Method of controlling compressor for refrigerator

Details Method of controlling compressor for refrigerator Method of controlling compressor for refrigerator

1999-03-26

2001-02-13

Sherry, Michael J. (Department: 2836)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

Motor protective condition responsive circuits

C361S028000, C361S078000, C361S799000, C361S806000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06188551

ABSTRACT:

CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application for CONTROL METHOD OF INVERTER REFRIGERATOR earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 30
th
of July 1998 and there duly assigned Serial No. 98-30848.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a method of controlling a compressor for a refrigerator. More particularly, it relates to a method for detecting a malfunction of the compressor and a connection trouble between the compressor and an inverter circuitry during initial driving of the compressor in a refrigerator.
2. Background Art
Inverters and compressors driven by the inverter have been widely used in refrigerators. Typically, a controller controls the inverter to drive a D.C. motor of the compressor. Also the controller detects a reverse electromotive force (a reverse induction voltage) of the D.C. motor and evaluates a rotation position of a rotor of the D.C. motor. Accordingly, the controller controls the inverter to drive the D.C. motor by using the rotation position of the rotor as a feedback signal.
The controller, however, may fail to control the inverter because of a malfunction of the compressor and a disconnection between the compressor and the inverter. Even if the controller receives the reverse electromotive force and detects the position of the rotor of the D.C. motor, the controller cannot control the inverter and the D.C. motor precisely. This is because the controller merely uses the position of the rotor from the reverse electromotive force for adjusting the inverter. The controller does not use the position of the rotor for detecting the malfunction of the compressor and the disconnection between the compressor and the inverter. Accordingly, the refrigerator cannot be controlled effectively. Moreover, the motor and the inverter may be overloaded or overheated because the controller continues to control the inverter to drive the motor. Furthermore the foodstuffs may be spoiled if rotation speed of the motor is not in a normal mode, or the motor is turned off. Therefore, I have founded that a new method is needed to detect the malfunction of the compressor and a disconnection between the compressor and the inverter in order to avoid a malfunction of the controller and to improve the refrigerator's ability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator with an improved method of controlling a D.C. motor of a compressor.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method driving a D.C. motor and controlling a controller more effectively.
It is an yet another object of this invention to provide an improved method able to determine a malfunction and a disconnection between an inverter and a D.C. motor from a reverse electromotive force.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a method able to controlling an inverter corresponding to the determination of the malfunction and the disconnection between the inverter and the D.C. motor.
It is further object of this invention to provide an improved method able to prevent the motor and the inverter from being overloaded and overheated.
It is another further object of this invention to provide an method able to alert user to the malfunction in order to protect the invertor and the D.C. motor.
These and other objects may be achieved by using a frequency of a rotor obtained from a reverse electromotive force for determining the malfunction and the disconnection between the inverter and the D.C. motor. The controller compares the frequency of the D.C. motor with a reference frequency. Also the controller increases the number of times whenever the frequency is greater than the reference frequency within a predetermined period of time. The number is compared with a reference number. A alert signal is generated when the number is greater than the reference number. The controller may control the inverter not to drive the D.C. motor in order to avoid overheating and overloading of the inverter and the D.C. motor.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4965504 (1990-10-01), Ueda et al.
patent: 5262704 (1993-11-01), Farr
patent: 2-64382 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 6-105592 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 6-133591 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 9-84387 (1997-03-01), None

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