Gas quality improvement device for refrigerators and corresponding refrigerators

Abstract

This application relates to the field of refrigerator technology, specifically to a gas quality improvement device (1) for a refrigerator, comprising: a housing (11); and a control unit (12) located within the housing (11), the control unit (12) being configured to communicatively connect to a controller (21) of a refrigerator (2) to allow operation of the refrigerator (2) via the gas quality improvement device (1). The gas quality improvement device according to this application embodiment can communicatively connect to the refrigerator to achieve the purpose of controlling the refrigerator, thereby allowing the elimination of the user interface on the exterior of the existing refrigerator and improving the refrigerator's aesthetics.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator technology, specifically to a gas quality improvement device for a refrigerator and a corresponding refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Food stored in refrigerators is mostly in a closed environment. As storage time increases, the gas quality inside the refrigerator deteriorates, including bacterial growth and decreased humidity. Therefore, gas quality improvement devices for refrigerators have emerged to achieve purposes such as gas sterilization, odor removal, and maintaining food freshness. However, existing such devices typically operate independently of the refrigerator and are fixed in a non-removable position, causing inconvenience in their use. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the purpose of this application is to provide an improved gas quality improvement device with more comprehensive functions to solve at least one technical problem in the prior art.

[0004] According to a first aspect of this application, a gas quality improvement device for a refrigerator is provided, comprising: a housing; and a control unit located within the housing, the control unit being configured to be communicatively connected to a controller of the refrigerator to allow operation of the refrigerator via the gas quality improvement device.

[0005] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device includes a communication module, which includes a wired communication component and a wireless communication component. The control unit is configured to activate the wired communication component or the wireless communication component according to the on / off state of the communication interface of the wired communication component, so as to realize a wired or wireless communication connection with the refrigerator accordingly.

[0006] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device includes a power module, which includes a battery and a first electrical interface. When the first electrical interface is in an on state, the gas quality improvement device is powered by the refrigerator, and when the first electrical interface is in an off state, the gas quality improvement device is powered by the battery.

[0007] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the power module further includes a second electrical interface, wherein the battery is charged when the second electrical interface is in an on state.

[0008] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the first electrical interface is integrated with the communication interface, or the first electrical interface and the communication interface are implemented by a single interface, preferably by a single magnetic interface.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of this application, both the first electrical interface and the communication interface are arranged at the rear of the housing.

[0010] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device includes, within the housing: a gas passage having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a fan for forcing gas entering the housing through the gas inlet to flow along the gas passage to the gas outlet; a monitoring unit for monitoring the quality parameters of the gas within the gas passage; and an improvement unit for improving gas quality, wherein the control unit is configured to control the improvement unit to perform a gas quality improvement operation when the gas quality parameters detected by the monitoring unit reach a specific threshold.

[0011] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the gas inlet and the gas outlet are opposite each other along the extension direction of the gas channel.

[0012] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the monitoring unit is arranged to extend perpendicular to the extension direction of the gas channel.

[0013] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the improvement unit includes: a sterilization unit for releasing sterilization factors into the gas channel to eliminate bacteria in the gas, preferably an ozone generator; and / or a preservation unit for releasing preservation factors into the gas channel to keep food fresh, preferably a water ion generator.

[0014] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the sterilization unit includes a sterilization section and a control section, wherein the sterilization section is arranged below the monitoring unit, and / or the control section is arranged upstream of the sterilization section, preferably the gas passage is narrowed at the control section, particularly by a barrier wall.

[0015] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device includes an instruction input unit for receiving user instructions, the user instructions including a first user instruction for operating the gas quality improvement device and a second user instruction for operating the refrigerator.

[0016] Preferably, the instruction input unit is located at the front of the housing.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device further includes an atmosphere unit, particularly a ring-shaped ambient light, the atmosphere unit being configured to provide different atmosphere effects based on different operating modes of the gas quality improvement device.

[0018] Preferably, the atmosphere unit is disposed in the first end of the housing that forms the gas inlet and / or in the second end of the housing that forms the gas outlet.

[0019] More preferably, the first end and the second end respectively have grilles for forming the gas inlet and the gas outlet.

