JP2902831B2 - Refrigerator defrost control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defrosting control device for a refrigerator which performs defrosting in a time period when a door is frequently opened and closed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Prior to the present invention, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-7795
In the conventional refrigerator defrosting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-163, the operation time of the refrigeration cycle is integrated by a timer, and the cooler is defrosted when the refrigeration cycle is operated for a predetermined time.

However, in this type of refrigerator defroster, if the defrosting is arbitrarily started by a timer and the defrosting is started during a time period when the frequency of opening and closing the storage room door is high, the storage room is not operated. There is a drawback that outside air frequently enters in a state in which cooling is impossible, resulting in an increase in room temperature.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting control device for a refrigerator which can solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and can reliably prevent a rise in the temperature of a storage room during defrosting with a simple structure. .

[0005]

A first invention of the present application is a defrosting control device for a refrigerator having a defrosting device, wherein the number of times the door of the refrigerator is opened and closed for each of a plurality of time periods constituting one day is determined. A counting means for counting, an opening / closing frequency memory for storing the number of times the door is opened / closed for each time zone, and an opening / closing index for each time zone corresponding to the number of times the door is opened / closed for each time zone. Means for setting a door opening / closing index, and detecting a time slot corresponding to the current time and a change pattern of the door opening / closing index for a plurality of time zones earlier than the time zone based on the door opening / closing index. A feature detection unit that generates and outputs a degree of approximation between the pattern and a plurality of types of transition patterns stored in advance as a feature amount, and a defrosting start that controls the defrosting device based on the feature amount from the feature detection unit. Defrosting signal generating means for generating a signal , Characterized in that it comprises.
Further, the second invention of the present application is a defrosting control device for a refrigerator having a defrosting device, wherein the counting means for counting the number of times the door of the refrigerator is opened and closed for each of a plurality of time zones constituting one day; An opening / closing frequency memory for storing a door opening / closing frequency for each time zone, and a door opening / closing index setting for setting the opening / closing frequency data for each time zone according to the door opening / closing frequency for each time zone as a door opening / closing index. Means for generating and outputting, based on the door opening / closing index, a time slot corresponding to the current time and a feature quantity representing a characteristic of a change pattern of the door opening / closing index in a plurality of time zones ahead of this time zone. A feature detection unit configured by a network, and a defrost signal generation unit that generates a defrost start signal that controls the defrost device based on the feature amount from the feature detection unit. I do.

[0006]

According to the present invention, defrosting can be performed during a time when the frequency of opening and closing of the door is small, so that the door is frequently opened and closed when the storage room cannot be cooled, and the temperature of the storage room is abnormal. Can be prevented from rising. The defrosting start signal is generated and output by the feature detecting means based on a feature amount representing a feature of a time zone corresponding to the current time and a change pattern of the door opening / closing index in a plurality of time zones before the time zone. Is generated, the circuit configuration and the fine adjustment of the defrost timing are simplified as compared with the case where the defrost start signal is immediately derived from the door opening / closing index.

[0007]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a door opening / closing switch, which is a door (not shown) of a storage room formed inside the refrigerator body.
The number of times of opening and closing is detected. Reference numeral 2 denotes an opening / closing frequency accumulation circuit as a counting means for accumulating the number of opening / closing times detected by the door opening / closing switch 1, and reference numeral 3 denotes an opening / closing frequency memory for storing an integrated value of the opening / closing frequency accumulation circuit 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a compressor operation time integration unit, which indirectly integrates a cooling operation time of a cooler (not shown) of the storage room that forms a refrigeration cycle together with the compressor by integrating the operation time of the compressor.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a characteristic detecting means, which receives input of opening / closing frequency data Hi (described later) set according to the number of times of opening / closing of the door stored in the opening / closing frequency memory 3, and detects several kinds of characteristics of the opening / closing frequency data. ing. The integrated data of the compressor operating time integrating section 4 is also input to the feature detecting means 5.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a defrost timing determining means as a defrost signal generating means for generating a defrost start signal for controlling defrost.
A feature amount to be described later, which is an output signal of the feature detection means 5,
An output signal of the compressor operating rate calculation unit 7 is input, a defrost timing is determined based on these two signals, and a defrost start signal is output. The defrost start signal is sent to the defrost control circuit, and based on this signal, the refrigerant flow switching valve of the refrigeration cycle is switched to supply a high-temperature refrigerant to the cooler or to generate heat in the electric heater. The defroster functions to defrost the cooler.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a timer which divides the time of day into a plurality of time zones, and the divided predetermined time TC (described later)
Each time, the opening / closing frequency memory 3 is started.

