Cooling device comprising a thawing compartment and the control method thereof

{
  "publication_number": "US10247465B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Cooling device comprising a thawing compartment and the control method thereof",
  "abstract": "The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a body; a thawing body that is disposed in the body, wherein the frozen foods are placed; a heater that heats the thawing compartment and a sensor that provides the measurement of the humidity of the ambient air of the thawing compartment.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A cooling device comprising: a body; a thawing compartment that is disposed in the body, wherein frozen foods are placed in the thawing compartment; a heater that heats the thawing compartment; a sensor that measures humidity of ambient air of the thawing compartment; and a controller that is disposed on the body, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a humidity level change rate (dH/dt) in the thawing compartment with data received from the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to enable a thawing process to be started if the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) is above a humidity level decrease rate limit value (V 1) determined by a manufacturer or wherein the controller is configured to enable the thawing process to be ended if the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) is between a humidity level increase rate lower limit value (Vbot) determined by the manufacturer and a humidity level increase rate upper limit value (Vtop) determined by the manufacturer.",
    "2. The cooling device as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to enable a thawing compartment cover to be kept locked from a start of the thawing process until an end of the thawing process.",
    "3. The cooling device as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decide that a thawing compartment cover is opened if the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) inside the thawing compartment exceeds the humidity level increase rate upper limit value (Vtop) during the thawing process, and wherein the controller is configured to enable a user to be informed that the thawing process has not ended.",
    "4. The cooling device as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to enable a user to be warned audibly or visually that the thawing process is completed at an end of the thawing process.",
    "5. The cooling device as in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to enable a delivery of cool air into the thawing compartment if a thawing compartment cover is not opened for a predetermined amount of time after a completion of the thawing process.",
    "6. A control method for a cooling device comprising the steps of: calculating a humidity level change rate (dH/dt) inside a thawing compartment of the cooling device; comparing the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) with a humidity level decrease rate limit value (V 1) determined by a manufacturer; and starting a thawing process upon deciding that a frozen food is placed into the thawing compartment because the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) is above the humidity level decrease rate limit value (V 1) determined by the manufacturer.",
    "7. A control method for a cooling device comprising the steps of: calculating a humidity level change rate (dH/dt) inside a thawing compartment of the cooling device; controlling if the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) is between a humidity level increase rate lower limit value (Vbot) determined by a manufacturer and a humidity level increase rate upper limit value (Vtop) determined by the manufacturer after a thawing process has started; and ending the thawing process upon deciding that the thawing process is completed because the humidity level change rate (dH/dt) is between the humidity level increase rate lower limit value (Vbot) determined by the manufacturer and the humidity level increase rate upper limit value (Vtop) determined by the manufacturer."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a thawing compartment that enables the thawing of the frozen foods and to the control method thereof.\n\nIn cooling devices comprising thawing compartments, the thawing process is generally realized by heating the thawing compartment by means of a heater disposed at the base thereof. When the thawing/melting process is to be ended is determined according to the temperature of the food. Since the temperature of the food placed onto the heater in the thawing compartment is not homogeneous throughout the food surface, it becomes difficult to understand if the food is completely thawed or not. In thawing compartments wherein the surface of the food close to the heater is prevented from overheating and wherein the frozen food is placed in a suspended manner, the heat transmitted by convection thaws the outer surface of the food, but the central region of the food may remain frozen. Moreover, when the frozen food is overheated, the outer surface thereof starts to be boiled/roasted and this situation causes user dissatisfaction. Therefore, it is desired that the thawing process is effectively realized and terminated at the right time in the thawing compartments.\n\nThe aim of the present invention is the realization of cooling device wherein the frozen foods are enabled to be thawed in a healthy and efficient manner.",
  "cpc": [
    "F25D 21/06",
    "F25D 21/002",
    "F25D 21/006",
    "F25D 23/12",
    "F25D 2317/04131",
    "F25D 2400/02",
    "F25D 2600/04"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F25D 21/00",
    "F25D 21/06",
    "F25D 23/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Arcelik AS"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Aydin Celik",
    "Feyzi Alper Soysal",
    "Aytac Timucin ONCUL"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-09-02",
  "publication_date": "2019-04-02",
  "grant_date": "2019-04-02",
  "priority_date": "2014-10-02",
  "application_number": "US-201515515962-A",
  "family_id": "54065874",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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