Refrigerator capable of preventing dew condensation and method therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator capable of preventing dew condensation. The refrigerator comprises: a main body comprising a storage chamber; a first door and a second door rotatably connected to the main body to open / close the storage chamber; a rotation bar which is arranged on at least one of the first door and the second door and seals a gap between the first door and the second door when the first and second door close the storage chamber; and a top cover arranged on the upper portion of the main body, wherein the top cover comprises a suction port allowing the inner space and the outer space of the top cover to be in communication with each other, and a fan which sucks in external air through the suction port and discharges the external air toward the rotation bar.

Description

Refrigerator capable of preventing condensation and method thereof

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator capable of preventing condensation and a method thereof.

[0002] As refrigerator technology advanced and aesthetic standards for home appliances rose, a variety of designs were developed to meet user needs, rather than relying on a uniform design. French door refrigerators, for example, feature a sealing mechanism between the two doors to prevent cold air from leaking from the storage compartment. However, this design presented a problem: condensation formed on surfaces exposed to the outside air due to the temperature difference between the refrigerator compartment and the outside air.

[0003] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, first and second doors rotatably connected to the main body for opening and closing the storage compartment, a rotating bar disposed on at least one of the first and second doors to seal a space between the first and second doors when the first and second doors close the storage compartment, and a top cover disposed on an upper portion of the main body.

[0004] The top cover may include an intake port that connects the inner space of the top cover with the outer space, and a fan that sucks in outside air through the intake port and discharges it toward the rotating bar. The refrigerator may further include a processor, and the rotating bar may include a heater, and the processor may drive the fan and the heater, respectively.

[0005] The heater is arranged along the length direction of the rotating bar and is divided into a plurality of regions, and the processor can individually control the intensity of each of the plurality of regions of the heater according to the vertical distance between the top cover and each of the plurality of regions of the heater.

[0006] The top cover further includes a sensor for sensing at least one of temperature and humidity, and the processor can determine whether to drive each of the plurality of regions of the fan and the heater based on the sensing value of the sensor.

[0007] The above rotating bar further includes a plurality of sensors arranged in each of the plurality of regions and capable of measuring at least one of temperature and humidity, and the processor can individually adjust the intensity of each of the plurality of regions of the heater based on the sensing values ​​of each of the plurality of sensors.

[0008] The fan is positioned at the top of the rotating bar at the center of the top cover and may include an exhaust port so as to directly blow wind to the rotating bar.

[0009] The above fan is composed of at least two or more fans, and the plurality of fans are arranged symmetrically on both sides based on the center of the top cover, and the top cover includes an air passage connected to each of the plurality of fans to transmit the outside air to the rotation bar side, and the processor can independently drive each of the plurality of fans.

[0010] Meanwhile, a method for preventing condensation in a refrigerator includes a step of sensing at least one of the temperature and humidity of the outside air around the refrigerator, a step of driving a fan disposed on a top cover to introduce outside air toward a rotating bar that seals between a first door and a second door of the refrigerator when the sensing value for the outside air deviates from a preset environmental condition, and a step of driving a heater included in the rotating bar to prevent condensation on the rotating bar.

[0011] The heater is arranged along the length direction of the rotating bar and is divided into a plurality of regions, and the step of preventing condensation of the rotating bar may include a step of individually driving each of the plurality of regions of the heater so that the strength of the heater increases in proportion to the vertical distance between the top cover and each of the plurality of regions of the heater.

[0012] The step of preventing condensation of the above rotating bar may include a step of identifying at least one of temperature and humidity based on sensing values ​​of a plurality of sensors arranged in each of the plurality of regions, and a step of adjusting the intensity of each of the plurality of regions of the heater based on at least one of the temperature and humidity.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a rotating bar in a closed and open state of a refrigerator door according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a top cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a portion where a fan is fixed to a top cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Fig. 5a is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5b is an enlarged view illustrating a specific arrangement of a fan according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal configuration of a top cover according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of a fan and heater of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining the heater arrangement of a rotating bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a drawing for explaining a sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a drawing for explaining that a sensor is built into a rotating bar according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a method for preventing condensation in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 12 is a drawing for explaining a method of driving each component in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] It should be understood that the various embodiments and terms used in this document are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but rather to encompass various modifications, equivalents, or alternatives of the embodiments.

[0027] In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

[0028] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0029] In this document, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in that phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0030] The term "and / or" includes any combination of a plurality of related described elements or any one of a plurality of related described elements.

[0031] Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish one component from another and do not qualify the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order).

[0032] When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0033] The terms "include" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in this document, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0034] When a component is said to be “connected,” “coupled,” “supported,” or “in contact with” another component, this includes not only cases where the components are directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact, but also cases where the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact through a third component.

[0035] When we say that a component is "on" another component, this includes not only cases where the component is in contact with the other component, but also cases where there is another component between the two components.

[0036] Hereinafter, refrigerators according to various embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator (100) includes a main body (101), a storage compartment (102), a door (110), a rotating bar (120), and a top cover (130).

[0039] The refrigerator (100) may be classified into a French Door Type, a Side-by-Side Type, a Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF), a Top Mounted Freezer (TMF), or a single-door refrigerator, depending on the arrangement of the door (110) and the storage compartment (102). The refrigerator (100) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is described based on a French Door Type refrigerator, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be implemented as a refrigerator (100) having a structure in which a plurality of doors (110) are in contact.

[0040] The main body (101) is a configuration that forms the overall appearance and internal space of the refrigerator (100), and may include an inner case, an outer case placed on the outside of the inner case, and an insulating material provided therebetween.

[0041] The inner body may include at least one of a case, a plate, a panel, or a liner forming a storage compartment (102). The inner body may be formed as a single body or may be formed by assembling a plurality of plates.

[0042] The outer shell may form the outer appearance of the main body (101) and may be joined to the outer side of the inner shell so that insulation is placed between the inner shell and the outer shell.

