Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in efficiently maintaining a supercooling state due to temperature fluctuations, uneven temperature distribution, and inaccurate temperature detection, leading to inefficiencies and high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that utilizes radio frequency (RF) output to supply cold or heat, with a controller managing operations based on notch temperatures for different modes, including refrigerating, supercooling, and thawing, while avoiding the need for temperature detectors in the cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is placed inside the supercooling chamber to detect object temperature, then temperature detection capability is improved, but the sensor and circuit may malfunction due to electric or magnetic fields in the chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by detecting temperature through the temperature change rate of the chamber environment rather than placing a sensor directly in contact with the object. The controller monitors the chamber's temperature variation over time to infer object temperature, avoiding direct sensor exposure to harmful electromagnetic fields while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical temperature sensor with a field-based detection method using RF electromagnetic waves. The system measures temperature indirectly through the interaction of RF waves with water molecules in the chamber, converting a direct contact measurement problem into a non-contact field interaction solution that avoids sensor malfunction.
2Temperature
If a heater is used to increase temperature in the non-freezer compartment, then temperature increase capability is improved, but temperature distribution becomes uneven around the food
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electromagnetic vibration at RF frequencies to agitate water molecules throughout the chamber and food items. This molecular vibration generates internal heating that propagates uniformly through the food mass, replacing the localized conduction heating of traditional heaters with a volumetric heating mechanism that ensures even temperature distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating mechanism from thermal conduction (heater) to electromagnetic resonance (RF waves). By adjusting RF power levels and exposure duration, the system achieves uniform heating throughout the food volume rather than creating temperature gradients from external heat sources, fundamentally changing how temperature is applied to the object.
3Use of energy by moving object
If RF output is used to maintain supercooling, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature detection in the cavity becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the chamber walls and air as intermediaries for temperature detection. Instead of placing sensors directly in the RF field where they would be affected by electromagnetic interference, the system measures temperature through the chamber structure and uses this indirect measurement to infer the supercooling state, maintaining detection accuracy while reducing power consumption through RF-assisted cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional contact temperature sensors with non-contact detection methods that measure thermal radiation or use the RF field itself as a sensing mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensors in the cavity, avoiding electromagnetic interference issues while enabling temperature monitoring in the low-power supercooling maintenance phase.
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 design stabilizes the supercooling state, reduces power consumption, and ensures even temperature distribution by efficiently supplying cold or heat, effectively maintaining the supercooling section.
Implementation Method 1
an RF output device (190a) disposed inside the freezer compartment and configured to output an RF to the cavity (CAV)
Implementation Method 2
a water molecule freezing preventing device configured to prevent freezing of water contained in the goods
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a first storage compartment, a cavity, a heat source, a cold source, a water molecule freezing preventing device, and a controller configured to control an output of at least one of the heat source, the cold source, or the water molecule freezing preventing device. The controller is configured to perform a first operation step to operate based on the first set temperature for a cooling operation, a second operation step to operate based on a second set temperature for a heating operation, and a third operation step to operate based on a third set temperature for the cooling operation, where the second set temperature is higher than 0° C., and the third set temperature is equal to the first set temperature.