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

Abstract

The application belongs to the 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. Four fixed conductive sheets are arranged at the bottom of the water storage box, and a floating conductive sheet is arranged at the top. Water is used as a conductive medium to form a detection loop. The MCU collects the resistance values between the conductive sheets in real time. The water temperature and whether the water is frozen are determined according to the resistance difference between water and ice. When the resistance value corresponding to the water temperature is less than or equal to 0 DEG C, the heating wire is started; and when the resistance value corresponding to the water temperature is greater than 1 DEG C, the heating wire is turned off, so that the water temperature is accurately maintained at 0 DEG C-1 DEG C. At the same time, the water shortage can be determined. The application has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, high energy saving and efficiency, and does not need an additional sensor. The application has the functions of temperature monitoring and water shortage detection, and is suitable for refrigerators, commercial refrigerators and professional ice making equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerator ice maker control, 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 capabilities. If the water reservoir is placed in the freezer compartment, preventing it from freezing becomes crucial. Preventing ice buildup consumes electricity, but energy conservation 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 in the refrigerator water storage box.

[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] Obtain the state parameters of the water in the water storage box;

[0007] The state parameters are compared with at least two preset thresholds to determine whether the water body is in a critical freezing state or already frozen.

[0008] Based on the assessment results, the corresponding antifreeze response units are activated in stages:

[0009] When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is higher than the first threshold, the monitoring status is maintained.

[0010] When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is lower than or equal to the second threshold, the second antifreeze response unit is activated.

[0011] The state parameters are obtained based on the changes in the electrical properties of the conductive medium inside the water storage box, and the electrical properties include resistance or conductivity.

[0012] Furthermore, the status parameters are obtained through a detection circuit consisting of multiple conductive sheets installed inside the water storage box.

[0013] Furthermore, the plurality of conductive sheets include at least two fixed conductive sheets fixed to the bottom of the water storage box and a floating conductive sheet that floats with the water level, with the water serving as a conductive medium to connect the conductive sheets and form a passage.

[0014] Furthermore, the number of fixed conductive sheets is four, which are respectively arranged at the midpoint of the four sides of the bottom of the water storage box;

[0015] In this system, any pair of opposite fixed conductive plates form an independent detection circuit, which is used to detect whether there is water in the water storage box.

[0016] Each fixed conductive sheet and the floating conductive sheet form an independent detection path, which is used to determine the water temperature or whether it is frozen based on the change in resistance value.

[0017] Furthermore, when the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is lower than or equal to the first threshold but higher than the second threshold, the first antifreeze response unit is activated.

[0018] Furthermore, the first antifreeze response unit includes an active intervention device to promote the thermal uniformity of the water body, and the second antifreeze response unit includes a heating device for increasing the local temperature of the water body.

[0019] Furthermore, the second antifreeze response unit is an electric heating element attached to the outer or inner wall of the water storage box, including at least one of a heating film, a PTC heating element, or a heating wire.

[0020] Furthermore, the second antifreeze response unit operates intermittently using PWM.

[0021] Furthermore, the first threshold corresponds to a water temperature range of 1℃ to 2℃, and the second threshold corresponds to a water temperature no greater than 0℃.

[0022] Furthermore, when the status parameter indicates that there is no water in the water storage box, it is determined to be a water shortage state, the second antifreeze response unit is prohibited from being activated, and a water shortage warning signal is output.

[0023] Furthermore, when the resistance between any two fixed conductive plates is infinite or exceeds the preset water shortage threshold, the water storage box is determined to be in a water shortage state, the second antifreeze response unit is prohibited from being activated, and a water shortage warning signal is output.

[0024] Furthermore, if the second antifreeze response unit runs continuously for more than a preset time and the status parameter still fails to recover to a level higher than the second threshold, it is determined to be an abnormal freezing condition and an alarm message is sent to the user terminal.

[0025] Furthermore, the water storage box is made of non-conductive material and its outer surface is covered with an insulation layer to reduce the thermal interference of the freezer environment on the internal water temperature.

[0026] The second objective of this invention is to disclose a water storage box assembly, comprising: a water tank body made of non-conductive material, a thermal insulation layer covering the outside of the water tank body, a multi-point conductive sheet detection array integrated inside the water tank body, an electric heating device attached to the wall of the water tank body, and a control module electrically connected to the conductive sheet and the electric heating device.