[0020] According to an alternative embodiment of this application, the housing is cylindrical.

[0021] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device is a non-destructive, non-removable integral structure.

[0022] According to an alternative embodiment of this application, the gas quality improvement device includes a mounting unit for detachably, particularly by relative displacement, mounting the gas quality improvement device to the receiving structure of the refrigerator.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment of this application, the mounting unit is disposed on the top surface of the housing and is configured to engage with the top surface to secure the gas quality improvement device relative to the receiving structure.

[0024] Preferably, the mounting unit has a stop portion, preferably a groove, which is used to stop the movement of the gas quality improvement device relative to the receiving structure.

[0025] According to a second aspect of this application, a refrigerator is provided, including any of the gas quality improvement devices according to this application.

[0026] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the refrigerator includes: a storage compartment; and a door for closing the storage compartment, wherein the gas quality improvement device is detachably installed on the inside of the door.

[0027] Preferably, the gas quality improvement device is positioned horizontally relative to the storage chamber and / or the door, particularly with its gas outlet facing the storage chamber.

[0028] Preferably, the refrigerator includes a support structure, particularly a detachable shelf, located inside the door or the storage compartment, and the gas quality improvement device is detachably installed under the support structure.

[0029] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the receiving structure has a bottom wall with a receiving portion, particularly a retaining ring, and the mounting unit of the gas quality improvement device engages with the receiving portion, particularly by means of relative displacement.

[0030] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the exterior of the refrigerator, visible from the outside, does not have a user interface.

[0031] The embodiments of this application provide a multifunctional portable refrigerator gas quality improvement module, which can provide multiple working modes and generate gas quality improvement factors accordingly based on the working mode for deodorizing, sterilizing and preserving stored substances. At the same time, the module's portability and flexible communication and power supply methods enable it to be used across a variety of home appliances and furniture, thereby adapting to different user environments.

[0032] It is worth noting that the advantages and beneficial effects of this application are not limited to those mentioned above. Those skilled in the art can understand other advantages and beneficial effects not mentioned in this application through the following detailed embodiments and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The principles, features, and advantages of this application will be better understood below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the communication and electrical connections between a gas quality improvement device and a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0035] Figure 2 A front view of a gas quality improvement device according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0036] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 Rear view of the gas quality improvement device in the middle;

[0037] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an instruction input unit for a gas quality improvement apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0038] Figure 5 It shows Figure 2 A side perspective view of the gas quality improvement device in the diagram;

[0039] Figure 6 It shows Figure 2 Another perspective view of the gas quality improvement device in the middle;

[0040] Figure 7 It shows Figure 2 Top view of the gas quality improvement device in the middle;

[0041] Figure 8 It shows Figure 7 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the gas quality improvement device in the middle;

[0042] Figure 9 It shows Figure 7 A cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the gas quality improvement device in the middle;

[0043] Figure 10 A schematic diagram of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0044] Figure 11 An internal schematic diagram of a portion of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0045] Figure 12 A partial side view of a refrigerator including a gas quality improvement device according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown; and

[0046] Figure 13 It shows Figure 12 The partial rear view shown in the image.

[0047] List of reference numerals

[0048] 1. Gas quality improvement device

[0049] 11. Shell

[0050] 111 First end

[0051] 112 Second end

[0052] 113 Grille

[0053] 114 Top surface

[0054] 12 Control Units

[0055] 13 Communication Module

[0056] 131 Wired communication components

[0057] 1311 Communication Interface

[0058] 132 Wireless communication components

[0059] 14 Power Module

[0060] 141 batteries

[0061] 142 First electrical interface

[0062] 143 Second Electrical Interface

[0063] 15 Gas Channels

[0064] 151 Gas Inlet

[0065] 152 Gas outlet

[0066] 16 fans

[0067] 17 Monitoring Units

[0068] 18 Improvement Units

[0069] 181 Sterilization Unit

[0070] 1811 Sterilization Department

[0071] 1812 Control Department

[0072] 1813 Barrier Wall

[0073] 182 preservation units

[0074] 19. Instruction Input Unit

[0075] 191 Switch

[0076] 110 Ambient Unit

[0077] 120 Installation Unit

[0078] 121 Locking part

[0079] 2 refrigerators

[0080] 21 Controller

[0081] 22. Supporting Structure

[0082] 221 and 222 Detachable Shelves

[0083] 223 bottom wall

[0084] 224 Contracting Department

[0085] 23 Storage Room

[0086] 24 doors

[0087] 25 Power System Detailed Implementation

[0088] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions and the beneficial technical effects of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments.