Each time the opening / closing frequency accumulation circuit 2 is started in the opening / closing frequency memory 3 at predetermined time intervals TC, the integrated opening / closing frequency C _ij within each predetermined time period TC (described later).
Is transmitted to the opening / closing frequency memory 3 and stored.

The opening / closing frequency memory 3, as shown in FIG. 2, is constituted by an m × n matrix. Where m =
24 / TC, n is the required data storage days. The predetermined time TC is specifically set to one hour.

As shown in FIG. 3, the feature detecting means 5 is constituted by a multilayer neural network. The number of cells in the input layer 9 of the neural network 5 is m + 1
The number of cells in the output layer 10 is set to NT and the number of cells in the intermediate layer 11 is set to a necessary and sufficient number in accordance with the number of types of features to be detected.

In the cells of the input layer 9, integrated data S of the operating time of the compressor from the end of the previous defrosting operation are respectively stored.
T and opening / closing frequency data H ₀ , H ₁ ,..., H _{m for} each time zone
Is entered. The input data H ₀ , H ₁ ,
.., _Hm are hourly opening / closing evaluation indices of the day as door opening / closing indices for each time zone set by the door opening / closing index setting means (not shown). Time zone i
Indicates the average number of times the door has been opened and closed in the past n days.

[0016]

(Equation 1)

## EQU1 ##

CH output from each cell of the output layer 10
_i indicates the feature to be detected with a degree of saliency of 0 to
1 is shown quantitatively at a potential level of 1, and the characteristic amount CH _i
Expressed as

As shown in FIG. 4, the feature detecting means 5 has a storage function for storing seven types of opening / closing frequency transition patterns, and compares the opening / closing frequency data with new opening / closing frequency data. And a detection function for detecting a feature. Each of the transition patterns typifies the transition mode of the five opening / closing frequency data of the current time zone H ₀ , the next time zone H ₁ , and the next next time zone H ₂ , H ₃ , and H _4. those closing frequency data value is 0 hours H ₀ to the time zone H ₄ of the next 5 hours, the pattern is that switching frequency data value is sequentially increased, the pattern is that the data value is sequentially decreased, the pattern data The value transition state is a valley type, the pattern is a data value transition state of an early valley type, the pattern is a transition state of a mountain shape, and the pattern is a constant with a large data value. Further, the neural network 5 compares the new opening / closing frequency data input to the input layer 9 with the pattern,
The degree of approximation of the transition state of the opening / closing frequency data with respect to this pattern is output as the characteristic amount CH _{O. In} the opposite case, the output level is 0.
The output level is raised to 1 and the output level becomes 1 in the case of exactly the same. Similarly, this neural network 5
Then, the transition state of the new opening / closing frequency data is compared with each of the patterns, and the degree of approximation to the pattern is output as a feature CH1 at an output level of 0 to _1. Similarly, each of the feature CHs corresponding to the pattern is output.
₂ , CH ₃ , CH ₄ , CH ₅ , and CH ₆ .

The defrosting timing determining means 6 inputs the signals of the characteristic quantities CH _{0 to} CH ₆ , and receives these signals CH _0.
Feature amount of to CH ₆ outputs a defrosting start signal to determine the appropriate defrosting time by using the fuzzy inference by considering (the approximate amount represented by the 0-1 level for each pattern) I do. The feature amounts CH _{0 to} CH ₆ correspond to, for example, the number of peaks of the opening / closing frequency data per day, the interval between the peaks, and the pattern of the difference in the opening / closing frequency between summer and winter.

In the defrost control device, at any time,
The value of the time of
Total operating time of the motor and the opening and closing of the doors up to that time
Input frequency data to neural network 5
And whether it is appropriate to perform the defrosting operation at that time
Make a decision. Specifically, the neural network 5
When a predetermined time has elapsed after integrating the operation time of the impreza
The opening / closing frequency data H₀, H₁, ‥‥ H_mAnd each of the above
Turn and compare with each of these patterns ~
Of each feature CH₀~ CH₆Between 0 and 1
Weighted features CH₀~ CH₆As the defrost Thailand
The defrosting timing is input to the
In stage 6, a fuzzy inference of the IF to THEN type is performed.
Thus, a defrost start signal is output. For example, this defrost Thailand
In the mining determining means 6, the feature amount CH ₀Level is really large
, The status of the open / close frequency data is a pattern
Inferred that there was no opening and closing of the door until 5 hours from the present time
Defrosting can be started or, on the contrary, the characteristic amount CH_TwoThe size of the level
If the opening and closing frequency data is a pattern,
Infer that opening and closing of the door will be lost after a while, and defrost for 5 to 6 hours
Or run it later. In this defrost control device, the IF
~ By adopting the THEN inference structure, the intention of the designer
Is easily reflected in the circuit configuration, and the neural network
Learning can be easily performed.

