Patent Publication Number: US-2005126207-A1

Title: Refrigerator and method of controlling the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-0090283, filed Dec. 11, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, and particularly to, a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same to efficiently cool an auxiliary storage.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A refrigerator generally comprises a main body formed with a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, doors, installed in a front of the main body, to open and close front openings of the refrigerator and the freezer compartment, respectively, a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator.  
      Among conventional refrigerators, a refrigerator using an individual cooling method comprises: a main body forming a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct including at least one exiting hole and one returning hole to communicate with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively; a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator, provided in the freezer compartment main duct and in the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to generate cooling air; and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan, provided in the freezer compartment main duct and in the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively, through the exiting hole and to suck the cooling air into the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole.  
      Therefore, the cooling air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator is transferred by the freezer compartment fan and let into the freezer compartment through the exiting hole formed on a surface of the freezer compartment main duct to circulate in the freezer compartment. The cooling air within the freezer compartment circulates back into the freezer compartment evaporator through the returning hole formed on the surface of the freezer compartment main duct again.  
      Meanwhile, the cooling air generated from the refrigerator compartment evaporator is transferred by the refrigerator compartment fan, and cools the refrigerator compartment independently.  
      In the conventional refrigerator, an auxiliary storage commonly provides additional usage such as storing vegetables. A conventional refrigerator supplies the cooling air let out through an exiting hole formed on the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment to the auxiliary storage with a cooling air supplying fan as disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 1998-11513.  
      However, in such case, there exists a problem that a temperature of the auxiliary storage cannot be controlled independently and the temperature of the auxiliary storage depends on a temperature of the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment.  
      Also, the cooling air in the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment leaks into the auxiliary storage, thereby decreasing a cooling efficiency.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same to cool an auxiliary storage efficiently.  
      The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. Each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct comprises at least one exiting hole and one returning hole respectively communicating with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. A freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator, included in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, generate cooling air. A freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan, provided in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively, through the exiting hole and return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole. The refrigerator further comprises an auxiliary storage included in the main body; an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct to supply the cooling air transferred by a corresponding fan to the auxiliary storage; an auxiliary returning duct to return the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct; and an auxiliary damper, included at least in one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to open and close to supply or block, respectively, the cooling air to and the fan auxiliary storage.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises a refrigerator compartment damper provided in the refrigerator compartment main duct and to open and close to supply or block the cooling air to and the fan refrigerator compartment.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises: a refrigerator compartment temperature detector to detect a temperature in the refrigerator compartment; a refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan; an auxiliary damper driver and a refrigerator compartment damper driver to respectively drive an auxiliary damper and the refrigerator compartment damper included in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct communicating with the refrigerator compartment main duct; and a controller to control the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to make a refrigerator compartment temperature reach a refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator compartment fan and opening the refrigerator compartment damper and closing the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver and the auxiliary damper driver to make the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper and opening the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector and the auxiliary storage temperature detector, respectively, are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to stop the driving of the refrigerator compartment fan and to close the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector is determined to have reached the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, open the refrigerator compartment damper, and to close the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and a frost removal cycle should be implemented.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises: an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage; a freezer compartment fan driver to drive the freezer compartment fan; an auxiliary damper driver to drive the auxiliary damper, included in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, which communicates with the freezer compartment main duct; and a controller to control the freezer compartment fan driver and the auxiliary damper driver to make the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by driving the freezer compartment fan and opening the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls the auxiliary damper driver to close the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises the refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and the frost removal cycle should be implemented.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, the above and other aspects may be achieved by providing a method of controlling a refrigerator comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct comprising at least one exiting hole and one returning hole to communicate respectively with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator, included in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to generate cooling air, and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan, included in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator through the exiting hole and to return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole. The refrigerator further comprises an auxiliary storage in the main body, an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct to supply the cooling air transferred by a corresponding fan to the auxiliary storage, an auxiliary returning duct to return the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct, and an auxiliary damper to open and close to supply or block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage, to open the auxiliary damper, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, and to close the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, a method of controlling the refrigerator comprises: providing a refrigerator compartment damper to open and close, in the refrigerator compartment main duct in advance, to supply or block the cooling air to the refrigerator compartment; detecting a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; and making the refrigerator compartment temperature reach an refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator compartment fan. The method further comprises opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing an auxiliary damper provided in at least one of an auxiliary supply duct and auxiliary returning duct communicating with the refrigerator compartment main duct, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper and opening the auxiliary damper, if a temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to be higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises controlling a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises driving the refrigerator compartment fan and closing the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is determined to have reached the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises driving the refrigerator compartment fan, opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and a frost removal cycle should be implemented.  
