US20050126207A1

US20050126207A1 - Refrigerator and method of controlling the same

Info

Publication number: US20050126207A1
Application number: US10/972,539
Authority: US
Inventors: Jung-Hoon Lee; Jong-Dal Lee
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-11
Filing date: 2004-10-26
Publication date: 2005-06-16
Also published as: KR20050058040A; EP1541945A3; KR100549073B1; EP1541945A2

Abstract

A refrigerator including [comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct comprising at least one exiting hole and one returning hole communicating respectively with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator provided in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, and generating cooling air, and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan provided in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively, through the exiting hole and to return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole, comprising:] an auxiliary storage provided in a main body; an auxiliary supply duct, branched off from one of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct, to supply the cooling air transferred by a corresponding fan to a auxiliary storage; an auxiliary returning duct returning the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct; and an auxiliary damper in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to open and close to respectively supply and block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-0090283, filed Dec. 11, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, and particularly to, a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same to efficiently cool an auxiliary storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
A refrigerator generally comprises a main body formed with a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, doors, installed in a front of the main body, to open and close front openings of the refrigerator and the freezer compartment, respectively, a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator.
Among conventional refrigerators, a refrigerator using an individual cooling method comprises: a main body forming a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct including at least one exiting hole and one returning hole to communicate with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively; a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator, provided in the freezer compartment main duct and in the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to generate cooling air; and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan, provided in the freezer compartment main duct and in the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively, through the exiting hole and to suck the cooling air into the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole.
Therefore, the cooling air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator is transferred by the freezer compartment fan and let into the freezer compartment through the exiting hole formed on a surface of the freezer compartment main duct to circulate in the freezer compartment. The cooling air within the freezer compartment circulates back into the freezer compartment evaporator through the returning hole formed on the surface of the freezer compartment main duct again.
Meanwhile, the cooling air generated from the refrigerator compartment evaporator is transferred by the refrigerator compartment fan, and cools the refrigerator compartment independently.
In the conventional refrigerator, an auxiliary storage commonly provides additional usage such as storing vegetables. A conventional refrigerator supplies the cooling air let out through an exiting hole formed on the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment to the auxiliary storage with a cooling air supplying fan as disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 1998-11513.
However, in such case, there exists a problem that a temperature of the auxiliary storage cannot be controlled independently and the temperature of the auxiliary storage depends on a temperature of the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment.
Also, the cooling air in the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment leaks into the auxiliary storage, thereby decreasing a cooling efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same to cool an auxiliary storage efficiently.
The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. Each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct comprises at least one exiting hole and one returning hole respectively communicating with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. A freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator, included in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, generate cooling air. A freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan, provided in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively, through the exiting hole and return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole. The refrigerator further comprises an auxiliary storage included in the main body; an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct to supply the cooling air transferred by a corresponding fan to the auxiliary storage; an auxiliary returning duct to return the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct; and an auxiliary damper, included at least in one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to open and close to supply or block, respectively, the cooling air to and the fan auxiliary storage.
According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises a refrigerator compartment damper provided in the refrigerator compartment main duct and to open and close to supply or block the cooling air to and the fan refrigerator compartment.
