Abstract: A refrigerator having an inner case that constitutes a storage compartment, an outer case that is coupled to an outer side of the inner case and constitutes an exterior, and a connector that connects a flexible flat cable (FFC) and wires. The connector includes a first housing having an accommodation space in which the FFC is inserted, a plurality of second housings in which a wire insertion hole into which the wires are inserted, is formed and which are coupled to the first housing, and connection members provided in the first housing and the plurality of second housings so as to electrically connect the FFC and the wires. The connector is installed at the inner case in such a way that the first housing faces the outer case and the second housings face the storage compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerator having an inner case that constitutes a storage compartment, an outer case that is coupled to an outer side of the inner case and constitutes an exterior, and a connector that connects a flexible flat cable (FFC) and wires. The connector includes a first housing having an accommodation space in which the FFC is inserted, a plurality of second housings in which a wire insertion hole into which the wires are inserted, is formed and which are coupled to the first housing, and connection members provided in the first housing and the plurality of second housings so as to electrically connect the FFC and the wires. The connector is installed at the inner case in such a way that the first housing faces the outer case and the second housings face the storage compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for driving a compressor, which are capable of being suitably used for driving a refrigeration system such as a refrigerator with high efficiency and low noise. The compressor driving apparatus including a motor and a compressor driven by the motor includes an inverter which supplies power to the motor to drive the motor; a rotator position detector which detects the position of a rotator of the motor; and an inverter drive controller which includes at least one wave generator for generating an optimal driving wave according to an operation mode and a control mode of the motor, stores the generated optimal driving wave, and drives the inverter with the generated wave.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a device and method of driving a brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The device to drive the BLDC motor includes a rectifier which converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage; an inverter which converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage by switching a plurality of power switches and supplies the converted AC voltage to the BLDC motor; and a microcomputer which detects a position of a rotor before a terminal voltage of the BLDC motor exceeds 1/2 of an output voltage of the rectifier and performs phase switching, when a driving speed of the BLDC motor reaches a rated speed.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of controlling a BLDC motor, including a controller to determine whether the PWM duty of the BLDC motor in driving is desirable, and performing compensation and control processes for the BLDC motor according to the determination result, through a phase voltage measuring scheme, when controlling the operation of the BLDC motor by adjusting voltage applied to three-phase coils of a stator of the BLDC motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a motor, which are capable of accurately controlling a speed of the motor regardless of whether an error occurs in a clock circuit of the apparatus. It is possible to accurately control a speed of the motor regardless of a time error of the clock circuit, which occurs due to a use condition or long-term use, by driving the motor according to an input speed signal, detecting a driving waveform of the driven motor, synchronizing the detected driving waveform with the speed signal, and controlling the speed of the motor.

Abstract: A motor system includes a BLDC (brushless direct current) motor; an inverter driving the BLDC motor; a current detector detecting a direct current of the inverter; an induced voltage detector detecting an induced voltage of the BLDC motor; and a controller controlling at least one of an output voltage and an output frequency of the inverter based on the direct current detected by the current detector and the induced voltage detected by the induced voltage detector.

Abstract: A BLDC motor phase commutation method is provided, which can correctly detect phase commutation timing and position detection timing of a BLDC motor in a compressor to stabilize rotation and RPM of the compressor, thereby minimizing noise and vibration. When the BLDC motor rotates through a mechanical angle corresponding to one period, the BLDC motor operates according to a first scheme in which operation of the BLDC motor in the first phase commutation section of a period is performed in the same manner as in the last phase commutation section of a period immediately prior to the period. After the BLDC motor switches to sensorless mode, the BLDC motor operates according to a third scheme in which the first phase commutation section of a period has a time interval equal to the average of time intervals of first phase commutation sections of periods prior to the period.

Abstract: A method of controlling the speed of a BLDC (brushless direct current) motor and a method of controlling the cooling speed of a refrigerator using the same. A method of controlling the speed of a BLDC motor includes: inputting a driving signal having a predetermined reference current applying angle to the motor to achieve a predetermined reference speed; measuring a rotating speed of the motor; increasing a current applying angle of the driving signal if the measured rotating speed does not reach the reference speed and the driving signal has reached a maximum input of the motor; and inputting the driving signal having the increased current applying angle to the BLDC motor.

Abstract: The invention provides a refrigerator having a compressor, the refrigerator including: a motor driving the compressor; a motor driver supplying power to the motor; and a controller outputting a control signal corresponding to a second command speed to the motor driver, and outputting a control signal corresponding to a first command speed which is higher than the second command speed to the motor driver when a driving on/off ratio of the motor driver is maintained below a given reference driving on/off ratio for a given reference period. Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator to operate a compressor stably and easily under overload or low voltage conditions, and a method for controlling the same.

