Patent Publication Number: US-2006007357-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for controlling fan of refrigerator with television/radio module

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a refrigerator with a television/radio module, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module, wherein the fan operation is controlled according to the operation of the television/radio module.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Refrigerators are used to safely and freshly store foods. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator generally comprises a storage space for storing goods therein, which in turn is divided into a freezing chamber  80   a  for freezing and storing goods and a refrigerating chamber  80   b  for refrigerating and storing goods. Further, each compartment in the storage space of the refrigerator is provided with a cold air outlet through which cold air is discharged in the compartment.  
      Recently, high functioning in which a function of the product itself is improved as well as multi-functioning in which a variety of functions are combined and integrated into a single product have been proposed in the field of electrical appliances.  
      In addition to an inherent refrigerating or freezing function of a refrigerator, it may also be mounted with a wireless communication module that allows a user to send or receive E-mails or to enjoy Internet surfing or with a television or radio module that allows a user to watch the television broadcast or to listen to the radio.  
      As stated above, in a case where a television module is mounted to a refrigerator, heat is generated from the television module. If the heat is transferred to the interior of the storage space of the refrigerator, refrigeration efficiency may be reduced and television image quality may also be deteriorated due to noise. To solve such heat generation, a heat radiation fan for radiating heat generated due to the operation of the television or radio module is installed to a rear panel of the television or radio module.  
      However, when electric power is applied to a television/radio module, the related art heat radiation fan is continuously operated even though a user does not watch television or listen to the radio. In such a case, there is a problem in that the electric power is unnecessarily wasted and noise is produced due to the operation of the fan.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problem in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module, wherein the operation of the fan can be controlled according to the operation of the television/radio module to reduce the consumption of electric power.  
      According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a method for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module, which comprises a monitoring step of monitoring an operation of a television power button for selecting a television function and an operation of a radio power button for selecting a radio function in a state where electric power is supplied to the television/radio module; and a fan control step of controlling the fan in such a manner that electric power is supplied to a heat radiation fan for radiating heat generated due to the television and radio operation when any power button is turned on in the monitoring step, whereas the electric power supplied to the fan is cut off when the operating power button is turned off.  
      Preferably, in the fan control step, the supply of electric power to the heat radiation fan is made when a predetermined period of time has been elapsed after the television or radio power button is turned on.  
      More preferably, in the fan control step, the supply of electric power to the heat radiation fan is cut off when a predetermined period of time has been elapsed after the television or radio power button is turned off.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module, which comprises a television power button for selecting a television function; a radio power button for selecting a radio function; a power switch for enabling electric power to be supplied to the television/radio module; a heat radiation fan installed at a rear surface of a television panel for radiating heat generated due to a television and radio operation; a fan control switch for switching on or off electric power supplied to the heat radiation fan; and a microcomputer for monitoring an operating state of the power buttons and controlling the fan control switch in such a manner that the fan control switch is turned on when the television or radio power button is turned on, whereas the fan control switch is turned off when the operating power button is turned off, in a state where the television module power switch is turned on. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a general refrigerator;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a refrigerator with a television/radio module according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating operating states of various kinds of power buttons in the refrigerator with a television/radio module according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a fan control operation performed automatically according to an operation of the television/radio module in the refrigerator of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      Herein, “television module” means a device for providing a user with a function of watching television and listening to the radio in the refrigerator with a television/radio module according to the present invention. This television module comprises a television screen, a radio display unit, a speaker, a television power button and a radio power button, which are disposed on a front surface of a refrigerator door.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a refrigerator including a fan control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the refrigerator  100  of the present invention comprises a main body. Further, a space in which a display unit  105  for indicating the operating functions and temperature state of the refrigerator and a television screen  110  are installed is defined on a front surface of a door of the refrigerator. In addition, the refrigerator includes a dispenser  120  through which ice and water can be dispensed from the refrigerator, a radio display unit  19  on which the radio&#39;s frequency and volume are indicated according to the predetermined radio function, a speaker  140  through sound data are output when a user selects a predetermined television and radio function, and the like.  
      In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the television screen  110  may be implemented into an LCD screen.  
