An ice-making control method, device, ice-making apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application disclose an ice making control method and device, an ice making equipment and a storage medium. The ice making container comprises a water grid, and the ice making detection module comprises a light emitter with adjustable emission angle, a light receiver and a probe. The light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the center line of the water grid. The probe is arranged at the bottom of the water grid and located on the side where the light receiver is located. The method comprises: in the case that the water in the water grid is in the ice forming stage, emitting a light beam through the light emitter, and adjusting the emission angle of the light beam until the light receiver receives reflected light; controlling the light emitter to be periodically turned on, and detecting the position of the refracted light spot through the probe in each opening period; determining whether the water grid has been completely iced according to the positions of the refracted light spots corresponding to at least two consecutive opening periods; and in the case that the water grid is completely iced, controlling the ice making container to perform a de-icing operation. The present application realizes accurate identification of the completely iced state and breaks through the physical limitations of temperature detection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ice-making control technology, and in particular to an ice-making control method, an ice-making control device, an ice-making equipment, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In refrigeration systems, accurately determining whether water has completely frozen is crucial for temperature control precision and system energy efficiency optimization. Traditional freezing detection methods rely heavily on temperature sensors, judging the freezing state by detecting whether the water temperature has dropped below 0°C. However, in actual operation, water is often in a supercooled state before freezing, or its temperature remains near 0°C during part of the freezing process. In such cases, relying solely on temperature thresholds is insufficient to accurately determine whether complete freezing has occurred. Lowering the judgment temperature further to below -2°C, while ensuring sufficient freezing, can easily lead to over-refrigeration, wasting cooling capacity and reducing ice-making efficiency per unit time.

[0003] Existing technologies identify icing states using physical parameters such as conductivity, dielectric constant, and ultrasonic propagation speed. However, these methods generally suffer from problems such as high susceptibility to water impurities, low detection sensitivity, or high system costs. In particular, they are difficult to achieve stable and reliable detection under complex conditions such as vibration, bubbles, and multi-layered structures. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, embodiments of the present invention are proposed to provide an ice-making control method, an ice-making control device, an ice-making equipment, and a computer-readable storage medium that overcome or at least partially solve the above problems.

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, a first aspect of this invention provides an ice-making control method applied to an ice-making device, the ice-making device comprising an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module; the ice-making container comprising a water grid, the ice-making detection module comprising an adjustable-angle light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe; the light emitter and the light receiver being symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid; the probe being disposed at the bottom of the water grid and located on the side where the light receiver is located; the method comprising: When the water in the water tank is in the freezing stage, a light beam is emitted through the light emitter, and the emission angle of the light beam is adjusted until the light receiver receives the reflected light; The light emitter is controlled to turn on periodically, and the position of the refracted light spot is detected by the probe during each turning cycle; Based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles, determine whether the water grid has completed freezing; Once the water grid has frozen, the ice-making container is controlled to perform a de-icing operation.

[0006] Optionally, the method further includes: During the process of filling the ice-making container with water, the light emitter is controlled to emit a light beam toward the water grid at a target emission angle; When the light receiver receives the reflected light, it determines that the liquid level in the ice-making container has reached the target liquid level and stops adding water to the ice-making container.

[0007] Optionally, the probe includes a temperature sensor; the method further includes: After the ice-making container is filled with water, the temperature of the water in the water compartment is monitored by the temperature sensor. When the temperature is detected to drop to the target temperature, it is determined that the water in the water tank is in the freezing stage.

[0008] Optionally, the ice-making detection module includes a micro-motion mechanism; adjusting the emission angle of the light beam until the receiver receives the reflected light includes: The micro-motion mechanism drives the light beam emitted by the light emitter to rotate and scan. When the light receiver receives the reflected light, the micro-motion mechanism is controlled to stop rotating and scanning.

[0009] Optionally, determining whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles includes: Determine the change in the position of the light spot in the current activation cycle and the position of the light spot in the previous activation cycle within at least two consecutive activation cycles. If the change is less than or equal to a preset change threshold, then the water grid is determined to have frozen completely.

[0010] Optionally, the ice-making container includes multiple water compartments; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the target water compartment; the probe is located at the bottom of the target water compartment; the target water compartment is the water compartment with the slowest freezing rate pre-determined from the multiple water compartments based on the air outlet temperature and air volume of the ice-making device.

[0011] Optionally, the ice-making equipment further includes a rotating mechanism connected to one end of the ice-making container; the step of controlling the ice-making container to perform a de-icing operation after the water grid has frozen includes: The ice-making container is de-iced by twisting the rotating mechanism.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ice-making control device is provided, applied to an ice-making apparatus, the ice-making apparatus including an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module; the ice-making container includes a water grid, the ice-making detection module includes an adjustable emission angle light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid; the probe is disposed at the bottom of the water grid and located on the side where the light receiver is located; the device includes: The emission angle adjustment module is used to emit a light beam through the light emitter when the water in the water grid is in the freezing stage, and to adjust the emission angle of the light beam until the light receiver receives the reflected light; The light emitter control module is used to control the light emitter to be turned on periodically, and to detect the position of the refracted light spot through the probe during each turning cycle. The freezing completion determination module is used to determine whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles. The de-icing operation execution module is used to control the ice-making container to perform a de-icing operation when the water grid has frozen.

[0013] Optionally, the device further includes: A beam control emission module is used to control the light emitter to emit a beam of light toward the water grid at a target emission angle during the process of filling the ice-making container with water; The water injection stop control module is used to determine that the liquid level in the ice-making container has reached the target liquid level when the light receiver receives the reflected light, and to stop injecting water into the ice-making container.

[0014] Optionally, the probe includes a temperature sensor; the device further includes: The water grid temperature monitoring module is used to monitor the temperature of the water in the water grid through the temperature sensor after the ice-making container is filled with water; The freezing stage determination module is used to determine that the water in the water cell is in the freezing stage when the temperature is detected to drop to the target temperature.

[0015] Optionally, the ice-making detection module includes a micro-motion mechanism; the emission angle adjustment module includes: A beam rotation scanning submodule is used to drive the beam emitted by the light emitter to rotate and scan via the micro-motion mechanism; The rotation scan stop submodule is used to control the micro-motion mechanism to stop the rotation scan when the light receiver receives reflected light.

[0016] Optionally, the icing completion determination module includes: The spot position determination submodule is used to determine the change in the spot position in the current activation cycle and the spot position in the previous activation cycle within at least two consecutive activation cycles. The freezing completion judgment submodule is used to determine that the water grid has frozen completely if the change amount is less than or equal to a preset change amount threshold.

[0017] Optionally, the ice-making container includes multiple water compartments; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the target water compartment; the probe is located at the bottom of the target water compartment; the target water compartment is the water compartment with the slowest freezing rate pre-determined from the multiple water compartments based on the air outlet temperature and air volume of the ice-making device.

