Refrigerator and method of controlling refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited capacity of freezing compartments in refrigerators restricts the storage of frozen food, and there is a need for a flexible method to temporarily convert refrigerating compartments into freezing compartments to accommodate increasing demand for frozen food storage in single-person households.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system that includes a temperature sensor, cooling device, and processor to change the temperature of a storage compartment from a refrigerating temperature to a freezing temperature for a specified period, with notifications and communication features to manage this change, allowing the refrigerating compartment to be used as a temporary freezing compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is changed to the freezing compartment temperature, then the storage capacity for frozen food is increased, but the temperature control complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control by allowing the refrigerating compartment temperature to change from its normal refrigerating state to a freezing state for a predetermined period, then automatically returning to the refrigerating state. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing flexible frozen food storage capacity while maintaining automated temperature management, reducing the complexity of user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service through automated temperature adjustment and notification mechanisms. When the predetermined period elapses, the system automatically returns the temperature to the refrigerating state and notifies the user, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing operational complexity while maintaining enhanced storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is changed to the freezing compartment temperature, then the frozen food storage capacity is increased, but the time management and user awareness become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically returning the refrigerating compartment temperature to its normal state after a predetermined period following the freezing temperature change. This prevents excessive freezing duration that could harm food quality, addressing the time management issue while maintaining the benefit of expanded frozen food storage capacity during the needed period.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification mechanism provides feedback to the user about the temperature change status and timing. This keeps the user informed about the temporary freezing state, allowing them to manage their food storage decisions appropriately while the system handles the time management automatically, resolving the contradiction between expanded storage and time awareness.
3Ease of operation
If a notification system is added to inform users about temperature changes, then the user awareness and control are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system leverages existing communication interfaces and display components already present in modern refrigerators for other functions. By reusing these universal components for temperature change notifications, the system improves user awareness without significantly increasing device complexity, as the same hardware serves multiple purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the use of refrigerating compartments as temporary freezing compartments, enhancing storage capacity and user convenience by providing flexible temperature control and notifications for optimal food storage.
Implementation Method 1
control the cooling device such that the temperature of the storage compartment is changed to the second temperature
Implementation Method 2
control the cooling device such that the temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a temperature sensor, a cooling device, and a processor which controls the cooling device such that, when a user command to change the temperature of a storage compartment set to a first temperature to a second temperatures, is input, the temperature of the storage compartment is changed to the second temperature, based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor, and controls the cooling device such that, when a certain period of time elapses after a point in time when the user command is input, the temperature of the storage compartment returns to the first temperature, based on the temperature of the storage compartment sensed by the temperature sensor.