U.S. patent application number 12/764138 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for refrigerator and control method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Dong Hoon LEE, Tae Hee LEE.
Application Number | 20100287971 12/764138 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43067383 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100287971 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Dong Hoon ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
A refrigerator and a control method thereof are disclosed. A
refrigerator is able to supply water preserved in a cool state to
an ice maker. The refrigerator includes an ice-making chamber, an
icemaker provided in the ice-making chamber, a dispenser for
dispensing water, and a water tank connected to the dispenser and
the icemaker. The water tank stores water in a cool state.
Inventors: |
LEE; Dong Hoon; (Seoul,
KR) ; LEE; Tae Hee; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Dong
Hoon; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43067383 |
Appl. No.: |
12/764138 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/347 ; 62/389;
62/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/126 20130101;
F25C 2400/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/347 ; 62/389;
62/407 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00; F25D 3/00 20060101 F25D003/00; F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 18, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0043125 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerating compartment; an
icemaker configured to freeze liquid water into ice; a dispenser
configured to dispense liquid water and ice made by the icemaker; a
water tank that is positioned at the refrigerating compartment,
that is configured to receive liquid water from a water supply
source, and that is configured to store the received liquid water
in a cooled liquid state, the cooled liquid state having a
temperature lower than a temperature at which the water is received
from the water supply source; a dispenser tube that is configured
to guide water stored in the water tank in the cooled liquid state
to the dispenser for dispensing; and an icemaker tube that is
configured to guide water stored in the water tank in the cooled
liquid state to the icemaker for making ice.
2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
passage valve connected to the water tank, the dispenser tube, and
the icemaker tube and configured to control supply of water stored
in the water tank in the cooled liquid state to the dispenser
alone, the icemaker alone, or both the dispenser and the
icemaker.
3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a
refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close at
least a portion of the refrigerating compartment, wherein the
icemaker and the dispenser are positioned on the refrigerating
compartment door and the water tank and the passage valve are
positioned in the refrigerating compartment.
4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a
control part configured to control the passage valve to stop supply
of water to the icemaker during operation of the dispenser, and
control the passage valve to re-start supply of water to the
icemaker when the operation of the dispenser stops.
5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
passage valve connected to the water tank, the dispenser tube, and
the icemaker tube and configured to control supply of water stored
in the water tank in the cooled liquid state to the dispenser alone
or the icemaker alone.
6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a
refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close at
least a portion of the refrigerating compartment, wherein the
icemaker and the dispenser are positioned on the refrigerating
compartment door and the water tank and the passage valve are
positioned in the refrigerating compartment.
7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a
control part configured to control the passage valve to stop supply
of water to the icemaker during operation of the dispenser, and
control the passage valve to re-start supply of water to the
icemaker when the operation of the dispenser stops.
8. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an
accommodation part configured to accommodate the water tank.
9. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a
cold air guide duct configured to guide cold air from inside a
freezer compartment toward the accommodation part; a temperature
sensor configured to measure a temperature of the accommodation
part; and a closable member provided at the cold air guide duct and
configured to open and close the cold air guide duct and, thereby,
control an amount of cold air drawn into the accommodation
part.
10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the temperature
of the accommodation part is maintained above a freezing
temperature.
11. A refrigerator comprising: a storage compartment; a door
configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage
compartment; an ice-making chamber; an icemaker provided in the
ice-making chamber and configured to freeze liquid water into ice;
a dispenser mounted on the door and configured to dispense liquid
water and ice made by the icemaker; and a water supply device
configured to supply water to the icemaker and the dispenser, the
water supply device comprising at least one water tank that is
configured to store liquid water below a predetermined temperature
and that is connected to both the icemaker and the dispenser.
12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the water
supply device comprises a passage valve connected to the at least
one water tank to control passage of water discharged from or drawn
into the at least one water tank.
13. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 12, wherein the passage
valve is configured to allow passage of water stored in the at
least one water tank to the dispenser by stopping passage of water
stored in the at least one water tank to the icemaker if the
dispenser operates during water flow to the icemaker.
14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 12: wherein the at least
one water tank comprises, a first water tank configured to store
water to be supplied to the dispenser; a second water tank
configured to store water to be supplied to the icemaker, and
wherein the passage valve is positioned in a passage between an
external water supply source provided outside the storage
compartment and the first and second water tanks, the passage valve
controlling water supply to the first and second water tanks.
15. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: an
accommodation part configured to accommodate the second water tank
separately from the first water tank and configured to maintain a
temperature of the second water tank above a freezing temperature,
but lower than a temperature of the first water tank.
16. A control method of a refrigerator comprising: determining
whether a dispenser operation signal is input; in response to a
determination that the dispenser operation signal is input,
determining whether water supply to an icemaker is in progress; and
in response to a determination that water supply to the icemaker is
in progress: at least temporarily stopping water supply to the
icemaker; and supplying water to the dispenser.
17. The control method of the refrigerator as claimed in claim 16,
further comprising: monitoring for completion of a dispensing
operation associated with the dispenser operation signal; and
detecting completion of the dispensing operation based on the
monitoring.
18. The control method of the refrigerator as claimed in claim 17,
further comprising re-starting water supply to the icemaker in
response to detecting completion of the dispensing operation.
19. The control method of the refrigerator as claimed in claim 16,
wherein at least temporarily stopping water supply to the icemaker
comprises delaying water supply to the icemaker for a predetermined
time period.
20. The control method of the refrigerator as claimed in claim 16,
further comprising, in response to a determination that water
supply to the icemaker is not in progress, supplying water to the
dispenser and preventing initiation of water supply to the icemaker
while supplying water to the dispenser.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2009-0043125, filed on May 18, 2009, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a
control method thereof.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, refrigerators are home appliances for preserving
food stuffs fresh or frozen. Refrigerators may perform cooling
using a compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion device.
[0004] A refrigerator compartment for preserving stored objects
fresh and a freezer compartment for freezing stored objects may be
provided in the body of the refrigerator. Here, the evaporator
supplies cold air to the refrigerator and freezer compartments.
[0005] A door is coupled to each front of the compartments and an
icemaker for making ice and a dispenser for water-supplying are
mounted to the door or the refrigerator and freezer
compartments.
[0006] According to water-supply to an icemaker and dispenser of a
conventional refrigerator, water provided by an external water
supply source passes a filter and the water is stored in a water
tank provided in a predetermined portion of the refrigerator
compartment.
[0007] The water from the water tank flows into the dispenser. If a
user pushes a lever of the dispenser with a cup, the cooled water
stored in the water tank is discharged and the cool water can be
supplied to the user.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a refrigerating
compartment, an icemaker configured to freeze liquid water into
ice, and a dispenser configured to dispense liquid water and ice
made by the icemaker. The refrigerator also includes a water tank
that is positioned at the refrigerating compartment, that is
configured to receive liquid water from a water supply source, and
that is configured to store the received liquid water in a cooled
liquid state. The cooled liquid state has a temperature lower than
a temperature at which the water is received from the water supply
source. The refrigerator further includes a dispenser tube that is
configured to guide water stored in the water tank in the cooled
liquid state to the dispenser for dispensing and an icemaker tube
that is configured to guide water stored in the water tank in the
cooled liquid state to the icemaker for making ice.
[0009] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the refrigerator may include a passage valve
connected to the water tank, the dispenser tube, and the icemaker
tube and configured to control supply of water stored in the water
tank in the cooled liquid state to the dispenser alone, the
icemaker alone, or both the dispenser and the icemaker. In this
example, the refrigerator may include a refrigerating compartment
door configured to open and close at least a portion of the
refrigerating compartment. The icemaker and the dispenser may be
positioned on the refrigerating compartment door and the water tank
and the passage valve may be positioned in the refrigerating
compartment. The refrigerator also may include a control part
configured to control the passage valve to stop supply of water to
the icemaker during operation of the dispenser, and control the
passage valve to re-start supply of water to the icemaker when the
operation of the dispenser stops.