Abstract: A Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor starting method and device are provided. With the method and/or device, startup noise and vibration and startup failure rate can be reduced using a constant low-speed startup scheme when the BLDC motor is in startup mode. Additionally, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) duty is also maintained at low level when the BLDC motor starts up, thereby preventing excessive current from occurring due to desynchronization of the motor at startup, so that it is possible to optimize specifications of an inverter in the BLDC motor. The BLDC motor starts up with a synchronous speed and a PWM duty of a rotor of the BLDC motor being kept constant, and the BLDC motor switches to sensorless mode if a position of the rotor is detected a predetermined number of times or more during a specific time period.

Abstract: A motor controller, including: a power supply which supplies DC power; an inverter which converts the DC power into AC power to be supplied to a motor; a shunt resistor which connects the power supply and the inverter; and a controller which supplies a control signal to the inverter to drive the motor and determines an error of the inverter when it is determined that a size of voltage between both ends of the shunt resistor is less than a predetermined first reference value. Thus, a motor controller is provided which detects an error of an inverter more easily and precisely, and a control method thereof and an error detecting apparatus of an inverter.

Abstract: A method of controlling a three-phase brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, including (a) arranging a rotor of the three-phase BLDC motor by making a current flow to two of the three phases; (b) rotating the rotor through a phase shift; (c) detecting a position detecting point of time where a sign of an inductive electromotive voltage generated by a rotation of the rotor in a non-exciting phase is initially changed; and (d) calculating a rotation speed of the rotor based on a size of the inductive electromotive voltage of the non-exciting phase detected at the position detecting point of time. Thus, provided is a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor controller and a control method thereof which precisely detects a position detecting point of time of a rotor to determine a rotation speed of a rotor and minimizes noise and vibration during an initial drive of the three-phase BLDC motor.

Abstract: A BLDC motor phase commutation method is provided, which can correctly detect phase commutation timing and position detection timing of a BLDC motor in a compressor to stabilize rotation and RPM of the compressor, thereby minimizing noise and vibration. When the BLDC motor rotates through a mechanical angle corresponding to one period, the BLDC motor operates according to a first scheme in which operation of the BLDC motor in the first phase commutation section of a period is performed in the same manner as in the last phase commutation section of a period immediately prior to the period. After the BLDC motor switches to sensorless mode, the BLDC motor operates according to a third scheme in which the first phase commutation section of a period has a time interval equal to the average of time intervals of first phase commutation sections of periods prior to the period.

Abstract: A refrigerator including a control unit for a condenser fan in connection with operation of a compressor if an outdoor temperature sensor is out of order. Since the condenser fan is driven in connection with the operation of the compressor, a trip phenomenon of the compressor generated due an overload of the compressor can be prevented, which results in stable operation of the refrigerator as well as increased reliability of the refrigerator.

Abstract: A method for controlling a refrigerator having a direction control valve drives a refrigerating fan for a predetermined time when a refrigerant passage is converted to make a refrigerant from a condenser firstly pass a refrigerating evaporator, and enhances a cooling efficiency by applying a residual cool air of the refrigerating evaporator to a refrigerating compartment, after the refrigerating compartment reaches a steady state in a refrigerator having a refrigerating evaporator embodied as an intercooler evaporator.

Abstract: A method for controlling opening/closing of cool air discharge ports of a refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator has a device for opening/closing the ports. The device has a member for opening/closing the ports, and a motor for driving the member. A microcomputer measures temperatures at positions in a cooling compartment, and calculates a difference between the measured temperatures. When the difference is more than a predetermined value, the motor is driven so that the member repeats opening and closing of the ports. Then, the circulation effect of the cool air in the cooling compartment is enhanced, and the temperature in the cooling compartment maintained uniform.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a shutting device for preventing flow of air between an evaporator and a fresh food compartment is disclosed. The shutting device has a shutting member for shutting a space that the evaporator is installed against a cooling compartment, and a motor for driving the shutting member. During a defrosting operation and when the door is open, cool air discharge ports are closed by the shutting member. Thus, the temperature rise of the fresh food compartment due to the heat from a defrosting heater, and the loss of cool air and the generation of frost on the evaporator due to the opening of the door are prevented.

Abstract: A refrigerator having freezing and refrigerating compartments and a refrigerating H.M. cycle and a control method therefor, comprises a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a condenser for condensing refrigerant, a capillary tube for expanding refrigerant, a first evaporator mounted in the refrigerating compartment and a second evaporator mounted in series to the first evaporator in the freezing compartment; the freezing and refrigerating compartments divided from each other to be cooled, separately, a first fan mounted in the refrigerating compartment to circulate air passing through the first evaporator, a second fan mounted in the freezing compartment to circulate air passing through the second evaporator, and a control portion for controlling the operation of the compressor and the freezing and refrigerating fans, thereby performing both compartments to be maintained at the constant temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a defrosting heater. An outdoor air temperature sensor senses a temperature of outside air. A defrosting time period of the heater is set as a function of the outside air temperature. If it is determined that the temperature sensor is inoperative, i.e., if the sensor indicates that the outside air temperature is above 50.degree. C. or below -50.degree. C., the defrosting period which is set is the same, regardless of whether the sensor indicates the outside air temperature to be above 50.degree. C. or below -50.degree. C.