Refrigeration And/Or Freezing Appliance

Abstract

An arrangement for a refrigerator and/or freezer comprising an electrical or electronic component (1, 2a), and comprising detection means (2, 4) by which an electrical or thermal load of the component can be detected, wherein the detection means comprise a heat source (2) and means for the detection (4) of the heat output of the heat source, wherein the heat source is not formed by the component itself and is connected in series or in parallel to the component.

Claims

1. A refrigerator and/or freezer comprising an electrical or electronic component, and comprising detection means by which an electrical or thermal load of the component can be detected, wherein the detection means comprise a heat source and means for detecting the heat output or the temperature of the heat source, wherein the heat source is not formed by the component itself and is connected in series or parallel to the component.

2. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is provided upstream or downstream of the component.

3. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is formed by a taper of a conductor path or a conductor.

4. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is formed by an additional electrical or electronic component.

5. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is not directly connected with the component.

6. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is arranged locally separate from the component.

7. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the heat output or the temperature comprise a temperature sensor.

8. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the heat output or the temperature comprise an electrical or electronic component, in particular a temperature-dependent electrical resistor.

9. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the heat output or the temperature are directly connected with the heat source.

10. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the heat output or the temperature are arranged such that the ambient temperature of the appliance can be detected by the same.

11. The refrigerator and/or freezer according to claim 1, wherein a protection circuit furthermore is provided, which is connected to the detection means so that the load of the component is detected, wherein the protection circuit is configured such that the same reduces the load condition of the component in dependence on the detected load of the component.

Description

[0024] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows the electrical construction of a Triac known from the prior art;

[0026] FIG. 2: shows an electronic component comprising a heat source which is formed by another electrical or electronic component;

[0027] FIG. 3: shows an electronic component comprising a heat source which is formed by a taper of the conductor path;

[0028] FIG. 4: shows the thermogram of the temperature difference between the housing and a terminal A1 in the case of a load or overload of a component known from the prior art;

[0029] FIG. 5: shows the thermogram of the temperature difference between the housing and the additional heat source in the case of a load or overload, wherein the additional heat source is formed by a taper of the conductor path.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the electrical construction of a Triac known from the prior art. In this component, the temperature in the vicinity of the component or caused by an electrical and thermal connection is detected at the terminal A1, even if the housing surface with the lowest heat transfer resistance to the semiconductor directly is electrically connected to the terminal A2 so that the temperature detection at the terminal A2 would provide more precise results. The temperature detection at the terminal A2, however, only is possible with a considerable amount of circuitry, as this terminal and hence its electric potential are dependent on the switching condition of the component.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows an arrangement for a refrigerator and/or freezer according to the present invention, wherein the heat source is formed by another electrical or electronic component.

[0032] The means for detecting the heat output or the temperature are formed by a temperature-dependent resistor 4.

[0033] The electronic component 1 includes the terminals A1, A2 and G, which allow an electrical connection of the component 1. What is arranged in series in front of the terminal A1 is an electrical or electronic component 2 which due to the Joule effect converts the current flowing through the same into heat. In this case, the component 2 hence serves as a heat source.

[0034] By radiation and/or thermal conduction, which is designated by the arrows 3, the heat generated by the component 2 is transmitted to a temperature-dependent resistor 4 so that the same serves as a means for detecting the heat output or temperature of the heat source. The heat source 2 and the resistor 4 form the detection means.

[0035] This resistor 4 is electrically connected to the network branch 7 on the one hand and to a regulation and control unit 5 on the other hand. Consequently, the current flowing through the resistor 4 depends on the heat output by the component 2.

[0036] The regulation and control unit 5 comprises a protection circuit which is connected to the detection means, i.e. to the means 4 for detecting the heat output and to the heat source 2.

[0037] Thus, a possible overload of the component 1 can be prevented. The protection circuit of the regulation and control unit 5 is configured such that the same reduces the load condition of the component 1 in dependence on the detected load, when necessary, for example by limiting or completely switching off the current flowing to the component 1.

[0038] Reference numeral 2a symbolizes an electric load. The same can also be arranged at a greater distance to the switching element 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows an arrangement according to the invention, wherein the heat source is formed by a taper of the conductor path.

[0040] The component 1 shows the terminals A1, A2 and G, which allow an electrical connection of the component 1.

[0041] In particular, the terminal A1 is electrically connected to a conductor path L. Directly in front of the terminal A1, the conductor path L includes a taper 2 which due to the reduced cross-section has a higher resistance.

[0042] The same causes an increased output of heat directly in front of the terminal A1, wherein the heat is thermally conductively detected by a temperature-dependent resistor 3.

[0043] The taper 2 in this case serves as the heat source and the temperature-dependent resistor 4 serves as a means for detecting the heat output or temperature of the heat source. Together, they form the detection means.

[0044] The protection circuit 5 can detect the warming of the additional heat source 2 by means of the temperature-dependent resistor 4 and react to a load situation or overload situation.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows the thermogram of the temperature differences between the housing and the terminal A1 in the case of a load or overload of a component known from the prior art. As can be taken from FIG. 4, there is a considerable difference between the temperatures measured at the terminal A1 and those measured at the housing of the component (about 28 C.) so that a precise determination of the load condition of the component is not possible.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows the thermogram of the temperature differences between the housing and the additional heat source in the case of a load or overload according to the invention, wherein the additional heat source is formed by a taper 2 of the conductor path and the means for detecting the heat output are formed by a temperature-dependent resistor 4.

[0047] In this case, the difference between the additional heat source thermally connected to the temperature-dependent resistor and the temperatures measured at the housing of the component only is about 1.45 C. so that a determination of the load condition can be effected more easily and precisely. It thereby is also possible to operate the component closer to its performance limit so that an improved utilization of the electrical or electronic component is possible.