US20120222433A1 - Icemaker for refrigerators and control method thereof - Google Patents

Icemaker for refrigerators and control method thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
US20120222433A1
US20120222433A1 US13/372,993 US201213372993A US2012222433A1 US 20120222433 A1 US20120222433 A1 US 20120222433A1 US 201213372993 A US201213372993 A US 201213372993A US 2012222433 A1 US2012222433 A1 US 2012222433A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
ice
optical sensor
full
sensor
output value
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Abandoned
Application number
US13/372,993
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English (en)
Inventor
Sang Hyun Park
Do Hyung Kim
Jin Jeong
Yong Sung Yoon
Khan Qasim
Seung Ah Joo
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Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd filed Critical Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. reassignment SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: JOO, SEUNG AH, KHAN, QASIM, KIM, DO HYUNG, JEONG, JIN, PARK, SANG HYUN, YOON, YONG SUNG
Publication of US20120222433A1 publication Critical patent/US20120222433A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
    • F25C5/18—Storing ice
    • F25C5/182—Ice bins therefor
    • F25C5/187—Ice bins therefor with ice level sensing means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25C2700/02—Level of ice

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a refrigerator with an icemaker operated using an improved method of sensing whether an ice bank is full of ice.
  • a refrigerator is an apparatus that supplies cool air into a storage chamber to keep foods fresh at low temperature.
  • the storage chamber includes a freezing chamber to keep foods at a freezing temperature or less and a refrigerating chamber to keep foods at a temperature slightly higher than the freezing temperature.
  • refrigerators In recent years, various large-sized refrigerators have been placed on the market to provide convenience and satisfy needs for large storage space. Based on how a refrigerating chamber, freezing chamber and door(s) are disposed, such refrigerators are classified into a general refrigerator, a side-by-side refrigerator and a combination type refrigerator.
  • a refrigerator is provided at a door thereof with a dispenser, through which ice or water is supplied to a user.
  • a dispenser through which ice or water is supplied to a user.
  • an icemaker to supply ice to the dispenser.
  • the icemaker includes an ice making unit to make ice and an ice bank to store the ice made by the ice making unit.
  • the ice made by the ice making unit is separated from the ice making unit by an ice separator and is stored in the ice bank disposed below the ice making unit.
  • the control method may further include determining that it has been normally sensed that the ice bank is full of ice and stopping the operation of the icemaker if the calculated variation of the output value is less than the reference variation.
  • the receiving the output value from the optical sensor to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice may include determining that the ice bank is full of ice if the received output value is equal to or less than a first reference value, determining that the ice bank is not full of ice if the received output value is equal to or greater than a second reference value, and determining that the optical sensor is frosted if the received output value is greater than the first reference value and is less than the second reference value.
  • the control method may further include driving the sensor heater for the second drive time to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the optical sensor is frosted and determining whether the ice bank is full of ice after lapse of the second drive time.
  • the control method may further include driving the sensor heater to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the optical sensor is frosted, receiving an output value from the optical sensor to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice, and further driving the sensor heater for the first drive time to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the ice bank is full of ice.
  • the control method may further include determining whether the ice bank is full of ice after lapse of the second drive time.
  • the control method may further include determining whether time to drive the sensor heater has exceeded a first drive time if the calculated variation of the output value is less than the reference variation and stopping the operation of the icemaker upon determining that the time to drive the sensor heater has exceeded the first drive time.
  • the receiving the output value from the optical sensor to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice may include determining that the ice bank is full of ice if the received output value is equal to or less than a first reference value, determining that the ice bank is not full of ice if the received output value is equal to or greater than a second reference value, and determining that the optical sensor is frosted if the received output value is greater than the first reference value and is less than the second reference value.
  • the control method may further include driving the sensor heater for the second drive time to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the optical sensor is frosted and determining whether the ice bank is full of ice after lapse of the second drive time.
  • the control method may further include driving the sensor heater to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the optical sensor is frosted, receiving an output value from the optical sensor to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice, and further driving the sensor heater for a first drive time to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the ice bank is full of ice.
  • the control method may further include determining whether the ice bank is full of ice after lapse of the second drive time.