      According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by driving the freezer compartment fan and opening the auxiliary damper provided in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct communicating with the freezer compartment main duct, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.  
      Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the first and the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention  
       FIG. 6  is a graph illustrating states of each components during a cooling cycle of the refrigerator according to the first and the second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a graph illustrating states of each components during a cooling cycle of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a control flow chart of the refrigerator according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a control flow chart of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
      For various embodiments, components having a same structure will be described in a first embodiment representatively, using same referential numerals, and only components other than ones describe in the first embodiment will be described in other embodiments.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, a refrigerator  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises: a main body  3  forming a freezer compartment  5  on a left side and a refrigerator compartment  7  on a right side; a freezer compartment main duct  10  and a refrigerator compartment main duct  14  provided on rear surfaces of the freezer compartment  5  and the refrigerator compartment  7  of the main body  3 , respectively, and comprising at least one exiting hole and one returning hole in each main duct; a freezer compartment evaporator (not shown) and a refrigerator compartment evaporator (not shown) installed in the freezer compartment main duct  10  and in the refrigerator compartment main duct  14 , respectively, to generate cooling air; a freezer compartment fan  12  and a refrigerator compartment fan  16  to transfer the cooling air, generated from the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator to the freezer compartment  5  and the refrigerator compartment  7 , respectively, and to circulate the cooling air in the freezer compartment  5  and the refrigerator compartment  7  into the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively; and a refrigerator compartment damper  18  provided on a top end of the refrigerator compartment main duct  14 .  
      The refrigerator  1  further comprises an auxiliary storage  9 , included on a bottom of the freezer compartment  5  and the refrigerator compartment  7 , which is partitioned by a wall. An auxiliary supply duct  20 , branched off from the refrigerator compartment main duct  14 , supplies the cooling air transferred by the refrigerator compartment fan  16  to the auxiliary storage  9 . An auxiliary returning duct  24  circulates the cooling air in the auxiliary storage  9  to the refrigerator compartment evaporator in the refrigerator compartment main duct  14 . Auxiliary dampers  26  in the auxiliary supply duct  20 , and the auxiliary returning duct  24 , respectively, along with the refrigerator compartment damper  18  may be opened and closed so that the cooling air can be supplied to and stopped from being supplied to the refrigerator compartment  7  and the auxiliary storage  9 .  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of the refrigerator  1  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, a configuration of the refrigerator  1  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is mostly identical to that of the refrigerator  1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
      While the refrigerator  1  according to the first embodiment is provided with the respective auxiliary dampers  26  in the auxiliary supply duct  20  and the auxiliary returning duct  24 , the refrigerator  1  according to a second embodiment is provided with the auxiliary damper  26  only in the auxiliary returning duct  24 .  
      Even if the cooling air is supplied through the auxiliary supply duct  20 , the cooling air will not return to the refrigerator compartment evaporator and will not circulate as long as the auxiliary damper  26  is in a closed state. Accordingly, pressure within the auxiliary storage  9  increases and the cooling air does not flow into the auxiliary storage  9 .  
