Refrigerator control method, water storage box assembly, refrigerator, storage medium, and program product

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of refrigerator ice maker control, and relates to a refrigerator control method, a water storage box assembly, a refrigerator, a storage medium and a program product. The method is characterized in that a PCM temperature insulation material with a phase change temperature of 2-5 DEG C is wrapped outside the water storage box, a small circulating pump, an ultrasonic transducer and a low-power heating film are arranged inside, and hierarchical control is performed based on water temperature: when the water temperature is less than or equal to 3 DEG C, the circulating pump is started; when the water temperature is less than or equal to 2 DEG C, the ultrasonic transducer is dynamically started and stopped to destroy ice crystal nuclei; when the water temperature is less than or equal to 1 DEG C and continuously decreases, a PWM-modulated heating film is started to perform compensation heating; and when the water temperature is greater than or equal to 4 DEG C, only the circulating pump is intermittently operated. The application effectively inhibits water body freezing through the synergistic effect of passive heat preservation and active disturbance, and the average power consumption is less than 10 W.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of washing machine technology, and particularly to refrigerator control methods, water storage box assemblies, refrigerators, storage media, and program products. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, automatic ice-making is a basic feature of mid-to-high-end refrigerators. The water reservoir, essential for this function, is typically placed in the refrigerator compartment. However, this requires opening up the refrigerator and freezer compartments, affecting the refrigerator's cooling and temperature control. If the water reservoir is placed in the freezer, preventing it from freezing becomes crucial. Maintaining a consistently high temperature is necessary, requiring the heating element inside the reservoir to operate continuously. However, energy efficiency is a significant challenge. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention aims to provide a refrigerator control method, a water storage box assembly, a refrigerator, a storage medium, and a program product to solve the problem of excessive energy consumption for antifreeze of the water storage box in an ice maker.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows:

[0005] The first objective of this invention is to disclose a refrigerator control method, wherein a water storage box is provided in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, the method comprising:

[0006] The real-time temperature T of the water in the water storage box is detected;

[0007] The real-time temperature T is compared with at least three successively decreasing preset temperature thresholds T1, T2, and T3, where T1>T2>T3, and T3 is not greater than 1.5℃.

[0008] When T≤T1, the first antifreeze unit is activated to promote water flow;

[0009] When T≤T2, the second antifreeze unit is activated to suppress ice crystal nucleation;

[0010] When T≤T3, the third antifreeze unit is activated to prevent the water from freezing.

[0011] Furthermore, the first antifreeze unit includes a circulation pump for driving water to form convection.

[0012] Furthermore, the second antifreeze unit includes an ultrasonic transducer for disrupting the stability of ice crystal nuclei in water through cavitation.

[0013] Furthermore, the third antifreeze unit includes an electric heating device, which is attached to the outer or inner wall of the water storage box to provide local heat compensation.

[0014] Furthermore, the electric heating device is one of a heating film, a PTC heating element, or a heating wire, and / or the electric heating device operates intermittently using PWM mode.

[0015] Furthermore, the value range of T1 is 2.5℃~4.0℃, the value range of T2 is 1.5℃~2.5℃, and the value range of T3 is 0.5℃~1.5℃.

[0016] Furthermore, the outer surface of the water storage box is covered with a heat insulation layer made of phase change material PCM.

[0017] Furthermore, when T>T1, the first antifreeze unit, the second antifreeze unit, and the third antifreeze unit are turned off, and only temperature monitoring is maintained.

[0018] Furthermore, the water storage box is also equipped with a water level sensor. When the water level is detected to be lower than the preset safe water level, the second antifreeze unit and the third antifreeze unit are prohibited from being activated.

[0019] Furthermore, if the third antifreeze unit continues to operate for more than a preset time and still fails to raise the water temperature to above T3, it is determined that the water storage box has frozen abnormally, and an alarm message is sent to the user terminal.

[0020] Furthermore, the real-time temperature T is collected by at least two temperature sensors distributed at different locations in the water storage box, and the average or lowest value is taken as the basis for control.

[0021] The second objective of this invention is to disclose an ice maker water storage box assembly, comprising: a water tank body, an outer insulation layer, a circulation pump and an ultrasonic transducer integrated at the bottom, an electric heating device attached to the outer bottom surface, and a multi-point temperature sensing module disposed inside the water tank body.

