Disclosed are a multi-duct assembly, a refrigerator which includes the multi-duct assembly, and a method of controlling the refrigerator. The multi-duct assembly has a new structure for overcoming limitations of a related art. The multi-duct assembly may adjust opening states and sizes of cold air outlets formed at a multi-duct panel by moving a variable duct panel disposed on a rear surface of the multi-duct panel upward or downward.

In an under counter type refrigerator, when a defrosting period arrives, air of a storage compartment may be supplied towards an evaporator to perform a defrosting operation (natural defrosting operation) for removing frost generated on the evaporator, thereby improving defrosting efficiency and reducing power consumption.

A refrigerator includes a wine chamber, a wine chamber evaporator, a compressor, a wine chamber heater, a valve, a wine chamber temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller selectively performs a cooling mode and a heating mode.

A refrigerator can include a storage compartment having a storage space and an opening; at least one door coupled to the storage compartment to open and close a part of the storage compartment; a compressor configured to provide the storage compartment with freezing capacity or cooling capacity; a processor configured to control driving of the compressor; and a memory operably connected to the processor and configured to store code to cause the processor to in response to recognizing placement of an item in the storage space, determine whether the item is an overload item to generate a determination result; and control the driving of the compressor to adjust a temperature of the storage space based on the determination result.

The present invention relates to a temperature-context-aware refrigerator and a method for controlling the same. A temperature-context-aware refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a temperature context awareness unit for sensing a temperature of at least one storage compartment, and when the difference between the sensed temperature and a temperature set for the corresponding storage compartment is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, generating load-responsive operation information including a target temperature lower or higher than the set temperature; a temperature control unit for controlling a temperature sensor and the temperature context awareness unit, and performing a load-responsive operation for controlling the temperature of the storage compartment by using the load-responsive operation information; and a database unit which is required for the temperature context awareness unit to generate the load-responsive operation information.

A method for control of vapor pressure deficit for food preservation in a refrigerator. The method includes measuring the temperature and humidity of the food storage compartment, determining the vapor pressure deficit in the food storage compartment, and adjusting the temperature in the food storage compartment to maintain the vapor pressure deficit within the desired range.

A system and method for controlling a refrigeration system is disclosed. The system includes a cooled compartment, at least one heat source selectively activated to provide heat, at least one sensor, and a controller. The sensor detects a temperature and a relative humidity of ambient air that surrounds the cooled compartment. The controller is in communication with the at least one heat source and the at least one sensor. The controller includes logic for calculating a dew point temperature based on the temperature and the relative humidity. The controller also includes logic for selecting a region of operation based on at least one of the dew point temperature and the relative humidity, where the region of operation is representative of ambient conditions that surround the cooled compartment. The controller further includes logic for determining if the at least one heat source is activated based on the region of operation.

The invention is directed to an energy efficient thermoelectric heat pump assembly. The thermoelectric heat pump assembly preferably comprises two to nine thermoelectric unit layers capable of active use of the Peltier effect; and at least one capacitance spacer block suitable for storing heat and providing a delayed thermal reaction time of the assembly. The capacitance spacer block is thermally connected between the thermoelectric unit layers. The present invention further relates to a thermoelectric transport and storage devices for transporting or storing temperature sensitive goods, for example, vaccines, chemicals, biologicals, and other temperature sensitive goods. Preferably the transport or storage devices are configured and provide on-board energy storage for sustaining, for multiple days, at a constant-temperature, with an acceptable temperature variation band.

One example of a method comprises identifying contents of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment of a refrigeration appliance. The freezer compartment is separated from the refrigerator compartment by a barrier having a sealable aperture. The method further comprises predicting a use time for a first food item located in the freezer compartment based on user data related to the identified contents of the freezer compartment; calculating an amount of time needed to defrost the first food item in the refrigerator compartment based on sensor data received from the refrigeration appliance regarding environmental conditions of the refrigeration compartment; determining a transfer time based on the predicted use time and on the amount of time needed to defrost the first food item; and outputting instructions to automatically transfer the first food item from the freezer compartment through the sealable aperture to the refrigerator compartment at the determined transfer time.

Systems and method for operating and monitoring refrigerators are described. Temperature cycles within the compartment are characterized using statistical, frequency and pattern analysis techniques to derive a steady-state characteristic of temperature within the compartment. A thermal sensor inside the conditioned area is monitored and temperature data sets can be analyzed to determine performance in comparison to a baseline, and energy consumption. Analysis of continuous temperature readings taken from individual or groups of freezers identifies patterns of variations in temperature cycles from which feedback on efficiency can be inferred. Electrical load can be determined by measuring or estimating current usage and identifying periods of time when compressors are active in the refrigerator.