      Also, it is possible to provide the auxiliary damper  26  only in the auxiliary supply duct  20 , not like the embodiments described above.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic front view of the refrigerator  1  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator  1  according to the third embodiment comprises: the auxiliary storage  9 , on the bottom of the freezer compartment  5  and the refrigerator compartment  7 , which is partitioned by a wall; the auxiliary supply duct  60 , branched off from the freezer compartment main duct  10 , to supply the cooling air transferred by the freezer compartment fan  12  to the auxiliary storage  9 ; the auxiliary returning duct  64  to return the cooling air, within the auxiliary storage  9 , to the freezer compartment evaporator of the freezer compartment main duct  10 ; and the auxiliary dampers  66  in the auxiliary supply duct  60  and the auxiliary returning duct  64 , respectively.  
      In the refrigerator  1  according to the third embodiment, the auxiliary supply duct  60 , the auxiliary returning duct  64  and the auxiliary damper  66  are included in the freezer compartment  5  as an example.  
      Herein, the dampers  66  are included in the auxiliary supply duct  60  and the auxiliary returning duct  64 . However, including the auxiliary damper  66  in one of the auxiliary supply duct  60  and the auxiliary returning duct  64  is also possible.  
       FIG. 4  is a control block diagram of the refrigerator  1  according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.  
      As shown therein, the refrigerator  1  comprises: a refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32 , a freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , and an auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  to detect temperatures in the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9 , respectively; a compressor driver  40  to drive a compressor  38 ; a refrigerator compartment fan driver  42  and a freezer compartment fan driver  44 , which drive the refrigeration compartment fan  16  and the freezer compartment fan  12 , respectively; a refrigerator compartment damper driver  46  and an auxiliary damper driver  48  to drive the refrigerator compartment damper  18  and the auxiliary damper  26 , respectively; a controller  50  controlling the compressor driver  40 , the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42 , the freezer compartment fan driver  44 , the refrigerator compartment damper driver  46 , and the auxiliary damper driver  48  based on results detected by the temperature detectors  32 ,  34 , and  36  in the respective compartments.  
      The controller  50  determines whether each compartment requires a cooling operation according to the temperatures of the respective compartments detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32 , the freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , and the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36 .  
      The controller  50  compares a freezer compartment temperature, which is detected by the freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , to a freezer compartment pre-set temperature. If the detected freezer compartment temperature is higher than the pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the compressor driver  40  and the freezer compartment fan driver  44  to drive the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12 , respectively.  
      Meanwhile, the controller  50  compares a refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32  and a refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature. If the detected refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the compressor driver  40  and the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42  to drive the compressor  38  and the refrigerator compartment fan  16 , respectively. Also, the controller  50  controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver  46  and auxiliary damper driver  48  to open the refrigerator compartment damper  18  and to close the auxiliary damper  26 , respectively, so that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment  7  reaches the pre-set temperature.  
      If the temperature of the refrigerator compartment  7  is determined to be the pre-set temperature and the detected auxiliary storage temperature is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver  46  and the auxiliary damper driver  48  to close the refrigerator compartment damper  18  and to open the auxiliary damper  26 , respectively.  
      Accordingly, the cooling air, which is generated in the refrigerator compartment evaporator, is supplied to the auxiliary storage  9  through the auxiliary supply duct  20 , and the cooling air within the auxiliary storage  9  returns to the refrigerator compartment evaporator through the auxiliary returning duct  24 . Accordingly, the auxiliary storage  9  can be cooled by the cooling air generated in the refrigerator compartment evaporator.  
      Also, if the auxiliary storage temperature detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  is determined to be the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42  to stop the driving of the refrigerator compartment fan  16 , and controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver  46  and the auxiliary damper driver  48  to close the refrigerator compartment damper  18  and the auxiliary damper  26 , respectively, so that the cooling air is not supplied to the auxiliary storage  9 .  
      Also, after the auxiliary storage temperature is satisfied, the controller  50  determines whether the freezer compartment temperature detected by the freezer compartment temperature detector  34  reaches the pre-set temperature. If the freezer compartment temperature is satisfied, the controller  50  controls the compressor driver  40  and the freezer compartment fan driver  44  to stop the driving of the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12  so that the cooling operation is terminated.  
