Evaporator position determination method, ice maker, and storage medium

Abstract

This application discloses a method for determining the position of an evaporator, an ice maker, and a storage medium, relating to the field of ice maker technology. The disclosed ice maker includes: an ice-making chamber; a top cover connected to the ice-making chamber to form an ice-making cavity; an evaporator disposed inside the ice-making cavity; and a driving device for driving the evaporator to move within the ice-making cavity to adjust the distance between the evaporator and a target cavity wall of the ice-making cavity. The method for determining the position of the evaporator includes: obtaining the thermal conductivity of the air in the ice maker's working environment; obtaining a first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity wall, and a second temperature difference between the outer wall and the inner wall of the target cavity wall; determining an anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and a thickness parameter, thereby preventing condensation on the top cover by determining the distance to be adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of ice maker technology, and in particular to a method for determining the location of an evaporator, an ice maker, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] To prevent condensation in ice makers, current methods typically involve covering the lid with a sponge or other barrier material. However, due to the limited space inside the ice maker, this barrier material often cannot cover the entire surface evenly, leading to condensation on the lid.

[0003] The above content is only used to help understand the technical solution of this application and does not represent an admission that the above content is prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main purpose of this application is to provide a method for determining the location of an evaporator, an ice maker, and a storage medium, in order to solve the technical problem of condensation on the top cover of the current ice maker during operation.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides an ice maker, including an ice-making chamber; The top cover is connected to the ice-making chamber to form an ice-making cavity; An evaporator is disposed inside the ice-making chamber; A driving device is used to drive the evaporator to move inside the ice-making chamber in order to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall of the ice-making chamber.

[0006] In one embodiment, the driving device is used to drive the evaporator to move in the direction of gravity to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the upper cover.

[0007] In one embodiment, the driving device is a manual driving device or an automatic driving device.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this application proposes a method for determining the location of an evaporator, applied to an ice maker, the method comprising: Obtain the thermal conductivity of the air in the working environment of the ice maker; Obtain a first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity, and a second temperature difference between the outer wall of the target cavity and the inner wall; The anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall is determined based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter.

[0009] In one embodiment, after determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter, the method further includes: If the current spacing does not match the anti-condensation spacing, the drive device is controlled according to the anti-condensation spacing to drive the evaporator to a position that matches the anti-condensation spacing; or Based on the anti-condensation spacing, an evaporator location suggestion is generated and output.

[0010] In one embodiment, after determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter, the method further includes: Determine the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing; The target water injection time is determined based on the water injection time, the immersion height of the evaporator when it is running at the position matching the current spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing. The water injection time of the ice maker is updated according to the target water injection time.

[0011] In one embodiment, the step of determining the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing is performed when any of the following conditions are met: The driving device of the ice maker drives the evaporator based on the anti-condensation spacing, and the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing; The anti-condensation spacing is greater than both the current spacing and the preset spacing.

[0012] In one embodiment, after determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter, the method further includes: Determine the ice-making time corresponding to the current spacing; The target ice-making time is determined based on the ice-making time, the immersion height of the evaporator when it is running at the position matching the current spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing. The ice-making time of the ice maker is updated according to the target ice-making time.

[0013] In one embodiment, the step of determining the ice-making time corresponding to the current spacing is performed when any of the following conditions are met: The driving device of the ice maker drives the evaporator based on the anti-condensation spacing, and the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing; The anti-condensation spacing is greater than both the current spacing and the preset spacing.

[0014] In one embodiment, the step of determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter includes: Determine the first product between the air thermal conductivity, the thickness parameter, and the second temperature difference, and the second product between the thermal conductivity and the first temperature difference; The quotient between the first product and the second product is set as the anti-condensation spacing.

[0015] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes an ice maker, which includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the evaporator location determination method as described above.

[0016] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes a storage medium, which is a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the evaporator position determination method described above.

[0017] One or more technical solutions proposed in this application have at least the following technical effects: An ice maker includes an ice-making chamber, a top cover connected to the ice-making chamber and forming an ice-making cavity, an evaporator disposed inside the ice-making cavity, and a mechanism to drive the evaporator to move within the ice-making cavity to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall of the ice-making cavity. Based on this, using parameters such as the air thermal conductivity corresponding to the ambient humidity under the current operating environment of the ice maker, the first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity wall, and the second temperature difference between the outer and inner walls of the target cavity wall, the anti-condensation distance of the evaporator under the current operating environment is calculated. This allows the ice-making chamber to adjust the position of the evaporator according to the anti-condensation distance, preventing condensation on the top cover of the ice maker under the current operating environment and improving the anti-condensation effect of the ice maker. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the evaporator location determination method of this application; Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating the second embodiment of the evaporator location determination method of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an optional process for determining the position of the evaporator obtained by combining various embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware operating environment involved in the evaporator location determination method in this application embodiment.