According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises: a refrigerator compartment temperature detector to detect a temperature in the refrigerator compartment; a refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan; an auxiliary damper driver and a refrigerator compartment damper driver to respectively drive an auxiliary damper and the refrigerator compartment damper included in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct communicating with the refrigerator compartment main duct; and a controller to control the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to make a refrigerator compartment temperature reach a refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator compartment fan and opening the refrigerator compartment damper and closing the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver and the auxiliary damper driver to make the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper and opening the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector and the auxiliary storage temperature detector, respectively, are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to stop the driving of the refrigerator compartment fan and to close the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector is determined to have reached the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, open the refrigerator compartment damper, and to close the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and a frost removal cycle should be implemented.
According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises: an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage; a freezer compartment fan driver to drive the freezer compartment fan; an auxiliary damper driver to drive the auxiliary damper, included in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, which communicates with the freezer compartment main duct; and a controller to control the freezer compartment fan driver and the auxiliary damper driver to make the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by driving the freezer compartment fan and opening the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the controller controls the auxiliary damper driver to close the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the refrigerator further comprises the refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and the frost removal cycle should be implemented.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the above and other aspects may be achieved by providing a method of controlling a refrigerator comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct comprising at least one exiting hole and one returning hole to communicate respectively with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator, included in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to generate cooling air, and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan, included in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator through the exiting hole and to return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole. The refrigerator further comprises an auxiliary storage in the main body, an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct to supply the cooling air transferred by a corresponding fan to the auxiliary storage, an auxiliary returning duct to return the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct, and an auxiliary damper to open and close to supply or block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage, to open the auxiliary damper, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, and to close the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of controlling the refrigerator comprises: providing a refrigerator compartment damper to open and close, in the refrigerator compartment main duct in advance, to supply or block the cooling air to the refrigerator compartment; detecting a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; and making the refrigerator compartment temperature reach an refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator compartment fan. The method further comprises opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing an auxiliary damper provided in at least one of an auxiliary supply duct and auxiliary returning duct communicating with the refrigerator compartment main duct, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper and opening the auxiliary damper, if a temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to be higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises controlling a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises driving the refrigerator compartment fan and closing the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is determined to have reached the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises driving the refrigerator compartment fan, opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and a frost removal cycle should be implemented.
According to another aspect of the invention, the method of controlling the refrigerator further comprises making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by driving the freezer compartment fan and opening the auxiliary damper provided in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct communicating with the freezer compartment main duct, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.
Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the first and the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention
FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating states of each components during a cooling cycle of the refrigerator according to the first and the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating states of each components during a cooling cycle of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a control flow chart of the refrigerator according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a control flow chart of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
For various embodiments, components having a same structure will be described in a first embodiment representatively, using same referential numerals, and only components other than ones describe in the first embodiment will be described in other embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, a refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises: a main body 3 forming a freezer compartment 5 on a left side and a refrigerator compartment 7 on a right side; a freezer compartment main duct 10 and a refrigerator compartment main duct 14 provided on rear surfaces of the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 7 of the main body 3, respectively, and comprising at least one exiting hole and one returning hole in each main duct; a freezer compartment evaporator (not shown) and a refrigerator compartment evaporator (not shown) installed in the freezer compartment main duct 10 and in the refrigerator compartment main duct 14, respectively, to generate cooling air; a freezer compartment fan 12 and a refrigerator compartment fan 16 to transfer the cooling air, generated from the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator to the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 7, respectively, and to circulate the cooling air in the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 7 into the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively; and a refrigerator compartment damper 18 provided on a top end of the refrigerator compartment main duct 14.
