A refrigerator

Abstract

The application discloses a refrigerator, by setting a switch detection circuit and a water valve detection circuit in the control panel of the refrigerator, the switch detection circuit can output a first detection signal according to the triggering state of a water taking switch, the water valve detection circuit outputs a second detection signal according to the voltage value of a control signal, the controller can determine the first time length that the first detection signal is in a preset first voltage range according to the voltage value of the first detection signal, and determine the second time length that the second detection signal is in a preset second voltage range according to the voltage value of the second detection signal, and then output corresponding prompt information according to the size relationship between the first time length and the second time length, so that the technician can analyze the cause of the water storage container water outlet fault according to the output prompt information when the water leakage occurs during the water outlet process of the water storage container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to water extraction technology, and is not limited to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigerators are a common household appliance. A refrigerator typically consists of a cabinet and a door. The cabinet forms a cooling compartment for storing items that need refrigeration, and the door allows users to easily access these items. Currently, many refrigerators also provide refrigerated drinking water. The water supply usually involves a water storage container and valve inside the refrigerator. A controller in the refrigerator controls the flow of water from the container by opening and closing the valve. However, the water storage container is prone to malfunctions during dispensing. Causes of these malfunctions include damage to the main control board circuitry, damaged wiring, software errors, electromagnetic interference, and problems with the valve body or piping structure. Accurately and quickly identifying the root cause of dispensing problems is a challenge. Existing diagnostic methods involve checking every component related to the water system one by one, including disassembly, replacement of parts, multimeter measurements, and oscilloscope waveform analysis. Due to the large number of components, this process is time-consuming and difficult, making it hard for testing and repair personnel to quickly and accurately pinpoint the root cause, resulting in low efficiency and a high risk of misdiagnosis. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the embodiments of this application provide a method that can quickly locate the cause of water leakage failure in water storage containers.

[0004] This application provides a refrigerator, including:

[0005] The enclosure forms a refrigerated room during the period;

[0006] A door, located on the front side of the housing, is used to open and close the refrigeration compartment;

[0007] A water storage container is provided inside the refrigerator, with a water storage cavity formed inside, a spout formed at the top, and a water inlet formed at the top.

[0008] A water supply assembly for supplying water to the water storage container; wherein the water supply assembly includes: a water pipe, one end of which is connected to an external water source;

[0009] A water valve, the inlet of which is connected to the other end of the water pipe, and the outlet of which is connected to the water inlet;

[0010] A water inlet switch is used to trigger the opening and closing of the water valve;

[0011] The control board is electrically connected to the water valve and the water intake switch, respectively, and is used to send a control signal to the water valve according to the trigger state of the water intake switch, so as to control the opening and closing of the water valve;

[0012] The control board includes:

[0013] A switch detection circuit is electrically connected to the water dispensing switch and is used to output a first detection signal according to the trigger state of the water dispensing switch. Different trigger states correspond to different voltage first detection signals.

[0014] A water valve detection circuit, electrically connected to the water valve, is used to output a second detection signal based on the voltage value of the control signal, with different voltage values ​​of the control signal corresponding to different voltage values ​​of the second detection signal;

[0015] The controller is electrically connected to the switch detection circuit and the water valve detection circuit, respectively, and is used to obtain a first duration for which the first detection signal is within a preset first voltage range and a second duration for which the second detection signal is within a preset second voltage range, and output corresponding prompt information according to the relationship between the first duration and the second duration. The second voltage range is the voltage range detected by the water valve detection circuit when the controller controls the water valve to flow water, and the first voltage range is the voltage range detected by the switch detection circuit when the water valve discharges water.

[0016] In the aforementioned refrigerator, by setting a switch detection circuit and a water valve detection circuit in the refrigerator's control board, the switch detection circuit can output a first detection signal based on the trigger state of the water dispensing switch, and the water valve detection circuit can output a second detection signal based on the voltage value of the control signal. The controller can determine a first duration for the first detection signal to be within a preset first voltage range based on the voltage value of the first detection signal, and a second duration for the second detection signal to be within a preset second voltage range based on the voltage value of the second detection signal. Then, based on the relationship between the first duration and the second duration, corresponding prompt information is output. Thus, when water leakage occurs during the water dispensing process of the water storage container, technicians can analyze the cause of the water dispensing failure based on the output prompt information.