[0021] The purpose, features, and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0022] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0023] The main solution of this application embodiment is: to obtain the air thermal conductivity of the working environment of the ice maker, the first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity, and the second temperature difference between the outer wall and the inner wall of the target cavity; and then to determine the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter.

[0024] In this embodiment, for ease of description, an ice maker will be used as the subject of the description. The ice maker can be a household ice maker, a factory ice maker, or a commercial ice maker such as a vehicle-mounted ice maker, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0025] In current technology, to prevent condensation in ice makers, the usual method is to apply a barrier material such as a sponge to the lid. However, due to the limited space inside the ice maker, these barrier materials often cannot cover the surface evenly, leading to condensation on the lid.

[0026] This application provides a solution for an ice maker. The ice maker adjusts the position of the evaporator within the ice-making chamber via a drive device, thereby adjusting the distance between the evaporator and the target chamber wall. After obtaining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target chamber wall, the position of the evaporator is adjusted to increase the height of the ice-making chamber, reduce the temperature difference, and thus reduce the temperature difference between the top cover and the surrounding environment. The surface temperature of the top cover is close to the temperature of the surrounding environment, reducing water vapor condensation and preventing condensation from occurring on the evaporator top cover.

[0027] Specifically, in this embodiment, the ice maker includes an ice-making chamber, an upper cover connected to the ice-making chamber to form an ice-making cavity, an evaporator disposed inside the ice-making cavity, and a mechanism for driving the evaporator to move within the ice-making cavity to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall of the ice-making cavity. The upper cover refers to a component disposed above the ice maker to close or cover the upper part of the ice-making cavity; it is typically made of durable materials to ensure it can withstand various pressure and temperature fluctuations during the ice-making process.

[0028] In this embodiment, the top cover prevents external air, dust, and impurities from entering the ice maker, thereby maintaining a clean and hygienic ice-making environment. Simultaneously, the top cover has a certain degree of thermal insulation, reducing heat loss during the ice-making process and improving ice-making efficiency. The top cover also serves as a safety protection measure, preventing users from accidentally contacting the refrigerant or moving parts inside the ice-making chamber during the ice-making process. Optionally, the top cover may be equipped with an observation window, allowing users to observe the ice-making process without opening the top cover, and to understand the formation and changes in the state of the ice.

[0029] The evaporator is located inside the ice-making chamber. It absorbs heat from the water through refrigerant circulation, thereby cooling the water in the ice-making chamber and causing it to freeze. The evaporator can be located at the bottom, side, or other positions of the ice maker, and this application does not limit the location.

[0030] The drive unit adjusts the position of the evaporator inside the ice-making chamber, thereby adjusting the distance between the evaporator and the various chamber walls. This increases the distance between the ice-making chamber walls and the cold source (evaporator), reducing condensation on the outer walls of the ice maker. It's understandable that condensation may occur on the outer walls of the ice maker, or at the corresponding location on the top cover, during normal ice-making. Therefore, to avoid condensation, the drive unit can move the evaporator away from the chamber walls, such as moving it towards the center of the ice-making chamber to reduce the distance between the evaporator and the surrounding chamber walls, or moving it downwards to reduce the distance between the evaporator and the top cover. The target chamber walls include the surrounding chamber walls and the upper chamber wall where the top cover is located.

[0031] In this embodiment, the motion parameters of the evaporator driven by the driving device to move inside the ice-making chamber can be calculated based on various parameters of the ice maker during actual operation. These parameters include at least the humidity environment, the thermal conductivity at the current humidity, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the ice maker, the temperature difference inside the ice-making chamber, the thermal conductivity parameters of the chamber wall, and the thickness of the chamber wall.

[0032] Alternatively, in a conventional ice-making environment, the temperature of the top cover and its surrounding environment decreases because the refrigerant in the evaporator absorbs heat and evaporates. Therefore, the evaporator is usually driven to move in the direction of gravity by a drive device, that is, the evaporator is driven to adjust the height between the evaporator and the top cover, thereby effectively preventing condensation from occurring on the top cover.

