U.S. patent application number 17/301904 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-21 for refrigerator and control method thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jin JEONG, Yonghan KIM, Kwanyeol LEE, Bongsu SON.
Application Number | 20210325094 17/301904 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005579276 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210325094 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Kwanyeol ; et
al. |
October 21, 2021 |
REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a
storage compartment, an evaporator configured to cool the air in
the storage compartment, a first heater provided in the vicinity of
the evaporator, a tray provided to accommodate water, a refrigerant
pipe provided in contact with the tray and configured to cool the
tray, a second heater provided in the vicinity of the refrigerant
pipe, a compressor configured to supply a compressed refrigerant to
at least one of the evaporator or the refrigerant pipe, and a
processor configured to start an operation of the second heater
after starting an operation of the first heater, and configured to
start an operation of the compressor after stopping the operation
of the first heater and the second heater. Accordingly, it is
possible to prevent ice from being agglomerated caused by the
defrosting operation.
Inventors: |
LEE; Kwanyeol; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KIM; Yonghan; (Suwon-si, KR) ; SON;
Bongsu; (Suwon-si, KR) ; JEONG; Jin;
(Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005579276 |
Appl. No.: |
17/301904 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 13/00 20130101;
F25B 39/02 20130101; F25B 49/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 39/02 20060101
F25B039/02; F25B 13/00 20060101 F25B013/00; F25B 49/02 20060101
F25B049/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 21, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0048357 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: an evaporator; a first heater
provided in a vicinity of the evaporator; a tray; a refrigerant
pipe configured to cool the tray; a second heater provided in a
vicinity of the refrigerant pipe; a compressor configured to supply
a refrigerant to at least one of the evaporator or the refrigerant
pipe; and a processor configured to: start an operation of the
second heater after starting an operation of the first heater, and
start an operation of the compressor in response to stopping the
operation of the first heater and the second heater.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to start the operation of the second heater upon
stopping the operation of the first heater.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, therein the processor is further
configured to start the operation of the second heater in response
to a first time being elapsed after the starting of the operation
of the first heater.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to substantially simultaneously stop the operation of
the first heater and the operation of the second heater.
5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to stop the operation of the second heater after
stopping the operation of the first heater.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to stop the operation of the first heater within a
predetermined time after stopping the operation of the second
heater.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first
temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the
evaporator, wherein the processor is further configured to stop the
operation of the first heater based on the temperature of the
evaporator being equal to or greater than a first reference
temperature.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a second
temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the tray,
wherein the processor is further configured to stop the operation
of the second heater based on the temperature of the tray being
equal to or greater than a second reference temperature.
9. A control method of a refrigerator comprising: starting an
operation of a compressor to supply a refrigerant to an evaporator
and a refrigerant pipe, where the refrigerant pipe configured to
cool a tray; starting an operation of a first heater provided in a
vicinity of the evaporator in response to stopping the operation of
the compressor; starting an operation of a second heater provided
in a vicinity of the refrigerant pipe after the starting of the
operation of the first heater; and starting the operation of the
compressor in response to stopping the operation of the first
heater and the second heater.
10. The control method of claim 9, wherein the starting of the
operation of the second heater comprises starting the operation of
the second heater upon stopping the operation of the first
heater.
11. The control method of claim 9, wherein the starting of the
operation of the second heater comprises starting the operation of
the second heater in response to a first time being elapsed after
the starting of the operation of the first heater,
12. The control method of claim 9, wherein the stopping of the
operation of the first heater and the second heater comprises
substantially simultaneously stopping the operation of the first
heater and the operation of the second heater.
13. The control method of claim 9, wherein the stopping of the
operation of the first heater and the second heater comprises
stopping the operation of the second heater after stopping the
operation of the first heater.
14. The control method of claim 9, wherein the stopping of the
operation of the first heater and the second heater comprises
stopping the operation of the first heater within a predetermined
time after stopping the operation of the second heater.
15. The control method of claim 9. wherein the stopping of the
operation of the first heater and the second heater comprises:
stopping the operation of the first heater based on a temperature
of the evaporator being equal to or greater than a first reference
temperature, and stopping the operation of the second heater based
on a temperature of the tray being equal to or greater than a
second reference temperature.
16. A refrigerator comprising: an evaporator; a first heater
provided in a vicinity of the evaporator; a refrigerant pipe
provided in contact with a tray; a second heater provided in a
vicinity of the refrigerant pipe; a compressor configured to supply
a refrigerant to at least one of the evaporator or the refrigerant
pipe; and a processor configured to: operate the first heater to
heat the evaporator, operate the second heater to heat the
refrigerant pipe, stop the operation of the second heater after
stopping the operation of the first heater, and operate the
compressor in response to stopping the operation of the second
heater,
17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the processor is further
configured to start the operation of the second heater after the
stopping of the operation of the first heater.
18. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the processor is further
configured to start the operation of the second heater in response
to a first time being elapsed after the starting of the operation
of the first heater. 19, The refrigerator of claim 16, further
comprising: a first temperature sensor configured to measure a
temperature of the evaporator, wherein the processor is further
configured to stop the operation of the first heater based on the
temperature of the evaporator being equal to or greater than a
first reference temperature.
20. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising: a second
temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the tray,
wherein the processor is further configured to stop the operation
of the second heater based on the temperature of the tray being
equal to or greater than a second reference temperature.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0048357,
filed on Apr. 21, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator including an ice making device
capable of making ice, and a control method thereof
2. Description of Related Art.
[0003] In general, a refrigerator is a device that stores food
fresh by including a storage compartment and a cold air supply
device configured to supply cooled air (hereinafter referred to as
"cold air") to the storage compartment. The refrigerator may
further include an ice making device for making ice.
[0004] An automatic ice making device includes an ice maker
configured to make ice and an ice storage in which ice made by the
ice maker is stored.
[0005] In a direct cooling method among ice making methods for
freezing water, a refrigerant pipe may be extended into an interior
of the ice maker to freeze water. The refrigerant pipe is also
provided in direct contact with an ice making tray containing water
for ice-making. In this direct cooling method, the ice making tray
may be cooled by the refrigerant pipe through a heat conduction
method.
[0006] Due to condensation or sublimation of water vapor, frost may
be formed on the refrigerant pipe of the ice maker. In order to
defrost the refrigerant pipe, the refrigerator may perform a
defrosting operation of the ice maker to heat the ambient air of
the refrigerant pipe.
[0007] However, when the ice maker is left for a long time without
the cooling operation of the ice maker after the defrosting
operation of the ice maker, the ice stored in the ice storage
adjacent to the ice maker may be melted and agglomerated.
SUMMARY
[0008] Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a
refrigerator capable of preventing ice agglomeration, which is
caused by a defrosting operation, by resuming an ice making
operation immediately or within a short time after the defrosting
operation of the ice maker, and a control method thereof.
[0009] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
[0010] In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a
refrigerator includes an evaporator, a first heater provided in the
vicinity of the evaporator, a tray, a refrigerant pipe configured
to cool the tray, a second heater provided in the vicinity of the
refrigerant pipe, a compressor configured to supply a refrigerant
to at least one of the evaporator or the refrigerant pipe, and a
processor configured to start an operation of the second heater
after starting an operation of the first heater and start an
operation of the compressor in response to stopping the operation
of the first heater and the second heater.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a
control method of a refrigerator includes operating a compressor to
supply a refrigerant to an evaporator and a refrigerant pipe, where
the refrigerant pipe configured to cool a tray provided to
accommodate water, starting an operation of a first heater provided
in the vicinity of the evaporator in response to stopping the
operating of the compressor, starting an operation of a second
heater provided in the vicinity of the refrigerant pipe after the
starting of the operation of the first heater, and starting the
operation of the compressor in response to stopping the operation
of the first heater and the second heater.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a
refrigerator includes an evaporator, a first heater provided in the
vicinity of the evaporator, a refrigerant pipe provided in contact
with a tray, a second heater provided in the vicinity of the
refrigerant pipe, a compressor configured to supply a refrigerant
to at least one of the evaporator or the refrigerant pipe, and a
processor configured to operate the first heater to heat the
evaporator, operate the second heater to heat the refrigerant pipe,
stop the operation of the second heater after stopping the
operation of the first heater, and operate the compressor in
response to stopping the operation of the second heater.