[0010] In some examples, the refrigerator may include a passage
valve connected to the water tank, the dispenser tube, and the
icemaker tube and configured to control supply of water stored in
the water tank in the cooled liquid state to the dispenser alone or
the icemaker alone. In these examples, the refrigerator may include
a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and close at
least a portion of the refrigerating compartment. The icemaker and
the dispenser may be positioned on the refrigerating compartment
door and the water tank and the passage valve may be positioned in
the refrigerating compartment. Further, in these examples, the
refrigerator may include a control part configured to control the
passage valve to stop supply of water to the icemaker during
operation of the dispenser, and control the passage valve to
re-start supply of water to the icemaker when the operation of the
dispenser stops.
[0011] In some implementations, the refrigerator may include an
accommodation part configured to accommodate the water tank. In
these implementations, the refrigerator may include a cold air
guide duct configured to guide cold air from inside a freezer
compartment toward the accommodation part, a temperature sensor
configured to measure a temperature of the accommodation part, and
a closable member provided at the cold air guide duct and
configured to open and close the cold air guide duct and, thereby,
control an amount of cold air drawn into the accommodation part. In
addition, in these implementations, the temperature of the
accommodation part may be maintained above a freezing
temperature.
[0012] In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a storage
compartment, a door configured to open and close at least a portion
of the storage compartment, an ice-making chamber, and an icemaker
provided in the ice-making chamber and configured to freeze liquid
water into ice. The refrigerator also includes a dispenser mounted
on the door and configured to dispense liquid water and ice made by
the icemaker and a water supply device configured to supply water
to the icemaker and the dispenser. The water supply device includes
at least one water tank that is configured to store liquid water
below a predetermined temperature and that is connected to both the
icemaker and the dispenser.
[0013] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the water supply device may include a
passage valve connected to the at least one water tank to control
passage of water discharged from or drawn into the at least one
water tank. In this example, the passage valve may be configured to
allow passage of water stored in the at least one water tank to the
dispenser by stopping passage of water stored in the at least one
water tank to the icemaker if the dispenser operates during water
flow to the icemaker.
[0014] In some implementations, the at least one water tank may
include a first water tank configured to store water to be supplied
to the dispenser and a second water tank configured to store water
to be supplied to the icemaker. In these implementations, the
passage valve may be positioned in a passage between an external
water supply source provided outside the storage compartment and
the first and second water tanks and may control water supply to
the first and second water tanks. Further, in these
implementations, the refrigerator may include an accommodation part
configured to accommodate the second water tank separately from the
first water tank and configured to maintain a temperature of the
second water tank above a freezing temperature, but lower than a
temperature of the first water tank.
[0015] In yet another aspect, a control method of a refrigerator
includes determining whether a dispenser operation signal is input
and, in response to a determination that the dispenser operation
signal is input, determining whether water supply to an icemaker is
in progress. In response to a determination that water supply to
the icemaker is in progress, water supply to the icemaker is at
least temporarily stopped and water is supplied to the
dispenser.
[0016] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the method may include monitoring for
completion of a dispensing operation associated with the dispenser
operation signal and detecting completion of the dispensing
operation based on the monitoring. In this example, the method may
include re-starting water supply to the icemaker in response to
detecting completion of the dispensing operation.
[0017] In addition, the method may include delaying water supply to
the icemaker for a predetermined time period. In response to a
determination that water supply to the icemaker is not in progress,
water may be supplied to the dispenser and initiation of water
supply to the icemaker may be prevented while supplying water to
the dispenser.
