Domestic refrigeration device, no-frost refrigeration device, domestic refrigeration device, and method for operating a domestic refrigeration device

Abstract

In order to provide a household refrigeration device with improved wiring characteristics, a household refrigeration device (78) for insertion into a refrigeration area (80) of a household refrigeration appliance (84) is proposed, comprising a control unit (74) for controlling at least one functional unit (92) and an interface unit (12, 112) for connecting the control unit (74) to a main control unit (20) of the household refrigeration appliance (84).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance device for insertion into a refrigeration compartment of a household refrigeration appliance. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a no-frost device with the household refrigeration appliance device according to claim 8, a household refrigeration appliance with the household refrigeration appliance device according to claim 10, and a method for operating a household refrigeration appliance according to the preamble of claim 14.

[0002] No-frost systems for the freezer compartments of household refrigeration appliances are known from the prior art. These systems are designed to prevent ice and / or frost buildup in the freezer compartment. A fan creates air circulation within the appliance, and a defrost heater defrosts accumulated frost at regular intervals. To control and / or supply power to the functional components of the no-frost system, such as the defrost heater and the fan, numerous electrical cables are required, running through an insulating component of the freezer compartment to the control electronics of the household refrigeration appliance. The control electronics must also have a correspondingly large number of connections.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a household refrigeration appliance with improved wiring characteristics.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by claims 1 and 14. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to the invention, a household refrigeration appliance device is provided for insertion into a refrigeration compartment of a household refrigeration appliance. The household refrigeration appliance device comprises a control unit for controlling at least one functional unit and an interface unit for connecting the control unit to a main control unit of the household refrigeration appliance.

[0006] Such a household refrigeration appliance device allows for a reduced number of interfaces on the main control unit, thereby achieving advantageous properties with regard to electromagnetic compatibility. Furthermore, the household refrigeration appliance device according to the invention enables a modular design of the household refrigeration appliance, since the main control unit can be adapted to different design requirements of a household refrigeration appliance by using one or more household refrigeration appliance devices according to the invention. Thus, space can be saved in the appliance, particularly in household refrigeration appliances with a simpler design.

[0007] The household appliance device can be part of a household refrigeration appliance, which may be designed, for example, as a refrigerator and / or freezer, a chest freezer, a wine storage cabinet, or the like. The household refrigeration appliance may have at least one compartment designed as a refrigerator or freezer compartment. The household refrigeration appliance may also have several compartments, for example, two, three, four, five, six, or more than six compartments, which may be designed as freezer compartments and / or refrigerator compartments.

[0008] The functional unit may be part of a no-frost device, an ice maker, in particular an ice cube maker, or the like. The household refrigeration appliance may include the no-frost device and / or the ice maker. The household refrigeration appliance component may be part of the no-frost device or the ice maker. The no-frost device may be designed to counteract unwanted frost and / or ice formation in the household refrigeration appliance. Functional components of the no-frost device may include a defrost heater unit, a fan unit, a sensor unit, an evaporator, a drain, an evaporation tray, and / or the like. The evaporator of the no-frost device may correspond to an evaporator of the household refrigeration appliance, which is configured as part of a refrigeration system of the household refrigeration appliance to provide the cooling and / or freezing function of the household refrigeration appliance.The household refrigeration appliance could also have multiple evaporators. The functional unit may, for example, include one or more of the electrical functional components of the no-frost device, such as the defrost heater unit, the fan unit and / or the sensor unit, or the ice maker unit.

[0009] The fan unit can be configured to generate air circulation within the household refrigeration appliance, which can flow through the compartments of the appliance. A cooling zone of the household refrigeration appliance can be defined by the compartments of the appliance or by an air circulation zone defined by the fan unit, the appliance being designed to be inserted into and / or positioned within the cooling zone. The fan unit can include one or more impellers and a drive unit, such as an electric motor. Moisture from the air circulated by the fan unit can condense on the evaporator during operation of the household refrigeration appliance, potentially forming frost and / or ice.