[0043] The insulation can insulate the inside and outside of the storage room (102) so that the temperature inside the storage room (102) can be maintained at a set appropriate temperature without being affected by the external environment of the storage room (102). The insulation can be formed by injecting and foaming urethane foam mixed with polyurethane and a foaming agent, and can additionally include a vacuum insulation material or be composed solely of a vacuum insulation material. In this way, by arranging the insulation material between the inner and outer surfaces of the main body (101), the temperature of the storage room (102) can be maintained lower than that even when the outside temperature is high.

[0044] The storage room (102) is configured to store items requiring refrigeration, such as food. The storage room (102) may include a space limited by the inner surface of the main body (101).

[0045] Meanwhile, depending on the use of the refrigerator (100), various items such as food, medicine, and cosmetics can be stored in the storage room (102), and the storage room (102) can be formed so that at least one side is open to take items in and out.

[0046] A refrigerator (100) may include one or more storage compartments (102). When two or more storage compartments are formed in the refrigerator (100), each storage compartment (102) may have a different purpose and may be maintained at different temperatures. To this end, each storage compartment (102) may be partitioned from each other by a partition wall containing insulating material.

[0047] The storage compartment (102) can be opened by a door (110). The door (110) may be provided to open and close one or more storage compartments (102), or one door (110) may be provided to open and close a plurality of storage compartments (102). The door (110) may be installed on the front of the main body (101) in a rotational or sliding manner. The door (110) may be configured to seal the storage compartment (102) when the door (110) is closed. The door (110) may include an outer door plate forming the front of the door (110), an inner door plate forming the rear of the door (110) and facing the storage compartment (102), an upper cap, a lower cap, etc.

[0048] The door (110) may include insulation between the inner and outer surfaces, similar to the main body (101), to insulate the storage compartment (102) when the door (110) is closed. In this case, when the door (110) includes insulation, the surface temperature of the outer surface of the door (110) in contact with the outside air is not lowered by the cold air of the storage compartment (102), so that the dew point does not become lower than the outside air, thereby preventing condensation from occurring on the outer surface of the door (110). A gasket may be provided on the edge of the inner surface of the door (110) to seal the storage compartment (102) by coming into close contact with one surface of the main body (101) when the door (110) is closed.

[0049] The storage room (102) may be provided to maintain an appropriate temperature range depending on the intended use, and may include a "refrigerator," a "freezer," or a "variable temperature room" that are distinguished depending on the intended use and / or temperature range. The refrigerator may be maintained at a temperature appropriate for refrigerating items, and the freezer may be maintained at a temperature appropriate for freezing items. "Refrigeration" may mean cooling items to a temperature that does not freeze them, and for example, the refrigerator may be maintained in a range of 0 degrees Celsius to +7 degrees Celsius. "Freezing" may mean cooling items to freeze or maintain them in a frozen state, and for example, the freezer may be maintained in a range of -20 degrees Celsius to -1 degree Celsius. The variable temperature room may be used as either a refrigerator or a freezer, depending on the user's choice or not. In FIG. 1, a case where the storage room (102) is used as a refrigerator will be described. However, the storage room (102) is not limited thereto and may be a freezer or a variable temperature room. Meanwhile, the storage room (102) may be called by various names, such as a "vegetable room," a "fresh room," a "cooling room," and an "ice room," in addition to names such as a refrigerator, a freezer, and a variable temperature room.

[0050] When the storage room (102) is used as a refrigerator, the internal temperature is maintained in the range of 0 degrees Celsius to 7 degrees Celsius, so the storage room (102) is separated from the external environment, and the external surface of the structure that comes into contact with the outside air has a lower dew point than the indoor air of a home, restaurant, etc., which are the main places where the refrigerator (100) is used, and thus condensation may occur on the surface.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the main body (101) and the door (110) may include an insulating material between the inner and outer surfaces, so that condensation on the outer surfaces of the main body (101) and the door (110) can be prevented due to a difference in dew point with the outside air.

[0052] In particular, since the rotating bar (120) for sealing between the first door (111) and the second door (112) is placed between the inside and the outside of the storage room (102), condensation may occur due to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside.

[0053] In order to prevent condensation on the surface of the rotating bar (120), the refrigerator (100) can increase the dew point of the surface of the rotating bar (120) by drawing in outside air and transferring the outside air to the surface of the rotating bar (120) or by utilizing a heater (160) using electric energy. Accordingly, product malfunction due to condensation or water accumulation around the door (110) can be prevented.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a rotating bar when the door of a refrigerator is closed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] In FIG. 2, the rotating bar (120) is shown as being formed on the first door (111), which is one of the plurality of doors (111, 112), but it is not necessarily limited to this, and the rotating bar (120) may be placed on both the first and second doors (111, 112).

[0056] The rotating bar (120) serves to seal the space between the first door (111) and the second door (112) when the first door (111) and the second door (112) close the storage room (102). Fig. 2 shows a state where the second door (112) is open and the first door (111) is closed.

[0057] The rotating bar (120) can be connected to the rear edge portion (1111) of the first door (111) via a hinge. The rotating bar (120) can rotate based on the hinge. That is, the rotating bar (120) can be fixed in a folded state toward the rear of the first door (111) at the rear edge portion (1111) of the first door (111), or in an unfolded state by rotating toward the front of the first door (111).

[0058] When the first door (111) provided with the rotating bar (120) is closed, a protrusion formed on one side of the rotating bar (120) may hit a guide member (not shown) provided on the upper or lower side of the storage compartment (102). As a force is applied in the direction in which the first door (111) closes, the rotating bar (120) slides while in contact with the guide member, thereby unfolding the rotating bar, and as a result, the rotating bar (120) can seal the space between the first door (111) and the second door (112).

[0059] On the other hand, when the first door (111) is opened, the protrusion of the rotating bar (120) comes out from the guide member, and the rotating bar (120) folds toward the rear of the first door (111) and comes into close contact with it. Accordingly, when the first door (111) is open, the rotating bar (120) has a plane parallel to the edge side of the first door (111).