[0027] The multi-point conductive sheet detection array includes at least two fixed conductive sheets and one floating conductive sheet, which are used to sense the water temperature and water level status in real time by means of changes in the electrical properties of the water body.

[0028] The component is configured to be installed in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator and to perform the control method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0029] A third objective of the present invention is to disclose a refrigerator comprising a freezer compartment and a water storage box assembly as described above disposed within the freezer compartment, the refrigerator being configured to perform the control method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0030] A fourth objective of this invention is to disclose a storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method described in any of the preceding claims.

[0031] A fifth objective of this invention is to disclose a program product comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method described in any one of the preceding descriptions.

[0032] 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:

[0033] 1. This invention places the entire water storage box inside the freezer compartment of a refrigerator and constructs a multi-point conductive sheet detection circuit based on the difference in electrical properties between water and ice. This achieves highly sensitive and low-cost real-time sensing of water temperature and freezing status, eliminating the need for traditional high-cost professional water temperature sensors, significantly reducing hardware costs, and improving detection coverage and reliability.

[0034] 2. This invention forms a dual-function detection mechanism by arranging four fixed conductive plates in the middle of the four sides at the bottom of the water storage box and setting a floating conductive plate at the top. The fixed conductive plates determine the presence or absence of water, and the fixed-floating conductive plates determine the water temperature. This allows for simultaneous water shortage judgment and freezing warning in a single structure, without the need for additional sensors. It effectively integrates multiple functions into one, simplifies the system architecture, and enhances fault diagnosis capabilities.

[0035] 3. This invention sets two temperature thresholds and links them with a PWM intermittent heating control strategy, which activates the electric heating device only when the water temperature is ≤0℃, accurately maintaining the water temperature in the range of 0℃~1℃, thus avoiding energy waste caused by continuous high-temperature heat preservation. At the same time, the combination of heat preservation layer and non-conductive box design improves energy efficiency and operational stability from the dual dimensions of thermal management and electrical safety, taking into account energy saving, safety and long-term reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0036] 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:

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water storage box assembly of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the control method of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the control device of the present invention.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0041] 1. Water tank body; 2. Insulation layer; 3. Electric heating device; 4. Fixed conductive sheet; 5. Floating conductive sheet. Detailed Implementation

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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").

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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 preservation performance. To address these issues, refrigerators now feature an optional ice maker in the entire freezer compartment, placing the entire water tank within the freezer. This solution effectively avoids heat exchange interference between the refrigerator and freezer cavities, improving overall energy efficiency and structural sealing. However, this also exposes the water tank directly to a freezing environment of approximately -18°C, and the large volume and high heat capacity of the water inside make it highly susceptible to freezing, causing the ice-making function to fail.

[0049] Currently, the relevant technologies mainly rely on temperature sensors, such as NTC thermistors or infrared sensors, to monitor the water temperature in the water storage box and maintain the water temperature through continuous or high-frequency electric heating. However, such solutions have significant drawbacks: (1) the detection area is limited, making it difficult to cover the overall state of a large-volume water box, and it is easy to make misjudgments due to local temperature measurement deviations; (2) in order to ensure that the water temperature does not freeze, it is often necessary to maintain the water temperature at a high level (such as above 2°C), resulting in unnecessary energy consumption, with the average power consumption often exceeding 30W; (3) high-precision professional water temperature sensors are expensive, which is not conducive to their popularization in mid-range products.

[0050] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a low-cost, low-power, and highly reliable method for controlling the freezing of a water storage tank. This solution is applied to scenarios where an ice maker is optionally installed in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator. It determines whether ice has formed by detecting the electrical characteristics (especially the resistance value) of the water in the storage tank—utilizing the fundamental difference in conductivity between water and ice: liquid water has a certain conductivity, while ice is almost non-conductive. When the detected resistance value is significantly higher than the normal water resistance value, it is determined that an ice-water mixture has formed or the water is completely frozen. Heating is immediately initiated to precisely maintain the water temperature above 0°C, preferably within the 0°C to 1°C range. This ensures reliable freezing while significantly reducing energy consumption and avoiding the impact of high-temperature intervention on water quality.