[0017] In some embodiments, the switch detection circuit includes a first reference power supply and a filter capacitor. The first reference power supply is electrically connected to one end of the water dispensing switch and the controller, respectively. One end of the filter capacitor is electrically connected to the reference power supply and the controller, respectively. The other end of the filter capacitor is electrically connected to the other end of the water dispensing switch and ground, respectively. When the water dispensing switch is turned on, the switch detection circuit outputs a first detection signal of a first voltage, and when the water dispensing switch is turned off, the switch detection circuit outputs a first detection signal of a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

[0018] Understandably, by setting a first reference power supply and a filter capacitor in the switch detection circuit, the connection between the first reference power supply and ground can be established when the water dispensing switch is turned on, so that the controller receives a first detection signal with a low voltage value; when the water dispensing switch is turned off, the connection between the first reference power supply and the controller can be established, so that the controller receives a first detection signal with a high voltage value. Thus, the controller can determine whether the water dispensing switch has been pressed based on the first detection signal and count the first duration. The entire switch detection circuit has a simple structure and low component cost.

[0019] In some embodiments, the water valve detection circuit includes a second reference power supply and a switching unit. The driving terminal of the switching unit is electrically connected between the controller and the control terminal of the water valve. The input terminal of the switching unit is electrically connected to the second reference power supply and the controller, respectively. The output terminal of the switching unit is electrically connected to ground, so that when the voltage value of the control signal is different, the water valve detection circuit outputs a first detection signal with different voltages.

[0020] Understandably, by setting a second reference power supply and a switching unit in the water valve detection circuit, the connection between the second reference power supply and the ground terminal can be turned on when the controller controls the water valve to discharge water, so that the controller receives a second detection signal with a low voltage value; when the controller does not control the water valve to discharge water, the connection between the second reference power supply and the ground terminal can be turned off, so that the controller receives a second detection signal with a high voltage value. Thus, the controller can determine whether the water valve is discharging water based on the second detection signal and perform statistics on the second duration. The entire water valve detection circuit has a simple structure and low component cost.

[0021] In some embodiments, the switching unit includes a third reference power supply, an optocoupler, and a switching transistor. The anode of the input side of the optocoupler is connected between the control terminals of the controller and the water valve. The cathode of the input side of the optocoupler is electrically connected to ground. The positive output terminal of the output side of the optocoupler is electrically connected to the third reference power supply. The negative output terminal of the output side of the optocoupler is electrically connected to the driving terminal of the switching transistor. The input terminal of the switching transistor is electrically connected to the second reference power supply and the controller, respectively. The output terminal of the switching transistor is electrically connected to ground.

[0022] It is understandable that by setting up a switching unit that includes a third reference power supply, an optocoupler, and a switching transistor, the control signal sent by the controller to the water valve can be prevented from affecting the second detection signal, thereby improving the output stability of the water valve detection circuit for the second detection signal.

[0023] In some embodiments, the switching unit further includes a diode, the positive terminal of which is connected to the control terminals of the controller and the water valve, respectively, and the negative terminal of which is connected to the anode of the input side of the optocoupler.

[0024] It is understandable that by setting a diode in the switching unit, the electrical signal flowing from the optocoupler to the controller can be effectively isolated, thereby improving the output stability of the water valve detection circuit for the second detection signal.

[0025] In some embodiments, the switching unit further includes a first resistor connected between the positive terminal of the diode and the control terminal of the water valve.

[0026] Understandably, by setting a first resistor between the positive terminal of the diode and the control terminal of the water valve, the voltage value of the control signal sent by the controller to the water valve can be limited to the operating voltage range of the optocoupler, thus preventing damage to the optocoupler.

[0027] In some embodiments, the switching transistor is a resistor-equipped transistor.

[0028] Understandably, since a resistor-integrated transistor integrates a resistor at the base or between the base and emitter, it directly replaces the combination of a transistor and an external resistor, reducing the use of discrete resistors on the circuit board. This makes it suitable for high-density integration, and there is no need to calculate the base resistor value, allowing direct matching of logic levels.

[0029] In some embodiments, the switching unit further includes a second resistor connected between the second reference power supply and the controller.

[0030] Understandably, by setting a second resistor between the second reference power supply and the controller, the voltage value of the voltage signal output by the second reference power supply can be limited to the operating voltage range of the controller, thus preventing damage to the controller.

