Ice falling control circuit of ice maker and corresponding control method

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of household appliances, and discloses an ice falling control circuit of an ice maker and a corresponding control method, and the control method comprises the following steps: a microcontroller controls the ice maker to start demolding made ice cubes; an infrared sensor is used for detecting the blocking of the infrared light when the ice blocks of the ice maker are demolded and fall off, and generating corresponding detection signals; inputting the detection signal and a preset reference voltage into a comparator for comparison, and outputting a comparison signal representing a comparison result by the comparator; and the microcontroller controls the de-molding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal. On the premise that the manufacturing cost is basically not increased, the ice falling detection effect is remarkably improved, and powerful support is provided for wide application and market popularization of the ice maker.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of household appliances, and in particular to an ice-drop control circuit for an ice maker and a corresponding control method. Background Art

[0002] In existing ice-making machine technologies, the demoulding and falling detection of ice cubes are usually monitored by infrared sensors. The basic principle of this detection method is to use the transmission characteristics of infrared light to determine whether the ice cubes have successfully fallen by detecting whether the ice cubes block the infrared light during the demoulding process. Specifically, the infrared sensor consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter emits infrared light. When the ice cubes are demoulded from the ice-making mold and fall, they block the transmission path of the infrared light, causing a significant change in the intensity of the infrared light detected by the receiver, thereby generating a corresponding detection signal. However, this method based on simple infrared detection has obvious limitations in practical applications.

[0003] First, the infrared detection method used in the prior art has low detection accuracy for ice cube drop signals. Due to differences in the size, shape and light transmittance of ice cubes, when the ice cubes are small or have strong light transmittance, their blocking effect on infrared light may not be obvious, resulting in weak signal changes detected by the receiving end. In this case, the microcontroller (MCU) cannot accurately identify the falling state of the ice cubes, resulting in misjudgment. For example, when the light transmittance of the ice cubes is strong, even if the ice cubes have fallen, the infrared light may still partially pass through the ice cubes and be detected by the receiving end, so that the signal output by the receiving end cannot accurately reflect the true state of the ice cubes. This misjudgment will not only affect the ice maker's accurate counting of ice cube drops, but may also cause the ice maker to stop the ice-making operation prematurely when the ice basket is not full, or continue to make ice when the ice basket is full, thereby affecting the user experience and the operating efficiency of the equipment.

[0004] Secondly, the processing method of infrared detection signals in the prior art is relatively simple, and lacks an effective signal processing mechanism to cope with complex actual working conditions. In the actual operating environment of the ice maker, the infrared sensor may be interfered by external factors, such as changes in ambient light, electromagnetic interference, etc. These interference factors will cause noise in the detection signal, further reducing the accuracy and reliability of the signal. In addition, since the prior art does not further analyze and process the ice drop signal, it is impossible to effectively distinguish between the normal ice drop signal and the false signal caused by interference, thereby increasing the possibility of misjudgment.

[0005] In addition, since ice machines are small household appliances, the market price must be within a reasonable economic range, so it is more reasonable to continue to use infrared detection technology. If it is replaced with various high-precision detection methods, it will not only be unreasonable, but will also increase product costs and affect product competitiveness.

[0006] In summary, the existing ice-making machine needs to improve its detection effect of ice falling while weighing the cost constraints to avoid misjudgment, so as to improve the performance of the ice-making machine and user experience. Summary of the invention

[0007] The purpose of the present application is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide an ice-dropping control method for an ice-making machine and its corresponding device, equipment, and non-volatile readable storage medium.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present application, a method for controlling ice drop of an ice maker is provided, comprising the following steps: The microcontroller controls the ice maker to start demoulding the ice cubes; The infrared sensor is used to detect the blocking of infrared light by ice cubes from the ice maker when they are demoulded and fall off, and a corresponding detection signal is generated; The detection signal is input into a comparator for comparison with a preset reference voltage, and the comparator outputs a comparison signal representing the comparison result; The microcontroller controls the demoulding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal.

[0009] In some embodiments, before the detection signal is input into a comparator for comparison with a preset reference voltage and the comparator outputs a comparison signal representing the comparison result, the following steps are included: The comparator is configured by the microcontroller with a preset upper threshold and a lower threshold. The comparator is a hysteresis comparator. When the detection signal exceeds its upper threshold, it outputs a high-level comparison signal, and when the detection signal is lower than its lower threshold, it outputs a low-level comparison signal.

[0010] In some embodiments, in the step of comparing the detection signal with a preset reference voltage input into a comparator, and having the comparator output a comparison signal representing the comparison result, the comparator includes a plurality of comparison units, and a microcontroller inputs the detection signal in parallel into a plurality of comparison units matching different reference voltages to obtain corresponding comparison signals respectively.

[0011] In some embodiments, before the step of comparing the detection signal with a preset reference voltage input into a comparator and having the comparator output a comparison signal representing the comparison result, a microcontroller sets a corresponding reference voltage for the comparator according to a preset ice cube volume type, wherein small ice cubes correspond to a high reference voltage and large ice cubes correspond to a low reference voltage, so that the voltage of the detection signal when the ice cubes block is always lower than the corresponding reference signal and triggers a low level signal.

[0012] In some embodiments, the microcontroller implements demoulding control on the ice maker according to the comparison signal, including: Determine whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal, count the fallen ice cubes, and obtain a counting result; Determining whether the counting result reaches a preset counting threshold value, when the counting result reaches the preset counting threshold value, determining that the ice basket is full of ice cubes, and controlling the ice maker to stop demoulding; When the counting result does not reach the preset counting threshold, and the comparison signal is in a low level state and has lasted for a preset period of time, it is determined that the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a vertically stacked state, an alarm signal is output, and demoulding is suspended.

[0013] In some embodiments, determining whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal includes: Performing filtering on the comparison signal to remove noise interference; determining the pulse amplitude of the filtered high-level signal; When the pulse amplitude of the filtered comparison signal reaches the preset amplitude threshold, the counting result is not accumulated; otherwise, it is determined that ice cubes have fallen and the counting is performed.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present application, an ice-drop control circuit for an ice maker is provided, comprising: Infrared sensor, used to detect the blocking of infrared light when ice cubes are demoulded and fall, and generate corresponding detection signals; A comparator, whose input terminal is connected to the detection signal and a preset reference voltage, for comparing the detection signal with the reference voltage and outputting a comparison signal representing a comparison result; A microcontroller for controlling the ice maker to start demoulding of the ice cubes produced, and implementing demoulding control on the ice maker according to the comparison signal; The microcontroller is configured to drive and execute the steps of the ice-making machine ice-drop control method.

[0015] In some embodiments, the comparator is a hysteresis comparator, including a positive feedback network, which is used to set a preset upper threshold and a lower threshold; when the detection signal exceeds the upper threshold, a high-level comparison signal is output; when the detection signal is lower than the lower threshold, a low-level comparison signal is output.

[0016] In some embodiments, the comparator is a multi-stage comparator including a plurality of comparison units, each comparison unit being provided with a different reference voltage for performing graded detection on ice cubes of different sizes.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present application, an ice-making machine ice-drop control device is provided, comprising a central processing unit and a memory, wherein the central processing unit is used to call and run a computer program stored in the memory to execute the steps of the ice-making machine ice-drop control method described in the present application.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present application, a non-volatile readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program implemented according to the ice-drop control method of the ice maker in the form of computer-readable instructions, and when the computer program is called and executed by a computer, the steps included in the method are executed.