[0010] The defrost heating unit can be configured to defrost moisture that has condensed on the evaporator. The defrost heating unit can have one or more heating elements, which may be designed as resistive heating elements or similar. Defrosting of the evaporator can occur during a defrost cycle of the no-frost system, which can, for example, repeat at regular intervals and / or be initiated based on information about ice and / or frost formation on the evaporator. For example, information about ice and / or frost formation on the evaporator could be determined by the sensor unit.

[0011] The sensor unit can, for example, include one or more temperature sensors. These temperature sensors can be arranged on the compartments to measure their temperature, or they can be designed and arranged as functional component temperature sensors to measure the temperature of at least one of the functional components, for example, as an evaporator temperature sensor. The sensor unit can also include one or more humidity sensors, airflow sensors, or similar devices.

[0012] The control unit can comprise a processor and a memory element, as well as an operating program stored on the memory element. The memory element can be a digital storage medium, such as a memory chip or the like. The control unit can be configured to control the functional unit in a state connected to the interface unit. The control unit can include appropriate control components for controlling the electrical functional components connected to the interface unit.

[0013] The main control unit and / or the functional unit can be connected to the interface unit via a cable. According to the invention, the interface unit can have at least one connection for connecting it to the functional unit. Preferably, the interface unit can have several electrical connections for the electrical functional components.

[0014] The inventive embodiment of the household refrigeration device can comprise a printed circuit board on which the interface unit and the control unit are arranged. The connections of the interface unit can be designed as terminals on the printed circuit board, such as pads, vias, terminal blocks, sockets, or the like.

[0015] The interface unit can have at least one connection for a wired connection between the control unit and the main control unit. According to a further development of the invention, the interface unit for connection to the main control unit can have only a communication interface and a power supply interface. This allows the number of connection lines between the household refrigeration appliance and the main control unit to be kept to a minimum.

[0016] The interface unit can have at least one communication interface and / or one power supply interface for connection to another household refrigeration unit. This allows more than one household refrigeration unit to be installed in the refrigeration compartment without requiring additional connecting lines to the main control unit. The number of required connecting lines can therefore be kept particularly low, especially when multiple household refrigeration units are used within the household refrigeration unit.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the household refrigeration appliance can have a detection unit configured to determine and / or set at least one configuration parameter for communication with the main control unit, depending on the connection state of the interface unit. The detection unit can be connected to the interface unit via data transmission, i.e., at least in such a way that the interface unit can detect the connection state of the interface unit. At least part of the detection unit can be arranged on the circuit board. Alternatively or additionally, at least part of the detection unit can also be arranged on the main control unit. The connection state can include information about occupied connections of the interface unit. In other words, the connection state can include information about electrical functional components connected to the interface unit.

[0018] At least part of the recognition unit can be part of the control unit. The configuration parameter can be a parameter relevant for proper communication between the main control unit and the control unit. For example, the configuration parameter can be set up for the main control unit to identify the household appliance. The main control unit can be located outside the refrigeration area, and can be separated from the refrigeration area by at least one insulating component, such as thermal insulation foam.

[0019] The detection unit may be configured to determine at least one usage parameter based on the connection state of the interface unit and, depending on this, to determine and / or set the corresponding configuration parameter. The usage parameter could be, for example, a location parameter and / or a refrigeration system parameter. The location parameter could be information about the position of the control unit or the appliance component within the appliance, such as the compartment in which the appliance is located and / or its position within that compartment. The refrigeration system parameter could include information about the refrigeration system of the appliance, such as operating parameters of a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, or similar components.The recognition unit can determine the configuration parameter from the usage parameter, for example, using a table or similar stored in the recognition unit.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the configuration parameter can be a communication address, specifically a DBus address. This communication address can be assigned to the control unit to enable proper communication between the main control unit and the control unit. The DBus address can be stored on the control unit. The detection unit can be configured to determine and / or set the configuration parameter during the initial startup of the household appliance, depending on the connection status of the interface unit. The detection unit can also be configured to check the configuration parameter at predetermined intervals or regularly when the household appliance is switched on.