  • an icemaker for refrigerators includes an optical sensor, including a light emitting part and a light receiving part to receive light irradiated from the light emitting part and transmitted through an internal space of an ice bank to store ice, to output a signal according to the intensity of light received by the light receiving part to sense whether the ice bank is full of ice, a sensor heater to heat the optical sensor so that the optical sensor is defrosted, and a controller to receive an output value from the optical sensor to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice, to drive the sensor heater for a first drive time to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the ice bank is full of ice, to drive the optical sensor to receive an output value from the optical sensor after lapse of the first drive time, to compare the output value with the output value received to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice to calculate variation of the output value, and to drive the sensor heater for a second drive time to heat the optical sensor so that the optical sensor is defrosted if the calculated variation
  • an icemaker for refrigerators includes an optical sensor, including a light emitting part and a light receiving part to receive light irradiated from the light emitting part and transmitted through an internal space of an ice bank to store ice, to output a signal according to the intensity of light received by the light receiving part to sense whether the ice bank is full of ice, a sensor heater to heat the optical sensor so that the optical sensor is defrosted, and a controller to receive an output value from the optical sensor to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice, to drive the sensor heater to heat the optical sensor upon determining that the ice bank is full of ice, to drive the optical sensor to receive an output value from the optical sensor, to compare the output value with the output value received to determine whether the ice bank is full of ice to calculate variation of the output value, and to further drive the sensor heater for a second drive time to heat the optical sensor so that the optical sensor is defrosted if the calculated variation is equal to or greater than a reference variation.
  • FIG. 1 is a view showing the interior structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a state in which doors of the refrigerator are open;
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing an icemaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the icemaker according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a control method of an icemaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a control method of an icemaker according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 1 is a view showing the interior structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a state in which doors of the refrigerator are open, and
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the refrigerator includes a main body 10 forming the external appearance thereof, vertically extending storage chambers 20 and 21 defined in the main body 10 , the storage chambers 20 and 21 being open at fronts thereof, doors 35 and 36 to open and close the open fronts of the storage chambers 20 and 21 , an icemaker 70 provided in one of the storage chambers 20 and 21 , e.g. a freezing chamber 21 , and a dispenser 37 to dispense ice from the icemaker 70 to the front of the door 36 .
  • a main body 10 forming the external appearance thereof, vertically extending storage chambers 20 and 21 defined in the main body 10 , the storage chambers 20 and 21 being open at fronts thereof, doors 35 and 36 to open and close the open fronts of the storage chambers 20 and 21 , an icemaker 70 provided in one of the storage chambers 20 and 21 , e.g. a freezing chamber 21 , and a dispenser 37 to dispense ice from the icemaker 70 to the front of the door 36 .
  • an evaporator 26 At the rear wall of the main body 10 is mounted an evaporator 26 to generate cool air.
  • a machine compartment 14 is partitioned at the rear of the lower side of the main body 10 .
  • a foam member 13 Between an inner liner 12 and an outer liner 11 of the main body is disposed a foam member 13 for thermal insulation.
  • Electric/electronic components such as a compressor 15 , are installed in the machine compartment 14 partitioned in the main body 10 .
  • the storage chambers 20 and 21 are located above the machine compartment 14 .
  • a condenser (not shown), an expansion device (not shown), etc. constituting a refrigeration cycle are provided in the main body 10 .
  • an inside panel 23 to partition a cool air generation chamber 27 to generate cool air to be supplied to the storage chambers 20 and 21 .
  • the evaporator 26 is installed in the cool air generation chamber 27 to generate cool air through heat exchange with ambient air.
  • the inside panel 23 is provided with a plurality of discharge ports 23 a formed at a predetermined interval to uniformly discharge cool air into the storage chambers 20 and 21 and a cool air channel 23 b to guide cool air to the discharge ports 23 a. Also, a circulation fan 23 c is installed at the inside panel 23 to blow heat-exchanged cool air having passed through the evaporator 26 to the cool air channel 23 b and the discharge ports 23 a.
  • a pair of doors 35 and 36 is provided to open and close the refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 21 .
  • the doors 35 and 36 include a refrigerating chamber door 35 hingedly coupled to the main body 10 to open and close the refrigerating chamber 20 and a freezing chamber door 36 hingedly coupled to the main body 10 to open and close the freezing chamber 21 .
  • a dispenser 37 to allow a user to dispense water or ice without opening the door.
  • an icemaker 70 to make and supply ice to the dispenser 37 .
  • an ice feeder 53 to feed ice separated from the ice making unit 100 .