      After the termination of the cooling operation, a frost removal cycle is implemented during a predetermined period of time. The frost removal cycle is implemented by driving the refrigerator compartment fan  16  during a predetermined period of the time after the compressor  38  stops driving, and opening the refrigerator compartment damper  18 , and closing the auxiliary damper  26 . With the frost removal cycle, residual cooling air in the refrigerator compartment evaporator, which remains after the compressor  38  stop the driving flows into the refrigerator compartment  7 , improves cooling efficiency. Also, frost is removed to some degree without using a frost removal heater (not shown).  
       FIG. 5  is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the refrigerator according to the third embodiment comprises: a refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32 , a freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , and an auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  to detect temperatures in the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9 , respectively; a compressor driver  40  to drive a compressor  38 ; a refrigerator compartment fan driver  42  and a freezer compartment fan driver  44  to drive a refrigerator compartment fan  16  and a freezer compartment fan  12 , respectively; an auxiliary damper driver  48  to drive the auxiliary damper  66 ; and a controller  50  to control the compressor driver  40 , the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42 , the freezer compartment fan driver  44 , and an auxiliary damper driver  48  based on results detected by the temperature detectors  32 ,  34 , and  36  in the respective compartments.  
      The controller  50  determines whether each compartment requires a cooling operation according to the temperatures of the respective compartments detected by the freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32 , and the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36 . Also, the controller  50  cools the freezer compartment  5  and the refrigerator compartment  7  individually based on the results of the determinations.  
      If the auxiliary storage temperature detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  is higher than an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the auxiliary damper driver  48  to open the auxiliary damper  66 .  
      Accordingly, the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator is supplied to the auxiliary storage  9  through the auxiliary supply duct  60 , and the cooling air in the auxiliary storage  9  returns to the freezer compartment evaporator through the auxiliary returning duct  64 . Accordingly, the auxiliary storage  9  can be cooled by the cooling air, which is generated in the freezer compartment evaporator.  
      Also, if the auxiliary storage temperature detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  is determined to be the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the auxiliary damper driver  48  to close the auxiliary damper  66 , so that the supply of the cooling air from the auxiliary storage  9  is stopped.  
      Herein, a temperature control of the auxiliary storage  9  is implemented with the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator. A temperature of the auxiliary storage  9  reaches an appropriate temperature first because an inner volume of the auxiliary storage  9  is smaller than that of the freezer compartment  5 .  
      After completion of the cooling operation, the frost removal cycle is implemented. The frost removal cycle is implemented by driving the refrigerator compartment fan  16  during a predetermined period of the time after the compressor  38  stops driving. With the frost removal cycle, residual cooling air in the refrigerator compartment evaporator, which remains after the compressor  38  stop the driving, flows into the refrigerator compartment  7  and improves the cooling efficiency. Also, the frost is removed to some degree without using the frost removal heater (not shown).  
       FIG. 6  illustrates varying states of components such as the freezer compartment  5 , the refrigerator compartment  7 , and the auxiliary storage  9  of the refrigerator  1  according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention during each of the components requires the cooling cycle.  
      As shown in  FIG. 6 , the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12  operates until the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the auxiliary storage  9 , and the freezer compartment  5  reach the respective pre-set temperatures and the cooling cycle is completed. Meanwhile, the refrigerator compartment fan  16  operates while the refrigerator compartment  7  and the auxiliary storage  9  are cooled and while the frost is being removed.  
      The refrigerator compartment damper  18  is opened during the cooling of the refrigerator compartment  7  and during the frost removal cycle. The auxiliary damper  26  is opened during the auxiliary storage  9  is being cooled.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates varying states of respective components such as the freezer compartment  5 , the refrigerator compartment  7 , and the auxiliary storage  9  of the refrigerator  1  according to the third embodiment of the present invention during each of the components requires the cooling cycle.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12  operates until the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the auxiliary storage  9 , and the freezer compartment  5  reach the respective pre-set temperatures and the cooling cycle is completed. Meanwhile, the refrigerator compartment fan  16  operates while the refrigerator compartment  7  is cooled and while the frost is being removed. Also, the auxiliary damper  66  is opened while the auxiliary storage  9  is being cooled.  
       FIG. 8  is a control flow chart of the refrigerator  1  according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. As shown therein, if the refrigerator  1  is powered to operate, the controller  50  initializes driving states of the respective components of the cooling cycle based on a previously stored operation program. Accordingly, the refrigerator compartment damper  18  and the auxiliary damper  26  are closed and the compressor  38 , refrigerator compartment fan  16 , and the freezer compartment fan  12  are stopped at operation  100 .  
      At operation  120 , the controller  50  detects the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature using the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32 , the freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , and the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36 , respectively.  
      At operation  140 , the controller  50  determines whether at least one of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  requires the cooling cycle by comparing the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature with the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, respectively.  
      Where the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the refrigerator compartment  7  to be engaged, or that freezer compartment temperature is higher than the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the freezer compartment  5  to be engaged, or that the auxiliary storage temperature is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle for the auxiliary storage  9  to be engaged, the controller  50  determines that a request for the cooling cycle exists.  
      However, as shown in the control flow chart in  FIG. 8 , operation  160  follows operation  140  when all of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  require the cooling cycle to operate while operation  320  follows operation  140  when the cooling cycles of the components are completed and not required to operate. Herein, a case that only the refrigerator compartment  7  or the auxiliary storage  9  requires the cooling cycle, or a case that only the freezer compartment  5  requires the cooling cycle is not illustrated.  
      Also, if the refrigerator compartment  7  or the auxiliary storage  9  are determined to require the cooling cycle at operation  140 , the compressor  38  and the refrigerator compartment fan  16  are driven. Similarly, the freezer compartment  5  requires the cooling cycle at operation  140 , the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12  is driven.  
      At operation  160 , if the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  are determined to require the cooling cycles to be operational, the controller  50  controls the compressor driver  40 , the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42 , and the freezer compartment fan driver  44  to drive the compressor  38 , the refrigerator compartment fan  16 , the freezer compartment fan  12 , respectively.  
      Also, at operation  180 , the controller  50  controls the auxiliary damper  26 , which is initially closed to be kept closed and the refrigerator compartment damper  18 , which is initially closed to be opened so that the cooling air, which is transferred by the refrigerator compartment fan  16 , flows into the evaporator after circulating in the refrigerator compartment  7  and implements the cooling cycle of the refrigerator compartment  7 .  
      If the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32  is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the controller  50  controls the refrigerator damper  18  to be closed and the auxiliary damper  26  to be opened so that the cooling cycle of the auxiliary storage  9  is implemented at operations  200  and  220 .  
      If the temperature of the auxiliary storage  9  detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the auxiliary storage  9 , the controller  50  controls the refrigerator compartment fan  16  to be stopped and the refrigerator compartment damper  18  and the auxiliary damper  26  to be closed at operations  240  and  260 .  
      Also, the controller  50  determines whether the temperature of the freezer compartment  5 , which is individually cooled, has reached the freezer compartment pre-set temperature at operation  280 . If the freezer compartment temperature is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12  to be stopped so that the cooling cycle is completed at operation  300 .  
      Also, if the cooling cycle is completed, the controller  50  drives the refrigerator compartment fan  16  during a predetermined period of time at operation  320 , and controls the refrigerator compartment damper  18  to be opened and the auxiliary damper  26  to be closed during the frost removal cycle at operation  340 .  
      Also, even if the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  were determined in operation  140  that they do not require the cooling cycle, operations  320  and  340  are implemented.  
      After completion of the frost removal cycle, the operations described above are repeated from operation  120 .  
      Meanwhile, in a conventional refrigerator of individual cooling method, a size of the refrigerator compartment evaporator is about ⅓ of a size of the freezer compartment evaporator. However, the refrigerator compartment evaporator according the embodiments of the present invention have a size that is same as or bigger than a size of the freezer compartment evaporator.  
      Another reason to provide the size of the refrigerator compartment evaporator described above is to prevent the temperature of the freezer compartment from being satisfied earlier than the temperature of the auxiliary storage.  
       FIG. 9  is a control flow chart of the refrigerator  1  according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, if the refrigerator  1  is powered to operate, the controller  50  initializes driving states of the respective components of the cooling cycle on a basis of an operation program stored previously. Accordingly, the auxiliary damper  66  is closed and the compressor  38 , refrigerator compartment fan  16 , and the freezer compartment fan  12  are stopped at operation  400 .  
      At operation  420 , the controller  50  detects the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature using the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32 , the freezer compartment temperature detector  34 , and the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36 , respectively.  
      At operation  440 , the controller  50  determines whether at least one of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  requires the cooling cycle to be operated by comparing the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature with the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, respectively.  
      Where the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the refrigerator compartment  7  to be operated, or where freezer compartment temperature is higher than the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle for the freezer compartment  5  to be operated, or where the auxiliary storage temperature is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the auxiliary storage  9  to be operated, the controller  50  determines that a request of the cooling cycle to be operated exists.  
      However, as shown in the control flow chart in  FIG. 9 , it is clearly illustrated that operation  460  follows operation  440  when all of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  require the cooling cycle to be operated while operation  620  follows operation  440  when the cooling cycles of the components are completed and not required anymore. Herein, a case that only the refrigerator compartment  7  or the auxiliary storage  9  requires the cooling cycle, or a case that only the freezer compartment  5  requires the cooling cycle to be operated is not illustrated.  
      At operation  460 , the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  are determined to require the cooling cycles, the controller  50  controls the compressor driver  40 , the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42 , and the freezer compartment fan driver  44  to drive the compressor  38 , the refrigerator compartment fan  16 , the freezer compartment fan  12 , respectively.  
      Also, at operation  480 , the controller  50  controls the auxiliary damper  66  which is initially closed to be opened so that the cooling air which circulates in the freezer compartment  5  by the freezer compartment fan  12 , is supplied into the auxiliary storage  9 . Accordingly, the cooling cycle of the auxiliary storage  9  is implemented.  
      If the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector  32  is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the refrigerator compartment  7 , the controller  50  controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver  42  to stop the refrigerator compartment fan  16  at operations  500  and  520 .  
      If the temperature of the auxiliary storage  9  detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector  36  is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the auxiliary storage  9 , the controller  50  controls the auxiliary damper  66  to be closed at operations  540  and  560 . Herein, an order in taking operations  500  and  520 , and operations  540  and  560  may be reversed.  
      Also, the controller  50  determines whether the temperature of the individually cooled freezer compartment  5  has reached the freezer compartment pre-set temperature at operation  580 . If the freezer compartment temperature is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature, the controller  50  controls the compressor  38  and the freezer compartment fan  12  to be stopped so that the cooling cycle is completed at operation  600 .  
      Also, if the cooling cycle is completed, the controller  50  drives the refrigerator compartment fan  16  for a predetermined period of time to implement the frost removal cycle at operation  620 .  
      Also, even if the refrigerator compartment  7 , the freezer compartment  5 , and the auxiliary storage  9  are determined, at operation  440 , to not require the cooling cycle, operation  620  is implemented.  
      After completion of the frost removal cycle, the operations described above are repeated from operation  420 .  
      Meanwhile, to satisfy the temperatures of the freezer compartment and the auxiliary storage using the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator, an embodiment of the invention uses a freezer compartment evaporator having a bigger size than that of a conventional freezer compartment evaporator of individual cooling method.  
      As is described above, the refrigerator according to the embodiments of the present invention cools the auxiliary storage efficiently by providing an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct. The refrigerator supplies cooling air, which is transferred by corresponding fans to an auxiliary storage. An auxiliary returning duct returns the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct. An auxiliary damper, in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, open and close to supply or block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage.  
      As is described above, the present invention provides a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same cooling an auxiliary storage efficiently.  
      Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.