LINEAR COMPRESSOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

The present invention provides a linear compressor capable of reducing noise and fabricating costs, the linear compressor comprising a piston to perform a reciprocating motion within a cylinder, a linear motor to supply a driving force for the motion of the piston, a sensing unit to detect motor voltage and motor current associated with the motor, a valve plate provided on one end of the cylinder to adjust a discharge of a refrigerant compressed in the cylinder, a pressure changing unit to change a variation rate of pressure applied to the piston before the piston reaches the valve plate during the reciprocating motion, and a controller to determine whether the variation rate of the pressure applied to the piston has changed using the detected motor voltage and motor current, and control the motor to prevent the piston from colliding with the valve plate on the basis of the determination result.