      Further, the radio display unit  19  is formed above the television screen  110  on the front surface of the refrigerator door. Thus, the user can confirm at a glance the selected radio&#39;s frequency band, volume and the like. In addition, radio function selection buttons  21  for allowing a user to select the radio functions are provided just below the radio display unit  19 , and television function selection buttons  39  for allowing a user to select the television functions are provided just below the television screen  110 .  
      According to the refrigerator of the present invention, the refrigerating and freezing units of the refrigerator can be operated according to the temperature conditions. Further, according to the television function selected by the user, the television broadcast can be output to allow the user to watch the television. In addition, the user can listen to the radio broadcast according to the radio function selected by the user.  
      Next,  FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram for controlling the functions of a fan in the refrigerator according to the present invention. Herein, the television module comprises a radio reception unit  10 , a radio driving unit  18 , and a television driving unit  51 .  
      The radio reception unit  10  is composed of a tuner IC  3  for receiving radio signals through an antenna  1 , a volume IC  5  for adjusting the volume of the received radio signals, and an amplifier IC  7  for amplifying the received radio signals. Further, the radio reception unit  10  receives a voltage of DC  12  volts from the television driving unit  51  to be explained later through a terminal  8  and also includes elements  9  and  11  for generating a variety of voltages required in the radio reception unit  10 . The radio signals that have been processed in the radio reception unit  10  are output to speakers  27  and  29  through left and right channels of the television driving unit  51 .  
      A terminal  13  of the radio reception unit  10  is connected to a terminal  15  of a radio microcomputer  17 . The radio microcomputer  17  controls a radio display unit  19  for indicating the operating state of the radio including the radio&#39;s frequency, volume and the like, monitors the operating state of the radio function selection buttons  21  for controlling the radio&#39;s frequency, volume and electric power through a terminal  12 , and performs the controls necessary to the tuner IC  3 , volume IC  5  and amplifier IC  7 .  
      A radio power button  23  among the radio function selection buttons is operated when the user selects the radio function, and the operation of the radio power button is transferred to the television driving unit  51  to be explained later through a terminal  20 .  
      Further, through a terminal  49 , the television driving unit  51  is connected to the television function selection button  39  for adjusting the menu, volume, channel and power, and the television functions such as channel change or volume control can be adjusted by operating the television function selection buttons  39 .  
      A television power button  38  among the television function selection buttons is operated when the user intends to turn on the television. A variety of television control signals input through the terminal  49  are applied to a microcomputer  48  in the television driving unit  51  to perform the necessary control. The microcomputer  48  controls the reception of television signals from a television antenna  52  and the output of the received television signals to the LCD television screen  110  after the television signals have been processed in the signal processing unit (not shown).  
      The television driving unit  51  includes a power unit  47  for receiving external power and generating a variety of DC voltages required in operating the television module. A television module power switch  33  for switching an external power source  31  is connected to the power unit  47 . The power unit  47  receives electric power from the external power supply  31  and generates a DC power of 5 volts, 12 volts, 33 volts or 3.3 volts.  
      Further, the television driving unit  51  includes a terminal  43  connected to the speakers  27  and  29 , a terminal  41  through which a DC voltage of 12 volts generated in the power unit  47  is output to the radio reception unit  10 , and a switch  35  for switching the power to be supplied through the terminal  41 .  
      A heat radiation fan  25  is connected to the television driving unit  51  through a terminal  45  and operated when the television or radio is operated. The operation of the heat radiation fan  25  is controlled by a switch  37 . The switch  37  of the heat radiation fan  25 , the switch  35  for controlling whether power should be supplied to the radio reception unit  10 , and the like are constructed of FET elements. The control of operating the heat radiation fan  25 , i.e. the control of switching the switch  37  on or off, is carried out by means of the microcomputer  48 .  
      The heat radiation fan  25  operates to radiate heat generated from a driving circuit for operating the television and radio. Thus, the heat radiation fan  25  is installed on a rear surface of the television screen  110  in which a television/radio driving circuit is installed.  
      Therefore, the power unit  47  generates a variety of powers required in processing the television and radio signals, and the operation of the power unit  47  and the supply of the power generated in the power unit are controlled by means of the microcomputer  48  in the television driving unit  51 . That is, the microcomputer  48  controls the operation of the switches  35  and  37  in order to perform the above control.  
