Patent ID: 6112546
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: F24F,F25D

Abstract:
An air curtain generator for a refrigerator, said generator comprising:a sensor for sensing open and closed states of a refrigerant compartment door;a brushless direct current air curtain fan for blowing cool air into a refrigerant compartment according to a sensing result of the sensor in order to generate an air curtain in the refrigerant compartment;a direct current power source for supplying a direct current driving current to the brushless direct current air curtain fan;a driver for driving the brushless direct current air curtain fan; anda microcomputer for controlling an operation of the driver according to the sensing result of the sensor, wherein the sensor includes a switch coupled with an alternating current power source, the switch being open or closed according to the open or closed state of the refrigerant compartment door for switching voltage supply from the alternating current power source; a photo coupler for emitting light responsive to voltage applied thereto from the alternating current power source through the switch; and an output device for sensing the open or closed state of the refrigerant compartment door based on the light emitted by the photo coupler and a direct current voltage from a direct current power source and outputting a sensing result signal.