[0021] According to a further development of the invention, the connection status can include information about temperature sensors connected to the interface unit, preferably the temperature sensors of the functional unit. Based on the connected temperature sensors, the usage parameter can be determined particularly reliably and / or easily. One or more temperature sensors can be connected to the interface unit. The number and / or type of temperature sensors can vary depending on their position in the household appliance and / or their use. The connection status can also include information about the assignment of analog inputs of the interface unit. These analog inputs can be used for connection to temperature sensors. The various analog inputs can be linked to the type and / or position of the temperature sensors.Thus, the assignment of the analog inputs can correspond to the intended position of the control unit or the household appliance device in the household appliance.

[0022] To enable error-free determination and / or setting of the configuration parameter depending on the connection state, a further development of the invention provides that the interface unit has a coding unit for fail-safe contacting of the interface unit's terminals. The coding unit can be designed as a mechanical coding unit. For example, the terminals of the interface unit can be mechanically coded such that they can only be contacted with a previously defined temperature sensor. This prevents incorrect connection of temperature sensors to the terminals of the interface unit and a resulting incorrect determination and / or setting of the usage parameter and the communication parameter.

[0023] To prevent damage to an electronic unit, which includes at least the detection unit, caused by condensation during the defrost cycle, the appliance may include a heating unit for heating the electronic unit. This heating unit heats the electronic unit to such an extent that its temperature during the defrost cycle of the no-frost system remains above the dew point. Heating of the electronic unit by waste heat during operation to a temperature below the dew point during the defrost cycle cannot be considered heating of the electronic unit by a heating unit. At least the control unit, the circuit board, and / or the interface unit may be part of the electronic unit. The electronic unit may also include at least some of the electrical functional components of the no-frost system.

[0024] At least part of the heating unit can be formed by a component of the electronic unit. This component can, for example, be an electrical control component for at least one of the electrical functional components arranged on the circuit board, such as a processor, a switching element, a resistor, or the like. According to a further development of the invention, the component can be designed as a power switch, for example, as a power switch for the defrost heating unit. Preferably, the power switch can be designed as a triac.

[0025] The heating unit can have at least one active heating element. An "active heating element" is defined as a heating element primarily or solely designed for heating. The active heating element can be a resistive heating element or, alternatively, an infrared heating element, an induction heating element, or the like. The active heating element can be located on the circuit board or spaced apart from it. The heating power of the heating unit can be adjustable via the control unit and / or the main control unit. The control unit can be configured to control the heating power as a function of a temperature parameter. The household refrigeration appliance can have at least one electronic unit temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the electronic unit, preferably the circuit board. The temperature detected by the electronic unit temperature sensor can correspond to the temperature parameter.The electronic unit's temperature sensor can be mounted on the circuit board. The heating power of the heating unit can be adjusted, for example, by controlling at least one heating element. Additionally or alternatively, the heating power could be adjusted by deliberately operating the power switch in an inefficient manner.

[0026] Furthermore, the invention relates to the no-frost device with the inventive household refrigeration appliance device and with the functional unit. Thus, a no-frost device can be provided that requires a particularly small number of functional lines to the main control unit. According to one embodiment of the invention, the functional unit of the no-frost device can comprise the defrost heater unit, the fan unit, and / or a sensor unit. A redundant line cannot be understood as a functional line in this context. The functional line can only have one or more conductors.

[0027] Furthermore, the invention relates to the household refrigeration appliance with the household refrigeration appliance device and with the main control unit, which is connected to the control unit. The household refrigeration appliance according to the invention enables the provision of a household refrigeration appliance that requires a particularly small number of lines through its insulating material. Furthermore, a particularly short cable run is sufficient in such a household refrigeration appliance. According to one embodiment of the invention, the main control unit can be connected to the household refrigeration appliance device via a maximum of five functional lines. It can be provided that the household refrigeration appliance has at least one household refrigeration appliance device, which is connected to the main control unit via the household refrigeration appliance device for power supply and / or communication purposes.

[0028] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a household refrigeration appliance, for example, the one according to the invention, wherein the functional unit is controlled by the household refrigeration appliance device. By such a method, the main control unit of a household refrigeration appliance can be modularly extended and operated with household refrigeration appliance devices as required.

[0029] The devices and methods disclosed herein are not to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, they may, to achieve a functionality described herein, comprise a different number of individual elements, components, units, and process steps than those specified herein. Furthermore, values ​​within the specified limits of the value ranges stated herein are also to be considered disclosed and freely usable.