[0033] Optionally, the drive unit can be either manual or automatic. That is, during the ice-making process, the ice maker can automatically control the drive unit's operation or output corresponding anti-condensation prompts to remind the user to manually adjust the evaporator's position. For example, the drive unit could be a rotating screw structure, allowing the user to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the cavity wall by rotating the screw. Alternatively, the drive unit could be a motor-driven unit, adjusting the evaporator's position (height) via the motor.

[0034] Based on this, the ice maker is equipped with a drive device that can move the evaporator inside the ice-making chamber. This allows the ice maker to adjust the position of the evaporator based on various parameters during stable ice-making operation, thereby increasing the distance between the evaporator and the target chamber wall and preventing condensation from forming on the ice maker chamber wall.

[0035] To better understand the technical solution of this application, a detailed description will be provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0036] This application provides a method for determining the position of an evaporator. By calculating the required adjustment position information of the evaporator under the current operating environment, an ice maker can control the movement of its drive device based on this position information. Specifically, the required adjustment position information of the evaporator can be determined by calculating the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall under the current operating environment. Please refer to... Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the evaporator location determination method of this application.

[0037] In this embodiment, the method for determining the position of the evaporator includes steps S10 to S30: Step S10: Obtain the thermal conductivity of the air in the working environment of the ice maker.

[0038] It should be noted that the thermal conductivity of air refers to the ability of air to conduct heat, also known as thermal conductivity, and is a physical quantity that describes the thermal conductivity of a material. The higher the humidity of the air, the more water vapor is dissolved in it. Since water has a thermal conductivity an order of magnitude higher than air, air with higher humidity generally has better thermal conductivity; that is, the thermal conductivity of air increases with increasing humidity.

[0039] In this embodiment, the air thermal conductivity can be determined by the air humidity in the ice maker's working environment. Specifically, humidity information is first obtained using a humidity sensor, and then the air thermal conductivity is obtained based on the mapping relationship between humidity and air thermal conductivity. Alternatively, humidity and temperature information can be obtained first, and then the air thermal conductivity can be obtained from the triple mapping relationships between humidity, temperature, and air thermal conductivity. By obtaining the air thermal conductivity, the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall can be accurately calculated.

[0040] Therefore, as an optional implementation, before obtaining the air thermal conductivity of the ice maker's working environment, the ambient humidity of the ice maker's working environment can be obtained first, and then the air thermal conductivity can be obtained based on the ambient humidity.

[0041] Optionally, in low-humidity operating environments, ice makers typically do not experience condensation, meaning anti-condensation treatment is unnecessary. Therefore, after obtaining the ambient humidity, it can be determined whether the ambient humidity meets the anti-condensation standard. This standard can be a humidity threshold, such as 80%. If the current humidity does not exceed 80%, the ice maker can be considered to require no anti-condensation treatment, and in this case, the ice maker can skip the step of obtaining the air thermal conductivity and maintain the current operating parameters. However, if the current humidity exceeds 80%, anti-condensation treatment is required, and the processing action in step S10 should be executed. It should be noted that the above humidity parameters are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0042] Step S20: Obtain the first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity, and the second temperature difference between the outer wall and the inner wall of the target cavity.

[0043] It should be noted that, in determining the anti-condensation distance, in addition to obtaining the air thermal conductivity, it is also necessary to obtain the outer wall temperature, inner wall temperature, evaporator upper surface temperature, cavity wall thickness, and cavity wall thermal conductivity during stable ice making, so as to calculate the anti-condensation distance based on these parameters. Based on the principle of heat conduction, the heat flow is equal under steady-state conditions when the ice maker is running, meaning the above parameters satisfy the following calculation formula: The anti-condensation distance between the upper surface of the evaporator and the target cavity wall is h1, the outer wall temperature during stable ice making is tw2, the upper surface temperature of the evaporator is tf1, the inner wall temperature is tw1, the cavity wall thickness is h2, the thermal conductivity of the cavity wall material is k2, and the thermal conductivity of air is k1.

[0044] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is necessary to obtain the first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity under normal operating conditions, namely tf1-tw1, and the second temperature difference between the outer wall and the inner wall of the target cavity, namely tw1-tw2, so as to calculate the anti-condensation distance by using the temperature parameter information of the ice maker under normal operating conditions, the air heat conduction information under normal operating conditions, and the heat conduction information and cavity wall thickness information of the ice maker equipment.

