Ice-making control device and refrigerator

By setting up an ice making control device in the refrigerator, the weight detection module is used to accurately detect the water volume changes in the water supply tank, and the problems of waste of electricity and shortening of the device life due to insufficient water volume during automatic ice making are solved, and intelligent and accurate ice making control is achieved. , reduces power consumption and extends device life.

CN222165301UActive Publication Date: 2024-12-13NINGBO FOTILE KITCHEN WARE CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202420144397.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-01-19
Publication Date
2024-12-13
Estimated Expiration
2034-01-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The automatic ice making control device in the refrigerator will waste electricity and shorten the device life when the water supply tank is insufficient.

Method used

An ice making control device is designed, including a control module, a weight detection module and a water supply module. By detecting the weight change of the water supply tank, the amount of water being extracted is accurately determined, and the ice making device is driven to make or suspend the ice making according to the preset threshold. Ice, avoid unnecessary power consumption and overuse.

Benefits of technology

Accurate ice making control is achieved, reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator and extending the life of the ice making device.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model provides an ice making control device and a refrigerator. The ice making control device is arranged in the refrigerator. The ice-making control device comprises a control module, a weight detection module and a water supply module, wherein the control module is electrically connected with the weight detection module, the water supply module and the ice-making device respectively; the weight detection module is arranged below a water supply tank in the refrigerator; the water supply module is respectively communicated with the water supply tank and the ice making device; the water supply module is used for pumping water in a water supply tank to the ice making device; the weight detection module is used for detecting the weight of the water supply tank; the control module is used for determining the pumped water amount based on the change of the weight of the water supply tank and driving the ice making device to make ice and / or stop making ice according to the pumped water amount and a preset pumping threshold value. On the basis of the weight detection module arranged below the water supply tank, the pumped water amount is accurately determined through the weight change of the water supply tank, and whether water supply is normal or not is accurately recognized, so that ice making control is accurately and intelligently achieved, and the service life of the ice making device is prolonged.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of smart home appliances, and in particular to an ice making control device and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] The automatic ice-making control device in the refrigerator needs to make ice by drawing water from the water supply tank. If there is insufficient water in the water supply tank, the automatic ice-making control device will make ice without sufficient water, which will not only waste electricity but also shorten the life of the automatic ice-making control device. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present disclosure provides an ice device and a refrigerator.

[0004] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0005] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an ice-making control device, which is disposed in a refrigerator and is used to drive the ice-making device to make ice and / or pause ice making.

[0006] The ice-making control device comprises a control module, a weight detection module and a water supply module, wherein the control module is electrically connected to the weight detection module, the water supply module and the ice-making device respectively;

[0007] The weight detection module is arranged below the water supply tank in the refrigerator;

[0008] The water supply module is communicated with the water supply tank and the ice making device respectively;

[0009] The water supply module is used to draw water from the water supply tank to the ice making device;

[0010] The weight detection module is used to detect the weight of the water supply tank;

[0011] The control module is used to obtain the amount of water extracted based on the change in the weight of the water supply tank, and drive the ice-making device to make ice and / or suspend ice-making according to the amount of water extracted and a preset extraction threshold.

[0012] Optionally, the control module is used to drive the weight detection module to detect the first weight of the water supply tank, and drive the water supply module to start pumping water;

[0013] The control module is used to drive the water supply module to stop pumping water, and drive the weight detection module to detect the second weight of the water supply tank, and obtain the pumped water volume based on the first weight and the second weight.

[0014] Optionally, the control module is further configured to drive the weight detection module to detect the real-time weight of the water supply tank based on the first state, obtain a comparison result between the real-time weight and the second weight, and drive the water supply module to start pumping water again according to the comparison result; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water pumped has not reached the preset pumping threshold;

[0015] The control module is also used to obtain the new amount of water being pumped based on the cumulative amount of water pumped, the first weight and the second weight; wherein the cumulative amount of water pumped is the amount of water being pumped obtained from the previous pumping.

[0016] Optionally, the control module is used to drive the ice-making device to suspend ice-making based on a first state; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water extracted does not reach the preset extraction threshold;

[0017] and / or,

[0018] The control module is used to drive the ice-making device to make ice based on a second state; wherein the second state indicates that the amount of water extracted reaches the preset extraction threshold.

[0019] Optionally, the ice-making control device further comprises a reminder module, and the reminder module is electrically connected to the control module;

[0020] The control module is further configured to drive the reminder module to provide a water shortage reminder based on a first state; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water extracted has not reached the preset extraction threshold.