[0030] It is specifically pointed out that all features and properties described in relation to a device, as well as methods, are transferable analogously to processes and usable within the scope of the invention and are considered to be jointly disclosed. The same applies in reverse. This means that structural, i.e., device-related, features mentioned in relation to processes can also be considered, claimed, and likewise included in the disclosure within the scope of the device claims.

[0031] The present invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. The drawing, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and use them meaningfully in combination within the scope of the claims.

[0032] If more than one instance of a particular object exists, only one of them may be identified with a reference symbol in the figures and description. The description of this instance can then be applied to the other instances of the object. If objects are named using numerical terms, such as first, second, third object, etc., these serve to identify and / or classify objects. Thus, for example, a first object and a third object, but not a second object, may be included. However, numerical terms could also indicate a number and / or sequence of objects.

[0033] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a household appliance with two no-frost devices, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a connection between a main control unit of the household appliance and one of the no-frost devices. Figure 1Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a household appliance device from one of the No-Frost devices. Figure 1 , Fig. 4 a schematic representation of the connection of household appliance devices with temperature sensors, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a method for setting up and / or operating a household appliance device, and Fig. 6 a schematic representation of a connection of a household appliance device in an alternative embodiment with temperature sensors.

[0034] Figure 1Figure 28 is shown in a schematic diagram as a household appliance 28, configured as a household refrigeration appliance 84. Specifically, the household appliance 28 is configured as a refrigerator and has a refrigerator compartment 34, a freezer compartment 36, and a fresh food compartment 38. Alternatively, the household appliance 28 can also have a different number of refrigerator compartments 34, fresh food compartments 38, freezer compartments 36, and / or other types of compartments. For example, the household appliance 28 can also be configured without a freezer compartment 36, a fresh food compartment 38, or a refrigerator compartment 34. Alternatively, the household appliance 28 can also be configured as a freezer cabinet or the like.

[0035] The household appliance 28 has two no-frost devices 26, 32. Alternatively, the household appliance 28 can have only one no-frost device 26, 32 or more than two no-frost devices 26, 32. A first no-frost device 26 of the two no-frost devices 26, 32 is arranged in the freezer compartment 36 and has a household appliance device 10. The household appliance device 10 is designed as a household refrigeration appliance device 78 for insertion into a refrigerated area. The household appliance device 10 is arranged in the freezer compartment 36 (in Figure 4 (The household appliance device 10 is shown spaced apart from the freezer compartment 36 for better clarity).

[0036] With reference to Figure 3 The household appliance device 10 has an interface unit 12 which has several electrical connections 14 for functional components 16 (see also Figure 4The functional components 16 are part of a functional unit 92 of the no-frost device 26 and comprise electrical functional components 16 of the no-frost device 26, such as a sensor unit 100 with a temperature sensor 22, a fan unit 206, and a defrost heating unit 208. The electrical functional components of the no-frost device 26, excluding the temperature sensor 22, are as follows: Figure 4 shown schematically as block 50. Furthermore, the no-frost device 26 also includes an evaporator 76 as a functional component.

[0037] The no-frost device 26 has only one temperature sensor 22. Alternatively, depending on its intended use, the no-frost device 26 can also have more than one temperature sensor 22, such as two, three, or four temperature sensors 22.

[0038] The fan unit 206 of the No-Frost device 26 is designed to generate air circulation within the appliance 28, which passes through the freezer compartment 36. The fan unit 206 can have one or more impellers and a drive unit, for example, an electric motor. Moisture from the air circulated by the fan unit 206 can condense on the evaporator 76, potentially forming frost and / or ice.

[0039] An air circulation zone defined by the fan unit 206 defines a cooling zone 80. The evaporator 76 is located within the air circulation zone of the fan unit 206 in the freezer compartment 38. Alternatively, the evaporator 76 can also be located outside the freezer compartment 38 within the air circulation zone.

[0040] The defrost heating unit 208 is designed to defrost condensed moisture on the evaporator 76. The defrost heating unit 208 can have one or more heating elements, which may be designed as resistive heating elements or the like. The defrosting of the evaporator 76 takes place during a defrosting phase of the no-frost device 26, which, for example, repeats itself at regular intervals and / or is initiated depending on information about ice and / or frost formation on the evaporator 76. For example, information about ice and / or frost formation on the evaporator 76 could be determined by the sensor unit 100.

