Patent ID: 8141375

Claim:
A temperature control device of an appliance having a first refrigerating unit and a second refrigerating unit, wherein the first and the second refrigerating units are cooled by a single cooling circuit and are fluid-dynamically connected to each other by an air passage conduit; an evaporator disposed in the second refrigerating unit; the temperature control device comprising: a supporting body arranged along said air passage conduit; a motorized shutter assembly disposed on the supporting body, wherein the motorized shutter assembly comprises: at least one shutter element configured to restrict or allow airflow through said air passage conduit; an electric motor configured to operate the at least one shutter element; means for controlling said electric motor disposed on the supporting body; and an electronic temperature sensor electrically coupled to said means for controlling said electric motor and configured to measure a temperature associated with said first refrigerating unit; and a defrosting ventilator disposed upstream of the evaporator with respect to an air flow; and a first ventilator disposed on the supporting body and electrically coupled to said means for controlling said electric motor and being configured to actuate the first ventilator only when the passage conduit is at least partially open, and wherein said means for controlling is configured to control said shutter element for allowing said passage conduit to remain at least partially open when said first ventilator is deactivated, thereby forcing a circulation of air between said first and second refrigerating units.