Refrigerator and damper control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a refrigerator and a damper control method thereof. A strain sensor is installed at a damper of the refrigerator to detect a strain value of the damper. Since the fixed base of the damper will be deformed when the damper is stuck, the real-time strain value of the damper is detected by the strain sensor at this time, and the real-time strain value is compared with a preset strain threshold value, so that whether the damper is stuck can be determined. In addition, for the quarter bridge strain sensor without a temperature compensation sheet, according to the thermal expansion and contraction principle, when the temperature is relatively high, the strain value of the damper when not stuck is also relatively large, at this time, the corresponding strain threshold value should also be relatively large, on the contrary, when the temperature is relatively low, the corresponding strain threshold value is relatively small. The application selects the corresponding strain threshold value in combination with the real-time temperature of the refrigerator, so that when the real-time strain value is greater than or equal to the strain threshold value, the damper is controlled to stop running, so that the noise generated by the damper due to the sticking disappears, and the introduction of the temperature to select the corresponding strain threshold value can improve the accuracy of determining whether the damper is stuck.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The refrigerator damper is the internal door of a refrigerator, and its main function is to regulate the temperature and humidity inside the refrigerator. When the damper is closed, air cannot circulate inside the refrigerator, thus maintaining a lower temperature and humidity. When the damper is open, cold air can flow into the refrigerator, lowering the internal temperature and regulating the humidity. The opening and closing of the damper is generally controlled by the internal temperature controller. Existing refrigerator products have a problem where damper malfunctions cause noise. This is due to the damper's uncertain position before resetting. To ensure a complete reset, the reset signal will travel several steps. When the damper reaches the mechanical limit, a "clicking" sound will be heard at the limit until all the extra steps are completed. The sound of the damper sticking out is relatively loud, increasing the overall noise of the refrigerator. Current refrigerator technology has few solutions for damper noise control, and none of them effectively address the noise problem caused by damper sticking out. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator and its damper control method, which can effectively solve the noise problem caused by damper jamming.

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

[0005] A box body, in which a storage compartment is formed, the storage compartment including at least a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment;

[0006] The cabinet door is used to open and close the storage room;

[0007] An air damper, located inside the housing, is used to inject cold air into the storage compartment when its opening is adjusted. The air damper includes a fixed base and a rotating element mounted on the fixed base. The opening of the air damper is adjusted by rotating the rotating element.

[0008] A strain sensor is located on one side of the fixed base and is used to detect the strain value of the damper;

[0009] A temperature sensor is installed in the storage room to detect the real-time temperature of the storage room;

[0010] The controller is configured as follows:

[0011] In response to the damper opening adjustment operation, the strain sensor detects the real-time strain value and the preset strain threshold.

[0012] When the real-time strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to stop operating.

[0013] As an improvement to the above solution, the strain sensor includes a full-bridge strain sensor and a half-bridge strain sensor using temperature compensation plates, as well as a quarter-bridge strain sensor without temperature compensation plates; therefore,

[0014] When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is a preset fixed value;

[0015] When the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is selected based on the real-time temperature of the storage chamber.

[0016] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller is further configured to:

[0017] In response to the power-on operation or defrost recovery operation of the refrigerator, a number of reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor are acquired.

[0018] Data preprocessing was performed on several reference strain values ​​to remove outlier data;

[0019] The average value is the average of several reference strain values ​​after data preprocessing.

[0020] When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the average strain value is used as the fixed value;

[0021] When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain ratio corresponding to the real-time temperature of the storage chamber is obtained; the product of the average strain value and the strain ratio is calculated as the strain threshold; wherein the strain ratio is directly proportional to the real-time temperature.

[0022] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller is further configured to:

[0023] Check the activation status of the functional modules in the refrigerator;

[0024] When all functional modules are not activated, the strain threshold is kept constant.

[0025] When at least one functional module is activated, if the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the fixed value is adjusted according to the number of functional modules activated; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the corresponding multiple adjustment value is determined according to the number of functional modules activated, the multiple adjustment value is superimposed on the strain multiple, and the strain threshold is recalculated based on the strain multiple after the multiple adjustment value is superimposed.

[0026] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller is further configured to:

[0027] Get the rotational speed of the fan in the refrigerator;

[0028] If the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the fixed value is adjusted; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain factor is adjusted according to the rotational speed of the fan; wherein the rotational speed is directly proportional to the strain factor.

[0029] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller is further configured to:

[0030] When the duration of the damper's operation reaches a preset threshold for the duration of the operation, the damper self-test program is initiated.

[0031] As the damper continues to operate for one more step, the real-time strain value of the damper continues to be acquired;

[0032] When the real-time strain value exceeds the strain threshold, the self-test program exits.

[0033] If the real-time strain value does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to continue operating for one more step. If the real-time strain value still does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to start.

[0034] To achieve the above objectives, this invention also provides a refrigerator damper control method. The refrigerator includes a strain sensor and a damper. The damper is used to inject cold air into the storage compartment when its opening is adjusted. The damper includes a fixed base and a rotating element mounted on the fixed base. The opening of the damper is adjusted by rotating the rotating element. The strain sensor is located on one side of the fixed base and is used to detect the strain value of the damper. The method includes:

[0035] In response to the damper opening adjustment operation, the strain sensor detects the real-time strain value and the preset strain threshold.

[0036] When the real-time strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to stop operating.

[0037] As an improvement to the above solution, the strain sensor includes a full-bridge strain sensor and a half-bridge strain sensor using temperature compensation plates, as well as a quarter-bridge strain sensor without temperature compensation plates; therefore,

[0038] When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is a preset fixed value;

[0039] When the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is selected based on the real-time temperature of the storage chamber.

[0040] As an improvement to the above solution, the method further includes:

[0041] In response to the power-on operation or defrost recovery operation of the refrigerator, a number of reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor are acquired.

[0042] Data preprocessing was performed on several reference strain values ​​to remove outlier data;

[0043] The average value is the average of several reference strain values ​​after data preprocessing.

[0044] When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the average strain value is used as the fixed value;

[0045] When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain ratio corresponding to the real-time temperature of the storage chamber is obtained; the product of the average strain value and the strain ratio is calculated as the strain threshold; wherein the strain ratio is directly proportional to the real-time temperature.

[0046] As an improvement to the above solution, the method further includes:

[0047] When the duration of the damper's operation reaches a preset threshold for the duration of the operation, the damper self-test program is initiated.

[0048] As the damper continues to operate for one more step, the real-time strain value of the damper continues to be acquired;

[0049] When the real-time strain value exceeds the strain threshold, the self-test program exits.

[0050] If the real-time strain value does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to continue operating for one more step. If the real-time strain value still does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to start.

[0051] Compared to related technologies, this invention discloses a refrigerator and its damper control method. A strain sensor is installed at the refrigerator's damper to detect the damper's strain value. Since the damper's fixed base deforms when it jams, the strain sensor detects the real-time strain value and compares it with a preset strain threshold to determine if damper jamming has occurred. Furthermore, for quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates, due to thermal expansion and contraction, the strain value of the damper is larger at higher temperatures even without jamming, requiring a larger strain threshold. Conversely, the strain threshold is smaller at lower temperatures. This invention combines the refrigerator's real-time temperature to select the corresponding strain threshold. Therefore, when the detected real-time strain value is greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper stops operating, eliminating noise caused by damper jamming. Introducing temperature-based selection of the strain threshold for quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates improves the accuracy of determining damper jamming. Furthermore, the present invention also takes into account the impact of vibration of the functional modules in the refrigerator on the strain sensor during operation, as well as the impact of wind force generated by the fan speed on the strain sensor. Different strain threshold adjustment methods are adopted for different influencing factors, which can further improve the accuracy of judging whether the damper is stuck. Attached Figure Description

[0052] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the refrigeration system in a refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0055] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air vent in the refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 5 This is another structural schematic diagram of the air damper in the refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the strain sensor provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 7 This is a first working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 8 This is a second working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 9 This is a third workflow diagram of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 10 This is the fourth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0062] Figure 11 This is the fifth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0063] Figure 12 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator damper control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] Among them, 100 is the refrigerator; 10 is the damper; 101 is the fixed base; 102 is the rotating element; 103 is the strain sensor; 1 is the compressor; 2 is the evaporator; 3 is the capillary tube; and 4 is the condenser. Detailed Implementation

[0065] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0066] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0067] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0068] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0069] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 100 of this embodiment has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space and multiple doors located at the opening of the cabinet. Each door includes a door shell located outside the cabinet, a door inner liner located inside the cabinet, an upper cover, a lower cover, and an insulation layer located between the door shell, door inner liner, upper cover, and lower cover; typically, the insulation layer is filled with foam material. The cabinet has chambers, including component storage chambers for placing refrigerator components, such as a compressor compartment, and storage space for storing food, etc. See also... Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The storage space can be divided into multiple storage compartments. Depending on their purpose, these compartments can be configured as refrigerator compartments and freezer compartments, and may also include variable temperature compartments, vacuum drawers, humidifier drawers, etc. Each storage compartment corresponds to one or more doors, for example, in... Figure 1 The upper storage compartment features double doors. These doors can pivot at the opening of the refrigerator body or open like drawers for drawer-style storage. A display screen is located on the refrigerator door, used to display prompts and receive user touch input.

[0070] See Figure 3 , Figure 3The present invention provides a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system in a refrigerator. The refrigeration system includes a compressor 1, an evaporator 2, a dryer filter (not shown in the figure), a capillary tube 3, a condenser 4, and a gas-liquid separator (not shown in the figure). The working process of the refrigeration system includes a compression process, a condensation process, a throttling process, and an evaporation process. The compression process is as follows: when the refrigerator power cord is plugged in and the thermostat contacts are closed, the compressor 1 starts working. Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 1 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure superheated gas in the cylinder of the compressor 1 before being discharged into the condenser 4. The condensation process is as follows: the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 4, and the temperature continuously decreases, gradually cooling into room-temperature, high-pressure saturated vapor, and further cooling into saturated liquid. The temperature no longer decreases; this temperature is called the condensation temperature. The pressure of the refrigerant remains almost constant throughout the condensation process. The flow process is as follows: After condensation, the saturated liquid refrigerant flows into capillary tube 3 after being filtered by a dryer to remove moisture and impurities. Through capillary tube 3, the refrigerant is throttled and depressurized, becoming room temperature, low pressure wet vapor. The evaporation process is as follows: The room temperature, low pressure wet vapor begins to absorb heat and vaporize in evaporator 2, which not only lowers the temperature of evaporator 2 and its surroundings, but also turns the refrigerant into a low temperature, low pressure gas. The refrigerant coming out of evaporator 2 passes through a gas-liquid separator and returns to compressor 1. The above process is repeated to transfer the heat inside the refrigerator to the outside air, thus achieving the purpose of refrigeration.

[0071] See Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the air vent 10 in the refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The air vent is a door inside the refrigerator and is located inside the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes at least one air vent. Its main function is to regulate the temperature and humidity inside the refrigerator. When the air vent is closed, the air inside the refrigerator cannot circulate, thereby maintaining a lower temperature and lower humidity. When the air vent is open, cold air can flow into the refrigerator, lowering the temperature inside the refrigerator and regulating the humidity inside the refrigerator. The opening and closing of the air damper is generally controlled by the internal temperature controller of the refrigerator. It is used to inject cold air into the storage compartment by adjusting its opening degree. The air damper 10 includes a fixed base 101 and a rotating element 102 mounted on the fixed base 101. The fixed base 101 has a locking part for engaging the rotating element 102. The rotating element 102 has a sheet-like structure (with a certain thickness). The fixed base 101 has a hollow part corresponding to the rotating element 102. The air damper 10 receives control commands from the controller and uses a drive motor to adjust the opening degree of the air damper by rotating the rotating element 102, thereby regulating the amount of cold air in the storage compartment. For example, when the air damper 10 is open, the rotating element 102 is at its maximum opening angle, and cold air flows into the storage compartment through the hollow part. When the air damper 10 is closed, see... Figure 5At this time, the rotating element 102 is engaged with the hollow part, the hollow part is filled, and the cold air cannot enter the storage room.

[0072] See Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the strain sensor 103 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The strain sensor 103 is a sensor capable of measuring the strain of an object. The strain (strain value) refers to the degree of deformation of an object when subjected to force. The strain sensor 103 can convert this deformation into an electrical signal output, thereby realizing the measurement of the strain of the object. The strain sensor 103 is typically composed of a strain gauge, a bridge circuit, and a signal amplifier. In strain measurement, temperature compensation is required for full-bridge and half-bridge circuits because the resistance value of the strain sensor changes with temperature, which can cause the balance state of the bridge to shift, thus affecting the accuracy of the measurement results. To solve this problem, a temperature compensation is needed to compensate for the influence of the temperature change of the strain sensor on the balance state of the bridge, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the measurement results. A quarter-bridge circuit usually does not require a temperature compensation because its output signal is smaller and less affected by temperature, and it is usually only used to measure low-precision strain. Figure 6 The image shows one mounting position of the strain sensor 103. The strain sensor 103 should not be placed directly under the pressure of the damper, as this will damage the strain gauge over time. Therefore, placing it on the back of the fixed base 101 can identify the corresponding strain and is more conducive to long-term use.

[0073] It is worth noting that the strain sensors include full-bridge strain sensors and half-bridge strain sensors using temperature compensation plates, as well as quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates. When selecting a testing method based on the product, the quarter-bridge strain sensor must consider the strain changes caused by temperature variations (even if the strain change caused by temperature is small, it should still be considered). Therefore, different threshold settings will be required for different temperature ranges. Furthermore, considering that the damper controls the temperature of the refrigerator compartments, there will be significant temperature differences between different compartments, such as freezing and refrigeration. Therefore, when using a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the threshold value must be set according to which compartment the strain sensor is located in. In other words, the two sensors may have different threshold settings, based on temperature determination. If a half-bridge or full-bridge testing method is used, a temperature compensation plate is available. The temperature compensation plate only needs to be attached to the same material in the same compartment where no stress is applied. This method eliminates the need to set a threshold value based on the compartment temperature; only a uniform strain threshold value needs to be set because the temperature compensation eliminates temperature errors.

[0074] This invention addresses noise issues identified through NPS (Noise, Power, and Stress) investigations. Researchers analyzed the noise levels of several problematic prototypes and discovered that a portion of the noise stemmed from damper jamming noise. To address this, a strain sensor was introduced to detect damper movement. The cause of damper jamming noise is the uncertainty of the damper's position before reset. To ensure complete reset, the reset signal travels several extra steps. When the damper reaches its mechanical limit (e.g., maximum opening or closed position), a "clicking" sound occurs at the limit until the extra steps are completed. This invention utilizes the strain sensor 103 to identify the damper's strain value. When damper jamming occurs, the strain sensor detects the drastic strain change and feeds this feedback to the control system, assisting in damper control and preventing jamming. For example, the damper needs to be adjusted to its maximum opening. Ideally, the damper can reach its maximum opening position after running 10 steps. However, in order to ensure that the damper can reach its maximum opening, the controller gives 12 steps. If the damper can no longer operate when it reaches 10 steps, but the rotating element 102 needs to continue to rotate, the fixed base 101 will be squeezed and deformed, its force will increase, and the corresponding dependent variable will increase. At this time, the strain sensor will identify the change in strain value, and the controller can know that the damper is stuck.

[0075] Specifically, the controller in the refrigerator is configured to, in response to the damper opening adjustment operation, acquire the real-time strain value detected by the strain sensor and a preset strain threshold; when the detected real-time strain value is greater than or equal to the strain threshold, control the damper to stop operating.

[0076] For example, see Figure 7 , Figure 7This is a first working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is configured to execute steps S11 to S15. When it is detected that the damper is about to adjust its opening, the controller acquires the real-time strain value detected by the strain sensor and the strain threshold. When the real-time strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the controller stops the damper, thereby eliminating the noise caused by the damper jamming. It is worth noting that the damper opening adjustment process is executed by the controller in the refrigerator. If the cooling speed of the refrigerator compartment is too slow and the amount of cold air entering the refrigerator compartment needs to be increased, the controller needs to send a control command to the drive motor to increase the damper opening, causing the drive motor to rotate and drive the rotating element 102 to rotate, thereby increasing the damper opening. Therefore, the controller itself can sense when the damper needs to adjust its opening. When the strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the controller stops the damper to avoid significant noise increase due to jamming. After the damper stops, the controller proceeds to the subsequent steps S16 to S21 for judgment logic.

[0077] Specifically, the strain sensor includes a full-bridge strain sensor and a half-bridge strain sensor using a temperature compensation plate, as well as a quarter-bridge strain sensor without a temperature compensation plate; when the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is a preset fixed value; when the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is selected based on the real-time temperature of the storage room.

[0078] For example, see Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a second working flowchart of the controller in the refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the controller is configured to execute steps S31 to S35.

[0079] Furthermore, in addition to considering the influence of temperature on the quarter-bridge strain sensor, this embodiment of the invention also adjusts the strain threshold to account for the temperature-induced expansion and contraction of the damper structure itself. The adjustment method is as follows: When it is detected that the damper is about to adjust its opening, the real-time temperature of the storage chamber corresponding to the damper and the real-time strain value detected by the strain sensor are obtained. Due to the material of the damper structure itself (such as hard plastic or rubber), it will expand when heated. At high temperatures, the entire damper structure will expand under the action of high temperature. At this time, a slight squeezing will occur at the engagement position between the rotating element 102 and the fixed base 101. The damper experiences pressure phenomena, so its strain value is relatively large when it is not stuck. Therefore, a larger strain threshold should be set accordingly (i.e., an adjustment value that increases with temperature is added to the original strain threshold). Conversely, at lower temperatures, the damper does not experience thermal expansion (due to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the damper will return to its original shape), and the corresponding strain threshold is smaller. Therefore, it is necessary to select the appropriate strain threshold based on the refrigerator's real-time temperature. When the detected real-time strain value is greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to stop operating, thus eliminating the noise caused by damper jamming. Introducing temperature-based selection of the appropriate strain threshold improves the accuracy of determining whether damper jamming has occurred.

[0080] Specifically, the controller is further configured to: in response to the power-on operation or defrost recovery operation of the refrigerator, acquire several reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor; perform data preprocessing on the several reference strain values ​​to remove abnormal data; take the average value of the several reference strain values ​​after data preprocessing as the average strain value; when the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, use the average strain value as the fixed value; when the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, acquire the strain multiple corresponding to the real-time temperature of the storage compartment; calculate the product of the average strain value and the strain multiple as the strain threshold; wherein the strain multiple is directly proportional to the real-time temperature.

[0081] For example, see Figure 9 , Figure 9This is a third workflow diagram of the controller in a refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is configured to execute steps S101 to S109. In steps S101 to S104, once the damper passes through, the damper applies a continuous force to the wall, resulting in consistently high strain on the wall. Therefore, the instantaneous strain peak can be eliminated. During the stable operation phase after the refrigerator is powered on or defrosted, several reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor are averaged to obtain the average strain value. In this process, the collected data is filtered to remove abnormal data. In steps S105 to S106, when the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the average strain value is used as the fixed value (strain threshold). In steps S107 to S109, when the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, it is necessary to obtain the corresponding strain threshold based on the temperature change. When selecting a test method based on the product, the quarter-bridge needs to consider the strain change caused by temperature changes. Therefore, different threshold settings will be used at different temperature levels. Also, considering that the damper is a structure that controls the temperature of the refrigerator compartments, there will be significant temperature differences between different compartments during refrigerator application, such as freezing and refrigeration. Therefore, when using a quarter-bridge, the corresponding threshold should be set according to which compartment the strain sensor is located in. The strain threshold M = N * a; where M is the threshold, a is the average strain value within 5 minutes under steady-state conditions, and N is the strain multiple, generally ranging from 5 to 20, which varies depending on the temperature level. Table 1 shows the temperature changes of the storage compartment at different temperature levels in this embodiment of the invention.

[0082] Table 1. Temperature variations in the refrigerator compartment at different settings

[0083]

[0084] Table 1 shows an example of the temperature control mode of a prototype. The damper operation is mainly based on the product temperature threshold moment. The damper is opened to input or stop the input of cold energy. Therefore, we only need to calculate the strain threshold at the stop and start time of the corresponding temperature range.

[0085] It is worth noting that the above control mode is only the basic judgment logic for damper control. This mode needs to be embedded into the refrigerator's overall operation control. This is because the product's load varies throughout its operating cycle, potentially altering the fan speed or the load on other equipment. Since the strain sensor is placed at the damper, and strain measurement itself is a very small quantity (με), even a small force can cause strain changes, such as the force of air blowing on the damper. Therefore, in this embodiment of the invention, in addition to considering the impact of the real-time temperature (thermal expansion and contraction) of the refrigerator compartment on the strain threshold value, the influence of the refrigerator's functional modules and fan speed also needs to be considered.

[0086] Specifically, the controller is further configured to: detect the activation status of functional modules in the refrigerator; when all functional modules are not activated, control the strain threshold to remain unchanged; when at least one functional module is activated, if the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, adjust the fixed value according to the number of activated functional modules; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, determine the corresponding multiple adjustment value according to the number of activated functional modules, add the multiple adjustment value to the strain multiple, and recalculate the strain threshold based on the strain multiple after adding the multiple adjustment value.

[0087] For example, the functional modules include additional functional modules besides refrigeration, such as ice makers, humidifiers, and sterilization devices. When these functional modules are operating, they often experience significant vibrations, such as those in ice makers. The transmission of these vibrations affects the strain at the strain gauge locations, increasing it. Therefore, the strain threshold for the functional module during operation needs to be increased by a certain factor. See [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is the fourth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is further configured to execute steps S201 to S207. If the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the fixed value is adjusted according to the number of functional modules activated, and the fixed value increases as the number of activations increases. If the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain ratio is adjusted by adding an additional ratio adjustment value to the original strain ratio. In this case, the strain threshold M = (N + S) * a, where S is the ratio adjustment value. It is worth noting that the specific increase in the fixed value and the specific value of the ratio adjustment value can be obtained through laboratory testing and are not specifically limited here.

[0088] Specifically, the controller is further configured to: acquire the rotational speed of the fan in the refrigerator; if the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, adjust the fixed value; wherein the rotational speed is directly proportional to the fixed value. If the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, adjust the strain factor according to the rotational speed of the fan; wherein the rotational speed is directly proportional to the strain factor.

[0089] For example, different thresholds need to be set for different products with different fan speeds. This is because different fan speeds result in different forces blowing on the damper, which in turn leads to significant changes in the strain stability value at the steady moment.

[0090] Specifically, the controller is further configured to: enter a damper self-test program when the duration of the damper's stop operation reaches a preset stop operation duration threshold; continue to acquire the real-time strain value of the damper when the damper continues to operate one step; exit the self-test program when the real-time strain value exceeds the strain threshold; control the damper to continue operating one step when the real-time strain value does not exceed the strain threshold; and control the damper to start when the real-time strain value still does not exceed the strain threshold.

[0091] For example, see Figure 11 , Figure 11 This is the fifth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. After executing step S15, the controller is further configured to execute steps S16 to S21. The damper self-check is mainly to determine whether the damper has reached the target position. If it runs beyond the threshold, it means that it has reached the target position, which is 90 degrees, and it can stop and wait for the next damper operation command. If it does not exceed the threshold, it means that it may have only run to the 45-degree position due to strain changes caused by external factors, so it runs again until it reaches the 90-degree position. The jamming problem solved in this article is the noise problem caused by the continuous collision of the damper frame during damper movement. If the monitoring does not exceed the threshold, for example, at the 45-degree position, then there will be no jamming phenomenon when running again.

[0092] Compared to related technologies, the refrigerator disclosed in this invention has a strain sensor installed at the air vent to detect the strain value of the air vent. Since the air vent's mounting base deforms when it jams, the strain sensor detects the real-time strain value and compares it with a preset strain threshold to determine if the air vent is jammed. Furthermore, for quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates, due to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the strain value of the air vent is larger at higher temperatures even when it is not jammed, requiring a larger strain threshold. Conversely, the strain threshold is smaller at lower temperatures. This invention combines the refrigerator's real-time temperature to select the corresponding strain threshold. Therefore, when the detected real-time strain value is greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the air vent stops operating, eliminating noise caused by jamming. Introducing temperature to select the corresponding strain threshold for quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates improves the accuracy of determining whether the air vent is jammed. Furthermore, the present invention also takes into account the impact of vibration of the functional modules in the refrigerator on the strain sensor during operation, as well as the impact of wind force generated by the fan speed on the strain sensor. Different strain threshold adjustment methods are adopted for different influencing factors, which can further improve the accuracy of judging whether the damper is stuck.

[0093] See Figure 12 , Figure 12 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator damper control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator is equipped with a strain sensor and a damper. The damper is used to inject cold air into the storage compartment when its opening is adjusted. The damper includes a fixed base and a rotating element disposed on the fixed base. The opening of the damper is adjusted by rotating the rotating element. The strain sensor is disposed on one side of the fixed base and is used to detect the strain value of the damper. The method includes:

[0094] S1. In response to the damper opening adjustment operation, acquire the real-time strain value detected by the strain sensor and the preset strain threshold.

[0095] S2. When the real-time strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to stop operating.

[0096] Specifically, the strain sensor includes a full-bridge strain sensor and a half-bridge strain sensor using a temperature compensation plate, as well as a quarter-bridge strain sensor without a temperature compensation plate; when the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is a preset fixed value; when the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is selected based on the real-time temperature of the storage room.

[0097] Specifically, the method further includes: in response to the power-on operation or defrost recovery operation of the refrigerator, acquiring a number of reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor; performing data preprocessing on the number of reference strain values ​​to remove abnormal data; taking the average value of the number of reference strain values ​​after data preprocessing as the average strain value; when the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, using the average strain value as the fixed value; when the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, acquiring the strain multiple corresponding to the real-time temperature of the storage compartment; calculating the product of the average strain value and the strain multiple as the strain threshold; wherein the strain multiple is directly proportional to the real-time temperature.

[0098] Specifically, the method further includes: detecting the activation status of functional modules in the refrigerator; when all functional modules are not activated, controlling the strain threshold to remain unchanged; when at least one functional module is activated, if the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, adjusting the fixed value according to the number of activated functional modules; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, determining the corresponding multiple adjustment value according to the number of activated functional modules, superimposing the multiple adjustment value on the strain multiple, and recalculating the strain threshold based on the strain multiple after superimposing the multiple adjustment value.

[0099] Specifically, the method further includes: obtaining the rotational speed of the fan in the refrigerator; if the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, adjusting the fixed value; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, adjusting the strain factor according to the rotational speed of the fan; wherein the rotational speed is directly proportional to the strain factor.

[0100] Specifically, the method further includes: when the duration of the damper's stop operation reaches a preset stop operation duration threshold, entering the damper self-test program; when the damper continues to operate one step, continuing to acquire the real-time strain value of the damper; when the real-time strain value exceeds the strain threshold, exiting the self-test program 2; when the real-time strain value does not exceed the strain threshold, controlling the damper to continue operating one step; and when the real-time strain value still does not exceed the strain threshold, controlling the damper to start.

[0101] Compared to related technologies, the refrigerator damper control method disclosed in this invention installs a strain sensor at the refrigerator damper to detect the strain value of the damper. Since the damper's fixed base deforms when it jams, the strain sensor detects the real-time strain value and compares it with a preset strain threshold to determine whether the damper is jammed. Furthermore, for quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates, due to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the strain value of the damper is larger at higher temperatures even when it is not jammed, requiring a larger strain threshold. Conversely, the strain threshold is smaller at lower temperatures. This invention combines the refrigerator's real-time temperature to select the corresponding strain threshold. Therefore, when the detected real-time strain value is greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is stopped, eliminating noise caused by damper jamming. Introducing temperature to select the corresponding strain threshold for quarter-bridge strain sensors without temperature compensation plates improves the accuracy of determining whether the damper is jammed. Furthermore, the present invention also takes into account the impact of vibration of the functional modules in the refrigerator on the strain sensor during operation, as well as the impact of wind force generated by the fan speed on the strain sensor. Different strain threshold adjustment methods are adopted for different influencing factors, which can further improve the accuracy of judging whether the damper is stuck.

[0102] The above description represents the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A box body, in which a storage compartment is formed, the storage compartment including at least a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment; The cabinet door is used to open and close the storage room; An air damper, located inside the housing, is used to inject cold air into the storage compartment when its opening is adjusted. The air damper includes a fixed base and a rotating element mounted on the fixed base. The opening of the air damper is adjusted by rotating the rotating element. A strain sensor is located on one side of the fixed base and is used to detect the strain value of the damper; A temperature sensor is installed in the storage room to detect the real-time temperature of the storage room; The controller is configured as follows: In response to the damper opening adjustment operation, the real-time strain value detected by the strain sensor and the preset strain threshold are obtained; When the real-time strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to stop operating.

2. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The strain sensors include full-bridge strain sensors and half-bridge strain sensors using temperature compensation elements, as well as quarter-bridge strain sensors that do not use temperature compensation elements; therefore, When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is a preset fixed value; When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is selected based on the real-time temperature of the storage chamber.

3. The refrigerator as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: In response to the power-on operation or defrost recovery operation of the refrigerator, a number of reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor are acquired. Data preprocessing was performed on several reference strain values ​​to remove outlier data; The average strain value is the average value of several reference strain values ​​after data preprocessing. When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the average strain value is used as the fixed value. When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain ratio corresponding to the real-time temperature of the storage chamber is obtained; the product of the average strain value and the strain ratio is calculated as the strain threshold; wherein the strain ratio is directly proportional to the real-time temperature.

4. The refrigerator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: Check the activation status of the functional modules in the refrigerator; When all functional modules are not activated, the strain threshold is kept constant. When at least one functional module is activated, if the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the fixed value is adjusted according to the number of functional modules activated; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the corresponding multiple adjustment value is determined according to the number of functional modules activated, the multiple adjustment value is superimposed on the strain multiple, and the strain threshold is recalculated based on the strain multiple after the multiple adjustment value is superimposed.

5. The refrigerator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: Get the rotational speed of the fan in the refrigerator; If the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the fixed value is adjusted; if the strain sensor is a quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain factor is adjusted according to the rotational speed of the fan; wherein the rotational speed is directly proportional to the strain factor.

6. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: When the duration of the damper's operation reaches a preset threshold for the duration of the operation, the damper self-test program is initiated. As the damper continues to operate for one more step, the real-time strain value of the damper continues to be acquired; When the real-time strain value exceeds the strain threshold, the self-test program exits. If the real-time strain value does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to continue operating for one more step. If the real-time strain value still does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to start.

7. A refrigerator damper control method, characterized in that, The refrigerator is equipped with a strain sensor and a damper. The damper is used to inject cold air into the storage compartment when its opening is adjusted. The damper includes a fixed base and a rotating element set on the fixed base. The opening of the damper is adjusted by rotating the rotating element. The strain sensor is disposed on one side of the fixed base and is used to detect the strain value of the damper; therefore, the method includes: In response to the damper opening adjustment operation, the real-time strain value detected by the strain sensor and the preset strain threshold are obtained; When the real-time strain value is detected to be greater than or equal to the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to stop operating.

8. The refrigerator damper control method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The strain sensors include full-bridge strain sensors and half-bridge strain sensors using temperature compensation elements, as well as quarter-bridge strain sensors that do not use temperature compensation elements; therefore, When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is a preset fixed value; When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain threshold is selected based on the real-time temperature of the storage chamber.

9. The refrigerator damper control method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the power-on operation or defrost recovery operation of the refrigerator, a number of reference strain values ​​periodically identified by the strain sensor are acquired. Data preprocessing was performed on several reference strain values ​​to remove outlier data; The average strain value is the average value of several reference strain values ​​after data preprocessing. When the strain sensor is a full-bridge strain sensor or a half-bridge strain sensor, the average strain value is used as the fixed value. When the strain sensor is the quarter-bridge strain sensor, the strain ratio corresponding to the real-time temperature of the storage chamber is obtained; the product of the average strain value and the strain ratio is calculated as the strain threshold; wherein the strain ratio is directly proportional to the real-time temperature.

10. The refrigerator damper control method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the duration of the damper's operation reaches a preset threshold for the duration of the operation, the damper self-test program is initiated. As the damper continues to operate for one more step, the real-time strain value of the damper continues to be acquired; When the real-time strain value exceeds the strain threshold, the self-test program exits. If the real-time strain value does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to continue operating for one more step. If the real-time strain value still does not exceed the strain threshold, the damper is controlled to start.

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