[0041] The household appliance device 10 comprises a printed circuit board 72. The household appliance device 10 comprises a control unit 74. The interface unit 12 and the control unit 74 are arranged on the printed circuit board 72. The control unit 74 is configured to control at least the functional unit 92. The control unit 74 is arranged on the printed circuit board 72 and comprises a processor and a memory element, as well as an operating program stored on the memory element. The memory element is designed as a digital storage medium, for example, as a memory chip or the like. The control unit 74 is configured to control the electrical functional components 16 connected to the interface unit 12. The control unit 74 comprises corresponding control components for controlling the electrical functional components 16 connected to the interface unit 12.

[0042] The household appliance 10 has a detection unit 18 which is configured to determine and / or set at least one configuration parameter for communication with a main control unit 20 of the household appliance 28, depending on the connection state of the interface unit 12. The detection unit 18 is part of the control unit 74. Alternatively, the detection unit 18 can also be configured separately from the control unit 74.

[0043] Interface unit 12 is configured to connect control unit 74 to main control unit 20. Interface unit 12 has only one communication interface 94 and one power supply interface 96 for connection to main control unit 20. Main control unit 20 can be connected to control unit 74 via wired connections using communication interface 94 and power supply interface 96. Main control unit 20 is connected to household appliance 10 via a maximum of five functional lines. A communication connection 108 via communication interface 94 has three functional lines. A power supply connection 202 via power supply interface 96 has two functional lines.

[0044] The main control unit 20 is located outside a cooling compartment 80, 98 of the household appliance 28, i.e., outside the refrigerator compartment 34, the freezer compartment 36, and the fresh food compartment 38. The cooling compartments 80, 98 of the household appliance 28 are separated from the main control unit 20 by at least one insulating component 304, for example, a heat-insulating foam.

[0045] Connections 204 between the interface unit 12 and the electrical functional components 16 have at least partially different numbers of functional lines. A connection 204 between the interface unit 12 and the temperature sensor 22 comprises two functional lines. A connection 204 between the interface unit 12 and the fan unit 206 comprises four functional lines. A connection 204 between the interface unit 12 and the defrost heater unit 208 comprises two functional lines. When an air damper is used, for example, for air exchange between the compartments of the household appliance 28, a connection between the interface unit 12 and the air damper has a further six functional lines. A redundant line cannot be considered a functional line in this context. A functional line can have only one or more conductors.

[0046] The configuration parameter is a communication address, specifically a DBus address. The connection status contains information about temperature sensors 22 connected to the interface unit 12. The connection status also contains information about the assignment of analog inputs 24, 52, 54, and 56 of the interface unit 12. Alternatively or additionally, the connection status of the interface unit 12 can also include information about the assignment of terminals 14 of the interface unit 12 other than the analog inputs 24, 52, 54, and 56, for example, by the other functional components 16 of the no-frost device 26 or the like.

[0047] The detection unit 18 is configured to determine at least one usage parameter based on the connection status of the interface unit 12, and to determine and / or set the configuration parameter accordingly. The usage parameter is a location parameter and / or a refrigeration system parameter.

[0048] The location parameter is information about the arrangement position of the control unit 74 or the household appliance device 10 within the household appliance 28, for example, in which compartment of the household appliance 28 and / or its position within that compartment. The refrigeration system parameter includes information about the refrigeration system of the household appliance 28, such as operating parameters of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, the evaporator 76, or the like. Alternatively, for a household appliance 28 with a different design than a household refrigeration appliance 84, the parameters may be different. The detection unit 18 determines the configuration parameter from the usage parameter, for example, using a table or similar stored in the detection unit 18.