[0060] As described above, when both the first and second doors (111, 112) are closed, the rotating bar (120) can seal the space (A1) between the first and second doors (111, 112). Accordingly, the cold air in the storage compartment (102) can be prevented from leaking out of the main body (102), thereby maintaining the set temperature of the refrigerator (100) according to the purpose of the storage compartment (102).

[0061] The top cover (130) is arranged on the upper side of the refrigerator (100) and is configured to cover various components of the main body (102). For example, the top cover (130) can cover a hinge arranged on the upper surface of the main body (102) when the door (110) is hinge-connected to the main body (102). In addition, a sensor capable of measuring the temperature and humidity of the outside air may be provided on the inside of the top cover (130). In this way, the components provided on the inside of the top cover (130) can be easily accessed by separating only the top cover (130) from the main body (102) without disassembling the main body (101) of the refrigerator (100), thereby facilitating maintenance such as repair and replacement.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a top cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] Specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the top cover (130) can be formed in an open shape with a lower surface (1301) that comes into contact with the main body (101).

[0064] A fan (131) and an intake port (132) may be provided on the top cover (130).

[0065] The fan (131) is configured to suck in outside air by creating a pressure difference between the inside air of the top cover (130) and the outside air.

[0066] The intake port (132) is an opening that connects the inside of the top cover (130) and the outside space to suck in outside air. In Fig. 3, a case in which two intake ports (132) are provided, one on each side of the top cover (130), is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the top cover (130) may be implemented in a form that includes only one intake port (132) provided around the fan (131). Although not separately illustrated in Fig. 3, additional components such as a motor for rotating the fan (131) or a sensor for measuring the temperature or humidity of the outside air may be provided on the inside of the top cover (130).

[0067] FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a portion where a fan is fixed to a top cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 4, the fan (131) can be coupled to the upper surface (1301) of the top cover (130) so as to be positioned between the top cover (130) and the main body (101).

[0069] A pair of bridges (13011) may be formed on the upper surface (1301) of the top cover (130) so that a fan (131) may be coupled thereto. A groove (13021) may be formed on the side surface (1302) of the top cover (130) adjacent to the door (110) so that a fan (131) may be coupled thereto. One side of the fan (131) may be fixed to the bridge (13011) of the upper surface (1301) of the top cover (130), and the other side of the fan (131) may be fixed to the groove (13021).

[0070] Accordingly, since the fan (131) can be stably fixed to the upper surface (1301) of the top cover (130), vibration and noise of the fan (131) due to operation can be minimized, and the phenomenon of the fan (131) being dislodged from the initially fixed position while being operated can be prevented.

[0071] Since the fan (131) is placed on the top cover (130), vibration and noise generated by the operation of the fan (131) may not be transmitted to the main body (101). In addition, if the motor or rotating blade of the fan (131) is damaged, maintenance may be easy.

[0072] The air sucked in by the fan (131) from the top cover (130) is blown toward the rotating bar (120) between the first door and the second door (111, 112). For this purpose, the fan (131) may be positioned close to the rotating bar (120). For example, the fan (131) may be positioned to face one end of the rotating bar (120) (see FIG. 5b).

[0073] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator with a top cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, it is a cross-sectional view taken along section AA' of the refrigerator of FIG. 1. FIG. 5B is an enlarged view illustrating a specific arrangement of a fan according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the refrigerator (100) may further include a processor (150). The processor (150) is a component for controlling the operation of the refrigerator (100). The processor (150) may be mounted on the main board of the refrigerator (100), but is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be implemented as a control circuit additionally mounted on the main body (101), door (110), top cover (130), etc. The processor (150) may drive the fan (131) to bring in outside air. Although a specific illustration is omitted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, it is obvious that a power circuit, a motor, etc. for driving the fan (131) may be added.

[0075] Meanwhile, the fan (131) can be placed at the center of the top table (130) so as to face one end of the rotating bar (120).

[0076] More specifically, when the door (110) is closed, the center of the top cover (130) can be located at the top of the rotating bar (120). Consequently, the fan (131) can be positioned to face one end of the rotating bar (120) inside the top cover (130).

[0077] When the fan (131) is operated by the processor (150), outside air can be introduced from the outside of the top cover (130) to the inside (S1) of the top cover (130) through the intake port (132). The exhaust port (1311) for discharging the air sucked in by the fan (131) can be arranged to face the rotating bar (120).

[0078] Accordingly, since air flows toward the rotating bar (120) by driving the fan (131), condensation due to the difference in internal and external temperatures can be prevented.

[0079] Depending on the rotation speed of the fan (131), the wind speed and wind volume of the outside air delivered to the rotation bar (120) side can be adjusted. For example, when the rotation speed of the fan (131) is high, the wind speed and wind volume of the outside air delivered to the rotation bar (120) side can increase, and conversely, when the rotation speed of the fan (131) is low, the speed and wind volume of the outside air can decrease.

[0080] As described above, at least one sensor may be included within the top cover (130). FIG. 5a illustrates a case in which a sensor (170) capable of sensing at least one of the temperature and humidity of the outside air is included.

[0081] Condensation refers to a phenomenon in which moisture in the air condenses. Specifically, it can occur in a certain area when the surface or internal temperature of that area becomes lower than the ambient temperature in an environment with a lot of moisture in the air, resulting in a dew point temperature lower than the ambient temperature. Therefore, if the surface temperature of the rotating bar (120) becomes lower than the dew point temperature corresponding to the outside temperature, condensation may occur on the rotating bar (120). When the processor (150) identifies the outside temperature or humidity based on the sensing value of the sensor (170), it identifies the dew point temperature corresponding to that temperature or humidity, and compares the dew point temperature with the internal temperature of the storage compartment (102) or the surface temperature of the rotating bar (120), thereby diagnosing the possibility of condensation occurring. When the processor (170) diagnoses that condensation has occurred on the surface of the rotating bar (120) or that there is a high possibility of condensation occurring, it can control the rotation speed of the fan (131).

