U.S. patent application number 15/481242 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-02 for refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Won Gu PARK, Sung Jin YANG.
Application Number | 20170314834 15/481242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60157869 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170314834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Won Gu ; et
al. |
November 2, 2017 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
An ice making device in a refrigerator including light sensors
to detect an ice level in the ice bucket. An ice level sensing unit
is positioned lower than an upper edge of the ice bucket and thus
can detect ice level even when the ice bucket is not completely
full. The ice level sensing unit includes one or more pairs of
light emitting sensor and light receiving sensor. When ice in the
ice bucket accumulates to a detectable level, the amount of light
emitted from the light emitting sensor and received by the light
receiving sensor can be blocked accordingly.
Inventors: |
PARK; Won Gu; (Seoul,
KR) ; YANG; Sung Jin; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
60157869 |
Appl. No.: |
15/481242 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/187 20130101;
F25C 5/22 20180101; F25C 2600/04 20130101; F25C 2700/02 20130101;
F25C 2400/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/18 20060101
F25C005/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0052219 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: an ice-making compartment; and an
ice-making device disposed inside the ice-making compartment and
comprising: an ice-making assembly configured to produce ice from
water; an ice bucket configured to store the ice produced in the
ice-making assembly; and an ice level sensing unit configured to
sense a level of ice in the ice bucket, wherein the ice level
sensing unit is disposed lower than an upper edge of the ice
bucket.
2. A refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising: a main body
comprising a storage space; and a door coupled to the main body for
covering the storage space, and wherein the ice-making compartment
is disposed in the door or inside the main body.
3. A refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice level sensing unit
comprises: a light-emitting sensor installed on one sidewall of the
ice-making compartment and configured to emit light; and a
light-receiving sensor installed on the other sidewall of the
ice-making compartment and configured to receive light emitted from
the light-emitting sensor.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the ice bucket comprises: a
first sidewall comprising a first cutout portion, wherein light
emitted from the light-emitting sensor is transmitted to the
light-receiving sensor through the first cutout portion; and a
second sidewall facing the first sidewall of the ice bucket and
comprising a second cutout portion, wherein light emitted from the
light-emitting sensor is transmitted to the light-receiving sensor
through the second cutout portion.
5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the light-emitting sensor
and the light-receiving sensor are spaced apart in a transverse
direction of the ice bucket.
6. The refrigerator of claim 3 further comprising a control unit
configured to determine fullness of the ice bucket based on a
detected level of ice in the ice bucket.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein a level of ice in the ice
bucket is determined based on an amount of light sensed by the
light-receiving sensor.
8. A refrigerator comprising: an ice-making compartment; an ice
tray disposed within the ice-making compartment and configured to
receive water and to produce ice from the water; an ice bucket
configured to store the ice produced in the ice tray; an ice level
sensing unit configured to detect an ice level in the ice bucket
and the ice level sensing unit comprising: a light-emitting unit
installed on a first wall of the ice-making compartment; and a
light-receiving unit installed on a second wall of the ice-making
compartment.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the light-emitting unit is
disposed in a position lower than an upper edge of the ice
bucket.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting unit
comprises a plurality of light-emitting sensors configured to emit
light.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the light-receiving unit
is disposed in a position lower than the upper edge of the ice
bucket.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the light-receiving unit
comprises a plurality of light-receiving sensors configured to
sense the light emitted from the light-emitting unit.
13. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising: a control
unit configured to cause the light-emitting sensors to alternately
emit light.
14. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a light-receiving sensor
and a light-emitting sensor are disposed at a same height with
reference to the ice bucket.
15. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a light-receiving sensor
and a light-emitting sensor are disposed at different heights with
reference to the ice bucket.
16. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the control unit is
configured to determine fullness of the ice bucket based on an ice
level detected by the ice level sensing unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2016-0052219, filed on Apr. 29, 2016, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to
refrigerators, and more particularly, to ice making and dispensing
mechanisms in refrigerators.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A refrigerator is an appliance used for storing food or
other times at low temperature, e.g., in a frozen state or
refrigerated.
[0004] The interior of the refrigerator is cooled by cold air
circulating therein. Cold air can be continuously generated as a
refrigerant recycling through compression, condensation, expansion
and evaporation. Cold air supplied in the refrigerator is uniformly
distributed by convection.
[0005] The refrigerator includes a main body having a rectangular
parallelepiped shape with a front opening. A refrigeration
compartment and a freezer may be disposed in the main body. A
refrigeration compartment door and a freezer door may cover the
front of the main body. Drawers, racks, storage boxes and the like
for sorting and storing different kinds of items may be disposed in
the internal storage space of the refrigerator.
[0006] In general, a top-mount-type refrigerator has a freezer
located on top of a refrigeration compartment. In contrast, a
bottom-freeze-type refrigerator has a freezer located under the
refrigeration compartment. This enables a user to conveniently
access the refrigeration compartment. On the other hand, this may
be inconvenient for a user to access the freezer, if the user has
to bend or lower his or her body to reach, e.g., to take out ice
pieces.
[0007] Some bottom-freeze-type refrigerators have an ice dispenser
disposed in a refrigeration compartment door located at the upper
side of the refrigerator. In this case, an ice-making device for
supplying ice may be disposed in the refrigeration compartment door
or the interior of the refrigeration compartment.
[0008] More specifically, water is supplied to the ice tray and
freezes into ice pieces therein. The ice tray may be heated
slightly after ice forms. Thereafter, an ice-releasing device is
driven to release the ice pieces toward the ice bucket. However, if
the stack height of the ice pieces in the bucket comes close to the
ice tray, it may be difficult to release the ice pieces from the
ice trays, causing the ice pieces to adhere to the ice tray. Thus,
a sensing unit capable of sensing the amount of ice in the ice
bucket is provided in the ice-making device.
[0009] However, the sensing unit typically uses a rotatable lever.
When the lever is rotated, ice pieces in the ice bucket may
interfere with the lever. If ice-making water leaks and freezes on
a rotation shaft of the lever, the rotation of the level can be
hindered, which can reduce the efficiency and accuracy of the
sensing unit.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0010] Patent Document 1: Korean Patent Application Publication No.
10-2010-0063241 (published on Jun. 11, 2010)
SUMMARY
[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator
which includes an ice-making device with improved sensing
efficiency for detecting an ice level or fullness.
[0012] According to one embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a main
body having a storage space; a door installed in the main body to
cover the storage space; an ice-making compartment installed in the
door or inside the main body; and an ice-making device disposed
inside the ice-making compartment. The ice-making device includes
an ice-making assembly configured to produce ice pieces; an ice
bucket configured to store the ice pieces produced in the
ice-making assembly; and an ice level sensing unit configured to
sense the level of the ice in, or fullness of, the ice bucket. The
sensing unit is located lower than an upper edge (the top opening)
of the ice bucket.
[0013] The ice level sensing unit includes a light-emitting sensor
installed on one sidewall of the ice-making compartment and
configured to emit light; and a light-receiving sensor installed on
the other sidewall of the ice-making compartment and configured to
sense the light emitted from the light-emitting sensor.
[0014] The ice bucket includes a first sidewall having a first
cutout portion so that light emitted from the light-emitting sensor
travels toward the light-receiving sensor through the first cutout
portion; and a second sidewall configured to face the first
sidewall and having a second cutout portion so that light emitted
from the light-emitting sensor travels toward the light-receiving
sensor through the second cutout portion.
[0015] The light-emitting sensor and the light-receiving sensor are
spaced apart in a transverse direction of the ice bucket.
[0016] A control unit is also included and configured to determine
the fullness of the ice pieces in the ice bucket based on the
amount of light sensed by the light-receiving sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration
of an exemplary refrigerator according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary refrigerator
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
configuration of an exemplary ice-making device of the refrigerator
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view illustrating the
configuration of the exemplary ice-making device of the
refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the exemplary ice-making
device of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 6 is an operation state view illustrating an exemplary
method of sensing ice fullness by an ice level sensing unit of the
ice-making device of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating the
configuration of an exemplary ice-making device according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 8 is an operation state view illustrating an exemplary
method of sensing ice level sensed by an ice level sensing unit of
the ice-making device illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0025] FIG. 9 is an operation state view illustrating another
exemplary method of sensing ice level by an ice level sensing unit
of the ice-making device illustrated in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The
illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description,
drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other
embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented
here.
[0027] One or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments
of the disclosure can be easily determined by those skilled in the
art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described
exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways,
all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
described herein.
[0028] It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not
necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and
proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced
in size, and a predetermined size is merely exemplary and not
limiting. The same reference numerals designate the same
structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings
in order to exhibit similar characteristics.
[0029] The exemplary drawings of the present disclosure illustrate
ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more
detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are
expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to
a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include
a modification of a form due to manufacturing.
[0030] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration
of an exemplary refrigerator according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary
refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to
one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a main body
100 defining an outer body or housing of the refrigerator and
including a storage space; a barrier B configured to divide the
storage space formed within the main body 100 into an upper
refrigeration compartment R and a lower freezer F; doors 200
including a refrigeration compartment door 210 of the refrigeration
compartment R through rotational movement and a freezer door 220 of
the freezer F; an ice-making compartment 300 in the refrigeration
compartment door 210 or the freezer door 220; and an ice-making
device 400 in the ice-making compartment 300 and configured to
produce ice pieces using cold air.
[0033] The ice-making compartment 300 may receive cold air
generated through repeated cycles of compression, condensation,
expansion and evaporation of a refrigerant. More specifically, a
gaseous refrigerant having low temperature and low pressure is
compressed by a compressor 2 into a gaseous state having high
temperature and high pressure. The gaseous refrigerant having high
temperature and high pressure is condensed by a condenser 3 into a
liquid state having high temperature and high pressure. In an
expander (not shown), the liquid refrigerant having high
temperature and high pressure is expanded into a liquid refrigerant
having low temperature and low pressure. Then, the liquid
refrigerant having low temperature and low pressure is fed to an
evaporator 4. In the evaporator 4, the liquid refrigerant having
low temperature and low pressure is evaporated by absorbing heat
from ambient air, thereby converting ambient air into cold air for
supply to the storage spaces. The ice-making device 400 in the
ice-making compartment 300 may produce ice pieces using cold air
thus generated.
[0034] Hereinafter, the exemplary ice-making device 400 is
described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
[0035] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
configuration of an exemplary ice-making device of the refrigerator
illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view illustrating
the configuration of exemplary ice-making device of the
refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a front view
illustrating the configuration of the exemplary ice-making device
of the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 1. The side surface
illustrated in FIG. 4 is a side surface opposite to the side
surface illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the ice-making device 400 may
include an ice-making assembly 410 configured to produce ice
pieces, an ice bucket 420 configured to store ice pieces produced
in the ice-making assembly 410, an ice level sensing unit 430
configured to sense the level, amount or fullness of the ice pieces
in the ice bucket 420 and located lower than an upper edge A of the
ice bucket 420.
[0037] The ice-making assembly 410 may include an ice tray 412
configured to accommodate water and to produce ice pieces, a cold
air flow path 414 configured to guide cold from the cold air duct
110 to move along a lower surface of the ice tray 412, and a rotary
unit (not shown) configured to rotate the ice tray 412 to release
the ice pieces into the ice bucket 420.
[0038] The ice tray 412 may include ice cells 413 for receiving
water from a water supply port 405. The ice cells 413 may have
different shapes or numbers in different embodiments.
[0039] The ice tray 412 may be made of metal, for example,
aluminum, having high heat conductivity. Thus, the ice tray 412
functions as a heat exchanger.
[0040] Under the ice tray 412, there may be disposed cold air flow
path 414 for cold air supplied from the cold air duct 110. Due to
heat exchange between cold air and the ice tray 412, water
accommodated within the ice cells 413 of the ice tray 412 freezes
into ice pieces.
[0041] The ice pieces thus produced may be stored in the ice bucket
420 disposed under the ice tray 412. For this purpose, the ice
bucket 420 may include a first sidewall 422 and a second sidewall
424 facing each other.
[0042] A first cutout portion 423 is disposed in the first sidewall
422, through which light emitted from a light-emitting sensor 432
can pass.
[0043] A second cutout portion 425 is disposed in the second
sidewall 422, through which the light emitted from the
light-emitting sensor 432 can pass. Light emitted from the
light-emitting sensor 432 is irradiated toward a light-receiving
sensor 434.
[0044] In the related art, to sense the fullness of ice pieces in
the ice bucket 420, an ice level sensing unit is disposed in a
position equal to higher than an upper edge A of the ice bucket
420. However, as the level of the ice pieces filled in the ice
bucket 420 grows higher, the sensing accuracy decreases. When a
user removes the ice bucket 420, the ice pieces stored in the ice
bucket 420 can spill over.
[0045] The ice level sensing unit 430 according to one embodiment
of the present disclosure may be positioned in a position B lower
than the upper edge A of the ice bucket 420 and may sense the level
of the ice pieces stored in the ice bucket 420.
[0046] For this purpose, the ice level sensing unit 430 may
include: a light-emitting sensor 432 installed on one sidewall 310
of the ice-making compartment 300 and configured to emit light; and
a light-receiving sensor 434 installed on the other sidewall 320 of
the ice-making compartment 300 to face the light-emitting sensor
432 and configured to sense the light emitted from the
light-emitting sensor 432.
[0047] The light-emitting sensor 432 may be installed on one
sidewall 310 of the ice-making compartment 300 and may continuously
or periodically emit light that can be blocked by the ice pieces
stored in the ice bucket 420.
[0048] Since the light-emitting sensor 432 may be installed on one
sidewall 310 of the ice-making compartment 300, the position of the
light-emitting sensor 432 would not be changed by vibration of any
component in the ice-making compartment 300, e.g., vibration caused
during removal of the ice bucket 420. Thereby, the level and/or
fullness of ice pieces in the ice bucket 420 can be sensed in a
reliable, consistent and accurate manner.
[0049] The light-receiving sensor 434 may be installed on the other
sidewall 320 of the ice-making compartment 300 to face the
light-emitting sensor 432 so that a straight light path is formed
between the light-emitting sensor 432 and the light-receiving
sensor 434.
[0050] Since the light-receiving sensor 434 may be installed on the
other sidewall 320 of the ice-making compartment 300, the position
of the light-receiving sensor 434 would not be changed by vibration
of any component in the ice-making compartment 300.
[0051] As described above, the first cutout portion 423 and the
second cutout portion 425, through which light emitted from the
light-emitting sensor 432 can pass, are formed in the first
sidewall 422 and the second sidewall 424 of the ice bucket 420.
Thus, light emitted from the light-emitting sensor 432 may be
transmitted to the light-receiving sensor 434 through the first
cutout portion 423 and the second cutout portion 425. For example,
transparent windows (not shown) may be disposed in the first cutout
portion 423 and the second cutout portion 425 to prevent ice pieces
from falling out through the first cutout portion 423 and the
second cutout portion 425 while at the same time allowing passage
of light emitted from the light-emitting sensor 432. However, this
implementation is merely exemplary. The present disclosure is not
necessarily limited thereto.
[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the light-emitting sensor 432 and
the light-receiving sensor 434 may be located on one sidewall 310
and the other sidewall 320 of the ice-making compartment 300 at a
position B spaced apart downward by a predetermined distance d from
the upper surface A of the ice bucket 420. This allows the ice
fullness level sensed by the ice level sensing unit 430 to be
adjustable. Moreover, the ice level sensing level may be adjusted
by changing the predetermined distance d. For example, the
detectable level may become higher as the value of the
predetermined distance d grows smaller. The ice level sensing level
may become lower as the value of the predetermined distance d
increases.
[0053] The light-emitting sensor 432 and the light-receiving sensor
434 may be spaced apart in the transverse direction of the ice
bucket 420. Thus, compared with a case where the light-emitting
sensor 432 and the light-receiving sensor 434 are spaced apart in
the longitudinal direction of the ice bucket 420, the distance
between the light-emitting sensor 432 and the light-receiving
sensor 434 is reduced. This can advantageously reduce or prevent
assembly error. In this regard, the transverse direction of the ice
bucket 420 refers to an X-axis direction in FIG. 4 and the
longitudinal direction of the ice bucket 420 refers to a Z-axis
direction in FIG. 4.
[0054] The control unit 500 may determine the fullness of ice
pieces in the ice bucket 420 depending on the amount of light
sensed by the light-receiving sensor 434. The operation or
non-operation state of the ice-making device 400 may be determined
based on the determination by the control unit 500. The method of
determining the fullness of ice pieces in the ice bucket 420 using
the control unit 500 and the method of operating the ice-making
device 400 using the control unit 500 are described in greater
detail below.
[0055] The operation and effect of the ice-making device 400
configured as above are described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6
is an operation state view illustrating an exemplary method of
sensing the ice level or the ice fullness using the ice level
sensing unit of the ice-making device of the refrigerator
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0056] Cold air generated through the compressor, the condenser,
the expander and the evaporator may be supplied to the ice-making
compartment 300 via the cold air duct 110. Since the cold air flow
path 414 is coupled to and extends from the cold air duct 110, cold
air flowing out from the cold air duct 110 enters the cold air flow
path 414.
[0057] More specifically, cold air may exchange heat with the ice
tray 412 while flowing through the lower surface of the ice tray
412. Thus, water contained in the ice tray 412 may freeze ice
pieces which are then stored and stacked in the ice bucket 420
disposed under the ice tray 412.
[0058] As the level of the ice piece stack in the ice bucket 420
exceeds a predetermined level, the ice level sensing unit 430 may
determine whether the capacity of the ice bucket 420 has been
reached. If so, a fullness status is declared for the ice
bucket.
[0059] More specifically, if the height of the ice piece stack in
the ice bucket 420 is at or above a predetermined height, light
continuously or periodically emitted from the light-emitting sensor
432 can be blocked by the ice pieces and cannot be received by the
light-receiving sensor 434. If the amount of the light sensed by
the light-receiving sensor 434 reduces significantly and becomes
lower than a threshold, the control unit 500 may determine that ice
bucket 420 is full and may stop the operation of the ice-making
device 400.
[0060] Since the light-emitting sensor 432 and the light-receiving
sensor 434 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
are installed in a position B that is lower than the upper edge A
of the ice bucket 420, the ice level can be detected even if the
ice bucket is less than completely full. This enables sensing in
advance regarding the fullness of ice pieces in the ice bucket 420
before the ice pieces are stacked up to the upper edge A of the ice
bucket 420. Advantageously, spilling or overflow of ice pieces from
the ice bucket can be prevented.
[0061] On the other hand, if the level of the ice piece stack in
the ice bucket 420 lowers, e.g., after dispensing to a user, the
space between the light-emitting sensor 432 and the light-receiving
sensor 434 eventually becomes unblocked again. Thus, the amount of
light emitted from the light-emitting sensor 432 and received by
the light-receiving sensor 434 increases. Accordingly, at some
point, the control unit 500 determines that the amount of ice
stored in the ice bucket 420 reaches a lower threshold and thereby
reactivates the ice-making device 400.
[0062] Ice pieces stored in the ice bucket 420 can be delivered to
an ice-breaking unit 700 by an auger 600. The ice pieces may be
broken by a rotatable blade (not shown) and a fixed blade (not
shown) and are then supplied to a user.
[0063] As described above, the light-emitting sensor 432 and the
light-receiving sensor 434 of the ice level sensing unit 430
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure are installed
on sidewalls 310 of the ice-making compartment 300. In this
configuration, a level that can be sensed would not change due to
any vibration related to the ice-making compartment, because the
light-emitting sensor 432 and the light-receiving sensor 434 are
fixed to the sidewalls 310 and 320 of the ice-making compartment
300. Thereby, the level and/or fullness of ice pieces in the ice
bucket 420 can be advantageously sensed in a reliable, consistent
and accurate manner.
[0064] Furthermore, the light-emitting sensor 432 and the
light-receiving sensor 434 are spaced apart from electrical
components such as an ice-releasing heater (not shown), an auger
drive motor (not shown) and the like. This can advantageously
prevent damage to the light-emitting sensor 432 and the
light-receiving sensor 434 caused by the electrical components,
where the damage would adversely affect the sensing accuracy of the
ice level sensing unit.
[0065] Moreover, according to the present disclosure, a light
sensor is used to detect ice level or fullness in an ice bucket,
rather than a complicated mechanical sensor in the conventional
art. This can advantageously reduce the number of required
components, simplify assembly procedure and reduce manufacturing
cost.
[0066] To enlarge a sensing range, the ice level sensing unit 430
may include a plurality of light-emitting sensors 432' and a
plurality of light-receiving sensors 434'. The number of the
light-emitting sensors 432' and the number of the light-receiving
sensors 434' may both be n (where n is greater than 2).
[0067] Hereinafter, an ice-making device 401 according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to
FIGS. 7 to 9. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating the
configuration of an exemplary ice-making device according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an operation
state view illustrating an exemplary method of sensing an ice level
by using the ice level sensing unit illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 9
is an operation state view illustrating another exemplary method of
sensing ice level by using the ice level sensing unit illustrated
in FIG. 7.
[0068] The light-emitting sensors 432' and the light-receiving
sensors 434' may be installed the sidewalls 310 and 320 of the
ice-making compartment 300. In this case, the light emitted from
the light-emitting sensors 432' may be sensed by the
light-receiving sensors 434'. This can advantageously enlarge a
sensing region by an ice level sensing unit 431.
[0069] More specifically, the light-emitting sensors 432' may
include a first light-emitting sensor 432a disposed at the left
side of the sidewall 310 of the ice-making compartment 300 on the
basis of the X-axis in FIG. 7 and a second light-emitting sensor
432b disposed at the right side of the sidewall 310 of the
ice-making compartment 300 on the basis of the X-axis in FIG.
7.
[0070] Furthermore, the light-receiving sensors 434' may include a
first light-receiving sensor 434a disposed at the left sidewall 320
of the ice-making compartment 300 and a second light-receiving
sensor 434b disposed at the right sidewall 320 of the ice-making
compartment 300.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control unit 500 controls the
first light-emitting sensor 432a and the second light-emitting
sensor 432b to emit light toward the first light-receiving sensor
434a and the second light-receiving sensor 434b. In other words,
among the light-emitting sensors 432' and the light-receiving
sensors 434', the first light-emitting sensor 432a and the first
light-receiving sensor 434a disposed at the same level form a pair
for sensing. The second light-emitting sensor 432b and the second
light-receiving sensor 434b disposed at the same level forms
another pair for sensing.
[0072] More specifically, light emitted from the first
light-emitting sensor 432a disposed at the left sidewall 310 of the
ice-making compartment 300 is transmitted to the first
light-receiving sensor 434a disposed at the left sidewall 320
thereof. The light emitted from the second light-emitting sensor
432b disposed at the right sidewall 310 is transmitted to the
second light-receiving sensor 434b disposed at the right sidewall
320.
[0073] Due to this configuration, the ice level sensing region is
enlarged, because the light-emitting sensors 432' and the
light-receiving sensors 434' are provided in a plural number.
However, it might be difficult to sense the ice pieces positioned
in the space between the left and right sides of one sidewall 310
of the ice-making compartment 300 and in the space between the left
and right sides of the other sidewall 320 of the ice-making
compartment 300.
[0074] Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the control unit 500 may
control the first light-emitting sensor 432a to emit light toward
the second light-receiving sensor 434b. Furthermore, the control
unit 500 may control the second light-emitting sensor 432b to emit
light toward the first light-receiving sensor 434a. In other words,
among the light-emitting sensors 432' and the light-receiving
sensors 434', the first light-emitting sensor 432a and the second
light-receiving sensor 434b disposed at different levels form a
pair to perform an ice fullness sensing operation. The second
light-emitting sensor 432b and the first light-receiving sensor
434a disposed at different levels form a pair to perform an ice
fullness sensing operation.
[0075] The control unit 500 controls the first light-emitting
sensor 432a and the second light-emitting sensor 432b so that the
first light-emitting sensor 432a and the second light-emitting
sensor 432b alternately flicker at a predetermined time interval.
This enables the first light-emitting sensor 432a and the second
light-emitting sensor 432b to emit light toward the second
light-receiving sensor 434b and the first light-receiving sensor
434a without light interference. Thus, the ice level sensing region
(in which the ice level can be sensed) is further widened. It is
therefore possible to eliminate a source of an erroneous operation
attributable to ice level sensing errors. This makes it possible to
improve the reliability and quality of the ice-making device
401.
[0076] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the
specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present
disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted
by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques
within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the
present disclosure.
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