[0049] The interface unit 12 has a coding unit 46 for fail-safe contacting of the terminals 14 of the interface unit 12, specifically for fail-safe contacting of the analog inputs 24, 52, 54, 56 with the temperature sensor 22. The coding unit 46 has a coding element 58 for each of the analog inputs 24, 52, 54, 56, i.e., four coding elements 58 in total. The coding unit 46 is designed as a mechanical coding unit, wherein the different shapes of the coding elements 58 provide a coding for the analog inputs 24, 52, 54, 56 for the connection of the temperature sensor 22. The temperature sensor 22 has a connector (not shown) for connection to the interface unit 12, the connector having a shape corresponding to one of the coding elements 58, so that the temperature sensor 22 can only be connected to the analog input 24 provided for this purpose.

[0050] The temperature sensor 22 of the no-frost device 26 is connected to the analog input 24. Due to the coding unit 66, the temperature sensor 22 cannot be connected to any of the other analog inputs 52, 54, 56. The temperature sensor 22 is assigned to the freezer compartment 36.

[0051] The household appliance 10 has a heating unit 86 for heating an electronic unit 82 of the household appliance 10. The heating unit 86 is distinct from the defrost heating unit 208. At least the control unit 74, the interface unit 12, and the circuit board 72 are part of the electronic unit 82. The heating unit 86 is configured to heat the electronic unit 82 such that its temperature during the defrost phase of the no-frost device 26 is above the dew point. Heating of the electronic unit 82 by waste heat during its operation to a temperature below the dew point during the defrost phase cannot be considered heating of the electronic unit 82 by a heating unit 86.

[0052] At least part of the heating unit 86 is formed by a component of the electronic unit 82. This component is designed as a power switch 88. The power switch 88 is designed as a triac. The power switch 88 is arranged on the circuit board 72.

[0053] The heating unit 86 has two active heating elements 90, which are designed as resistive heating elements. Alternatively, the heating unit 86 can also consist of only one active heating element 90, more than two active heating elements 90, and / or consist solely of active heating elements 90. Furthermore, the heating unit 86 can also be free of active heating elements 90. Alternatively, the active heating elements 90 can be designed as infrared heating elements, induction heating elements, or the like. An "active heating element" is understood to be a heating element that is primarily or solely designed for heating.

[0054] The heating elements 90 are arranged in cold zones of the circuit board 72. The location of the cold zones depends on the arrangement of the household appliance device 10 in the household appliance 28 and / or on the arrangement of components of the electronic unit 82 on the circuit board 72. The cold zones are spaced apart from the power switch 88. The cold zones correspond to areas of the circuit board 72 in which the temperature in an operating state is at least 30% lower than the temperature at the hottest point of the circuit board 72.

[0055] The heating power of the heating unit 86 can be adjusted via the control unit 74. The control unit 74 is configured to control the heating power as a function of a temperature parameter. The household appliance 10 has an electronic unit temperature sensor 106 for detecting the temperature of the electronic unit 82, in particular the circuit board 72. The temperature detected by the electronic unit temperature sensor 106 corresponds to the temperature parameter. The electronic unit temperature sensor 106 is located on the circuit board 72. The heating power of the heating unit 86 can be regulated by controlling the active heating elements 90. Additionally or alternatively, the heating power could be adjusted by deliberately operating the power switch 88 in an inefficient manner. The control unit 74 is configured to heat the electronic unit 82 during the defrosting phase of the evaporator 76.Alternatively or additionally, the heating unit 86 could also be controlled by the main control unit 20.

[0056] The electronic unit 82 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the evaporator 76. The electronic unit 82 and the evaporator 76 are arranged in a common and contiguous space, wherein a region between the electronic unit 82 and the evaporator 76 may be free of insulating components. The immediate vicinity of the evaporator 76 extends, for example, a maximum of 50 cm from the evaporator 76, preferably a maximum of 30 cm, and more preferably a maximum of 20 cm.

[0057] A second no-frost unit 32 of the two no-frost units 26, 32 is arranged in the refrigerator compartment 34 and includes a further household appliance unit 30. The further household appliance unit 30 is identical to the household appliance unit 10, i.e., as a further household refrigerator unit 302, and includes a further interface unit 66 for connection with functional components. The further household appliance unit 30 is arranged in the refrigerator compartment 34 (in Figure 4 The additional household appliance 30 is shown spaced apart from the cooling compartment 34 for better clarity. The functional components are formed by electrical functional components 60 of the second no-frost device 32, which include two temperature sensors 64, a fan unit, and a defrost heating unit. The electrical functional components 60 of the second no-frost device 32 are shown in the diagram, excluding the temperature sensors 64. Figure 4schematically represented as block 62. Furthermore, the second no-frost device 32 has an additional evaporator 102. The functional components of the no-frost devices 26 and 32 may differ at least partially from one another or be identical, for example in number, performance characteristics, and / or the like.