[0082] The processor (150) may not drive the fan (131) under normal circumstances, but may drive the fan (131) when the above-mentioned state is identified based on the sensing value of the sensor (170). Alternatively, the processor (150) may increase the rotation speed of the fan (131) when the above-mentioned state is identified based on the sensing value of the sensor (170) while the fan (131) is constantly being driven.

[0083] When the sensor (170) includes a humidity sensor, the processor (150) can distinguish the humidity mode as shown in the following table according to the output value of the humidity sensor.

[0084] Humidity Mode 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 2 Humidity (%) 0~10 1 1 2 3 2 4 3 6 3 7 4 9 5 0~59 6 0~64 6 5 6 9 7 0~76 7 7 8 1 8 2~84 8 5~89 9 0~94 9 5~10 0

[0085] Meanwhile, the data organized in Table 1 can be stored in the memory (140). The processor (150) can obtain the sensing values ​​of the sensor (170) a total of 40 times in a cycle of 20 minutes each and then calculate the average value. In this case, the maximum and minimum values ​​can be excluded. When the average value is sensed, the processor (150) can identify the humidity mode corresponding to the average value. Based on the identified humidity mode, the processor (150) determines whether the fan (131) is operated and the rotation speed (hereinafter referred to as the fan operation rate) and drives the fan (131).

[0086] The processor (150) can re-determine the humidity using the sensor (170) while driving the fan (131). When the humidity is identified again, the processor (150) can re-identify the humidity mode corresponding to the identified humidity and then drive the fan (131) accordingly.

[0087] Meanwhile, when the refrigerator (100) is in the initial state where it is powered on or has been reset, the sensing value of the sensor (170) cannot be accumulated and determined. In this case, the processor (150) can determine the humidity mode as an arbitrary mode and drive the fan (131) according to the fan operation rate corresponding to the mode. For example, when the humidity mode 7 of Table 1 is set as the default, the processor (150) can drive the fan (131) at a fan operation rate of about 70 to 76%. Information on the default humidity mode may be stored in advance in the memory (140). In addition, information on the fan operation rate for each humidity mode may also be stored in advance in the memory (140). Specifically, the fan operation rate for each humidity mode may be organized as shown in the following table.

[0088] Outside temperature and humidity mode 012345678910111234℃ or higher 0% 5% 25% 40% 50% 55% 65% 70% 90% 100% 100% 100% 28~33℃ 0% 0% 10% 25% 35% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 85% 95% 100% 27℃ or lower 0% 0% 5% 15% 30% 35% 40% 45% 60% 75% 75% 85% 90%

[0089] The processor (150) can drive the fan (131) at a fan operation rate as shown in Table 2 described above based on the temperature setting of the storage compartment (120), the outside temperature, and the humidity sensor value. When initially driven or re-driven after a reset, the processor (150) drives the fan (131) according to default conditions, and then measures the humidity and temperature in preset time cycle units to drive the fan (131) based on Table 2 described above. Meanwhile, in the case of a refrigerator (100) equipped with an energy saver function for energy conservation, when the energy saver function is activated, the processor (150) can drive the fan (131) at a fan operation rate reduced by 5% based on Table 2. When the refrigerator (100) is abnormally powered on, the processor (150) can stop the operation of the fan (131) for a certain period of time.

[0090] In addition to driving the fan (131) based on the temperature and humidity detection results by the sensor (170), the processor (150) may be implemented to drive the fan (131) at preset intervals regardless of the sensing values. Alternatively, the processor (150) may drive the fan (131) when the user selects the condensation prevention function.

[0091] When the outside air is blown in the direction of the rotating bar (120) by the driving of the fan (131), the dew point on the surface of the rotating bar (120) can rise to the same or similar level as the outside air, and as a result, the condensation phenomenon can be resolved.

[0092] The fan (131) may be a blow fan, but is not limited thereto, and various types of fans (131) may be included. A blow fan refers to a fan that includes an outlet capable of setting the direction of the blown wind. Specifically, the blow fan may have an axis along which the rotating blade rotates and a direction in which the outlet faces that are perpendicular to each other. Accordingly, the fan (131) can guide the direction of the wind so that the outside air having the wind directions of the first and second directions (D1, D2) drawn in from the plurality of intake ports (132-1, 132-2) of the top cover (130) is blown in a third direction (D3) toward the rotating bar (120).

[0093] The intake port (132) is configured to connect the internal space (S1) of the top cover (130) with the outside so that outside air can flow into the internal space (S1) of the top cover (130). In the drawing, two intake ports (132-1, 132-2) are shown, but the number of intake ports (132) is not limited thereto and may be configured as a single port or as a plurality of three or more ports as needed.

[0094] Meanwhile, the outside air can be heated by the heat generated in the main body (101) as it passes through the internal space (S1) of the top cover (130).

[0095] As outside air is drawn into the rotating bar (120) by the fan (131), air having a temperature equal to or higher than the outside air continuously comes into contact with the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120) that comes into contact with the outside air, thereby increasing the dew point of the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120) that was lowered by the cold air of the storage room (102). As the dew point of the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120) becomes equal to or higher than the outside air that comes into contact with the outer surface (1201), condensation on the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120) can be prevented.

[0096] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal configuration of a top cover according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 6, the fan (131) may be composed of a plurality of fans (131-1, 131-2). Although the drawing shows two fans (131-1, 131-2), the number of fans (131) may be composed of three or more fans (131-n) as needed. Hereinafter, a top cover (130) provided with two fans (131-1, 131-2) will be described.

[0098] Two fans (131-1, 131-2) may be symmetrically arranged on both sides based on the center of the top cover (130). Two corresponding intakes (132-1, 132-2) may be formed on the upper surface of the top cover (130) where the two fans (131-1, 131-2) are arranged.

[0099] In this way, a plurality of fans (131-n) and a plurality of intake ports (131-n) are symmetrically arranged on both sides with respect to the center of the top cover (130), so that an equal amount of outside air can be introduced to both sides of the top cover (130).

