Diagnostic method for a refrigerator and refrigerator using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users are often unaware of power failures in refrigerators, leading to potential food spoilage, as existing systems lack effective notification mechanisms, especially when users are away for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic method that maintains power for 10 seconds during a failure to check for wireless connectivity, using a power monitor and wireless network adaptor to determine power abnormalities, and notifies users through a display or communication network with information on power failure occurrence and resolution times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power is continuously supplied to the refrigerator to maintain cooling function, then the refrigerator can operate normally and keep foods fresh, but the user cannot be notified of power failures when away, leading to food spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by checking wireless connectivity status before power failure occurs, and stores the connection state in memory during normal operation. When power fails, the system has already recorded the baseline connectivity state, enabling it to detect and notify the power failure event even after power is restored, preventing information loss about the failure event.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the power supply system and the user notification system. It monitors power supply status through multiple parameters (wireless connectivity, power monitor signals) and translates these into user-notifiable events, bridging the gap between physical power state and information delivery to the user.
2Device complexity
If the refrigerator operates without power failure detection capability, then the system remains simple, but users cannot take timely action to preserve stored foods during power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it controls the compressor, monitors power supply status, checks wireless connectivity, stores diagnostic information in memory, and generates user notifications. By making the controller multi-functional, the system achieves comprehensive power failure detection and notification without adding separate dedicated hardware components, thus minimizing device complexity while enabling timely user response.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerator system performs self-diagnosis by autonomously monitoring its own power supply status and wireless connectivity through the controller. The system automatically detects power failures, stores diagnostic information, and prepares notification data without requiring external monitoring equipment, enabling the system to serve its own diagnostic needs while reducing overall system complexity.
3Loss of energy
If power is cut off completely during failure, then the refrigerator stops consuming energy, but the system cannot detect or notify the power failure event
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and storing the wireless connectivity state in memory before power failure occurs. This pre-recorded baseline connectivity information allows the controller to accurately detect power failure events even when power is completely cut off, because the absence of expected connectivity changes or the presence of stored baseline data indicates a power event, maintaining measurement precision while allowing complete power shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller creates a copy of the power supply status information by storing the wireless connectivity state in memory. This copied information serves as evidence of the power supply condition before failure, enabling accurate reconstruction and detection of power failure events even when the original real-time monitoring capability is lost due to complete power cutoff.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a diagnostic method of a refrigerator using the same, and according to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a diagnostic method of the refrigerator, and the method may include sensing power supplied thereto; determining whether or not a power failure has occurred based on the sensed power; storing power failure occurrence information when it is determined that the power failure has occurred; referring to the power failure occurrence information when the power supply is resumed; storing power failure end information when the power failure occurrence information is found; and providing the power failure occurrence and power failure end information.