Patent Publication Number: US-8109106-B2

Title: Malfunction preventing device for refrigerator and method thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present disclosure relates to subject matter in priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0045843, filed on May 22, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a malfunction preventing device and a method thereof, which ignores an input signal produced by electricity capacity variation because of moisture to prevent a malfunction of a refrigerator. 
     2 . Discussion of the Related Art 
     Refrigerators typically have plural storage compartments in which food items are stored and a predetermined side of the storage compartment is opened to allow a user to put in or take out the food items through. 
     A door is coupled to the opened side to open and close the storage compartment. 
     In addition, a control device is provided in the refrigerator and a user may control temperature, humidity and lightning of the storage compartments by using the control device. The control device may be commonly provided on a front surface of the door coupled to the storage compartment, such that a user can control the control device without difficulties. 
     Recently, exterior material such as glass or resin has been attached to the front surface of the refrigerator door to enhance an overall exterior beauty. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , an assembly process of the conventional refrigerator will be explained. A control device  30  is mounted inside an exterior material attached on a front surface of a door  20  coupled to the conventional refrigerator  10 . Buttons  90  of the control device  30  and a displaying part are typically exposed outside. 
     The control device  30  is commonly formed in a plate shape and the display part is mounted on a front surface of the control device  30  to display operational conditions of the refrigerator  10  and control information selected by a user. Also, plural buttons  90  are provided on the control device  30  and a user pushes the buttons  90  to control the control device  30 . 
     The exterior material  40  is attached on the front surface of the door  20  to enhance an overall exterior beauty of the refrigerator  10  and it is formed in a plate shape that is identical to the shape of the door  20 . Recently, it has been developed that a glass plate or a resin plate is attached on a front surface of the door  20 . 
     As a result, the control device  30  is attached to a rear surface of the exterior material  40  and the display part as well as the buttons  90  provided on the front surface of the controlling part  30  may be exposed outside. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to expose the display part and the buttons  90  outside, an opening  41  is formed at a predetermined portion of the exterior material  40  and the front surface of the control device  30  is exposed through the opening  41  when the control device  30  is attached to an inner circumferential surface of the opening  41 . 
     At this time, an outer front surface portion of the control device  30  is attached to the inner circumferential surface of the opening  41  and a fixing member such as a screw and variation of it fixes the control device  30  to the rear surface of the exterior material  40 . Thus, the display part and the buttons  90  of the control device  30  are exposed outside through the opening  41  of the exterior material  40 . 
     As a result, when he/she tries to control the refrigerator  10 , a user uses the display part and the buttons  90  exposed through the opening  41  of the exterior material  40 . 
     In addition, there have been developed a static electricity switch that can sense a minute static electricity produced at a user&#39;s body without a user&#39;s direct contact and a control device that is operated by the static electricity switch. 
     However, if the above static electricity switch is used, an electric capacity near the static electricity switch might be variable because of external moisture. As a result, even when a user does not input a predetermined command, a controlling operation may be performed regardless of the user&#39;s intention, which might be a problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a refrigerant valve control device and a control method thereof. 
     The present invention is to provide a malfunction preventing device and a method thereof, which ignore an input signal produced by electricity capacity variation because of moisture. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is to provide a malfunction preventing device and a method thereof, which ignores a first input signal in a wait mode and cancels the wait mode before displaying and notifying a user the cancellation to prevent a malfunction. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a malfunction preventing device for a refrigerator includes an inputting part in which a static electricity switch is provided to produce an input signal and a controlling part that ignores a first input signal inputted in a wait mode. There is no inputted signal from the inputting part for a predetermined delaying time period in the wait mode. 
     The controlling part cancels the wait mode, if the controlling part receives the first input signal. 
     Here, the first input signal is an input signal that the controlling part receives first in the wait mode. 
     The controlling part processes a second input signal that the controlling part receives after the first input signal if the wait mode is canceled. 
     The second input signal may be an input signal that the controlling part receives within a predetermined delay time period when the first input signal is inputted. 
     It is preferred that the controlling part re-starts the wait mode if there is no input signal in a predetermined delay time period after the wait mode is canceled. 
     The controlling part starts an input mode that performs control based on a user&#39;s input, it the first input signal received. 
     The controlling part may re-start the wait mode, if there is no input signal in a predetermined delay time period after the input mode starts. 
     The malfunction preventing device for a refrigerator may further include a displaying part that displays cancellation of the wait mode. 
     In another aspect, a method for preventing a malfunction of a refrigerator includes: performing a wait mode in that there is no input signal produced by static electricity for a predetermined delay time period; and ignoring a first input signal inputted in the wait mode. 
