Defrosting assembly, refrigerator having the same, and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A defrosting assembly, a refrigerator having the same, and a method of controlling the same are provided. The refrigerator may include a food defrosting chamber, which may be divided from a food storage chamber that cools or freezes food, a defrosting device, which may be positioned in and may be removable from the food defrosting chamber, and a thermoelectric module, which may be positioned in the food defrosting chamber to heat an inside of the defrosting device and to cool an outside of the defrosting device. In a defrosting mode, frozen food may be rapidly defrosted by using the defrosting device, while in a general or a rapid cooling mode, the defrosting device may be used for food storage.

1 . A defrosting assembly, comprising:
 a defrosting device configured to be positioned in, and removable from, a food defrosting chamber of a refrigerator; and   a thermoelectric module configured to be positioned in the food defrosting chamber, the thermoelectric module being configured to supply heat to an inside of the defrosting device and to supply cool air to an outside of the defrosting device.   
     
     
         2 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the defrosting device is configured to be assembled with or disassembled from the thermoelectric module by sliding the defrosting device into the food defrosting chamber of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         3 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the defrosting device has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the defrosting device is a drawer comprising a door handle and a receiving space. 
     
     
         5 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric module comprises:
 a thermoelectric plate that generates heat on a first side and removes heat from a second side by electric force;   a heat sink plate positioned on the first side of the thermoelectric plate that diffuses the generated heat; and   a fan positioned on the heat sink plate that circulates the diffused heat.   
     
     
         6 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the heat sink plate comprises a plurality of pins or fins. 
     
     
         7 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the defrosting device further comprises a guide hole configured to receive the thermoelectric module therein as the defrosting device is assembled with or disassembled from the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         8 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the defrosting device is assembled with the thermoelectric module to position a front side of the thermoelectric plate to face a back side of the defrosting device, and wherein the heat sink plate and the fan are configured to pass through the guide hole. 
     
     
         9 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a damper positioned on the defrosting device, the damper being configured to open and close an opening hole on the defrosting device. 
     
     
         10 . The defrosting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of dampers positioned on the defrosting device, the plurality of dampers being configured to open and close a plurality of opening holes on the defrosting device. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator comprising the defrosting assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , further comprising a food storage chamber configured to cool or freeze food, the food defrosting chamber being divided from the food storage chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller that controls the refrigerator in a defrosting mode to defrost food stored in the defrosting device, wherein, in the defrosting mode, the controller turns on a thermoelectric plate and a fan of the thermoelectric module, and closes a damper on the defrosting device. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller that controls the refrigerator in a general cooling mode to cool food stored in the defrosting device, wherein, in the general cooling mode, the controller turns off a thermoelectric plate and a fan of the thermoelectric module, and opens a damper on the defrosting device. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller that controls the refrigerator in a rapid cooling mode to rapidly cool food stored in the defrosting device, wherein, in the rapid cooling mode, the controller turns off a thermoelectric plate of the thermoelectric module, turns on a fan of the thermoelectric module, and opens a damper on the defrosting device. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a defrosting assembly, the method comprising:
 receiving a mode selection from a user, the mode being selected from a plurality of modes including a defrosting mode, a rapid cooling mode, and a general cooling mode; and   controlling a thermoelectric module and a damper of the defrosting assembly based on the mode selection.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising assembling the defrosting assembly by sliding a defrosting device into a food defrosting chamber of a refrigerator, wherein a guide hole on the defrosting device mates to a thermoelectric module positioned in the food defrosting chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the mode selection from a user comprises receiving a selection of the defrosting mode, and wherein controlling the thermoelectric module and the damper of the defrosting assembly based on the mode selection comprises:
 controlling a thermoelectric plate of the thermoelectric module to be on;   controlling a fan of the thermoelectric module to be on; and   closing the damper.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein controlling the thermoelectric plate of the thermoelectric module and the fan of the thermoelectric module comprises controlling the thermoelectric plate and the fan to be on for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the mode selection from a user comprises receiving a selection of the general cooling mode, and wherein controlling the thermoelectric module and the damper of the defrosting assembly based on the mode selection comprises:
 controlling a thermoelectric plate of the thermoelectric module to be off;   controlling a fan of the thermoelectric module to be off; and   opening the damper.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the mode selection from a user comprises receiving a selection of the rapid cooling mode, and wherein controlling the thermoelectric module and the damper of the defrosting assembly based on the mode selection comprises:
 controlling a thermoelectric plate of the thermoelectric module to be off;   controlling a fan of the thermoelectric module to be on; and   opening the damper.   
     
     
         22 . A method for controlling a defrosting assembly for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 assembling a defrosting assembly by sliding a defrosting device into a food defrosting chamber of a refrigerator, wherein a guide hole on the defrosting device mates to a thermoelectric module positioned in the food defrosting chamber;   receiving a mode selection from a user; and   controlling the thermoelectric module and a damper provided on the defrosting device based on the mode selection, wherein controlling the thermoelectric module and the damper comprises:
 controlling a thermoelectric plate of the thermoelectric module to generate heat; 
 controlling a fan of the thermoelectric module to circulate air inside the defrosting device; and 
 opening or closing the damper.