and connected to the storage space 610 via a pipeline to deliver the generated oxygen to the storage space 610. Of course, in another example, another storage space 610 can be defined within the housing 600, such as a refrigerated space, and the oxygen processing device 300 can be disposed within the refrigerated space.

[0059] The memory 120 and the processor 110 can form part of the main control board of the refrigerator 20. The memory 120 stores a machine executable program 121, which is used to implement the control method of the refrigerator 20 of any of the following embodiments when executed by the processor 110. The processor 110 can be a central processing unit (CPU), or a digital processing unit (DSP), etc. The memory 120 is used to store the program executed by the processor 110. The memory 120 can be any medium that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory 120 can also be a combination of various memories 120. Since the machine executable program 121 implements the various processes of the following method embodiments when executed by the processor 110, and can achieve the same technical effects, in order to avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

[0060] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a control method for a refrigerator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control method for the refrigerator 20 may generally include the following steps:

[0061] Step S502: Acquire a closing signal for the storage space 610. That is, determine whether the storage space 610 is closed. The closing signal for the storage space 610 may be triggered after the user closes the storage space 610. "Closing" the storage space 610 means placing the storage space 610 in a sealed state.

[0062] Step S504: start purification to reduce the microbial content of the storage space 610. The purification method can be set according to actual needs, for example, ozone, ultraviolet rays and / or other particles with microbial killing function can be released into the storage space 610.

[0063] In step S504, oxygen is input into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen fresh-keeping environment in the storage space 610. That is, after reducing the microbial content in the storage space 610, the storage space 610 is formed into a high-oxygen fresh-keeping environment with a relatively high oxygen content.

[0064] Using the above method, when it is determined that the storage space 610 is closed, and before oxygen is input into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen preservation environment in the storage space 610, purification is started to reduce the microbial content in the storage space 610. This can kill microorganisms in the storage space 610 before creating a high-oxygen atmosphere, thereby reducing or avoiding the rapid spoilage of food caused by the gas conditioning process of the refrigerator 20.

[0065] In some optional embodiments, the steps of initiating purification to reduce the microbial content in the storage space 610 include: inputting oxygen into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space 610, and extracting air from the storage space 610 to form a vacuum disinfection environment in the storage space 610.

[0066] In the process of introducing oxygen into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment, a high-oxygen disinfection environment refers to an environment with a high oxygen content, in which anaerobic microorganisms can be killed. In the process of extracting air from the storage space 610 to form a vacuum disinfection environment, a vacuum disinfection environment refers to a vacuum environment with thin air, in which various types of microorganisms, including aerobic microorganisms, can be killed.

[0067] In the step of starting the purification, oxygen is input into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space 610, which can kill anaerobic microorganisms. The air in the storage space 610 is extracted to form a vacuum disinfection environment in the storage space 610, which can kill aerobic microorganisms. Therefore, by adopting the solution of the present invention, various types of microorganisms can be killed based on a simple method to ensure the purification effect.

[0068] In some optional embodiments, the refrigerator 20 may further include a vacuum pump connected to the storage space 610 to extract air from the storage space 610. The vacuum pump may be activated in a controlled manner to extract air from the storage space 610, thereby creating a vacuum disinfection environment in the storage space 610. Extracting air from the storage space 610 may include operating the vacuum pump.

[0069] When the vacuum pump runs for a preset time or the oxygen concentration in the storage space 610 is lower than a preset threshold, the vacuum pump can be turned off in a controlled manner. The preset time can be 3 minutes, and the preset threshold can be 5%.

[0070] In the step of inputting oxygen into the storage space 610, the oxygen processing device 300 may be activated and the oxygen generated by the oxygen processing device 300 may be delivered to the storage space 610. For example, the exhaust hole 323 of the oxygen processing device 300 may be connected to the storage space 610 through a pipeline.

[0071] In some optional embodiments, during the process of inputting oxygen into the storage space 610 , the control method may further include: inputting a cooling airflow into the storage space 610 to create a low-temperature environment in the storage space 610 .