[0019] The implementation of this application has achieved remarkable beneficial effects. By introducing a comparator to process the detection signal of the infrared sensor, the accuracy of judging whether the ice cube has fallen is significantly improved, and the problem of low signal detection accuracy and easy misjudgment caused by the light transmittance, size difference and external interference of the ice cube in the prior art is effectively solved. The output signal of the comparator is stable, and can accurately identify the state of ice cube falling, and can ensure the accuracy and reliability of counting even when the ice cube is small or the light transmittance is strong. In addition, the present application realizes precise control of the demoulding process of the ice maker. The microcontroller dynamically adjusts the demoulding operation according to the comparison signal to avoid equipment failure caused by overfilling the ice basket or vertical stacking of ice cubes, thereby improving the operating efficiency and equipment stability and enhancing the user experience. At the same time, without adding high-cost detection means, the present application achieves the improvement of detection accuracy and reliability by optimizing the signal processing method, which meets the cost control requirements of the ice maker as a small household appliance, and significantly improves the performance and market competitiveness of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a principle block diagram of the electromechanical control mechanism of the ice making machine of the present application; Figure 2 A circuit diagram of the infrared sensor of the present application; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a comparator used in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 A flow chart of an ice-drop control method for an ice-making machine according to the present application; Figure 5 This is a functional block diagram of the ice drop control device for an ice maker of the present application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a computer device that can be used in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] See also Figure 1The exemplary ice-making machine of the present application has an electromechanical control mechanism, which includes an ice-making mold 12, a refrigeration system 14, a demoulding mechanism 16, and a microcontroller 10 that controls the entire machine. In the present application, the microcontroller 10 preferably adopts a single-chip microcomputer (MCU) with a low implementation cost. The ice-making mold 12 is used to shape ice cubes; the refrigeration system 14 is used to freeze water into ice; the demoulding mechanism 16 is used to push the made ice cubes out of the ice-making mold 12, flip them, and make them fall into the ice basket 18. These components work together through mechanical and electrical control systems to complete the entire process of ice making and demoulding.

[0022] The refrigeration system 14 of the ice making machine may be composed of a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a throttling device. The compressor compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and then dissipates heat through the condenser to liquefy the refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant passes through the throttling device and enters the evaporator, where it absorbs heat and vaporizes, thereby reducing the temperature around the ice-making mold 12, causing the water in the mold to freeze into ice.

[0023] When the ice cubes are completely frozen in the mold, the microcontroller 10 controls the demoulding mechanism 16 to start working. The demoulding mechanism 16 is usually driven by a motor, and drives the ice-making mold 12 to move through a gear transmission or a connecting rod mechanism, so as to flip the ice cubes out of the ice-making mold 12. During the demoulding process, the ice cubes are flipped and dropped from the mold, and finally fall into the ice basket 18 for storage.

[0024] The ice cubes prepared by the ice-making mold 12 in the present application are small ice cubes, for example, ice cubes with a fixed value of 1 cm to 3 cm as the side length of a cube, which can be called crushed ice cubes. Such ice cubes are small in size, and if the ice-making machine needs to detect the falling of ice cubes during the demoulding process, it needs to face a series of technical difficulties caused by the small size.

[0025] In order to detect the falling of ice cubes, the present application introduces an ice drop detection circuit in the ice maker, which includes an infrared sensor and a comparator. The infrared sensor is installed above the ice cube falling path and is used to detect whether the ice cube blocks the infrared light during the demolding process. When the ice cube falls, it blocks the transmission path of the infrared light, causing the intensity of the infrared light detected by the receiving end to change, thereby generating a detection signal. The detection signal is then sent to the comparator and compared with a preset reference voltage. The comparator outputs a stable high level or low level signal as a comparison signal based on the comparison result of the detection signal and the reference voltage. The comparison signal is received by the microcontroller 10 and used to determine whether the ice cube has successfully fallen.

[0026] The microcontroller 10 can control the demolding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal output by the comparator. For example, when the microcontroller 10 receives the comparison signal indicating that the ice cubes have successfully fallen, it will start the counter to count the fallen ice cubes. When the count reaches a preset threshold, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice basket 18 is full, thereby controlling the ice maker to stop the demolding operation. In addition, the microcontroller 10 can also determine whether the ice cubes in the ice basket 18 are vertically stacked according to the counting result and signal change. If an abnormal situation occurs, an alarm signal is issued and the demolding is suspended to prevent equipment failure.

[0027] Through the design of this electromechanical structure and working principle, the ice maker can efficiently complete the ice making and demoulding process. At the same time, by introducing infrared sensors and comparators, it can achieve accurate detection and control of the ice falling state, thereby improving the performance and reliability of the ice maker.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present application, an ice-drop control circuit for an ice maker is provided, the circuit comprising: Figure 2 The infrared sensor shown, Figure 3 The comparator and microcontroller 10 shown in the figure work together to achieve accurate detection and control of the ice cube demoulding and falling state. The following is a detailed explanation of this embodiment, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The detection circuit structure and electrical connection relationship shown in the figure explain its working principle and function realization.

[0029] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The relationship between the transmitter 11 and the receiver 13 in the infrared sensor, as well as the electrical connection relationship between the receiver 13 and the comparator (connected through U0) are shown together. The infrared sensor consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter emits infrared light, and the receiver is used to detect changes in the intensity of the infrared light. When the microcontroller 10 triggers the ice-making mold 12 to start demolding, the ice cubes are demolded and fall from the ice-making mold 12. When passing through the infrared receiving path of the transmitter and the receiver, the transmission path of the infrared light is blocked, resulting in changes in the intensity of the infrared light detected by the receiver. Specifically, the voltage signal U0 detected by the receiver will change as the ice cubes are blocked. This changed voltage signal U0 can be used as a detection signal for subsequent comparison and judgment.

[0030] The detection signal U0 is input to the non-inverting input terminal (+) of the comparator through electrical connection. The inverting input terminal (-) of the comparator is connected to the preset reference voltage Vref. The reference voltage Vref is set by the voltage divider circuit, namely the voltage divider resistors R1 and R2. The calculation formula of the reference voltage is Vref=[R2 / (R2+R1)]×Vdd, where Vdd is the power supply voltage, and the voltage divider value can be achieved by adjusting the resistance values ​​of R1 and R2 according to the size and light transmittance of the ice cube. The voltage divider resistor can be a fixed value resistor, and the corresponding matching resistance value is performed when configuring the comparison; it can also be a variable resistor so that it can be adjusted by the microcontroller 10 to achieve dynamic adjustment. In one embodiment, for the case where the volume of the ice cube is relatively large, the comparator can use a relatively low reference voltage by matching the voltage divider resistor. Conversely, if the volume of the ice cube is relatively small, a relatively high reference voltage is used. The advantage of this setting is that the detection signal caused by the smaller volume of the ice cube is also smaller. Through the relatively high reference voltage, it can be ensured that the comparator outputs a low-level comparison signal corresponding to the drop of the ice cube. In a more specific embodiment, taking the supply voltage of 5V as an example, assuming that the reference voltages for the three types of ice cubes with the largest, medium and smallest volumes can be matched to 0.5V, 0.8V and 1.2V respectively. Under the condition of a specific supply voltage of 5V, the reference voltage corresponding to the largest ice cube is set to 0.5V, and the reference voltage corresponding to the smallest ice cube is set to 1.2V, so that the optimal configuration can be obtained. Assuming that a smaller ice cube generates a detection signal of 1.2V voltage, since the reference voltage of the comparator is 1.2V, it will output a low-level comparison signal, so that it can be determined that an ice cube has fallen. It can be seen that when the ice cube blocks the infrared light, the low-level signal U0 output by the receiving end must be lower than the reference voltage Vref to trigger the comparator to output a low-level signal.

[0031] The function of the comparator is to compare the detection signal U0 with the reference voltage Vref, and output a corresponding comparison signal according to the comparison result. When the detection signal U0 is greater than the reference voltage Vref, the comparator outputs a high-level signal U1; when the detection signal U0 is less than the reference voltage Vref, the comparator outputs a low-level signal U1. The high-level signal or low-level signal output by the comparator is the comparison signal U1 representing the corresponding comparison result. The comparison signal U1 specifically represents whether the ice cube has successfully fallen. In this embodiment, when the comparison signal U1 is at a high level, it indicates that the ice cube has not been detected falling. When it is detected that it jumps from a high level to a low level, it indicates that the ice cube has been detected falling.

[0032] The microcontroller 10 is connected to the output end of the comparator for receiving the comparison signal U1. The microcontroller 10 controls the demoulding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal U1 received. The microcontroller 10 can run a computer program implemented according to the ice-drop control method of the ice maker of the present application to realize process control of the demoulding process of the ice maker. Specifically, the microcontroller 10 controls the ice maker to start the demoulding operation on the ice cubes made, and monitors the comparison signal U1 in real time during the demoulding process. When the microcontroller 10 receives the comparison signal U1 switched to a low level, it is determined that the ice cubes have successfully fallen, and the counter is started to count the fallen ice cubes to obtain the corresponding counting result. When the counting result reaches the preset counting threshold, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice basket 18 is full, thereby controlling the ice maker to stop the demoulding operation. This preset counting threshold can be an empirical value set in advance. When the microcontroller 10 receives a high level, it is determined that no ice cubes have fallen. In addition, the microcontroller 10 can also determine whether the ice cubes in the ice basket 18 are stacked vertically based on the counting results and signal changes. If an abnormal situation occurs, an alarm signal is issued and demoulding is suspended to prevent equipment failure.

[0033] Through the structure and electrical connection relationship of the above-mentioned detection circuit, the present application realizes accurate detection and control of the demolding and falling state of ice cubes. The infrared sensor is responsible for detecting the blocking of infrared light when ice cubes fall and generating a detection signal U0. The comparator compares the detection signal U0 with the reference voltage Vref and outputs a comparison signal U1. The microcontroller 10 controls the demolding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal U1. This circuit design not only improves the accuracy and reliability of ice cube drop detection, but also achieves a good balance between manufacturing cost and detection effect, providing strong support for the efficient operation of the ice maker and the improvement of user experience.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present application, the comparator adopts a hysteresis comparator. The hysteresis comparator sets a preset upper threshold and a lower threshold by introducing a positive feedback network, thereby effectively enhancing the stability and anti-interference ability of signal detection, and is particularly suitable for the complex working conditions of ice drop detection in an ice maker.

[0035] The basic working principle of the hysteresis comparator is to provide a certain "memory" function for the output of the comparator through a positive feedback mechanism. Specifically, when the detection signal U0 exceeds the preset upper threshold value Vth, the hysteresis comparator outputs a high-level signal U1; and when the detection signal U0 is lower than the preset lower threshold value Vtl, the hysteresis comparator outputs a low-level signal U1. The key to this design is that once the output state of the comparator changes, its threshold will be adjusted accordingly, thereby forming a hysteresis interval during the signal change process. For example, when the comparator output jumps from a low level to a high level, its threshold will switch from the lower threshold value Vtl to the upper threshold value Vth; and when the output jumps from a high level to a low level, the threshold will switch from the upper threshold value Vth to the lower threshold value Vtl. This hysteresis characteristic prevents the comparator from frequently jumping near the threshold due to small signal fluctuations, thereby effectively suppressing misjudgments caused by ice transmittance or environmental noise.

[0036] In electronic circuits, hysteresis comparators are implemented by introducing a positive feedback resistor network between the output and inverting input of the comparator. Assume that the positive feedback network of the hysteresis comparator consists of resistors Rf and Rg, where Rf is connected between the output and inverting input of the comparator, and Rg is connected between the inverting input and ground. When the output of the comparator is high, the positive feedback resistor Rf will feed back part of the high-level signal to the inverting input, thereby increasing the threshold of the comparator; conversely, when the output of the comparator is low, the feedback signal will lower the threshold. By reasonably selecting (when it is a fixed resistor) or setting (when it is a variable resistor) the resistance values ​​of Rf and Rg, the upper threshold Vth and lower threshold Vtl of the hysteresis comparator can be accurately set.

[0037] In the ice-drop detection application of the ice maker, since the ice cubes are small in size and highly transparent, the signal detected by the infrared sensor may be affected by the ice cubes' transparency, falling speed, and changes in ambient light, causing the detection signal U0 to fluctuate near the threshold. The hysteresis comparator can effectively avoid misjudgments caused by these small fluctuations by setting the upper threshold Vth and the lower threshold Vtl, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the detection signal.

[0038] When the microcontroller 10 receives the comparison signal U1 output by the hysteresis comparator, it can accurately determine whether the ice cube has successfully fallen according to the level state of the signal. For example, when it is recognized that the signal U1 is switched to a low level, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice cube has successfully fallen and counts; and when it is recognized that the signal U1 is switched to a high level, it is determined that no ice cube has fallen or the ice cube has fallen abnormally. In this way, the hysteresis comparator not only improves the detection accuracy, but also enhances the operating stability of the ice maker under complex working conditions.

[0039] It can be seen that this embodiment adopts the design of hysteresis comparator, introduces positive feedback network and sets upper and lower thresholds, which effectively solves the misjudgment problem caused by ice cube transmittance, signal fluctuation and environmental interference in the prior art. This design significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of ice drop control of the ice maker without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost, and provides strong support for the efficient operation of the ice maker and the improvement of user experience.

[0040] In another embodiment of the present application, the comparator is implemented by a multi-level comparator. Specifically, the comparator is composed of a plurality of comparison units, each of which is set with a different reference voltage, for performing graded detection of ice cubes of different sizes. This design can effectively deal with the detection difficulties caused by the difference in ice volume in the ice maker, and further improves the accuracy and adaptability of ice drop detection.

[0041] Each comparison unit of the multi-stage comparator includes an independent comparator, and its structure is similar to that of the single-stage comparator, but each comparison unit can distinguish the difference in the degree of infrared light blocking of ice cubes of different sizes by setting different reference voltages Vref. Specifically, the inverting input terminal of each comparison unit is connected to a specific reference voltage, which is pre-set according to the expected size and light transmittance of the ice cube. For example, for ice cubes of smaller volume, a higher reference voltage Vref1 is set; for ice cubes of medium volume, a medium reference voltage Vref2 is set; and for ice cubes of larger volume, a lower reference voltage Vref3 is set. In general, due to the strong light transmittance of small ice cubes, the transistors in the receiver of the infrared sensor are fully turned on, resulting in a small drop in U0, which is close to the power supply voltage, and a higher reference voltage Vref_high needs to be set; large ice cubes have weak light transmittance, and the transistors are not fully turned on, resulting in a large drop in U0, which is much smaller than the power supply voltage, so a lower reference voltage Vref_low needs to be set. In this way, the multi-level comparator can output different comparison signals U1 according to the comparison results between the detection signal U0 and different reference voltages, thereby realizing graded detection of ice cube sizes.

