초록 ▼

A linear compressor is provided which may be employed in refrigerators or air conditioners. The linear compressor includes a compressor mechanism disposed within a hermetic casing. The compressor mechanism includes a linear motor which makes a piston reciprocate within a cylinder and a piston oscill

A linear compressor is provided which may be employed in refrigerators or air conditioners. The linear compressor includes a compressor mechanism disposed within a hermetic casing. The compressor mechanism includes a linear motor which makes a piston reciprocate within a cylinder and a piston oscillation controller. The piston oscillation controller controls oscillations of the piston so as to bring an actual top dead center position of the piston into agreement with a reference top dead center position and alters the reference top dead center position based on a given parameter such as an ambient temperature or a required thermal load of, for example, a refrigerator. An improved structure of the linear motor is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A linear compressor comprising:a hermetic casing;a block having formed therein a cylinder within which a piston oscillates to change a volume of a compression chamber;a linear motor moving the piston within the cylinder in a first direction;an elastic unit which is connec

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A linear compressor comprising:a hermetic casing;a block having formed therein a cylinder within which a piston oscillates to change a volume of a compression chamber;a linear motor moving the piston within the cylinder in a first direction;an elastic unit which is connected at a first portion to said block and at a second portion to the piston to urge the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the movement of the piston through said linear motor so that the piston oscillates in the cylinder;a piston position sensor detecting a position of said piston to provide a position signal indicative thereof;a top dead center position determining circuit determining an actual top dead center position of said piston based on the position signal provided by said piston position sensor;an oscillation control circuit controlling oscillation of the piston so that a difference between the actual top dead center position and a reference top dead center position of the piston is decreased; anda reference top dead center position changing circuit changing the reference top dead center position.