      Hereinafter, the operation of controlling the television/radio module in the refrigerator according to the present invention so configured will be discussed.  
      First, an operating process when a user selects the television power button to watch television will be described.  
      In a state where the television module power switch  33  is turned on and power is applied from the external power source  31  to the television driving unit  51 , the user selects the television power button  38 . If the television power button  38  is selected, a selection signal is input to the microcomputer  48  through the terminal  49 .  
      The microcomputer  48  recognizes that the user wishes to watch television and performs the control needed in watching television. First, the microcomputer  48  controls the power unit  47  such that a variety of DC voltages needed in watching television can be generated.  
      Thereafter, the television signals received through the television antenna  52  are processed in the signal processing unit (not shown) and then output to the television screen  110 . Further, the sound signals are output through the speakers  27  and  29 .  
      Further, the microcomputer  48  causes the switch  37  to be actuated and controls the supply of power to the heat radiation fan  25  such that the fan  25  can be operated in a state where the television is operated.  
      Next, an operating process when a user selects the radio power switch to listen to the radio will be described.  
      In a state where the television module power switch  33  is turned on and power is applied from the external power source  31  to the television driving unit  51 , the user selects the radio power button  23 . If the radio power button is selected, a selection signal is input to the terminal  49  of the television driving unit  51  and then again to the microcomputer  48 .  
      The microcomputer  48  recognizes that the user wishes to listen to the radio and performs the control needed in listening to the radio. First, the microcomputer performs the necessary control in such a manner that the power unit  47  generates a variety of DC voltages required in listening to the radio and the switch  35  is operated to allow the generated DC voltage to be supplied to the radio reception unit  10 .  
      The voltage of DC  12  volts input to the radio reception unit  10  is converted into a variety of voltages required in various kinds of circuits in the radio reception unit and supplied to the various kinds of circuits. Thereafter, radio signals received through the antenna  1  are processed suitably through the tuner IC  3 , volume IC  5  and amplifier IC  7 , and then output as sound signals in the left and right channels. The sound signals of the left and right channels are input through a left and right channel signal input unit  53  of the television driving unit  53  and output through the speakers  27  and  29 .  
      In the meantime, when the radio reception unit  10  is operated, frequency and volume signals that a user adjusts by means of the radio function buttons  21  are input to the radio microcomputer  17  by which the frequency, volume and the like of the radio signals can be controlled by means of the tuner IC  3 , volume IC  5  and amplifier IC  7 .  
      Further, the microcomputer  48  causes the switch  37  to be actuated and controls the supply of power to the heat radiation fan  25  such that the fan  25  can be operated in a state where the radio is operated.  
       FIG. 4  is a table illustrating a state where the television/radio module of the refrigerator is currently controlled and a state where the switches are operated according to the request of a user.  
      In a state where both television and radio functions are turned off, a user can select the television function if he/she wishes to watch television. The operation of selecting the television function is made by converting the television power button  38  into an ON state. This selection operation causes the television driving unit  51  to be operated. As a result, video and sound data of the television broadcast are output.  
      Further, in a state where both television and radio functions are turned off, a user can select the radio function if he/she wishes to listen to the radio. The operation of selecting the radio function is made by converting the radio power button  23  into an ON state. This selection operation causes the radio reception unit  10  and the driving unit  18  to be operated, and thus, the user can listen to the sound data in a desired frequency band by adjusting the desired radio&#39;s frequency. At this time, the television driving unit  51  supplies the radio reception unit  10  and radio driving unit  18  with desired electric power.  
      Furthermore, in a state where the television function is turned on and the radio function is turned off, a user can select the radio function if he/she wishes to listen to the radio. The selection of the radio function is made by converting the radio power button  23  into an ON state. At this time, the microcomputer  48  of the television driving unit  51  recognizes an operating state of the radio power button  23  and terminates the television operation. That is, this operation indicates that the microcomputer  48  terminates the television function and converts a current function into the radio function when the radio power button  23  is again selected in a state where the television power button  38  has been already selected.  
