Refrigerator, ice maker and operation control method of ice maker

Abstract

The present invention discloses a refrigerator, an ice maker, and an operation control method for an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump. The water supply pump is used to lead the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe when in operation. A sensor is provided to detect the characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank. When a water supply start instruction is received, the characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank are obtained; based on the characteristic parameters, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified; when the liquid is water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in an operating state; when the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state. By adopting the technical means of the present invention, it is possible to identify the type of liquid in the water supply tank, stop water supply when the liquid type is abnormal, and ensure the normal operation of the refrigerator ice maker.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigerators, and in particular to a refrigerator, an ice maker, and an operation control method of the ice maker. Background Art

[0002] With the development of technology, the functions of refrigerators have become diversified, and the demand for refrigerators with ice-making functions has gradually increased. An ice-making system is installed inside the refrigerator. The water in the water supply tank is introduced into the ice-making box through a water supply pipe. The water is cooled by the refrigeration system to generate ice. The water in the water supply tank is usually put in by the user.

[0003] However, the inventors discovered that the existing technology has at least the following problems: some consumers attempt to make ice by adding beverages other than water to the water supply tank, such as milk, coffee, juice, or tea. This consumer behavior often leads to problems with the ice maker's water supply pipes or water pumps. For example, residual liquids other than water in the water supply pipes can lead to microbial growth, and liquids with high solids content can cause blockages in the water supply pumps, leading to user complaints and product returns to the manufacturer. Failures caused by non-water liquids in the water supply tank are difficult to verify afterward, resulting in not only a negative experience for consumers but also losses for manufacturers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator, an ice maker and an operation control method of the ice maker, which can identify the type of liquid in the water supply tank, stop water supply when the liquid type is abnormal, and ensure the normal operation of the refrigerator ice maker.

[0005] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising:

[0006] Box;

[0007] an ice maker, disposed within the housing, comprising an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump; the ice-making mechanism is used to make ice; the water supply tank is used to store water; one end of the water supply pipe is connected to an opening of the water supply tank, and the other end is connected to an opening of an ice-making box of the ice-making mechanism; the water supply pump is disposed on the water supply pipe and is used to guide liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe when the water pump is in operation;

[0008] a sensor, disposed in the box body and connected to the opening of the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0009] Controller for:

[0010] When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0011] identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters;

[0012] When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state;

[0013] When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

[0014] As an improvement to the above solution, the refrigerator further includes a reminder device;

[0015] After controlling the water supply pump to be in a stopped state when the liquid is not water, the controller is further configured to:

[0016] The reminder device is controlled to start running to execute a preset first reminder operation.

[0017] As an improvement to the above solution, the sensor is configured as an odor sensor, and the characteristic parameter is an odor component;

[0018] Then, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified according to the characteristic parameters, specifically:

[0019] Comparing the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank with a preset standard odor component; wherein the standard odor component refers to the odor component of water;

[0020] When the odor components of the liquid are consistent with the standard odor components, the liquid is determined to be water;

[0021] When the odor components of the liquid are inconsistent with the standard odor components, it is determined that the liquid is not water.

[0022] As an improvement to the above solution, the sensor is configured as an odor sensor, which is used to detect the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank and convert them into odor representation values; the characteristic parameter is the odor representation value;

[0023] Then, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified according to the characteristic parameters, specifically:

[0024] Calculating the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and a preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference value; wherein the standard odor characterization value refers to the odor characterization value of water;

[0025] When the odor difference is less than a preset difference threshold, determining that the liquid is water;

[0026] When the odor difference is greater than or equal to a preset difference threshold, it is determined that the liquid is not water.

[0027] As an improvement to the above solution, the odor sensor is composed of a plurality of odor sensing elements, each of which is used to detect the odor component of the liquid in the water supply tank and convert it into an odor representation value;

[0028] The calculation of the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and the preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference is specifically as follows:

[0029] Determining a preset standard odor representation value corresponding to each of the odor sensing elements;

[0030] Calculating the difference between the odor representation value detected by each odor sensor element and the corresponding preset standard odor representation value to obtain a plurality of sub-odor difference values;

[0031] The odor difference value is calculated based on all the sub-odor difference values.

[0032] As an improvement to the above solution, after calculating the odor difference, identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters further includes:

[0033] According to the preset correspondence between the odor difference and the liquid type, the liquid type corresponding to the currently calculated odor difference is determined to obtain the type of liquid currently in the water supply tank.

