Refrigerator control apparatus

Claim 2

A refrigerator control apparatus comprising: an electronic timer including first, second and third counters, a clock signal being applied to the input stage of said first counter, the output of said first counter being applied to the input stage of said second counter; means for picking up a first timing signal from a predetermined stage of saId first counter; means for picking up a second timing signal from the output stage of said second counter; means for picking up a third timing signal from the output stage of said third counter; means for controlling the overload time of a compressor in response to said first timing signal; means for controlling the suspension time of said compressor in response to said second timing signal; means for controlling the defrosting suspension time in response to said third timing signal; and means for applying the output of said first counter to said third counter during the running time of said compressor.

Claim 3

A refrigerator control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for picking up a fourth timing signal from a predetermined stage of said third counter, means for controlling a maximum defrosting time in response to said fourth timing signal, and means for applying the output of said first counter to said third counter during the defrosting cycle.

Claim 4

A refrigerator control apparatus comprising: first, second and third counters each including a multiple of stages of flip-flops connected in cascade; means for applying a clock signal to the input stage of said first counter; means for applying the output from the output stage of said first counter to the input stage of said second counter; devices to be controlled including a compressor drive motor and a defrosting heater; first and second drive means for driving said compressor drive motor and said defrosting heater respectively; first and second flip-flops producing outputs for controlling said first and second drive means; a temperature sensor for detecting the reaching of a predetermined temperature of the inner space of the refrigerator; an overload sensor for detecting an overcurrent in said compressor; a defrosting completion sensor for detecting the completion of a defrosting operation; a first OR gate impressed with the outputs from said first and second flip-flops; a first AND gate impressed with the output from the output stage of said first counter and the output of said first OR gate, said first AND gate applying its output to the input stage of said third counter; means for picking up a first timing signal from a predetermined stage of said first counter; means for picking up a second timing signal from the output stage of said second counter; means for picking up a third timing signal from the output stage of said third counter; a second AND gate impressed with the output of said overload sensor and said first timing signal from said first counter; a second OR gate impressed with the output of said second AND gate and the output of said temperature sensor, said second OR gate producing an output for resetting said first flip-flop and said second counter; means for setting said first flip-flop in response to said second timing signal from said second counter; means for setting said second flip-flop in response to said third timing signal from said third counter; and means for resetting said second flip-flop in response to the output from said defrosting completion sensor.

Claim 5

A refrigerator control apparatus comprising: first, second and third counters each including a multiple of stages of flip-flops connected in cascade; means for applying a clock signal to the input stage of said first counter; means for applying the output from the output stage of said first counter to the input stage of said second counter; devices to be controlled including a compressor drive motor and a defrosting heater; first and second drive means for driving said compressor drive motor and said defrosting heater respectively; first and second flip-flops producing outputs for controlling said first and second drive means; a temperature sensor for detecting the reaching of a predetermined temperature of the inner space of the refrigerator; an overload sensor for detecting an overcurrent in said compressor; a defrosting completion sensor for detecting the completion of a defrosting operation; a first OR gate impressed with the outputs from said first and second flip-flops; a first AND gate impressed with the output from the output stage of said first counter and the output of said first OR gate, said first AND gate applying its output to the input stage of said third counter; means for picking up a first timing signal from a predetermined stage of said first counter; means for picking up a second timing signal from the output stage of said second counter; means for picking up a third timing signal from the output stage of said third counter; a second AND gate impressed with the output of said overload sensor and said first timing signal from said first counter; a second OR gate impressed with the output of said second AND gate and the output of said temperature sensor, said second OR gate producing an output for resetting said first flip-flop and said second counter; means for setting said first flip-flop in response to said second timing signal from said second counter; means for setting said second flip-flop in response to said third timing signal from said third counter; and means for resetting said second flip-flop in response to the output from said defrosting completion sensor.

Claim 6

A refrigerator control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for picking up a fourth timing signal from a predetermined stage of said third counter and a third OR gate impressed with said fourth timing signal and the output of said defrosting completion sensor, said third OR gate producing an output for resetting said second flip-flop.

Claim 7

A refrigerator control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for applying the output of said second flip-flop to said second OR gate.

Claim 8

A refrigerator control apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a fan motor to be controlled, third drive means for driving said fan motor, a third flip-flop producing an output for controlling said third drive means, means for setting said third flip-flop in response to the output from said first flip-flop, and means for resetting said third flip-flop in response to the output of said second flip-flop.