The defrosting timing determining means 6 also receives the signal of the compressor operating rate calculating section 7 as a characteristic amount signal. If the operating rate of the compressor is high, it is determined that it is summer and the defrosting start time is shortened. If the operation rate is low, it is determined that the operation is in winter, and fine adjustments such as extending the defrost start time are performed.

As for the learning method of the neural network 5, the desired data ST, _Hi and C
As the number Kesho decided teacher signal it to the timing of H _i,
The coupling coefficients and thresholds of the cells forming the net neural network 5 are determined in advance by a learning method such as back propagation, so that the error between the teacher signal and the output result is equal to or less than a certain value.

By learning in this manner, the neural network 5 stores the opening / closing frequency patterns and has a classification / typing function based on these patterns. it becomes possible to generate a suitable characteristic quantity CH ₀ to CH ₆ the neural network 5 performs automatic interpolation when the input signal is input at the time of actual operation of the refrigerator in.

In the defrost control device, defrosting can be performed in a time period when the door is not frequently opened and closed, so that the door is frequently opened and closed in a state where the storage room cannot be cooled. Abnormal temperature rise can be prevented. Also, the feature detection unit 5, the transition patterns - the switching frequency to several storage, by comparing the several transition patterns - and new off frequency data H _i,
The switching frequency data H _i wherein several kinds detect the, since outputs a defrosting start signal based on the several features CH ₀ to CH _NT, immediately derive a defrosting start signal from the switching frequency data H _i This makes it easier to finely adjust the circuit configuration and the defrosting timing as compared with the case where the defrosting is performed.

[0026]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, defrosting can be performed in a time period when the door is not frequently opened and closed, so that the door is frequently opened and closed while the storage room cannot be cooled. That is, it is possible to prevent an abnormal rise in the temperature of the storage room.

Also, based on the feature quantity generated and output by the feature detecting means, the feature quantity representing the feature of the change pattern of the door opening / closing index in the time zone corresponding to the current time and a plurality of time zones before this time zone. Since the frost start signal is generated, the circuit configuration and the fine adjustment of the defrost timing can be easily performed as compared with the case where the defrost start signal is immediately derived from the door opening / closing index.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an opening / closing frequency memory provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a feature detection unit provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a feature detecting unit provided in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 switching frequency memory 5, wherein the detection means 6 defrosting timing determining means H _i-off frequency data CH ₀ to CH _NT characteristic quantity

(72) Inventor Seiji Fukushima 2-18-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masashi Toyoshima 2-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. In-company (56) References JP-A-54-28055 (JP, A) JP-A-63-254379 (JP, A) JP-A-5-26564 (JP, A) JP-A-4-273981 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F25D 21/06-21/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A defrosting control device for a refrigerator having a defrosting device, comprising: counting means for counting the number of times the refrigerator door is opened and closed for each of a plurality of time zones constituting one day; An opening / closing frequency memory for storing the number of times the door is opened / closed, and
A door opening / closing index setting means for setting the closing frequency data as a door opening / closing index, and a time zone corresponding to the current time based on the door opening / closing index.
And the change of the door opening / closing index for several time periods before this time period.
The shift pattern is detected, and the shift pattern is stored in advance as the shift pattern.
The degree of approximation with multiple types of transition patterns is generated as a feature value.
A feature detection means for form output, and characterized in that it comprises a, a defrosting signal generating means for generating a defrosting start signal for controlling the defrosting apparatus, based on the feature quantity from the feature detecting means Refrigerator defrost control device. 2. A defrosting control device for a refrigerator having a defrosting device.
There is a plurality of the opening and closing times of the refrigerator door of each time period make up the daily
Counting means for counting the number, and opening and closing for storing the number of times the door is opened and closed for each time period
A frequency memory and an opening for each time period according to the number of times the door is opened and closed for each time period.
Door opening / closing index setting that sets closing frequency data as door opening / closing index
Setting means and a time zone corresponding to the current time based on the door opening / closing index.
And the change of the door opening / closing index for several time periods before this time period.
A new feature that generates and outputs features representing the features of the transfer pattern
A feature detecting means constituted by a neural network, and the defrosting device based on a feature amount from the feature detecting means.
A defrosting control device for a refrigerator, comprising: a defrosting signal generating unit that generates a defrosting start signal to be controlled.