[0089] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. In the accompanying drawings of this application, features with the same structure or similar function are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0090] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the gas quality improvement device 1 for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of this application includes a housing 11 and a control unit 12 located within the housing 11. The control unit 12 is configured to be communicatively connected to a controller 21 of the refrigerator 2 to allow operation of the refrigerator 2 via the gas quality improvement device 1. Thus, the gas quality improvement device 1 can serve as the command entry point for operating the refrigerator 2, functionally replacing the user interface of the refrigerator 2.

[0091] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the gas quality improvement device 1 may include a communication module 13, which may include a wired communication component 131 and a wireless communication component 132. The control unit 12 may be configured to activate either the wired communication component 131 or the wireless communication component 132 based on the on / off state of the communication interface 1311 of the wired communication component 131, thereby establishing a wired or wireless communication connection with the refrigerator 2 accordingly. For example, when it is determined through a suitable means that the communication interface 1311 is in an on / off state, it can be determined that the communication module 13 needs to communicate with the controller 21 of the refrigerator 2 via a wired connection; and when it is determined that the communication interface 1311 is in an off / off state, it can be determined that the communication module 13 needs to communicate with the controller 21 of the refrigerator 2 via a wireless connection. The control unit 12 may activate the corresponding wired communication component 131 or wireless communication component 132 accordingly. The wireless communication component may be based on, for example, Bluetooth technology.

[0092] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the gas quality improvement device 1 includes a power module 14, which includes a battery 141 and a first electrical interface 142. When the first electrical interface 142 is in the on state, the gas quality improvement device 1 is powered by the refrigerator 2, specifically by the refrigerator 2's power system 25. When the first electrical interface is in the off state, the gas quality improvement device 1 is powered by the battery 141. Thus, two power supply modes for the gas quality improvement device 1 can be realized: a wired power supply mode and a battery power supply mode, and the gas quality improvement device 1 can be allowed to operate independently of the refrigerator.

[0093] Preferably, the wired power supply mode corresponds to the wired communication connection, and the battery power supply mode corresponds to the wireless communication connection. For example, the refrigerator 2 has a wired holding position for the gas quality improvement device 1. This position provides a wiring harness for electrical and communication connections. When the gas quality improvement device 1 is held in this position, the wiring harness can be connected to its corresponding interface to achieve electrical and communication connections via wired means. When the gas quality improvement device 1 is removed from this position and placed in another location within the refrigerator, the gas quality improvement device 1 can communicate with the refrigerator 2's controller 21 via the wireless communication component 132 and be powered by the battery 141, thus eliminating the need for a wiring harness. This allows the gas quality improvement device 1 to be freed from the constraints of wiring harnesses and fixed installation positions, achieving flexibility in use and installation.

[0094] The gas quality improvement device 1, which is detached from the refrigerator environment, can also be used in other application scenarios to meet purposes such as sterilization, deodorization, or preservation of substances. For example, after dishes are cleaned in a dishwasher, they are usually placed in the dishwasher until the next use, or they need to be removed and then placed in a sterilizing cabinet for sterilization. The gas quality improvement device 1 according to the embodiments of this application can be placed in the dishwasher after the washing operation is completed to improve the gas quality of the environment inside the dishwasher, such as sterilization. As another example, storage cabinets used for clothing or shoes are also prone to mold and odor problems, especially during the rainy season. The gas quality improvement device 1 according to the embodiments of this application can also be placed in such storage cabinets to improve the gas quality of the environment inside the storage cabinet.

[0095] Therefore, the gas quality improvement device 1 according to the embodiments of this application can be used not only for refrigerators, but also for household appliances and furniture, which greatly enriches the application scenarios of the gas quality improvement device.

[0096] Preferably, the first electrical interface 142 can be integrated with the communication interface 1311, or the first electrical interface 142 and the communication interface 1311 can be implemented by a single interface, preferably by a single magnetic interface (e.g., Figure 3 (As shown). Thus, the gas quality improvement device 1 and the refrigerator 2 can be electrically and communicatively connected through a single (magnetic) interface, allowing the gas quality improvement device 1 to be powered by the refrigerator 2 while simultaneously transmitting data with it. In this case, the communication interface 1311 can be determined to be in an on state by detecting whether the magnetic contacts in the magnetic interface have disengaged. Furthermore, when the battery 141 is depleted and the gas quality improvement device 1 is connected to the refrigerator 2 via the first electrical interface 142, the battery 141 can be charged using the first electrical interface 142.

[0097] In addition, such as Figure 1As shown, the power module 14 may also include a second electrical interface 143, which charges the battery 141 when it is in the connected state. This allows the gas quality improvement device 1 to be charged independently of the refrigerator 2 environment, for example, via other electrical appliances or a charging socket, thus providing multiple charging modes.

[0098] Preferably, such as Figure 3 As shown, both the first electrical interface 142 and the communication interface 1311 are located at the rear of the housing 11. This allows for convenient wired connection to the refrigerator 2 while also providing an aesthetically pleasing, concealed design.

[0099] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 9 The gas quality improvement device 1 includes a gas channel 15 located within a housing 11, having a gas inlet 151 and a gas outlet 152. The housing 11 has a first end 111 forming the gas inlet 151 and a second end 112 forming the gas outlet 152. Preferably, the gas inlet 151 and the gas outlet 152 are opposite to each other along the extending direction of the gas channel 15, i.e., the housing 11 has a first end 111 and a second end 112 opposite to the first end 111, making the housing 11 generally cylindrical. This facilitates gas flow within the housing 11 of the gas quality improvement device 1. The first end 111 and the second end 112 respectively have grilles 113 for forming the gas inlet 151 and the gas outlet 152 to allow gas flow. Preferably, the housing 11 of the gas quality improvement device 1 can be wrapped with a highly effective antibacterial material. Advantageously, the gas quality improvement device 1 is a non-destructive, non-removable integral structure.

[0100] like Figure 9 As shown, the gas quality improvement device 1 also includes a fan 16, a monitoring unit 17, and an improvement unit 18 located within the housing 11. The fan 16 is used to force the gas entering the housing 11 through the gas inlet 151 to flow along the gas channel to the gas outlet 152. The monitoring unit 17 is used to monitor the quality parameters of the gas in the gas channel 15. The improvement unit 18 is used to improve the gas quality.

[0101] Preferably, the fan 16 is positioned adjacent to the gas inlet 151 in the gas channel 15, and the monitoring unit 17 and the improvement unit 18 are positioned downstream of the fan 16. This allows the fan 16 to direct the gas entering the housing 11 to the monitoring unit 17 and the improvement unit 18, thereby facilitating sufficient contact between the monitoring unit 17 and the airflow to improve detection accuracy, and facilitating the introduction of the improvement factor generated by the improvement unit 18 into the airflow. Compared to a fan positioned near the gas outlet, the fan 16 positioned upstream of the gas channel 15 can provide better gas directionality.

[0102] Preferably, the monitoring unit 17 can be arranged at approximately the middle position along the extending direction of the gas channel 15. Alternatively, the monitoring unit 17 can be arranged to extend perpendicular to the extending direction of the gas channel 15. That is, as shown... Figure 9 As shown, the gas channel 15 extends in the lateral direction, while the sensor, which serves as the monitoring unit 17, extends in a vertical direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, with its air inlet facing upwards. Gas flowing from above the monitoring unit 17 can enter the air inlet of the monitoring unit 17 to be detected for its quality.

[0103] In some embodiments, the improvement unit 18 may include a sterilization unit 181, which releases sterilizing agents into the gas channel 15 to eliminate bacteria in the gas. Preferably, the sterilization unit 181 is an ozone generator. The ozone generator works by releasing ozone and using the oxidizing effect of ozone to kill microorganisms, thereby achieving sterilization and deodorization. The sterilization unit 181 may be a separate device with an outlet, through which the released sterilizing agents can be continuously released into the airflow within the housing 11, sterilizing the gas inside the housing 11, and simultaneously exiting the housing 11 under the influence of the airflow, thus sterilizing external gas.

[0104] In some embodiments, the sterilization unit 181 may include a sterilization section 1811 and a control section 1812, the control section 1812 being connected to the control unit 12 and used to control the operation of the sterilization section 1811. Preferably, the sterilization section 1811 is arranged below the monitoring unit 17. This allows the radial space of the housing 11 to be utilized to arrange the sterilization section 1811 and the monitoring unit 17, thereby saving axial dimensions of the housing 11. For space optimization purposes, the control section 1812 may be arranged upstream of the sterilization section 1811, i.e., upstream of the monitoring unit 17. Preferably, the control section 1812 can be used to improve the effect of directional gas delivery to the monitoring unit 17, for example, by narrowing the gas channel 15 at the control section 1812 to enhance the gas flow within the gas channel and guide it to the monitoring unit 17. This narrowing of the gas channel 15 can be achieved, in particular, by using a barrier wall 1813. The control unit 1812 can be supported by two barrier walls 1813, which seal off the space below the control unit 1812 to prevent gas passage. Furthermore, the control unit 1812 of the sterilization unit 181 is arranged between the fan 16 and the monitoring unit 17 because the airflow at the fan 16 is turbulent, while for monitoring accuracy, the monitoring unit 17 is preferably located in a more stable laminar flow region. Therefore, it is more advantageous to arrange the fan 16 and the monitoring unit 17 relatively far apart.

[0105] Additionally or alternatively, the improvement unit 18 may include a preservation unit 182 for releasing preservatives into the gas channel 15 to keep food fresh. Preferably, the preservation unit 182 is a water ion generator. The water ion generator can ionize air in the voltage range of 1.5kV-2kV, breaking down large molecular clusters into smaller molecular clusters, which are more easily adsorbed onto the surface of fruits and vegetables to form a water film, thereby effectively preventing the loss of moisture and nutrients and achieving the purpose of preservation. Similar to the sterilization unit 181, the preservation unit 182 may also be a separate device with an outlet, through which the released preservatives can be continuously released into the airflow within the housing 11 and then leave the housing 11 under the influence of the airflow.

[0106] Advantageously, the various functional units of the gas quality improvement device 1 are arranged sequentially in a linear manner along the extension direction of the gas channel 15, optimizing the use of space inside the housing, so that the gas quality improvement device 1 has the advantages of high integration, compact structure and miniaturization.

[0107] The control unit 12 can be configured to control the improvement unit 18 to perform a gas quality improvement operation when the gas quality parameter is detected by the monitoring unit 17 to reach a specific threshold. The control unit 12's control of its various functional units will be described below with reference to the operating mode of the gas quality improvement device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0108] The gas quality improvement device 1 can monitor the quality parameters of the gas entering the housing 11 via the monitoring unit 17 in standby mode. This also represents the quality parameters of the gas in the refrigerator storage compartment where the gas quality improvement device 1 is located. The gas quality parameters can be suitable single or multiple parameter values ​​(e.g., bacterial concentration, humidity, temperature, etc.), or qualitative or quantitative results based on single or multiple parameter values. When the monitoring unit 17 detects that the quality parameter has reached a specific threshold, the control unit 12 can control the fan 16 and the improvement unit 18 to operate and perform gas quality improvement. After operating for a period of time, when the monitoring unit 17 detects that the quality parameter has been improved as required, the control unit 12 can control the fan 16 and the improvement unit 18 to stop operating. This corresponds to the automatic mode of the gas quality improvement device 1, which can be further subdivided into automatic sterilization mode, automatic preservation mode, and powerful sterilization and preservation mode. Based on this, the gas quality improvement device 1 can achieve 24-hour automatic continuous monitoring, protecting the refrigerator's internal environment.