[0034] As an improvement to the above scheme, the odor sensor is provided with an oscillator, which vibrates at a preset vibration frequency, and the surface of the oscillator is coated with a sensing film for adsorbing odor components. The actual vibration frequency of the oscillator changes with the change of the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank; then the odor characterization value is the actual oscillation frequency of the oscillator.

[0035] As an improvement of the above-mentioned scheme, the odor sensor includes an odor sensor body, an odor suction pump and an odor suction tube; the odor sensor body is arranged in the box body, one end of the odor suction tube is connected to the odor sensor body, and the other end of the odor suction tube is detachably connected to the opening of the water supply tank; the odor suction pump is arranged on the odor suction tube for attracting the odor components of the liquid.

[0036] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an ice making machine, comprising:

[0037] The ice-making machine body is provided with an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump. The ice-making mechanism is used to make ice, the water supply tank is used to store water, one end of the water supply pipe is connected to the opening of the water supply tank, and the other end is connected to the opening of the ice-making box of the ice-making mechanism. The water supply pump is provided on the water supply pipe and is used to guide the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe when the water pump is in operation.

[0038] a sensor, provided on the ice maker body and connected to the opening of the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0039] Controller for:

[0040] When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0041] identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters;

[0042] When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state;

[0043] When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

[0044] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an operation control method of an ice maker, the ice maker comprising:

[0045] The ice maker body is provided with an ice making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe and a water supply pump. The water supply pump is used to guide the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice making mechanism through the water supply pipe when in operation;

[0046] a sensor, provided on the ice maker body and connected to the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0047] The method comprises:

[0048] When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0049] identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters;

[0050] When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state;

[0051] When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

[0052] Compared to the prior art, the present invention discloses a refrigerator, an ice maker, and an operation control method for an ice maker. The ice maker includes an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump. When in operation, the water supply pump is used to direct liquid from the water supply tank through the water supply pipe to the ice-making mechanism. A sensor is provided to detect characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank. When a water supply start instruction is received, the characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank are obtained; based on the characteristic parameters, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified. When the liquid is water, the water supply pump is controlled to operate; when the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to stop operating. By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to first determine the type of liquid stored in the water supply tank during the ice-making water supply stage, and then stop the water supply when the liquid type is not water, thereby preventing liquids other than water from entering the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pump and the water supply pipe, causing the growth of microorganisms in the water supply pipe due to residual liquids other than water, or causing liquids with high solid content to clog the water supply pump, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the refrigerator ice maker, increasing the service life of the refrigerator ice maker, and improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Figure 1 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention under a first implementation mode;

[0054] Figure 2 is a structural diagram of an ice making machine in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the process of the controller in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator in a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart of the work performed by the controller in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 6 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of the work performed by the controller in a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 8 1 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of the work performed by the controller in a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 9is a schematic diagram of the broken line representation values ​​of the odor characteristics of different types of liquids in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of the odor sensor in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0064] See also Figure 1 , a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator 10, comprising a housing 11, which includes at least one storage compartment, such as a refrigerator and / or freezer, for storing items requiring freshness or freezing. The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration system for performing cooling operations.

[0065] It should be noted that the refrigerator operates through the refrigeration system, providing cold energy to the storage compartment to maintain the compartment at a constant low temperature. Specifically, the refrigeration system of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a compressor, a condenser, a filter drier, a capillary tube, and an evaporator. The refrigeration system operates through compression, condensation, throttling, and evaporation.

[0066] The compression process is as follows: When the refrigerator is plugged in and the unit is cooled, the compressor begins operating. Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor, compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure superheated gas within the compressor cylinder, and then discharged into the condenser. The condensation process involves the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipating heat through the condenser, gradually cooling to a saturated vapor at room temperature and high pressure. It then cools further to a saturated liquid, where the temperature stops falling. This temperature is called the condensation temperature. The refrigerant's pressure remains virtually constant throughout the condensation process. The throttling process involves the condensed saturated refrigerant liquid passing through a filter drier to remove moisture and impurities, then flowing into a capillary tube where it undergoes throttling and pressure reduction, turning it into a wet vapor at room temperature and low pressure. The evaporation process involves the refrigerant absorbing heat and vaporizing within the evaporator, reducing the temperature of the evaporator and its surroundings while also converting the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. The refrigerant exiting the evaporator returns to the compressor, repeating the process, transferring heat from the refrigerator to the air outside, achieving the desired cooling effect.