[0051] 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 a conductive sheet detection array and an antifreeze heating unit to prevent water from freezing in low-temperature environments.

[0052] The water storage box includes a water tank body 1, an outer insulation layer 2, an internal conductive sheet detection array, an electric heating device 3 attached to the bottom surface of the water tank body 1, and an MCU control module electrically connected to the conductive sheets and the heating device. All components are integrated into one unit to form a complete anti-freeze sensing and execution system.

[0053] The conductive sheet detection array includes multiple conductive sheets used to form a measurable electrical path through water as a conductive medium. In a preferred embodiment, the multiple conductive sheets include four fixed conductive sheets 4 and one floating conductive sheet 5. The four fixed conductive sheets 4 are labeled ①, ②, ③, and ④, and are arranged in a rectangle at the bottom of the water storage box; the floating conductive sheet 5, labeled ⑤, is suspended in the water by a lightweight float and can move up and down with the water level. The floating conductive sheet 5 is electrically connected to the MCU control module via a flexible wire. The flexible wire has low-temperature resistance and bending resistance to ensure long-term reliable conduction in a freezing environment; at the same time, the floating conductive sheet 5 always floats on the surface of the liquid in the water storage box to reflect the conductivity state of the water-air interface in real time.

[0054] The MCU control module determines the water level and temperature changes in the water storage box by collecting the resistance values ​​between different combinations of conductive sheets. Specifically, in this preferred embodiment:

[0055] The resistance values ​​between ① and ③, and ② and ④ of the relatively arranged fixed conductive plates 4 are used to determine whether there is water in the water storage box: when there is no water, the resistance tends to be infinite; when there is water, the resistance drops significantly to below several thousand ohms, and the specific value depends on the conductivity of the water.

[0056] Each fixed conductive sheet 4 and the floating conductive sheet 5 form an independent detection circuit, and their resistance values ​​reflect the local water temperature. Since the conductivity of liquid water decreases as the temperature decreases, the resistance value increases significantly when the water temperature is close to or below 0℃; when the water is completely frozen, the resistance value increases sharply to the megaohm level because ice is almost non-conductive.

[0057] To further ensure safety and prevent waterless heating, fixed conductive plates 4 are arranged in the middle area of ​​the four sides of the bottom of the water storage box. Any pair of opposite fixed conductive plates 4 forms an independent detection loop to detect the presence of water in the storage box. In actual use, the water level in the storage box may vary due to water intake or evaporation, or the storage box itself may be slightly tilted. By setting up multiple pairs of opposite detection loops (such as ① and ③, ② and ④), as long as one loop contacts water and disconnects, the system can determine that there is no water, avoiding false positives caused by single-point detection, significantly improving the reliability of the detection system and preventing dry burning. This setup utilizes the symmetry of the geometric layout and the redundancy of the loop detection to ensure that the system can accurately identify the presence and absence of water under different operating conditions, avoiding misjudgments.

[0058] Therefore, this invention utilizes the inherent difference in electrical conductivity between water and ice to construct a low-cost sensing method that can simultaneously achieve water shortage detection and icing early warning without the need for additional temperature sensors.

[0059] In this embodiment, the MCU control module maps the measured resistance value to an equivalent water temperature state and compares it with two preset thresholds. For example, the first threshold T1 corresponds to a water temperature of approximately 1°C or 1.5°C, and the second threshold T2 corresponds to a water temperature of 0°C. When the equivalent water temperature is higher than T1, the system maintains the monitoring state and does not activate any antifreeze measures; when the equivalent water temperature is lower than or equal to T2, it is determined that there is a risk of freezing, and the second antifreeze response unit—i.e., the electric heating device 3—is immediately activated.

[0060] An electric heating device 3 is used to provide localized heat compensation when a risk of freezing is detected, and it can be implemented in various forms. In a preferred embodiment, the electric heating device 3 is a flexible heating film attached to the bottom surface of the water storage box. This heating device operates intermittently using PWM: when the PWM signal is high, the heating film is energized to generate heat; when it is low, heating stops. By dynamically adjusting the duty cycle, for example, from 20% to 60%, the average heat output can be precisely controlled without changing the supply voltage, so that the water temperature is stably maintained in the range of 0°C to 1°C, preventing both freezing and overheating.

[0061] In other embodiments, the electric heating device 3 may also be at least one of the following: heating wire, PTC heating element, printed heating circuit, or embedded carbon fiber heating element. For example, the heating wire may be arranged in a serpentine pattern along the inner or outer wall of the bottom of the water storage box and fixed with high-temperature resistant insulating material; the PTC heating element, due to its self-limiting temperature characteristics, can provide safe heating without complex control. Multiple forms may also be used in combination. As long as the selected heating element can achieve controllable, low-power, and localized heating functions, and cooperates with the MCU control module to achieve intermittent PWM operation, it falls under the equivalent replacement scheme of this invention and should be included in the scope of protection.

[0062] Typically, the PWM signal frequency is set to 1Hz, with an initial duty cycle of 30%. If two consecutive samples show that the water temperature is still ≤0℃, the duty cycle is increased to 50%; if the water temperature rises to >0.5℃, the duty cycle is gradually reduced until it is turned off. This closed-loop control strategy ensures that heat is supplied on demand, and the measured average power consumption is significantly more energy-efficient than traditional continuous heating solutions.

[0063] In addition, the outer wall of the water storage box is covered with an insulation layer 2 to mitigate the thermal shock of the cold air from the freezer compartment to the internal water. In a preferred embodiment, the insulation layer 2 is made of polyurethane foam with a thickness of 8 mm. In another embodiment, a vacuum insulation panel or aerogel composite material can be used to further improve the thermal insulation performance, suitable for models with high space requirements.

[0064] The water tank body 1 is made of food-grade non-conductive material, preferably polypropylene or other materials, ensuring that it will not deform or crack during long-term use in environments ranging from -25℃ to +50℃, and meets the requirements of national food safety standards. The non-conductive material also effectively prevents short circuits between conductive plates through the housing, ensuring detection accuracy and electrical safety.

[0065] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a refrigerator control method according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0066] Obtain the state parameters of the water in the water storage box;

[0067] The state parameters are compared with at least two preset thresholds to determine whether the water body is in a critical freezing state or already frozen.

[0068] Based on the assessment results, the corresponding antifreeze response units are activated in stages:

[0069] When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is higher than the first threshold, the monitoring status is maintained.

[0070] When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is lower than or equal to the second threshold, the second antifreeze response unit is activated.

[0071] The state parameters are obtained based on the changes in the electrical properties of the conductive medium inside the water storage box, including resistance or conductivity.

[0072] This setup utilizes the resistance or conductivity of a conductive medium as a state parameter, overcoming the limitations of traditional temperature detection. At the critical point of water's transition from liquid to solid (near 0°C), its electrical properties undergo significant nonlinear changes, typically manifested as a sharp increase in resistivity. By comparing the state parameter with at least two preset thresholds, the system can identify the "critical freezing state" when the water is about to freeze or the "frozen state" when it has already frozen, thereby effectively eliminating detection lag caused by sensor thermal inertia and ensuring a response at the first moment of phase change in the water. By activating the antifreeze response unit in stages, the control strategy is refined.

[0073] Status parameters are acquired through a detection loop consisting of multiple conductive plates installed within the water storage tank. Specifically, the conductive plates include at least two fixed conductive plates fixed to the bottom of the water storage tank and one floating conductive plate that floats with the water level. The water acts as a conductive medium, connecting the conductive plates to form a pathway. This setup, by constructing a detection loop composed of fixed conductive plates, a floating conductive plate, and water, utilizes the physical properties of water as a conductive medium to achieve precise dual monitoring of the water level and freezing risk within the water storage tank. It also converts the electrical properties of the water into quantifiable control signals, thus providing reliable data support for the tiered control of the refrigerator.

[0074] In some optional embodiments, the MCU control module collects four sets of resistance values ​​formed between the four fixed conductive plates 4 (①~④) and the floating conductive plate 5, denoted as R. 15 R 25 R 35 R 45 Since the conductivity of water decreases as temperature decreases, the resistance values ​​are positively correlated with the local water temperature—that is, the lower the water temperature, the higher the resistance value.