[0021] Optionally, the weight detection module includes a gravity sensing component and a gravity sensing unit;

[0022] The gravity sensing assembly is used to support the water supply tank, and at least a portion of the gravity sensing assembly is deformed according to the weight of the water supply tank to transfer the weight of the water supply tank to the gravity sensing unit;

[0023] The gravity sensing unit is used to sense the weight of the water supply tank.

[0024] Optionally, the gravity sensing assembly includes an elastic element, and the elastic element is used to deform according to the weight of the water supply tank to transfer the weight to the gravity sensing unit.

[0025] Optionally, the gravity sensor assembly further comprises a support member, the top of the support member supports the water supply tank, and the bottom of the support member is connected to at least one of the elastic elements;

[0026] The support member is used to compress the elastic element according to the weight of the water supply tank.

[0027] Optionally, the weight detection module further comprises a shell, and the gravity sensing assembly and the gravity sensing unit are arranged in the shell;

[0028] The top of the shell is provided with a hole;

[0029] The top of the support member passes through the hole and supports the water supply tank.

[0030] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator, comprising the ice-making control device according to the first aspect.

[0031] Based on the common sense in the art, the above-mentioned implementation modes can be arbitrarily combined to obtain the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] The positive and progressive effect of the present disclosure is that the weight detection module is set below the water supply tank and does not come into direct contact with the water in the water supply tank, thereby ensuring that the weight detection module will not be affected by impurities in the water, and also avoiding displacement or falling off of the weight detection module, resulting in inaccurate weight, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of weight detection. In addition, the amount of water drawn can be accurately determined by the change in the weight of the water supply tank, and it can be accurately identified whether the water supply is normal, thereby driving the ice-making device to make ice and / or suspend ice making, thereby achieving accurate and intelligent ice-making control, which can not only reduce the power consumption of the refrigerator, but also extend the life of the ice-making device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an ice making control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the installation position of a weight detection module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a weight detection module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] A preferred embodiment is given below, and the present disclosure is described more clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0037] It should be noted that if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features.

[0038] Reference to "embodiments" herein means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearance of the phrase in various places in the text does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

[0039] In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in the field can implement it. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this disclosure.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the ice-making control device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure is arranged in a refrigerator, and the ice-making control device comprises a control module 101, a weight detection module 102 and a water supply module 103, and the control module 101 is electrically connected to the weight detection module 102, the water supply module 103 and the ice-making device 201 respectively;

[0041] The weight detection module 102 is disposed below the water supply tank 202 in the refrigerator;

[0042] The water supply module 103 is connected to the water supply tank 202 and the ice making device 201 respectively, and the water supply module 103 is used to extract water from the water supply tank 202 to the ice making device 201;

[0043] The weight detection module 102 is used to detect the weight of the water supply tank 202;

[0044] The control module 101 is used to determine the amount of water extracted based on the change in the weight of the water supply tank 202, and drive the ice-making device 201 to make ice and / or pause ice making according to the amount of water extracted and a preset extraction threshold.

[0045] The amount of water drawn can be the difference between the first weight and the second weight, that is, the weight of the water drawn is determined by the change in the weight of the water supply tank 202 before and after the water is drawn. The volume of the water drawn can also be further calculated based on the weight of the water drawn to serve as the amount of water drawn. The amount of water drawn is compared with a preset drawing threshold, and the ice-making device 201 is driven to make ice and / or pause ice-making according to the comparison result.

[0046] In one embodiment, the control module 101 is used to drive the ice-making device 201 to suspend ice-making based on a first state; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water extracted does not reach a preset extraction threshold.

[0047] In another embodiment, the control module 101 is used to drive the ice-making device 201 to make ice based on the second state; wherein the second state indicates that the amount of water extracted reaches a preset extraction threshold.

[0048] Specifically, the ice-making device 201 needs to be driven to make ice only after the amount of water pumped reaches a preset pumping threshold, that is, the amount required for ice making. If the ice-making device is making ice, but the amount of water pumped does not reach the preset pumping threshold corresponding to the next stage of ice making, that is, the amount required for ice making in the next stage, the ice-making device 201 needs to be driven to suspend ice making after the current stage of ice making is completed.

[0049] In one embodiment, the control module 101 is used to drive the weight detection module 102 to detect the first weight of the water supply tank 202, and drive the water supply module 103 to start pumping water; and drive the water supply module 103 to stop pumping water, and drive the weight detection module 102 to detect the second weight of the water supply tank 202, and obtain the amount of water pumped based on the first weight and the second weight.