[0031] In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes a display panel electrically connected to the controller, the display panel being used to display the prompt information.

[0032] Understandably, by setting up a display panel, prompts can be displayed on the panel, allowing technicians to directly view the prompts output by the controller, quickly identify the cause of the water storage container's water outflow malfunction, and improve maintenance efficiency.

[0033] In some embodiments, the display panel includes a target control, and the controller clears the prompt message when it detects that the target control has been triggered.

[0034] Understandably, technicians can clear the prompt information by triggering the target control on the display panel after the repair is completed, thus not affecting the subsequent diagnosis of the fault. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the specification, serve to explain the technical solutions of this application.

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the external structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigeration system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drinking water system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the control board provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the switch detection circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water valve detection circuit provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water valve detection circuit provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the water valve detection circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the specific technical solutions of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application. The following embodiments are used to illustrate this application, but are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this application only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0047] In the following description, references are made to “some embodiments,” which describe a subset of all possible embodiments. However, it is understood that “some embodiments” may be the same subset or different subsets of all possible embodiments and may be combined with each other without conflict.

[0048] It should be noted that the terms "first, second, third" used in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish similar or different objects and do not represent a specific order of objects. It can be understood that "first, second, third" can be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted, so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.

[0049] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application. The refrigerator in this embodiment may include a cabinet 100. The cabinet 100 has at least one compartment. Specifically, as shown... Figure 2 As shown, the refrigerator in this embodiment has an approximately rectangular shape. The refrigerator includes a cabinet 100 that defines a storage space. The cabinet 100 has at least one compartment 101, and each compartment 101 has one or more doors 102 at its opening.

[0050] In some embodiments, the upper compartment 101 can be a refrigerator compartment, which has a double door. The door 102 includes a door shell located outside the cabinet 100, a door inner liner located inside the cabinet, an upper end cover 230, a lower end cover, and an insulation layer located between the door shell, the door inner liner, the upper end cover, and the lower end cover; typically, the insulation layer is filled with foam material. The compartment 101 can be configured as a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, a variable temperature compartment, etc., depending on its purpose. The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration system for cooling the compartments within the cabinet 100.

[0051] Figure 3 This application provides a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system, applied to the aforementioned refrigerator. The refrigeration system may include a compressor 1, an evaporator 2, a condenser 3, and a defrost heater 4, as shown below. Figure 3 As shown, after the compressor 1 discharges the refrigerant, the refrigerant first enters the condenser 3, then enters the evaporator 2, and finally flows back to the compressor 1, completing the refrigeration cycle.

[0052] In some embodiments, the refrigerator may also include a water dispensing system disposed on the cabinet, such as... Figure 4 As shown. The drinking water system is generally located in the refrigerator compartment, either inside the refrigerator or on the door of the refrigerator compartment. Specifically, the drinking water system may include a water storage container 11, a water valve 12, and a water dispensing switch 14.

[0053] In some embodiments, the refrigerator may also include a water supply assembly, through which the water storage container 11 is connected to an external water source so that the external water source supplies water to the water storage container 11.

[0054] In some embodiments, the water supply assembly may include a filter element 17 and a water pipe 18, with the filter element 17 connected to an external water source via the water pipe 18. Water from the water source flows through the water pipe 18 and is filtered through the filter element 17 to remove impurities. The filtered water is then passed into a water storage container 11 for storage. When the water valve 12 is opened, the water pressure from the water source is used to direct the water from the storage container 11 to the outlet of the drinking water system 20, allowing users to obtain water.

[0055] In some embodiments, the water dispensing switch 14 is located on the outer shell of the door. The water dispensing switch 14 is used to send a signal to control the opening or closing of the water valve, so that the controller controls the opening and closing of the water valve 12. For example, when the user needs to take water, he / she presses the water dispensing switch 14. The controller receives the opening signal of the water dispensing switch 14 and controls the water valve 12 to open, so as to take water. When the user has finished taking water, he / she releases the water dispensing switch 14 or presses the water dispensing switch 14 again. The controller receives the closing signal of the water dispensing switch 14 and controls the water valve 12 to close, so as to complete the water taking.

[0056] In some embodiments, the water dispensing switch 14 may include a first water dispensing switch 13 and a second water dispensing switch 15. The first water dispensing switch 13 may be used to send a signal to control the opening or closing of the water outlet valve, and the second water dispensing switch 15 may be used to send an opening signal containing a preset water dispensing volume when triggered. Users can select different water dispensing modes by triggering the first water dispensing switch 13 or the second water dispensing switch 15.