  • a crushing chamber 60 in which an ice crusher 56 to selectively crush the ice fed by the ice feeder 53 is installed.
  • the dispenser 37 is formed in a space depressed inward from the front of the freezing chamber door 36 .
  • the dispenser 37 includes a withdrawing unit 38 to withdraw an object, the withdrawing unit 38 having a withdrawing port 38 a, through which the object is withdrawn, an opening and closing member 38 b to open and close the withdrawing port 38 a, an actuating lever 39 installed at the withdrawing unit 38 to simultaneously drive the opening and closing member 38 b and the ice maker 70 provided in the freezing chamber 21 , and an ice discharge channel 40 connected between the inside and outside of the freezing chamber door 36 so that the inside and outside of the freezing chamber door 36 communicate with each other to guide the ice from the icemaker 70 to the withdrawing port 38 a.
  • an ice-fullness sensor 80 to sense whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • An optical sensor including a light emitting part to irradiate infrared light and a light receiving part to receive the infrared light irradiated from the light emitting part and to generate an electric signal may be used as the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • an optical sensor will be described as an example of the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • a light emitting part to irradiate infrared light may be provided at the rear of the lower side of the ice making unit 100 .
  • a light receiving part may be provided at the front of the lower side of the ice making unit 100 so that the light receiving part faces the light emitting part. Infrared light is irradiated from the light emitting part, passes through a space of the ice bank 50 , in which ice is stored, and is received by the light receiving part.
  • Sensor heaters 110 to remove frost from the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the ice-fullness sensor 80 may be provided at the lower sides of the light emitting part and the light receiving part.
  • the intensity of infrared light irradiated by the light emitting part or received by the light receiving part when frost is formed at the ice-fullness sensor 80 may be different from that of infrared light irradiated by the light emitting part or received by the light receiving part when no frost is formed at the ice-fullness sensor 80 , and therefore, it may not be normally sensed whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the icemaker 70 includes an actuating lever 39 installed at the withdrawing part 38 to actuate the icemaker 70 , an ice-fullness sensor 80 to sense whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice, a controller 90 to generate a control signal according to signals input from the actuating lever 39 and the ice-fullness sensor 80 to control a drive part 120 , an ice making unit 100 to make ice according to the control signal from the controller 90 , sensor heaters 110 to heat the ice-fullness sensor 80 to remove frost from the ice-fullness sensor 80 , a water supply device 18 to supply water to the ice making unit 100 , and a drive unit 120 to drive a feeding motor 54 to feed ice stored in the ice bank 50 to the crushing chamber 60 .
  • the ice making unit 100 stores the water supplied from the water supply device 18 and makes ice using supplied cool air.
  • the ice made by the ice making unit 100 is moved to the ice bank 50 , in which the ice is accumulated. The above process is repeated until the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the sensor heaters 110 are provided adjacent to the light emitting part and the light receiving part constituting the ice-fullness sensor 80 to heat the light emitting part and the light receiving part. If the light emitting part, which irradiates infrared light, and the light receiving part, which receives the infrared light irradiated from the light emitting part, are frosted, ice-fullness sensing is not normally performed. For this reason, the sensor heaters 110 heat the light emitting part and the light receiving part to defrost the light emitting part and the light receiving part.
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 may store first and second reference values, based on which the controller 90 determines a state of the ice bank 50 according to the intensity of a signal transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the first reference value is a reference value to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the second reference value is a reference value to determine whether the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted upon determining that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice.
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is full of ice. If the voltage value of the signal transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 exceeds 1 V, the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice. In a case in which it is determined that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice, if the voltage value of the signal transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 is 2.5 V or more, the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice.
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted.
  • the above reference values are given as an example. Other optimal values obtained through repeated experimentation may be applied.
  • the controller 90 Upon determining that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice, the controller 90 continuously drives the ice making unit 100 to complete the ice making process.
  • the ice making process includes water supply, ice production and ice separation.