[0100] This prevents the performance degradation or malfunction of the fan (131) due to unbalanced inflow of outside air. In addition, the flow of the top cover (130) due to unbalanced inflow of outside air can be prevented, thereby preventing the bonding strength with the main body (101) from being reduced.

[0101] Meanwhile, an air flow path (133) may be formed inside the top cover (130) to guide the flow of outside air introduced into the top cover (130) by being connected to a plurality of fans (131-n).

[0102] The air path (133) is configured to guide the introduced outside air toward the rotating bar (120) to prevent problems such as backflow during the process of mixing the outside air introduced into the multiple intake ports (132-n) by the multiple fans (131-n) inside the top cover (130).

[0103] The air passage (133) can efficiently maintain the pressure difference with the outside air resulting from the operation of the fan (131) by limiting the space that the outside air can occupy inside the top cover (130). In addition, the air passage (133) can minimize the decrease in wind speed during the process of the outside air being transferred to the rotating bar (120) by preventing the outside air from flowing into the space where the outside air flow can stagnate inside the top cover (130).

[0104] The air passage (133) may include a blower (1330). The blower (1330) is configured to transfer outside air that is sucked in from the intake port (132) and passes through the air passage (133) toward the rotating bar (120). According to Bernoulli's law, the narrower the area of ​​the passage, the higher the velocity of the fluid passing through the passage. Therefore, the area of ​​the blower (1330) may be designed in consideration of the velocity of the wind blown by the fan (131) according to the length of the rotating bar (120).

[0105] For example, when the length of the rotating bar (120) is a first length, the blower (1330) can be designed with a first area so that the blown wind has a first speed, and when the length of the rotating bar (120) is a second length longer than the first length, the blower (1330) can be designed with a second area narrower than the first area so that the blown wind has a second speed greater than the first speed.

[0106] As the fan (131) is driven, the air pressure in the internal space (S1) of the top cover (130) becomes lower than the air pressure in the external space, so that outside air is drawn into the air passage (133) through the intake port (132), and the drawn in outside air can be transferred to the rotary bar (120) side when the door (110) is closed through the air outlet (1330).

[0107] Meanwhile, the processor (150) can independently drive each of the plurality of fans (131-n) based on the surrounding environment information detected by the sensor (170). For example, if the difference between the temperature of the surface of the rotating bar (120) and the temperature of the outside air is slight, condensation on the surface of the rotating bar (120) may occur extremely rarely, and in such a case, the processor (150) can drive only some of the fans (131) among the plurality of fans (131-n).

[0108] Due to this, the amount of outside air flowing into the top cover (130) can be drastically reduced, and the power consumed to operate the fan (131) can also be saved.

[0109] Meanwhile, when the processor (150) drives all of the plurality of fans (131-n), the plurality of fans (131-n) can rotate at the same speed. This can prevent the failure of the fan (131) and the movement of the top cover (130) due to unbalanced external air inflow. However, the method of controlling the operation of each of the plurality of fans (131-n) is not limited thereto, and the operation method of the plurality of fans (131-n) may vary as needed.

[0110] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of a fan and heater of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 7, the refrigerator (100) may include a memory (140), a processor (150), a heater (160), and a sensor (170).

[0111] A heater (160) is a component provided in a refrigerator (100) to prevent condensation. The heater (160) may be provided inside the rotating bar (120), but is not necessarily limited thereto, and may be placed in the door area around the rotating bar (120).

[0112] The memory (140) is a configuration for storing various information, data, commands, programs, etc. required for the operation of the refrigerator (100). The memory (140) may also store temporary data generated during the process of generating a control signal for controlling the components included in the refrigerator (100). The memory (140) may be implemented as at least one of a volatile memory (e.g., DRAM (dynamic RAM), SRAM (static RAM), SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM), etc.), a non-volatile memory (e.g., OTPROM (one time programmable ROM), PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable and programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), mask ROM, flash ROM, flash memory (e.g., NAND flash or NOR flash), a hard drive, or a solid state drive (SSD)).

[0113] Specifically, the memory (140) can store surrounding environment information corresponding to the conditions under which the fan (131) and / or heater (160) are driven. For example, information on the internal temperature of the storage room (102), the temperature of the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120), and the temperature of the outside air can be stored.

[0114] In addition, the memory (140) may store various reference values ​​for determining whether to drive the fan (131), for example, information on the threshold value of the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the storage room (102), the outside temperature, the outside humidity, etc.

[0115] The memory (140) can store information on the driving method of the fan (131) and the heater (160). For example, the speed of the wind generated by the fan (131) can be classified into strong, medium, and weak, and information on the rotation speed of the fan (131) corresponding to each of these can be stored. Similarly, the amount of heat generated by the heater (160) can be classified into strong, medium, and weak, and information on the output of the heater (160) corresponding to each of these can be stored. A detailed description of the heater (160) will be provided later.

[0116] The processor (150) is a component that controls the overall operation of the refrigerator (100). The processor (150) can control components of the refrigerator (100) based on volatile or non-volatile information stored in the memory (140). The processor (150) can generate a control signal for controlling the fan (130) and the heater (160). The processor (150) may include one or more of a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing a digital image signal, a microprocessor, a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), a central processing unit (CPU), a Micro Controller Unit (MCU), and an application processor (AP), or may be defined by the corresponding terminology. In addition, the processor (150) may be implemented as a System on Chip (SoC) or Large Scale Integration (LSI) having a built-in processing algorithm, and may also be implemented in the form of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

[0117] For example, the processor (150) may store ambient environment information, such as temperature or humidity, measured based on the sensing value of the sensor (170), in the memory (140). In addition, the processor (150) may compare the reference value stored in the memory (140) with the ambient environment information to determine whether to drive the fan (131) or the heater (160), and may generate a control signal for controlling the fan (130) and / or the heater (160). The control signal generated by the processor (150) may be transmitted to the fan (131) and / or the heater (160), respectively, to control whether to operate and the operating intensity. Specifically, the processor (150) may drive the fan (131) to bring in outside air or drive the heater (160) to provide heat to the rotating bar (120).

[0118] As described above, the processor (150) can identify the humidity mode based on the sensing value of the sensor (170), and drive the fan (131) at various fan operating rates based on the humidity mode and various surrounding environment information. The processor (150) can drive the heater (160) in various ways based on the humidity mode and the outside temperature. Specifically, the processor (150) can increase the intensity of the heater (160) as the humidity mode increases. Alternatively, when the heater (160) is divided into multiple areas and can be driven individually for each area, the processor (150) can control the driving of the heater for each area according to the humidity mode. This will be described again in the following section.

[0119] In the above, an embodiment in which the processor (150) automatically controls the fan (131) and the heater (160) based on information stored in the memory (140) and the sensing value measured by the sensor (170) has been described, but the fan (131) and the heater (160) can be directly operated by the user as needed.

[0120] For example, the processor (150) can control the operation of the fan (131) and the heater (160) according to values ​​input by the user through the user interface. In this case, the refrigerator (100) can include an interface in the main body (101) or the door (110), and the user interface can be provided using an input interface and an output interface. In addition, the processor (150) can transmit a display control signal and image data for displaying an image on the interface in response to a user input to the user interface. The input interface can include a key, a touch screen, a microphone, etc., and the output interface can include a display, a speaker, etc.

[0121] Meanwhile, the memory (140) and the processor (150) may be provided integrally or separately. The processor (150) may include one or more processors. For example, the processor (150) may include a main processor and at least one sub-processor. The memory (140) may include one or more memories.

[0122] In Fig. 7, three heaters (160) and one fan (131) are illustrated, but the fans and heaters may each be implemented in multiple units.

[0123] FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining the arrangement of a heater of a rotating bar according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 8, the rotating bar (120) may include a heater (160).

[0124] The heater (160) is configured to prevent condensation on the surface of the rotating bar (120) by increasing the surface temperature of the rotating bar (120) to maintain the dew point of the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120) in contact with the outside air at or higher than the outside air.

[0125] The heater (160) may be an electric heater, and may receive electricity from the power source of the refrigerator (100) and convert the electric energy into heat energy.

[0126] The heater (160) may be embedded within the rotating bar (120), and a configuration such as a wire for supplying electricity to the heater (160) may be included in the door (110). Alternatively, the heater (160) may be positioned adjacent to a surface of the rotating bar (120) that comes into contact with the outside air. The interior of the rotating bar (120) may be formed of a material having insulating or heat-resistant properties. This prevents heat generated from the heater (160) from increasing the temperature inside the storage compartment (102).

[0127] The heater (160) may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rotating bar (120) and may be divided into a plurality of regions (160-n). In the drawing, the heater (160) is illustrated as being divided into three regions (160-1, 160-2, 160-3), but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be divided into a single region or a plurality of regions other than three, as needed. Hereinafter, an embodiment divided into three regions (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) will be described.

[0128] Each region (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) of the heater (160) can be driven independently. For example, when the first region (160-1) of the heater (160) is driven, the second region (160-2) and the third region (160-3) may not be driven, and only the first region (160-1) and the second region (160-2) of the heater (160) may be driven, and the third region (160-3) may not be driven.

[0129] Alternatively, the heaters (160) of each region (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) may be composed of different types of heaters. For example, the heater of the first region (160-1) may be a heater (160) having a lower output than the heater of the second region (160-2), and the heater of the third region (160-3) may be a heater (160) having a higher output than the heater of the second region (160-2).

[0130] Meanwhile, the processor (150) can individually control the intensity of each region (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) of the heater (160) according to the vertical distance (L1, L2, L3) from the top cover (130). For example, a first region (160-1) having a first distance (L1) from the top cover (130) can be heated to a lower temperature than a second region (160-2) having a second distance (L2) that is further than the first distance (L1). A third region (160-3) having a third distance (L3) that is the farthest from the top cover (130) can be heated to a higher temperature than the second region (160-2).

[0131] As described in FIG. 8, when the heater (160) is divided into multiple areas (160-1, 160-2, 160-3), the processor (150) can drive the heater (160) based on the driving mode information as shown in the following table.

[0132] Outside temperature and humidity Mode 012345678910111234℃ or moreCase3Case3Case3Case3Case2Case2Case2Case2Case1Case1Case1Case1Case128~33℃Case3Case3Case3Case2 Case2Case2Case2Case1Case1Case1Case1Case1Case127℃ or lowerCase3Case3Case2Case2Case2Case2Case1Case1Case1Case1Case1Case1Case1

[0133] In Table 3, Case 1 refers to a case where the lower heater region (160-3) among the plurality of regions (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) is driven, Case 2 refers to a case where the middle and lower heater regions (160-2, 160-3) among the plurality of regions (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) are driven, and Case 3 refers to a case where all of the plurality of regions (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) are driven. When the "power refrigeration" or "power freezing" function is set, the processor (150) may not drive the heater for a certain period of time. Therefore, when the function is set, the temperature of the storage room (102) can be lowered in a short period of time.

[0134] Meanwhile, even if the amount of outside air transmitted to the lower area of ​​the rotating bar (120) decreases as the distance from the top cover (130) in the longitudinal direction of the rotating bar (120) increases, it is possible to prevent condensation at the lower part of the rotating bar (120) by using the heater (160).

[0135] In this way, the surface of the rotating bar (120) is individually heated by the plurality of areas (160-n) of the heater (160), so that the dew point of the surface of the rotating bar (120) becomes equal to or higher than the dew point of the outside air, thereby preventing condensation on the surface of the rotating bar (120).

[0136] In addition, it is possible to prevent electricity from being wasted by heating the outer surface (1201) of the rotating bar (120), whose dew point is already equal to or higher than the outside air, by the outside air delivered from the fan (131).

[0137] As described above, the processor (150) can selectively drive the fan (131) and the heater (160) according to the sensing value of the sensor (170). The processor (150) can also alternately drive the fan (131) and the heater (160).