[0018] Optionally, the ice-making equipment further includes a rotating mechanism connected to one end of the ice-making container; the de-icing operation execution module includes: The ice-making container twisting submodule is used to twist the ice-making container through the rotating mechanism to remove ice.

[0019] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an ice-making apparatus is provided, comprising: a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and capable of running on the processor, wherein the computer program, when executed by the processor, implements the steps of the ice-making control method as described in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0020] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the ice-making control method as described in any of the preceding embodiments.

[0021] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention may include the following beneficial effects: This invention discloses an ice-making control method, apparatus, ice-making equipment, and storage medium. The ice-making equipment includes an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module. The ice-making container includes a water grid, and the ice-making detection module includes an adjustable emission angle light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe. The light emitter and light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid. The probe is located at the bottom of the water grid and on the side where the light receiver is located. The method includes: when the water in the water grid is in the freezing stage, emitting a light beam through the light emitter and adjusting the emission angle of the light beam until the light receiver receives the reflected light; controlling the light emitter to periodically turn on, and detecting the position of the refracted light spot through the probe in each turning cycle; determining whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive turning cycles; and controlling the ice-making container to perform an ice removal operation when the water grid has completed freezing. By detecting the stability of the refracted light spot, rather than relying on the absolute temperature value, it is possible to accurately distinguish between supercooled liquid water and completely solidified ice, fundamentally avoiding misjudgment caused by supercooling. By periodically detecting the changing trend of the refracted light spot position, the light spot position no longer moves once the interior is completely solidified, achieving accurate identification of the fully frozen state and overcoming the physical limitations of temperature detection. Icing can be determined as soon as the medium is completely solidified, and de-icing can be performed, avoiding unnecessary continuous cooling, significantly improving ice-making efficiency per unit time, and achieving energy saving and consumption reduction. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the steps of an ice-making control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart of another ice-making control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of an ice-making control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of ice-making detection for an ice-making control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of an ice-making device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: Ice-making container 1, ice-making detection module 2, water grid 11, light emitter 21 with adjustable emission angle, light receiver 22, probe 23, micro-motion mechanism 24. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] Existing technologies identify icing states using physical parameters such as conductivity, dielectric constant, and ultrasonic propagation speed. However, these methods generally suffer from problems such as high susceptibility to water impurities, low detection sensitivity, or high system costs. In particular, they are difficult to achieve stable and reliable detection under complex conditions such as vibration, bubbles, and multi-layered structures.

[0026] One of the core concepts of this invention lies in its ability to accurately distinguish between supercooled liquid water and completely solidified ice by detecting the stability of the refracted light spot, rather than relying on the absolute temperature value, thus fundamentally avoiding misjudgments caused by supercooling. By periodically detecting the changing trend of the refracted light spot position, the spot position no longer moves once the interior is completely solidified, achieving accurate identification of the completely frozen state and overcoming the physical limitations of temperature detection. Ice formation can be determined and de-icing executed the moment the medium is completely solidified, avoiding unnecessary continuous cooling, significantly improving ice-making efficiency per unit time, and achieving energy saving and consumption reduction.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a flowchart of an ice-making control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention, applied to an ice-making device. The ice-making device includes an ice-making container 1 and an ice-making detection module 2. The ice-making container includes a water grid 11, and the ice-making detection module 2 includes an adjustable light emitter 21, a light receiver 22, and a probe 23. The light emitter 21 and the light receiver 22 are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid 11. The probe 23 is located at the bottom of the water grid 11 and on the same side as the light receiver 22. The method specifically includes the following steps: Step 101: When the water in the water grid 11 is in the freezing stage, a light beam is emitted through the light emitter 21, and the emission angle of the light beam is adjusted until the light receiver 22 receives the reflected light. The ice-making equipment of this invention mainly comprises two parts: an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module. The ice-making container is a container structure used to hold water for ice making and form ice blocks. It typically consists of multiple water-grid units, each used to form an independent ice block. The ice-making container is also equipped with a rotating mechanism, which, after freezing, twists the ice block to detach it from the water grid, completing the de-icing process. This ice-making equipment can be used in household appliances such as ice makers and refrigerators; however, this invention does not limit its application to these applications.

[0028] The ice-making detection module of this invention can be installed at the target water cell, or multiple ice-making detection modules can be installed at each or multiple water cells. Furthermore, the ice-making detection module of this invention can be connected to a moving component to move within the ice-making container to detect the ice-making status in each water cell; this embodiment of the invention does not limit the scope of the invention.

[0029] The ice-making detection module is the core detection component of this invention, consisting of three main elements: a light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe. The light emitter is an adjustable light source device, typically using a laser source as the light-emitting element, capable of emitting a monochromatic beam with good directionality and concentrated energy. The light emitter is mounted on a micro-motion mechanism, which can rotate and scan the light emitter within a certain angular range, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the emission angle. The light receiver is symmetrically arranged with the light emitter on both sides of the water grid unit, used to receive the reflected light signal generated by the light beam emitted by the light emitter on the water surface or ice layer surface. The light emitter and light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid. This symmetrical layout ensures that when the incident point of the light beam is exactly located on the centerline of the water grid, its reflected light can be accurately captured by the light receiver, providing a geometric basis for subsequent optical path calibration.

[0030] The probe is installed at the bottom of the water grid, located on the side where the light receiver is situated. The probe is an integrated sensor module, incorporating both a temperature sensor and a light sensor. The temperature sensor monitors temperature changes within the water grid, specifically determining whether the water has dropped to its freezing point and entered the freezing stage. The light sensor, typically a linear array sensor (such as a CCD array), accurately detects the point where incident light falls on the sensor surface, thereby identifying the specific coordinates of the refracted light spot. The probe is separated from the ice layer within the water grid by a transparent insulating diaphragm, preventing direct contact with the ice and avoiding disturbance to the freezing process while also preventing damage to the sensor from ice expansion.

[0031] The ice-making detection module is fixedly installed at a pre-determined target water grid. This target water grid is the water grid unit with the "slowest freezing rate" pre-determined based on the location of the air outlet, air temperature, and air volume parameters of the ice-making equipment, through temperature field simulation or experimental observation. Since the location with the worst air supply conditions is relatively fixed under the same structural design, the corresponding location of the water grid with the slowest freezing rate is also determined. This fixed-point monitoring strategy allows for the measurement of the freezing status of only one water grid to represent the freezing progress of the entire ice-making container, effectively reducing system costs while ensuring detection accuracy.