     After ignoring a first input signal inputted in the wait mode, the method may further include canceling the wait mode. 
     After canceling the wait mode, the method may further include re-starting the wait mode, if there is no input signal for a predetermined delay time period. 
     Here, the first input signal is an input signal that the controlling part receives first in the wait mode. 
     After ignoring a first input signal inputted in the wait mode, the method may further include processing a second input signal inputted within a predetermined delay time period. 
     After ignoring a first input signal inputted in the wait mode, the method may further include starting an input mode that performs control based on a user&#39;s input. 
     After starting an input mode that performs control based on a user&#39;s input, the method may further include re-starting the wait mode, if there is no input signal for a predetermined delay time period. 
     After ignoring a first input signal, the method may further include displaying cancellation of the wait mode. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a malfunction preventing device for a refrigerator according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a control device including the malfunction preventing device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a method for preventing a malfunction of a refrigerator according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a conventional refrigerator; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the control device provided in the conventional refrigerator; and 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating a mounting state of the control device provided in the conventional refrigerator. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a malfunction preventing device for a refrigerator according to the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the malfunction preventing device includes an inputting part  60 , a displaying part  62 , a driving part  64  and a controlling part  66 . A user inputs a command by using the inputting part  60 . The displaying part  62  displays refrigerator information to the user. The driving part  64  operates a freezing cycle to compress refrigerant and flow cool air. The controlling part  66 , which may be a micom, controls the freezing cycle based on a predetermined algorism and performs control based on the user&#39;s input. 
     The inputting part  60  includes a static electricity switch  60   a  and the static electricity switch  60   a  can sense a minute static electricity that is produced from the user&#39;s body. The user approaches the static electricity switch  60  to perform predetermined inputting (for example, setting the temperature inside a refrigerator and freezer compartment, changing a kind of dispenser service and data inputting). 
     The displaying part  62  displays refrigerator information to the user (for example, the present temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer compartment, a predetermined temperature, a kind of a dispenser service, weather information and pictures). Especially, the displaying part  62  may display a user interface that allows the user to input through the inputting part  60  smoothly. 
     The driving part  64  directly operates a compressor (not shown), a refrigerant valve (not shown), a damper (not shown) and a lighting (not shown) that are provided in the refrigerator based on the control of the controlling part  66 . 
     The controlling part  66  may control the driving part  64  and the displaying part  62  based on the predetermined algorism, or the controlling part  66  may control the displaying part  62  and the driving part  64  based on the user&#39;s inputting through the inputting part  60 . The controlling part  66  performs an input mode in that the user&#39;s inputting is performed immediately and a wait mode in that inputting is waited if there is no input signal for a predetermined time period. 
     In the wait mode, it is preferred that the displaying part  62  displays the wait mode and thus the user may be notified that he/she can input a command immediately in the present mode. 
     Electric capacity may be varied by moisture and thus an input signal might be produced because of the variation of electric capacity. Although the input signal produced because of the electric capacity variation is inputted through the inputting part  60  in the wait mode, the controlling part  66  controls the predetermined control based on the input signal not to be perform, which prevents a malfunction. This process will be shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a control device in which the malfunction preventing device is provided for a refrigerator according to the present invention. 
     A static electricity switch  60   a  is attached to the control device  30   a  in which the malfunction preventing device shown in  FIG. 2  is provided. The control device  30   a  is held within a housing  50  and thus it is fixed to a rear surface of the exterior material  40  of the door  10 . Together with that, an exterior plate  42  is additionally provided on a front surface of the exterior material  40 . 
     The exterior material  40  is formed in a plate shape to enhance an overall exterior beauty of the door  20  and the exterior material  40  may be a glass plate that has a high glossy characteristic. The controlling part  30   a  may be installed in the rear of the exterior material  40 . 
     The control device  30   a  includes the controlling part  66  connected to the power and other parts of the refrigerator  10  to control temperature, humidity and lightning of the storage compartments, which may be a micom. The control device  30   a  is formed in a square plate shape and it is provided between the exterior material  40  and the outer door. 
     The static electricity switch  60   a  is mounted in the control device  30   a  to sense a minute static electricity that flows in a user&#39;s body. When a human body approaches to the static electricity switch  60   a  and the control device  30   a  in a predetermined distance, the controlling part  66  may control the refrigerator. 
     An opening  41  is formed at a predetermined portion of the exterior material  40  where the control device  30   a  is provided and the displaying part  62  of the control device  30   a  is exposed outside through the opening  41 . Here, the opening  41  has the same appearance as the front surface of the control device  30   a  (or the displaying part  62 ). 