The refrigerator 1 further comprises an auxiliary storage 9, included on a bottom of the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 7, which is partitioned by a wall. An auxiliary supply duct 20, branched off from the refrigerator compartment main duct 14, supplies the cooling air transferred by the refrigerator compartment fan 16 to the auxiliary storage 9. An auxiliary returning duct 24 circulates the cooling air in the auxiliary storage 9 to the refrigerator compartment evaporator in the refrigerator compartment main duct 14. Auxiliary dampers 26 in the auxiliary supply duct 20, and the auxiliary returning duct 24, respectively, along with the refrigerator compartment damper 18 may be opened and closed so that the cooling air can be supplied to and stopped from being supplied to the refrigerator compartment 7 and the auxiliary storage 9.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the refrigerator 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, a configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is mostly identical to that of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
While the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment is provided with the respective auxiliary dampers 26 in the auxiliary supply duct 20 and the auxiliary returning duct 24, the refrigerator 1 according to a second embodiment is provided with the auxiliary damper 26 only in the auxiliary returning duct 24.
Even if the cooling air is supplied through the auxiliary supply duct 20, the cooling air will not return to the refrigerator compartment evaporator and will not circulate as long as the auxiliary damper 26 is in a closed state. Accordingly, pressure within the auxiliary storage 9 increases and the cooling air does not flow into the auxiliary storage 9.
Also, it is possible to provide the auxiliary damper 26 only in the auxiliary supply duct 20, not like the embodiments described above.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the refrigerator 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment comprises: the auxiliary storage 9, on the bottom of the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 7, which is partitioned by a wall; the auxiliary supply duct 60, branched off from the freezer compartment main duct 10, to supply the cooling air transferred by the freezer compartment fan 12 to the auxiliary storage 9; the auxiliary returning duct 64 to return the cooling air, within the auxiliary storage 9, to the freezer compartment evaporator of the freezer compartment main duct 10; and the auxiliary dampers 66 in the auxiliary supply duct 60 and the auxiliary returning duct 64, respectively.
In the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment, the auxiliary supply duct 60, the auxiliary returning duct 64 and the auxiliary damper 66 are included in the freezer compartment 5 as an example.
Herein, the dampers 66 are included in the auxiliary supply duct 60 and the auxiliary returning duct 64. However, including the auxiliary damper 66 in one of the auxiliary supply duct 60 and the auxiliary returning duct 64 is also possible.
FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator 1 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.
As shown therein, the refrigerator 1 comprises: a refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32, a freezer compartment temperature detector 34, and an auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 to detect temperatures in the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9, respectively; a compressor driver 40 to drive a compressor 38; a refrigerator compartment fan driver 42 and a freezer compartment fan driver 44, which drive the refrigeration compartment fan 16 and the freezer compartment fan 12, respectively; a refrigerator compartment damper driver 46 and an auxiliary damper driver 48 to drive the refrigerator compartment damper 18 and the auxiliary damper 26, respectively; a controller 50 controlling the compressor driver 40, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42, the freezer compartment fan driver 44, the refrigerator compartment damper driver 46, and the auxiliary damper driver 48 based on results detected by the temperature detectors 32, 34, and 36 in the respective compartments.
The controller 50 determines whether each compartment requires a cooling operation according to the temperatures of the respective compartments detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32, the freezer compartment temperature detector 34, and the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36.
The controller 50 compares a freezer compartment temperature, which is detected by the freezer compartment temperature detector 34, to a freezer compartment pre-set temperature. If the detected freezer compartment temperature is higher than the pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the compressor driver 40 and the freezer compartment fan driver 44 to drive the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12, respectively.
Meanwhile, the controller 50 compares a refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32 and a refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature. If the detected refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the compressor driver 40 and the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42 to drive the compressor 38 and the refrigerator compartment fan 16, respectively. Also, the controller 50 controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver 46 and auxiliary damper driver 48 to open the refrigerator compartment damper 18 and to close the auxiliary damper 26, respectively, so that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 7 reaches the pre-set temperature.
