Ice maker and refrigerator including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10907875-B2
Application number	US-201916256112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2019
Priority date	Jan 26, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A control method of a refrigerator includes: determining whether a first temperature of a refrigerating compartment satisfies a first temperature condition; based the first temperature satisfying the first temperature condition, determining whether a second temperature of a freezing compartment satisfies a second temperature condition; based on the second temperature satisfying the second temperature condition, determining (i) whether a third temperature of an ice making compartment satisfies a third temperature condition and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed; maintaining operation of a compressor while determining (i) whether the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, (ii) whether the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition, and (iii) whether the driving time has passed; and stopping operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time has passed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control method of a refrigerator that includes a compressor configured to compress refrigerant, a first evaporator and a second evaporator that are configured to receive the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and a valve that defines a path configured to allow the refrigerant supplied from the compressor to move to the first evaporator or to the second evaporator, the control method comprising:
determining whether a first temperature of a refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator satisfies a first temperature condition of the refrigerating compartment;
based on a determination that the first temperature satisfies the first temperature condition, determining whether a second temperature of a freezing compartment of the refrigerator satisfies a second temperature condition of the freezing compartment;
based on a determination that the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, determining (i) whether a third temperature of an ice making compartment of the refrigerator satisfies a third temperature condition of the ice making compartment and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed;
maintaining operation of the compressor while determining (i) whether the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, (ii) whether the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition, and (iii) whether the driving time for ice making has passed; and
stopping operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time for ice making has passed.

2. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
opening a first path of the valve to allow the refrigerant to move to the first evaporator based on a determination that the first temperature does not satisfy the first temperature condition.

3. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
driving a first fan of the refrigerator configured to blow air cooled by the first evaporator to the refrigerating compartment based on a determination that the first temperature does not satisfy the first temperature condition.

4. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
opening a second path of the valve to allow the refrigerant to move to the second evaporator based on a determination that the second temperature does not satisfy the second temperature condition.

5. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
driving a second fan of the refrigerator configured to blow air cooled by the second evaporator to the freezing compartment based on a determination that the second temperature does not satisfy the second temperature condition.

6. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 5 , further comprising:
stopping driving the second fan based on a determination that the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition.

7. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 5 , further comprising:
driving a third fan of the refrigerator configured to blow air cooled by the second evaporator to the ice making compartment based on a determination that the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition.

8. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein driving the third fan comprises driving the third fan for a period time without driving the second fan to supply cool air to the ice making compartment for the period time and to not supply cool air to the freezing compartment for the period time.

9. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
opening a second path of the valve to allow the refrigerant to move to the second evaporator based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature does not satisfy the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time for ice making has not passed.

10. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
driving a third fan of the refrigerator configured to blow air cooled by the second evaporator to the ice making compartment based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature does not satisfy the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time for ice making has not passed.

11. The control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
closing a second path of the valve to restrict the refrigerant from moving to the second evaporator based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time for ice making has passed.

12. A refrigerator comprising:
a compressor configured to compress refrigerant;
a first evaporator and a second evaporator that are configured to receive the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;
a valve that defines a path that allows the refrigerant supplied from the compressor to move to the first evaporator or to the second evaporator;
a first fan configured to blow air cooled by the first evaporator to a refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator;
a second fan configured to blow air cooled by the second evaporator to a freezing compartment of the refrigerator;
a third fan configured to blow air cooled by the second evaporator to an ice making compartment of the refrigerator; and
a controller configured to:
open and close the path of the valve,
determine (i) whether a temperature of the ice making compartment satisfies a temperature condition of the ice making compartment and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed,
based on at least one of (i) a determination that the temperature of the ice making compartment does not satisfy the temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time for ice making has not passed, open the path of the valve to allow the refrigerant to move to the second evaporator and drive the compressor and the third fan, and
stop operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the temperature of the ice making compartment satisfies the temperature condition of the ice making compartment or (ii) a determination that the driving time for ice making has passed.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to stop driving the second fan based on a temperature of the freezing compartment satisfying a temperature condition of the freezing compartment.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to drive the third fan without driving the second fan for a period of time to supply cool air to the ice making compartment and to not supply cool air to the freezing compartment for the period of time.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine whether a first temperature of the refrigerating compartment satisfies a first temperature condition;
based on a determination that the first temperature satisfies the first temperature condition, determine whether a second temperature of the freezing compartment satisfies a second temperature condition of the freezing compartment;
based on a determination that the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, determine (i) whether the temperature of the ice making compartment satisfies the temperature condition of the ice making compartmen

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yeom Seungseob
• Lee Donghoon
• Lee Donghoon
• Lee Wookyong

Classifications

• F25D2700/12

  Sensors measuring the inside temperature · CPC title

• F25D2600/02

  Timing · CPC title

• F25D29/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F25D17/065

  with compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D17/045

  Air flow control arrangements · CPC title