[0013] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be
advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases
used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and
"comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without
limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the
phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as
derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within,
interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or
with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with,
interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have,
have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means
any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one
operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware
or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It
should be noted that the functionality associated with any
particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether
locally or remotely.
[0014] Moreover, various functions described below can be
implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of
which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in
a computer readable medium. The terms "application" and "program"
refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets
of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes,
instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for
implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The
phrase "computer readable program code" includes any type of
computer code, including source code, object code, and executable
code. The phrase "computer readable medium" includes any type of
medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only
memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a
compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of
memory. A "non-transitory" computer readable medium excludes wired,
wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport
transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer
readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored
and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a
rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.
[0015] Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided
throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art
should understand that in many, if not most instances, such
definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined
words and phrases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a refrigerant cycle of the
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view of an ice making
device included in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ice making device
included in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 6 is diagram illustrating electrical components of the
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a defrosting operation of
the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0024] FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating an example of an
operation of a defrost heater and an internal temperature of the
ice making device by the defrosting operation shown in FIG. 7;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a defrosting operation of
the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
[0026] FIGS. 10A and 10B are views illustrating an example of an
operation of the defrost heater and an internal temperature of the
ice making device by the defrosting operation shown in FIG. 9;
[0027] FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating another example of
the operation of the defrost heater and the internal temperature of
the ice making device by the defrosting operation shown in FIG.
9;
[0028] FIGS. 12A and 12B are views illustrating another example of
the operation of the defrost heater and the internal temperature of
the ice making device by the defrosting operation shown in FIG. 9;
and
[0029] FIGS. 13A and 13B are views illustrating another example of
the operation of the defrost heater and the internal temperature of
the ice making device by the defrosting operation shown in FIG.
9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] FIGS. 1 through 13B, discussed below, and the various
embodiments used to describe the principles of the present
disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only
and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the
disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the
principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any
suitably arranged system or device.
[0031] The following detailed description is provided to assist the
reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods,
apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various
changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods,
apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be suggested to
those of ordinary skill in the art. The progression of processing
operations described is an example; however, the sequence of and/or
operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be
changed as is known in the art, with the exception of operations
necessarily occurring in a particular order. In addition,
respective descriptions of well-known functions and constructions
may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.
[0032] Additionally, exemplary embodiments will now be described
more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The exemplary embodiments may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so
that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully
convey the exemplary embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the
art. Like numerals denote like elements throughout.
[0033] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only
used to distinguish one element from another. As used herein, the
term "and/or," includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items.
[0034] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected," or "coupled," to another element, it can be
directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening
elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred
to as being "directly connected," or "directly coupled," to another
element, there are no intervening elements present.
[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As
used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the," are intended
to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like elements throughout.
[0037] The expression, "at least one of a, b, and c," should be
understood as including only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both
a and c, both b and c, or all of a, b, and c.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional
view of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a refrigerant cycle of
the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a refrigerator 1 includes a
main body 10 in which a front surface is open, a storage
compartment 20 formed inside the main body 10 and in which
refrigerated and/or frozen food is stored, a door 30 configured to
open and close the open front surface of the main body 10, a
cooling device 50 configured to cool the storage compartment 20 and
an ice making device 60 configured to make ice.
[0040] The main body 10 forms the exterior of the refrigerator 1.
The main body 10 includes an inner case 11 forming the storage
compartment 20 and an outer case 12 coupled to the outside of the
inner case 11. An insulating material 13 configured to prevent
leakage of cold air from the storage compartment 20 is filed in
between the inner case 11 and the outer case 12 of the main body
10.
[0041] The storage compartment 20 is divided into a plurality of
spaces by a horizontal partition 21 and a vertical partition 22.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage compartment 20 may be
divided into a refrigerating compartment 20a, a first freezing
compartment 20b, and a second freezing compartment 20c. In
addition, the refrigerating compartment 20a may refrigerate and
store food, and the freezing compartments 20b and 20c may freeze
and store food. A shelf 23 on which food may be placed is provided
inside the storage compartment 20. However, the number and
arrangement of the storage compartments 20 are not limited to those
shown in FIG. 1.
[0042] The storage compartment 20 may be opened and closed by the
door 30. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerating
compartment 20a may be opened and closed by a first upper door 30aa
and a second upper door 30ab. In addition, the first freezing
compartment 20b may be opened and closed by a first lower door 30b,
and the second freezing compartment 20c may be opened and closed by
a second lower door 30c. However, the number and arrangement of the
doors 30 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 1.
[0043] A dispenser 40 may be provided on one side of the door 30.
The dispenser 40 may discharge water and/or ice according to a user
input. In other words, through the dispenser 40, a user can
directly take out water and/or ice to the outside without opening
the door 30.
[0044] The dispenser 40 includes a dispenser lever 41 to which a
user's discharge command is input, and a dispenser chute 42 from
which ice is discharged from the ice making device 60.
[0045] The dispenser 40 may be installed on the outside of the door
30 or the main body 10. For example, the dispenser 40 may be
installed on the first upper door 30aa. However, the location of
the dispenser 40 is not limited to the first upper door 30aa, and
thus the dispenser 40 may be installed in any position where a user
can take out of water and/or ice, such as the second upper door
30ab, the first lower door 30b, the second lower door 30c, and the
outer case 12 of the main body 10.
[0046] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cooling device 50
includes a compressor 51 configured to compress a refrigerant to a
high pressure, a condenser 52 configured to condense the compressed
refrigerant, expanders 54 and 55 configured to expand the
refrigerant to a low pressure, an evaporator 57 configured to
evaporate the refrigerant, and a refrigerant pipe 58 provided to
guide the refrigerant.
[0047] The compressor 51 and the condenser 52 are provided in a
machine room 14 provided in a rear lower portion of the main body
10.
[0048] The compressor 51 compresses a gaseous refrigerant into a
high pressure, and the compressed refrigerant may be transferred to
the condenser 52 through the refrigerant pipe 58.
[0049] In the condenser 52, the high-pressure refrigerant is
condensed, and the gaseous refrigerant may be converted to a liquid
state.
[0050] The liquid refrigerant may be transferred to the expanders
54 and 55 through a switching valve 53 provided on the refrigerant
pipe 58. The expanders 54 and 55 may include a first expander 54
and a second expander 55, and the first expander 54 may be
connected to the evaporator 57 to be described later, and the
second expander 55 may be connected to an ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 to be described later. In the expanders 54 and 55, the
liquid refrigerant is decompressed to a low pressure.
[0051] The liquid refrigerant, which is decompressed in the first
expander 54, may be transferred to the evaporator 57 and then
evaporated in the evaporator 57. During the refrigerant is
evaporated in the evaporator 57, the refrigerant may absorb heat
from the ambient air, and the ambient air of the evaporator 57 may
be cooled due to the heat absorption of the evaporator 57.
[0052] The evaporator 57 may cool the ambient air, and the cooled
air (hereinafter referred to as "cold air") may be supplied to the
freezing compartments 20b and 20c.
[0053] A first cooling duct 56a is provided on the rear of the
refrigerating compartment 20a, and a second cooling duct 57a is
provided on the rear of the freezing compartments 20b and 20c. The
evaporator 57 is provided in the second cooling duct 57a provided
at the rear of the freezing compartments 20b and 20c. A first fan
56b is provided in the first cooling duct 56a. The first fan 56b
may suck cold air, which is generated by the evaporator 57 of the
second cooling duct 57a, through the first cooling duct 56a and
supply the sucked cold air to the refrigerating compartment 20a. A
second fan 57b configured to supply the cold air, which is
generated by the evaporator 57, to the freezing compartments 20b
and 20c is provided in the second cooling duct 57a.
[0054] A part 59 (hereinafter referred to as "ice making
refrigerant pipe") of the refrigerant pipe 58 may be extended into
the inside of the ice making device 60, and the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 arranged inside the ice making device 60 may
cool water of the ice making device 60 for the ice-making.