  • the controller 90 may store information on time to additionally drive the ice making unit 100 so that the ice making unit 100 is continuously driven upon determining that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice. When the additional drive time elapses, therefore, the controller 90 determines whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 drives the sensor heaters 110 for a predetermined time (hereinafter, referred to as a second drive time) to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 . After the lapse of the second drive time, the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 and determines whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 drives the sensor heaters 110 for a predetermined time (hereinafter, referred to as a first drive time). If the ice-fullness sensor 80 has been excessively frosted although the ice bank 50 is not full of ice, and therefore, a signal generated by the ice-fullness sensor 80 has an intensity approximate to that of a signal in a state in which the ice bank 50 is full of ice, the controller 90 may incorrectly determine that the ice bank 50 is full of ice. Even in a case in which it is determined that the ice bank 50 is full of ice, therefore, the operation of the ice making unit 100 is not stopped, and the sensor heaters 110 are driven to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • a predetermined time hereinafter, referred to as a first drive time
  • the first drive time is a time to drive the sensor heaters 110 in a case in which it is incorrectly determined that the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the second drive time is a time to drive the sensor heaters 110 so that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is defrosted when it is determined that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted. Therefore, the second drive time may be longer than the first drive time.
  • the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 and drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 to sense a state of the ice bank 50 .
  • the controller 90 compares a voltage value of a signal when a state of the ice bank 50 is sensed after the lapse of the first drive time with that of a sensed signal when it is determined that the ice bank 50 is full of ice to calculate variation.
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 has incorrectly sensed that the ice bank 50 is full of ice and determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted. If the calculated voltage variation is less than the reference variation, the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 has correctly sensed that the ice bank 50 is full of ice and stops the operation of the ice making unit 100 .
  • a voltage value of a signal sensed by the ice-fullness sensor 80 is 0.9 V, which is less than the first reference value, 1 V, with the result that the ice bank 50 is full of ice
  • a voltage value of a sensed signal when a state of the ice bank 50 is sensed after the sensor heaters 110 are driven for the first drive time, 1 minute is 1.3 V
  • variation is 0.4 V, which is greater than the reference variation, 0.3 V
  • the controller determines that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice but the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted.
  • the above first reference value, first drive time and reference variation are given as an example. Other optimal values obtained through repeated experimentation may be applied.
  • the controller 110 drives the sensor heaters 110 for the second drive time to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the controller 90 determines whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the above algorithm prevents the operation of the ice making unit 100 from being stopped in a case in which it is incorrectly determined that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted and thus the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a control method of an icemaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice ( 200 ).
  • an optical sensor including a light emitting part to irradiate infrared light and a light receiving part to receive the infrared light irradiated from the light emitting part may be used as the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the light receiving part receives the infrared light irradiated from the light emitting part, converts the intensity of the infrared light varying based on a state of the ice bank 50 , and transmits the signal to the controller 90 .
  • the controller 90 compares the output value transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 with the first reference value to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice ( 210 ). If a voltage value of the signal transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 is equal to or less than the first reference value, the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 compares the voltage value with the second reference value to determine a state of the ice bank 50 ( 220 ).
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice and controls the ice making unit 100 to continuously perform the ice making process including water supply, ice production and ice separation ( 230 ).
  • the controller 90 may store information on time to additionally drive the ice making unit 100 so that the ice making unit 100 is continuously driven upon determining that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice.
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 determines that the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the ice-fullness sensor 80 are frosted and drives the sensor heaters 110 for the second drive time to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 ( 240 ).
  • the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 , drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 , and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 drives the sensor heaters 110 for the first drive time to heat the ice-fullness sensor 80 ( 250 ). If the ice-fullness sensor 80 has become excessively frosted, it may be incorrectly determined that the ice bank 50 is full of ice. Even in a case in which it is determined that the ice bank 50 is full of ice, therefore, the operation of the ice making unit 100 is not stopped, and the sensor heaters 110 are driven to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the second drive time to drive the sensor heaters 110 may be longer than the first drive time.
  • the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 , drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 , and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to sense a state of the ice bank 50 ( 260 ).
  • the controller 90 compares an output value of a signal generated when the ice-fullness sensor 80 senses a state of the ice bank 50 with that of a signal when it is determined that the ice bank 50 is full of ice to calculate variation, and compares the calculated variation of the output value with a predetermined reference variation ( 270 ).
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 has incorrectly sensed that the ice bank 50 is full of ice and determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted. The process returns to Operation 240 to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 has correctly sensed that the ice bank 50 is full of ice and stops the operation of the ice making unit 100 ( 280 ).
  • FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a control method of an icemaker according to another embodiment of the present disclosure
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice ( 300 ).