[0138] This method of operation is only an example and is not limited thereto. Therefore, according to another embodiment, it may be implemented in a form in which both the fan (131) and the heater (160) are always driven and their intensity is selectively adjusted.

[0139] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 9, a sensor (170) disposed on a top cover (130) may include a sensor (1701) for measuring at least one of temperature and humidity and a sensor (1702) for detecting the opening and closing of a door (110).

[0140] A sensor (1701) for measuring temperature and / or humidity can measure the temperature and / or humidity of the outside air. The sensor (1701) for measuring temperature and / or humidity can be coupled to the upper surface of the upper surface (1301) of the top cover (130). In this case, in order for the sensor (1701) to sense information about the outside air, an opening (13012) may be formed on the surface of the upper surface (1301) to which the sensor (1701) is attached so as to communicate with the external environment. The opening (13012) may be formed in a shape in which a plurality of holes are perforated. The opening (13012) may be formed in an area smaller than the area where the sensor (1701) comes into contact with the upper surface (1301) of the top cover (130) so as not to obstruct the airflow of the outside air introduced through the intake port (132).

[0141] The door sensor (1702) that detects the opening and closing of the door (110) may include a plurality of door sensors (1702-n) corresponding to the number of doors (110). In the drawing, two doors (110-1, 110-2) and two corresponding door sensors (1702-1, 1702-2) are illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0142] The door sensor (1702) can generate different electric signals depending on whether the door (110) is open or closed. The electric signals generated by the door sensor (1702) can be transmitted to the processor (150), and the processor (150) can determine whether to drive the fan (131) based on the electric signals. For example, if both doors (110-1, 110-2) are open, the two door sensors (1702-1, 1702-2) can generate corresponding electric signals. The processor (150) can determine that both doors (110) of the refrigerator (100) are open and stop the operation of the fan (131) or maintain it in a non-driving state. When one of the two doors (110-1, 110-2) is open, the door sensor (1702-1) that detects whether the open door (110-1) is open or closed and the door sensor (1702-2) that detects whether the closed door (110-2) is open or closed may generate different electric signals. When the electric signals received from the two door sensors (1702-1, 1702-2) have different values, the processor (150) may stop the operation of the fan (131) or maintain it in a non-operating state. Conversely, when both door sensors (1702-1, 1702-2) transmit electric signals corresponding to a state in which the door (110) is closed, the processor (150) may operate the fan (131).

[0143] In this way, since the fan (131) can be operated only when the door (110) is detected as being completely closed by the door sensor (1702), the fan (131) can be operated while the door (100) is open, thereby preventing outside air from flowing into the storage room (102).

[0144] FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a sensor embedded in a rotating bar according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. According to FIG. 10, the sensor (170) may further include at least one sensor (1703) disposed on the rotating bar (120).

[0145] Specifically, the rotating bar (120) may have sensors (1703-1, 1703-2, 1703-3) distributed to measure at least one of temperature and humidity.

[0146] In Fig. 10, a total of three sensors (1703-1, 1703-2, 1703-3) are shown, one for each of the three heater areas (160-1, 160-2, 160-3), but the number and placement locations are not limited thereto.

[0147] Sensors (1703-1, 1703-2, 1703-3) built into the rotating bar (120) can measure the temperature and / or humidity of the surface of the rotating bar (120) and the surrounding ambient air, and convert these sensing values ​​into corresponding electrical signals and transmit them to the processor (150).

[0148] The processor (150) can individually control the strength of the heater for each area (160-1, 160-2, 160-3) of the rotating bar (120) based on the sensing values ​​measured by each of the plurality of sensors (1703-1, 1703-2, 1703-3).

[0149] Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for preventing condensation in a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Fig. 11, a sensor included in the refrigerator senses the ambient temperature or humidity around the refrigerator (S1110).

[0150] When the sensed outside temperature or humidity around the refrigerator exceeds the preset environmental conditions (S1120), the fan placed on the top cover is driven to introduce outside air toward the rotating bar that seals between the first and second doors of the refrigerator (S1130).

[0151] Environmental conditions may be temperature and humidity ranges that do not cause condensation. For example, if the difference between the surface temperature of the rotating bar and the outside temperature is within a first range, the fan may not be operated. Conversely, if the difference between the surface temperature of the rotating bar and the outside temperature is within a second range, which is greater than the first range, the fan may be operated to introduce outside air toward the rotating bar. Here, the first and second ranges may be set during the manufacturing process of the refrigerator or during the process of inputting data for refrigerator control after manufacturing. The first and second ranges may be set differently depending on the region in which the refrigerator is used. For example, different ranges may be set and stored for refrigerators used in countries with inherently high temperatures and humidity and for refrigerators used in countries with low temperatures and humidity.

[0152] If the refrigerator determines that the sensed ambient environment information deviates from the preset environmental conditions, it can operate not only the fan but also the heater contained within the rotating bar. This prevents condensation on the rotating bar (S1140). The step of operating the heater contained within the rotating bar may be performed if condensation still occurs on the rotating bar despite the step of operating the fan to draw in outside air.

[0153] Whether condensation occurs on the rotating bar can be determined based on the sensing values ​​of the sensor. The sensor may be located inside the top cover or on the rotating bar. The sensor may include at least one sensor.

[0154] Meanwhile, the heaters can be arranged along the length of the rotating bar to be divided into multiple areas.

[0155] The step of driving the heater to prevent condensation on the rotating bar may include the step of individually driving each of the plurality of zones of the heater so that the strength of the heater increases in proportion to the vertical distance between the fan and each of the plurality of zones of the heater.

[0156] For example, if the heater areas within the rotating bar are divided into first, second, and third areas in descending order of vertical distance between the fan and the heater, the heater intensity may increase in the order of first to third areas. Information about the distances between the first, second, and third areas and the fan may be stored as non-volatile data in the memory.

[0157] Meanwhile, the step of driving the heater to prevent condensation of the rotating bar may include the step of identifying a sensing value by sensors disposed in each of a plurality of regions of the heater and the step of adjusting the intensity of each of the plurality of regions of the heater based on the sensing value.