[0055] The ice making device 60 may make ice by using the cold air
of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and the ice making device 60
may be installed on one side of the storage compartment 20. For
example, as shown in FIG. 1, the ice making device 60 may be
provided in the upper left of the refrigerating compartment 20a in
accordance with the dispenser 40 installed in the first upper door
30aa. However, the location of the ice making device 60 is not
limited to that shown in FIG. 1, and thus the ice making device 60
may be provided in the freezing compartments 20b and 20c, or
provided on the horizontal partition 21 between the refrigerating
compartments 20a and the freezing compartments 20b and 20c.
[0056] As described above, the switching valve 53 configured to
distribute the refrigerant to the evaporator 57 and/or the ice
making device 60 is provided in the refrigerant pipe 58.
[0057] According to the operation of the switching valve 53, the
refrigerant may be directly transferred to the evaporator 57 or
transferred to the evaporator 57 via the ice making device 60. For
example, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching valve 53 may be a
three-way valve including an inlet 53a, a first outlet 53b, and a
second outlet 53c. The inlet 53a is connected to the condenser 52,
the first outlet 53b is connected to the evaporator 57 through the
first expander 54, and the second outlet 53c is connected to the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59 through the second expander 55. In
response to that a flow path, which is provided to connect the
inlet 53a to the first outlet 53b, is formed by the operation of
the switching valve 53, the liquid refrigerant may be supplied to
the evaporator 57 through the first expander 54. In addition, in
response to that a flow path, which is provided to connect the
inlet 53a to the second outlet 53c, is formed by the operation of
the switching valve 53, the liquid refrigerant may be supplied to
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 and the evaporator 57 through
the second expander 55.
[0058] A defrost heater 57c and 59a is provided in the vicinity of
the evaporator 57 and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59,
respectively. The defrost heaters 57c and 59a, respectively, may
emit heat to remove frost on the evaporator 57 and the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59. In the evaporator 57 and the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59, a low-pressure liquid refrigerant may be
evaporated, and during evaporation, the refrigerant may absorb heat
from the ambient air. Accordingly, the ambient air may be
cooled.
[0059] In addition, on the surface of the evaporator 57 and the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59, water vapor may be sublimated, or may
be condensed and then frozen due to cooling of the ambient air.
Accordingly, frost may be formed on the surface of the evaporator
57 and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. The defrost heaters 57c
and 59a may emit heat to remove the frost formed on the evaporator
57 and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. For example, each of the
defrost heaters 57c and 59a may be an electrical resistance
configured to generate Joule's Heat by current.
[0060] A first defrost heater 57c may be provided in the vicinity
of the evaporator 57, and a second defrost heater 59a may be
provided in the vicinity of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. The
first defrost heater 57c may be operated to remove frost formed on
the evaporator 57, and the second defrost heater 59a may be
operated to remove frost formed on the ice making refrigerant pipe
59.
[0061] In the drawings and the above description, the evaporator 57
provided in the second cooling duct 57a behind the freezing
compartments 20b and 20c has been described, but is not limited
thereto. For example, an additional evaporator may be provided in
the first cooling duct 56a behind the refrigerating compartment
20a, and a refrigerant may be supplied to the additional evaporator
by the operation of the switching valve 53. Furthermore, the first
fan 56b may supply air, which is cooled by the additional
evaporator provided in the first cooling duct 56a, to the
refrigerating compartment 20a.
[0062] In addition, in the vicinity of the additional evaporator,
an additional defrost heater configured to remove frost on the
additional evaporator may be provided. Hereinafter a structure and
function of the ice making device 60 will be described.
[0063] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view of an ice making
device included in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the disclosure. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ice making
device included in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the ice making device
60 may include an ice maker 100 and an ice storage 190.
[0064] The ice maker 100 may make ice and discharge the ice to the
ice storage 190.
[0065] The ice storage 190 may store ice made by the ice maker 100.
The ice storage 190 may discharge stored ice through the dispenser
40 according to a user command input through the dispenser lever
41. For example, in response to a pressure of the dispenser lever
41 by a user, the ice storage 190 may discharge ice to the outside
through the dispenser 40.
[0066] The ice maker 100 includes an ice making tray 110 in which
water for ice making is stored and ice is made, an ejector 120
configured to eject ice made in the ice making tray 110, an ejector
motor 130 configured to rotate the ejector 120, an ice making cover
150 provided to guide ice ejected from the ice making tray 110, a
slider 160 provided to prevent the ice, which is ejected from the
ice making tray 110, from returning to the ice making tray 110, the
second defrost heater 59a configured to heat the ice making tray
110 and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to remove the frost
formed on the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 and to eject the ice
of the ice making tray 110, and a cold air duct 140 provided to
guide cold air of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to the ice
storage 190.
[0067] The ice making tray 110 may include a first ice making tray
111 provided to store water for the ice making, and a second ice
making tray 112 in contact with the ice making refrigerant pipe
59.
[0068] The first ice making tray 111 includes a plurality of ice
making cells 110a, and the plurality of ice making cells 110a may
store water for the ice-making. In addition, the first ice making
tray 111 may be mounted on the second ice making tray 112 and the
first ice making tray 111 may be cooled by the second ice making
tray 112.
[0069] The second ice making tray 112 may be formed of a material
having a high thermal conductivity, and the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 may be arranged under the second ice making tray 112. The
ice making tray 110 may be cooled to a temperature below the
freezing point of water (0 (zero) degrees Celsius) by the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59. In addition, the second ice making tray
112 may cool the first ice making tray 111, and ice may be made as
water stored in the ice making cell 110a of the first ice making
tray 111 is frozen.
[0070] The ejector 120 is provided above the ice making tray 110,
and separate the ice from the ice making tray 110 after the ice is
made.
[0071] The ejector 120 includes an ejector shaft 121 configured to
be rotatable and a scooping blade 122 configured to separate ice
from the ice making tray 110.
[0072] The ejector shaft 121 may be connected to the ejector motor
130, and may be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction by receiving a rotational force from the ejector motor
130.
[0073] The scooping blade 122 is formed to protrude from a side
wall of the ejector shaft 121.
[0074] The scooping blade 122 may be rotated around the ejector
shaft 121 in response to the rotation of the ejector shaft 121, and
during the rotation of the scooping blade 122, at least a part of
the scooping blade 122 may be placed in the ice making cell
110a.
[0075] During the rotation of the scooping blade 122, the scooping
blade 122 may separate the ice of the ice making tray 110 from the
first ice making tray 111. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5,
in response to the rotation of the ejector shaft 121 in the
clockwise direction, the scooping blade 122 may be rotated in the
clockwise direction with respect to the ejector shaft 121. In
addition, the scooping blade 122 may lift the ice I toward the
clockwise direction while the scooping blade 122 is rotated in the
clockwise direction.
[0076] The ejector motor 130 generates a rotational force, and
rotates the ejector 120 in the clockwise or counterclockwise
direction.
[0077] The ejector motor 130 may be connected to the ejector shaft
121 of the ejector 120, and the rotational force of the ejector
motor 130 may be transmitted to the ejector shaft 121 of the
ejector 120.
[0078] The ice making cover 150 guides the ice separated from the
ice making tray 110 to the ice storage 190. Ice lifted by the
scooping blade 122 may be guided to the slider 160 along an inner
wall 151 of the ice making cover 150. The ice may not pass between
guide protrusions 161 of the slider 160 and may fall downward along
the guide protrusions 161 of the slider 160.
[0079] The ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may have an approximately
English letter `U` shape, and may be in direct contact with a lower
surface of the second ice making tray 112.
[0080] The liquid refrigerant decompressed by the second expander
55 may pass through the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. The
decompressed liquid refrigerant may be vaporized while passing
through the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and the refrigerant may
absorb heat from the second ice making tray 112 during
vaporization. In other words, the second ice making tray 112 may be
cooled by the evaporation of the refrigerant.
[0081] The second defrost heater 59a may have an approximately
English letter `U` shape. The second defrost heater 59a may be
located in a direction opposite to the ice making refrigerant pipe
59. In other words, the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be
arranged in a way that an open portion of the `U` shape faces the
rear of the ice maker 100, but the second defrost heater 59a may be
arranged in a way that an open portion of the `U` shape faces the
front of the ice maker 100.
[0082] The second defrost heater 59a may be composed of an
electrical resistor, and in response to the supply of the current,
the second defrost heater 59a may generate heat by the electrical
resistance.
[0083] Further, because the second defrost heater 59a is in direct
contact with the lower surface of the second ice making tray 112,
the second defrost heater 59a may directly heat the second ice
making tray 112. Heat transferred from the second defrost heater
59a to the second ice making tray 112 may be transferred to the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0084] Particularly, the second defrost heater 59a may be used to
defrost the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. Due to the operation of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, frost may be formed on the
surface of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. The frost on the
surface of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 reduces the heat
exchange efficiency of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
Accordingly, the refrigerator 1 may operate the second defrost
heater 59a to remove the frost formed on the surface of the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0085] Further, the second defrost heater 59a may heat the ice
making tray 110 to allow the ice to be smoothly separated from the
ice making tray 110 upon the separation of the ice from the ice
making tray 110. Because the ice making tray 110 is heated, some of
the ice in contact with the ice making tray 110 may be melted, and
thus the ice may be easily moved along the inner wall of the ice
making tray 110.
[0086] The cold air duct 140 may be arranged under the ice making
tray 110, and the cold air duct 140 may form a cold air flow path
141, through which the cold air passes, for supplying the cold air
of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to the ice storage 190.
[0087] Inside air of the cold air duct 140 may be cooled by the
refrigerant pipe 59 and/or the ice making tray 110. The air cooled
by the refrigerant pipe 59 and/or the ice making tray 110 may be
moved to the ice storage 190 through the cold air flow path 141
that is the inside of the cold air duct 140. A temperature of the
ice storage 190 may be maintained at a temperature below 0 (zero)
degrees Celsius by the cold air introduced into the ice storage
190, and thus it is possible to prevent the ice stored in the ice
storage 190 from being melted.
[0088] FIG. 6 is diagram illustrating electrical components of the
refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 6, the refrigerator 1 includes the cooling
device 50, a cooling sensor 220, a defroster 240, a defrost sensor
230, and a controller 210.
[0090] The cooling device 50 includes the compressor 51, the
condenser 52, the expanders 54, and 55, the evaporator 57, the
switching valve 53, the first fan 56b and the second fan 57b, which
are described above.
[0091] The compressor 51 and the switching valve 53 may be operated
in response to a control signal from the controller 210. For
example, in response to a control signal from the controller 210,
the compressor 51 may compress a gaseous refrigerant and transfer
the compressed refrigerant to the condenser 52. In addition, the
switching valve 53 may switch the flow of the refrigerant in
response to the control signal from the controller 210.
[0092] The cooling sensor 220 includes a refrigerating compartment
temperature sensor 221 provided in the refrigerating compartment
20a and a freezing compartment temperature sensor 222 provided in
the freezing compartments 20b and 20c.
[0093] The refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 221 may
measure the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 20a
configured to refrigerate and store food, and may transmit an
electrical signal corresponding to the measured temperature of the
refrigerating compartment 20a (for example, a voltage signal or a
current signal) to the controller 210. The controller 210 may
identify the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 20a based
on the electrical signal received from the refrigerating
compartment temperature sensor 221. The refrigerating compartment
temperature sensor 221 may include a thermistor in which an
electrical resistance value changes according to the
temperature.
[0094] The freezing compartment temperature sensor 222 may measure
the temperature of the freezing compartments 20b and 20c configured
to freeze and store food, and transmit an electrical signal
corresponding to the measured temperature of the freezing
compartments 20b and 20c to the controller 210. The controller 210
may identify the temperatures of the freezing compartments 20b and
20c based on the electrical signal received from the freezing
compartment temperature sensor 222. The freezing compartment
temperature sensor 222 may include a thermistor.
[0095] The defroster 240 includes the first defrost heater 57c and
the second defrost heater 59a described above.
[0096] The first defrost heater 57c may be provided in the vicinity
of the evaporator 57, and may generate heat to remove the frost of
the evaporator 57 in response to a first defrost signal of the
controller 210. The second defrost heater 59a may be provided in
the vicinity of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and may
generate heat to remove the frost on the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 in response to a second defrost signal of the controller
210.
[0097] The defrost sensor 230 includes a first temperature sensor
231 provided in the cooling device 50 and a second temperature
sensor 232 provided in the ice making device 60.
[0098] The first temperature sensor 231 may be provided in the
cooling device 50, in particular, the evaporator 57, and may
measure the temperature of the evaporator 57 to identify whether
defrosting of the evaporator 57 is completed. The first temperature
sensor 231 may transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the
temperature of the evaporator 57 to the controller 210. The
controller 210 may identify the temperature of the evaporator 57
based on the electric signal received from the first temperature
sensor 231 and identify whether the defrosting of the evaporator 57
is completed, based on the temperature of the evaporator 57. The
first temperature sensor 231 may include a thermistor.
[0099] The second temperature sensor 232 may be provided in the ice
making device 60. For example, in order to identify whether
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is completed, the
second temperature sensor 232 may directly measure the temperature
of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 or may measure the
temperature of the second ice making tray 112 in contact with the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0100] For example, the second temperature sensor 232 may directly
measure the temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and
transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to the controller 210. The
controller 210 may identify whether the defrosting of the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 is completed based on the temperature of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0101] As another example, the second temperature sensor 232 may
measure the temperature of the second ice making tray 112 in
contact with the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. Because the second
ice making tray 112 is formed of a material having a high thermal
conductivity, the temperature of the second ice making tray 112 may
be similar to the temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59. The second temperature sensor 232 may be in contact with the
second ice making tray 112 and measure the temperature of the
second ice making tray 112. The second temperature sensor 232 may
transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of
the second ice making tray 112 to the controller 210. The
controller 210 may identify whether the defrosting of the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 is completed based on the temperature of
the second ice making tray 112.
[0102] The controller 210 may be electrically connected to the
cooling sensor 220, the defrost sensor 230, the cooling device 50,
and the defroster 240.
[0103] The controller 210 includes a processor 211 configured to
generate a control signal for controlling the operation of the
refrigerator 1, and a memory 212 configured to memorize and/or
store a program and data for generating a control signal. The
controller 210 may include a plurality of processors or a plurality
of memories. Also, the processor 211 and the memory 212 may be
implemented as separate semiconductor devices, or may be
implemented as a single semiconductor device.
[0104] The processor 211 may process data and/or signals according
to a program provided from the memory 212 and provide control
signals to each component of the refrigerator 1 based on the
processing result.
[0105] The processor 211 may output a control signal for performing
a cooling operation for cooling the refrigerating compartment 20a
and/or the freezing compartments 20b, and 20c by using the cooling
device 50, an ice making operation for making ice by using the ice
making device 60, or a defrosting operation for removing frost
formed on the evaporator 57 and/or the ice making refrigerant pipe
59.
[0106] During the cooling operation, the processor 211 may receive
an electrical signal from the refrigerating compartment temperature
sensor 221 and/or the freezing compartment temperature sensor 222,
and may process the received electrical signal. The processor 211
may identify the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 20a
and/or the freezing compartments 20b and 20c based on the processed
electrical signal.
[0107] The processor 211 may output a control signal for
controlling the operation of the compressor 51, the first fan 56b,
and the second fan 57b based on the temperature of the
refrigerating compartment 20a and/or the freezing compartments 20b
and 20c. For example, the processor 211 may output a control signal
for operating the compressor 51 and the first fan 56b based on a
temperature of the refrigerating compartment 20a being greater than
a refrigeration reference temperature (for example, 3 degrees
Celsius) that is set for refrigerating and storing food.
[0108] The processor 211 may output a freezing control signal for
operating the compressor 51 and the second fan 57b based on a
temperature of the freezing compartments 20b and 20c being greater
than a freezing reference temperature (for example, minus 20
degrees Celsius) that is set for freezing and storing food.
[0109] The processor 211 may receive an electrical signal from the
first temperature sensor 231 and process the received electrical
signal. The processor 211 may identify the temperature of the
evaporator 57 corresponding to the electrical signal based on the
processed electrical signal.