[0018] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in
the accompanying drawings and the description, below. Other
potential features and advantages of the disclosure will be
apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the refrigerator;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating control components of
a refrigerator; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a control method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates an example refrigerator. As shown in FIG.
1, a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention includes a cabinet 1, a storage compartment 3
provided in the cabinet 1 and a door 5 for opening and closing the
storage compartment.
[0026] A water tank 13 is provided in the storage compartment 3,
specifically, in a refrigerator compartment to store water supplied
from an external water supply source 10.
[0027] A water amount adjusting valve 16 and a filter 19 are
installed between the water tank 13 and the external water source
10. The water amount adjusting valve 16 controls water flow and it
adjusts the amount of the water and the filter 19 filers the
water.
[0028] The door 5 is rotatably coupled to the cabinet 1 and the
door 5 includes an ice-making chamber 23 and a dispenser (40, see
FIG. 2) installed therein. Ice is made and preserved in the
ice-making chamber 23 and water is dispensed from the dispenser
40.
[0029] The ice-making chamber 23 includes an icemaker 26 for making
ice and an ice-container 29 for storing the ice made by the
icemaker 26 in the ice-making chamber 23.
[0030] A passage valve 33 is provided under the ice-making chamber
23 to supply the water preserved cool in the water tank 13 toward
the dispenser 40 and the icemaker 26 selectively or
simultaneously.
[0031] The passage valve 33 may be a 3-way valve and is installed
at a branched position between a guide hose 55 toward the dispenser
40 and a guide hose 56 toward the icemaker.
[0032] A hose 57 connecting the water tank 13 with the passage
valve 33 is arranged along a wall of the cabinet 1 to be an inner
wall of the door 5 via a hinge unit 60 rotatably supporting the
door 5.
[0033] Here, inner space of the ice-making chamber 23 is closed by
an ice-making door rotatably coupled to a predetermined wall of the
ice-making chamber 23 such that the inner space may be partitioned
off from inner space of the storage compartment 3.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates the example refrigerator shown in FIG. 1
from the front. As shown in FIG. 2, the dispenser 40 is mounted to
a front surface of the door 5 and the passage valve 33 is installed
in rear of the dispenser 40, such that the water drawn into the
dispenser 40 or the icemaker 26 may be guided as mentioned
above.
[0035] The hose 56 branched from the passage valve 33 toward the
icemaker 26 is arranged along a side wall of the door 5 and an
outlet of the hose 56 is arranged toward an ice-making tray 27 of
the icemaker 26.
[0036] Because of such an arrangement, the water flowing toward the
icemaker 26 passes the water tank (13, see FIG. 1) and the passage
valve 33 to fall into the ice-making tray 27 such that the water is
received in the ice-making tray 27.
[0037] In addition, the water flowing toward the dispenser 40, if
the user pushes the lever 42 of the dispenser 40, passes the water
tank 13 and the passage valve 33 to be discharged from the outlet
of the hose 55 provided beyond an upper end of the lever 42 such
that the water is received in a container such as a cup.
[0038] The hoses 55, 56 and 57 installed in the door 5 may be
installed outside the ice-making chamber to reduce the likelihood
(e.g., prevent) the water flowing in the hoses from freezing. Here,
the hoses 55, 56 and 57 may be embedded in the door 5 to be hidden
from view when the door 5 is open.
[0039] As the temperature inside the ice-making chamber 23 has to
be maintained below zero degrees, a wall surrounding the ice-making
chamber 23 may be heat-insulated not to be influenced by
temperatures over the freezing point.
[0040] The water flow will be described in reference to FIGS. 1 and
2. The water from the external water supply source is not directly
supplied to the ice-making chamber 23 but supplied to the water
tank 13 to be stored therein for a predetermined time period.
[0041] Here, the water tank 13 is installed in a rear or side
portion of the refrigerator compartment 3 and the water stored in
the water tank 13 will have its temperature lowered noticeably by
the influence of the temperature, approximately 3.degree. C.,
inside the refrigerator compartment 3.