[0067] The refrigerator further comprises an ice maker 12. Figure 2 , is a structural diagram of an ice maker in an embodiment of the present invention. The ice maker 12 is arranged in the box 11. The ice maker 12 includes a water supply mechanism 121, an ice making mechanism 122, and a refrigeration system.

[0068] The water supply mechanism includes a water supply tank 1211, a water supply pipe 1212 and a water supply pump 1213. The water supply tank is used to store water. One end of the water supply pipe is connected to the opening of the water supply tank, and the other end is connected to the opening of the ice-making box of the ice-making mechanism. The water supply pump is arranged on the water supply pipe. When the water supply pump is in operation, it is used to lead the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe.

[0069] The ice-making mechanism is used to make ice. Optionally, the ice-making mechanism includes an ice box 1221, an ice-making machine sensor 1222, an ice-detecting rod 1223, an ice-turning motor 1224, and an ice storage box 1225. The ice-making machine sensor is used to detect the temperature in the ice storage box to determine whether ice cubes are fully made. The ice-turning motor is connected to the ice box and is used to rotate the ice box to release ice cubes from the ice box. The ice storage box is located below the ice box and is used to store released ice cubes. The ice-detecting rod is used to detect the storage status of ice cubes in the ice storage box to determine whether the ice storage box is full of ice. Of course, the specific structure of the ice-making mechanism described above is for example only. In actual applications, the structure of the ice-making mechanism can be adjusted according to actual conditions and does not constitute a limitation of the present invention.

[0070] The refrigeration system is used to cool and provide cooling to the ice box 1221 in the ice-making mechanism, thereby freezing the moisture in the ice box 1221 into ice cubes. It should be noted that the refrigeration system of the ice-making system includes components such as a compressor, a filter drier, a condenser, a capillary tube, an evaporator, a one-way valve, and a solenoid valve. In the embodiments of the present invention, the refrigeration system of the ice-making system can be shared with the refrigerator's refrigeration system, or a separate refrigeration system can be provided, without limitation. The compressor provides power to the refrigeration system; the filter drier filters moisture and debris from the refrigeration system to ensure stable ice-making operation; the condenser is available in air-cooled or water-cooled versions, primarily relying on a fan to remove excess heat and cool the high-temperature vapor refrigerant to liquid form, providing the necessary temperature for evaporation in the refrigeration system; the capillary tube throttles the liquid refrigerant to form vapor, providing conditions for evaporation in the refrigeration system and regulating the refrigerant flow rate in the refrigeration system. The evaporator's primary function is to absorb heat from the water and quickly freeze it into ice. Other components, such as one-way valves, are used to prevent refrigerant backflow and cross-flow; solenoid valves are used to control the refrigerant flow, speed, and pressure of the refrigeration system.

[0071] The refrigerator further includes a sensor 13 disposed within the housing 11 and connected to the opening of the water supply tank. The sensor 13 is configured to detect characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank. The characteristic parameters are parameters that can characterize or distinguish the type of liquid, such as odor, molecular structure, evaporation rate, color, etc.

[0072] The refrigerator also includes a controller 14, which is connected to the sensor 13 and is used to obtain characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank detected by the sensor 13. The controller 14 is also connected to the water supply pump 1213 and is used to control the working state of the water supply pump 1213.

[0073] Specifically, see Figure 3 , is a flowchart of the work performed by the controller in the first embodiment of the present invention, where the controller 14 is specifically configured to perform steps S11 to S14:

[0074] S11. When a water supply start instruction is received, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0075] S12. Identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters;

[0076] S13, when the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state;

[0077] S14. When the liquid is not water, control the water supply pump to be in a stopped state.

[0078] The ice-making process of the ice maker includes a water supply phase, an ice-making phase, and an ice-removing phase. When the user requests ice-making, an ice-making instruction is input to the refrigerator through a preset human-computer interaction module, causing the refrigerator to enter the ice-making process immediately or at a scheduled time. During the water supply phase, the controller 14 starts or stops the water supply by controlling the operating state of the water supply pump 1213. When the water supply pump 1213 is in operation, the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 can be drawn through the water supply pipe 1212 to the ice-making box 1221 of the ice-making mechanism. When the water supply pump 1213 is in operation, the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 cannot be drawn to the ice-making box 1221.