[0045] Step S30: Determine the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter.

[0046] It should be noted that the anti-condensation distance refers to the distance that the evaporator and the target cavity wall should maintain under the current temperature and / or humidity conditions. Since the position of the ice maker's cavity wall is fixed, the position of the evaporator that needs adjustment can be determined by the target cavity wall and the anti-condensation distance between the target cavity wall and the evaporator. The target cavity wall can be any cavity wall of the ice maker.

[0047] In this embodiment, based on the above calculation formula, it is converted and the calculation formula for the anti-condensation distance h1 between the evaporator and the target wall is as follows: The thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall is k2, and the thickness parameter is h2.

[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, when calculating the anti-condensation distance, it is necessary to first determine the first product between the air thermal conductivity, thickness parameters, and the second temperature difference, and then determine the second product between the thermal conductivity and the first temperature difference. The quotient between the first and second products is then set as the anti-condensation distance. Based on this, the distance relationship between the evaporator and the target cavity wall under various ambient temperatures and humidity levels can be established, solving the problem of condensation on the top cover of the ice maker under high humidity conditions.

[0049] Furthermore, after obtaining the anti-condensation spacing, if the drive unit is automatic, the ice maker can control the drive unit to adjust the evaporator position using the anti-condensation spacing. If the drive unit is manual, an anti-condensation prompt can be generated and output. Additionally, if the anti-condensation spacing is the same as the current spacing, no adjustment is needed, and the current operating state is maintained.

[0050] This embodiment provides a method for determining the location of an evaporator. By obtaining the thermal conductivity of the air in the current working environment of the ice maker, the temperature parameters and temperature difference parameters required to calculate the anti-condensation distance when the ice maker is running normally, and establishing the anti-condensation distance under various environmental humidity and temperature parameters when the ice maker is running normally based on these parameters, the condensation phenomenon of the ice maker can be effectively avoided.

[0051] Based on the first embodiment of this application, in the second embodiment of this application, the content that is the same as or similar to the first embodiment described above can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated hereafter. Based on this, please refer to... Figure 2 After step S30, the method for determining the position of the evaporator further includes step S40: Step S40: If the current spacing does not match the anti-condensation spacing, control the drive device according to the anti-condensation spacing to drive the evaporator to move to a position that matches the anti-condensation spacing.

[0052] In this embodiment, the driving device is an automatic driving device. After obtaining the anti-condensation spacing, the position of the evaporator is usually adjusted when the anti-condensation spacing is different from the current spacing. Taking the top cover as an example, if the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing, the evaporator needs to be driven by the driving device to move to a position that matches the anti-condensation spacing, thereby increasing the distance between the evaporator and the top cover and thus preventing condensation from occurring on the top cover. The same applies to the cavity walls at other locations, which will not be elaborated further in this application.

[0053] It is understandable that the thermal conductivity of air is usually determined based on ambient humidity. When the ambient humidity is below a preset threshold, the ice maker typically will not perform the calculation of the anti-condensation spacing. Therefore, when the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing do not match, the anti-condensation spacing is usually considered to be larger than the current spacing.

[0054] Optionally, in special cases, such as when the current spacing is the anti-condensation spacing corresponding to the ice maker in an environment with 90% humidity, while the most recently calculated anti-condensation spacing is the spacing when the humidity is 80%, the anti-condensation spacing is smaller than the current spacing. In this case, the ice maker can still adjust the position of the evaporator through the drive device, thereby reducing the ice-making energy consumption of the ice maker without affecting the anti-condensation function. It should be noted that the above parameters are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0055] Alternatively, if the current spacing and anti-condensation spacing match, the current operating state of the ice maker can be maintained.

[0056] Optionally, after determining the anti-condensation spacing, evaporator position suggestions can be generated and output based on the anti-condensation spacing. For example, evaporator adjustment parameters can be generated and displayed on a screen, or sent to a connected smart device to remind the user to perform the corresponding anti-condensation measures.

[0057] This embodiment provides a method for determining the position of an evaporator. After calculating the anti-condensation spacing, the method controls the drive device to adjust the position of the evaporator based on the difference between the anti-condensation spacing and the current spacing, thereby effectively preventing condensation from occurring on the cavity wall of the ice maker, such as in the top cover, and improving the condensation effect.

[0058] Based on the first embodiment of this application, in the third embodiment of this application, the same or similar content as the first embodiment can be referred to the above description, and will not be repeated hereafter. Taking the top cover as an example, under normal circumstances, during ice making, part of the condenser tubes of the evaporator are submerged in water. If the anti-condensation spacing of the evaporator is greater than the current spacing, it is necessary to control the evaporator away from the top cover. In this case, the depth of the condenser tubes of the evaporator submerged in water increases during ice making, resulting in higher ice-making efficiency and a higher ice column height produced in the same amount of time. In severe cases, the ice maker may experience ice jamming.

[0059] Therefore, in this embodiment, ice jamming in the ice-making chamber can be avoided by shortening the ice-making time or reducing the water-filling time. Specifically, the ice-making time or water-filling time can be shortened or reduced after the ice maker's drive unit moves the evaporator based on the anti-condensation gap, and the anti-condensation gap is greater than the current gap. Since ice-making time and water-filling time are only one of the control parameters of the ice maker, the ice-making time or water-filling time can also be shortened or reduced first when the determined anti-condensation gap is greater than both the current gap and a preset gap, and then the evaporator can be driven by the drive unit. It should be noted that if the anti-condensation gap is less than the preset gap, it means that ice jamming will not occur in the evaporator at that gap. If the anti-condensation gap is less than the current gap, it means that the water-filling time corresponding to the current gap has already ensured that the ice maker will not jam. Therefore, if the anti-condensation gap is less than the current gap, no adjustment to the water-filling time or ice-making time is needed. The preset gap refers to the threshold gap at which the water-filling time needs to be reduced or the ice-making time shortened; this preset gap is usually the gap when the ice maker is operating normally (without adjusting the evaporator position).

[0060] As an optional implementation method, when reducing the water injection time, it is necessary to calculate the specific parameters that need to be reduced. Therefore, after obtaining the anti-condensation spacing in step S30, steps S50~S70 are also included: Step S50: Determine the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing.

[0061] In this embodiment, the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing is also called the water injection time when the ice maker is in its original state and does not jam the ice.

[0062] It should be noted that after obtaining the anti-condensation spacing, if the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing and the preset spacing, step S50 can be executed directly, so that the ice maker adjusts the position of the evaporator after adjusting the water injection time.

[0063] Optionally, if anti-icing treatment is performed after the drive device adjusts the position of the evaporator, step S50 can be performed after step S40 in the second embodiment.

[0064] Step S60: Determine the target water injection time based on the water injection time, the immersion height of the evaporator when it is running at the position matching the current spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing.

[0065] In this embodiment, the target water injection time t1 of the ice maker can be calculated using the following formula: t1 = t0 - (h3 - h0) * t0 / h0, where t0 is the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing, h0 is the immersion height of the evaporator when operating at the position matched by the current spacing, h3 is another immersion height of the evaporator when operating at the position matched by the anti-condensation spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing is (h3 - h0). It can be understood that since the water injection time adjustment is only necessary when the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing, (h3 - h0) > 0, meaning that a target water injection time t1 that is less than the current water injection time t0 can be obtained.

[0066] Step S70: Update the water injection time of the ice maker according to the target water injection time.

[0067] After obtaining the target water injection time, the water injection time information of the ice maker is updated according to the target water injection time, thereby avoiding ice jamming in the ice making chamber of the ice maker.

[0068] In another optional implementation, ice jamming can be avoided by shortening the ice-making time. Therefore, after obtaining the anti-condensation spacing in step S30, steps S80~S100 are also included: Step S80: Determine the ice-making time corresponding to the current spacing.

[0069] It should be noted that after obtaining the anti-condensation spacing, if the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing and the preset spacing, step S80 can be executed directly, so that the ice maker can adjust the position of the evaporator after adjusting the water injection time.

[0070] Optionally, if anti-icing treatment is performed after the drive device adjusts the position of the evaporator, step S80 can be performed after step S40 in the second embodiment.

[0071] Step S90: Determine the target ice-making time based on the ice-making time, the immersion height of the evaporator when it is running at the position matching the current spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing.

[0072] Step S100: Update the ice-making time of the ice maker according to the target ice-making time.

[0073] It should be noted that the calculation method for ice-making time is the same as that for water filling time, so the specific calculation process will not be elaborated here. Finally, after calculating the target ice-making time, the ice-making time of the ice maker is updated based on the target ice-making time, thereby avoiding ice blockage in the ice-making chamber by shortening the ice-making time.