[0050] Based on the above embodiment, the control module 101 is also used to drive the weight detection module 102 to detect the real-time weight of the water supply tank 202 based on the first state, the first state indicating that the pumped water volume has not reached the preset pumping threshold, to obtain a comparison result between the real-time weight and the second weight, and drive the water supply module 103 to start pumping again according to the comparison result; the control module 101 is also used to update the pumped water volume based on the cumulative pumping volume, the first weight and the second weight; wherein the cumulative pumping volume is the pumped water volume obtained from the previous pumping.

[0051] Specifically, the initial cumulative extraction volume is 0, and the water supply module 103 is driven to start pumping water, and the weight detection module 102 is driven to detect the first weight of the water supply tank 202, and then the water supply module 103 is driven to stop pumping water, and the weight detection module 102 is driven to detect the second weight of the water supply tank 202. The amount of water extracted is determined based on the first weight and the second weight, and it is determined whether the amount of water extracted reaches the preset extraction threshold. If not, the amount of water extracted obtained in the previous pumping is taken as the cumulative extraction volume, and the weight detection module 102 is driven to detect the real-time weight of the water supply tank 202 to obtain a comparison result between the real-time weight and the second weight, and the water supply module 103 is driven to start pumping water again according to the comparison result until the amount of water extracted reaches the preset extraction threshold.

[0052] In the case where water replenishment is required, since the water supply module 103 has already extracted a portion of water to the ice-making device 201, ice-making can be performed only after the missing water is replenished.

[0053] Therefore, in order to prevent excessive water from being pumped into the ice-making device 201, in another embodiment, before driving the water supply module 103 to start pumping again, the control module 101 is also used to determine a new preset extraction threshold based on the difference between the preset extraction threshold and the cumulative extraction amount, and based on the third state, the third state indicates that the amount of water pumped reaches the new preset extraction threshold, and drives the water supply module 103 to stop pumping.

[0054] In the case where the amount of water extracted does not reach the preset extraction threshold, water can be replenished in a variety of ways.

[0055] In one embodiment, the user can be prompted to replenish water, that is, the ice-making control device also includes a reminder module, and the reminder module is electrically connected to the control module 101; the control module 101 is also used to drive the reminder module to issue a water shortage reminder based on the aforementioned first state, that is, the amount of water extracted does not reach the preset extraction threshold.

[0056] In another embodiment, automatic water replenishment can be achieved. When the water supply tank 202 is connected to the water inlet pipe, the control module 101 is electrically connected to the control valve of the water inlet pipe. The control module 101 is used to drive the control valve to open based on the aforementioned first state, that is, the amount of water extracted does not reach the preset extraction threshold. In addition, the control module 101 can also be used based on the fourth state or the fifth state. The fourth state indicates that the opening time of the control valve reaches the preset time, and the fifth state indicates that the weight of the water supply tank 202 reaches the water replenishment weight, and the control valve is driven to close.

[0057] The ice making control device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more weight detection modules 102 .

[0058] In one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, a plurality of weight detection modules 102 are disposed at the bottom of the water supply tank 202 and are evenly distributed at the four corners of the bottom of the water supply tank 202 .

[0059] The weight detection module 102 is disposed below the water supply tank 202 and is not in direct contact with the water in the water supply tank 202. The weight detection module 102 will not be affected by impurities in the water, thereby preventing the weight detection module 102 from being displaced or falling off, resulting in inaccurate weight detected.

[0060] Specifically, the weight detection module 102 includes a gravity sensing component and a gravity sensing unit;

[0061] The gravity sensing assembly is used to support the water supply tank 202, and at least a portion of the gravity sensing assembly is deformed according to the weight of the water supply tank 202 to transfer the weight of the water supply tank 202 to the gravity sensing unit;

[0062] The gravity sensing unit is used to determine the amount of water drawn according to the change in the weight of the water supply tank 202 .

[0063] In one embodiment, the gravity sensing assembly includes an elastic element, which is configured to deform according to the weight of the water supply tank 202 to transfer the weight to the gravity sensing unit.

[0064] In one embodiment, the gravity sensor assembly further includes a support member, the top of which supports the water supply tank 202 , and the bottom of which is connected to at least one elastic element; the support member is used to compress the elastic element according to the weight of the water supply tank 202 .

[0065] In one embodiment, the weight detection module 102 further includes a housing, and the gravity sensing assembly and the gravity sensing unit are disposed in the housing;

[0066] The top of the shell is provided with a hole;

[0067] The top of the support member passes through the hole and supports the water supply tank 202 .

[0068] For example, see Figure 3 The elastic element is a spring 301, the gravity sensing unit is a gravity sensing chip 300, and the support member 302 is composed of a pressure rod and a pressure plate arranged at the bottom of the pressure rod. The four springs 301 are evenly distributed at the bottom of the pressure plate and the surface of the gravity sensing chip 300 to ensure uniform force.

[0069] The housing is composed of an upper cover plate 401 and a base 402. A hole is provided in the center of the upper cover plate 401, and the top of the pressure rod can pass through the hole to support the water supply tank. The bottom of the water supply tank is pressed on the pressure rod, and the pressure rod and the pressure plate transmit the gravity they bear to the gravity sensing chip through the spring 301, and the weight change of the water supply tank is sensed by the change of pressure.

[0070] The upper cover plate 401 can be fixed to the base 402 by two screws 501 and corresponding screw holes, and the gravity sensing chip 300 can be fixed to the base 402 by four screws 502 and corresponding screw holes.

[0071] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a refrigerator, comprising the ice-making control device in any of the above embodiments. Specifically, the refrigerator further comprises a water supply tank and an ice-making device.

[0072] The refrigerator can intelligently control the ice-making device to start or pause the ice-making function through the ice-making control device in the above embodiment, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator and increasing the life of the ice-making device.

[0073] Although the specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, those skilled in the art should understand that this is only an example, and the protection scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present disclosure, but these changes and modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An ice making control device, characterized in that: The ice-making control device is arranged in the refrigerator, and is used to drive the ice-making device to make ice and / or pause ice making; The ice-making control device comprises a control module, a weight detection module and a water supply module, wherein the control module is electrically connected to the weight detection module, the water supply module and the ice-making device respectively; The weight detection module is arranged below the water supply tank in the refrigerator; The water supply module is communicated with the water supply tank and the ice making device respectively; The water supply module is used to draw water from the water supply tank to the ice making device; The weight detection module is used to detect the weight of the water supply tank; The control module is used to obtain the amount of water extracted based on the change in the weight of the water supply tank, and drive the ice-making device to make ice and / or suspend ice-making according to the amount of water extracted and a preset extraction threshold.

2. The ice making control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module is used to drive the weight detection module to detect the first weight of the water supply tank, and drive the water supply module to start pumping water; The control module is used to drive the water supply module to stop pumping water, and drive the weight detection module to detect the second weight of the water supply tank, and obtain the pumped water volume based on the first weight and the second weight.

3. The ice making control device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control module is also used to drive the weight detection module to detect the real-time weight of the water supply tank based on the first state, obtain a comparison result between the real-time weight and the second weight, and drive the water supply module to start pumping water again according to the comparison result; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water pumped does not reach the preset pumping threshold; The control module is also used to obtain the new amount of water being pumped based on the cumulative amount of water pumped, the first weight and the second weight; wherein the cumulative amount of water pumped is the amount of water being pumped obtained from the previous pumping.

4. The ice making control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module is used to drive the ice-making device to suspend ice-making based on a first state; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water extracted does not reach the preset extraction threshold; and / or, The control module is used to drive the ice-making device to make ice based on a second state; wherein the second state indicates that the amount of water extracted reaches the preset extraction threshold.

5. The ice making control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ice-making control device further comprises a reminder module, and the reminder module is electrically connected to the control module; The control module is further configured to drive the reminder module to provide a water shortage reminder based on a first state; wherein the first state indicates that the amount of water extracted has not reached the preset extraction threshold.

6. The ice making control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The weight detection module includes a gravity sensing component and a gravity sensing unit; The gravity sensing assembly is used to support the water supply tank, and at least a portion of the gravity sensing assembly is deformed according to the weight of the water supply tank to transfer the weight of the water supply tank to the gravity sensing unit; The gravity sensing unit is used to sense the weight of the water supply tank.

7. The ice making control device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The gravity sensing assembly includes an elastic element, and the elastic element is used to deform according to the weight of the water supply tank to transfer the weight to the gravity sensing unit.

8. The ice making control device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The gravity sensor assembly further comprises a support member, the top of which supports the water supply tank, and the bottom of which is connected to at least one of the elastic elements; The support member is used to compress the elastic element according to the weight of the water supply tank.

9. The ice making control device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The weight detection module further comprises a housing, wherein the gravity sensing assembly and the gravity sensing unit are arranged in the housing; The top of the shell is provided with a hole; The top of the support member passes through the hole and supports the water supply tank.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that: The refrigerator comprises the ice making control device according to any one of claims 1-9.