[0110] The processor 211 may output a control signal for
controlling the operation of the first defrost heater 57c based on
the temperature of the evaporator 57. For example, the processor
211 may output a control signal for operating the first defrost
heater 57c during the defrosting operation for removing the frost
on the evaporator 57. Further, the processor 211 may output a
control signal for stopping the first defrost heater 57c based on
the temperature of the evaporator 57 being greater than a reference
temperature that is for terminating the defrosting operation.
[0111] The processor 211 may receive an electrical signal from the
second temperature sensor 232 configured to measure the temperature
of the ice making device 60, and the processor 211 may process the
received electrical signal. Based on the processed electric signal,
the processor 211 may identify a temperature of the ice making
device 60 (for example, the ice making refrigerant pipe or the
second ice making tray) corresponding to the electric signal.
[0112] The processor 211 may output a control signal for
controlling the operation of the switching valve 53 based on the
temperature of the ice making device 60. For example, the processor
211 may determine the progress of ice-making based on the
temperature of the ice making device 60. Based on the progress of
ice-making, the processor 211 may switch the flow path by using the
switching valve 53. The processor 211 may control the switching
valve 53 to allow the refrigerant to pass through the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 during the ice is produced.
[0113] In addition, the processor 211 may control the switching
valve 53 to prevent the refrigerant from passing through the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 during the production of the ice is
stopped. In addition, the processor 211 may output a control signal
for controlling the operation of the second defrost heater 59a
based on the temperature of the ice making device 60 (for example,
the ice making refrigerant pipe or the second ice making tray). For
example, the processor 211 may output a control signal for
operating the second defrost heater 59a during the defrosting
operation for removing the frost on the ice making refrigerant pipe
59. In addition, the processor 211 may output a control signal for
stopping the second defrost heater 59a based on the temperature of
the ice making device 60 being greater than that reference
temperature that is for terminating the defrosting operation.
[0114] The processor 211 may include an operation circuit, a memory
circuit, and a control circuit. The processor 211 may include one
chip or a plurality of chips. Further, the processor 211 may
include one core or a plurality of cores.
[0115] The memory 212 may memorize/store programs and data for
controlling the cooling operation, the ice making operation, and
the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 1.
[0116] The memory 212 may include a volatile memory such as Static
Random Access Memory (S-RAM), and Dynamic Random Access Memory
(D-RAM), and a nonvolatile memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM),
and Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM). The memory 212
may include one memory device or a plurality of memory devices.
[0117] As described above, the controller 210 may control the
cooling operation, the ice making operation and the defrosting
operation of the refrigerator 1.
[0118] In the drawings and the above description, the first defrost
heater 57c configured to remove frost on the evaporator 57 and the
second defrost heater 59a configured to remove frost on the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 have been described, but is not limited
thereto. For example, an additional evaporator may be provided in
the first cooling duct 56a behind the refrigerating compartment
20a, and thus an additional defrost heater configured to remove
frost formed on the additional evaporator may be provided.
[0119] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a defrosting operation of
the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG.
8 is a view illustrating an example of an operation of a defrost
heater and an internal temperature of the ice making device by the
defrosting operation shown in FIG. 7.
[0120] Defrosting (1000) of the refrigerator 1 will be described
with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0121] The refrigerator 1 performs cooling and ice making of the
storage compartment 20 (1010).
[0122] The controller 210 may control the cooling device 50 to
supply cooled air to the storage compartment 20. For example, the
controller 210 may operate the compressor 51, the first fan 56b,
and the second fan 57b. Because the compressor 51 is operated, the
refrigerant may be evaporated in the evaporator 57, and the air
around the evaporator 57 may be cooled. Due to the operation of the
first fan 56b and the second fan 57b, the cold air around the
evaporator 57 may be supplied to the refrigerating compartment 20a
and the freezing compartments 20b and 20c, respectively.
[0123] In addition, the controller 210 may control the ice making
device 60 and the cooling device 50 to make ice. For example, the
controller 210 may control the switching valve 53 to allow the
refrigerant to be supplied to the ice making refrigerant pipe 59
during the operation of the compressor 51. The refrigerant may be
evaporated in the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and water
contained in the ice making tray 110 in contact with the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 may be frozen.
[0124] The refrigerator 1 terminates the cooling and ice making
(1020).
[0125] The controller 210 may terminate the cooling and ice making
based on the sum of times, in which the compressor 51 is
discontinuously operated, or based on a time in which the
compressor 51 is continuously operated. For example, the controller
210 may terminate the cooling and ice making based on the sum of
the times, in which the compressor 51 is discontinuously operated,
being equal to or greater than a first defrost start time for the
defrosting or based on the time, in which the compressor 51 is
continuously operated, being equal to or greater than a second
defrost start time for the defrosting.
[0126] In addition, the controller 210 may terminate the cooling
and ice making based on the temperature of the evaporator 57 and/or
the ice making device 60 (for example, the ice making tray or the
ice making refrigerant pipe). For example, based on the temperature
of the evaporator 57 being less than a first defrost start
temperature for defrosting, or based on the temperature of the ice
making device 60 being less than a second defrost start temperature
for defrosting, the controller 210 may terminate the cooling and
ice making.
[0127] The controller 210 may stop the compressor 51, the first fan
56b, and the second fan 57b, and close the switching valve 53 in
order to terminate the cooling and ice making. Accordingly, the
flow of the refrigerant in the cooling device 50 may be
stopped.
[0128] The refrigerator 1 starts to defrost the evaporator 57
(1030). The controller 210 may start to defrost the evaporator 57
after terminating the cooling and ice making.
[0129] During the compressor 51 is stopped and the switching valve
53 is closed, the controller 210 may operate the first defrost
heater 57c. For example, the controller 210 may operate the first
defrost heater 57c at a time TO after the cooling operation is
terminated, as shown in FIG. 8A.
[0130] The first defrost heater 57c may generate heat, and heat the
ambient air. Heat emitted from the first defrost heater 57c may be
directly transferred to the evaporator 57, and the air heated by
the first defrost heater 57c may increase an ambient temperature of
the evaporator 57 by convection.
[0131] As mentioned above, the heat may be directly transferred to
the evaporator 57 or the ambient air of the evaporator 57 may be
heated due to the operation of the first defrost heater 57c. The
temperature of the evaporator 57 may be increased, and the frost
formed on the evaporator 57 may be melted.
[0132] The refrigerator 1 determines whether the temperature of the
evaporator 57 is equal to or greater than a first reference
temperature while defrosting the evaporator 57 (1040).
[0133] The controller 210 may identify the temperature of the
evaporator 57 based on an output signal of the first temperature
sensor 231 while operating the first defrost heater 57c. While
operating the first defrost heater 57c, the controller 210 may
compare the temperature of the evaporator 57 with the first
reference temperature, which is set to terminate the defrosting of
the evaporator 57, and may identify whether the temperature of the
evaporator 57 is equal to or greater than the first reference
temperature.
[0134] The first reference temperature may be set experimentally or
empirically. For example, the first reference temperature may be
experimentally or empirically set to a temperature at which all
frost formed on the evaporator 57 is removed by the operation of
the first defrost heater 57c.
[0135] In general, frost may have a temperature below 0 (zero)
degrees Celsius, and the evaporator 57 on which frost is formed may
also have a temperature below 0 (zero) degrees Celsius. Further,
after the defrosting operation is completed, the temperature of the
evaporator 57 may have a temperature above 0 (zero) degrees
Celsius. Therefore, the first reference temperature may be a
temperature above 0 (zero) degrees Celsius.
[0136] However, the temperature of the evaporator 57 may be an
indicator indicating a temperature of the evaporator 57 and the
first reference temperature may be an indicator indicating a first
reference temperature. For example, the controller 210 may compare
a voltage value indicating the temperature of the evaporator 57
with a voltage value indicating the first reference temperature,
and the controller 210 may identify whether the voltage value
indicating the temperature of the evaporator 57 is equal to or
greater than the voltage value indicating the first reference
temperature.
[0137] In response to the temperature of the evaporator 57 being
less than the first reference temperature (no in 1040), the
refrigerator 1 may continue to defrost the evaporator 57, and the
refrigerator 1 may continue to identify whether the temperature of
the evaporator 57 is equal to or greater than the first reference
temperature while defrosting the evaporator 57.