[0074] Optionally, the ice-making time and water-injection time can be shortened simultaneously. That is, the above steps S50 and S80 can be executed at the same time, and after calculating the latest parameters, the two time parameters of the ice maker are updated at the same time to further improve the anti-ice jamming effect.

[0075] This embodiment provides a method for determining the position of an evaporator. When the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing and the preset spacing, or after the evaporator is driven by the driving device, the immersion height of the current spacing, the water injection time, the height that the evaporator needs to move (or the height that it has already moved), etc. are obtained, and the water injection time is calculated. Similarly, the ice-making time is calculated in the same way, and the current operating parameters of the ice maker are updated based on the latest water injection time or ice-making time parameters, thereby avoiding the phenomenon of ice jamming when the evaporator needs to be away from the top cover or when the evaporator is away from the top cover.

[0076] For example, to help understand the implementation flow of the evaporator position determination method obtained by combining the above embodiments, please refer to... Figure 3 , Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating an optional implementation of a method for determining the position of an evaporator is provided. Specifically, after the ice maker is started, various temperature parameters during stable ice-making operation, such as the evaporator temperature, the internal and external temperatures of the cavity wall, and equipment parameters including cavity wall thickness and thermal conductivity, are recorded. Then, when the current humidity is greater than or equal to 80%, the anti-condensation distance is calculated using the thermal conductivity calculated based on humidity, along with previously acquired temperature and equipment parameters. The evaporator is then lowered using this anti-condensation distance to prevent condensation on the top cover and other cavity walls. To avoid ice jamming after lowering the evaporator height, a new ice-making time or a new water-filling time is calculated, and the original time is updated based on the calculated new ice-making or water-filling time. Finally, when the humidity is less than 80%, or when the ice maker stops operating, the anti-condensation state is exited, including controlling the evaporator to return to its initial position. Note that if the humidity is less than 80% during normal operation, the ice maker's current operating state can be maintained, meaning the ice maker operates based on pre-defined parameters.

[0077] This application provides an ice maker, which includes: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, which are executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the evaporator position determination method in the first embodiment described above.

[0078] The following is for reference. Figure 4 It shows a structural schematic diagram of an ice maker suitable for implementing the embodiments of this application. Figure 4 The ice maker shown is merely an example and should not be construed as limiting the functionality and scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0079] like Figure 4 As shown, the ice maker may include a processing unit 1001 (e.g., a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, etc.) that can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 1002 or a program loaded from a storage device 1003 into a random access memory (RAM) 1004. The RAM 1004 also stores various programs and data required for the operation of the ice maker. The processing unit 1001, ROM 1002, and RAM 1004 are interconnected via a bus 1005. An input / output (I / O) interface 1006 is also connected to the bus. Typically, the following systems can be connected to the I / O interface 1006: input devices 1007 including, for example, a touchscreen, touchpad, keyboard, mouse, image sensor, microphone, accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.; output devices 1008 including, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), speaker, vibrator, etc.; storage devices 1003 including, for example, magnetic tape, hard disk, etc.; and communication devices 1009. The communication device 1009 allows the ice maker to communicate wirelessly or wiredly with other devices to exchange data. Although ice makers with various systems are shown in the figures, it should be understood that implementation or possession of all the systems shown is not required. More or fewer systems may be implemented alternatively.

[0080] Specifically, according to the embodiments disclosed in this application, the processes described above with reference to the flowcharts can be implemented as computer software programs. For example, embodiments disclosed in this application include a computer program product comprising a computer program carried on a computer-readable medium, the computer program containing program code for performing the methods shown in the flowcharts. In such embodiments, the computer program can be downloaded and installed from a network via a communication device, or installed from storage device 1003, or installed from ROM 1002. When the computer program is executed by processing device 1001, it performs the functions defined in the methods of the embodiments disclosed in this application.

[0081] The ice maker provided in this application, employing the evaporator position determination method described in the above embodiments, can solve the technical problem of condensation appearing on the top cover during the operation of current ice makers. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the ice maker provided in this application are the same as those of the evaporator position determination method provided in the above embodiments, and other technical features of this ice maker are the same as those disclosed in the previous embodiment method, and will not be repeated here.

[0082] It should be understood that the various parts disclosed in this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0083] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

[0084] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions (i.e., a computer program) stored thereon, the computer-readable program instructions being used to execute the evaporator position determination method in the above embodiments.