[0079] In an embodiment of the present invention, when a water supply start instruction is received, the water supply phase begins. The controller 14 first obtains the characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank collected by the sensor 13, and then identifies the type of liquid currently stored in the water supply tank based on the characteristic parameters of the liquid to determine whether the stored liquid is water. If the liquid is water, it indicates that the liquid stored in the water supply tank meets the requirements for ice making. The water supply pump 1213 is then controlled to operate so that the water in the water supply tank 1211 can be directed to the ice making box of the ice making mechanism through the water supply pipe 1212 to enter the subsequent ice making phase. If the liquid is not water, it indicates that the liquid stored in the water supply tank does not meet the requirements for ice making and may have been added by the user to other beverages. The water supply pump 1213 is then controlled or maintained in a stopped state and no water supply operation is performed.

[0080] An embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator equipped with an ice maker and a sensor. The ice maker includes an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump. The water supply pump, when in operation, is configured to direct liquid in the water supply tank through the water supply pipe to the ice-making mechanism. The sensor is configured to detect characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank. Upon receiving a water supply start instruction, the sensor obtains the characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank and identifies the type of liquid in the water supply tank based on the characteristic parameters. When the liquid is water, the sensor controls the water supply pump to operate; when the liquid is not water, the sensor controls the water supply pump to stop operating. By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to first determine the type of liquid stored in the water supply tank during the ice-making water supply stage, and then stop the water supply when the liquid type is not water, thereby preventing liquids other than water from entering the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pump and the water supply pipe, causing the growth of microorganisms in the water supply pipe due to residual liquids other than water, or causing liquids with high solid content to clog the water supply pump, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the refrigerator ice maker, increasing the service life of the refrigerator ice maker, and improving the user experience.

[0081] As a preferred embodiment, see Figure 4 , is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator in a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the refrigerator 10 further includes a reminder device 15. The reminder device 15 is configured to execute a preset reminder operation, thereby pushing corresponding reminder information to the user.

[0082] The reminder device 15 can be configured in the form of a display screen, a voice module, an LED light group or a buzzer. Of course, it can also be a combination of any two or more of the above methods, or it can be other reminder forms, which will not affect the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention.

[0083] See Figure 5, is a flow chart of the work performed by the controller in the second embodiment of the present invention. In step S14, that is, when the liquid is not water, after controlling the water supply pump to be in a stopped state, the controller is further configured to perform step S15:

[0084] S15: Control the reminder device to start running to perform a preset first reminder operation.

[0085] The first reminder operation is used to remind the user that the liquid in the water supply tank is not water. By setting corresponding reminder information, the reminder device 15 is controlled to start and push the reminder content, thereby executing the first reminder operation.

[0086] For example, the reminder device 15 is a display screen mounted on the refrigerator body, and the reminder message is "There is an abnormality in the liquid in the water supply tank," and the display screen is controlled to continuously display the reminder message. Alternatively, the reminder device 15 is a voice module mounted on the refrigerator body, and the reminder message is "There is an abnormality in the liquid in the water supply tank," and the voice module is controlled to continuously broadcast the reminder message.

[0087] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to first determine the type of liquid stored in the water supply tank during the ice-making water supply stage, and then stop the water supply when the liquid type is not water, and push a corresponding reminder message to remind the user to replace the liquid in the water supply tank, thereby preventing liquids other than water from entering the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pump and the water supply pipe, ensuring the normal operation of the refrigerator ice maker, and improving the service life of the refrigerator ice maker.

[0088] As a preferred embodiment, see Figure 6 , is a structural diagram of the refrigerator in the third embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 13 is configured as an odor sensor 20, the odor sensor 20 is arranged in the box body and connected to the water supply tank, the odor sensor 20 is used to detect the odor component of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211, then the characteristic parameter is the odor component, different types of liquids correspond to different odor components, and the odor component detected by the odor sensor 13 for the same type of liquid is almost constant.

[0089] See Figure 7 , is a flow chart of the work performed by the controller in the third embodiment of the present invention. Step S12, i.e., identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters, specifically includes steps S121 to S123:

[0090] S121. Compare the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank with preset standard odor components; wherein the standard odor components refer to the odor components of water;

[0091] S122. When the odor components of the liquid are consistent with the standard odor components, determining that the liquid is water;

[0092] S123. When the odor component of the liquid is inconsistent with the standard odor component, determine that the liquid is not water.

[0093] In this embodiment of the present invention, the odor components of water are pre-detected by the odor sensor 20 and stored as standard odor components. In actual use, the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 are detected by the odor sensor 20. The controller 14 obtains the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 and compares them with the standard odor components. If the odor components are consistent or similar, the controller 14 determines that the liquid stored in the water supply tank 1211 is water. If the odor components are inconsistent, the controller 14 determines that the liquid stored in the water supply tank 1211 is not water.

[0094] It should be noted that the different temperatures of the liquid in the water supply tank have little effect on the odor components of the liquid. The difference in odor components of the same liquid at different temperatures is within a certain error range. Therefore, it can be considered that the liquids corresponding to the odor components within a certain error range belong to the same liquid.

[0095] Preferably, the odor sensor is used to detect the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 and convert them into odor characterization values; then the characteristic parameter is the odor characterization value;

[0096] See Figure 8 , is a flowchart of the work performed by the controller in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Step S12, i.e., identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank based on the characteristic parameters, specifically includes steps S124 to S126:

[0097] S124. Calculate the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and a preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference value; wherein the standard odor characterization value refers to the odor characterization value of water;

[0098] S125. When the odor difference is less than a preset difference threshold, determining that the liquid is water;

[0099] S126: When the odor difference is greater than or equal to a preset difference threshold, determine that the liquid is not water.

[0100] In this embodiment of the present invention, the odor components of the water are pre-detected by the odor sensor 20, converted into odor characterization values, and stored as standard odor characterization values. In actual use, the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 are detected by the odor sensor 20 and converted into odor characterization values. The controller 14 obtains the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211, compares it with the standard odor characterization value, and calculates the difference between the two as the odor difference value Q. Furthermore, a difference threshold Q0 is pre-set to indicate the magnitude of the odor difference value, that is, the degree of difference between the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 and water. When Q < Q0, the liquid stored in the water supply tank is determined to be water. When Q ≥ Q0, the liquid stored in the water supply tank 1211 is determined not to be water.

[0101] It should be noted that the preset difference threshold Q0 is pre-set, and its value can be 0 or close to 0. It is set according to actual conditions and is not specifically limited here.

[0102] More preferably, the odor sensor 20 is composed of a plurality of odor sensing elements, each of which is used to detect the odor component of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 and convert it into an odor representation value.

[0103] The step S124, i.e., calculating the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and the preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference, is specifically:

[0104] Determining a preset standard odor representation value corresponding to each of the odor sensing elements;

[0105] Calculating the difference between the odor representation value detected by each odor sensor element and the corresponding preset standard odor representation value to obtain a plurality of sub-odor difference values;

[0106] The odor difference value is calculated based on all the sub-odor difference values.

[0107] In this embodiment of the present invention, to improve the accuracy of the odor sensor in identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank, the odor sensor 20 includes multiple odor sensing elements, each of which is housed within a single odor sensor. Each odor sensing element is capable of detecting the odor component of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 and converting it into an odor-representing value. The type of each odor sensing element is not particularly limited, and the types of the odor sensing elements can be the same or different.

[0108] Furthermore, each odor sensor detects the odor components of the water in advance, converts them into odor characterization values, and stores them as standard odor characterization values ​​corresponding to each odor sensor. A water odor pattern is formed based on the odor characterization values ​​output by all odor sensor elements.

[0109] In actual application, the odor representation values ​​output by all odor sensing elements are used to form the odor pattern of the liquid. The odor pattern of the liquid is compared with the odor pattern of water to determine the type of liquid. Specifically, the controller 14 calculates the difference between the odor representation value detected by each odor sensing element and the corresponding preset standard odor representation value to obtain a number of sub-odor difference values ​​q n For example, if an odor sensor has 6 odor sensing elements, there are 6 corresponding standard odor characterization values, and 6 sub-odor difference values ​​q are calculated. n , q1, q2, q3, q4, q5, and q6, respectively. Based on all the sub-odor differences, the odor difference value Q is calculated by averaging or summing the differences. The odor difference value is then compared with a preset difference threshold Q0 to determine whether the liquid in the water supply tank 1211 is water.