[0057] Typically, the controller in a refrigerator controls whether water flows from the storage container by opening and closing the water valve. However, the storage container is prone to malfunctions during water dispensing. Causes of these malfunctions include damage to the main control board circuitry, damaged wiring, software errors, electromagnetic interference, and problems with the valve body or piping structure. Accurately and quickly identifying the root cause of the water dispensing malfunction is a challenge. Current troubleshooting methods involve checking every component related to the water dispensing system one by one, including disassembling the unit for testing, replacing parts, using multimeters, and capturing waveforms with an oscilloscope. Due to the large number of components, this process is time-consuming and difficult, making it hard for testing and repair personnel to quickly and accurately pinpoint the root cause, resulting in low efficiency and a high risk of misdiagnosis.

[0058] In view of the above problems, this application provides a control board, the structure of which is as follows: Figure 5As shown, when applied to the refrigerator described above, the control board may include a switch detection circuit 31, a water valve detection circuit 30, and a controller 32. The input terminal of the switch detection circuit 31 is electrically connected to the water dispensing switch 14, and the output terminal of the switch detection circuit 31 is connected to the controller 32. The input terminal of the water valve detection circuit 30 is electrically connected between the water valve 12 and the controller 32, and the output terminal of the water valve detection circuit 30 is electrically connected to the controller 32.

[0059] The switch detection circuit 31 is used to output a first detection signal according to the trigger state of the water tap switch 14. Different trigger states correspond to different voltage first detection signals.

[0060] The water valve detection circuit 30 is used to output a second detection signal based on the voltage value of the control signal. Different voltage values ​​of the control signal correspond to different voltage values ​​of the second detection signal.

[0061] The controller 32 is used to obtain a first duration during which the first detection signal is within a preset first voltage range and a second duration during which the second detection signal is within a preset second voltage range, and to output corresponding prompt information according to the relationship between the first duration and the second duration.

[0062] In this embodiment, the controller 32 is connected to the switch detection circuit 31 and can receive the open and close signals of the water tap 14. If the controller 32 receives the open signal of the water tap 14, it controls the water valve 12 to open until it receives the close signal of the water tap 14. At the same time, the controller 32 detects the voltage value of the control signal received by the water valve 12. Then, the controller 32 counts the first duration of the first detection signal within the preset first voltage range and the second duration of the second detection signal within the preset second voltage range, and outputs the corresponding prompt information according to the relationship between the first duration and the second duration.

[0063] If the first duration t1 > the second duration t2, that is, the time the water switch is pressed > the time the water valve is powered on, the controller 32 can output the first prompt information. The tester or maintenance personnel can judge the fault phenomenon based on the first prompt information, whether it is that water is occasionally not produced or the water output is too small. The corresponding fault causes may be (1) poor contact of the main control board circuit or the water valve 12 connection line (such as poor contact of the connection terminal); (2) software error (such as the judgment condition of the controller 32 conflicting, resulting in the power-on time being shorter than the required time, or the water output delay being too large). If there is a water leakage problem at the same time during the water extraction process, the fault cause is water leakage caused by structural problems (such as the failure of the valve body seal of the water valve 12, or leakage of the water pipe).

[0064] If the first duration t1 equals the second duration t2, that is, the time the water switch is pressed equals the time the water valve is energized, the controller 32 can output a second prompt message. Testers or maintenance personnel can determine the cause of the water leakage fault based on the second prompt message, which is a structural problem (such as the failure of the valve body seal of water valve 12 or leakage in the water pipe). If the drinking water system cannot dispense water normally during the water dispensing process under this condition, the fault is caused by damage to water valve 12 or poor contact of the connecting wire.

[0065] If the first duration t1 < the second duration t2, that is, the time when the water tap is pressed < the time when the water valve is powered on, the controller 32 can output the third prompt information. The tester or maintenance personnel can judge the cause of the water leakage fault based on the third prompt information. It may be (1) software error, such as a software bug causing the water valve 12 to be powered on and started without receiving the signal from the water tap 14; (2) the relay contacts on the main control board are stuck and cannot disconnect the power supply in time; electromagnetic interference triggers the water valve 12 to malfunction.

[0066] In some embodiments, the water tap 14 can be a water tap that can continuously tap water, or it can be a water tap that requires another triggering of the switch after the water valve 12 is opened in order to control the water valve 12 to close. The specific settings can be made by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation, and the embodiments of this application do not impose any restrictions.

[0067] For example, the water dispensing switch 14 can be pre-configured as a water dispensing switch capable of continuous water dispensing. Taking the water dispensing switch 14 as a push-button switch as an example, when the water dispensing switch 14 is pressed, the controller 32 sends an open signal; when the water dispensing switch 14 is released, the controller 32 sends a close signal. If the controller 32 detects the open signal of the water dispensing switch 14, the controller 32 controls the water valve 12 to open, and the water in the water storage container 11 is led to the outlet of the drinking water system under the water pressure of the external water source. Until the controller 32 detects that the cumulative running time has reached the preset maximum open time or the close signal of the water dispensing switch 14, the controller controls the water valve 12 to close, stopping water dispensing, and one continuous water dispensing is completed.

[0068] The first voltage range refers to the voltage range detected by the switch detection circuit 31 when water is dispensed from the water valve 12 after the user triggers the water dispensing switch 14. The controller 32 takes the voltage range when the water dispensing switch 14 is pressed as detected by the switch detection circuit 31 as the first voltage range, and the duration for which the water dispensing switch 14 is pressed as detected by the switch detection circuit 31 as the first duration.

[0069] For example, taking the water tap 14 as a water tap that can be pre-configured to continuously draw water, when the water tap 14 is pressed, the controller 32 sends an open signal; when the water tap 14 is released, the controller 32 sends an open signal. The voltage values ​​output by the switch detection circuit 31 are different when the water tap 14 is pressed and when the water tap 14 is released. Therefore, the controller 32 can determine whether the water tap 14 has been pressed by judging the voltage value output by the switch detection circuit 31 within a unit time.

[0070] If the switch detection circuit 31 outputs a high-level signal when it detects that the water tap 14 is not pressed, and outputs a low-level signal when it detects that the water tap 14 is pressed, then the controller 32 can start timing after receiving the low-level signal output by the switch detection circuit 31, and stop timing after receiving the high-level signal output by the switch detection circuit 31, thereby obtaining the first duration.

[0071] The second voltage range refers to the voltage range detected by the water valve detection circuit 30 when the controller 32 controls the water valve 12 to flow water. The controller 32 takes the voltage range detected by the water valve detection circuit 30 when the water valve 12 flows water as the second voltage range, and takes the duration detected by the water valve detection circuit 30 when the water valve 12 flows water as the second duration.

[0072] When water needs to be supplied to water valve 12, controller 32 sends a low-level control signal to water valve 12; when water supply is not needed, controller 32 sends a high-level control signal to water valve 12. Water valve detection circuit 30 detects the voltage value of the control signal and outputs a corresponding second detection signal. If controller 32 sends a low-level control signal to water valve 12 and the second detection signal is low, and controller 32 sends a high-level control signal and the second detection signal is high, then controller 32 can start timing upon receiving the low-level second detection signal and stop timing upon receiving the high-level second detection signal, thus obtaining the second duration.

[0073] In the aforementioned refrigerator, by setting a switch detection circuit 31 and a water valve detection circuit 30 in the refrigerator's control board, the switch detection circuit 31 can output a first detection signal based on the trigger state of the water dispensing switch 14, and the water valve detection circuit 30 can output a second detection signal based on the voltage value of the control signal. The controller 32 can determine a first duration for the first detection signal to be within a preset first voltage range based on the voltage value of the first detection signal, and a second duration for the second detection signal to be within a preset second voltage range based on the voltage value of the second detection signal. Then, based on the relationship between the first duration and the second duration, corresponding prompt information is output. Thus, when water leakage occurs during the water dispensing process of the water storage container, technicians can analyze the cause of the water dispensing failure based on the output prompt information.

[0074] In some of these embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the switch detection circuit 31 may include a first reference power supply 311 and a filter capacitor 312. The first reference power supply 311 is electrically connected to one end of the water intake switch 14 and the controller 32, respectively. One end of the filter capacitor 312 is electrically connected to the first reference power supply 311 and the controller 32, respectively. The other end of the filter capacitor 312 is electrically connected to the other end of the water intake switch 14 and the ground terminal, respectively.

[0075] In this embodiment, since the first reference power supply 311 is directly connected to the controller 32, and the water tap 14 is connected in the circuit between the controller 32 and the ground, when the water tap 14 is turned on by being pressed, the switch detection circuit 31 can output a first detection signal of a first voltage; when the water tap 14 is turned off by not being pressed, the switch detection circuit 31 can output a first detection signal of a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

[0076] In some embodiments, the switch detection circuit 31 may further include a voltage divider resistor disposed between the first reference power supply 311 and the controller 32, thereby limiting the voltage magnitude of the electrical signal transmitted from the first reference power supply to the controller 32.

[0077] It is understandable that by setting a first reference power supply and a filter capacitor in the switch detection circuit 31, the connection between the first reference power supply and the ground terminal can be connected when the water tap 14 is turned on, so that the controller 32 receives a first detection signal with a low voltage value; when the water tap 14 is turned off, the connection between the first reference power supply and the controller 32 is connected, so that the controller 32 receives a first detection signal with a high voltage value. Thus, the controller 32 can determine whether the water tap 14 has been pressed based on the first detection signal and count the first duration. The entire switch detection circuit 31 has a simple structure and low component cost.

[0078] In some of these embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the water valve detection circuit 30 may include a second reference power supply 302 and a switching unit 301. The driving end of the switching unit 301 is electrically connected between the controller 32 and the control end of the water valve 12. The input end of the switching unit 301 is electrically connected to the second reference power supply 302 and the controller 32 respectively. The output end of the switching unit 301 is electrically connected to the ground end, so that when the voltage value of the control signal is different, the water valve detection circuit 30 outputs a second detection signal with different voltage.

[0079] In this embodiment, since the driving end of the switching unit 301 is connected between the controller 32 and the control end of the water valve 12, when the controller 32 sends a control signal to the water valve 12, the driving end of the switching unit 301 will also receive the control signal. Then, the switching unit 301 will turn on or off the connection between the second reference power supply 302 and the ground terminal according to the voltage value of the control signal. If the switching unit 301 is turned on, the second detection signal output by the second reference power supply 302 will be directly introduced to the ground terminal, and the controller 32 will not receive the second detection signal output by the second reference power supply 302. If the switching unit 301 is turned off, the second detection signal output by the second reference power supply 302 will be transmitted to the controller 32, and the controller 32 can receive the second detection signal output by the second reference power supply 302.

[0080] The voltage value output by the second reference power supply 302 can be determined according to the voltage requirements of the receiver of the controller 32. If the operating voltage of the input and output ports of the controller 32 is 3.3V, then the voltage value output by the second reference power supply 302 is 3.3V.

[0081] It is understandable that by setting a second reference power supply 302 and a switching unit 301 in the water valve detection circuit 30, the connection between the second reference power supply 302 and the ground terminal can be turned on when the controller 32 controls the water valve 12 to discharge water, so that the controller 32 receives a second detection signal with a low voltage value; when the controller 32 does not control the water valve 12 to discharge water, the connection between the second reference power supply 302 and the ground terminal is turned off, so that the controller 32 receives a second detection signal with a high voltage value. Thus, the controller 32 can determine whether the water valve 12 is discharging water based on the second detection signal and perform statistics on the second duration. The entire water valve detection circuit 30 has a simple structure and low component cost.

[0082] In some of these embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, the switching unit 301 may include a third reference power supply 3012, an optocoupler 3011, and a switching transistor 3013. The anode of the input side of the optocoupler 3011 is connected between the control terminal of the controller 32 and the control terminal of the water valve 12. The cathode of the input side of the optocoupler 3011 is electrically connected to the ground terminal. The positive output terminal of the output side of the optocoupler 3011 is electrically connected to the third reference power supply 3012. The negative output terminal of the output side of the optocoupler 3011 is electrically connected to the driving terminal of the switching transistor 3013. The input terminal of the switching transistor 3013 is electrically connected to the second reference power supply 302 and the controller 32 respectively. The output terminal of the switching transistor 3013 is electrically connected to the ground terminal.

[0083] In this embodiment, the control signal transmitted from the controller 32 to the water valve 12 flows into the light-emitting diode of the optocoupler 3011 through the anode on the input side of the optocoupler 3011. If the control signal is a high-level signal, the light-emitting diode will emit light to the receiver of the optocoupler 3011. After receiving the light, the receiver of the optocoupler 3011 will connect the third reference power supply 3012 and the switching transistor 3013, thereby turning on the switching transistor 3013, so that the second detection signal output by the second reference power supply 302 is introduced to the ground. If the control signal is a low-level signal, the light-emitting diode will not emit light to the receiver of the optocoupler 3011, and the receiver of the optocoupler 3011 will not connect the third reference power supply 3012 and the switching transistor 3013, so that the switching transistor 3013 is turned off, and the second detection signal output by the second reference power supply 302 is transmitted to the controller 32.

[0084] In the wiring of electric water valves (such as solenoid valves, electric ball valves, etc.), it is necessary to connect control lines and common lines. Common lines usually refer to the shared wires in the circuit that serve as voltage reference points or current loops, while control lines usually refer to the transmission lines used by the water valve to receive control signals. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is necessary to connect the common line of water valve 12 to the ground terminal of the controller and connect the control line of water valve 12 to the output port of the controller used to output control signals.

[0085] It is understandable that by setting up a switching unit 301 including a third reference power supply 3012, an optocoupler 3011, and a switching transistor 3013, the control signal sent by the controller 32 to the water valve 12 can be prevented from affecting the second detection signal, thereby improving the output stability of the water valve detection circuit 30 for the second detection signal.

[0086] In some of these embodiments, such as Figure 9 As shown, the switching unit 301 may also include a diode 3014. The positive terminal of the diode 3014 is connected to the control terminals of the controller 32 and the water valve 12, respectively, and the negative terminal of the diode 3014 is connected to the anode of the input side of the optocoupler 3011.

[0087] It is understandable that by setting a diode 3014 in the switching unit 301, the electrical signal flowing from the optocoupler 3011 to the controller 32 can be effectively isolated, thereby improving the output stability of the water valve detection circuit 30 for the second detection signal.

[0088] In some embodiments, the switching unit 301 further includes a first resistor connected between the positive terminal of the diode and the control terminal of the water valve 12.

[0089] It is understandable that by setting a first resistor between the positive terminal of the diode and the control terminal of the water valve 12, the voltage value of the control signal sent by the controller 32 to the water valve 12 can be limited to the operating voltage range of the optocoupler 3011, thus preventing damage to the optocoupler 3011.

[0090] In some embodiments, the switching transistor 3013 can be a resistor-equipped transistor.

[0091] Understandably, since a resistor-integrated transistor integrates a resistor at the base or between the base and emitter, it directly replaces the combination of a transistor and an external resistor, reducing the use of discrete resistors on the circuit board. This makes it suitable for high-density integration, and there is no need to calculate the base resistor value, allowing direct matching of logic levels.

[0092] In some embodiments, the switching unit 301 may further include a second resistor connected between the second reference power supply 302 and the controller 32.

[0093] It is understandable that by setting a second resistor between the second reference power supply 302 and the controller 32, the voltage value of the voltage signal output by the second reference power supply 302 can be limited to the operating voltage range of the controller 32, thus preventing damage to the controller 32.

[0094] In some embodiments, the refrigerator also includes a display panel electrically connected to the controller 32, the display panel being used to display prompt information.

[0095] The display panel can be a touch-enabled display panel or a non-touch-enabled display panel, and the specific configuration can be determined by those skilled in the art based on the actual situation. This application does not impose any restrictions on the embodiments.

[0096] Understandably, by setting up a display panel, prompts can be displayed on the panel, making it convenient for technicians to directly view the prompts output by the controller 32, quickly find the cause of the water storage container's water outflow failure, and improve maintenance efficiency.

[0097] In some embodiments, the display panel includes a target control, and the controller 32 clears the prompt message when the target control is detected to be triggered.

[0098] The target control can be a virtual button on the display panel or a physical button.

[0099] Understandably, technicians can clear the prompt information by triggering the target control on the display panel after the repair is completed, thus not affecting the judgment of subsequent repair faults.

[0100] It should be understood that the phrases "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "some embodiments" mentioned throughout the specification mean that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, "in one embodiment," "in one embodiment," or "in some embodiments" appearing throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence numbers of the above-described processes do not imply a sequential order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application. The sequence numbers of the above-described embodiments are merely for descriptive purposes and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. The descriptions of the various embodiments above tend to emphasize the differences between the various embodiments; their similarities or commonalities can be referred to mutually, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0101] In this article, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships. For example, object A and / or object B can represent three situations: object A exists alone, object A and object B exist simultaneously, and object B exists alone.

[0102] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0103] The modules described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules. They may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network terminals. Some or all of the modules may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0104] In addition, each functional module in the various embodiments of this application can be fully integrated into one processing terminal, or each module can be a separate terminal, or two or more modules can be integrated into one terminal; the integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional terminals.

[0105] The features disclosed in the several product embodiments provided in this application can be arbitrarily combined without conflict to obtain new product embodiments.

[0106] The above description is merely an 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.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes: The enclosure forms a refrigerated room during the period; A door, located on the front side of the housing, is used to open and close the refrigeration compartment; A water storage container is provided inside the refrigerator, with a water storage cavity formed inside, a spout formed at the top, and a water inlet formed at the top. A water supply assembly for supplying water to the water storage container; wherein the water supply assembly includes: a water pipe, one end of which is connected to an external water source; A water valve, the inlet of which is connected to the other end of the water pipe, and the outlet of which is connected to the water inlet; A water inlet switch is used to trigger the opening and closing of the water valve; The control board is electrically connected to the water valve and the water intake switch, respectively, and is used to send a control signal to the water valve according to the trigger state of the water intake switch, so as to control the opening and closing of the water valve; The control board includes: A switch detection circuit is electrically connected to the water dispensing switch and is used to output a first detection signal according to the trigger state of the water dispensing switch. Different trigger states correspond to different voltage first detection signals. A water valve detection circuit, electrically connected to the water valve, is used to output a second detection signal based on the voltage value of the control signal, with different voltage values ​​of the control signal corresponding to different voltage values ​​of the second detection signal; The controller is electrically connected to the switch detection circuit and the water valve detection circuit, respectively, and is used to obtain a first duration for which the first detection signal is within a preset first voltage range and a second duration for which the second detection signal is within a preset second voltage range, and output corresponding prompt information according to the relationship between the first duration and the second duration. The second voltage range is the voltage range detected by the water valve detection circuit when the controller controls the water valve to flow water, and the first voltage range is the voltage range detected by the switch detection circuit when the water valve discharges water.

2. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The switch detection circuit includes a first reference power supply and a filter capacitor. The first reference power supply is electrically connected to one end of the water dispensing switch and the controller, respectively. One end of the filter capacitor is electrically connected to the reference power supply and the controller, respectively. The other end of the filter capacitor is electrically connected to the other end of the water dispensing switch and ground, respectively. When the water dispensing switch is turned on, the switch detection circuit outputs a first detection signal of a first voltage, and when the water dispensing switch is turned off, the switch detection circuit outputs a first detection signal of a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

3. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The water valve detection circuit includes a second reference power supply and a switching unit. The driving end of the switching unit is electrically connected between the controller and the control end of the water valve. The input end of the switching unit is electrically connected to the second reference power supply and the controller, respectively. The output end of the switching unit is electrically connected to ground, so that when the voltage value of the control signal is different, the water valve detection circuit outputs a second detection signal with different voltages.

4. The refrigerator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The switching unit includes a third reference power supply, an optocoupler, and a switching transistor. The anode of the input side of the optocoupler is connected between the control terminals of the controller and the water valve. The cathode of the input side of the optocoupler is electrically connected to ground. The positive output terminal of the output side of the optocoupler is electrically connected to the third reference power supply. The negative output terminal of the output side of the optocoupler is electrically connected to the driving terminal of the switching transistor. The input terminal of the switching transistor is electrically connected to the second reference power supply and the controller, respectively. The output terminal of the switching transistor is electrically connected to ground.

5. The refrigerator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The switching unit also includes a diode, the positive terminal of which is connected to the control terminals of the controller and the water valve, respectively, and the negative terminal of which is connected to the anode of the input side of the optocoupler.

6. The refrigerator as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The switching unit further includes a first resistor, which is connected between the positive terminal of the diode and the control terminal of the water valve.

7. The refrigerator as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The switching transistor is a resistor-equipped transistor.

8. The refrigerator as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The switching unit further includes a second resistor connected between the second reference power supply and the controller.

9. The refrigerator as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes a display panel, which is electrically connected to the controller and is used to display the prompt information.

10. The refrigerator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The display panel includes a target control, and the controller clears the prompt message when it detects that the target control has been triggered.

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