[0158] For example, when the heater area is divided into a first area to a third area, a sensor may be placed at a position corresponding to each area of ​​the plurality of heaters. The plurality of sensors may sense information about the surface of the rotating bar at the location where the plurality of heaters are placed and the surrounding environment thereof. If the sensing value measured by the sensor placed in the upper heater area (160-1) is a value that determines that condensation has occurred, and the sensing values ​​measured by the sensors placed in the remaining heater areas (160-2, 160-3) are values ​​that determine that condensation has not occurred, the processor may drive only the upper heater area (160-1). Accordingly, the heaters in the second and third areas where condensation has not occurred are not driven, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0159] As described above, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator (100) capable of preventing condensation can prevent condensation on the surface of a rotating bar (120) by driving a fan (131) disposed on a top cover (130) to draw outside air into the top cover (130) and then transferring the outside air toward the rotating bar (120), or by driving a heater (160) disposed on a rotating bar (120) to generate heat. The fan (131) and the heater (160) can be driven independently, and this can be controlled by a processor (150) based on the atmospheric environment information around the refrigerator measured by a sensor (170) and preset environment information stored in a memory (140). The heater (160) can be divided into a plurality of regions (160-n) and disposed, and each of the plurality of regions (160-n) of the heater (160) can be driven independently. The fan (131) may also be configured in multiple units, and each of the multiple fans (131-n) may be driven independently. Meanwhile, the driving of the fan (131) and the heater (160) may be automatically controlled by the processor (150), but the user may directly control whether or not the fan (131) and the heater (160) are driven and the driving strength as needed.

[0160] In the above, it has been described that the fan (131) is driven first and then the heater (160) is driven, but it is not necessarily limited to this, and the heater (160) may be driven first and then the fan (131) may be driven.

[0161] Figure 12 illustrates an example of a control signal that allows a processor to control each component based on the result value sensed by a humidity sensor. Specifically, Figure 12 illustrates a situation where humidity mode 7 is in effect and the outside temperature is between 28 and 33°C (see Tables 1, 2, and 3).

[0162] According to FIG. 12, the processor (150) operates the compressor (not shown) and the lower heater area (160-3) at 40% operation rate every 90 minutes. The processor (150) operates the fan (131) at 60% operation rate every 20 minutes without delay simultaneously with the compressor operation, while the upper and middle heater areas (160-1, 160-2) remain in the off state.

[0163] Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been individually described above, each embodiment does not necessarily have to be implemented alone, and the configuration and operation of each embodiment may be implemented in combination with at least one other embodiment.

[0164] For example, the refrigerator (100) may be implemented to include only a heater (160) placed on a rotating bar (120), or may be implemented to include only a fan (131) placed on a top cover (130), or may be implemented to include all of these.

[0165] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure as described above, it is possible to effectively prevent condensation from forming in a specific area, such as a rotating bar (120) in a refrigerator (100).

[0166] In addition, although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical idea or prospect of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A body including a storage room; First and second doors rotatably connected to the main body for opening and closing the storage room; a rotating bar disposed on at least one of the first and second doors, the rotating bar sealing between the first and second doors when the first and second doors close the storage compartment; and including a top cover positioned on the upper part of the main body; The above top cover, An intake port connecting the inner space and the outer space of the top cover; A refrigerator including a fan for drawing in outside air through the intake port and exhausting it toward the rotating bar.

2. In paragraph 1, further comprising a processor; The above rotating bar, including a heater; The above processor, A refrigerator, each driving the fan and the heater.

3. In paragraph 2, The above heater, It is arranged along the length direction of the above rotating bar and is divided into a plurality of regions, The above processor, A refrigerator in which the intensity of each of the plurality of zones of the heater is individually controlled according to the vertical distance between the top cover and each of the plurality of zones of the heater.

4. In paragraph 3, The above top cover, Further comprising a sensor for sensing at least one of temperature and humidity; The above processor, A refrigerator that determines whether to operate each of the plurality of areas of the fan and the heater based on the sensing value of the sensor.

5. In paragraph 3, The above rotating bar, Further comprising a plurality of sensors arranged in each of the plurality of areas and capable of measuring at least one of temperature and humidity; The above processor, A refrigerator that individually controls the intensity of each of the plurality of areas of the heater based on the sensing values ​​of each of the plurality of sensors.

6. In paragraph 1, The above fan, is placed on the top of the rotating bar at the center of the top cover, A refrigerator comprising an exhaust port for directly sending wind to the rotating bar.

7. In paragraph 1, The above fan, Consists of at least two or more plurals, The above multiple fans, They are arranged symmetrically on both sides based on the center of the top cover. The above top cover, It further includes an air path connected to each of the plurality of fans to transmit the outside air to the rotating bar side; The above processor, A refrigerator in which each of the plurality of fans is driven independently.

8. In the method of preventing condensation in a refrigerator, A step of sensing at least one of temperature and humidity of the outside air around the refrigerator; When the sensing value for the above outside air exceeds the preset environmental condition, a step of driving a fan placed on the top cover to introduce outside air toward the rotating bar that seals between the first door and the second door of the refrigerator; A method for preventing condensation, comprising: a step of driving a heater included in the rotating bar to prevent condensation on the rotating bar.

9. In paragraph 8, The above heater, It is arranged along the length direction of the above rotating bar and is divided into multiple areas, The step of preventing condensation on the above rotating bar is: A method for preventing condensation, comprising: a step of individually driving each of the plurality of regions of the heater so that the strength of the heater increases in proportion to the vertical distance between the top cover and each of the plurality of regions of the heater.

10. In paragraph 9, The step of preventing condensation on the above rotating bar is: A step of identifying at least one of temperature and humidity based on sensing values ​​of a plurality of sensors arranged in each of the plurality of areas; and A method for preventing condensation, comprising: a step of controlling the intensity of each of a plurality of zones of the heater based on at least one of the temperature and humidity.

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