[0072] Before the storage space 610 is closed, since the storage space 610 is connected to the external environment of the refrigerator 20, the internal temperature of the storage space 610 will fluctuate. By inputting cooling airflow into the storage space 610, the temperature of the storage space 610 can be reduced in time.

[0073] Using the above method, in the process of inputting oxygen into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen preservation environment in the storage space 610, by inputting refrigeration airflow into the storage space 610 to form a low-temperature environment in the storage space 610, both air conditioning and preservation can be achieved, which is conducive to creating a good storage environment for the storage space 610 according to storage needs.

[0074] In some optional embodiments, during the process of inputting refrigeration airflow into the storage space 610 , the control method may further include: coordinating the temperature change and oxygen content change of the storage space 610 to prevent the oxygen content in the storage space 610 from changing slowly.

[0075] By using the above method, by coordinating the temperature change and oxygen content change of the storage space 610 to prevent the slow change of the oxygen content in the storage space 610, it is possible to reduce or avoid the inability of food to contact the surrounding oxygen environment due to the formation of an air flow barrier between the food and the surrounding environment, which is conducive to avoiding the failure problem of the oxygen regulation process and improving the preservation effect of the food.

[0076] In some optional embodiments, the step of coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space 610 includes: detecting the temperature of the storage space 610, and coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space 610 according to the temperature of the storage space 610 to prevent the oxygen content in the storage space 610 from changing slowly.

[0077] In one example, during the step of coordinating the temperature change and oxygen content change of the storage space 610 based on the temperature of the storage space 610, when the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to drop to the freezing point, the rate of change of the oxygen content can be increased and / or decreased, so that the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches a preset target value before the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the freezing point, thereby preventing the oxygen content in the storage space 610 from changing slowly. The main control board of the refrigerator 20 provides an electrolysis voltage to the oxygen processing device 300. By increasing the electrolysis voltage of the oxygen processing device 300, the rate of change of the oxygen content can be increased. By reducing the operating frequency of the refrigerator 20 compressor and / or decreasing the opening of the cooling air damper of the storage space 610, the rate of change of the temperature of the storage space 610 can be reduced.

[0078] It is worth noting that the control method of the embodiment of the present invention is applicable not only to the oxygen increase process of the storage space 610 , but also to the oxygen decrease process of the storage space 610 .

[0079] In some optional embodiments, the step of coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space 610 according to the temperature of the storage space 610 includes:

[0080] Determining whether the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to drop to the freezing point;

[0081] If so, the oxygen content of the storage space 610 is detected, and it is determined whether the oxygen content of the storage space 610 has risen to a preset target value;

[0082] If not, the cooling rate of the storage space 610 is reduced so that the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches the target value before the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the freezing point.

[0083] In the above steps, the freezing point temperature refers to the critical temperature at which the moisture in the food forms small ice crystals. When the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the freezing point temperature, the moisture in the food forms ice crystals, thereby creating a gas barrier between the food and its surroundings, preventing the gas in the surrounding environment from coming into contact with the food.

[0084] When the temperature of storage space 610 is about to drop to the freezing point, by detecting whether the oxygen content in storage space 610 has risen to a preset target value, it can be determined whether the food has been fully exposed to oxygen before the temperature of storage space 610 drops to the freezing point. By reducing the cooling rate of storage space 610, the time it takes for the temperature of storage space 610 to drop to the freezing point can be delayed, allowing the food to fully come into contact with the surrounding oxygen.

[0085] By detecting the temperature of the storage space 610 and determining that the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to reach the ice crystal point temperature and the oxygen content in the storage space 610 has not yet risen to the preset target value, the cooling rate of the storage space 610 is reduced to coordinate the low-temperature adjustment process and the high-oxygen atmosphere adjustment process of the storage space 610, so that the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches the target value before the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the ice crystal point temperature. This is conducive to ensuring that the food in the storage space is fully in contact with oxygen of an appropriate concentration, thereby maintaining a good state.

