Refrigerator and control method thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator capable of having a storage compartment configured for a converted use as a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment includes a refrigerating compartment; a converting compartment configured for a variable use among freezing, refrigerating, and off; a cold air flow supplying apparatus having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an expanding valve, a draft fan, a cold air flow supplying apparatus; a converting damper apparatus installed at the converting compartment discharging flow path for controlling the supply of the cold air flow to the converting compartment; and a refrigerating compartment damper apparatus installed at the refrigerating compartment discharging flow path for controlling the supply of the cold air flow to the refrigerating compartment.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a body;   a first storage room and a second storage room compartmentally provided to each other at an inside of the body;   a compressor, an condenser, and a evaporator configured to compose a cooling cycle;   a first flow path and a second flow path configured to guide the cold air flow generated at the evaporator to the first storage room and the second storage room, respectively;   a draft fan configured to circulate the cold air flow generated from the evaporator;   a first cold air flow control apparatus and a second cold air flow control apparatus installed at the first flow path and the second flow path, respectively, and configured to control the supply of the cold air flow; and   a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the first storage room and the second storage room, wherein:   among a first mode configured to use the first storage room and the second storage room for freezing and refrigerating, respectively; a second mode for refrigerating and refrigerating, respectively; a third mode for off and refrigerating, respectively; one mode can be established, and   in a case that the first mode is established, the operation of the compressor is decided based on the temperature of the first storage room, and in a case that the second mode or the third mode is established, the operation of the compressor is decided based on the temperature of the second storage room.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case that the first mode is established, the compressor is operated until the temperature of the first storage room reaches a freezing temperature and stops when the temperature of the first storage room reaches a freezing temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a case that the second mode or the third mode is established, the compressor is operated until the temperature of the second storage room reaches a refrigerating temperature and stops when the temperature of the second storage room reaches a refrigerating temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a case that the first mode is established, the second cold air flow control apparatus shuts off the supply of the cold air flow to the second storage room when the temperature of the second storage room reaches the refrigerating temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a case that the second mode is established, the first cold air flow control apparatus shuts off the supply of the cold air flow to the first storage room when the temperature of the first storage room reaches the refrigerating temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a case that the third mode is established, the first cold air flow control apparatus shuts off the supply of the cold air flow to the first storage room.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a case that the second mode or the third mode is established, cold air flow is intermittently circulated at the first flow path to prevent frost from forming at the first flow path.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in a case that the second mode or the third mode is established, cold air flow is circulated to at least one of either the first flow path or the second flow path to reduce the heat of the evaporator during or after the defrosting of the evaporator.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the draft fan is a radial flow fan.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a body;   a refrigerating compartment provided at the inside of the body;   a converting compartment provided at the inside of the body and configured to be used as a freezing mode or a refrigerating mode, or be turned off;   a cold air flow supplying apparatus having an compressor, a condenser, an expanding valve, a draft fan, a converting compartment discharging flow path configured to guide the cold air flow generated at the evaporator to the converting compartment, and a refrigerating compartment discharging flow path configured to guide the cold air flow generated from the evaporator to the refrigerating compartment;   a converting compartment cold air flow control apparatus installed at the converting compartment discharging flow path to control the supply of the cold air flow to the converting compartment;   a refrigerating compartment cold air flow control apparatus installed at the refrigerating compartment discharging flow path to control the supply of the cold air flow to the refrigerating compartment; and   a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the converting compartment, wherein:   in a case that the converting compartment is used as the refrigerating mode or is turned off, the operation of the compressor is based on the temperature of the refrigerating compartment.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the cold air flow supplying apparatus further comprises a duct unit configured to divide the converting compartment into a storage space at the front and the cold air flow generating compartment at the rear.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a distributing flow path, which is configured to distribute the cold air flow generated at the cold air flow generating apparatus to the converting compartment discharging flow path and to the refrigerating compartment discharging flow path, is formed at the inside of the duct unit.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the converting compartment discharging flow path comprises a rear flow path formed at the rear of the duct unit and a penetrating flow path connecting the rear flow path and the storage space after penetrating the duct unit.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the cold air flow control apparatus is installed at the rear flow path.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the rear flow path is positioned at one side of the evaporator.   
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of storage rooms provided at the inside of the body;   a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator configured to compose a cooling cycle;   a first flow path and a second flow path configured to guide the cold air flow generated at the evaporator to each of the plurality of storage rooms;   a draft fan configured to circulate the cold air flow generated at the evaporator;   a cold air flow control apparatus installed on the plurality of flow paths and configured to control the supply of the cold air flow;   a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the storage room;   a mode establishing unit configured to establish one mode among a first mode configured to use the plurality of storage rooms for freezing and refrigerating, a second mode for refrigerating and refrigerating, respectively, and a third mode for off and refrigerating, respectively; and   a control unit configured to control the operation of the compressor according to the mode established through the mode establishing unit; and   the control unit, in a case that the first mode is established, the operation of the compressor is controlled based on one of the temperatures of the plurality of storage rooms, and in a case that the second mode or the third mode is established, the operation of the compressor is controlled based on one of the remaining temperatures of the plurality of storage rooms.