[0058] The interface unit 12 of the household appliance 10 has at least one further communication interface 306 and a power supply interface 308 for connection with the further household appliance 30. The further household appliance 30 is connected to the main control unit 20 via the household appliance 10 for power supply and / or communication purposes. The evaporator 76 of the no-frost device 26 and the further evaporator 102 of the further no-frost device 32 correspond to evaporators of the household appliance 28, which are configured as part of a refrigeration system of the household appliance 28 to provide the cooling and / or freezing function of the household appliance 28. Alternatively, the household appliance 28 can have only one evaporator 76, 102 and form the evaporator for several no-frost devices 26, 32, for example, for the no-frost device 26 and the further no-frost device 32.

[0059] The fresh food compartment 38 and the refrigerated compartment 34 are arranged in a continuous further refrigeration area 98. This further refrigeration area 98 is defined by a further air circulation area, defined by the fan unit of the additional no-frost device 32, which passes through the fresh food compartment 38 and the refrigerated compartment 34.

[0060] One of the two temperature sensors 64 is connected to an analog input 68 of the additional interface unit 66, and another of the two temperature sensors 64 is connected to another analog input 70 of the additional interface unit 70. The temperature sensor 64 is assigned to the refrigerated compartment 34 and the other temperature sensor 64 is assigned to the fresh food compartment 38.

[0061] Figure 5Figure 1 shows a schematic sequence of a procedure for setting up and / or operating the household appliance 28. In one procedure step, in particular in assembly step 40, the functional components 16, 60 of the two no-frost units 26, 32 are connected to the household appliance devices 10, 30 and the main control unit 20. In a further procedure step, in particular in configuration step 42, a configuration parameter for communication between the household appliance device 10 and the main control unit 20 is determined and set depending on the connection state of the interface unit 12. This is also done analogously in configuration step 42 for the other household appliance device 30.Specifically, by means of a further recognition unit (not shown here) of the further household appliance device 30, at least one configuration parameter for communication between the further household appliance device 30 and the main control unit 20 is determined and set depending on a connection state of the further interface unit 66 of the further household appliance device 30.

[0062] In an additional process step, in particular in an operating step 44, the household appliance 28 is operated, wherein the main control unit 20 can communicate with the household appliance device 10 and with the further household appliance device 30 via the respective determined and set configuration parameter. The functional unit 92 is controlled by the household appliance device 10.

[0063] In heating step 104, the electronic unit 82 is heated. Heating step 104 is heated during the defrosting phase of the evaporator 76. This also occurs analogously for the other household appliance device 30.

[0064] Figure 6 Figure 1 schematically shows a connection between a household appliance device 110 of a household appliance 128 and temperature sensors 122 of a no-frost device 126 of the household appliance 128. The temperature sensors 122 are part of electrical functional components 116 of the no-frost device 126.

[0065] The household appliance 128 is designed as a household refrigeration appliance with a refrigerator compartment 134, a fresh food compartment 138, and a freezer compartment 136. A cooling zone defined by the refrigerator compartment 134 and the fresh food compartment 138 is connected via an air damper 148 of the household appliance 128 to a cooling zone defined by the freezer compartment 136. The air damper 148 is part of the functional components 116 of the no-frost device 126. Further electrical functional components 116, such as a defrost heating unit and a fan unit, are located in Figure 6 schematically represented as block 162. The household appliance 128 has only one No-Frost device 126 with the household appliance device 110, which is arranged in the freezer compartment 136 (in Figure 6 (The household appliance device 110 is shown spaced apart from the freezer compartment 136 for better clarity).