[0032] The entire ice-making detection module is electrically connected to the controller of the ice-making equipment. The controller receives signals from the light receiver and probe, and sends control commands to the micro-motion mechanism of the light transmitter, the water injection valve, and the rotation mechanism of the ice-making container. Through the coordinated operation of the above devices, a fully automated closed-loop control is achieved, from water injection control, determination of entering the freezing stage, dynamic calibration of the optical path, determination of freezing completion, to de-icing execution.

[0033] In this embodiment of the invention, emitting a light beam through a light emitter and adjusting the beam's emission angle constitutes dynamic optical path calibration. Its core purpose is to ensure that the incident point of the light beam at the ice interface remains on the center line of the water grid during subsequent detection, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy and repeatability of refracted light detection. When the ice-making process enters the freezing stage, the edges of the water grid begin to freeze, but the interior may still be in a state of liquid water or an ice-water mixture. At this time, the light emitter is restarted, and a micro-motion mechanism drives the light emitter to slowly rotate and scan from the initial angle, emitting a light beam into the medium within the water grid. As the incident angle changes, the position of the reflected light spot at the ice interface moves accordingly. When the incident angle of the beam is adjusted to a specific angle, its reflected light is precisely captured by a light receiver symmetrically positioned on the other side of the water grid. The micro-motion mechanism immediately stops rotating and locks the current emission angle. According to geometric optics, since the light emitter and light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the center line of the water grid, the incident point of the light beam at the ice interface is precisely on the center line of the water grid. This dynamic calibration mechanism effectively solves the problem of light incident point deviating from the center line due to the thickening of the ice layer, and establishes a stable optical path foundation for subsequent refractive spot detection.

[0034] The "icing stage" is pre-determined by a temperature sensor in the probe. After water injection is complete and cooling begins, the temperature sensor continuously monitors the water temperature in the water cell. When the water temperature drops to 0°C and remains at this temperature for a preset duration, it is determined that the water has entered the icing stage. The reason for choosing this moment for optical path calibration, rather than earlier or later, is that a stable ice layer has formed at the edge of the water cell, providing a reliable reflective interface for optical path alignment, while the interior is not yet fully solidified, making it the optimal window for initiating refracted light detection. Calibration enables adaptive optical path adjustment for different operating conditions and ice thicknesses, ensuring that the detection system remains in optimal working condition throughout the entire icing process.

[0035] Step 102: Control the light emitter 21 to turn on periodically, and detect the position of the refracted light spot through the probe during each turning cycle; In this embodiment of the invention, the core purpose of periodic refraction spot detection is to provide a data basis for subsequent icing completion determination by continuously monitoring the changing trend of the refracted light path. After completing the dynamic calibration of the optical path, the light emitter operates according to a preset periodic mode: it is turned on and continues for a first preset duration (e.g., 2 minutes) and then turned off, then turned on again after a second preset duration (e.g., 5 minutes) and continues for the same duration, and so on. During each on cycle, the light emitter continuously emits a light beam into the medium inside the water grid at a calibration-locked angle. The light beam is refracted after passing through the ice layer and the internal medium, and finally falls on the probe installed at the bottom of the water grid. The photosensitive sensor (such as a linear CCD array) integrated inside the probe continuously detects and records the landing position of the refracted light spot during each on cycle. This periodic detection mechanism is designed to take into account the physical characteristics of the icing process, which is a relatively slow process of ice layer thickening. Intermittent detection can capture the changing trend of the optical path while avoiding the increased energy consumption and light source lifespan loss caused by continuous detection.

[0036] The "periodic activation" utilizes the refracted light after it penetrates the medium to sense changes in the internal ice structure. When there is still liquid water inside the water cell, as freezing continues, the ice layer gradually thickens, and the interface between the ice and water constantly changes, causing a shift in the refracted light path. Consequently, the position of the light spot detected by the probe slowly moves accordingly. Once the water cell is completely frozen solid, the optical properties of the medium stabilize, the refracted light path no longer changes, and the light spot position also stabilizes. The probe continuously records the light spot position during each activation cycle, essentially capturing the "dynamic trajectory" of the light path changes during freezing. This data is used to determine whether freezing is complete by comparing the changes in the light spot position between adjacent cycles.

[0037] Step 103: Determine whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles; In this embodiment of the invention, the core logic for determining the completion of icing is "judging the stability of the medium state by the stability of the light spot position," rather than relying on any preset light intensity or absolute transmittance value. During periodic detection, the probe records the landing position of the refracted light spot in each opening cycle. When there is still liquid water inside the water grid, as icing continues, the ice layer gradually thickens, the interface position between ice and water changes continuously, and the refracted light path shifts continuously, resulting in significant differences in the light spot position between adjacent opening cycles. When the water grid is completely frozen into solid ice, the optical properties of the medium tend to stabilize, the ice layer no longer thickens, and the refracted light path becomes fixed. At this point, the light spot position between adjacent opening cycles tends to be consistent, with minimal change. By calculating the change in the light spot position between the current opening cycle and the previous opening cycle, and comparing this change with a preset threshold (e.g., pixel displacement corresponding to a 0.5° angular deviation), when the change is less than or equal to the preset threshold, it is determined that the water grid has completely frozen into solid ice.

[0038] Traditional methods rely on the absolute value of light transmittance to determine icing, but factors such as water quality differences, air bubbles in the water, and irregularities at the ice crystal growth interface can all cause light intensity attenuation or scattering, leading to misjudgments. In this invention, as long as the positions of adjacent light spots remain stable, icing can be determined to be complete regardless of whether the light intensity attenuates or the light spots become diffuse. Furthermore, during periodic detection, once the change in the position of adjacent light spots is detected to be less than a preset threshold for the first time, icing is immediately determined to be complete, without waiting for subsequent periodic verification. This design ensures that de-icing is triggered as soon as the medium is completely solidified, avoiding the waste of cooling capacity caused by over-cooling and improving ice-making efficiency.

[0039] Step 104: After the water grid has frozen, control the ice-making container 1 to perform a de-icing operation.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the de-icing operation is initiated immediately upon confirming that the water grid has completely frozen into solid ice. This avoids wasting cold energy due to over-cooling and ensures that the de-iced ice has a complete solid ice form. Once the freezing of the water grid is determined to be complete, a de-icing command is immediately sent to the rotating mechanism of the ice-making container. Upon receiving the command, the rotating mechanism applies a torsional force to the ice-making container, causing it to elastically deform and detach the solidified ice from the water grid, completing the de-icing process. Between the determination of freezing completion and the execution of the de-icing operation, the ice-making equipment continues to supply cold air to the ice-making container to maintain the freezing temperature of the water grid. This prevents the ice from melting due to brief warming and sticking to the water grid wall, ensuring smooth de-icing.

[0041] In traditional ice-making methods, the timing of de-icing is usually determined based on a fixed duration or temperature threshold, which can easily lead to premature de-icing (extracting the ice-water mixture) or premature de-icing (over-cooling). This invention, through optical detection, triggers de-icing at a precise moment when the medium is completely solidified, fundamentally ensuring the quality of the extracted ice cubes. The ice cubes contain no liquid water residue and retain their intact shape. Simultaneously, the precise timing of de-icing avoids unnecessary continuous cooling, effectively saving energy consumption in the refrigeration system and improving ice-making efficiency per unit time.

[0042] In addition, after the de-icing operation is completed, the embodiment of the present invention can also use the same optical module to perform residual detection: control the light emitter to emit a beam of light to the water grid again, and detect whether there is an abnormal refraction signal through the probe. If an abnormal signal is detected, it is determined that there is ice residue, and the de-icing operation can be repeated or a prompt can be issued, which further enhances the reliability and intelligence of the system.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 This diagram illustrates a flowchart of another ice-making control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention, applied to an ice-making device. The ice-making device includes an ice-making container 1 and an ice-making detection module 2. The ice-making container 1 includes a water grid 11, and the ice-making detection module 2 includes a light emitter 21 with an adjustable emission angle, a light receiver 22, and a probe 23. The light emitter 21 and the light receiver 22 are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid. The probe 23 is located at the bottom of the water grid 11 and on the same side as the light receiver 22. The probe 23 includes a temperature sensor. The method specifically includes the following steps: Step 201: During the process of filling the ice-making container 1 with water, the light emitter 21 is controlled to emit a light beam toward the water grid at the target emission angle; The process of filling the ice-making container with water is the first stage of ice making. Its core objective is to precisely control the amount of water injected into each water cell, ensuring that the liquid level in each cell is consistent, thus laying the foundation for accurate subsequent freezing detection. In this stage, a light emitter emits a beam of light towards the water surface in each cell at a pre-set target emission angle. This target emission angle is determined through geometric optics calculations based on the water level corresponding to the target water volume. As the water injection valve opens, water is gradually injected into the ice-making container, and the liquid level in each cell rises synchronously. When the water level reaches the target height, the reflected light from the beam is captured by a light receiver symmetrically positioned on the other side of each cell. Upon receiving the signal from the light receiver, the water injection valve is immediately closed, stopping the water injection.

[0044] The target emission angle used during the water filling stage is a fixed value uniquely determined based on the target liquid level height when water filling is completed. At this time, the liquid level is detected by the reflected light of the beam on the water surface. In addition, after water filling is completed, the water volume in each water cell of the ice-making container is completely consistent, and the liquid level height forms a definite geometric relationship with the installation position of the light emitter and light receiver. This provides a unified initial condition for the dynamic calibration of the optical path and the detection of the refracted light spot during the subsequent freezing process, ensuring the detection consistency and reliability of the entire ice-making control system.

[0045] In this embodiment of the invention, the core purpose of optical liquid level detection during the water injection process is to achieve precise closed-loop control of the water injection volume using the same optical detection module. This binds the water injection accuracy to the optical installation position, avoiding insufficient water injection or overflow caused by water pressure fluctuations. Before water is injected into the ice-making container, the light emitter is preset to a target emission angle. This target emission angle is not arbitrarily set, but is predetermined through geometric optics calculations based on the water surface height corresponding to the target water injection volume: only when the liquid level rises to this target height can the reflected light beam on the water surface be precisely captured by the light receiver symmetrically positioned on the other side of the water grid. After water injection begins, the light emitter continuously emits a light beam into the water surface within the water grid according to the target emission angle. As the water level gradually rises, the position of the reflected light spot on the water surface moves accordingly. The control system monitors the signal status of the light receiver in real time, waiting for the arrival of the reflected light signal.

[0046] Step 202: When the light receiver 22 receives the reflected light, it determines that the liquid level in the ice-making container 1 has reached the target liquid level and stops adding water to the ice-making container 1.

[0047] In this embodiment of the invention, water injection is stopped by triggering a water injection stop command via an optical signal during the water injection process, achieving precise closed-loop control of the water injection volume. When the light emitter continuously emits a light beam towards the water surface at the target emission angle, the water level gradually rises as water injection continues. According to the principles of geometric optics, when the water surface is low, the reflected light spot on the water surface deviates from the receiving range of the light receiver, and the light receiver outputs no signal. When the water surface rises to the target liquid level, the incident angle of the light beam and the reflection angle of the water surface satisfy a geometric relationship, and the reflected light falls precisely into the photosensitive area of ​​the light receiver, which then captures the reflected light signal for the first time. The output status of the light receiver is monitored in real time. Once the reflected light signal is received, it is immediately determined that the current liquid level has reached the preset target liquid level, and a shut-off command is sent to the water injection valve to stop water injection into the ice-making container. This mechanism transforms the control of the water injection volume into the detection of optical signals. As long as the target emission angle of the light emitter and the installation position of the light receiver are fixed, each water injection can be precisely stopped at the same liquid level, achieving high-precision repeatable control of the water injection volume.

[0048] During the water filling process, as the water level rises, the reflected light spot goes from nothing to something, and from off-center to aligned. Only when the water surface reaches the target height will the reflected light first fall into the receiving range of the optical receiver. If "continuous reception of reflected light" is used as the stopping condition, it will lead to overfilling of water, because once the water surface exceeds the target height, the reflected light spot will continue to move and may leave the receiving range, causing control chaos.

[0049] Step 203: After the ice-making container 1 is filled with water, the temperature of the water in the water compartment is monitored by the temperature sensor. In this embodiment of the invention, the core function of temperature monitoring is to continuously sense the water temperature changes within the water compartment after water injection, providing a basis for determining when the ice-making process enters the "freezing stage," thereby triggering subsequent precise optical detection procedures. After water injection is completed and stopped, the damper of the ice-making equipment opens, and cold air is supplied to the ice-making container for cooling. At this time, the temperature sensor inside the probe installed at the bottom of the water compartment begins to work, continuously monitoring the temperature changes of the water in the compartment. In the initial cooling phase, the water temperature gradually decreases from its initial temperature, and the temperature sensor outputs temperature data in real time. When the water temperature drops to 0°C, the water begins to undergo a phase change process, but at this point it may be in a supercooled state or an ice-water mixture state. Temperature alone is insufficient to accurately determine whether a stable freezing stage has been entered. It is not only about detecting whether the temperature has dropped to 0°C, but more importantly, about continuously monitoring the maintenance of the temperature near 0°C, providing data support for "determining whether the freezing stage has entered."