[0138] In response to the temperature of the evaporator 57 being
equal to or greater than the first reference temperature (yes in
1040), the refrigerator 1 terminates the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 (1050).
[0139] The controller 210 may identify that at least most of the
frost on the evaporator 57 is removed based on the temperature of
the evaporator 57 being equal to or greater than the first
reference temperature. Accordingly, the controller 210 may stop the
first defrost heater 57c in order to terminate the defrosting of
the evaporator 57. For example, the controller 210 may stop the
first defrost heater 57c at a time T1, as shown in FIG. 8A.
[0140] After terminating the defrosting of the evaporator 57, the
refrigerator 1 starts to defrost the ice making refrigerant pipe 59
(1060).
[0141] The controller 210 may operate the first defrost heater 57c
during the compressor 51 is stopped and the switching valve 53 is
closed. For example, the controller 210 may operate the first
defrost heater 57c at the time T1 at which the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 is terminated, as shown in FIG. 8A.
[0142] The second defrost heater 59a may generate heat and heat the
ambient air. Because the second defrost heater 59a is in contact
with the ice making tray 110, heat generated from the second
defrost heater 59a may be conducted to the ice making tray 110. In
addition, the heat conducted to the ice making tray 110 may be
conducted to the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 in contact with the
ice making tray 110. Accordingly, the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 and the ambient air thereof may be heated.
[0143] As mentioned above, the heat may be directly transferred to
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 or the ambient air of the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 may be heated due to the operation of
the second defrost heater 59a. Accordingly, the temperature of the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be increased, and the frost
formed on the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be melted. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, during the second defrost
heater 59a is operated, an internal temperature of the ice making
device 60 may be gradually increased.
[0144] While defrosting the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, the
refrigerator 1 determines whether the temperature of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 is equal to or greater than a second reference
temperature (1070).
[0145] While operating the second defrost heater 59a, the
controller 210 may identify the temperature of the ice making tray
110 based on an output signal of the second temperature sensor 232.
The ice making tray 110 may be in contact with the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59. Heat conduction between the ice making tray
110 and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be large, and a
temperature difference between the ice making tray 110 and the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 may be small. Accordingly, the
temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be easily
identified based on the temperature of the ice making tray 110.
[0146] The second temperature sensor 232 may be in contact with the
ice making tray 110, and the second temperature sensor 232 may
measure the temperature of the ice making tray 110. As described
above, because the ice making tray 110 is in contact with the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59, the temperature of the ice making tray
110 measured by the second temperature sensor 232 may indicate the
temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0147] Accordingly, while operating the second defrost heater 59a,
the controller 210 may identify the temperature of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 based on an output signal of the second
temperature sensor 232. While operating the second defrost heater
59a, the controller 210 may compare the temperature of the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 with a second reference temperature,
which is set to terminate the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59, and the controller 210 may identify whether
the temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is equal to
or greater than the second reference temperature.
[0148] The second reference temperature may be set experimentally
or empirically. For example, the second reference temperature may
be experimentally or empirically set to a temperature at which all
frost formed on the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is removed by
the operation of the second defrost heater 59a. For example, the
second reference temperature may be a temperature above 0 (zero)
degrees Celsius.
[0149] However, the temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 may be an indicator indicating a temperature of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 and the second reference temperature may be an
indicator indicating a second reference temperature. For example,
the controller 210 may compare a voltage value indicating a
temperature of the ice making tray 110 in contact with the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59 with a voltage value indicating the
second reference temperature, and the controller 210 may identify
whether the voltage value indicating the temperature of the ice
making tray 110 is equal to or greater than the voltage value
indicating the second reference temperature.
[0150] In response to the temperature of the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 (or the ice making tray) being less than the second
reference temperature (no in 1070), the refrigerator 1 may continue
to defrost the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and while defrosting
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, the refrigerator 1 may continue
to identify whether the temperature of the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 (or the ice making tray) is equal to or greater than the
second reference temperature.
[0151] In response to the temperature of the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 (or the ice making tray) being equal to or greater than the
second reference temperature (yes in 1070), the refrigerator 1 may
determine whether a defrosting time of the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 is equal to or greater than a minimum time (1075).
[0152] The refrigerator 1 may defrost the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 for at least the minimum time in order to ensure the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0153] The controller 210 may count a period of time elapsed since
the second defrost heater 59a is operated, and the controller 210
may determine whether the minimum time is expired since the second
defrost heater 59a is operated, based on comparing the time, which
is elapsed since the second defrost heater 59a is operated, with
the minimum time.
[0154] In response to the defrosting time of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 being equal to or greater than the minimum time
(yes in 1075), the refrigerator 1 terminates the defrosting of the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59 (1080).
[0155] The controller 210 may identify that at least most of the
frost on the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is removed, based on
the temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 being equal
to the second reference temperature and based on the defrosting
time of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 being equal to or
greater than the minimum time. Therefore, the controller 210 may
stop the second defrost heater 59a in order to terminate the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. For example, the
controller 210 may stop the second defrost heater 59a at a time T2,
as shown in FIG. 8A.
[0156] The refrigerator 1 determines whether a first reference time
is expired since the second defrost heater 59a is stopped
(1090).
[0157] The controller 210 may count a period of time elapsed since
the second defrost heater 59a is stopped, and the controller 210
may determine whether a first reference time .DELTA.T1 is expired
since the second defrost heater 59a is stopped, based on comparing
the time, which is elapsed since the second defrost heater 59a is
stopped, with the first reference time .DELTA.T1.
[0158] The controller 210 may wait for the first reference time
.DELTA.T1 after stopping the second defrost heater 59a. Due to the
defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59, an internal pressure of the refrigerant
pipe 58 may be increased. In order to stabilize the pressure of the
refrigerant pipe 58, the controller 210 may wait for a
predetermined time after defrosting (heating) of the evaporator 57
and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. For example, the controller
210 may wait for the first reference time .DELTA.T1, as illustrated
in FIG. 8A.
[0159] The first reference time .DELTA.T1 may be set experimentally
or empirically to stabilize the pressure of the refrigerant pipe
58.
[0160] In response to that the first reference time is not expired
(no in 1090), the refrigerator 1 may continue to wait.
[0161] In response to that the first reference time is expired (yes
in 1090), the refrigerator 1 starts cooling and ice making of the
storage compartment 20 (1095).
[0162] After completing the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and/or
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, the controller 210 may control
the cooling device 50 to supply cold air to the storage compartment
20, and the controller 210 may control the ice making device 60 and
the cooling device 50 to make ice.
[0163] As described above, the refrigerator 1 may sequentially
perform the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the defrosting of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. Particularly, the refrigerator
1 may defrost the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 after the
defrosting the evaporator 57, and the refrigerator 1 may perform
the cooling of the storage compartment 20 and the ice-making after
the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0164] As described above, by resuming the ice-making operation
within a short period of time after performing the defrosting of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 or upon performing the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, it is possible to
prevent the ice stored in the ice storage 190 from being
melted.
[0165] For example, in a case in which the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 are performed at the same time, the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 is terminated earlier than the defrosting of
the evaporator 57. In general, a capacity of the evaporator 57 is
larger than a capacity of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and
thus an amount of frost on the evaporator 57 is greater than an
amount of frost on the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. Accordingly,
a time for defrosting of the evaporator 57 is greater than a time
for defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0166] As mentioned above, the flow path is designed to allow the
refrigerant, which is passed through the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59, to pass through the evaporator 57 because the capacity of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is small. Accordingly, the
cooling and the ice-making may be performed after the defrosting of
the evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59 are completed.
[0167] As mentioned above, the period of time for defrosting the
evaporator 57 is greater than the period of time for defrosting the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59, and the cooling and the ice-making
are performed after the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 are completed.
Therefore, the inside of the ice making device 60 after the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may wait for the
ice-making at a temperature above 0 (zero) degrees Celsius.
Therefore, ice stored in the ice making device 60, that is, ice
stored in the ice storage 190 is exposed to the air, which is
heated by the second defrost heater 59a, for a long time, and thus
the ice may be melted and agglomerated.