     The control device  30   a  is fixed to a rear surface of the opening  41 , being held within a housing  50 . 
     The housing  50  has a box shape that forms inner space and the control device  30   a  is held in the space. Also, a side of the box shaped housing  50  facing the exterior material  40  is opened. 
     The housing  50  includes a control device groove  51  and an exterior plate groove  52 . 
     The control device groove  51  is recessed inward at a center of the housing  50  along the shape of the control device  30   a  and the control device  30   a  is held in the control device groove  51 . 
     The exterior plate groove  52  is recessed and stepped inward at a predetermined portion of the housing  50  along a rim of the control device groove  51  and an exterior plate  42 , which will be described later, is held in the exterior plate groove  52 . 
     The exterior plate  42  is attached to the front surface of the control device  30   a.    
     The exterior plate  42  is formed in a plate shape that corresponds to the exterior material  40  and it is fabricated with the same material as the exterior material  40 . This embodiment presents that the exterior plate  42  is fabricated with transparent glass. As a result, the front surface of the displaying part  62  may be transparent through the glass exterior plate  42  and the exterior plate  42  covers the front surface of the control device  30   a.    
     The exterior plate  42  is formed in a plate shape that corresponds to the shape of the front surface of the control device  30   a . The exterior plate  42  may be a little larger than the opening  41  and thus the exterior plate  42  may be fixed along an outer rim of the rear surface of the opening  41 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a malfunction preventing method of a refrigerator according to the present invention. 
     The controlling part  66  identifies whether there is an input signal from the inputting part  60  that includes the static electricity switch  60   a  (S 61 ). If there is an input signal, a step of S 62  starts. If there is no input signal, the controlling part  66  waits an input signal. 
     The controlling part  66  determines whether the input signal is for a wait mode (S 62 ). The wait mode starts if inputting is not performed by a user for a predetermined delay time period (t), which is in stead of an input mode. When the input mode starts, the control based on the user&#39;s inputting is performed immediately. If the present condition is the wait mode, a step of S 63  starts. If the present mode is not the wait mode, a step of S 67  starts. 
     The controlling part  66  ignores an input signal that is inputted first from the inputting part  60  (hereinafter, a first input signal) during the wait mode (S 63 ). That is, the controlling part  66  does not perform the control based on the input signal. 
     In the step of S 63 , the controlling part  66  ignores the first input signal that might be produced by the electricity capacity variation because of moisture not by the user. As a result, malfunction of the refrigerator that might be caused by the first input signal may be prevented. 
     The controlling part  66  cancels the present wait mode performed based on the first input signal and it starts the input mode. The change into the input mode from the wait mode may be displayed through the displaying part  62 . Specifically, the controlling part  66  may notify the user that the input mode starts by turning on/off the displaying part  62 , letters, figures or icons (S 64 ). 
     The controlling part  66  identifies whether there is an additional input signal from the inputting part  60  within a predetermined delay time period (t) (S 65  and S 66 ). If there is an input signal, a step of S 67  starts. If there is no input signal, a step of S 69  starts in that the wait mode re-starts. 
     The controlling part  66  performs control based on a second input signal that is received next to the first input signal or based on an input signal received next to the second signal in the input mode (hereinafter, an input signal that is received by the controlling part within a predetermined delay time period (t) after the first input signal is inputted is referenced to as “a second input signal”) (S 67 ). 
     That is, the controlling part  66  determines that the second input signal is an input signal directly inputted by the user and thus the driving part  64  and the displaying part  64  are controlled based on the second input signal. 
     Hence, the controlling part  66  identifies whether an additional input signal is inputted through the inputting part  60  within a predetermined delay time period (t) (S 68 ). If there is an additional input signal, the step of S 67  starts to perform control based on the input signal. If there is no additional input signal, a step of S 69  starts. 
     The controlling part  66  changes the present input mode into the wait mode and the wait mode re-starts (S 69 ). 
     Among the above steps, the step of S 64  may be omitted in that the user is notified that the wait mode is canceled. Also, the steps of S 65  and S 66  will be united into one step ‘the controlling part  66  identifies whether there is an additional input signal within a predetermined delay time period (t)’. 
     As mentioned above, the malfunction preventing device and a method thereof have following advantageous effects. 
     First, a malfunction of a refrigerator is prevented, because an input signal produced by electric capacity variation is removed. 
     Furthermore, the first input signal during the wait mode is ignored to prevent a malfunction of a refrigerator and the user is notified that the wait mode is canceled to perform the input mode. 
     A still further, according to the present invention, the controlling part may prevent a malfunction based on the predetermined algorism during the wait mode without any auxiliary devices. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.