[0109] In addition, the gas quality improvement device 1 can also have a basic mode that requires user intervention. For example, the user can select a suitable basic mode to perform sterilization and / or preservation operations on the gas in the refrigerator storage compartment. For this, a preset program can be provided for each basic mode, including preset working time, parameters of functional units such as the fan, etc. Alternatively, the monitoring unit 17 can monitor gas quality parameters to automatically exit the corresponding working mode. When the gas quality improvement device 1 is used in other application scenarios (such as dishwashers, storage cabinets, etc.) outside the refrigerator environment, it can operate in the basic mode by default. Furthermore, different basic modes can be provided for different application scenarios; for example, different ozone generator operating intensities can be preset.

[0110] In some embodiments, the gas quality improvement device 1 may include an instruction input unit 19 for receiving user instructions, the user instructions including a first user instruction for operating the gas quality improvement device 1 and a second user instruction for operating the refrigerator 2.

[0111] Preferably, such as Figure 2 and Figure 8 As shown, the command input unit 19 can be located at the front of the housing 11. This facilitates user operation and improves aesthetics. For example, the command input unit 19 may include buttons connected to the control unit 12, which may protrude slightly from the housing 11, and have colored films at the corresponding button locations for prompting purposes. Figure 4 An instruction input unit 19 according to one embodiment of this application is shown, which includes a switch 191 located generally in the center for turning the gas quality improvement device 1 on and off. Other buttons (represented by icons of different shapes) may be arranged around the switch 191 to operate the gas quality improvement device 1 and the refrigerator 2.

[0112] In some embodiments, the gas quality improvement device 1 may further include an atmosphere unit 110, particularly a ring-shaped ambient light, configured to provide different atmospheric effects based on different operating modes of the gas quality improvement device 1. The atmospheric effect may include color and / or dynamic changes. For example, dynamic changes in the atmospheric effect may be used to reflect the progress of the current operation. Preferably, as... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the atmosphere unit 110 is disposed in the first end 111 of the gas inlet 151 of the housing 11 and / or in the second end 112 of the gas outlet 152 of the housing 11, for example, disposed inside the grille. This improves the aesthetics of the device and makes it easier for the user to observe.

[0113] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figures 5-9 As shown, the gas quality improvement device 1 may further include a mounting unit 120 for detachably, particularly by relative displacement, installing the gas quality improvement device 1 into the refrigerator 2. Preferably, the mounting unit 120 may be arranged at the top surface 114 of the housing 11 and configured to engage with the top surface 114 to secure the gas quality improvement device 1 relative to the receiving structure 22. For example, the mounting unit 120 may have a longitudinal section and a transverse section, the longitudinal section extending upward from the top surface 114 of the housing 11, and the transverse section extending transversely to the longitudinal section toward the rear of the housing 11, for example, the transverse section may extend substantially parallel to the top surface 114. During installation, the receiving structure to which the gas quality improvement device 1 is to be held, such as the receiving structure 22 of the refrigerator 2, may extend into the space between the mounting unit 120, particularly the transverse section, and the top surface 114, thereby achieving retention. In some cases, the gas quality improvement device 1 can be removed from the refrigerator 2 and used for other electrical appliances. In this case, the gas quality improvement device 1 can be held in any suitable orientation, depending on the extension direction of the receiving structure to which the gas quality improvement device 1 is to be held.

[0114] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, refrigerator 2 includes a storage compartment 23 and a door 24 for closing the storage compartment 23. Refrigerator 2 can be any type of refrigerator and is not limited to the type shown, for example, it can be a single-door refrigerator. Storage compartment 23 is preferably a refrigerator compartment rather than a freezer compartment. A gas quality improvement device 1 is detachably mounted on the inside of the door 24. When the door 24 is closed, the inside of the door 24 faces the storage compartment 23.

[0115] Preferably, such as Figure 12 As shown, the gas quality improvement device 1 can be positioned horizontally relative to the storage compartment 23 and / or the door 24, particularly with its gas outlet 152 facing the storage compartment 23. This is related to the extension direction and structural characteristics of the receiving structure 22 of the refrigerator 2, and can prevent gas flowing from the gas outlet 152 from spraying towards the user during the opening of the door 24, thus preventing the user from experiencing any discomfort.