[0042] In electronic circuits, the implementation of a multi-stage comparator can be accomplished by connecting multiple single-stage comparators in parallel. The non-inverting input of each comparator is connected to the output signal U0 of the infrared sensor, while the inverting input is connected to different reference voltages Vref. These reference voltages can be accurately set by a voltage-dividing resistor network. For example, the reference voltage Vref1 is obtained by dividing the resistors R11 and R21, Vref2 is obtained by dividing the resistors R12 and R22, and Vref3 is obtained by dividing the resistors R13 and R23. Each comparator works independently according to the reference voltage it sets. When the detection signal U0 exceeds the corresponding reference voltage, it outputs a high-level signal; otherwise, it outputs a low-level signal.

[0043] When the ice cube is demolded from the ice-making mold 12 and falls, the signal U0 detected by the infrared sensor will be different depending on the size and light transmittance of the ice cube. The multi-level comparator compares the signal U0 simultaneously through multiple comparison units in parallel, and outputs the corresponding comparison signal U1 according to different reference voltages. After receiving these comparison signals, the microcontroller 10 can accurately determine the size of the ice cube and perform counting or other control operations accordingly. For example, when the microcontroller 10 detects that the low-level signal corresponding to the small ice cube is switched, it is recorded as a small ice cube falling; when the low-level signal corresponding to the large ice cube is detected, it is recorded as a large ice cube falling. In this way, the ice maker can not only accurately detect whether the ice cube has fallen, but also classify and count ice cubes of different sizes. According to the corresponding counting results obtained by classification calculation, the microcontroller can control the demolding process of multiple ice molds respectively, further enriching the functions of the ice maker.

[0044] In addition, the design of the multi-level comparator also enhances the adaptability and flexibility of the ice maker in detecting ice drop. Since ice cubes of different sizes block infrared light to different degrees, by setting multiple reference voltages, the ice maker can more accurately identify the falling state of ice cubes, and effectively reduce misjudgment even when the ice cubes are highly transparent or fall at a fast speed. This design not only improves the operating stability of the ice maker under complex working conditions, but also provides users with a more intelligent and personalized ice-making experience.

[0045] It can be seen that the multi-level comparator used in this embodiment realizes the graded detection of ice cubes of different sizes by setting multiple comparison units and different reference voltages. This design significantly improves the accuracy and adaptability of ice drop control of the ice maker without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost, providing strong support for the efficient operation of the ice maker and the improvement of user experience.

[0046] See also Figure 4 Another embodiment of the present application provides an ice-drop control method for an ice-making machine, comprising the following steps: Step S3100, the microcontroller controls the ice maker to start demoulding the ice cubes; The microcontroller 10 plays a core control role in the ice maker. It manages the entire ice making and demoulding process through preset programs and logic instructions. In this step, the microcontroller 10 first receives a signal from the ice making system, indicating that the ice has completed the freezing process and is ready for demoulding. At this time, the microcontroller 10 sends a start signal to the demoulding mechanism 16 according to the preset control logic to trigger the demoulding action.

[0047] The demoulding mechanism 16 is usually driven by a motor, and drives the ice-making mold 12 to move through a gear transmission or a connecting rod mechanism. In a specific implementation, the motor can be a DC motor or a stepper motor, and its driving mode can be selected according to the design requirements of the ice-making machine. For example, for a small ice-making machine, a DC motor can be used to achieve mold flipping and ice demoulding through a simple gear transmission; while for a more complex ice-making machine, a stepper motor can achieve a more accurate demoulding action through precise pulse control.

[0048] When the microcontroller 10 issues a demoulding instruction, the motor starts to run and transmits power to the ice-making mold 12 through the transmission mechanism. In a specific embodiment, the ice-making mold 12 can be connected to the output shaft of the motor through one or more connecting rods, and the rotational motion of the motor is converted into the flipping motion of the mold through the connecting rod, so that the ice cubes are pushed out of the mold. In another embodiment, the ice-making mold 12 can be designed as a detachable structure, and the motor directly drives the separation action of the mold through gear transmission, so that the ice cubes can be demoulded smoothly.

[0049] During the demoulding process, the microcontroller 10 can also monitor the running status of the motor in real time to ensure the smooth progress of the demoulding action. For example, by detecting the current change or position feedback signal of the motor, the microcontroller 10 can determine whether the demoulding is successfully completed. If an abnormal situation is detected, such as motor overload or the demoulding action is not completed as expected, the microcontroller 10 can promptly issue an alarm and take corresponding measures, such as suspending the demoulding operation or trying to restart the demoulding process.

[0050] Step S3200, using an infrared sensor to detect the blocking of infrared light by ice cubes from the ice maker when they are demoulded and fall off, and generating a corresponding detection signal; The infrared sensor consists of an infrared transmitter and a receiver. The infrared transmitter emits infrared light of a specific wavelength, while the receiver is used to detect changes in the intensity of the infrared light. In the ice maker, the infrared sensor is installed above the path where the ice cubes fall, and its position and angle are set in advance to ensure that it can accurately capture the blocking of the infrared light when the ice cubes are demolded. Since the present application uses the counting result obtained by counting the fallen ice cubes to determine whether the ice basket is full, the relative height between the infrared sensor and the ice basket is not limited, freeing up more longitudinal space for structural optimization of the ice maker.

[0051] When the demoulding mechanism 16 of the ice maker starts to work, the ice cube is pushed out of the ice mold 12 and starts to fall, and the ice cube passes through the detection area of ​​the infrared sensor. At this time, the ice cube blocks the infrared light emitted by the infrared transmitter, causing the infrared light intensity detected by the receiver to change significantly. This change is converted into an electrical signal, namely the detection signal U0. The voltage value of the detection signal U0 changes with the obstruction of the ice cube, thereby reflecting whether the ice cube has successfully fallen.

[0052] In order to improve the accuracy of detection, the infrared sensor in the present application can adopt a variety of specific embodiments. For example, a sensor that modulates infrared light can be used. By modulating the frequency of the emitted infrared light, the receiver can more accurately identify the infrared light from the transmitter, thereby reducing the interference of ambient light. In addition, the receiver can be equipped with a high-sensitivity photodiode or phototransistor to improve the detection capability of weak signals.

[0053] In practical applications, the size, shape and light transmittance of ice cubes may affect the blocking effect of infrared light. In order to cope with these changes, the infrared sensor in this application can be equipped with multiple detection channels to improve the detection accuracy of ice cubes falling through multi-angle or multi-level detection. For example, two or more infrared transmitter and receiver pairs can be set to detect the blocking situation of ice cubes at different positions respectively, so as to capture the signal of ice cubes falling more comprehensively.

[0054] In addition, in order to further improve the quality of the detection signal, a signal amplification and filtering circuit can be introduced at the receiver end. The signal amplification circuit can amplify the weak detection signal to a level suitable for subsequent processing, while the filtering circuit can remove the noise component in the signal and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Through these technical means, the detection signal U0 can more accurately reflect the falling state of the ice cube, providing a reliable basis for subsequent comparison and control.

[0055] The generation of the detection signal U0 is based on the principle of infrared light blocking. When the ice cube falls and blocks the infrared light, the infrared light intensity detected by the receiver decreases, thereby generating a low-level signal; when the ice cube does not block the infrared light, the infrared light intensity detected by the receiver is higher, generating a high-level signal. This change in the high and low level signals used as the detection signal U0 provides a clear signal basis for the subsequent comparator, allowing the comparator to accurately determine whether the ice cube has fallen.