[0075] The MCU control module periodically collects status parameters, such as the resistance value R between four sets of fixed and floating conductive plates 5 every 30 seconds. 15 R25 R 35 R 45 The maximum or average value is taken as the basis for water temperature judgment: taking the maximum value can improve the sensitivity to local freezing and prioritize the response to the coldest area in the water storage box; taking the average value reflects the overall water temperature level and is suitable for working conditions where the heat distribution of the water body is relatively uniform.

[0076] Then, the resistance value is compared with two preset thresholds:

[0077] When the resistance value is ≤ R1, the corresponding water temperature is greater than the first preset temperature, with a temperature range of 1℃~2℃, for example, water temperature > 1.5℃, or water temperature > 1℃. At this time, the resistance value is < 5kΩ, which is determined to be a safe state, and monitoring is maintained.

[0078] When the resistance value is greater than or equal to R2, the corresponding water temperature is less than the second preset temperature, for example, water temperature ≤ 0℃, or > 15kΩ, it is determined to be a risk of freezing, and the second antifreeze response unit is activated.

[0079] R1 and R2 are the first threshold and the second threshold, respectively. They can be calibrated before leaving the factory according to the actual water quality and stored in the non-volatile memory of the MCU.

[0080] When a freezing risk is detected, the MCU activates the PWM control module to drive the heating film with an initial duty cycle of 30%. Simultaneously, the system continuously monitors resistance changes. If the second antifreeze response unit operates continuously for more than a preset time and the status parameters do not recover to above the second threshold, a freezing anomaly is detected, and an alarm message is sent to the user terminal. For example, if the resistance value does not drop below R1 within 5 minutes, it is determined to be a "freezing anomaly," possibly due to heating failure or severe icing. In this case, an alarm message is sent to the user terminal, and the ice-making process is paused.

[0081] When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is lower than or equal to the first threshold but higher than the second threshold, i.e., the water temperature is in the critical range of 0℃ to 1.5℃ or 0℃ to 1℃, the system determines that it is in a warning state and activates the first antifreeze response unit.

[0082] The first antifreeze response unit includes an active intervention device that promotes thermal uniformity of the water. This active intervention device can be a miniature turbulence pump or a vibrating motor. By agitating the water or causing high-frequency micro-vibrations in the water storage tank, this device breaks up the temperature stratification within the water, eliminates localized supercooling points, thereby delaying ice crystal formation and preventing the water from freezing rapidly in a stagnant state.

[0083] When the status parameter indicates that there is no water in the water storage box, it is determined to be in a water shortage state. Specifically, when the resistance between any two fixed conductive plates 4 is infinite or exceeds the preset water shortage threshold (R0), for example, when the resistance value is ≥R0 (e.g., >10MΩ), the MCU determines that the water storage box is in a water shortage state. In this state, the system prohibits the activation of the second antifreeze response unit and outputs a water shortage warning signal to prevent the heating element from dry burning. R0 can be calibrated at the factory according to the actual water quality and stored in the MCU's non-volatile memory.

[0084] In some embodiments, the water storage box also integrates a water level sensor (such as a reed switch or photoelectric switch). When the water level is detected to be below the safety line, the heating device is prohibited from being started even if the resistance value is abnormal, to prevent dry burning damage.

[0085] In summary, this invention replaces the traditional temperature sensor with a conductive sheet resistance detection mechanism, and combines a two-level threshold and a PWM intermittent heating strategy to achieve low-cost, low-power, and highly reliable anti-freezing control of the water storage box. Actual tests show that in a -18℃ freezing environment, this solution can reduce the average daily power consumption, and the water temperature does not exceed the preset temperature throughout the process, effectively ensuring the purity and taste of the ice cubes.

[0086] 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 state parameter acquisition module, a threshold judgment module, and an execution control module.

[0087] Status parameter acquisition module: electrically connected to four fixed conductive plates 4 and floating conductive plates 5, used to periodically acquire multi-channel resistance values ​​and convert them into equivalent water temperature status;

[0088] Threshold judgment module: Stores two thresholds, R1 corresponding to T1=1.5℃ and R2 corresponding to T2=0℃, which are used to classify and judge the state of water bodies.

[0089] Execution control module: Controls the start and stop of the heating device and the PWM duty cycle according to the judgment result, and triggers an alarm when there is a water shortage or freezing abnormality.