  • an optical sensor including a light emitting part to irradiate infrared light and a light receiving part to receive the infrared light irradiated from the light emitting part may be used as the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the controller 90 compares the output value transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 with the first reference value to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice ( 310 ). If a voltage value of the signal transmitted from the ice-fullness sensor 80 is equal to or less than the first reference value, the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice and controls the ice making unit 100 to continuously perform the ice making process including water supply, ice production and ice separation ( 330 ).
  • the controller 90 may store information on time to additionally drive the ice making unit 100 so that the ice making unit 100 is continuously driven upon determining that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice.
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 determines that the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the ice-fullness sensor 80 are frosted and drives the sensor heaters 110 for the second drive time to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 ( 340 ).
  • the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 , drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 , and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice.
  • the controller 90 drives the sensor heaters 110 to heat the ice-fullness sensor 80 ( 350 ).
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to sense a state of the ice bank 50 ( 360 ).
  • the ice-fullness sensor 80 is driven to sense a state of the ice bank 50 upon completing the operation of the sensor heaters 110 for the first drive time.
  • the ice bank 50 is continuously sensed during the operation of the sensor heaters 110 .
  • the controller 90 continuously compares an output value of a signal generated when the ice-fullness sensor 80 senses a state of the ice bank 50 during the operation of the sensor heaters 110 with that of a signal upon determining that the ice bank 50 is full of ice to calculate variation of the output value, and continuously compares the variation of the output value with a predetermined reference variation ( 370 ).
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 has incorrectly sensed that the ice bank 50 is full of ice and determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 is frosted.
  • the process returns to Operation 340 . That is, upon determining that the variation of the output value is equal to or greater than the reference variation, the sensor heaters 110 are additionally driven for the second drive time to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • Operation 340 may be changed based on the algorithm used in Operation 360 . That is, determining that the light emitting part and the light receiving part constituting the ice-fullness sensor 80 are frosted (including both advances from Operation 310 to Operation 340 and from Operation 370 to Operation 340 ), the controller 90 drives the sensor heaters 110 to defrost the ice-fullness sensor 80 .
  • the controller 90 drives the ice-fullness sensor 80 to continuously determine whether the ice bank 50 is full of ice during the operation of the sensor heaters 110 .
  • the controller 90 Upon determining that the ice bank 50 is full of ice or that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice, the controller 90 stops operation of the sensor heaters 110 even in a case in which the time to drive the sensor heaters 110 has not exceeded the second drive time, and perform the next control operation.
  • the controller 90 drives the sensor heaters 110 and the ice-fullness sensor 80 and receives a value output from the ice-fullness sensor 80 to continuously sense and determine a state of the ice bank 50 .
  • the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 , even in a case in which the time to drive the sensor heaters 110 has not exceeded the second drive time, determines that the ice bank 50 is not full of ice, and perform the ice making process. If the output value of the signal decreases to 1 V or less, the controller 90 stops the operation of the sensor heaters 110 , even in a case in which the time to drive the sensor heaters 110 has not exceeded the second drive time, determines that the ice bank 50 is full of ice, and performs the subsequent control process.
  • the controller 90 determines whether time to drive the sensor heaters 110 has exceeded the first drive time ( 380 ).
  • the variation of the output value is less than the reference variation. As the ice-fullness sensor 80 is continuously heated, however, the variation of the output value may exceed the reference variation. If the variation of the output value is less than the reference variation, therefore, the operation of the icemaker is not immediately stopped, and it is determined whether time to drive the sensor heaters has exceeded the first drive time.
  • the controller 90 determines that the ice-fullness sensor 80 has correctly sensed that the ice bank 50 is full of ice and stops the operation of the ice making unit 100 ( 390 ). Stopping the operation of the ice making unit 100 includes stopping the operations of the sensor heaters 110 and the ice-fullness sensor 80 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Production, Working, Storing, Or Distribution Of Ice (AREA)
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US11852395B2 (en) * 2017-12-15 2023-12-26 Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd Refrigerator and energy-saving control method and apparatus therefor

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KR101705661B1 (ko) * 2015-06-17 2017-02-10 동부대우전자 주식회사 냉장고 및 냉장고의 제빙장치 제조 방법
KR102140712B1 (ko) * 2017-12-12 2020-08-19 옵토이엔지(주) 얼음량 감지 장치 및 방법
CN112212596A (zh) * 2020-10-21 2021-01-12 海信容声(广东)冰箱有限公司 一种冰箱及其控制方法

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