[0056] Step S3300, the detection signal is input into a comparator for comparison with a preset reference voltage, and the comparator outputs a comparison signal representing the comparison result; In this step, the detection signal U0 and the preset reference voltage Vref are input to the comparator, which compares the two and outputs a comparison signal U1 representing the comparison result. Through the voltage comparison function of the comparator, the analog voltage change of the detection signal U0 is converted into a clear digital logic signal for further processing by the microcontroller 10.

[0057] As disclosed above, a comparator is a common electronic component, and its basic function is to compare the voltages of two input signals and output a corresponding level signal according to the comparison result. In this embodiment, the comparator's in-phase input terminal (+) is connected to the detection signal U0, and the inverting input terminal (-) is connected to the preset reference voltage Vref. The reference voltage Vref is a voltage value pre-set according to the infrared light blocking effect when the ice cube falls, and is used as a benchmark for judging whether the ice cube has fallen successfully. When the voltage of the detection signal U0 is higher than the reference voltage Vref, the comparator outputs a high-level signal U1; when the voltage of the detection signal U0 is lower than the reference voltage Vref, the comparator outputs a low-level signal U1. This switching of the high-level and low-level output signals U1 clearly characterizes the state of whether the ice cube has fallen, and provides an accurate basis for judgment for the microcontroller 10.

[0058] In order to adapt to ice cubes of different sizes and light transmittance, the reference voltage Vref can be set in a variety of ways. For example, a fixed reference voltage value can be set by a voltage divider resistor network. Assuming that resistors R1 and R2 are used for voltage division, the reference voltage Vref can be accurately set by adjusting the resistance values ​​of R1 and R2. In practical applications, according to the volume and light transmittance of the ice cube, the appropriate reference voltage value is determined in advance through experiments, so that the comparator can accurately output a low-level signal when the ice cube falls, and output a high-level signal when there is no ice cube blocking it.

[0059] In addition, the selection of the comparator also has an important influence on the detection accuracy. In this embodiment, an ordinary operational amplifier can be used as the comparator, or a special comparator chip can be selected. Special comparator chips usually have faster response speeds and higher accuracy, and can better adapt to the rapidly changing detection signals in the ice maker. For example, for a small ice maker, an ordinary operational amplifier may be sufficient to meet the needs; while for an ice maker with higher detection accuracy requirements, a special comparator chip is more suitable.

[0060] At the output end of the comparator, the level state of the comparison signal U1 directly reflects the falling state of the ice cubes. When the comparison signal U1 switches to a low level, the microcontroller 10 can determine that ice cubes have fallen; when the comparison signal U1 switches to a high level, it is determined that no ice cubes have fallen. This clear level signal output enables the microcontroller 10 to quickly and accurately control the demoulding process of the ice maker, thereby realizing accurate monitoring and management of the falling state of ice cubes.

[0061] The comparator used in this step can be implemented by a hysteresis comparator or a multi-stage comparator composed of multiple comparison units according to the above disclosure. Therefore, for the embodiment using the hysteresis comparator, before this step, the microcontroller 10 can configure the comparator with a preset upper threshold and lower threshold according to the reference voltage calculation formula described above, which can be achieved by changing the resistance value of the resistor in its positive feedback network. After the hysteresis comparator is applied, when the detection signal exceeds its upper threshold, a high-level comparison signal is output, and when the detection signal is lower than its lower threshold, a low-level comparison signal is output.

[0062] For the embodiment using a multi-level comparator, in this step, the microcontroller 10 inputs the detection signal output by the infrared sensor into multiple comparison units matching different reference voltages in parallel to obtain corresponding comparison signals. It is not difficult to understand that as long as one comparison signal switches to a low-level signal, the microcontroller 10 can be regarded as recognizing the process of an ice cube falling.

[0063] In some embodiments, for the comparator, the microcontroller 10 may also set a corresponding reference voltage for the comparator according to a preset ice cube volume type before this step. Thus, the microcontroller 10 can set the comparator's ability to identify ice cubes of different sizes as needed, thereby further improving the accuracy of detection.

[0064] Step S3400: The microcontroller controls the demoulding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal.

[0065] The microcontroller 10 can control the demoulding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal U1 output by the comparator, and realizes accurate monitoring of the ice falling state and intelligent control of the demoulding operation of the ice maker through precise signal processing and logical judgment.

[0066] The microcontroller 10 receives a comparison signal U1 from the comparator. The signal is low or high, corresponding to whether the ice cube has successfully fallen. When the comparison signal U1 switches to a low level, the microcontroller 10 determines that an ice cube has fallen; when the comparison signal U1 switches to a high level, it determines that no ice cube has fallen. Based on this judgment, the microcontroller 10 starts an internal counter to count the fallen ice cubes. The counting result of the counter is used to monitor the number of ice cubes in the ice basket 18 in real time to ensure that the operating status of the ice maker complies with the preset control logic.

[0067] Specifically, a threshold value of the number of ice cubes, i.e., a preset counting threshold value, is preset inside the microcontroller 10, and the preset counting threshold value is set in advance according to the capacity of the ice basket 18 and user needs. When the counting result of the counter reaches the preset counting threshold value, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice basket 18 is full, and then sends a stop signal to the demoulding mechanism 16 to terminate the demoulding operation. This control logic ensures that the ice basket 18 will not overflow with ice cubes or cause equipment failure due to overfilling.

[0068] In an optional embodiment, while controlling the demoulding mechanism 16 to stop or pause demoulding, the ice maker can also be controlled to synchronously stop or pause ice making.

[0069] In addition, the microcontroller 10 also has the ability to detect and handle abnormal situations. For example, when the counting result does not reach the preset counting threshold, but the comparison signal U1 continues to show a low level for a period of time, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice cubes may be vertically piled up in the ice basket 18, causing the ice basket 18 to be filled in advance. In this case, the microcontroller 10 will issue an alarm signal and suspend the demoulding operation, prompting the user to intervene to prevent the device from being damaged due to excessive accumulation of ice cubes.

[0070] In a specific embodiment, the control logic of the microcontroller 10 can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, for a small ice maker, the microcontroller 10 can use a simple counting and threshold comparison algorithm to control the demolding operation. For a more complex ice maker, the microcontroller 10 can combine the comprehensive judgment logic of real-time monitoring of the motor operating status and the ice drop signal to achieve more precise control. By detecting the current change or position feedback signal of the motor, the microcontroller 10 can determine whether the demolding is successfully completed. If an abnormal situation is detected, such as motor overload or the demolding action is not completed as expected, the microcontroller 10 can promptly issue an alarm and take corresponding measures, such as suspending the demolding operation or trying to restart the demolding process.

[0071] It can be seen from the above embodiments that the implementation of this application can achieve significant beneficial effects, including but not limited to: First, the present application significantly improves the accuracy of judging whether ice cubes have fallen by introducing a comparator to process the detection signal of the infrared sensor. In the prior art, due to factors such as the light transmittance, size difference and external interference of ice cubes, it is difficult to accurately judge the falling state of ice cubes by relying solely on the output signal of the infrared sensor, which is easy to cause misjudgment. However, the present application compares the detection signal with a preset reference voltage, uses the stable high-level or low-level signal output by the comparator as a comparison signal, and then implements the ice cube demoulding process control according to the comparison signal, which effectively solves the problem of low signal detection accuracy and susceptibility to interference in the prior art. The introduction of the comparator makes the judgment of ice cube falling more accurate, and even when the ice cubes are small or have strong light transmittance, the falling state of ice cubes can be accurately identified, thereby improving the counting accuracy and reliability of ice cubes falling by the ice maker.

[0072] Secondly, the present application realizes the precise control of the demolding process of the ice maker by using the comparison signal, further enriching the function of the ice maker. The demolding process is controlled in real time by the microcontroller according to the comparison signal, and the ice maker can dynamically adjust the demolding operation according to the actual falling of the ice cubes. For example, when it is detected that the ice cubes have fallen successfully and the count reaches the preset count threshold, the microcontroller can control the ice maker to stop demolding to avoid overfilling the ice basket; and when it is detected that the ice cubes fall abnormally, an alarm signal can be issued in time and the demolding operation can be suspended to prevent the ice cubes from vertically piling up in the ice basket and causing equipment failure. This intelligent control method not only improves the operating efficiency of the ice maker, but also enhances the stability of the equipment and user experience.

[0073] In addition, the present application has achieved a good balance between manufacturing cost and detection effect. The present application improves on the existing infrared detection technology by adding a comparator and optimizing the signal processing method, effectively improving the detection accuracy and reliability without replacing it with a high-cost detection method. This technical improvement not only meets the cost control requirements of the ice maker as a small household appliance, but also significantly improves the performance and competitiveness of the product.

[0074] Traditional ice makers usually place infrared sensors near the opening surface of the ice basket. Once the infrared rays of the infrared sensor are blocked, it can be directly determined that the ice basket is full of ice. On the one hand, if the ice cubes that fall into the ice basket do not disperse and continue to pile up quickly, it is easy to cause the ice basket to be filled in advance; on the other hand, there is still a large space between the ice mold and the opening surface that can be used. If the infrared sensor is confined to the vicinity of the opening surface, it will limit the structural improvement space of the ice maker product. For example, the assembly position of the infrared sensor must be fixed to the opening surface to reserve. Therefore, in order to open up this structural improvement space while being able to effectively distinguish the vertical stacking, the logic of the infrared sensor to judge whether the ice basket is full of ice must be improved accordingly to achieve a systematic product upgrade. To this end, on the basis of any embodiment of the method of the present application, the microcontroller implements demoulding control on the ice maker according to the comparison signal, including: Step S3410, determining whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal, and counting the fallen ice cubes to obtain a counting result; In this step, the microcontroller 10 determines whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal U1 output by the comparator, and counts the fallen ice cubes to obtain the counting result, so as to ensure accurate monitoring of the falling state of ice cubes through precise signal processing and logical judgment.

[0075] Specifically, the microcontroller 10 receives a comparison signal U1 from the comparator, which is a low level or a high level, corresponding to whether the ice cube has successfully fallen. When the comparison signal U1 switches to a low level, the microcontroller 10 determines that an ice cube has fallen; when the comparison signal U1 switches to a high level, it determines that no ice cube has fallen. Based on this judgment, the microcontroller 10 starts an internal counter to count the fallen ice cubes. The counting result of the counter is used to monitor the number of ice cubes in the ice basket 18 in real time to ensure that the operating status of the ice maker complies with the preset control logic.

[0076] In order to realize this function, a set of counting logic is preset inside the microcontroller 10. Whenever a low-level comparison signal U1 is received, the counter increases by 1, indicating that an ice cube has been detected to have fallen. The counting result of the counter is stored in the memory of the microcontroller 10 for subsequent logical judgment.

[0077] In a specific embodiment, the microcontroller 10 can implement the counting function in a variety of ways. For example, for a small ice maker, the microcontroller 10 can use a simple counting algorithm to increase the value of the counter each time a low-level signal is received. For a more complex ice maker, the microcontroller 10 can combine a timestamp function to record the time when each ice cube falls, so as to subsequently analyze the frequency and pattern of ice cube falls.

[0078] Step S3420, determining whether the counting result reaches a preset counting threshold value, and when the counting result reaches the preset counting threshold value, determining that the ice basket is full of ice cubes, and controlling the ice maker to stop demoulding; The microcontroller 10 can perform logical judgment based on the counting result of the counter to determine whether the ice basket 18 is in a full basket state, and control the demoulding operation of the ice maker accordingly. Therefore, through accurate counting and threshold comparison, real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of the state of the ice basket 18 are achieved.

[0079] Specifically, a threshold value of the number of ice cubes is preset in the microcontroller 10 as a preset counting threshold value, and the threshold value is preset according to the capacity of the ice basket 18 and user needs. For example, if the design capacity of the ice basket 18 is 50 ice cubes, the preset counting threshold value can be set to 50. When the counting result of the counter reaches this preset counting threshold value, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice basket 18 is full. At this time, the microcontroller 10 determines that the ice basket 18 is in a full basket state, and sends a stop signal to the demolding mechanism 16 to terminate the demolding operation. This control logic ensures that the ice basket 18 will not cause ice cubes to overflow or equipment failure due to overfilling.

[0080] In addition, the microcontroller 10 can also monitor the counting result in real time so as to issue a warning signal in advance when the ice basket 18 is close to being full. For example, when the counting result is close to a preset counting threshold, the microcontroller 10 can light up an indicator light or emit a warning sound to remind the user that the ice basket 18 is about to be full. This early warning function not only improves the user experience, but also avoids equipment failure caused by the ice basket 18 being too full.

[0081] Step S3430: When the counting result does not reach the preset counting threshold, and the comparison signal is in a low level state and has lasted for a preset period of time, it is determined that the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a vertically stacked state, an alarm signal is output, and demolding is suspended.

[0082] The microcontroller 10 determines whether the ice cubes in the ice basket 18 are in a vertically stacked state based on the counting result and the changing trend of the comparison signal U1, and accordingly outputs an alarm signal and suspends the demoulding operation. Thus, through precise logical judgment, the hidden dangers caused by the vertical stacking of ice cubes are avoided.

[0083] When the microcontroller 10 detects that the counting result has not reached the preset counting threshold, but the comparison signal U1 is continuously in a low level state within the preset period, although the counting result continues to increase, it is essentially caused by the vertical accumulation of ice cubes in the ice basket 18. Vertical accumulation means that the ice cubes are piled up too high in the ice basket 18, causing the ice basket 18 to be "full" in advance, and the ice cubes overflowing from the opening of the ice basket block the infrared rays emitted by the infrared sensor, while the actual number of ice cubes has not yet reached the capacity threshold of the ice basket 18.

[0084] In a specific embodiment, the microcontroller 10 can achieve this function in the following manner: First, a timer is set inside the microcontroller 10 to monitor the duration of the comparison signal in the low level state. When the duration does not reach the preset period, the microcontroller does not intervene. If the duration of a comparison signal in the low level state reaches or exceeds the preset period (for example, 5 seconds), the microcontroller 10 determines that it is in the vertical height state. Then, the microcontroller 10 outputs an alarm signal through a preset interface. For example, a buzzer can be connected to drive the buzzer to sound an alarm through a pulse signal; or an LED indicator light can be connected to flash the indicator light through a control signal. Finally, the microcontroller 10 sends a pause signal to the demoulding mechanism 16 to stop the motor from running to prevent more ice cubes from entering the ice basket 18. The pause signal can directly control the motor of the demoulding mechanism 16 through the output pin of the microcontroller 10, or it can be realized through an intermediate relay.

[0085] Therefore, those skilled in the art can clearly understand how the microcontroller determines the accumulation state of ice cubes in the ice basket through the counting results and the change trend of the comparison signal, and takes corresponding alarm and pause operations. This intelligent control method not only improves the operating efficiency of the ice maker, but also enhances the stability of the equipment and user experience.

[0086] Through the execution of the above-mentioned embodiments, the present application identifies whether the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a vertically stacked state by monitoring whether the duration of the comparison signal in a low-level state when the basket is not full exceeds a preset period of time. On the one hand, it can provide an early warning of the vertical stacking state of the ice cubes during the user's use phase, so that the user can adjust the stacking state of the ice cubes in the ice basket in time. On the other hand, this mechanism uses a counting mechanism to determine whether the ice basket is full, combined with the addition of intelligent recognition of the stacking state, allowing the infrared sensor to be placed at a position higher than the opening surface of the ice basket during product design, thereby expanding the product structure improvement space of the ice maker.

[0087] Based on any embodiment of the method of the present application, determining whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal includes: Step S3411, filtering the comparison signal to remove noise interference; Taking into account the possibility of noise, in this embodiment, the microcontroller 10 first filters the high-level signal to remove noise interference, so as to ensure the accuracy of subsequent pulse amplitude measurement, thereby making the ice cube counting more accurate.

[0088] The purpose of filtering is to eliminate the noise components in the comparison signal caused by the high-frequency noise components in the detection signal, which may be caused by ambient light interference, circuit noise, or small vibrations when ice cubes fall. Through filtering, the signal waveform can be smoothed and the pulse edge of the signal can be made clearer, thus providing a basis for accurately measuring the pulse amplitude. In this application, filtering can be implemented in a variety of ways, such as using a digital filtering algorithm or an analog filtering circuit.

[0089] For digital filtering, the microcontroller 10 can use a sliding average filtering algorithm to effectively reduce the impact of random noise by averaging the continuously sampled signal values. Another common digital filtering method is median filtering, which eliminates spike noise by taking the median of the signal over a period of time, and is particularly suitable for processing burst interference in pulse signals.

[0090] In terms of analog filtering, a low-pass filter can be used to remove high-frequency noise. The design of the low-pass filter can be achieved by selecting appropriate capacitor and resistor values, and its cut-off frequency should be adjusted according to the characteristics of the ice cube drop signal to ensure that the main characteristics of the signal are retained while removing noise.

[0091] In a specific implementation, the microcontroller 10 can be configured with an internal timer to sample the comparison signal and process the sampled data through a preset filtering algorithm. For example, for a simple sliding average filter, the microcontroller 10 can accumulate a certain number of sampled values ​​in each sampling period and then calculate the average value as the filtered signal. For median filtering, the sampled values ​​can be stored in an array and the median value can be taken as the filtering result after sorting.

[0092] Through filtering, the pulse amplitude measurement of the comparison signal will be more accurate, thus providing a reliable basis for the subsequent judgment of ice cube falling. This technical path not only improves the detection accuracy, but also enhances the operating stability of the ice maker in complex environments.

[0093] Step S3412, determining the pulse amplitude of the filtered high-level signal; The microcontroller 10 measures the pulse amplitude of the comparison signal after filtering to determine whether the ice cube has been successfully dropped. Pulse amplitude measurement refers to the quantitative detection of the voltage amplitude of the high-level signal after filtering. In the present application, the microcontroller 10 monitors the filtered comparison signal in real time through an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) through an internal timer or counter, and records the voltage amplitude of the level signal.

[0094] In order to achieve this function, the microcontroller 10 can adopt a variety of technical means. For example, the microcontroller 10 can be configured with an internal analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to sample the filtered comparison signal and convert it into a digital value in each sampling cycle. The accuracy of the measurement can be further improved by sampling multiple times and calculating the average value. Another method is to use an external ADC chip and control the sampling and conversion process of the ADC through the microcontroller 10 to obtain the pulse amplitude.

[0095] Step S3413: When the pulse amplitude of the filtered comparison signal reaches the preset amplitude threshold, the counting result is not accumulated; otherwise, it is determined that ice cubes have fallen and the count is performed.

[0096] After completing the filtering process of step S3411 and the pulse amplitude measurement of step S3412, the microcontroller 10 compares the measured pulse amplitude with the preset amplitude threshold. The preset amplitude threshold is pre-set according to the signal characteristics generated when the ice cube falls, and is used to distinguish the real ice cube falling signal from noise or other interference signals. If the pulse amplitude of the filtered comparison signal does not reach the preset amplitude threshold, the microcontroller 10 determines that ice cubes have fallen and counts the fallen ice cubes; if the pulse amplitude reaches or exceeds the preset amplitude threshold, it is deemed that no ice cube has been detected, and the counting result is not accumulated.

[0097] In order to achieve this function, a set of logic judgment mechanisms is preset inside the microcontroller 10. After the pulse amplitude measurement is completed, the microcontroller 10 compares the measurement result with the preset amplitude threshold. If the pulse amplitude meets the condition, the counter inside the microcontroller 10 increases by 1, indicating that an ice cube is detected to have fallen; if the pulse amplitude does not meet the condition, the counter remains unchanged. The counting result is stored in the memory of the microcontroller 10 for subsequent logic judgment.

[0098] In addition, the microcontroller 10 can further analyze the pulse amplitude, such as calculating the average value or standard deviation of the pulse amplitude to evaluate the stability and reliability of the signal. Through these technical means, the microcontroller 10 can more accurately identify the ice drop signal, thereby improving the operating efficiency and reliability of the ice maker.

[0099] This embodiment significantly improves the detection accuracy and reliability of ice cubes falling by the ice maker through a combined technical path of filtering processing, pulse amplitude measurement and threshold judgment.

[0100] First, the filtering process effectively removes the noise interference in the comparison signal, smoothes the signal waveform, makes the pulse edge clearer, and provides an accurate basis for the subsequent pulse amplitude measurement. This filtering process not only reduces the impact of ambient light interference, circuit noise, or small vibrations when ice cubes fall on the detection signal, but also improves the stability and measurability of the signal.

[0101] Secondly, by accurately measuring the pulse amplitude of the filtered high-level signal, the microcontroller can accurately identify the ice drop signal. This pulse amplitude-based quantitative detection method, combined with the logic judgment of the preset amplitude threshold, effectively distinguishes the real ice drop signal from noise or other interference signals, reducing the possibility of misjudgment.

[0102] In addition, further analysis of the pulse amplitude by the microcontroller, such as calculation of the mean value or standard deviation, further enhances the stability and reliability of the signal evaluation.

[0103] Through these technical means, the ice machine can not only operate stably in complex environments, but also flexibly adjust the preset amplitude threshold according to the size and light transmittance of the ice cubes to meet the needs of different application scenarios. Ultimately, this technical path not only improves the accuracy of ice cube counting, but also enhances the intelligence level and user experience of the ice machine, providing strong support for the market competitiveness of the product.

[0104] See also Figure 5 According to one aspect of the present application, an ice-drop control device for an ice-making machine is provided, comprising: a demoulding drive module 3100, a drop detection module 3200, a signal comparison module 3300, and a demoulding control module 3400, wherein the demoulding drive module 3100 is configured to control the ice-making machine to start demoulding of the ice cubes made by the microcontroller; the drop detection module 3200 is configured to use an infrared sensor to detect the blocking of infrared light by the ice cubes of the ice-making machine when they are demoulded and dropped, and generate a corresponding detection signal; the signal comparison module 3300 is configured to compare the detection signal with a preset reference voltage input comparator, and the comparator outputs a comparison signal representing the comparison result; the demoulding control module 3400 is configured to control the demoulding process of the ice-making machine by the microcontroller according to the comparison signal.

[0105] Based on any embodiment of the device of the present application, the demolding control module 3400 includes: a judgment and counting module, which is configured to determine whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal, count the fallen ice cubes, and obtain a counting result; a full basket control module, which is configured to determine whether the counting result reaches a preset counting threshold, and when the counting result reaches the preset counting threshold, it is determined that the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a full basket state, and the ice maker is controlled to stop demolding; an abnormal control module, which is configured to determine that the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a vertically stacked state when the counting result does not reach the preset counting threshold and the comparison signal is in a low level state and has lasted for a preset period of time, output an alarm signal and suspend demolding.

[0106] Based on any embodiment of the device of the present application, the discrimination and counting module includes: a signal filtering module, configured to filter the comparison signal to remove noise interference; a width determination module, configured to determine the pulse amplitude of the filtered high-level signal; a calculation and processing module, configured not to accumulate the counting result when the pulse amplitude of the filtered comparison signal reaches a preset amplitude threshold, otherwise, it is determined that ice cubes have fallen and counted.

[0107] Another embodiment of the present application also provides a computer device. Figure 6 As shown, a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a computer device. The computer device includes a processor, a computer-readable storage medium, a memory, and a network interface connected via a system bus. The computer-readable non-volatile storage medium of the computer device stores an operating system, a database, and computer-readable instructions. The database may store an information sequence. When the computer-readable instructions are executed by the processor, the processor may implement a computer method.

[0108] The processor of the computer device is used to provide computing and control capabilities to support the operation of the entire computer device. The memory of the computer device may store computer-readable instructions, which, when executed by the processor, may enable the processor to execute the computer method of the present application. The network interface of the computer device is used to connect and communicate with a terminal.

[0109] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 6 The structure shown in the figure is only a block diagram of a part of the structure related to the solution of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation on the computer device to which the solution of the present application is applied. The specific computer device may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have a different arrangement of components.

[0110] In this embodiment, the processor is used to execute Figure 5 The memory stores the program code and various data required to execute the above modules or submodules. The network interface is used to realize data transmission between user terminals or servers. The non-volatile readable storage medium in this embodiment stores the program code and data required to execute all modules in the ice drop control device for ice maker of this application, and the server can call the program code and data of the server to execute the functions of all modules.

[0111] The present application also provides a non-volatile readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions. When the computer-readable instructions are executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors execute the steps of the computer method of any embodiment of the present application.

[0112] The present application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program / instruction, which implements the steps of the method described in any embodiment of the present application when executed by one or more processors.

[0113] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application can be implemented by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program, and the computer program can be stored in a non-volatile readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above-mentioned methods. Among them, the aforementioned storage medium can be a computer-readable storage medium such as a disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM).

[0114] In summary, this application significantly improves the detection accuracy and reliability of ice cubes falling in the ice maker by introducing a comparator and optimizing the signal processing method. Even when the ice cubes are small or have strong light transmittance, they can be accurately counted to effectively avoid misjudgment. At the same time, the microcontroller dynamically adjusts the demoulding operation according to the comparison signal to ensure that demoulding automatically stops when the ice basket is full, and promptly issues an alarm in abnormal situations, thereby enhancing the stability of the equipment and user experience. In addition, this application achieves a significant improvement in detection accuracy without adding high-cost detection methods, meets the cost control requirements of small household appliances, and significantly improves the performance and market competitiveness of the product.

Claims

1. An ice-drop control method for an ice-making machine, characterized in that: include: The microcontroller controls the ice maker to start demoulding the ice cubes; The infrared sensor is used to detect the blocking of infrared light by ice cubes from the ice maker when they are demoulded and fall off, and a corresponding detection signal is generated; The detection signal is input into a comparator for comparison with a preset reference voltage, and the comparator outputs a comparison signal representing the comparison result; The microcontroller controls the demoulding process of the ice maker according to the comparison signal.

2. The ice-dropping control method for an ice-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detection signal is inputted into a comparator for comparison with a preset reference voltage, and before the comparator outputs a comparison signal representing the comparison result, the method includes: The comparator is configured by the microcontroller with a preset upper threshold and a lower threshold. The comparator is a hysteresis comparator. When the detection signal exceeds its upper threshold, it outputs a high-level comparison signal, and when the detection signal is lower than its lower threshold, it outputs a low-level comparison signal.

3. The ice-dropping control method for an ice-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the step of comparing the detection signal with a preset reference voltage input into a comparator, and having the comparator output a comparison signal representing the comparison result, the comparator includes a plurality of comparison units, and a microcontroller inputs the detection signal in parallel into a plurality of comparison units matching different reference voltages to obtain corresponding comparison signals respectively.

4. The ice-dropping control method for an ice-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before the step of comparing the detection signal with a preset reference voltage input comparator and having the comparator output a comparison signal representing the comparison result, the microcontroller sets a corresponding reference voltage for the comparator according to a preset ice cube volume type, wherein small ice cubes correspond to a high reference voltage and large ice cubes correspond to a low reference voltage, so that the voltage of the detection signal when the ice cubes block is always lower than the corresponding reference signal and triggers a low level signal.

5. The ice-dropping control method for an ice-making machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The supply voltage of the comparator is 5V, the high reference voltage corresponding to the small ice cube is 1.2V, and the low reference voltage corresponding to the large ice cube is 0.5V.

6. The ice-drop control method for an ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The microcontroller implements demoulding control on the ice maker according to the comparison signal, including: Determine whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal, count the fallen ice cubes, and obtain a counting result; Determine whether the counting result reaches a preset counting threshold value, and when the counting result reaches the preset counting threshold value, determine that the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a full basket state, and control the ice maker to stop demoulding; When the counting result does not reach the preset counting threshold, and the comparison signal is in a low level state and has lasted for a preset period of time, it is determined that the ice cubes in the ice basket are in a vertically stacked state, an alarm signal is output, and demoulding is suspended.

7. The ice-drop control method for an ice-making machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: Determining whether ice cubes have fallen according to the comparison signal comprises: Performing filtering on the comparison signal to remove noise interference; determining the pulse amplitude of the filtered high-level signal; When the pulse amplitude of the filtered comparison signal reaches the preset amplitude threshold, the counting result is not accumulated; otherwise, it is determined that ice cubes have fallen and the counting is performed.

8. An ice-drop control circuit for an ice-making machine, characterized in that: It includes: Infrared sensor, used to detect the blocking of infrared light when ice cubes are demoulded and fall, and generate corresponding detection signals; A comparator, whose input terminal is connected to the detection signal and a preset reference voltage, for comparing the detection signal with the reference voltage and outputting a comparison signal representing a comparison result; A microcontroller, used for controlling the ice maker to start demoulding of the ice cubes produced, and implementing demoulding control on the ice maker according to the comparison signal; The microcontroller is configured to drive and execute the steps of the ice-drop control method for an ice-making machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The ice-drop control circuit for an ice-making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The comparator is a hysteresis comparator, including a positive feedback network, and is used to set a preset upper threshold and a lower threshold; When the detection signal exceeds the upper threshold, a high level comparison signal is output; when the detection signal is lower than the lower threshold, a low level comparison signal is output.

10. The ice-drop control circuit for an ice-making machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The comparator is a multi-stage comparator, including a plurality of comparison units, each of which is provided with a different reference voltage, for performing graded detection on ice cubes of different sizes.

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