[0090] The device can be integrated into the refrigerator's main controller or installed as a separate control board on the rear wall of the freezer compartment. It connects to the water storage box assembly via waterproof connectors to achieve fully closed-loop intelligent management.

[0091] 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.

[0092] The present invention also provides a refrigerator, including a freezer compartment, a water storage box assembly disposed in the freezer compartment, an insulation layer 2, an electric heating device 3, and an MCU control module, wherein the MCU control module is configured to execute the aforementioned antifreeze control method based on resistance detection.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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.

[0095] 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.

[0096] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above control logic can be implemented through embedded software and firmware, and is applicable to various household or commercial refrigerators with automatic ice-making functions, solving the problem of freezing of the water storage box in a fully frozen layout.

[0097] 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: Obtain the state parameters of the water in the water storage box; The state parameters are compared with at least two preset thresholds to determine whether the water body is in a critical freezing state or already frozen. Based on the assessment results, the corresponding antifreeze response units are activated in stages: When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is higher than the first threshold, the monitoring status is maintained. When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is lower than or equal to the second threshold, the second antifreeze response unit is activated. The state parameters are obtained based on the changes in the electrical properties of the conductive medium inside the water storage box, and the electrical properties include resistance or conductivity.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The status parameters are obtained through a detection circuit consisting of multiple conductive plates installed inside the water storage box.

3. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plurality of conductive sheets include at least two fixed conductive sheets (4) fixed to the bottom of the water storage box and a floating conductive sheet (5) that floats with the water level, with the water body serving as a conductive medium to connect the conductive sheets to form a passage.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of fixed conductive sheets (4) is four, which are respectively arranged in the middle area of ​​the four sides of the bottom of the water storage box; Among them, any pair of two fixed conductive sheets (4) in opposite directions form an independent detection circuit, which is used to detect whether there is water in the water storage box; Each fixed conductive sheet (4) and the floating conductive sheet (5) form an independent detection circuit, which is used to determine the water temperature or whether it is frozen based on the change in resistance value.

5. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the status parameter indicates that the water temperature is lower than or equal to the first threshold but higher than the second threshold, the first antifreeze response unit is activated.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first antifreeze response unit includes an active intervention device to promote the thermal uniformity of the water body, and the second antifreeze response unit includes a heating device for increasing the local temperature of the water body.

7. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second antifreeze response unit is an electric heating element attached to the outer or inner wall of the water storage box, including at least one of a heating film, a PTC heating element, or a heating wire.

8. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second antifreeze response unit operates intermittently using PWM.

9. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first threshold corresponds to a water temperature range of 1℃ to 2℃, and the second threshold corresponds to a water temperature no greater than 0℃.

10. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the status parameter indicates that there is no water in the water storage box, it is determined to be a water shortage state, the second antifreeze response unit is prohibited from being activated, and a water shortage warning signal is output.

11. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, When the resistance between any two fixed conductive plates (4) is infinite or exceeds the preset water shortage threshold, the water storage box is determined to be in a water shortage state, the second antifreeze response unit is prohibited from being activated, and a water shortage warning signal is output.

12. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the second antifreeze response unit runs continuously for more than a preset time and the status parameter still fails to recover to a level higher than the second threshold, it is determined to be a freezing abnormality and an alarm message is sent to the user terminal.

13. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water storage box is made of non-conductive material, and the outer surface of the water storage box is wrapped with a thermal insulation layer (2) to reduce the thermal interference of the freezer environment on the internal water temperature.

14. A water storage box assembly, characterized in that, include: The water tank body (1) is made of non-conductive material, the heat insulation layer (2) is wrapped around the outside of the water tank body (1), the multi-point conductive sheet detection array is integrated inside the water tank body (1), the electric heating device (3) is attached to the wall of the water tank body (1), and the control module is electrically connected to the conductive sheet and the electric heating device (3). The multi-point conductive sheet detection array includes at least two fixed conductive sheets (4) and one floating conductive sheet (5), which are used to sense the water temperature and water level status in real time by means of changes in the electrical properties of the water body; The component is configured to be installed in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator and to perform the control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a water storage box assembly as described in claim 14 disposed within the freezer compartment, and is configured to perform the control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

16. 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 control method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

17. A program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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