[0042] If the user pushes the lever 42 of the dispenser 40 in a
state of the water stored in the water tank 13, the water flows
from the water tank 13 toward the passage valve 33 (A direction)
and the water having reached the passage valve 33 flows toward the
dispenser 40 to be discharged (B direction).
[0043] In case a signal for starting ice-making is input, the water
from the water tank 13 flows upward along the hose 56 provided on
the side of the ice-making chamber 23 via the passage valve 33 and
it falls into the ice-making tray 27 of the icemaker 26 (C
direction).
[0044] If the water preserved cool by the temperature inside the
refrigerator compartment 3 is supplied to the ice-making tray 27,
cold air inside the ice-making chamber 23 takes away heat from the
water and thus it takes less time to make ice from the water.
[0045] As a result, the ice-making time may be economized in
comparison to the ice-making time in case of supplying the normal
temperature water, for example, approximately 20.degree. C.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates an example refrigerator. As shown in FIG.
3, two water tanks are installed in a rear portion of the
refrigerator compartment 3 and they will be referenced to as a
first water tank 113 and a second water tank 213.
[0047] Here, the first water tank 113 preserves cooled water to be
supplied to the dispenser (40, see FIG. 2) and the second water
tank 213 preserves cooled water to be supplied to the icemaker
26.
[0048] In some examples, the external water supply source 10 and a
water amount adjusting valve 116 are installed. Here, the water
amount adjusting valve 116 is employed to determine the flow
direction of the water drawn into the first and second water tanks
113 and 213 from the external water supply source 10 as well as to
adjust the amount of the water.
[0049] A first filter 119 and a second filter 219 are provided
between the first and second water tanks 113 and 213 and the water
amount adjusting valve 116 to filter the water.
[0050] A hose 155 connected to an outlet of the first water tank
113 is connected to the dispenser 40 along a wall of the cabinet 1,
the hinge unit 60 and a wall of the door 5.
[0051] A valve 133 is provided in the hose 155 toward the dispenser
40 to control water flow.
[0052] The hose 256 connected to an outlet of the second water tank
213 is installed along the wall of the cabinet 1, the hinge unit 60
and the door 5. Here, the outlet of the hose 256 is arranged toward
the ice-making tray 27.
[0053] The hoses 155 and 256 connected to the outlets of the first
and second water tanks 113 and 213 may be independently in the
cabinet 1 and the door 5, respectively.
[0054] The water flow of the above configuration is described
below.
[0055] If the user pushes the lever (42, see FIG. 2) of the
dispenser 40 in a state of the water stored in the first water tank
113, the water amount adjusting valve 116 is open toward the first
water tank 113.
[0056] Then, the water newly drawn into the first water tank 113
pushes the water previously stored therein toward the dispenser 40
(D direction).
[0057] The water previously stored in the first water tank 113 is
exposed to the cold air of the storage compartment 3, preserved
cool. Because of that, the user may be given cold water.
[0058] In addition, in case a signal for starting ice-making is
input, the water amount adjusting valve 116 is open toward the
second water tank 213. The water preserved cool in the second water
tank 213 is pushed by the water newly supplied thereto to flow
toward the icemaker (E direction).
[0059] Once the water having a predetermined temperature similar to
the temperature inside the storage compartment 3 is supplied to the
ice-making tray 27, the time taken to make ice after taking away
heat from the water and the ice-making time may decrease and the
total time period for completing the ice-making may be reduced.
[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates another example refrigerator. As shown in
FIG. 4, the refrigerator may include an accommodation part 300, a
cold air guide duct 310 and a closable member 313, compared to the
above embodiment. The accommodation part 300 accommodates the
second water tank 213 that stores the water to be supplied to the
icemaker and the cold air guide duct 310 guides some of the cold
air inside the freezer compartment toward the accommodation part
300. The closable member 313 is provided in the cold air guide duct
310 or a connection portion between the accommodation part 300 and
the cold guide duct 310 to selectively control the supply of cold
air to the freezer compartment.
