Ice amount obtaining method of ice making device and refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to an ice amount obtaining method of an ice making device and refrigeration equipment, after the ice making device obtains an ice detection signal, an antenna in an ice detection module is controlled to carry out frequency sweeping detection on an ice storage box, an optimal matching frequency value is obtained, and the actual ice amount in the ice storage box is output according to the optimal matching frequency value. Therefore, the problem that a mechanical ice probing rod of an existing ice-making device can only judge whether the ice storage box is full or not and cannot measure the actual ice amount in the ice storage box is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refrigeration equipment, and in particular to an ice quantity acquisition method of an ice-making device and refrigeration equipment. Background Art

[0002] In order to meet the needs of users for ice cubes in daily life, more and more refrigeration equipment is equipped with ice makers. After each ice making, the existing ice makers will drop the ice cubes into the ice storage box below the ice maker, and then make ice next time. Therefore, detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage box becomes an important issue.

[0003] At present, the detection of ice quantity in the ice storage box generally adopts a mechanical ice probe. The main implementation method is that after ice making is completed, the driving device drives the ice probe to rotate. When the rotation displacement of the ice probe exceeds the preset displacement value, it proves that the ice storage box is not full. When the displacement is less than the preset displacement value, it proves that the ice storage box is full and no ice turning operation is performed. However, when using a mechanical ice probe to detect ice, the ice maker needs to use a transmission structure to drive the ice probe to rotate, which makes the structure complex. Moreover, the mechanical ice probe can only complete the detection of whether the ice is full, and cannot distinguish the intermediate state from empty to almost full. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a wiring terminal and a refrigeration device for solving the above-mentioned problem.

[0005] To achieve one of the above-mentioned purposes of the invention, the present invention provides a method for obtaining the amount of ice in an ice-making device, the method comprising the following steps: obtaining an ice detection signal; controlling the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value, and outputting the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, the step of "controlling the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency sweep detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value" is specifically: starting the RF signal transmission system in the ice detection module to control the antenna to transmit a frequency sweep signal to the ice storage box in a manner of increasing or decreasing the preset frequency step; starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the RF signal data of the antenna; starting the detection system in the ice detection module to process the collected RF signal data to obtain the input return loss value; and obtaining the best matching frequency value based on the input return loss value.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, "starting the radio frequency signal transmitting system in the ice detection module to control the antenna to transmit a sweep frequency signal to the ice storage box in a manner of increasing or decreasing the preset frequency in steps" is specifically: starting the antenna in the ice detection module to transmit signals of different frequencies to the ice storage box in a sweep frequency manner from low to high in steps of 1 MHz.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the signal frequency range of the sweep frequency detection is 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz or 5.7 GHz to 5.9 GHz, and the signal power range of the sweep frequency detection is -10 dBm to 10 dBm.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the step of "starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the RF signal data of the antenna" is specifically: starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the input signal strength and the reflected signal strength of the antenna.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, “starting the detection system in the ice detection module to process the collected RF signal data and obtain the input return loss value” is specifically: starting the detection system in the ice detection module to convert the collected RF signal into a DC voltage signal, and performing voltage collection, and calculating the input return loss value of the antenna according to the calculation formula S11=20log(Ureverse / Upositive).

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, "obtaining the best matching frequency value based on the input return loss value" is specifically: when the return loss value is less than or equal to the preset return loss domain value, further determine whether the return loss value of the current frequency point is greater than the return loss value of the previous frequency point. If so, output the frequency value corresponding to the previous frequency point as the best matching frequency value; if not, increase or decrease the frequency of the transmitted signal in steps of the preset frequency.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, before the step of "obtaining an ice detection signal", the ice quantity acquisition method further includes the following steps: obtaining an ice making completion signal of the ice-making device and sending an ice detection signal.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, before the step of "obtaining an ice detection signal", the ice quantity acquisition method further includes the following steps: receiving ice quantity information preset by a user and sending an ice detection signal.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, after the step of "outputting the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the optimal matching frequency value", the ice amount acquisition method also includes the following steps: determining whether the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box reaches the user's preset ice amount; if so, reminding the user that ice making is completed; if not, starting the ice making device to continue making ice.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention provides a refrigeration device, comprising an ice-making device, wherein the ice-making device obtains the amount of ice in the ice-making device according to the method in any one of the above technical solutions.

[0016] After obtaining the ice detection signal, the ice-making device of the present invention controls the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value, and outputs the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value, thereby solving the problem that the mechanical ice detection rod of the existing ice-making device can only judge whether the ice storage box is full but cannot measure the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure inside the refrigeration equipment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 It is a block diagram of the ice detection system of the refrigeration equipment;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Flow chart of the method for obtaining the amount of ice in the central ice storage box;

[0020] Figure 4 It is a flow chart of the ice making method of the ice making device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional changes made by a person skilled in the art based on these embodiments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] It should be understood that the terms used herein, such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "front", etc., indicating spatial relative positions are used for the purpose of convenience to describe the relationship of one component or feature relative to another component or feature as shown in the drawings. The terms of spatial relative positions may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0023] The present invention provides a refrigeration device, including an ice-making device, which makes ice by using the cold energy provided by the refrigeration device. It is understandable that the refrigeration device 100 can be a refrigeration device such as a refrigerator or a freezer, and the refrigeration device includes a box body and a door body for opening and closing the box body, and the box body and the door body are surrounded to form a refrigeration chamber, and the ice-making device can be arranged in the refrigeration chamber. Specifically, the refrigeration chamber can be a freezer chamber, see Figure 1 As shown, the ice-making device includes an ice-making machine 1 for making ice, and an ice storage box 2 for storing ice located below the ice-making machine 1. Furthermore, the refrigeration device 100 of the present invention also includes an ice detection module 3, which is arranged on the side wall of the inner tank of the refrigeration device 100. The refrigeration device has an ice detection module control system, and the ice detection module control system is electrically connected to the main control system of the refrigeration device.

[0024] Specifically, the ice detection module includes an antenna, the center line of the antenna is higher than the center line of the ice storage box, and the distance d between the antenna and the ice storage box is ≤50mm, so as to ensure that the signal of the antenna can detect the amount of ice in the ice storage box.

[0025] Further, see Figure 3 As shown, the steps of the method for obtaining the amount of ice in the ice storage box in the ice making device of the present invention are as follows:

[0026] S1, obtain ice detection signal;

[0027] S2, controlling the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box, obtaining the best matching frequency value, and outputting the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value.

[0028] After obtaining the ice detection signal, the refrigeration device controls the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value, and outputs the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value, thereby utilizing the change in the dielectric constant of the medium near the antenna to cause the antenna resonant frequency to change to realize ice quantity detection, thereby solving the problem that the mechanical ice detection rod of the existing ice-making device can only judge whether the ice storage box is full but cannot measure the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box.

[0029] Furthermore, the ice detection module in the present invention includes, in addition to the antenna, a radio frequency signal transmission system, a bidirectional coupler, and a detection system. Figure 2 This is a block diagram of the ice detection system for refrigeration equipment.

[0030] Specifically, the step S2 of "controlling the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value" specifically includes the following steps:

[0031] S21, starting the radio frequency signal transmission system in the ice detection module to control the antenna to transmit a frequency sweep signal to the ice storage box in a manner of increasing or decreasing the preset frequency step by step;

[0032] S22, starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the radio frequency signal data of the antenna;

[0033] S23, starting the detection system in the ice detection module to process the collected radio frequency signal data to obtain an input return loss value;

[0034] S24, obtaining the best matching frequency value according to the input return loss value.

[0035] Specifically, the frequency range of the sweep signal of the sweep detection is 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz or 5.7GHz to 5.9GHz, and the range of the signal power of the sweep detection is -10dBm to 10dBm. For example, the RF signal transmission system controls the antenna to start from 2.4GHz, and continuously increase the signal frequency according to the preset frequency step increment, so that the frequency of the signal emitted by the antenna to the ice storage box increases from low to high. Of course, it is known that the signal transmission method can also be that the signal frequency starts from 2.5GHz and decreases according to the preset frequency step, so that the frequency of the signal emitted by the antenna to the ice storage box decreases from high to low. It is understandable that if the signal frequency range of the sweep detection is selected to be 5.7GHz to 5.9GHz, the antenna signal can also be transmitted from low to high or from high to bottom for sweep detection.

[0036] Furthermore, in step S21, "starting the radio frequency signal transmission system in the ice detection module to control the antenna to transmit a frequency sweep signal to the ice storage box in a manner of increasing or decreasing the preset frequency step by step" is specifically: starting the antenna in the ice detection module to transmit signals of different frequencies to the ice storage box in a frequency sweeping manner from low to high in 1MHz steps. By increasing the frequency of the signal in increments of 1MHz, the power consumption of the antenna can be reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, in step S22, the step of "starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the RF signal data of the antenna" is specifically: starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the input signal strength and the reflected signal strength of the antenna.

[0038] In step S23, “starting the detection system in the ice detection module to process the collected RF signal data and obtain the input return loss value” specifically includes: starting the detection system in the ice detection module to convert the collected RF signal into a DC voltage signal, and performing voltage acquisition, and according to the calculation formula S11=20log(U 反 / U 正 )Calculate the input return loss value of the antenna.

[0039] In step S24, “obtaining the best matching frequency value according to the input return loss value” specifically includes the following steps:

[0040] Determine whether the input return loss value is less than or equal to a preset input return loss threshold value;

[0041] When the input return loss value is less than or equal to the preset input return loss threshold value, further determining whether the input return loss value of the current frequency point is greater than the input return loss value of the previous frequency point;

[0042] If yes, the frequency value corresponding to the previous frequency point is output as the best matching frequency value; if no, the frequency of the transmitted signal is increased or decreased in steps of a preset frequency.

[0043] In a specific implementation, the input return loss domain value is preset to -3dB, and the specific working process of detecting the amount of ice in the ice storage box is as follows: the refrigeration equipment main control system sends an ice detection instruction to the ice detection module control system. After the ice detection module control system obtains the ice detection signal, it controls the radio frequency signal transmission system to output a driving voltage, driving the antenna to send a sweep frequency signal. The sweep frequency range is from 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz, and can also be 5.7GHz to 5.9GHz. The signal power range is -10dBm to 10dBm, and the antenna sends the signal in 1MHz steps. When sending the signal, the bidirectional coupler collects the input signal strength and the reflected signal strength of the antenna, and converts the collected radio frequency signal data into a DC voltage signal through the detection tube in the detection system. It can also be selected whether to amplify this signal according to the specific situation. The voltage signal is transmitted to the ADC pin of the detection system for voltage collection. According to the formula S11=20log(U 反 / U 正 ) calculates the return loss value of the antenna. After collecting the return loss of the current frequency point, input the return loss to collect the next frequency point, and so on. When S11≤-3dB is detected, the current frequency point S11 and the previous frequency point S11 are compared. 上 Compare until the current frequency point S11 is greater than the previous frequency point S11 上 When the previous frequency S11 上 The corresponding frequency value is used as the best matching frequency. By looking up the corresponding table of the best matching frequency and the height of ice in the ice storage box, the height of ice in the ice storage box can be known, so as to calculate the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the size of the ice storage box. It can be understood that if the frequency sweep signal reaches the upper frequency line and the best matching frequency has not been found, the ice detection process is stopped and an error is reported.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention can also display the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box on the panel by arranging a display panel on the door body of the refrigeration equipment. The user can obtain the amount of ice in the ice storage box without checking the ice storage box, thereby improving the user experience.

[0045] Furthermore, before the step S1 of "obtaining an ice detection signal", the ice quantity obtaining method further includes the following steps:

[0046] S3, obtaining the ice making completion signal of the ice making device and sending an ice detection signal.

[0047] After ice making is completed, the ice detection module is used to detect the amount of ice in the ice storage box. If the ice storage box is full, ice making is stopped. It is also convenient for users to understand the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box after ice making.

[0048] Furthermore, the ice-making device in the refrigeration equipment of the present invention can also make ice according to the demand of the user. Figure 4As shown, before making ice, the amount of ice in the ice storage box is first obtained. After step S2 "outputting the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value", the ice making method further includes the following steps:

[0049] S4: Determine whether the actual amount of ice T in the ice storage box reaches the user preset amount of ice T 设 ;

[0050] If yes, the user is reminded that ice making is completed; if no, the ice making device is started to continue making ice.

[0051] Furthermore, before the step of "obtaining an ice detection signal", the ice making method further includes the following steps:

[0052] S5, obtain ice quantity setting information and send ice detection signal.

[0053] After obtaining the ice detection signal, the ice-making device of the present invention controls the antenna in the ice detection module to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value, and outputs the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value, thereby solving the problem that the mechanical ice detection rod of the existing ice-making device can only judge whether the ice storage box is full but cannot measure the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box. The refrigeration equipment of the present invention makes ice according to the amount of ice of the user, which improves the user experience.

[0054] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each implementation mode may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0055] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the present invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining ice quantity of an ice-making device, characterized in that: The ice amount acquisition method comprises the following steps: Obtain ice detection signal; The antenna in the ice detection module is controlled to perform frequency scanning detection on the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value, and the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box is output according to the best matching frequency value.

2. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The specific steps of "controlling the antenna in the ice detection module to scan the ice storage box to obtain the best matching frequency value" are: Start the radio frequency signal transmission system in the ice detection module to control the antenna to transmit a frequency sweep signal to the ice storage box in a manner of increasing or decreasing the preset frequency step by step; Start the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the radio frequency signal data of the antenna; Start the detection system in the ice detection module to process the collected radio frequency signal data and obtain the input return loss value; Get the best matching frequency value based on the input return loss value.

3. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: "Starting the radio frequency signal transmission system in the ice detection module to control the antenna to transmit a sweep frequency signal to the ice storage box in a manner of increasing or decreasing the preset frequency step by step" specifically means: starting the antenna in the ice detection module to transmit signals of different frequencies to the ice storage box in a sweep frequency manner from low to high in 1MHz steps.

4. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The signal frequency range of the sweep frequency detection is 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz or 5.7GHz to 5.9GHz, and the signal power range of the sweep frequency detection is -10dBm to 10dBm.

5. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The step of "starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the RF signal data of the antenna" is specifically: starting the bidirectional coupler in the ice detection module to collect the input signal strength and the reflected signal strength of the antenna.

6. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: "Start the detection system in the ice detection module to process the collected RF signal data and obtain the input return loss value" specifically includes: starting the detection system in the ice detection module to convert the collected RF signal into a DC voltage signal, and performing voltage acquisition, and according to the calculation formula S11 = 20log(U 反 / U 正 )Calculate the input return loss value of the antenna.

7. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 2, characterized in that: "Obtaining the best matching frequency value based on the input return loss value" is specifically: when the input return loss value is less than or equal to the preset input return loss domain value, further determine whether the input return loss value of the current frequency point is greater than the input return loss value of the previous frequency point. If so, output the frequency value corresponding to the previous frequency point as the best matching frequency value; if not, increase or decrease the frequency of the transmitted signal in steps of the preset frequency.

8. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the step of "obtaining ice detection signal", the ice quantity acquisition method further includes the following steps: Obtain the ice making completion signal of the ice making device and send an ice detection signal.

9. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the step of "obtaining ice detection signal", the ice quantity obtaining method further includes the following steps: Receive the user's preset ice quantity information and send an ice detection signal.

10. The ice quantity obtaining method of the ice making device according to claim 9, characterized in that: After the step of "outputting the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box according to the best matching frequency value", the ice amount acquisition method further includes the following steps: Determine whether the actual amount of ice in the ice storage box reaches the amount of ice preset by the user; If yes, the user is reminded that ice making is completed; if no, the ice making device is started to continue making ice.

11. A refrigeration device, comprising an ice-making device, characterized in that: The ice-making device obtains the ice quantity of the ice-making device according to any one of the methods of claims 1-10.

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