[0086] It should be emphasized that while prior art discloses methods for increasing the oxygen content by delivering oxygen to storage space 610, the inventors recognize that when delivering oxygen to storage space 610, prior art often focuses on whether the oxygen content in storage space 610 reaches a preset value, but does not consider whether this oxygen has effectively come into contact with the food, nor whether this oxygen can effectively perform the atmosphere conditioning function. Limited by the aforementioned prior art methods, a person of ordinary skill in the art would not consider achieving the target oxygen content in storage space 610 before the temperature of storage space 610 drops to the freezing point. Therefore, the inventors of the present application creatively reduce the cooling rate of the storage space 610 when the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to drop to the freezing point temperature and the oxygen content in the storage space 610 has not yet risen to the target value, so as to coordinate the low-temperature adjustment process and the high-oxygen atmosphere adjustment process of the storage space 610. This breaks through the ideological shackles of the existing technology and provides a new idea for reducing or avoiding the inability of food to contact oxygen due to the formation of an air flow barrier between the food and the surrounding environment, thereby improving the preservation effect of the food.

[0087] In some optional embodiments, the step of determining whether the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to drop to the freezing point includes determining whether the difference between the temperature of the storage space 610 and the freezing point is less than or equal to a preset temperature difference threshold; if so, determining that the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to drop to the freezing point. The temperature threshold can be any value within the range of 2°C to 8°C.

[0088] Using the above method, the cooling rate of the storage space 610 can be adjusted in time when the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to a set value below the ice crystal point temperature, delaying the time for the temperature of the storage space 610 to drop to the ice crystal point temperature, thereby creating an opportunity for the food to fully contact with the appropriate concentration of oxygen.

[0089] In some optional embodiments, an oxygen concentration sensor may be provided in the storage space 610 for detecting the oxygen content of the storage space 610. The target value of the oxygen content of the storage space 610 may be set according to the oxygen concentration value required by the food. In another example, the oxygen content of the storage space 610 may be indirectly determined based on the length of time the storage space 610 receives oxygen. The oxygen processing device 300 may generate oxygen at a fixed rate and supply it to the storage space 610. Therefore, the oxygen content of the storage space 610 is determined based on the length of time the storage space 610 receives oxygen. In one example, the working time of the oxygen processing device 300 is the length of time the storage space 610 receives oxygen.

[0090] In some optional embodiments, after the step of determining whether the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to a preset target value, the control method may further include: if the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to the target value, maintaining the cooling rate of the storage space 610 unchanged until the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to a preset shutdown point temperature.

[0091] Using the above method, before the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the freezing point temperature, since the oxygen content in the storage space 610 has already reached the preset target value, and the oxygen in the storage space 610 can be sustained in a higher concentration range for a certain period of time, before the surface of the food is frozen, the food can be fully in contact with the appropriate concentration of oxygen, thereby achieving a good storage state and being frozen and preserved in a good storage state.

[0092] If the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches the target value, the supply of oxygen to the storage space 610 can be stopped while maintaining the cooling rate of the storage space 610 unchanged. For example, the oxygen processing device 300 can be turned off to stop the electrochemical reaction.

[0093] In some optional embodiments, the step of reducing the cooling rate of the storage space 610 includes: determining the degree of deviation between the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space 610, determining the amplitude of change of the cooling rate of the storage space 610 according to the degree of deviation, and adjusting the cooling rate of the storage space 610 according to the amplitude of change of the cooling rate, so that the cooling rate of the storage space 610 matches the oxygen increase rate of the storage space 610.

[0094] Ideally, if the temperature of storage space 610 drops to the freezing point, the oxygen content in storage space 610 has already risen to the target value within a preset time period. At this point, the temperature change in storage space 610 is synchronized with the change in oxygen content, and there is no need to adjust the cooling rate of storage space 610. However, if the temperature of storage space 610 cannot drop to the freezing point within the preset time period after the oxygen content in storage space 610 has risen to the target value, it is necessary to adjust the cooling rate of storage space 610. The degree of deviation between the temperature change and the oxygen content change in storage space 610 refers to the magnitude of the deviation between the timing when the temperature of storage space 610 drops to the freezing point and the timing when the oxygen content in storage space 610 rises to the target value.