[0110] It should be noted that the embodiment of the present invention has no particular limitation on the number of odor sensing elements in the odor sensor. For example, three, preferably five or more, odor sensing elements may be installed to improve detection accuracy.

[0111] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, based on the principle that different types of liquids have different odor components, an odor sensor is provided to detect the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank, which are compared with the standard odor components of water, thereby realizing the identification of whether the liquid in the water supply tank is water, effectively improving the accuracy of detecting whether the liquid in the water supply tank is water, and then improving the accuracy of the operation control of the water supply pump, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the refrigerator ice maker.

[0112] As an optional embodiment, after calculating the odor difference, identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameter further includes step S127:

[0113] S127. According to a preset correspondence between the odor difference and the liquid type, determine the liquid type corresponding to the currently calculated odor difference, and obtain the type of liquid currently in the water supply tank.

[0114] In the embodiment of the present invention, a correspondence between odor differences and liquid types is constructed in advance through multiple experiments, so that the specific type of liquid in the water supply tank can be determined based on the calculated odor differences.

[0115] For example, see Figure 9 , is a line diagram of odor characterization values ​​of different types of liquids in an embodiment of the present invention. Taking water, milk, and orange juice as examples, an odor sensor is provided with six odor sensing elements. The horizontal axis in the figure represents the odor sensing elements numbered 1 to 6, and the vertical axis represents the odor characterization value output by each odor sensing element. The measurement results of the odor characterization values ​​of the various liquids are shown in Table 1:

[0116] Table 1

[0117]

[0118]

[0119] As shown in Table 1, taking the sum of the differences between the sub-odor differences as the final odor difference value, the odor difference between milk and water is 0.92, and the odor difference between orange juice and water is 1.39. The odor patterns of orange juice and milk differ from the odor pattern of water. Based on this difference, it is possible to determine whether the liquid injected into the water tank is water, and whether the specific liquid type is orange juice or milk, thereby distinguishing water, orange juice, and milk. It should be noted that in actual applications, the odor pattern of water can be measured multiple times to determine the output difference at that time to determine the difference threshold.

[0120] Optionally, after determining the type of liquid in the water supply tank, corresponding reminder content can be generated according to the type of liquid, and the reminder device can be controlled to start running to perform a preset second reminder operation according to the reminder content, thereby reminding the user what type of liquid has been added to the water supply tank and reminding the user to pay attention or replace it.

[0121] As a preferred embodiment, the embodiment of the present invention optimizes and explains the specific working principle of the odor sensor. The odor sensor 20 is provided with an oscillator, which vibrates at a preset vibration frequency, and the surface of the oscillator is coated with a sensing film for adsorbing odor components. The actual vibration frequency of the oscillator changes with the change of the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank 1211; then the odor characterization value is the actual oscillation frequency of the oscillator.

[0122] In this embodiment of the present invention, the odor sensor 20 is equipped with an oscillator. If the oscillator is set to vibrate at a certain frequency, when odor molecules of different odor components are adsorbed onto the oscillator, the oscillator's vibration frequency changes, causing the actual vibration frequency to differ from the preset vibration frequency. This type of sensor element outputs this vibration frequency change as a signal, which serves as a numerical value representing the odor.

[0123] Furthermore, the surface of the oscillator is coated with a sensitive film for absorbing odor components. This film is designed to absorb odor components from different liquids, improving detection accuracy. This sensitive film is a polymer film with different adsorption characteristics for each odor component. If there are multiple odor sensor elements, each sensor element outputs a different signal for each odor component, resulting in multiple signals. These multiple signals form a specific odor pattern for each odor component.

[0124] As a preferred embodiment, see Figure 10 , is a structural schematic diagram of the odor sensor in an embodiment of the present invention, the odor sensor 20 includes an odor sensor body 21, an odor suction pump 22 and an odor suction tube 23; the odor sensor body 21 is arranged in the box body 11, one end of the odor suction tube 23 is connected to the odor sensor body 21, and the other end of the odor suction tube 23 is detachably connected to the opening of the water supply tank; the odor suction pump 22 is arranged on the odor suction tube 23, and is used to attract odor components of the liquid.

[0125] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, the odor sensor body 21 and the water supply tank are connected through the odor suction tube 23, so that the water supply tank can be disassembled, which is convenient for users to add water or clean.