[0085] The computer-readable storage medium provided in this application may be, for example, a USB flash drive, but is not limited to, electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, devices, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to: electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fibers, portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In this embodiment, the computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, system, or device. The program code contained on the computer-readable storage medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to: wires, optical cables, RF (Radio Frequency), etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0086] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be included in the ice maker; or it may exist independently and not assembled into the ice maker.

[0087] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium carries one or more programs that, when executed by the ice maker, cause the ice maker to: Obtain the thermal conductivity of the air in the working environment of the ice maker; Obtain a first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity, and a second temperature difference between the outer wall of the target cavity and the inner wall; The anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall is determined based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter.

[0088] Computer program code for performing the operations of this application can be written in one or more programming languages ​​or a combination thereof, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, and C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" language or similar programming languages. The program code can be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In cases involving remote computers, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer via any type of network—including a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN)—or can be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0089] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of this application. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in a different order than those indicated in the drawings. For example, two consecutively indicated blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or operation, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0090] The modules described in the embodiments of this application can be implemented in software or hardware. The names of the modules do not necessarily limit the functionality of the unit itself.

[0091] The readable storage medium provided in this application is a computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-readable program instructions (i.e., a computer program) for executing the above-described evaporator position determination method, which can solve the technical problem of condensation appearing on the top cover of current ice makers during operation. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the computer-readable storage medium provided in this application are the same as the beneficial effects of the evaporator position determination method provided in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0092] The above description is only a part of the embodiments of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. All equivalent structural transformations made under the technical concept of this application and using the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included in the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An ice maker, characterized in that, include: Ice maker; The top cover is connected to the ice-making chamber to form an ice-making cavity; An evaporator is disposed inside the ice-making chamber; A driving device is used to drive the evaporator to move inside the ice-making chamber in order to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall of the ice-making chamber.

2. The ice maker as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The driving device is used to drive the evaporator to move in the direction of gravity in order to adjust the distance between the evaporator and the upper cover.

3. The ice maker according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The driving device can be a manual driving device or an automatic driving device.

4. A method for determining the location of an evaporator, characterized in that, The method for determining the position of the evaporator, applied to ice makers, includes: Obtain the thermal conductivity of the air in the working environment of the ice maker; Obtain a first temperature difference between the evaporator and the inner wall of the target cavity, and a second temperature difference between the outer wall of the target cavity and the inner wall; The anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall is determined based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter.

5. The method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, After determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter, the method further includes: If the current spacing does not match the anti-condensation spacing, the drive device is controlled according to the anti-condensation spacing to drive the evaporator to a position that matches the anti-condensation spacing; or Based on the anti-condensation spacing, an evaporator location suggestion is generated and output.

6. The method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, After determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter, the method further includes: Determine the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing; The target water injection time is determined based on the water injection time, the immersion height of the evaporator when it is running at the position matching the current spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing. The water injection time of the ice maker is updated according to the target water injection time.

7. The method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The step of determining the water injection time corresponding to the current spacing is performed when any of the following conditions are met: The driving device of the ice maker drives the evaporator based on the anti-condensation spacing, and the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing; The anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing and the preset spacing.

8. The method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, After determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter, the method further includes: Determine the ice-making time corresponding to the current spacing; The target ice-making time is determined based on the ice-making time, the immersion height of the evaporator when it is running at the position matching the current spacing, and the distance difference between the current spacing and the anti-condensation spacing. The ice-making time of the ice maker is updated according to the target ice-making time.

9. The method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The step of determining the ice-making time corresponding to the current spacing is performed when any of the following conditions are met: The driving device of the ice maker drives the evaporator based on the anti-condensation spacing, and the anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing; The anti-condensation spacing is greater than the current spacing and the preset spacing.

10. The method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that, The step of determining the anti-condensation distance between the evaporator and the target cavity wall based on the air thermal conductivity, the first temperature difference, the second temperature difference, the thermal conductivity of the target cavity wall, and the thickness parameter includes: Determine the first product between the air thermal conductivity, the thickness parameter, and the second temperature difference, and the second product between the thermal conductivity and the first temperature difference; The quotient between the first product and the second product is set as the anti-condensation spacing.

11. An ice maker, characterized in that, The ice maker includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the method for determining the location of the evaporator as described in any one of claims 4 to 10.

12. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program is stored on the storage medium. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the evaporator location determination method as described in any one of claims 4 to 10.

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