[0061] In addition, a temperature sensor 315 is mounted in the
accommodation part 300 to measure a temperature inside the
accommodation part 300.
[0062] The accommodation part 300 is provided so that a temperature
near the second water tank 213 is maintained below the temperature
of the refrigerator compartment 3 and beyond the freezing point of
water (i.e., zero degrees Celsius).
[0063] That is, if the temperature of the refrigerator compartment
3 is maintained approximately at 3.degree. C., the temperature
inside the accommodation part 300 may be maintained at 1.degree.
C..about.2.degree. C.
[0064] If the temperature of the water supplied to the icemaker 26
is lowered more, the ice-making time may be further reduced.
[0065] The water flow toward the dispenser (40, see FIG. 2) and the
ice-making operation of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 4 may be
similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 3. Thus, the
configuration related to the accommodation part 300 will be
described below without repeating the prior description.
[0066] If it is determined by the temperature sensor 315 installed
in the accommodation part 300 that the temperatures therein are
beyond a predetermined range, the closable member 313 is operated
to make the accommodation part 300 in communication with the
freezer compartment.
[0067] Because of that, the cold air of the freezer compartment is
drawn into the accommodation part 300 and the temperature inside
the accommodation part 300 is lowered. Hence, if it is determined
by the temperature sensor 315 that the measured temperature is
within the predetermined range, the closable member 313 is closed
again to reduce the likelihood (e.g., prevent) the inside of the
accommodation part 300 from overcooling.
[0068] If the inside of the accommodation part 300 is overcooled,
the water accommodated in the second water tank 213 might be frozen
and thus the operation of the closable member 313 should be
performed fast as possible.
[0069] FIG. 5 illustrates example control components for a
refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 5, a control part 400 is installed
in the refrigerator to control the water supply to the dispenser
and the water supply for the ice-making.
[0070] A power unit 401 for supplying power, the lever 42 of the
dispenser 40, and the temperature sensor 315 in case of the
refrigerator shown in FIG. 4 may be connected to an input terminal
of the control part 400. An ice-ejector driving part 402, a
dispenser driving part 41, and a passage valve/water amount
adjusting valve driving part 216 may be connected to an output
terminal of the control part 400. Here, the ice-ejector driving
part 402 is driven to eject the ice stored in the ice container of
the ice-making chamber 23 and the dispenser driving part 41 is
driven to supply the water to the dispenser.
[0071] The water supply to the dispenser 40 and the icemaker 26 is
performed according to a command of the control part, with the
above configuration.
[0072] In some implementations, if the lever of the dispenser is
operated during the water supply to the icemaker, the priority
order of water supply may be a problem and an example control
method of the water supply priority order is shown in FIG. 6.
[0073] First, it is determined whether a dispenser operation signal
to dispense water from the dispenser is input (S101). The
determination of whether the operation signal is input may be based
on whether the lever of the dispenser is operated.
[0074] It is determined whether water is being supplied to the
icemaker currently (S102). If it is determined that the water is
supplied to the icemaker, the water supply to the icemaker is
stopped (S103) and the water supply to the dispenser starts (S104).
If the water is not supplied to the icemaker currently, the water
is supplied to the dispenser.
[0075] The water supply to the icemaker may be stopped so that the
pressure of the water flowing into the dispenser is dispersed as
the water is supplied to both of the dispenser and the icemaker
simultaneously.
[0076] After the water supply to the dispenser is performed in the
state where the water supply to the icemaker is stopped, it is
determined whether the dispenser operation signal is stopped
(S105). If it is determined that the dispenser operation signal is
stopped, the water supply to the icemaker re-starts, perhaps
immediately (S106).
[0077] It will be understood that various modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. For
example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of
the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or
if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different
manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components.
Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *