Refrigerator and home appliance

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a compressor, a capacitor to store direct current (DC) power, an inverter to convert the DC power into alternating current (AC) power and to output the AC power for driving of the compressor, a defrosting heater to operate using the AC power from the inverter, a switching unit connected between the inverter and the defrosting heater to supply the AC power from the inverter to at least one of the defrosting heater or the compressor, and a compressor microcomputer to control the inverter. The refrigerator enables simplified driving of the defrosting heater using AC power output from the inverter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a compressor;   a capacitor to store direct current (DC) power;   an inverter to convert the DC power into alternating current (AC) power and to output the AC power for driving of the compressor;   a defrosting heater to operate using the AC power from the inverter;   a switching unit connected between the inverter and the defrosting heater to supply the AC power from the inverter to at least one of the defrosting heater or the compressor; and   a compressor microcomputer to control the inverter.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor microcomputer controls operation of the switching unit. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein an operation duration of the defrosting heater is spaced apart from an operation duration of the compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising an output current detector to detect output current from the inverter,
 wherein the compressor microcomputer calculates refrigerator power consumption based on the output current.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an output current detector to detect output current from the inverter; and   an output voltage detector to detect output voltage from the inverter,   wherein the compressor microcomputer calculates refrigerator power consumption based on the output current and the output voltage.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input current detector to detect input current of AC power inputted to the refrigerator;   a converter to convert the input AC power into DC power; and   a DC terminal voltage detector to detect voltage at two terminals of the capacitor,   wherein the compressor microcomputer calculates refrigerator power consumption based on the detected input current and the detected DC terminal voltage.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the compressor microcomputer calculates the refrigerator power consumption based on the detected input current, the detected DC terminal voltage, and a power factor value. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the compressor microcomputer sets a greater power factor value when the compressor is operated to supply cold air into a refrigerating compartment than a power factor value when the compressor is operated to supply cold air into a freezing compartment, and to calculate the refrigerator power consumption based on the set power factor value. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a display; and   a main microcomputer to control the display,   wherein the compressor microcomputer transmits the calculated refrigerator power consumption to the main microcomputer, and   wherein the main microcomputer controls display of the received refrigerator power consumption on the display.   
     
     
         10 . A home appliance comprising:
 a motor;   a capacitor to store DC power;   an inverter to convert the DC power into AC power and to output the AC power for driving of the motor;   a heater to operate using the AC power from the inverter;   a switching unit connected between the inverter and the heater to supply the AC power from the inverter to at least one of the heater or the motor; and   a motor microcomputer to control the inverter.   
     
     
         11 . The home appliance according to  claim 10 , wherein the motor microcomputer controls operation of the switching unit. 
     
     
         12 . The home appliance according to  claim 10 , further comprising an output current detector to detect output current from the inverter,
 wherein the motor microcomputer calculates home appliance power consumption based on the output current.   
     
     
         13 . The home appliance according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an output current detector to detect output current from the inverter; and   an output voltage detector to detect output voltage from the inverter,   wherein the motor microcomputer calculates home appliance power consumption based on the output current and the output voltage.   
     
     
         14 . The home appliance according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an input current detector to detect input current of AC power input to the home appliance;   a converter to convert the input AC power into DC power; and   a DC terminal voltage detector to detect voltage at two terminals of the capacitor,   wherein the motor microcomputer calculates home appliance power consumption based on the detected input current and the detected DC terminal voltage.   
     
     
         15 . The home appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein the motor microcomputer calculates the home appliance power consumption based on the detected input current, the detected DC terminal voltage, and a power factor value. 
     
     
         16 . The home appliance according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a display; and   a main microcomputer to control the display,   wherein the motor microcomputer transmits the calculated home appliance power consumption to the main microcomputer, and   wherein the main microcomputer controls display of the received home appliance power consumption on the display.   
     
     
         17 . The home appliance according to  claim 10 , wherein when the home appliance is a washing machine, the motor microcomputer drives the motor that supplies torque to a drum or a tub, and the motor microcomputer calculates power consumption of the heater and the motor. 
     
     
         18 . The home appliance according to  claim 10 , wherein when the home appliance is an air conditioner, the motor microcomputer drives a compressor motor for an outdoor unit, and the motor microcomputer calculates power consumption of the heater and the compressor motor. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein an operation duration of the defrosting heater overlaps with an operation duration of the compressor.