[0126] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an ice making machine, comprising:

[0127] The ice-making machine body is provided with an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump. The ice-making mechanism is used to make ice, the water supply tank is used to store water, one end of the water supply pipe is connected to the opening of the water supply tank, and the other end is connected to the opening of the ice-making box of the ice-making mechanism. The water supply pump is provided on the water supply pipe and is used to guide the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe when in operation.

[0128] a sensor, provided on the ice maker body and connected to the opening of the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0129] Controller for:

[0130] When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0131] identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters;

[0132] When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state;

[0133] When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

[0134] As a preferred embodiment, the ice maker further includes a reminder device; after controlling the water supply pump to be in a stopped state when the liquid is not water, the controller is further configured to:

[0135] The reminder device is controlled to start running to execute a preset first reminder operation.

[0136] As a preferred embodiment, the sensor is configured as an odor sensor, and the characteristic parameter is an odor component;

[0137] Then, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified according to the characteristic parameters, specifically:

[0138] Comparing the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank with a preset standard odor component; wherein the standard odor component refers to the odor component of water;

[0139] When the odor components of the liquid are consistent with the standard odor components, the liquid is determined to be water;

[0140] When the odor components of the liquid are inconsistent with the standard odor components, it is determined that the liquid is not water.

[0141] As a preferred embodiment, the sensor is configured as an odor sensor, which is used to detect the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank and convert them into odor representation values; the characteristic parameter is the odor representation value;

[0142] Then, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified according to the characteristic parameters, specifically:

[0143] Calculating the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and a preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference value; wherein the standard odor characterization value refers to the odor characterization value of water;

[0144] When the odor difference is less than a preset difference threshold, determining that the liquid is water;

[0145] When the odor difference is greater than or equal to a preset difference threshold, it is determined that the liquid is not water.

[0146] Preferably, the odor sensor is composed of a plurality of odor sensing elements, each of which is used to detect the odor component of the liquid in the water supply tank and convert it into an odor representation value;

[0147] The calculation of the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and the preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference is specifically as follows:

[0148] Determining a preset standard odor representation value corresponding to each of the odor sensing elements;

[0149] Calculating the difference between the odor representation value detected by each odor sensor element and the corresponding preset standard odor representation value to obtain a plurality of sub-odor difference values;

[0150] The odor difference value is calculated based on all the sub-odor difference values.

[0151] Preferably, after calculating the odor difference, identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameter further includes:

[0152] According to the preset correspondence between the odor difference and the liquid type, the liquid type corresponding to the currently calculated odor difference is determined to obtain the type of liquid currently in the water supply tank.

[0153] As a preferred embodiment, the odor sensor is provided with an oscillator, which vibrates at a preset vibration frequency, and the surface of the oscillator is coated with a sensing film for adsorbing odor components. The actual vibration frequency of the oscillator changes with the change of the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank; then the odor characterization value is the actual oscillation frequency of the oscillator.

[0154] As a preferred embodiment, the odor sensor includes an odor sensor body, an odor suction pump and an odor suction tube; the odor sensor body is arranged on the ice maker body, one end of the odor suction tube is connected to the odor sensor body, and the other end of the odor suction tube is detachably connected to the opening of the water supply tank; the odor suction pump is arranged on the odor suction tube for attracting odor components of the liquid.

[0155] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to first determine the type of liquid stored in the water supply tank during the ice making water supply stage, and then stop the water supply when the liquid type is not water, thereby preventing liquids other than water from entering the ice making mechanism through the water supply pump and the water supply pipe, causing the growth of microorganisms in the water supply pipe due to residual liquids other than water, or causing liquids with high solid content to clog the water supply pump, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the ice maker, extending the service life of the ice maker, and improving the user experience.

[0156] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an operation control method for an ice maker, which is applied to an ice maker, the ice maker comprising:

[0157] The ice maker body is provided with an ice making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe and a water supply pump. The water supply pump is used to guide the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice making mechanism through the water supply pipe when in operation;

[0158] a sensor, provided on the ice maker body and connected to the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0159] The method comprises:

[0160] When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank;

[0161] identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters;

[0162] When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state;

[0163] When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

[0164] It should be noted that the operating method of an ice maker provided in an embodiment of the present invention is identical to all process steps executed by the controller of an ice maker in the above embodiment, and the working principles and beneficial effects of the two correspond one to one, so they will not be described in detail.

[0165] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all or part of the processes in the above-described method embodiments can be implemented by instructing related hardware through a computer program. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, the program can include the processes in the above-described method embodiments. The storage medium can be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM).

[0166] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that: include: Box; an ice maker, disposed within the housing, comprising an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump; the ice-making mechanism is used to make ice; the water supply tank is used to store water; one end of the water supply pipe is connected to an opening of the water supply tank, and the other end is connected to an opening of an ice-making box of the ice-making mechanism; the water supply pump is disposed on the water supply pipe and is used to guide liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe when the water pump is in operation; a sensor, disposed in the box body and connected to the opening of the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank; Controller for: When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank; identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters; When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state; When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The refrigerator further includes a reminder device; After controlling the water supply pump to be in a stopped state when the liquid is not water, the controller is further configured to: The reminding device is controlled to start running to execute a preset first reminding operation.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The sensor is configured as an odor sensor, and the characteristic parameter is an odor component; Then, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified according to the characteristic parameters, specifically: Comparing the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank with a preset standard odor component; wherein the standard odor component refers to the odor component of water; When the odor components of the liquid are consistent with the standard odor components, the liquid is determined to be water; When the odor components of the liquid are inconsistent with the standard odor components, it is determined that the liquid is not water.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The sensor is configured as an odor sensor, and the odor sensor is used to detect the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank and convert them into odor representation values; the characteristic parameter is the odor representation value; Then, the type of liquid in the water supply tank is identified according to the characteristic parameters, specifically: Calculating the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and a preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference value; wherein the standard odor characterization value refers to the odor characterization value of water; When the odor difference is less than a preset difference threshold, determining that the liquid is water; When the odor difference is greater than or equal to a preset difference threshold, it is determined that the liquid is not water.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein: The odor sensor is composed of a plurality of odor sensing elements, each of which is used to detect the odor component of the liquid in the water supply tank and convert it into an odor representation value; The calculation of the difference between the odor characterization value of the liquid in the water supply tank and the preset standard odor characterization value as the odor difference is specifically as follows: Determining a preset standard odor representation value corresponding to each of the odor sensing elements; Calculating the difference between the odor representation value detected by each odor sensor element and the corresponding preset standard odor representation value to obtain a plurality of sub-odor difference values; The odor difference value is calculated based on all the sub-odor difference values.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein: After calculating the odor difference, identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameter further includes: According to the preset correspondence between the odor difference and the liquid type, the liquid type corresponding to the currently calculated odor difference is determined to obtain the type of liquid currently in the water supply tank.

7. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The odor sensor is provided with an oscillator that vibrates at a preset frequency, and the surface of the oscillator is coated with a sensing film for adsorbing odor components. The actual vibration frequency of the oscillator changes with the change of the odor components of the liquid in the water supply tank; the odor characterization value is the actual oscillation frequency of the oscillator.

8. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The odor sensor includes an odor sensor body, an odor suction pump and an odor suction tube; the odor sensor body is arranged in the box body, one end of the odor suction tube is connected to the odor sensor body, and the other end of the odor suction tube is detachably connected to the opening of the water supply tank; the odor suction pump is arranged on the odor suction tube, and is used to attract the odor components of the liquid.

9. An ice making machine, characterized in that: include: The ice-making machine body is provided with an ice-making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe, and a water supply pump. The ice-making mechanism is used to make ice, the water supply tank is used to store water, one end of the water supply pipe is connected to the opening of the water supply tank, and the other end is connected to the opening of the ice-making box of the ice-making mechanism. The water supply pump is provided on the water supply pipe and is used to guide the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice-making mechanism through the water supply pipe when the water pump is in operation. a sensor, provided on the ice maker body and connected to the opening of the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank; Controller for: When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank; identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters; When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state; When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

10. An operation control method for an ice making machine, characterized in that: The ice making machine comprises: The ice maker body is provided with an ice making mechanism, a water supply tank, a water supply pipe and a water supply pump. The water supply pump is used to guide the liquid in the water supply tank to the ice making mechanism through the water supply pipe when in operation; a sensor, provided on the ice maker body and connected to the water supply tank, for detecting characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank; The method comprises: When receiving a water supply start instruction, obtaining characteristic parameters of the liquid in the water supply tank; identifying the type of liquid in the water supply tank according to the characteristic parameters; When the liquid is water, controlling the water supply pump to be in a running state; When the liquid is not water, the water supply pump is controlled to be in a stopped state.

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