      On the other hand, in a state where the television function is turned off and the radio function is turned on, a user can select the television function if he/she wishes to watch television. The selection of the television function is made by converting the television power button  38  into an ON state. At this time, the microcomputer  48  of the television driving unit  51  recognizes an operating state of the television power button  38  and terminates the currently running radio operation. That is, this operation indicates that the microcomputer  48  terminates the radio function and converts a current function into the television function when the television power button  38  is again selected in a state where the radio power button  23  has been already selected.  
      In addition, in a case where a user wishes to terminate a current operating state when the television or radio is operating, the process will be controlled as follows. That is, the television power button  38  is controlled to be turned off when the television is operating, whereas the radio power button  23  is controlled to be turned off when the radio is operating. At this time, the control switch  37  is also controlled to be switched off.  
      As described above, the present invention is configured in such a manner that the microcomputer  48  controls the operations of the television and radio according to the operating state of the power button that has been most recently selected by the user. In addition, the above operations are controlled in a state where the television module power switch  33  is turned on.  
      Further, when the television driving unit  51  and the radio driving unit  18  are operated such that a user can watch television or listen to the radio, the microcomputer  48  operates the heat radiation fan  25  such that heat generated due to the operation of the driving units can be radiated.  
      However, in a state where the television or radio function is not performed while the television module power switch  33  is kept turned on, the heat radiation fan  25  is not operated.  
      Next, the operation of controlling a fan in accordance with the operation of the television/radio module installed in the refrigerator of the present invention will be described.  
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a fan control operation performed in accordance with the operation of the television/radio module installed in the refrigerator of the present invention.  
      First, a user turns on the television module power switch  33  when he/she wishes to utilize the television/radio module attached to the refrigerator (step  200 ). At this time, the fan  25  is kept turned off (step  203 ).  
      However, if the user selects the television or radio function, the fan will also be operated accordingly. The user can select the television power button  38  when he/she wishes to watch television, whereas the user can select the radio power button  23  when he/she wishes to listen to the radio (step  206 ). Therefore, step  203  is maintained until the condition in step  206  is satisfied. However, if any one of power buttons is selected in step  206 , the microcomputer recognizes which power button was selected and controls operating the selected function. The microcomputer controls the radio function when the radio power button has been selected, whereas the microcomputer controls the television function when the television power button has been selected (step  209 ).  
      The microcomputer also determines whether a predetermined period of time (approximately, 1 to 2 seconds) has been elapsed after the control of the selected function has been performed in step  209  (step  210 ). Step  210  is required for the following reasons. That is, since an instantaneous current is likely to be excessively high if both the fan and television/radio module are simultaneously operated, they can be sequentially operated to reduce a peak value of the instantaneous current.  
      After the predetermined period of time has been elapsed, the fan switch is turned on to control the fan to be turned on. According to this operation, a predetermined voltage generated in the power unit is supplied to the fan through the switch, and thus, the fan will be operated (step  212 ). The fan radiates heat generated in the driving circuit due to the operation of the television or radio.  
      Further, the microcomputer maintains the current operating control state until the television or radio power button that was selected in step  206  is controlled to be turned off (step  215 ). If the television or radio power button is turned off, the television or radio function is also controlled to be turned off (step  218 ).  
      The microcomputer also turns off the fan switch when a predetermined period of time (approximately, 1 to 2 seconds) has been elapsed after the operating television or radio power button is turned off in step  218 , so that the fan cannot further be unnecessarily operated in response to the operation of turning off the television or radio.  
      As described above, the method for controlling a fan of a refrigerator with a television/radio module according to the present invention is characterized in that when the television or radio is operated, electric power is controlled to be automatically supplied to the heat radiation fan such that heat generated due to the television or radio operation can be radiated. Further, the heat radiation fan is also controlled to be automatically turned off when the television and radio operation is terminated. Therefore, the unnecessary operation of the heat radiation fan is prevented, and consequently, reduction in electric power consumption and efficient control can be made.  
      According to the present invention, the heat radiation fan can be controlled to be turned off according to the operation of turning off the television or radio. Therefore, there is an advantage in that unnecessary fan operation can be avoided and electric power consumption can also be reduced.  
      Further, there is another advantage in that deterioration in the image quality of the television attached to the refrigerator due to noise which may be generated when heat generated from the television driving unit cannot be effectively radiated can be prevented.  
      It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described and illustrated above but defined by the appended claims.