[0095] Using the above method, the cooling rate change amplitude of the storage space 610 is determined according to the degree of deviation between the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space 610, and the cooling rate of the storage space 610 is adjusted according to the cooling rate change amplitude, so that the cooling rate of the storage space 610 matches the change of the oxygen content in the storage space 610. The cooling process and the oxygenation process of the storage space 610 can be carried out synchronously and orderly, so that the food can be locked in freshness in a timely and effective manner, which is conducive to reducing or avoiding the low freshness locking efficiency caused by unilateral successive adjustments.

[0096] The magnitude of the change in the cooling rate of storage space 610 is used to describe the degree of change in the cooling rate of storage space 610. Storage space 610 may refer to the interior space of a storage compartment, or, of course, the interior space of a storage container disposed within the storage compartment. Refrigerator 20 may further include a refrigeration system, which may be a vapor compression refrigeration system and may include a compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, and an evaporator.

[0097] The housing 600 of the refrigerator 20 may include a refrigeration chamber for mounting an evaporator. The storage space 610 is connected to the refrigeration chamber via an air duct to receive heat exchange air from the refrigeration chamber. The heat exchange air is cooled by the evaporator within the refrigeration chamber. The air duct may connect to the storage space 610 via a cooling vent. In one example, a cooling damper is provided at the cooling vent for controlled opening and closing to adjust the opening and closing degree of the cooling vent.

[0098] In normal cooling mode, the cooling air damper is opened at a preset value, allowing the storage space 610 to reach a preset low temperature at a preset cooling rate. In some optional embodiments, the step of adjusting the cooling rate of the storage space 610 according to the amplitude of the cooling rate change includes: determining a target opening of the cooling air damper for the storage space 610 based on the amplitude of the cooling rate change, the target opening of the cooling air damper increasing accordingly with an increase in the amplitude of the cooling rate change, and adjusting the cooling air damper for the storage space 610 to the target opening.

[0099] Using the above method, the target opening of the cooling air door of the storage space 610 is determined according to the change amplitude of the cooling rate, and the working state of the cooling air door is adjusted according to the determined target opening, so as to adjust the cooling rate of the storage space 610. This method has the advantages of being simple, flexible and efficient.

[0100] In other optional embodiments, the method of adjusting the cooling rate of the storage space 610 according to the cooling rate change amplitude can also be transformed into: determining the target speed of the compressor according to the cooling rate change amplitude, the target speed of the compressor increases accordingly with the increase of the cooling rate change amplitude, and adjusting the speed of the compressor to the target speed.

[0101] Using the above method, the target speed of the compressor is determined according to the change amplitude of the cooling rate of the storage space 610, and the working state of the compressor is adjusted according to the determined target speed, so as to adjust the cooling rate of the storage space 610, which has the advantages of significant effect and energy saving.

[0102] In some optional embodiments, the step of determining the degree of deviation between the temperature change and the oxygen content change in the storage space 610 includes: estimating the length of time required for the temperature of the storage space 610 to drop to the ice crystal point temperature, recorded as the first time length; estimating the length of time required for the oxygen content in the storage space 610 to rise to the target value, recorded as the second time length; and determining the degree of deviation based on the relative size of the first time length and the second time length. The first time length and the second time length are estimated based on the current cooling rate and the current oxygen increase rate, respectively. The current cooling rate refers to the temperature change rate of the storage space 610 before adjusting the cooling rate. The oxygen processing device 300 can release oxygen according to a preset oxygen release rate per unit time. The current oxygen increase rate can be determined by the oxygen release rate per unit time of the oxygen processing device 300.

[0103] The first duration can be used to describe the timing when the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the ice crystal point. The second duration can be used to describe the timing when the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to the target value. By determining the relative lengths of the first and second durations, the degree of deviation between the timing when the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the ice crystal point and the timing when the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to the target value can be determined, thereby accurately determining the adjustment range of the cooling rate of the storage space 610, so that the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the ice crystal point after the preset duration when the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to the target value.

[0104] Since the relative size of the first time length and the second time length can reflect the difference between the timing when the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the ice crystal point temperature and the timing when the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to the target value, therefore, by determining the above-mentioned degree of deviation based on the relative size of the first time length and the second time length, the degree of deviation between the temperature change and the oxygen content change in the storage space 610 can be directly and accurately evaluated, thereby reasonably adjusting the cooling rate of the storage space 610.

[0105] In some optional embodiments, in the step of determining the degree of deviation based on the relative size of the first duration and the second duration, multiple degrees of deviation are preset, and each degree of deviation corresponds to a range of values ​​for the ratio of the first duration to the second duration. The step of determining the degree of deviation based on the relative size of the first duration and the second duration includes: calculating the ratio of the first duration to the second duration; determining the range of values ​​to which the ratio belongs; and determining the degree of deviation corresponding to the range of values ​​to which the ratio belongs as the degree of deviation between the temperature change and the oxygen content change in the storage space 610.

[0106] In one example, the degree of deviation can be preset as low, medium, and high. If the ratio is greater than a first preset threshold, the degree of deviation is determined to be low; if the ratio is greater than a second preset threshold and less than or equal to the first preset threshold, the degree of deviation is determined to be medium, and the second preset threshold is less than the first preset threshold; if the ratio is less than the second preset threshold, the degree of deviation is determined to be high.

[0107] The first preset threshold value may be any value in the range of 0.8 to 1.2, for example, 1.0 or 1.1. The second preset threshold value may be any value in the range of 0.3 to 0.8, for example, 0.5 or 0.6.

[0108] In some optional embodiments, the step of determining the cooling rate change amplitude of the storage space 610 according to the degree of deviation includes: obtaining a preset correspondence relationship, which stipulates multiple cooling rate change amplitudes and the degree of deviation corresponding to each cooling rate change amplitude; determining the cooling rate change amplitude corresponding to the degree of deviation according to the correspondence relationship.

[0109] In a further example, when the degree of deviation is low, the temperature reduction rate can vary from 10% to 30%, for example, 20%, and the cooling air door opening can be adjusted to 80% of the preset value. When the degree of deviation is medium, the temperature reduction rate can vary from 30% to 70%, for example, 50%, and the cooling air door opening can be adjusted to 50% of the preset value. When the degree of deviation is high, the temperature reduction rate can vary from 70% to 100%, for example, 100%, and the cooling air door can be switched to a closed state, preventing the heat exchange airflow in the refrigeration room from being delivered to the storage space 610.

[0110] Using the above method, by presetting the corresponding relationship and determining the change range of the cooling rate of the storage space 610 according to the corresponding relationship, the change range of the cooling rate can be quickly determined based on the mapping principle, thereby omitting the complex calculation process and having the advantages of simple logic and simple operation.

[0111] In some optional embodiments, after the step of reducing the cooling rate of the storage space 610, the control method may further include: detecting the oxygen content in the storage space 610, and determining whether the oxygen content in the storage space 610 has risen to a preset target value; if so, stopping supplying oxygen to the storage space 610, and increasing the cooling rate of the storage space 610, so that the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to a preset shutdown point temperature.

[0112] In the step of increasing the cooling rate of the storage space 610, the cooling rate of the storage space 610 can be restored to the initial value. In one example, the opening of the cooling door can be restored to the preset value. In the step of stopping the supply of oxygen to the storage space 610, for example, the oxygen processing device 300 can be turned off to stop the electrochemical reaction.

[0113] Using the above method, after the oxygen content in the storage space 610 rises to a preset target value, the temperature of the storage space 610 can quickly reach a preset preservation level by increasing the cooling rate of the storage space 610, thereby improving the preservation performance of the storage space 610.

[0114] In some optional embodiments, the refrigerator 20 may further include a door opening and closing detection device, and use the door opening and closing detection device to detect the opening and closing state of the storage space 610. Since the storage space 610 will exchange gas with the surrounding environment when it is opened, in order to restore the storage space 610 to the preset fresh-keeping state, after detecting that the storage space 610 is closed, oxygen can be started to be supplied to the storage space 610, and the refrigeration system can be started to start supplying heat exchange airflow to the storage space 610. By starting the oxygen processing device 300, the oxygen generated by the oxygen processing device 300 can be delivered to the storage space 610. In one example, the refrigeration system can be started after the set time of starting the oxygen processing device 300. The set time can be any value within the range of 1 to 5 minutes.

[0115] In some optional embodiments, after the step of extracting air from the storage space 610, the control method may further include: raising the power-on point for the storage space 610. In one example, the power-on point for the storage space 610 may be raised by 1°C.

[0116] An air pump may be connected to the pipeline between the exhaust hole 323 of the oxygen processing device 300 and the storage space 610 to quickly flow the oxygen flowing out of the exhaust hole 323 into the storage space 610. In some optional embodiments, when the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches a target value or the operating time of the oxygen processing device 300 reaches a predetermined value, the oxygen processing device 300 and / or the air pump may be turned off.

[0117] After shutting down the oxygen processing device 300, if the storage space 610 remains closed for longer than a preset shutdown duration threshold, the oxygen processing device 300 can be restarted and / or the air pump can be activated. In one example, the shutdown duration threshold can be 5 hours. When the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches the target value, the oxygen processing device 300 and / or the air pump can be shut down. At this point, the power-on point for the storage space 610 can be restored to normal.

[0118] In some optional embodiments, in the step of inputting oxygen into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space 610, when the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches a set value or the working time of the oxygen treatment device 300 reaches a set time, the input of oxygen into the storage space 610 can be stopped.

[0119] In some optional embodiments, after obtaining the closing signal of the storage space 610, a cooling airflow can be first input into the storage space 610 to form a low-temperature environment in the storage space 610. For example, the temperature of the storage space 610 can be reduced to a preset temperature threshold or after a preset time interval, and then the purification step can be started.

[0120] In the process of inputting cooling airflow into the storage space 610, cooling airflow can be first input into the storage space 610 according to 50% of the target cooling capacity per unit time, so that the temperature of the storage space 610 reaches 5°C higher than the ice crystal point temperature, and then after the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches the target value, cooling airflow can be input into the storage space 610 according to the target cooling capacity per unit time.

[0121] In the above steps, if it is detected that the storage space 610 is opened, the process returns to the step of obtaining the closing signal of the storage space 610 and re-executes the step.

[0122] In some optional embodiments, the refrigerator 20 can achieve higher technical effects by further optimizing and configuring the above steps. The control method of the refrigerator 20 of this embodiment is described in detail below in combination with the introduction of the optional execution process of this embodiment. This embodiment is only an example of the execution process. During the specific implementation, the execution order and operating conditions of some steps can be modified according to the specific implementation requirements.

[0123] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a control flow chart of a refrigerator 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control flow generally includes the following steps:

[0124] Step S602 , obtaining a closing signal of the storage space 610 .

[0125] Step S604: input oxygen into the storage space 610 to create a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space 610.

[0126] Step S606: extract the air from the storage space 610 to create a vacuum sterilization environment in the storage space 610.

[0127] Step S608: input oxygen into the storage space 610 to create a high-oxygen fresh-keeping environment in the storage space 610.

[0128] In step S610 , cooling air is input into the storage space 610 to create a low-temperature environment in the storage space 610 .

[0129] Step S612 , detecting the temperature of the storage space 610 .

[0130] Step S614, determine whether the difference between the temperature of the storage space 610 and the ice crystal point temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature difference threshold, that is, determine whether the temperature of the storage space 610 is about to drop to the ice crystal point temperature. If so, execute step S616, if not, execute step S612.

[0131] Step S616 , detecting the oxygen content in the storage space 610 .

[0132] In step S618 , it is determined whether the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches a preset target value. If so, step S626 is executed; if not, step S620 is executed.

[0133] Step S620: reducing the cooling rate of the storage space so that the oxygen content in the storage space reaches the target value before the temperature of the storage space drops to the freezing point.

[0134] Step S622 , detecting the oxygen content in the storage space 610 .

[0135] In step S624 , it is determined whether the oxygen content in the storage space 610 reaches a preset target value. If so, step S626 is executed; if not, step S624 is executed.

[0136] Step S626: stop supplying oxygen to the storage space 610, and adjust the temperature of the storage space 610 according to the initial cooling rate, so that the temperature of the storage space 610 drops to the preset shutdown point temperature.

[0137] The refrigerator 20 and control method thereof of the present invention, when determining that the storage space 610 is closed and before inputting oxygen into the storage space 610 to form a high-oxygen preservation environment in the storage space 610, starts purification to reduce the microbial content in the storage space 610. This can kill microorganisms in the storage space 610 before creating a high-oxygen atmosphere, thereby reducing or avoiding the rapid spoilage of food caused by the gas conditioning process of the refrigerator 20.

[0138] At this point, those skilled in the art will recognize that, although a number of exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications consistent with the principles of the present invention may be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be understood and deemed to cover all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator has a storage space, and the method comprises: Obtaining a closing signal of the storage space; Initiating purification to reduce the microbial content of the storage space; Inputting oxygen into the storage space to form a high-oxygen fresh-keeping environment in the storage space; in The process of inputting oxygen into the storage space further includes: Inputting refrigeration airflow into the storage space to form a low-temperature environment in the storage space; The process of inputting cooling airflow into the storage space further includes: Coordinating temperature changes and oxygen content changes in the storage space to prevent slow changes in the oxygen content in the storage space; The steps of coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space include: detecting the temperature of the storage space; Coordinating temperature changes and oxygen content changes in the storage space according to the temperature of the storage space to prevent a sluggish change in the oxygen content in the storage space; The step of coordinating the temperature change and the oxygen content change of the storage space according to the temperature of the storage space includes: determining whether the temperature of the storage space is about to drop to the freezing point; If so, detecting the oxygen content of the storage space and determining whether the oxygen content of the storage space has risen to a preset target value; If not, the cooling rate of the storage space is reduced so that the oxygen content in the storage space reaches the target value before the temperature of the storage space drops to the ice crystal point temperature.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein: The steps of initiating purification to reduce the microbial content of the storage space include: Inputting oxygen into the storage space to form a high-oxygen disinfection environment in the storage space; The air in the storage space is extracted to form a vacuum disinfection environment in the storage space.

3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein: The step of determining whether the temperature of the storage space is about to drop to the freezing point temperature includes: Determining whether a difference between the temperature of the storage space and the ice crystal point temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature difference threshold; If so, it is determined that the temperature of the storage space is about to drop to the freezing point temperature.

4. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the step of reducing the cooling rate of the storage space: detecting the oxygen content in the storage space; determining whether the oxygen content in the storage space has reached a preset target value; If so, the oxygen supply to the storage space is stopped, and the cooling rate of the storage space is increased to reduce the temperature of the storage space to a preset shutdown point temperature.

5. The control method according to claim 2, wherein: The refrigerator is further provided with a vacuum pump in communication with the storage space for extracting air from the storage space; and The step of extracting air from the storage space includes: operating the vacuum pump.

6. A refrigerator, wherein a storage space is provided therein, and further comprising: A processor and a memory, wherein a machine executable program is stored in the memory, and when the machine executable program is executed by the processor, it is used to implement the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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