If the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 7 is determined to be the pre-set temperature and the detected auxiliary storage temperature is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver 46 and the auxiliary damper driver 48 to close the refrigerator compartment damper 18 and to open the auxiliary damper 26, respectively.
Accordingly, the cooling air, which is generated in the refrigerator compartment evaporator, is supplied to the auxiliary storage 9 through the auxiliary supply duct 20, and the cooling air within the auxiliary storage 9 returns to the refrigerator compartment evaporator through the auxiliary returning duct 24. Accordingly, the auxiliary storage 9 can be cooled by the cooling air generated in the refrigerator compartment evaporator.
Also, if the auxiliary storage temperature detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 is determined to be the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42 to stop the driving of the refrigerator compartment fan 16, and controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver 46 and the auxiliary damper driver 48 to close the refrigerator compartment damper 18 and the auxiliary damper 26, respectively, so that the cooling air is not supplied to the auxiliary storage 9.
Also, after the auxiliary storage temperature is satisfied, the controller 50 determines whether the freezer compartment temperature detected by the freezer compartment temperature detector 34 reaches the pre-set temperature. If the freezer compartment temperature is satisfied, the controller 50 controls the compressor driver 40 and the freezer compartment fan driver 44 to stop the driving of the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12 so that the cooling operation is terminated.
After the termination of the cooling operation, a frost removal cycle is implemented during a predetermined period of time. The frost removal cycle is implemented by driving the refrigerator compartment fan 16 during a predetermined period of the time after the compressor 38 stops driving, and opening the refrigerator compartment damper 18, and closing the auxiliary damper 26. With the frost removal cycle, residual cooling air in the refrigerator compartment evaporator, which remains after the compressor 38 stop the driving flows into the refrigerator compartment 7, improves cooling efficiency. Also, frost is removed to some degree without using a frost removal heater (not shown).
FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the refrigerator according to the third embodiment comprises: a refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32, a freezer compartment temperature detector 34, and an auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 to detect temperatures in the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9, respectively; a compressor driver 40 to drive a compressor 38; a refrigerator compartment fan driver 42 and a freezer compartment fan driver 44 to drive a refrigerator compartment fan 16 and a freezer compartment fan 12, respectively; an auxiliary damper driver 48 to drive the auxiliary damper 66; and a controller 50 to control the compressor driver 40, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42, the freezer compartment fan driver 44, and an auxiliary damper driver 48 based on results detected by the temperature detectors 32, 34, and 36 in the respective compartments.
The controller 50 determines whether each compartment requires a cooling operation according to the temperatures of the respective compartments detected by the freezer compartment temperature detector 34, the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32, and the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36. Also, the controller 50 cools the freezer compartment 5 and the refrigerator compartment 7 individually based on the results of the determinations.
If the auxiliary storage temperature detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 is higher than an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the auxiliary damper driver 48 to open the auxiliary damper 66.
Accordingly, the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator is supplied to the auxiliary storage 9 through the auxiliary supply duct 60, and the cooling air in the auxiliary storage 9 returns to the freezer compartment evaporator through the auxiliary returning duct 64. Accordingly, the auxiliary storage 9 can be cooled by the cooling air, which is generated in the freezer compartment evaporator.
Also, if the auxiliary storage temperature detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 is determined to be the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the auxiliary damper driver 48 to close the auxiliary damper 66, so that the supply of the cooling air from the auxiliary storage 9 is stopped.
Herein, a temperature control of the auxiliary storage 9 is implemented with the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator. A temperature of the auxiliary storage 9 reaches an appropriate temperature first because an inner volume of the auxiliary storage 9 is smaller than that of the freezer compartment 5.
After completion of the cooling operation, the frost removal cycle is implemented. The frost removal cycle is implemented by driving the refrigerator compartment fan 16 during a predetermined period of the time after the compressor 38 stops driving. With the frost removal cycle, residual cooling air in the refrigerator compartment evaporator, which remains after the compressor 38 stop the driving, flows into the refrigerator compartment 7 and improves the cooling efficiency. Also, the frost is removed to some degree without using the frost removal heater (not shown).
FIG. 6 illustrates varying states of components such as the freezer compartment 5, the refrigerator compartment 7, and the auxiliary storage 9 of the refrigerator 1 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention during each of the components requires the cooling cycle.
As shown in FIG. 6, the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12 operates until the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment 7, the auxiliary storage 9, and the freezer compartment 5 reach the respective pre-set temperatures and the cooling cycle is completed. Meanwhile, the refrigerator compartment fan 16 operates while the refrigerator compartment 7 and the auxiliary storage 9 are cooled and while the frost is being removed.
The refrigerator compartment damper 18 is opened during the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 7 and during the frost removal cycle. The auxiliary damper 26 is opened during the auxiliary storage 9 is being cooled.
FIG. 7 illustrates varying states of respective components such as the freezer compartment 5, the refrigerator compartment 7, and the auxiliary storage 9 of the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention during each of the components requires the cooling cycle.
As shown in FIG. 7, the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12 operates until the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment 7, the auxiliary storage 9, and the freezer compartment 5 reach the respective pre-set temperatures and the cooling cycle is completed. Meanwhile, the refrigerator compartment fan 16 operates while the refrigerator compartment 7 is cooled and while the frost is being removed. Also, the auxiliary damper 66 is opened while the auxiliary storage 9 is being cooled.
FIG. 8 is a control flow chart of the refrigerator 1 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. As shown therein, if the refrigerator 1 is powered to operate, the controller 50 initializes driving states of the respective components of the cooling cycle based on a previously stored operation program. Accordingly, the refrigerator compartment damper 18 and the auxiliary damper 26 are closed and the compressor 38, refrigerator compartment fan 16, and the freezer compartment fan 12 are stopped at operation 100.
At operation 120, the controller 50 detects the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature using the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32, the freezer compartment temperature detector 34, and the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36, respectively.
At operation 140, the controller 50 determines whether at least one of the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 requires the cooling cycle by comparing the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature with the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, respectively.
Where the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the refrigerator compartment 7 to be engaged, or that freezer compartment temperature is higher than the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the freezer compartment 5 to be engaged, or that the auxiliary storage temperature is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle for the auxiliary storage 9 to be engaged, the controller 50 determines that a request for the cooling cycle exists.
However, as shown in the control flow chart in FIG. 8, operation 160 follows operation 140 when all of the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 require the cooling cycle to operate while operation 320 follows operation 140 when the cooling cycles of the components are completed and not required to operate. Herein, a case that only the refrigerator compartment 7 or the auxiliary storage 9 requires the cooling cycle, or a case that only the freezer compartment 5 requires the cooling cycle is not illustrated.
Also, if the refrigerator compartment 7 or the auxiliary storage 9 are determined to require the cooling cycle at operation 140, the compressor 38 and the refrigerator compartment fan 16 are driven. Similarly, the freezer compartment 5 requires the cooling cycle at operation 140, the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12 is driven.
At operation 160, if the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 are determined to require the cooling cycles to be operational, the controller 50 controls the compressor driver 40, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42, and the freezer compartment fan driver 44 to drive the compressor 38, the refrigerator compartment fan 16, the freezer compartment fan 12, respectively.
Also, at operation 180, the controller 50 controls the auxiliary damper 26, which is initially closed to be kept closed and the refrigerator compartment damper 18, which is initially closed to be opened so that the cooling air, which is transferred by the refrigerator compartment fan 16, flows into the evaporator after circulating in the refrigerator compartment 7 and implements the cooling cycle of the refrigerator compartment 7.
If the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32 is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the refrigerator compartment 7, the controller 50 controls the refrigerator damper 18 to be closed and the auxiliary damper 26 to be opened so that the cooling cycle of the auxiliary storage 9 is implemented at operations 200 and 220.
If the temperature of the auxiliary storage 9 detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the auxiliary storage 9, the controller 50 controls the refrigerator compartment fan 16 to be stopped and the refrigerator compartment damper 18 and the auxiliary damper 26 to be closed at operations 240 and 260.
Also, the controller 50 determines whether the temperature of the freezer compartment 5, which is individually cooled, has reached the freezer compartment pre-set temperature at operation 280. If the freezer compartment temperature is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12 to be stopped so that the cooling cycle is completed at operation 300.
Also, if the cooling cycle is completed, the controller 50 drives the refrigerator compartment fan 16 during a predetermined period of time at operation 320, and controls the refrigerator compartment damper 18 to be opened and the auxiliary damper 26 to be closed during the frost removal cycle at operation 340.
Also, even if the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 were determined in operation 140 that they do not require the cooling cycle, operations 320 and 340 are implemented.
After completion of the frost removal cycle, the operations described above are repeated from operation 120.
Meanwhile, in a conventional refrigerator of individual cooling method, a size of the refrigerator compartment evaporator is about ⅓ of a size of the freezer compartment evaporator. However, the refrigerator compartment evaporator according the embodiments of the present invention have a size that is same as or bigger than a size of the freezer compartment evaporator.