[0066] The no-frost device 126 has three temperature sensors 122 connected to the household appliance device 110, specifically to analog inputs 124, 152, and 154 of an interface unit 112 of the household appliance device 110. A detection unit of the household appliance device 110 determines, based on the configuration of the interface unit 112 (i.e., the inserted temperature sensors 122), in which compartment the household appliance device 110 is located and accordingly sets a configuration parameter for communication with a main control unit of the household appliance 128. Reference sign

[0067] 10, 110 Appliance device 12, 112 Interface unit 14, 114 Connection 16, 116 Functional component 18, 118 Detection unit 20 Main control unit 22, 122 Temperature sensor 24, 124 Analog input 26, 126 No-frost device 28, 128 Appliance 30 Appliance device 32 No-frost device 34 Refrigerator compartment 36 Freezer compartment 38 Fresh food compartment 40 Assembly step 42 Configuration step 44 Operation step 46 Coding unit 148 Air damper 50 Block 52, 152 Analog input 54, 154 Analog input 56, 156 Analog input 58 Coding element 60 Functional component 62,162 Block 64 Temperature sensor 66 Interface unit 68 Analog input 70 Analog input 72 Circuit board 74 Control unit 76 Evaporator 78 Domestic refrigeration device 80 Refrigeration section 82 Electronic unit 84 Domestic refrigeration device 86 Heating unit 88 Circuit breaker 90 Heating element 92 Functional unit 94 Communication interface 96 Power supply interface 98 Refrigeration section 100 Sensor unit 102 Evaporator 104 Heating step 106 Electronic unit-temperature sensor 108 Communication link 202 Power supply link 204 Functional line 206 Fan unit 208 Defrost heater unit 302 Domestic refrigeration device 304 Insulation component 306 Communication interface 308 Power supply interface

Claims

1. Household refrigeration appliance device (78) for insertion into a refrigeration area (80) of a household refrigeration appliance (84), comprising a control unit (74) for controlling at least one functional unit (92) and an interface unit (12, 112) for connecting the control unit (74) to a main control unit (20) of the household refrigeration appliance (84).

2. Household refrigeration appliance (78) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the interface unit (12) has at least one connection (14) for the functional unit (92).

3. Household refrigeration appliance (78) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a printed circuit board (72) on which the interface unit (12) and the control unit (72) are arranged.

4. Household refrigeration appliance (78) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe interface unit (12) for connection with the main control unit (20) has only a communication interface (94) and a power supply interface (96).

5. Household refrigeration appliance (78) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the interface unit (12) has at least one communication interface (306) and / or one power supply interface (308) for connection with another household refrigeration appliance (302).

6. Household refrigeration appliance (78) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a detection unit (18, 118) which is configured to determine and / or set at least one configuration parameter for communication with the main control unit (20) depending on a connection state of the interface unit (12, 112).

7. Household refrigeration appliance (78) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized bya heating unit (86) for heating an electronic unit (82) of the household refrigerating appliance (78), wherein the electronic unit (82) comprises at least the interface unit (12, 112) and the control unit (74).

8. No-frost device (26, 32, 126) with a household refrigeration appliance device (10, 110) according to one of the preceding claims and with the functional unit (92).

9. No-frost device (26, 32, 126) according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the functional unit (92) comprises a defrost heating unit (208), a fan unit (206) and / or a sensor unit (100).

10. Household refrigeration appliance (84) comprising a household refrigeration appliance device (78) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and comprising the main control unit (20) which is connected to the control unit (74).

11. Household refrigeration appliance (84) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact thatthe main control unit (20) is connected to the household refrigeration appliance device (78) via a maximum of five functional lines.

12. Household refrigeration appliance (84) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by at least one further household refrigeration appliance (302), wherein the further household refrigeration appliance (302) is connected to the main control unit (20) via the household refrigeration appliance (78) in terms of energy supply and / or communication technology.

13. Household refrigeration appliance (84) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized by the fact that the main control unit (20) is located outside the refrigeration area (80, 98).

14. Method for operating a household refrigeration appliance (84), in particular according to one of claims 10 to 13, which comprises a main control unit (20) and a household refrigeration appliance device (78) connected to the main control unit (20), and at least one functional unit (92) connected to the household refrigeration appliance device (78), characterized by the fact that the functional unit (92) is controlled by the household refrigeration appliance device (78).

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