Refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having a first electronic controller which controls a second electronic controller. In accordance with the invention, the first electronic controller transmits control signals to the second electronic controller by the selective switching of one or more mains half cycles of a mains voltage. The present invention furthermore comprises a corresponding method for the operation of a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having a first electronic controller which controls a second electronic controller, wherein the first electronic controller transmits control signals to the second electronic controller by the selective switching of one or more mains half cycles of a mains voltage. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the control signals are encoded by the selective switching of individual mains half cycles or of individual mains periods of the mains voltage. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first electronic controller is the unit controller of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit; and/or the second electronic controller is the compressor controller of a speed-regulated compressor. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , comprising a mains voltage line via which the second electronic controller is supplied with mains voltage, wherein the control signals are transmitted via the mains voltage line or via an additional signal line. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the communication between the first electronic controller and the second electronic controller takes place with reference to a protocol which is implemented in both electronic controllers. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein control signals for a switch-on command and/or a switch-off command are transmitted; and/or control signals for the desired speed of a speed-regulated compressor are transmitted; and/or the second electronic controller can be set into a default state by a control signal; and/or a display of an error store and/or a diagnosis routine can be started; and/or the second electronic controller can be set into different modes by the control signals. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the second electronic controller changes into an automatic mode on the absence of control signals. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the control signals include information on the error recognition. 
     
     
         20 . A method for the operation of a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having a first electronic controller which controls a second electronic controller, in particular for the operation of a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 11 , comprising the steps of
 generating encoded control signals in the first electronic controller by the selective switching of one or more mains half cycles of a mains voltage; and   decoding the control signals in the second electronic controller.   
     
     
         21 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the first electronic controller is the unit controller of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit; and/or the second electronic controller is the compressor controller of a speed-regulated compressor. 
     
     
         22 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 21 , comprising a mains voltage line via which the second electronic controller is supplied with mains voltage, wherein the control signals are transmitted via the mains voltage line or via an additional signal line. 
     
     
         23 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 13 , comprising a mains voltage line via which the second electronic controller is supplied with mains voltage, wherein the control signals are transmitted via the mains voltage line or via an additional signal line. 
     
     
         24 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 12 , comprising a mains voltage line via which the second electronic controller is supplied with mains voltage, wherein the control signals are transmitted via the mains voltage line or via an additional signal line. 
     
     
         25 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off. 
     
     
         26 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off. 
     
     
         27 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off. 
     
     
         28 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off. 
     
     
         29 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off. 
     
     
         30 . A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the first controller is suitable, alternatively to the control of the second electronic controller, to control a consumer directly by switching the mains voltage on and off.