[0168] On the other hand, in a case in which the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 are performed sequentially, the ice-making is resumed
immediately after the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 (or after the first reference time). Therefore, it is possible
to prevent the ice stored in the ice making device 60 from being
agglomerated.
[0169] For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the internal temperature
of the ice making device 60 may be steadily increased between the
time T1 and the time T2 at which the second defrost heater 59a is
operated. In addition, even after the time T2 at which the second
defrost heater 59a is stopped, the internal temperature of the ice
making device 60 may be still increased. However, the ice making
may be resumed within a short time (for example, the first
reference time), and after the ice making is resumed, the internal
temperature of the ice making device 60 may be gradually
reduced.
[0170] Accordingly, even after the operation of the second defrost
heater 59a is completed, the internal temperature of the ice making
device 60 may be maintained at a temperature equal to or less than
0 (zero) degrees Celsius at which ice is melted. Therefore, it is
possible to prevent the ice stored in the ice making device 60 from
being melted.
[0171] In the drawings and the above description, it has been
described that, after the defrosting of the evaporator 57
configured to supply cooled air (hereinafter referred to as "cold
air") to the freezing compartments 20b and 20c is completed, the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 configured to make
ice is started. However, it is not limited thereto. For example,
the refrigerator 1 may include an additional evaporator configured
to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment 20a, and the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be started
after the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the
additional evaporator are completed.
[0172] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a defrosting operation of
the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG.
10 is a view illustrating an example of an operation of the defrost
heater and an internal temperature of the ice making device by the
defrosting operation shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a view
illustrating another example of the operation of the defrost heater
and the internal temperature of the ice making device by the
defrosting operation shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a view
illustrating another example of the operation of the defrost heater
and the internal temperature of the ice making device by the
defrosting operation shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 13 is a view
illustrating another example of the operation of the defrost heater
and the internal temperature of the ice making device by the
defrosting operation shown in FIG. 9.
[0173] Defrosting (1100) of the refrigerator 1 will be described
with reference to FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
[0174] The refrigerator 1 performs cooling and ice-making of the
storage compartment 20 (1110). The refrigerator 1 terminates the
cooling and the ice-making (1120). The refrigerator 1 starts to
defrost the evaporator 57 (1130). While defrosting the evaporator
57, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the temperature of the
evaporator 57 is equal to or greater than the first reference
temperature (1140).
[0175] An operation 1110, an operation 1120, an operation 1130 and
an operation 1140 may be the same as the operation 1010, the
operation 1020, the operation 1030, and the operation 1040 shown in
FIG. 7, respectively.
[0176] In response to the temperature of the evaporator 57 being
equal to or greater than the first reference temperature (yes in
1140), the refrigerator 1 terminates the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 (1150).
[0177] An operation 1150 may be the same as the operation 1050
illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0178] In response to the temperature of the evaporator 57 being
less than the first reference temperature (no in 1140), the
refrigerator 1 determines whether a second reference time is
expired since the defrosting of the evaporator 57 is started
(1145). In response to that the second reference time is not
expired since the defrosting of the evaporator 57 is started (no in
1145), the refrigerator 1 may repeat to determine whether the
temperature of the evaporator 57 is equal to or greater than the
first reference temperature, and to determine whether the second
reference time is expired since the defrosting of the evaporator 57
is started. In response to that the second reference time is
expired since the defrosting of the evaporator 57 is started (yes
in 1145), the refrigerator 1 starts to defrost the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 (1160). While defrosting the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59, the refrigerator 1 determines whether the
temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is equal to or
greater than the second reference temperature (1170). In response
to the temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 (or the
ice making tray) being equal to or greater than the second
reference temperature (yes in 1170), the refrigerator 1 determines
whether the defrosting time of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59
is equal to or greater than the minimum time (1175). In response to
the defrosting time of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 being
equal to or greater than the minimum time (yes in 1075), the
refrigerator 1 terminates the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 (1180). The refrigerator 1 determines whether a
third reference time is expired since the first defrost heater 57c
and the second defrost heater 59a are stopped (1190). In response
to the third reference time being expired (yes in 1190), the
refrigerator 1 starts the cooling and ice-making of the storage
compartment 20 (1195).
[0179] An operation 1160, an operation 1170, an operation 1175, an
operation 1180, an operation 1190 and an operation 1195 may be the
same as the operation 1060, the operation 1070, the operation 1075,
the operation 1080, the operation 1090 and the operation 1095 shown
in FIG. 7.
[0180] As mentioned above, before the defrosting of the evaporator
57 is terminated, the refrigerator 1 may start to defrost the ice
making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0181] In response to the temperature of the evaporator 57 being
less than the first reference temperature, the controller 210 may
continue to defrost the evaporator 57. The controller 210 may count
a period of time elapsed since the defrosting of the evaporator 57
is started, and may determine whether the time, which is elapsed
since the defrosting of the evaporator 57 is started, is equal to
or greater than the second reference time. In response to the
elapsed time since the start of the defrosting of the evaporator 57
being equal to or greater than the second reference time, the
controller 210 starts to defrost the ice making refrigerant pipe
59. In other words, in response to that the second reference time
is expired since the defrosting of the evaporator 57 is started,
the controller 210 may start to defrost the ice making refrigerant
pipe 59.
[0182] The second reference time may be set experimentally or
empirically for various purposes.
[0183] For example, the second reference time .DELTA.T2 may be
experimentally or empirically set to allow the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 to be substantially simultaneously completed. As shown in FIG.
10A, the controller 210 may operate the first defrost heater 57c at
a time TO and the second defrost heater 59a at a time T1. There may
be a time difference of the second reference time .DELTA.T2 between
the time T0 and the time T1. The controller 210 may substantially
simultaneously stop the first defrost heater 57c and the second
defrost heater 59a at the time T2. In addition, the controller 210
may resume the cooling and ice-making at a time T3, at which the
third reference time .DELTA.T3 is expired since the first defrost
heater 57c and the second defrost heater 59a are stopped.
[0184] The internal temperature of the ice making device 60 may
depend on the operation of the second defrost heater 59a and the
ice-making operation. According to FIG. 10B, the internal
temperature of the ice making device 60 is increased from the time
T1, at which the second defrost heater 59a is operated, to the time
T3, at which the ice making is resumed, and the internal
temperature of the ice making device 60 is reduced after at the
time T3 at which the ice-making is resumed.
[0185] In this case, the second reference time .DELTA.T2 may be
pre-determined upon the design of the refrigerator 1. A period of
time required to complete the defrosting of the evaporator 57 may
depend on the size of the evaporator 57 and the temperature of the
evaporator 57 at the start of the defrosting. In addition, a period
of time required to complete the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 may depend on the size of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 and the temperature of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 at the start of the defrosting. The period of
time required to complete the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be experimentally or
empirically obtained, respectively, and the second reference time
.DELTA.T2 may be pre-set based on the period of time required to
complete the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 that is experimentally or empirically
obtained.
[0186] Alternatively, the second reference time .DELTA.T2 may be
set by the controller 210 during the operation of the refrigerator
1. In response to the start of the evaporator 57, the controller
210 may obtain the temperature of the evaporator 57 using the first
temperature sensor 231 and obtain the temperature of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 (or the ice making tray) using the second
temperature sensor 232. The controller 210 may determine the period
of time required to complete the defrosting of the evaporator 57
based on the temperature of the evaporator 57. The controller 210
may determine the period of time required to complete the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 based on the
temperature of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. Further, the
controller 210 may identify the second reference time .DELTA.T2
based on the period of time required to complete the defrosting of
the evaporator 57 and the ice making refrigerant pipe 59,
respectively.
[0187] As another example, the second reference time .DELTA.T2 may
be set experimentally or empirically to allow the defrosting of the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to be completed later than the
defrosting of the evaporator 57. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 12A, the
controller 210 may operate the first defrost heater 57c at a time
T0, and may operate the second defrost heater 59a at a time T1 at
which the second reference time .DELTA.T2 is expired. The
controller 210 may stop the first defrost heater 57c at a time T4
and stop the second defrost heater 59a at a time T2 that is later
than the time T4. At this time, the second defrost heater 59a is
operated before the first defrost heater 57c is stopped as shown in
FIG. 11A or the second defrost heater 59a is operated after the
first defrost heater 57c is stopped as shown in FIG. 12A. Further,
the controller 210 may resume the cooling and ice-making at a time
T3 at which the third reference time .DELTA.T3 is expired since the
first defrost heater 57c and the second defrost heater 59a are
stopped.