[0116] refer to Figure 11 The refrigerator 2 may include a receiving structure 22 located inside the door 24 or within the storage compartment 23, particularly a removable shelf 221 (e.g., a storage box) on the door 24, and a removable shelf 222 (e.g., a shelf panel) within the storage compartment 23. Preferably, the gas quality improvement device 1 is detachably mounted below the receiving structure 22. This allows the space below the receiving structure 22 to be used to house the gas quality improvement device 1, thus not occupying valuable storage space.

[0117] Specifically, when the receiving structure 22 is a detachable shelf 221 on the door 24, the receiving structure 22 can have a bottom wall 223 with a receiving portion 224. The mounting unit 120 of the gas quality improvement device 1 can engage with the receiving portion 224, particularly by relative displacement. This can be achieved with minimal modification to the main structure of the detachable shelf 221. Specifically, the receiving portion 224 can be implemented as a retaining ring, into which the mounting unit 120 can extend to achieve engagement. Preferably, as... Figure 9 As shown, the mounting unit 120 may have a stop 121 for stopping the movement of the gas quality improvement device 1 relative to the receiving structure 22. Preferably, the stop 121 may be implemented as a groove, particularly a groove provided in the lower surface of the transverse section. In this way, during the movement of the gas quality improvement device 1 relative to the receiving structure 22, for example, the receiving portion 224 of the retaining ring can enter into the groove to achieve a stop.

[0118] In the case where the receiving structure 22 is a detachable shelf 222 inside the storage room 23, since the receiving structure 22 itself is also roughly plate-shaped, the receiving structure 22 can be inserted between the mounting unit 120 and the top surface 114 of the housing 11 to suspend the gas quality improvement device 1 on the detachable shelf 222.

[0119] Therefore, the gas quality improvement device 1 can be suspended in one of several locations inside the storage compartment 23 or inside the door 24 of the refrigerator 2, allowing users to choose freely and demonstrating excellent installation flexibility.

[0120] Typically, refrigerators have a user interface on their exterior facade, particularly the front surface, through which users can input commands to control the refrigerator, such as setting the temperature of the refrigerator / freezer compartment, selecting modes like quick-freeze, quick-cool, ice-making, and preservation. However, according to the embodiments of this application, since the refrigerator 2 can be controlled via the gas quality improvement device 1, the user interface on the refrigerator 2 can be advantageously eliminated, meaning that the exterior facade of the refrigerator 2, including the front surface, does not have a user interface. Here, the exterior facade includes all externally visible surfaces of the refrigerator 2's casing.

[0121] It is worth noting that in this document, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Features specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly indicate that at least one of those features is included.

[0122] It should also be understood that, in this document, the terms indicating orientation or positional relationship are used to describe the positional relationship of the corresponding components with reference to the accompanying drawings, based on the orientation of the refrigerator, and are only for the convenience of describing this specification and simplifying the description, and should not be construed as a specific limitation of this application.

[0123] Without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of the different embodiments or examples. Various substitutions, changes, and modifications can be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.

Claims

1. A gas quality improvement device (1) for a refrigerator, comprising: Shell (11); and A control unit (12) located within the housing (11) is configured to be communicatively connected to the controller (21) of the refrigerator (2) to allow the refrigerator (2) to be operated via the gas quality improvement device (1).

2. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas quality improvement device (1) includes a communication module (13), which includes a wired communication component (131) and a wireless communication component (132). The control unit (12) is configured to activate the wired communication component (131) or the wireless communication component (132) according to the on / off state of the communication interface (1311) of the wired communication component (131), so as to realize a wired or wireless communication connection with the refrigerator (2); and / or The gas quality improvement device (1) includes a power module (14), which includes a battery (141) and a first electrical interface (142). When the first electrical interface is in the on state, the gas quality improvement device (1) is powered by the refrigerator (2). When the first electrical interface is in the off state, the gas quality improvement device (1) is powered by the battery (141).

3. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The power module (14) further includes a second electrical interface (143), which, when connected, charges the battery (141); and / or The first electrical interface (142) is integrated with the communication interface (1311), or the first electrical interface (142) and the communication interface (1311) are implemented by a single interface, preferably by a single magnetic interface; and / or The first electrical interface (142) and the communication interface (1311) are both located at the rear of the housing (11).

4. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The gas quality improvement device (1) includes components located within the housing (11): A gas passage (15) having a gas inlet (151) and a gas outlet (152); A fan (16) is used to force gas entering the housing (11) through the gas inlet (151) to flow along the gas passage to the gas outlet (152); Monitoring unit (17), which is used to monitor the mass parameters of the gas in the gas channel (15); and Improvement unit (18), which is used to improve gas quality, The control unit (12) is configured to control the improvement unit (18) to perform a gas quality improvement operation when the gas quality parameters are detected by the monitoring unit (17) to a specific threshold.

5. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The gas inlet (151) and the gas outlet (152) are opposite to each other along the extension direction of the gas passage (15); and / or The monitoring unit (17) is arranged to extend perpendicular to the extension direction of the gas channel (15).

6. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The improvement unit (18) includes: A sterilization unit (181), which releases sterilization agents into the gas channel (15) to eliminate bacteria in the gas, is preferably an ozone generator; and / or A preservation unit (182) is used to release preservation factors into the gas channel (15) to keep food fresh, preferably a water ion generator.

7. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sterilization unit (181) includes a sterilization section (1811) and a control section (1812). The sterilization section (1811) is arranged below the monitoring unit (17); and / or The control section (1812) is arranged upstream of the sterilization section (1811), and preferably the gas passage (15) is narrowed at the control section (1812), particularly by means of a barrier wall (1813).

8. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The gas quality improvement device (1) includes an instruction input unit (19) for receiving user instructions, which include a first user instruction for operating the gas quality improvement device (1) and a second user instruction for operating the refrigerator (2). Preferably, the instruction input unit (19) is located at the front of the housing (11).

9. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The gas quality improvement device (1) also includes an atmosphere unit (110), particularly a ring-shaped ambient light, which is configured to provide different atmosphere effects based on different operating modes of the gas quality improvement device (1). Preferably, the atmosphere unit (110) is disposed in the first end (111) of the housing (11) forming the gas inlet (151) and / or in the second end (112) of the housing (11) forming the gas outlet (152). More preferably, the first end (111) and the second end (112) respectively have grilles (113) for forming the gas inlet (151) and the gas outlet (152).

10. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The shell (11) is cylindrical; and / or The gas quality improvement device (1) is a non-destructive, non-removable integral structure; and / or The gas quality improvement device (1) includes an installation unit (120) for detachably, particularly by means of relative displacement, installing the gas quality improvement device (1) to the receiving structure (22) of the refrigerator (2).

11. The gas quality improvement device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The mounting unit (120) is disposed on the top surface (114) of the housing (11) and is configured to engage with the top surface (114) to fix the gas quality improvement device (1) relative to the receiving structure (22). Preferably, the mounting unit (120) has a stop (121), preferably a groove, the stop (121) for stopping the movement of the gas quality improvement device (1) relative to the receiving structure (22).

12. A refrigerator (2) comprising a gas quality improvement device (1) according to any one of claims 1-11.

13. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The refrigerator (2) includes: Storage room (23); and The door (24) for closing the storage chamber (23) has the gas quality improvement device (1) detachably mounted on the inside of the door (24). Preferably, the gas quality improvement device (1) is positioned horizontally relative to the storage chamber (23) and / or the door (24), particularly with its gas outlet (152) facing the storage chamber (23). Preferably, the refrigerator (2) includes a support structure (22) located inside the door (24) or in the storage compartment (23), particularly a detachable shelf (221, 222), and the gas quality improvement device (1) is detachably installed under the support structure (22).

14. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that, The receiving structure (22) has a bottom wall (223) with a receiving part (224), particularly a retaining ring, and the mounting unit (120) of the gas quality improvement device (1) engages with the receiving part (224), particularly by means of relative displacement.

15. The refrigerator (2) according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that, The exterior of the refrigerator (2) does not have a user interface visible from the outside.

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