Method for controlling refrigerator operation and refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current refrigerator control algorithms do not adequately consider consumer habits and preferences, leading to inefficient temperature control, increased energy consumption, and reduced food freshness due to inadequate processing of parallel events influencing refrigeration operation.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a door opening sensor to monitor and analyze door opening patterns, generating a probability distribution to adjust the cooling system's operation, including defrost timing and energy usage, and employs a support vector machine to detect thermal load insertions, optimizing temperature stability and energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If current control algorithms apply the same logic to determine compressor and fan speeds regardless of time of day, then temperature control is maintained, but noise level increases during rest hours and energy consumption is not optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control algorithm dynamically adjusts compressor and fan speeds based on the time of day, transitioning from static same-logic control to adaptive control that considers whether it is day or night, thereby reducing noise during rest hours while maintaining temperature control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (compressor speed, fan speed) based on temporal conditions (time of day), implementing different control strategies for daytime and nighttime to optimize both temperature maintenance and noise reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If control algorithms do not consider consumer habits and preferences, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature consistency deteriorates and food preservation is impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol algorithm complexityVSAvoidtemperature consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control system incorporates feedback from door opening sensors and usage patterns to learn consumer habits and preferences, using this information to adjust control strategies and improve temperature consistency while maintaining reasonable algorithm complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigerator system automatically learns and adapts to user behavior patterns without requiring manual programming, implementing self-service adaptation that improves temperature consistency based on observed usage habits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If door opening patterns are not monitored and analyzed, then device complexity is lower, but temperature stability deteriorates and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring system complexityVSAvoidtemperature stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of door opening patterns to predict thermal load insertions before they occur, enabling proactive adjustment of cooling operations to maintain temperature stability and reduce energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Door opening sensors serve as intermediaries that provide information about user behavior, which the control algorithm processes to infer thermal load events and adjust cooling operations accordingly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If thermal load insertions are not detected, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control efficiency deteriorates and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces direct thermal measurement with indirect detection methods using door opening sensor data and control algorithm analysis to identify thermal load insertions, reducing the need for additional complex sensing hardware while improving energy control efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20240230192A9Method for controlling refrigerator operation and refrigerator

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 ELECTROLUX DO BRASIL

AI summary

Method (100) for controlling the operation of a refrigerator (1) comprising: a cabinet (2) defining a refrigeration and/or freezing area; an isolating door (3) that opens and closes the refrigeration and/or freezing area of the cabinet (2); a door opening sensor (31); and a cooling system (5) configured to modify the temperature of the refrigeration and/or freezing area; the method (100) comprising the steps of: monitoring the opening and closing of the door (31) by means of the door opening sensor (31) during a determined period; generating (206) a door opening probability distribution (206a) at the time monitored in the previous step; and maintaining or modifying the operation of the cooling system (5) according to the door opening probability distribution (206a).