[0050] The temperature sensor and the photosensor used in subsequent optical detection are integrated into the same probe module. This integrated design allows temperature monitoring and optical detection to share the same installation location: the bottom of the water grid, located to the side of the light receiver. The bottom of the water grid is the most sensitive area to temperature changes during the freezing process, and it is also the final point where refracted light falls. Integrating the two sensors here allows for accurate sensing of water temperature changes and precise reception of refracted light spot signals, achieving spatial reuse and functional synergy. Before the temperature drops to 0℃, the water remains liquid. At this time, even if optical detection is performed, the refracted light path will not undergo meaningful regular changes with the freezing process. Only when the temperature drops to 0℃ and the freezing stage begins does the optical property of the medium begin to change regularly with the freezing process, at which point initiating optical detection becomes practically meaningful.

[0051] Step 204: When the temperature is detected to drop to the target temperature, it is determined that the water in the water cell 11 is in the freezing stage.

[0052] In this embodiment of the invention, based on temperature monitoring, a preset temperature threshold and maintenance conditions are used to accurately identify when the water in the water grid transitions from a liquid cooling stage to a stable freezing stage, thereby triggering subsequent dynamic optical path calibration and periodic refractive spot detection. While the temperature sensor continuously monitors water temperature changes, it compares the current temperature with the target temperature (usually set to 0°C) in real time. Because water experiences supercooling during freezing, the water temperature may briefly drop below 0°C but remain liquid, or it may maintain an ice-water mixture near 0°C for an extended period. Simply detecting a temperature drop to 0°C is not a reliable indicator of entering the freezing stage. Therefore, a more robust determination logic is adopted: the water in the grid is officially determined to be in the freezing stage only after the water temperature is detected to have dropped to 0°C and maintained for a preset duration. This preset duration effectively eliminates interference from supercooling, ensuring that a stable ice layer has formed at the edge of the water grid when the "freezing stage" is determined, providing a reliable reflective interface and refractive medium for subsequent optical detection.

[0053] In the initial cooling phase after water injection, the water is completely liquid. At this time, if optical detection is initiated, the refracted light path of the beam in the liquid water is relatively stable, making it impossible to capture the freezing process through changes in the light spot. Once the freezing phase begins, the ice layer at the edge of the water grid gradually expands towards the center, and the ice-water interface continuously moves. The refracted light path changes regularly accordingly, which is the basis for determining the completion of freezing by periodically detecting changes in the light spot position. Simultaneously, the temperature sensor is installed at the bottom of the water grid, located to the side of the light receiver, ensuring that the temperature detection point spatially coincides with the subsequent refracted light spot detection point. This guarantees the spatiotemporal consistency of temperature and optical data, providing a reliable physical basis for precise control of the ice-making process.

[0054] Step 205: When the water in the water grid 11 is in the freezing stage, a light beam is emitted through the light emitter 21, and the emission angle of the light beam is adjusted until the light receiver 22 receives the reflected light. In this embodiment of the invention, when the ice-making process enters the freezing stage, the edge of the water grid has begun to freeze, but the interior may still be in a state of liquid water or an ice-water mixture. At this time, the light emitter is restarted, and the micro-motion mechanism drives the light emitter to slowly rotate and scan from the initial angle, emitting a light beam into the medium inside the water grid. As the incident angle changes, the position of the reflected light spot at the ice layer interface moves accordingly. When the incident angle of the light beam is adjusted to a certain specific angle, its reflected light is exactly captured by the light receiver symmetrically arranged on the other side of the water grid, and the micro-motion mechanism immediately stops rotating and locks the current emission angle. According to the geometric optical relationship, since the light emitter and light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the center line of the water grid, the incident point of the light beam at the ice layer interface is exactly located on the center line of the water grid. This dynamic calibration mechanism effectively solves the problem of the light incident point deviating from the center line due to the thickening of the ice layer, and establishes a stable optical path foundation for subsequent refractive spot detection.

[0055] In some embodiments, the ice-making detection module 2 includes a micro-motion mechanism 24; step 205 may include the following sub-steps: Sub-step S11: The light beam emitted by the light emitter 21 is rotated and scanned by the micro-motion mechanism 24; In sub-step S12, when the light receiver 22 receives the reflected light, the micro-motion mechanism 24 is controlled to stop rotating and scanning.

[0056] In this embodiment of the invention, during the icing stage, a micro-motion mechanism drives the light emitter to actively scan until the optimal incident angle is found so that the reflected light can be captured by the light receiver, thereby ensuring that the incident point of the beam is always located on the center line of the water grid during subsequent detection. When it is determined that the water in the water grid has entered the icing stage, the position of the ice layer interface changes relative to the initial water surface because ice has already begun to form. If the target emission angle from the water filling stage is continued at this point, the incident point of the beam may deviate from the center line, causing the refracted light to be unable to be effectively received by the probe. Therefore, the optical path is recalibrated using a micro-motion mechanism to adapt to the change in the interface position after icing.

[0057] The micro-motion mechanism is a precision drive device mounted on the light emitter, capable of rotating and scanning the light emitter within a certain angular range. When the icing stage begins, a command is sent to the micro-motion mechanism, which then slowly rotates the light emitter from its initial angle, causing the light beam to illuminate the ice interface at a continuously varying incident angle. As the incident angle changes, the position of the reflected light spot on the ice interface moves accordingly. This scanning process covers a preset angular range, ensuring that regardless of the ice thickness, there is always an angle at which the reflected light falls into the receiving area of ​​the light receiver.

[0058] During the rotation and scanning process of the light emitter driven by the micro-motion mechanism, the light receiver continuously monitors whether reflected light signals enter its receiving range. When the light emitter rotates to a specific angle, the incident point of the light beam at the ice interface is exactly located on the center line of the water grid. At this point, according to the principle of geometric optics, the reflected light will propagate along a symmetrical path and be captured by the light receiver symmetrically positioned on the other side of the water grid. Once the light receiver detects the reflected light signal, it immediately sends a feedback signal to the control system. The control system then issues a stop command to the micro-motion mechanism, causing the light emitter to stop rotating and lock the current angle, ensuring that the incident point of the incident light beam at the ice interface is accurately calibrated to the center line of the water grid. As a position sensor, the action of the light receiver in capturing the reflected light signal directly determines the stopping position of the micro-motion mechanism. This allows the optical path calibration to dynamically adjust according to the actual interface position after icing, rather than relying on a preset fixed angle, demonstrating strong self-adaptive capabilities.

[0059] Step 206: Control the light emitter 21 to turn on periodically, and detect the position of the refracted light spot through the probe 23 during each turning cycle; In this embodiment of the invention, after completing the dynamic calibration of the optical path, the light emitter operates according to a preset periodic mode: it is turned on and continues for a first preset duration (e.g., 2 minutes) before being turned off, then turned on again after a second preset duration (e.g., 5 minutes) and continues for the same duration, and so on. During each on-cycle, the light emitter continuously emits a light beam into the medium within the water grid at a calibration-locked angle. The beam is refracted after passing through the ice layer and the internal medium, and finally falls onto a probe installed at the bottom of the water grid. An integrated optical sensor (such as a linear CCD array) continuously detects and records the landing position of the refracted light spot during each on-cycle. This periodic detection mechanism takes into account the physical characteristics of the icing process; ice thickening is a relatively slow process. Intermittent detection can capture the changing trend of the optical path while avoiding the increased energy consumption and lifespan loss of the light source caused by continuous detection.

[0060] Step 207: Determine whether the water grid 11 has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles; In this embodiment of the invention, during periodic detection, the probe records the landing position of the refracted light spot in each opening cycle. When there is still liquid water inside the water grid, as freezing continues, the ice layer gradually thickens, the interface position between ice and water changes continuously, and the refracted light path continuously shifts, resulting in significant differences in the light spot position between adjacent opening cycles. When the water grid is completely frozen into solid ice, the optical properties of the medium tend to stabilize, the ice layer no longer thickens, and the refracted light path becomes fixed. At this point, the light spot position between adjacent opening cycles tends to be consistent, with minimal variation. By calculating the change in the light spot position between the current opening cycle and the previous opening cycle, and comparing this change with a preset threshold (e.g., pixel displacement corresponding to a 0.5° angular deviation), when the change is less than or equal to the preset threshold, it is determined that the water grid has completely frozen into solid ice.

[0061] In some embodiments, step 207 may include the following sub-steps: Sub-step S21: Determine the change in the position of the light spot in the current activation cycle and the position of the light spot in the previous activation cycle within the at least two consecutive activation cycles. In sub-step S22, if the change is less than or equal to a preset change threshold, then it is determined that the water grid 11 has been frozen.

[0062] In this embodiment of the invention, the stability state of the medium inside the water grid is inferred by comparing the changes in the position of the refracted light spot within adjacent detection cycles, thereby accurately determining whether solid ice has completely formed. During periodic detection, the probe records the landing position of the refracted light spot in each activation cycle; this positional data reflects the propagation path of the light beam after passing through the medium. When there is still liquid water inside the water grid, as ice formation continues, the ice layer gradually thickens, and the interface position between the ice and water constantly changes, causing a continuous shift in the refracted light path. Therefore, there is a significant difference in the light spot position between adjacent activation cycles. When solid ice has completely formed inside the water grid, the optical properties of the medium tend to stabilize, the ice layer no longer thickens, and the refracted light path also becomes fixed. At this point, the light spot position between adjacent activation cycles tends to be consistent. By quantitatively calculating this positional difference and using a preset threshold as a criterion, accurate determination of the completion of ice formation is achieved.

[0063] During periodic detection, the probe continuously records the position of the refracted light spot in each activation cycle, forming a sequence of positional data. After completing one activation cycle, the control system extracts the positional feature values ​​of the light spot within that cycle (e.g., the coordinates of the center point of the light spot, the pixel unit number on which the light spot falls on the linear array, etc.) and compares them with the positional feature values ​​recorded in the previous activation cycle to calculate the change between the two. This change can be a displacement distance in pixels or an angular deviation value converted through geometric relationships. Because the light sensor used (such as a linear CCD array) can accurately sense the landing position of the light spot, the calculation accuracy of the change can reach the micrometer or sub-pixel level, providing a high-precision data foundation for subsequent stability assessment.

[0064] The calculated change is compared with a preset change threshold. This preset threshold is an empirical or experimentally calibrated value, such as the pixel displacement corresponding to a 0.5° angular deviation. If the change is less than or equal to the preset threshold, it indicates that the position of the refracted spot is basically consistent in two adjacent detection cycles, the refracted light path has stabilized, and it can be inferred that the medium inside the water grid has stopped changing, meaning the water has completely frozen into solid ice. If the change is greater than the preset threshold, it indicates that the refracted light path is still shifting, liquid water still exists inside the water grid, and freezing is not yet complete. Periodic detection needs to continue until the change meets the threshold condition.

[0065] The stability of the medium's state is determined by the stability of the light spot position, rather than relying on any preset absolute values ​​of light intensity or transmittance. Traditional methods rely on the absolute value of transmittance to determine icing, but factors such as differences in water quality, air bubbles in the water, and irregularities in the ice crystal growth interface can all cause light intensity attenuation or scattering, leading to misjudgments. In this embodiment of the invention, as long as the light spot positions of adjacent cycles are stable, icing can be determined to be complete regardless of whether the light intensity attenuates or the light spot becomes diffuse. This stability determination mechanism provides excellent anti-interference capabilities. Furthermore, during periodic detection, once the change in the light spot position of adjacent cycles is detected to be less than a preset threshold for the first time, icing is immediately determined to be complete, without waiting for subsequent cycle verification. This design ensures that de-icing is triggered as soon as the medium is completely solidified, avoiding the waste of cold energy caused by over-cooling and improving ice-making efficiency.

[0066] Step 208: After the water grid 11 has frozen, control the ice-making container 1 to perform a de-icing operation.

[0067] In this embodiment of the invention, the de-icing operation is initiated immediately upon confirming that the water grid has completely frozen into solid ice. This avoids wasting cold energy due to over-cooling and ensures that the de-iced ice has a complete solid ice form. Once the freezing of the water grid is determined to be complete, a de-icing command is immediately sent to the rotating mechanism of the ice-making container. Upon receiving the command, the rotating mechanism applies a torsional force to the ice-making container, causing it to elastically deform and detach the solidified ice from the water grid, completing the de-icing process. Between the determination of freezing completion and the execution of the de-icing operation, the ice-making equipment continues to supply cold air to the ice-making container to maintain the freezing temperature of the water grid. This prevents the ice from melting due to brief warming and sticking to the water grid wall, ensuring smooth de-icing.

[0068] In some embodiments, the ice-making device further includes a rotating mechanism connected to one end of the ice-making container; step 208 may include the following sub-steps: In sub-step S31, the ice-making container is twisted by the rotating mechanism to remove ice.

[0069] In this embodiment of the invention, once the water grid is determined to be frozen, the control system immediately sends a de-icing command to the rotating mechanism. The rotating mechanism is connected to one end of the ice-making container and is driven by a motor. The rotating mechanism can perform the de-icing action according to a preset twisting direction and angle. The motor receives the de-icing command and drives one end of the ice-making container to rotate. Because the other end of the ice-making container is limited, the entire ice-making container undergoes twisting deformation, causing the ice to separate from the water grid and fall into the ice storage box below. The motor reverses, and the ice-making container returns to its original shape, ready for the next ice making. Since the volume of the ice is slightly larger than that of liquid water, and the adhesion between the ice and the inner wall of the water grid is broken under the deformation, the ice detaches from the water grid and falls into the ice storage box or ice basket below, completing the de-icing process.

[0070] The rotating mechanism typically consists of a motor, transmission gears, and a torsion shaft, and is installed at one end of the ice-making container. Upon receiving a de-icing command, the motor starts, transmitting rotational torque to the torsion shaft via the transmission gears. The torsion shaft then rotates the ice-making container a specific angle (usually 90° to 180°) in a specific direction. During the torsion process, the ice-making container undergoes twisting deformation, changing the geometry of each water compartment. Gaps are created between the water compartment walls, which were originally in contact with the ice, and the ice naturally detaches under gravity. For ice-making containers made of flexible materials (such as silicone), the torsional deformation allows for complete separation of the water compartment walls from the ice, resulting in particularly effective de-icing. After de-icing is complete, the rotating mechanism rotates in the opposite direction, returning the ice-making container to a horizontal position, ready for the next ice-making cycle.

[0071] By combining optical and temperature detection, de-icing is triggered precisely at the moment the medium is completely solidified, fundamentally ensuring the quality of the de-iced ice. The ice contains no liquid water residue and retains its intact shape. Simultaneously, the precise timing of de-icing avoids the waste of cooling energy caused by over-cooling, minimizes the adhesion between the ice and the ice-making container, and reduces the de-icing resistance that the rotating mechanism needs to overcome, thus extending the service life of the rotating mechanism.

[0072] Reference Figure 3 The diagram shows a flowchart of an ice-making control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This demonstrates the complete process of an embodiment of the present invention. First, during the water filling stage, the light emitter is controlled to emit a light beam towards the water grid at a target emission angle. When the light receiver receives the reflected light from the water surface, the water filling is immediately stopped, and then the air damper is opened to supply air for cooling. Next, after the probe detects that the temperature has dropped to the target temperature and is maintained for a preset time, it is determined that the water has entered the freezing stage. At this time, the light emitter is turned on and the angle is adjusted by a micro-motion mechanism to scan until the light receiver receives the reflected light from the ice layer interface again, completing the dynamic calibration of the optical path. Then, the light emitter is controlled to periodically turn on at the calibrated angle. In each turning cycle, the position of the refracted light spot is detected by the probe and recorded. Finally, when the change in the position of the refracted light spot is less than or equal to a preset change threshold in at least two consecutive turning cycles, it is determined that solid ice has completely formed in the water grid, and the ice-making container performs a de-icing operation.

[0073] In some embodiments, the ice-making container 1 includes a plurality of water cells 11; the light emitter 21 and the light receiver 22 are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the target water cell 11; the probe 23 is disposed at the bottom of the target water cell 11; the target water cell 11 is the water cell 11 with the slowest freezing rate pre-determined from the plurality of water cells based on the air outlet temperature and air volume of the ice-making device.

[0074] In this embodiment of the invention, the ice-making container includes multiple water compartments for simultaneously forming multiple independent ice blocks. Since the ice-making container is typically placed inside a freezer room, it cools the ice-making area by supplying cold air through air vents. Factors such as the location of the air vents, the direction of airflow, and the air volume distribution cause differences in the amount of cold air received by different water compartments within the ice-making container. This uneven distribution of cold air results in varying cooling and freezing rates for each water compartment. Water compartments closer to the air vents and directly impacted by the cold air freeze faster, while those located in dead zones or at the end of the cold air flow path freeze more slowly. To ensure that all water in all compartments is completely frozen before de-icing, an ice-making detection module is fixedly installed at the water compartment with the slowest freezing rate. The freezing status of this water compartment represents the freezing progress of the entire ice-making container.

[0075] The target water grid is determined through pre-analysis of the air outlet parameters of the ice-making equipment. Specifically, during the design phase or pre-shipment calibration phase of the ice-making equipment, based on parameters such as the location of the air outlet, air direction, air temperature, and air volume distribution, the water grid unit with the slowest cooling rate and longest freezing time in the ice-making container is identified through temperature field simulation or experimental observation. For ice-making equipment of the same model and structure, since the location of the air outlet and the air duct structure are fixed, the cold energy distribution characteristics are relatively stable, so the location of the target water grid is definite and predictable. For example, when the air outlet is located above one side of the ice-making container, the water grid furthest from the air outlet usually freezes the slowest; when the air outlet is located above the center of the ice-making container, the water grids at the four corners usually freeze the slowest. After determining this location in advance through simulation or experimentation, the ice-making detection module is fixedly installed at the target water grid.

[0076] Once the slowest freezing water cell is completely frozen, all other faster freezing water cells must also be completely frozen. Therefore, detecting the state of only one water cell is sufficient to represent the freezing progress of the entire ice-making container, effectively reducing system cost and installation complexity while ensuring detection accuracy. The light emitter and receiver are symmetrically distributed along the centerline of the target water cell, with the probe positioned at the bottom of the target water cell and on the side where the light receiver is located. This targeted layout ensures that the optical detection system can perceive the freezing state of the water cell with optimal geometry, avoiding optical path deviation or signal attenuation problems caused by improper detection position selection.

[0077] Reference Figure 4 This diagram illustrates an ice-making detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention, based on ice-making control. Figure 4 The demonstrated ice-making detection module has a structural layout. The ice-making container includes multiple water compartments, with light emitters and receivers symmetrically arranged on both sides of the target water compartment. The light emitters are mounted on a micro-motion mechanism to adjust the beam emission angle, and the light receivers receive reflected light from the water surface or ice interface. A probe is mounted at the bottom of the water compartment, located to the side of the light receiver, and integrates a temperature sensor and a light sensor. During the water filling phase, the light emitter emits a beam towards the water surface at the target emission angle. When the water level rises to the optimal level, the reflected light is captured by the light receiver, and water filling stops. During the freezing phase, the micro-motion mechanism rotates the light emitter to scan until the light receiver receives reflected light from the ice interface again. At this point, the beam's incident point is on the center line of the water compartment, ensuring that the refracted light propagates vertically downwards to the probe. The probe determines the freezing state by detecting changes in the position of the refracted light spot. Once freezing is complete, the rotating mechanism twists the ice-making container to remove the ice.

[0078] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the method embodiments are described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of the present invention, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions involved are not necessarily essential to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0079] Reference Figure 5 This diagram illustrates a structural block diagram of an ice-making control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, applied to an ice-making equipment. The ice-making equipment includes an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module. The ice-making container includes a water grid, and the ice-making detection module includes a light emitter with an adjustable emission angle, a light receiver, and a probe. The light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid. The probe is located at the bottom of the water grid and on the side where the light receiver is located. The device specifically includes the following modules: The emission angle adjustment module 301 is used to emit a light beam through the light emitter when the water in the water grid is in the freezing stage, and adjust the emission angle of the light beam until the light receiver receives the reflected light. The light emitter control module 302 is used to control the light emitter to turn on periodically, and to detect the position of the refracted light spot through the probe during each turning-on cycle; The freezing completion determination module 303 is used to determine whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles. The de-icing operation execution module 304 is used to control the ice-making container to perform a de-icing operation when the water grid has frozen.

[0080] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes: A beam control emission module is used to control the light emitter to emit a beam of light toward the water grid at a target emission angle during the process of filling the ice-making container with water; The water injection stop control module is used to determine that the liquid level in the ice-making container has reached the target liquid level when the light receiver receives the reflected light, and to stop injecting water into the ice-making container.

[0081] In some embodiments, the probe includes a temperature sensor; the device further includes: The water grid temperature monitoring module is used to monitor the temperature of the water in the water grid through the temperature sensor after the ice-making container is filled with water; The freezing stage determination module is used to determine that the water in the water cell is in the freezing stage when the temperature is detected to drop to the target temperature.

[0082] In some embodiments, the ice-making detection module includes a micro-motion mechanism; the emission angle adjustment module 301 includes: A beam rotation scanning submodule is used to drive the beam emitted by the light emitter to rotate and scan via the micro-motion mechanism; The rotation scan stop submodule is used to control the micro-motion mechanism to stop the rotation scan when the light receiver receives reflected light.

[0083] In some embodiments, the icing completion determination module 303 includes: The spot position determination submodule is used to determine the change in the spot position in the current activation cycle and the spot position in the previous activation cycle within at least two consecutive activation cycles. The freezing completion judgment submodule is used to determine that the water grid has frozen completely if the change amount is less than or equal to a preset change amount threshold.

[0084] In some embodiments, the ice-making container includes multiple water cells; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the target water cell; the probe is located at the bottom of the target water cell; the target water cell is the water cell with the slowest freezing rate pre-determined from the multiple water cells based on the air outlet temperature and air volume of the ice-making device.

[0085] In some embodiments, the ice-making device further includes a rotating mechanism connected to one end of the ice-making container; the de-icing operation execution module 304 includes: The ice-making container twisting submodule is used to twist the ice-making container through the rotating mechanism to remove ice.

[0086] As the apparatus embodiment is basically similar to the method embodiment, it is described in a relatively simple manner. For relevant details, please refer to the description of the method embodiment.

[0087] This invention also provides an ice-making device, including: a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and capable of running on the processor. When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the various processes of the ice-making control method embodiments described above and achieves the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here.

[0088] The ice-making equipment of this invention mainly comprises two parts: an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module. The ice-making container refers to a container structure used to hold water for ice making and form ice blocks, typically composed of multiple water grid units, each used to form an independent ice block. The ice-making equipment includes an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module; the ice-making container includes water grids, and the ice-making detection module includes an adjustable light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grids; the probe is located at the bottom of the water grids and on the same side as the light receiver. This ice-making equipment can be used in household appliances such as ice makers and refrigerators, but this invention does not limit its application to these applications.

[0089] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the various processes of the ice-making control method embodiments described above and achieves the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here.

[0090] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0091] Furthermore, it should be noted that the scope of the methods and apparatus in the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed. It may also include performing functions substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order, depending on the functions involved. For example, the described methods may be performed in a different order than described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

[0092] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Of course, they can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk) and includes several instructions to cause a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, computer, server, air conditioner, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of this application.

[0093] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ice-making control method, applied to ice-making equipment, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment includes an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module; the ice-making container includes a water grid, and the ice-making detection module includes an adjustable-angle light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid; the probe is located at the bottom of the water grid and on the side where the light receiver is located; the method includes: When the water in the water tank is in the freezing stage, a light beam is emitted through the light emitter, and the emission angle of the light beam is adjusted until the light receiver receives the reflected light; The light emitter is controlled to turn on periodically, and the position of the refracted light spot is detected by the probe during each turning cycle; Based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles, determine whether the water grid has completed freezing; Once the water grid has frozen, the ice-making container is controlled to perform a de-icing operation.

2. The ice-making control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: During the process of filling the ice-making container with water, the light emitter is controlled to emit a light beam toward the water grid at a target emission angle; When the light receiver receives the reflected light, it determines that the liquid level in the ice-making container has reached the target liquid level and stops adding water to the ice-making container.

3. The ice-making control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The probe includes a temperature sensor; the method further includes: After the ice-making container is filled with water, the temperature of the water in the water compartment is monitored by the temperature sensor. When the temperature is detected to drop to the target temperature, it is determined that the water in the water tank is in the freezing stage.

4. The ice-making control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making detection module includes a micro-motion mechanism; adjusting the emission angle of the light beam until the receiver receives the reflected light includes: The micro-motion mechanism drives the light beam emitted by the light emitter to rotate and scan. When the light receiver receives the reflected light, the micro-motion mechanism is controlled to stop rotating and scanning.

5. The ice-making control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles includes: Determine the change in the position of the light spot in the current activation cycle and the position of the light spot in the previous activation cycle within at least two consecutive activation cycles. If the change is less than or equal to a preset change threshold, then the water grid is determined to have frozen completely.

6. The ice-making control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making container includes multiple water compartments; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the target water compartment; the probe is located at the bottom of the target water compartment; the target water compartment is the water compartment with the slowest freezing rate pre-determined from the multiple water compartments based on the air outlet temperature and air volume of the ice-making device.

7. The ice-making control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment further includes a rotating mechanism connected to one end of the ice-making container; the step of controlling the ice-making container to perform a de-icing operation after the water grid has frozen includes: The ice-making container is de-iced by twisting the rotating mechanism.

8. An ice-making control device, applied to ice-making equipment, characterized in that, The ice-making equipment includes an ice-making container and an ice-making detection module; the ice-making container includes a water grid, and the ice-making detection module includes an adjustable-angle light emitter, a light receiver, and a probe; the light emitter and the light receiver are symmetrically distributed based on the centerline of the water grid; the probe is located at the bottom of the water grid and on the side where the light receiver is located; the device includes: The emission angle adjustment module is used to emit a light beam through the light emitter when the water in the water grid is in the freezing stage, and to adjust the emission angle of the light beam until the light receiver receives the reflected light; The light emitter control module is used to control the light emitter to be turned on periodically, and to detect the position of the refracted light spot through the probe during each turning cycle. The freezing completion determination module is used to determine whether the water grid has completed freezing based on the position of the refracted light spot corresponding to at least two consecutive opening cycles. The de-icing operation execution module is used to control the ice-making container to perform a de-icing operation when the water grid has frozen.

9. An ice-making device, characterized in that, include: A processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the computer program, when executed by the processor, implements the steps of the ice-making control method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, A computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the ice-making control method as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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