Another reason to provide the size of the refrigerator compartment evaporator described above is to prevent the temperature of the freezer compartment from being satisfied earlier than the temperature of the auxiliary storage.
FIG. 9 is a control flow chart of the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, if the refrigerator 1 is powered to operate, the controller 50 initializes driving states of the respective components of the cooling cycle on a basis of an operation program stored previously. Accordingly, the auxiliary damper 66 is closed and the compressor 38, refrigerator compartment fan 16, and the freezer compartment fan 12 are stopped at operation 400.
At operation 420, the controller 50 detects the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature using the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32, the freezer compartment temperature detector 34, and the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36, respectively.
At operation 440, the controller 50 determines whether at least one of the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 requires the cooling cycle to be operated by comparing the refrigerator compartment temperature, the freezer compartment temperature, and the auxiliary storage temperature with the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, respectively.
Where the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the refrigerator compartment 7 to be operated, or where freezer compartment temperature is higher than the freezer compartment pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle for the freezer compartment 5 to be operated, or where the auxiliary storage temperature is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature, thus requiring the cooling cycle of the auxiliary storage 9 to be operated, the controller 50 determines that a request of the cooling cycle to be operated exists.
However, as shown in the control flow chart in FIG. 9, it is clearly illustrated that operation 460 follows operation 440 when all of the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 require the cooling cycle to be operated while operation 620 follows operation 440 when the cooling cycles of the components are completed and not required anymore. Herein, a case that only the refrigerator compartment 7 or the auxiliary storage 9 requires the cooling cycle, or a case that only the freezer compartment 5 requires the cooling cycle to be operated is not illustrated.
At operation 460, the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 are determined to require the cooling cycles, the controller 50 controls the compressor driver 40, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42, and the freezer compartment fan driver 44 to drive the compressor 38, the refrigerator compartment fan 16, the freezer compartment fan 12, respectively.
Also, at operation 480, the controller 50 controls the auxiliary damper 66 which is initially closed to be opened so that the cooling air which circulates in the freezer compartment 5 by the freezer compartment fan 12, is supplied into the auxiliary storage 9. Accordingly, the cooling cycle of the auxiliary storage 9 is implemented.
If the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector 32 is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the refrigerator compartment 7, the controller 50 controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver 42 to stop the refrigerator compartment fan 16 at operations 500 and 520.
If the temperature of the auxiliary storage 9 detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector 36 is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature of the auxiliary storage 9, the controller 50 controls the auxiliary damper 66 to be closed at operations 540 and 560. Herein, an order in taking operations 500 and 520, and operations 540 and 560 may be reversed.
Also, the controller 50 determines whether the temperature of the individually cooled freezer compartment 5 has reached the freezer compartment pre-set temperature at operation 580. If the freezer compartment temperature is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature, the controller 50 controls the compressor 38 and the freezer compartment fan 12 to be stopped so that the cooling cycle is completed at operation 600.
Also, if the cooling cycle is completed, the controller 50 drives the refrigerator compartment fan 16 for a predetermined period of time to implement the frost removal cycle at operation 620.
Also, even if the refrigerator compartment 7, the freezer compartment 5, and the auxiliary storage 9 are determined, at operation 440, to not require the cooling cycle, operation 620 is implemented.
After completion of the frost removal cycle, the operations described above are repeated from operation 420.
Meanwhile, to satisfy the temperatures of the freezer compartment and the auxiliary storage using the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator, an embodiment of the invention uses a freezer compartment evaporator having a bigger size than that of a conventional freezer compartment evaporator of individual cooling method.
As is described above, the refrigerator according to the embodiments of the present invention cools the auxiliary storage efficiently by providing an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct. The refrigerator supplies cooling air, which is transferred by corresponding fans to an auxiliary storage. An auxiliary returning duct returns the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct. An auxiliary damper, in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, open and close to supply or block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage.
As is described above, the present invention provides a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same cooling an auxiliary storage efficiently.
Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct including at least one exiting hole and one returning hole communicating respectively with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to generate cooling air, and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan provided in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator, respectively, through the exiting hole and to return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole, the refrigerator comprising:

an auxiliary storage in the main body;

an auxiliary supply duct, which is branched off from one of the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, to supply the cooling air, which is transferred by a corresponding fan to the auxiliary storage;

an auxiliary returning duct to return the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct; and

an auxiliary damper included in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to open and close to respectively supply block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerator compartment damper, in the refrigerator compartment main duct, to open and close to respectively supply and block the cooling air to the refrigerator compartment.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising:

a refrigerator compartment temperature detector to detect a temperature in the refrigerator compartment;

a refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan;

an auxiliary damper driver and a refrigerator compartment damper driver to respectively drive the auxiliary damper and the refrigerator compartment damper in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, which communicates with the refrigerator compartment main duct; and

a controller to control the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver such that a refrigerator compartment temperature reaches a refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator fan, opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver and the auxiliary damper driver to make the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper, and opening the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the controller controls a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector and the auxiliary storage temperature detector, respectively, are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to stop the driving of the refrigerator compartment fan and to close the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature, detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature detector, is determined to have reached the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage, detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector, is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to respectively drive the refrigerator compartment fan, open the refrigerator compartment damper, and close the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and a frost removal cycle should be implemented.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage;

a freezer compartment fan driver to drive the freezer compartment fan;

an auxiliary damper driver to drive the auxiliary damper provided in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, which communicates with the freezer compartment main duct; and

a controller to control the freezer compartment fan driver and the auxiliary damper driver such that the temperature of the auxiliary storage reaches an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by driving the freezer compartment fan and opening the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the controller controls the auxiliary damper driver to close the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage detected by the auxiliary storage temperature detector is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising the refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and the frost removal cycle should be implemented.

11. A method of controlling a refrigerator comprising a main body forming a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, each of a freezer compartment main duct and a refrigerator compartment main duct including at least one exiting hole and one returning hole communicating respectively with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to generate cooling air, and a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan in the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, respectively, to let out the cooling air generated in the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator through the exiting hole and to return the cooling air in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment through the returning hole, comprising:

providing an auxiliary storage in the main body, having an auxiliary supply duct branched off from one of the freezer compartment main duct and the refrigerator compartment main duct, to supply the cooling air transferred by a corresponding fan to the auxiliary storage, an auxiliary returning duct returning the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a corresponding main duct, and an auxiliary damper to open and close to respectively supply and block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct;

detecting a temperature in the auxiliary storage;

opening the auxiliary damper, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature; and

closing the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

12. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a refrigerator compartment damper to open and close in the refrigerator compartment main duct in advance to respectively supply and block the cooling air to the refrigerator compartment;

detecting a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; and

making the refrigerator compartment temperature reach an refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator compartment fan, opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing an auxiliary damper in at least one of an auxiliary supply duct and auxiliary returning duct communicating with the refrigerator compartment main duct, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.

13. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 12, further comprising making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper and opening the auxiliary damper, if a temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to be higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

14. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 13, further comprising controlling a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

15. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 14, further comprising driving the refrigerator compartment fan and closing the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is determined to have reached the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

16. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising driving the refrigerator compartment fan, opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to have been completed and a frost removal cycle should be implemented.

17. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by driving the freezer compartment fan and opening the auxiliary damper in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct communicating with the freezer compartment main duct, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

18. A refrigerator, including a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and main ducts in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment each having at least one exiting hole and one returning hole to communicate with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, an evaporator to generate cooling air which circulates through the exiting and the returning holes, refrigerator comprising:

an auxiliary storage;

an auxiliary supply duct branching from one of the main ducts to supply the cooling air to the auxiliary storage;

an auxiliary returning duct to return the cooling air in the auxiliary storage to a main duct; and

an auxiliary damper, in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct, to regulate the circulation of the cooling air to the auxiliary storage.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, further comprising a refrigerator compartment damper, in the refrigerator compartment main duct, to regulate the circulation of the cooling air to the refrigerator compartment.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising a refrigerator compartment temperature detector to detect a temperature in the refrigerator compartment.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 20, further comprising:

a refrigerator compartment fan to circulate cooling air in the refrigerator compartment main duct; and

a refrigerator compartment fan driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 21, further comprising:

an auxiliary damper driver to drive the auxiliary damper; and

a refrigerator compartment damper driver to drive the refrigerator compartment damper.

23. The refrigerator according to claim 22, further comprising a controller to control the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver such that a refrigerator compartment temperature reaches a refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is determined to be higher than a preset temperature.

24. The refrigerator according to claim 23, wherein the controller drives the refrigerator compartment fan, opens the refrigerator compartment damper, and closes the auxiliary damper.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 23, further comprising an auxiliary storage temperature detector to detect a temperature in the auxiliary storage.

26. The refrigerator according to claim 25, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment damper driver and the auxiliary damper driver such that a temperature of the auxiliary storage reaches a pre-set temperature.

27. The refrigerator according to claim 26, wherein the controller closes the refrigerator compartment damper and opens the auxiliary damper, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than the pre-set temperature.

28. The refrigerator according to claim 27, wherein the controller controls a cooling cycle in which the refrigerator compartment is controlled first and the auxiliary storage is controlled second, if the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage are determined to be higher than the pre-set temperatures thereof.

29. The refrigerator according to claim 28, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to stop the driving of the refrigerator compartment fan and to close the refrigerator compartment damper and the auxiliary damper, if the detected refrigerator compartment temperature and the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage reach the pre-set temperatures thereof.

30. The refrigerator according to claim 29, wherein the controller controls the refrigerator compartment fan driver, the refrigerator compartment damper driver, and the auxiliary damper driver to drive the refrigerator compartment fan, to open the refrigerator compartment damper, and to close the auxiliary damper, if the cooling cycles of the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the auxiliary storage are determined to be completed.

31. A method of controlling a refrigerator, including a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and main ducts in the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment each having at least one exiting hole and one returning hole to communicate with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, an evaporator to generate cooling air which circulates through the exiting and the returning holes, the method comprising:

providing an auxiliary storage having an auxiliary supply duct branching from one of the main ducts to supply the cooling air to the auxiliary storage, an auxiliary returning duct returning the cooling air to one of the main ducts, and an auxiliary damper to supply and block the cooling air to the auxiliary storage in at least one of the auxiliary supply duct and the auxiliary returning duct;

detecting a temperature in the auxiliary storage;

opening the auxiliary damper, if the detected temperature of the auxiliary storage is higher than a pre-set temperature; and

closing the auxiliary damper, if the temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to have reached the pre-set temperature.

32. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 31, further comprising:

providing a refrigerator compartment damper opening/closing in the refrigerator compartment main duct in advance to supply or block the cooling air to the refrigerator compartment;

detecting a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; and

making the refrigerator compartment temperature reach an refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature by driving the refrigerator compartment fan, opening the refrigerator compartment damper, and closing an auxiliary damper provided in at least one of an auxiliary supply duct and auxiliary returning duct communicating with the refrigerator compartment main duct, if the refrigerator compartment temperature is higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature.

33. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 32, further comprising making the temperature of the auxiliary storage reach an auxiliary storage pre-set temperature by closing the refrigerator compartment damper and opening the auxiliary damper, if a temperature of the auxiliary storage is determined to be higher than the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.

34. The method of controlling the refrigerator according to claim 33, further comprising controlling a cooling cycle in an order of the refrigerator compartment and the auxiliary storage, if the refrigerator compartment temperature and the temperature of the auxiliary storage are determined to be higher than the refrigerator compartment pre-set temperature and the auxiliary storage pre-set temperature.