[0022] The component is configured to be installed as a whole in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

[0023] A third object of the present invention discloses a refrigerator comprising a freezer compartment and an ice maker water tank as claimed in claim 12 disposed within the freezer compartment, the refrigerator being configured to perform the control method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.

[0024] A fourth objective of this invention is to disclose a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method for preventing the water tank of a refrigerator ice maker from freezing, as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

[0025] The fifth object of the present invention discloses a computer program product comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method for preventing the water storage box of a refrigerator ice maker from freezing, as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the refrigerator control method, water storage box assembly, refrigerator, storage medium, and program product of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0027] 1. This invention constructs a low-power active antifreeze control system by setting a water storage box assembly with integrated multi-level antifreeze units in the freezer chamber, and establishing a first antifreeze unit, a second antifreeze unit, and a third antifreeze unit based on at least three successively decreasing temperature thresholds. This effectively avoids the failure of the ice-making function caused by water freezing, eliminates the problems of water quality deterioration and energy waste caused by repeated high-temperature heating, and significantly improves the overall energy efficiency and water safety of the machine.

[0028] 2. This invention forms a passive insulation + active crystal suppression control mechanism by covering the outer periphery of the water storage box with a phase change material insulation layer or a vacuum insulation board, and combining it with a bottom micro-disturbance circulation strategy. While significantly slowing down the rate of water temperature drop, it effectively suppresses temperature stratification and ice crystal nucleation in the static water state, ensuring good ice-making ability even under extreme low temperature conditions, and significantly enhancing the environmental adaptability of antifreeze control.

[0029] 3. This invention achieves accurate sensing of the water temperature field and rapid replacement of the execution unit by distributing multiple temperature sensors at the top, middle and bottom of the water storage box and adopting a modular electrical connection structure and rear-mounted maintainable design. At the same time, all antifreeze units support intermittent operation as needed, allowing maintenance personnel to complete fault diagnosis and component replacement without disassembling the freezer compartment, greatly simplifying the after-sales maintenance process and reducing service costs and user downtime. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water storage box assembly of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the control method of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the control device of the present invention.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0035] 1. Water tank body; 2. Insulation layer; 3. Circulation pump; 4. Ultrasonic transducer; 5. Electric heating device; 6. Multi-point temperature sensing module. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the technical means and objectives and effects of the present invention easier to understand, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific illustrations.

[0037] It should be noted that all directional and positional terms used in this invention, such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," "top," "lower," "lateral," "longitudinal," and "center," are only used to explain the relative positional relationships and connections between components in a specific state. They are merely for the convenience of describing the invention and do not require the invention to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.

[0038] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly 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; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0040] Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a technique that controls the average output power by adjusting the ratio of the duration of the high level of an electrical signal (i.e., the "pulse width") to the period (called the "duty cycle").

[0041] Before introducing the refrigerator control method, water storage box assembly, refrigerator, storage medium and program product shown in the embodiments of the present invention, the application scenarios involved in the embodiments of the present invention will be introduced first.

[0042] As users demand higher levels of intelligence and space utilization in refrigerators, mid-to-high-end refrigerators commonly integrate automatic ice-making functions. In traditional designs, the water tank for the ice maker is typically located in the refrigerator compartment and connected to the ice-making module in the freezer compartment via piping. However, this structure requires a through-hole between the refrigerator and freezer compartments, compromising the integrity of the refrigerator's insulation and leading to increased temperature fluctuations in the refrigerator compartment, higher energy consumption, and reduced freshness preservation performance.

[0043] To address these issues, some new refrigerators have moved the entire water tank into the freezer compartment, achieving a fully frozen ice-making layout. However, the freezer compartment temperature is typically around -18°C, far below the freezing point of water, making the water in the tank extremely prone to freezing and causing the ice-making function to fail. Related technologies often employ continuous or high-frequency electric heating to maintain water temperature. While this prevents freezing, it consumes a lot of power (usually greater than 30W), has poor energy efficiency, and repeated heating may affect the taste of the water, which is inconsistent with the trend of green home appliances.

[0044] This invention provides a low-power, highly reliable, and water-friendly antifreeze control method for water storage boxes. By triggering different antifreeze mechanisms through multi-level temperature thresholds, it significantly reduces average power consumption and avoids the impact of high-temperature intervention on water quality while ensuring that the water does not freeze.

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a water storage box assembly for a fully refrigerated ice maker according to an exemplary embodiment. The water storage box is entirely disposed within the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, it is equipped with multiple antifreeze units to prevent water from freezing in low-temperature environments.

[0046] The water storage box is equipped with a first antifreeze unit, a second antifreeze unit, and a third antifreeze unit. These three units correspond to different levels of antifreeze intervention strategies and are electrically connected to the refrigerator's main controller. The main controller dynamically starts and stops the water storage box based on the water temperature inside.

[0047] The first antifreeze unit is used to promote water flow to eliminate temperature stratification and delay localized supercooling. In one specific embodiment, the first antifreeze unit includes a small circulating pump 3, installed at the bottom or side wall of the water storage box, with a rated power not exceeding 2W, which can periodically drive the water to form micro-convection.

[0048] The second antifreeze unit is used to inhibit ice crystal nucleation and growth. In one specific embodiment, the second antifreeze unit includes an ultrasonic transducer 4, which is fixed to the inner wall or bottom of the water storage box and operates at a frequency of 20kHz to 40kHz. The cavitation effect generated by the high-frequency vibration disrupts the stability of the tiny ice crystal nuclei in the water.

[0049] The third antifreeze unit is used to provide enhanced antifreeze protection at critical low temperatures to prevent the water from freezing completely. In one specific embodiment, the third antifreeze unit includes an electric heating device 5, which is a low-power heating film attached to the bottom surface of the water storage box. The rated power of the electric heating device 5 is 10W to 15W, and it operates intermittently using PWM modulation, performing heat compensation only when necessary.

[0050] In other embodiments, the electric heating device 5 may also use other forms of electric heating elements such as PTC heating elements, heating wires or embedded heat pipes, as long as they can provide controllable local heat compensation at the low temperature critical point, they are all equivalent substitutions of this disclosure.

[0051] In addition, the water storage box is equipped with a multi-point temperature sensing module 6 built into the water tank body 1. The multi-point temperature sensing module 6 includes at least two distributed temperature sensors, which are used to detect the real-time temperature T of the water at different locations and feed the measured temperature data back to the refrigerator main controller as the basis for judging the start and stop of each antifreeze unit, thereby avoiding local misjudgment caused by single-point temperature measurement.

[0052] Preferably, the temperature sensor can be installed at any one, two, or more locations in the upper, middle, and bottom of the water storage box, so as to flexibly configure the temperature measurement points according to the actual water convection characteristics and freezing risk areas. For example, in the case where the bottom freezes first, the sensor can be arranged at the bottom and middle; in the case where comprehensive monitoring of temperature stratification is required, the sensor can be installed at the upper, middle, and lower locations.

[0053] Furthermore, the real-time temperature T is determined as follows: data collected by at least two temperature sensors is processed, and the average or lowest value is taken as the control basis. This data is then fed back to the refrigerator's main controller as the basis for determining the start and stop of each antifreeze unit. Specifically, the average value is used to reflect the overall water temperature, while the lowest value is used to ensure the safe operation of the device.

[0054] The outer wall of the water storage box is also covered with a thermal insulation layer 2 to mitigate the thermal interference of the low-temperature environment of the freezer chamber on the water. In a preferred embodiment, the thermal insulation layer 2 is a phase change material layer, i.e., a PCM layer, with a phase change temperature range of 2°C to 5°C. It can absorb or release latent heat under the cold shock of the freezer chamber, effectively slowing down the rate of water temperature drop and providing valuable response buffer time for the control system. In another embodiment, the thermal insulation layer 2 can be a vacuum insulation panel, which can significantly reduce steady-state heat flux and is suitable for models with high space requirements. Those skilled in the art can also select aerogel composite materials, polyurethane foam layers, or other high-performance thermal insulation structures according to actual needs, all of which fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0055] The water tank body 1 is made of materials that meet food safety standards. Although food-grade polypropylene (PP) or 304 stainless steel is preferred—the former being lightweight, easy to mold, and resistant to low temperatures, and the latter possessing excellent mechanical strength and long-term stability—those skilled in the art can select other compliant materials, such as food-grade ABS, Tritan copolyester, or 316 stainless steel, depending on cost, manufacturing process, or performance requirements. As long as the selected materials meet relevant national or international standards for food contact materials and are suitable for long-term water storage applications in frozen environments, they should be considered to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0056] All of the above-mentioned execution units—including the circulation pump 3, ultrasonic transducer 4, heating film and temperature sensing module—are electrically connected to the refrigerator main controller. The controller activates the corresponding antifreeze unit in stages according to the preset multi-level temperature thresholds such as T1>T2>T3, and T3≤1.5℃, so as to achieve low power consumption and high reliability antifreeze control.

[0057] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for preventing a water storage tank from freezing, according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0058] First, the real-time temperature T of the water in the water storage tank is detected. Preferably, the temperature sensor can be an NTC thermistor, installed in the middle or bottom of the water storage tank, collecting water temperature data every 10 to 60 seconds and sending T to the main controller.

[0059] Subsequently, the real-time temperature T is compared with three successively decreasing preset temperature thresholds T1, T2, and T3, where T1 > T2 > T3, and T3 ≤ 1.5℃. The value range of T1 is 2.5℃ to 4.0℃, T2 is 1.5℃ to 2.5℃, and T3 is 0.5℃ to 1.5℃. In some optional embodiments, T1 can be set to 3.0℃, T2 to 2.0℃, and T3 to 1.0℃. This setting ensures phased intervention before the water temperature approaches freezing, avoiding sudden high-power heating.

[0060] Based on the comparison results, the antifreeze execution unit is activated in stages:

[0061] When T≤T1, the first antifreeze unit, such as the circulating pump 3, is activated to promote water flow, eliminate temperature stratification in still water, and prevent localized supercooling and crystallization. The circulating pump 3 is a miniature, low-power water pump with a rated power of less than 2W. It can operate continuously or intermittently according to a preset cycle, effectively suppressing temperature stratification and significantly reducing system energy consumption. In a preferred embodiment, the circulating pump 3 operates intermittently with a duty cycle of 5 seconds on and 10 seconds off when T≤3.0℃; it stops operating and enters standby mode when T>3.0℃. Compared to traditional solutions that only activate antifreeze measures at low temperatures, this embodiment further improves the cleanliness of the ice-making water and the consistency of system response through full-temperature-range micro-disturbance management.

[0062] When T ≤ T2, the second antifreeze unit is activated. For example, ultrasonic transducer 4 utilizes high-frequency vibration (20kHz–40kHz) to generate a cavitation effect, disrupting the stability of tiny ice crystal nuclei in the water and inhibiting their growth. When the water temperature in the storage tank is detected to be T ≤ 2.0℃, the main controller activates ultrasonic transducer 4, using the cavitation effect generated by high-frequency vibration to inhibit the formation and growth of ice crystal nuclei in the water, thereby delaying the freezing process. Ultrasonic transducer 4 operates at a frequency of 20kHz to 40kHz, with a rated power consumption of approximately 5W, and employs a dynamic start-stop control strategy: it intermittently turns on and off according to the real-time water temperature change rate or a set time period to avoid continuous high power consumption operation. Preferably, when T is in the range of 1.5℃ to 2.0℃, ultrasonic transducer 4 operates with a duty cycle of 30 seconds on / 60 seconds off; when T further drops below 1.5℃, the start-stop cycle is shortened to 10 seconds on / 20 seconds off to enhance the crystal suppression effect. This dynamic control method ensures antifreeze performance while keeping the average power consumption below 3W.

[0063] When T ≤ T3, the third antifreeze unit is activated, such as a heating film providing heat compensation to prevent the water from freezing. At this time, the first and second antifreeze units usually remain operational, forming a multi-pronged protective mechanism. However, under certain specific conditions, such as to further reduce energy consumption or avoid excessive disturbance, the first and second antifreeze units may not operate simultaneously. For example, when the water temperature is detected to have stabilized and risen, or when environmental conditions permit, the main controller can pause the first and second antifreeze units, relying solely on the third antifreeze unit to maintain the water temperature.

[0064] Preferably, the control method further includes an exception handling step:

[0065] When the third antifreeze unit runs continuously for more than a preset time, and the real-time temperature T detected by the multi-point temperature sensing module still has not risen above the preset recovery temperature threshold T3, the controller determines that the water storage box has frozen abnormally or malfunctioned. At this time, the controller controls the third antifreeze unit to stop working and sends an alarm message to the user terminal through the communication module, prompting the user to perform maintenance or manually defrost. This setting, by introducing the correlation between heating time and temperature response, realizes real-time monitoring of the antifreeze system's working efficiency, effectively identifying abnormal operating conditions caused by heating element failure, severe ice blockage, or sensor malfunction, avoiding damage caused by prolonged operation of the equipment in a faulty state, and also reminding users to intervene in a timely manner through proactive alarms, significantly improving the safety, reliability, and intelligent interactive experience of the all-freezing ice maker.

[0066] In some optional embodiments, the third antifreeze unit operates intermittently using PWM, outputting heat only when necessary to avoid continuous heating. When the water temperature T in the storage tank is detected to be ≤1.0°C, the main controller activates the heating membrane, which operates intermittently via PWM to provide heat compensation. The heating membrane has a rated power of 10W, and under PWM control, it outputs heat only when necessary, resulting in significantly lower average power consumption than the continuous heating mode, effectively preventing water freezing while maintaining energy efficiency.

[0067] In this invention, PWM is used to control the power supply state of the electric heating device 5: when the PWM signal is high, the heating device is powered on; when it is low, heating stops. By adjusting the duty cycle, for example, 20%, 50%, or 80%, the average thermal output power of the heating device can be precisely adjusted without changing the power supply voltage, thereby achieving on-demand heating and reducing energy consumption. Typically, the frequency of the PWM signal can be set from 0.1Hz to 10Hz, i.e., the period is from 0.1 seconds to 10 seconds, to balance control response speed and device lifespan.

[0068] The multi-level decreasing threshold design allows antifreeze measures to be activated on demand and in stages, preventing high-power units from starting prematurely, thereby significantly reducing the system's average energy consumption while ensuring antifreeze reliability. Those skilled in the art can set more thresholds according to actual needs. In some embodiments, even if the water temperature in the storage tank is high, the system still maintains basic water body disturbance to ensure water quality stability. Specifically, when a water temperature T ≥ 4.0℃ is detected, the main controller starts an ultra-low power circulation pump 3, which operates intermittently to promote water microcirculation and prevent impurity deposition or localized temperature unevenness. The circulation pump 3 has a relatively low rated power. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to three thresholds, but covers all situations with "at least three".

[0069] To further reduce energy consumption, when T>T1, the water naturally remains in a stable liquid state, preventing freezing without external energy intervention. The first, second, and third antifreeze units are then shut down, with only temperature monitoring maintained. Shutting down the antifreeze units when no antifreeze is needed avoids unnecessary energy consumption. For appliances requiring long standby times (such as refrigerators and ice makers), this setting significantly reduces standby power consumption and operating costs.

[0070] In other embodiments, the PCM insulation layer 2 wrapped around the water storage box has a phase change temperature of 2°C–5°C, which can absorb or release latent heat under the cold shock of the freezer, slow down the rate of water temperature drop, and buy time for the control system to respond.

[0071] In other embodiments, the water storage box is also equipped with a water level sensor. When the water level is lower than the safety threshold, the ultrasonic transducer 4 and the heating film are prohibited from being activated to prevent dry burning or damage from air vibration.

[0072] In summary, this invention achieves the technical effects of on-demand activation, low-power operation, and high reliability by setting three decreasing temperature thresholds to trigger three antifreeze mechanisms: cyclic disturbance, ultrasonic crystal suppression, and heat compensation. Actual measurements show that this solution has a significantly higher average power consumption than traditional continuous heating solutions, and it eliminates the need for high-temperature treatment throughout the process, ensuring the safety of the water used for ice.

[0073] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating a water storage box antifreeze control device according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, the device includes three mutually coupled functional modules: a temperature acquisition module, a threshold comparison module, and an execution control module.

[0074] The temperature acquisition module is electrically connected to the multi-point temperature sensing module 6 inside the water storage box, which is used to collect the water temperature T in real time and update the data at a set sampling period (e.g., every 30 seconds).

[0075] The threshold comparison module stores three preset temperature thresholds T1>T2>T3 in descending order (e.g., T1=3.0℃, T2=2.0℃, T3=1.0℃), and compares the current temperature (T) with each threshold level by level.

[0076] The execution control module dynamically starts and stops the corresponding anti-freeze execution unit based on the comparison results:

[0077] When T≤T1, output control signal to circulation pump 3 to cause it to run intermittently to break the still water state;

[0078] When T≤T2, the ultrasonic transducer 4 is superimposed and activated to suppress ice crystal nucleation.

[0079] When T≤T3, the heating device is further activated to provide heat compensation via PWM.

[0080] Furthermore, in some preferred embodiments, when the water temperature is detected to rise to T > T1, the execution control module can select any of the following operating strategies according to a preset mode:

[0081] Strategy 1 (Deep Energy Saving Mode): Automatically shut down all anti-freeze units such as circulation pump 3, ultrasonic transducer 4 and heating device, and only keep the temperature acquisition module working at low frequency sampling (e.g., once every 60 seconds) to put the system into a low power consumption monitoring state and significantly reduce standby power consumption;

[0082] Strategy 2 (Water Quality Maintenance Mode): Maintain the first antifreeze unit (i.e., circulation pump 3) in ultra-low power intermittent operation (e.g., turn on for 10 seconds every 5 minutes, with a power of less than 1W) to promote water microcirculation and prevent impurity deposition or microbial growth caused by long-term stagnation, while the other antifreeze units remain off.

[0083] The above strategies can be selected by the user through the refrigerator's human-machine interface, or automatically switched by the main controller based on parameters such as historical usage frequency, ambient humidity, and last ice-making time, thereby achieving a dynamic balance between ensuring water quality and achieving ultimate energy saving.

[0084] The device can be integrated into the refrigerator's main controller or installed as a standalone control board on the rear wall of the freezer compartment. It communicates with the water storage box assembly via electrical connection terminals to achieve fully closed-loop intelligent antifreeze management.

[0085] The present invention also provides an electronic device, including a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the program to implement the steps of the above-described control method.

[0086] The present invention also provides a refrigerator, including a freezer compartment, a water storage box disposed in the freezer compartment, a PCM insulation layer 2, a circulation pump 3, an ultrasonic transducer 4, a heating device and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to execute the steps of the aforementioned control method.

[0087] The present invention also provides a storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the above-described control method.

[0088] The present invention also provides a program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the above-described control method.

[0089] Regarding the water storage box assembly, electronic device, refrigerator, storage medium, and program product in the above embodiments, the specific manner in which each module or component performs its operation has been described in detail in the embodiments related to the method, and will not be repeated here.

[0090] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above control logic can be implemented through embedded software, firmware, or a dedicated control chip, and is applicable to various household or commercial refrigerators with automatic ice-making functions, solving the problem of water tank freezing in a fully frozen layout.

[0091] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator control method, characterized in that, The refrigerator freezer compartment is equipped with a water storage box, and the method includes: The real-time temperature T of the water in the water storage box is detected; The real-time temperature T is compared with at least three successively decreasing preset temperature thresholds T1, T2, and T3, where T1>T2>T3, and T3 is not greater than 1.5℃. When T≤T1, the first antifreeze unit is activated to promote water flow; When T≤T2, the second antifreeze unit is activated to suppress ice crystal nucleation; When T≤T3, the third antifreeze unit is activated to prevent the water from freezing.

2. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first antifreeze unit includes a circulation pump (3) for driving water to form convection.

3. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second antifreeze unit includes an ultrasonic transducer (4) for disrupting the stability of ice crystal nuclei in water through cavitation effect.

4. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The third antifreeze unit includes an electric heating device (5), which is attached to the outer or inner wall of the water storage box to provide local heat compensation.

5. The refrigerator control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The electric heating device (5) is one of a heating film, a PTC heating element or an electric heating wire, and / or the electric heating device (5) operates intermittently in PWM mode.

6. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The value range of T1 is 2.5℃~4.0℃, the value range of T2 is 1.5℃~2.5℃, and the value range of T3 is 0.5℃~1.5℃.

7. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the water storage box is covered with a heat insulation layer made of phase change material PCM (2).

8. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When T>T1, the first antifreeze unit, the second antifreeze unit, and the third antifreeze unit are turned off, and only temperature monitoring is maintained.

9. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water storage box is also equipped with a water level sensor. When the water level is detected to be lower than the preset safe water level, the second antifreeze unit and the third antifreeze unit are prohibited from being activated.

10. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the third antifreeze unit continues to operate for more than a preset time and still fails to raise the water temperature to above T3, it is determined that the water storage box has frozen abnormally and an alarm message is sent to the user terminal.

11. The refrigerator control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The real-time temperature T is collected by at least two temperature sensors distributed at different locations in the water storage box, and the average or lowest value is taken as the basis for control.

12. A water storage box assembly, characterized in that, include: The water tank body (1), the insulation layer (2) wrapped around the outside, the circulation pump (3) and ultrasonic transducer (4) integrated at the bottom, the electric heating device (5) attached to the outer bottom surface, and the multi-point temperature sensing module (6) set inside the water tank body (1). The component is configured to be installed in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator.

13. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a water storage box assembly as claimed in claim 12 disposed in the freezer compartment, and is configured to perform the control method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the refrigerator control method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. A program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the refrigerator control method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images