[0188] The internal temperature of the ice making device 60 may
depend on the operation of the second defrost heater 59a and the
ice making operation. According to the FIGS. 11B and 12B, the
internal temperature of the ice making device 60 is increased from
the time T1, at which the second defrost heater 59a is operated, to
the time T3, at which the ice making is resumed. The internal
temperature of the ice making device 60 is reduced after the time
T3 at which the ice making is resumed.
[0189] At this time, the second reference time .DELTA.T2 may be
pre-set upon the design of the refrigerator 1 so as to allow the
defrosting of the evaporator 57 to be completed later than the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59. Alternatively,
during the operation of the refrigerator 1, the second reference
time .DELTA.T2 may be set by the controller 210 so as to allow the
defrosting of the evaporator 57 to be completed later than the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59.
[0190] As another example, the second reference time .DELTA.T2 may
be set experimentally or empirically to allow the defrosting of the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to be completed faster than the
defrosting of the evaporator 57 within a predetermined fourth
reference time .DELTA.T4.
[0191] As mentioned above, it is appropriate that the defrosting of
the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 is competed later than the
defrosting of the evaporator 57 in order to prevent the ice stored
in the ice making device 60 from being melted. However, it is
acceptable that the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe
59 is competed faster than the defrosting of the evaporator 57.
Therefore, it is acceptable that the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 is completed faster than the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 within a predetermined time Tr.
[0192] As shown in FIG. 13A, the controller 210 may operate the
first defrost heater 57c at a time T0, and may operate the second
defrost heater 59a at a time T1 at which the second reference time
.DELTA.T2 is expired. The controller 210 may stop the second
defrost heater 59a at the time T2 and stop the first defrost heater
57c at a time T4 later than the time T2. At this time, the
controller 210 may control the first defrost heater and the second
defrost heater 57c and 59a to allow a difference between the time
T2, at which the second defrost heater 59a is stopped, and the time
T4, at which the first defrost heater 57c is stopped, to be less
than the fourth reference time .DELTA.T4.
[0193] The fourth reference time .DELTA.T4 may be set in a range in
which the ice stored in the ice making device 60 is not melted.
According to FIG. 13B, the internal temperature of the ice making
device 60 is increased from the time T1, at which the second
defrost heater 59a is operated, to the time T3 at which the ice
making is resumed. The internal temperature of the ice making
device 60 is reduced after the time T3 at which the ice making is
resumed. At this time, a period of time from the stop of the second
defrost heater 59a to the resumption of the ice-making may be the
same as a sum of the third reference time .DELTA.T3 and the fourth
reference time .DELTA.T4. In other words, the period of time from
the stop of the second defrost heater 59a to the resumption of the
ice-making may be increased. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13B, the
temperature of ice stored in the ice making device 60 may be
increased to minus 3 degrees Celsius or more. The fourth reference
time .DELTA.T4 may be set to allow the temperature of ice stored in
the ice making device 60 to be maintained at a temperature below 0
(zero) degrees Celsius.
[0194] As mentioned above, the refrigerator 1 may first start to
defrost of the evaporator 57, and in response to that the second
reference time is expired since the defrosting of the evaporator 57
is started, the refrigerator 1 may start to defrost the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59.
[0195] In this case, the second reference time may be set in
various ways. For example, the second reference time may be set to
allow the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the
ice making refrigerant pipe 59 to be substantially simultaneously
terminated, or to allow the defrosting of the evaporator 57 to be
terminated earlier than the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59, or to allow the defrosting of the ice making
refrigerant pipe 59 to be terminated earlier than the defrosting of
the evaporator 57 within a predetermined range of time.
[0196] As mentioned above, by allowing the defrosting of the
evaporator 57 to be terminated simultaneously with the defrosting
of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 or by allowing the defrosting
of the evaporator 57 to be terminated earlier than the defrosting
of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59, it is possible to prevent
the ice stored in the ice storage 190 from being melted. Further,
by allowing the defrosting of the evaporator 57 to be terminated
later than the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59
within a predetermined range of time, it is possible to prevent the
ice stored in the ice storage 190 from being melted.
[0197] In the drawings and the above description, it has been
described that, after the defrosting of the evaporator 57
configured to supply cooled air (hereinafter referred to as "cold
air") to the freezing compartments 20b and 20c is started, the
defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 configured to make
ice is started. However, it is not limited thereto. For example,
the refrigerator 1 may include an additional evaporator configured
to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment 20a, and thus
the defrosting of the ice making refrigerant pipe 59 may be started
after the defrosting of the evaporator 57 and the defrosting of the
additional evaporator are started.
[0198] The refrigerator according to an embodiment may include the
storage compartment, the evaporator configured to cool the air in
the storage compartment, the first heater provided in the vicinity
of the evaporator, the tray provided to accommodate water, the
refrigerant pipe provided in contact with the tray and configured
to cool the tray, the second heater provided in the vicinity of the
refrigerant pipe, the compressor configured to supply a compressed
refrigerant to at least one of the evaporator or the refrigerant
pipe, and the processor configured to start an operation of the
second heater after starting an operation of the first heater, and
configured to start an operation of the compressor after stopping
the operation of the first heater and the second heater.
[0199] The processor may start the operation of the second heater
after stopping the operation of the first heater or the processor
may start the operation of the second heater in response to that
the first time is expired after starting the operation of the first
heater.
[0200] The processor may allow the second heater to be stopped
later than the first heater.
[0201] The processor may simultaneously stop the operation of the
first heater and the operation of the second heater, or stop the
operation of the second heater after stopping the operation of the
first heater. The processor may start the ice making by using the
refrigerant pipe immediately after stopping the operation of the
second heater. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ice from
being melted caused by the heat emitted from the second heater.
[0202] The processor may stop the operation of the first heater
within a predetermined time after stopping the operation of the
second heater. The processor may start the ice-making by using the
refrigerant pipe within a short time after stopping the operation
of the second heater. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the
ice from being melted caused by the heat emitted from the second
heater.
[0203] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described above. In the exemplary embodiments described above, some
components may be implemented as a "module". Here, the term
`module` means, but is not limited to, a software and/or hardware
component, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or
Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs
certain tasks. A module may advantageously be configured to reside
on the addressable storage medium and configured to execute on one
or more processors.
[0204] Thus, a module may include, by way of example, components,
such as software components, object-oriented software components,
class components and task components, processes, functions,
attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code,
drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data
structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The operations provided
for in the components and modules may be combined into fewer
components and modules or further separated into additional
components and modules. In addition, the components and modules may
be implemented such that they execute one or more CPUs in a
device.
[0205] With that being said, and in addition to the above described
exemplary embodiments, embodiments can thus be implemented through
computer readable code/instructions in/on a medium, e.g., a
computer readable medium, to control at least one processing
element to implement any above described exemplary embodiment. The
medium can correspond to any medium/media permitting the storing
and/or transmission of the computer readable code.
[0206] The computer-readable code can be recorded on a medium or
transmitted through the Internet. The medium may include Read Only
Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Compact Disk-Read Only
Memories (CD-ROMs), magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical
recording medium. Also, the medium may be a non-transitory
computer-readable medium. The media may also be a distributed
network, so that the computer readable code is stored or
transferred and executed in a distributed fashion. Still further,
as only an example, the processing element could include at least
one processor or at least one computer processor, and processing
elements may be distributed and/or included in a single device.
[0207] While exemplary embodiments have been described with respect
to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art,
having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other
embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope as
disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope should be limited only by
the attached claims.
[0208] As is apparent from the above description, the refrigerator
may resume the ice-making operation immediately or within a short
period of time after the defrosting operation of the ice making
device. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent ice from being
agglomerated caused by the defrosting operation.
[0209] Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown
and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing
from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of
which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
[0210] Although the present disclosure has been described with
various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be
suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the
present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *