Refrigerator, method of detecting insufficient water in an ice-making water tank, and corresponding control method

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of refrigerators comprising ice-making systems with artificial water replenishment, and specifically discloses a method for detecting a water shortage in a water tank (11) of an ice-making system (1) of a refrigerator, the method comprising the steps of: S1) detecting a bin temperature at an ice bin (13) of the ice-making system (1) at least after a water inlet device (12) of the ice-making system (1) is turned on; and S2) judging, by means of a judging model, whether there is a water shortage in the water tank (11) based at least on the bin temperature. The present application also discloses a corresponding method for controlling an ice-making system of a refrigerator and a corresponding refrigerator. According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present application, a water shortage in the water tank can be detected reliably and efficiently, and the user has a good interaction. The ice-making system no longer needs a sensor for measuring the water level in the water tank, but instead utilizes a temperature sensor required for the ice-making function itself.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerators, including ice-making systems with artificial water replenishment, and more specifically to a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of an ice-making system of a refrigerator, a corresponding method for controlling the ice-making system of a refrigerator, and a corresponding refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, refrigerators have long been a common household item, and even refrigerators with ice-making functions are gradually becoming more widespread.

[0003] The refrigerator has an independent ice-making system. The ice maker is usually located in the upper part of the freezer compartment, suspended from the inner liner, while the ice storage tank is placed in a pull-out drawer. During ice making, water flows from a water tank into the ice tray and freezes. The frozen ice can then be transferred to the ice storage tank.

[0004] However, the water level in the tank is often low, and users may not receive timely reminders, resulting in the ice maker running empty. Current methods for monitoring the water level in the tank are relatively expensive.

[0005] Therefore, corresponding improvements are needed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to overcome one of the above-mentioned disadvantages and / or other possible disadvantages in the prior art not mentioned herein, the purpose of this application is to provide an improved method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of an ice-making system of a refrigerator, a corresponding method for controlling the ice-making system of a refrigerator, and a corresponding refrigerator.

[0007] According to a first aspect of this application, a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of an ice-making system of a refrigerator is provided, the method comprising the following steps: S1) detecting the ice tank temperature at the ice tank of the ice-making system at least after the water inlet device of the ice-making system is turned on; and S2) determining, by means of a judgment model, at least based on the ice tank temperature, whether there is insufficient water in the water tank.

[0008] According to an optional embodiment of this application, during the water intake phase of the ice-making cycle, the ice tank temperature at the ice tank of the ice-making system is detected.

[0009] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the judgment model includes a comparison condition, which determines whether there is insufficient water in the water tank by comparing the ice bath temperature or a derived parameter at least partially derived from the ice bath temperature with the comparison condition.

[0010] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the comparison conditions include at least one temperature threshold, and the comparison operation includes: comparing the ice bath temperature at a predetermined time with the corresponding temperature threshold.

[0011] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the comparison conditions include at least one temperature change condition, and the comparison operation includes: comparing a temperature change parameter that can characterize the temperature change characteristics of the ice bath with the corresponding temperature change condition.

[0012] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the comparison operation includes comparing the temperature of a first ice bath at a first predetermined time after the water inlet device is turned on with a first temperature threshold.

[0013] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the comparison operation includes: comparing a temperature change parameter characterizing the temperature amplitude change with a corresponding temperature change condition.

[0014] According to an optional embodiment of this application, a temperature change parameter characterizing the rate of temperature change is compared with the corresponding temperature change conditions.

[0015] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the temperature of the second ice tank at a second predetermined time earlier than the first predetermined time after the water inlet device is turned on is obtained, and the difference between the temperature of the first ice tank and the temperature of the second ice tank is compared with a corresponding temperature difference threshold; and / or the rate at which the temperature of the second ice tank changes to the temperature of the first ice tank is compared with a corresponding temperature change rate threshold.

[0016] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time differ by 1-10 minutes.

[0017] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the judgment model is determined at least in part based on historical data of the ice bath temperature under normal water volume conditions in the water tank.

[0018] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the judgment model is determined at least in part based on historical data of the ice bath temperature when the water volume in the water tank is insufficient.

[0019] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the judgment model is configured to be adjustable by the user, for example, by manually controlling the amount of water in the tank to train the judgment model.

[0020] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the judgment model is configured to be self-learning and updated.

[0021] According to an optional embodiment of this application, if the water level in the tank is insufficient in the first detection, the ice-making cycle is restarted to repeat the water intake stage, and the water level in the tank is checked again to determine whether the water level in the tank is insufficient. If the water level in the tank is checked again and it is determined that the water level in the tank is insufficient, then the water level in the tank is finally determined to be insufficient. Preferably, the second detection is different from the first detection.

[0022] According to a second aspect of this application, a method for controlling an ice-making system of a refrigerator is provided, the method comprising: determining whether there is insufficient water in the water tank of the ice-making system by means of a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of the ice-making system of the refrigerator according to any of the above embodiments; and taking corresponding intervention measures when there is insufficient water in the water tank.

[0023] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the intervention includes: ending the ongoing ice-making cycle to automatically stop the ice-making function; and / or issuing an indication that the water level in the water tank is low, particularly by generating a low water level indication on the refrigerator's display.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment of this application, if it is detected that a user may be filling the water tank, a signal is issued to allow execution of the method for controlling the ice-making system of a refrigerator according to any of the above embodiments.

[0025] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the ice-making function is kept off if no possibility of a user filling the water tank is detected.

[0026] According to an alternative embodiment of this application, the signal is emitted when the refrigerator door corresponding to the water tank is opened and then closed again.

[0027] According to an optional embodiment of this application, the signal is emitted through user interaction with the refrigerator's interface panel, such as canceling the low water level indicator and / or clicking the indicator to add water.

[0028] According to a third aspect of this application, a refrigerator is provided, comprising: a control unit configured to perform a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of the refrigerator's ice-making system according to any of the above embodiments, or a method for controlling the refrigerator's ice-making system according to any of the above embodiments.

[0029] According to certain exemplary embodiments of this application, insufficient water level in the tank can be detected reliably, efficiently, and with good user interaction. The ice-making system of this application also eliminates the need for a sensor to measure the water level in the tank, instead utilizing a temperature sensor required for the ice-making function itself for detection. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The principles, features, and advantages of this application will be better understood below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings include:

[0031] Figure 1 A flowchart is shown of a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of an ice-making system of a refrigerator, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an ice-making system according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown.

[0033] Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the temperature changes of the ice bath during the water intake phase under three conditions: sufficient water in the tank, insufficient water but with water, and no water. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial technical effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following will provide a more detailed description of this application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Various embodiments may share the same view for description, but not all features appearing in the same view should be interpreted as features that must be present in one embodiment. Instead, they can be combined in any suitable manner as long as they are not technically mutually exclusive. Moreover, for the sake of brevity, different embodiments of different aspects may be presented in the same specific design; however, such presentation does not mean that embodiments of these aspects should appear together. The disassembly and / or combination of all possible embodiments and / or technical features should also take into account the description in the specification and what a person skilled in the art can directly and unambiguously determine based on the description in the specification.

[0035] Figure 1 A flowchart is shown of a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of an ice-making system of a refrigerator, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an ice-making system according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown.

[0037] When describing the method of this application, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 2 This allows for a better understanding of the ice-making system.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the ice-making system 1 mainly includes: a water tank 11 for holding water used for ice making ( Figure 2The shaded area represents water; an ice tank 13 for making ice; a water inlet device 12 for supplying water from the water tank 11 to the ice tank 13, the water inlet device 12 can be an inlet valve and / or an inlet pump, theoretically the water supply to the ice tank 13 can be controlled by gravity in conjunction with the opening and closing of the inlet valve; a control unit 14 for controlling the operation of the ice making system 1; a temperature sensor 15 for detecting the temperature of the ice tank 13, through which the progress of ice making can be known; and an ice probe 16, the ice probe 16 can be driven by a motor to detect whether the ice storage box is full. When ice blocks the operation of the ice probe 16, it is considered that the ice storage box is full, the motor returns to the initial position, the ice blocks in the ice tank 13 are not harvested or fall, waiting for the next time to open the door to take ice, and the ice full is checked again. If it is not full, the motor rotates and flips the ice blocks down. After the ice tank 13 is horizontally reset, water is added again to make ice.

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, the method for detecting insufficient water level in the water tank 11 of the ice-making system 1 of a refrigerator includes the following steps:

[0040] S1) At least after the water inlet device 12 of the ice-making system 1 is turned on, detect the ice tank temperature at the ice tank 13 of the ice-making system 1; and

[0041] S2) Using a judgment model, at least based on the temperature of the ice tank, determine whether there is a shortage of water in the water tank 11.

[0042] It should be noted that the method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank 11 of the ice-making system 1 is not a fault diagnosis method, but rather an operation during the normal operation of the ice-making system 1. Insufficient water in the water tank 11 is a normal occurrence during the operation of the ice-making system 1. The water tank 11 of the ice-making system 1 of this application needs to be refilled by the user, therefore it is necessary to frequently check whether the water level in the water tank 11 is sufficient. This application provides a simple and cost-effective method. Furthermore, the ice-making system 1 of this application uses a water tank 11 refilling method, which simplifies pipe connections and reduces the likelihood of water supply system failures. This is the background for the proposed method in this application.

[0043] In addition, regarding the statement "at least after the water inlet device 12 of the ice-making system 1 is turned on", in terms of time, it means that in addition to detecting the ice tank temperature at the ice tank 13 of the ice-making system 1 after the water inlet device 12 of the ice-making system 1 is turned on, the ice tank temperature at the ice tank 13 of the ice-making system 1 may also be detected at other time points to assist or improve the reliability of detecting insufficient water in the water tank 11; in terms of operation, "turning on the water inlet device 12" means opening the channel for water to flow from the water tank 11 to the ice tank 13.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, during the water intake phase of the ice-making cycle, the ice tank temperature at the ice tank 13 of the ice-making system 1 is detected. The water intake phase begins when the water intake device 12 is turned on.

[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the judgment model includes comparison conditions, which involves a comparison operation that compares the ice bath temperature or a derived parameter at least partially derived from the ice bath temperature with the comparison conditions to determine whether there is a shortage of water in the water tank 11. Here, it can be understood that the ice bath temperature can be considered as an input parameter of the judgment model, and the output of the judgment model is information about whether there is a shortage of water in the water tank 11.

[0046] The judgment model can be a mathematical comparison, or it can be a model trained on big data, such as a neural network model. A detailed description will follow.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the comparison conditions include at least one temperature threshold, and the comparison operation includes comparing the ice bath temperature at a predetermined time with the corresponding temperature threshold. For example, the ice bath temperature can be obtained at a predetermined time after the water inlet device 12 is turned on, such as a few minutes after it is turned on, and then the ice bath temperature can be compared with the corresponding temperature threshold. In principle, this simple comparison alone can determine whether there is insufficient water in the water tank 11, because the ice bath temperature is different when there is no water and when there is water. The maximum value of the ice bath temperature within a predetermined time after the water inlet device 12 is turned on can be compared with the corresponding temperature threshold.

[0048] However, it should be noted that "insufficient water in tank 11" includes two situations: 1) tank 11 is empty when the water inlet device 12 is turned on; 2) tank 11 has water when the water inlet device 12 is turned on, but not enough for one normal ice-making cycle. In either case, it differs from the situation where there is sufficient water. However, if the predetermined time is not chosen appropriately, the method of the above embodiment may not accurately identify the latter situation. The predetermined time can be chosen as close as possible to the end of the water inlet stage, at which time a large amount of water flowing into the ice tank 13 can cause a more significant change in the ice tank temperature, while avoiding missing the latter situation.

[0049] As described above, regardless of the water shortage situation, the temperature change of the ice bath during the water intake phase differs from that when the water supply is sufficient. This is reflected in the temperature change characteristics of the ice bath over time. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the comparison condition includes at least one temperature change condition, and the comparison operation includes comparing a temperature change parameter characterizing the temperature change characteristics of the ice bath with the corresponding temperature change condition.

[0050] Figure 3 The changes in ice bath temperature during the water intake stage are shown very schematically in three (III) cases: sufficient water in tank 11 (I), insufficient water but with water (II), and no water. Figure 3 In this diagram, "t" represents time, solid arrows represent the time axis, "0" represents the starting point of the water intake phase, and dashed lines represent temperature changes. In case I, continuous water intake causes the ice bath temperature to rise continuously; in case II, the water in tank 11 has been completely drained at time t1, and the ice bath temperature subsequently decreases slowly; in case III, there is no water in tank 11, and the ice bath temperature remains unchanged. If the ice bath temperature at time t1 is compared with a corresponding threshold, case II may not be detected. Therefore, the ice bath temperature at the end of water intake or shortly after the end of water intake can be selected for judgment. To this end, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the comparison operation includes comparing the first ice bath temperature at a first predetermined time after the water intake device 12 is turned on with a first temperature threshold.

[0051] Of course, the temperature of the ice bath can be recorded at multiple moments during the water intake phase to observe the trend of temperature change and thus determine which situation it is.

[0052] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the comparison operation includes comparing a temperature change parameter characterizing the temperature amplitude change with a corresponding temperature change condition. If the ice bath temperature rises sufficiently (e.g., at the end of the water intake phase), it means the water intake is large enough, thus indicating sufficient water in water tank 11 (Case I). If the ice bath temperature rises, but then drops after reaching a certain level, it means there is water in water tank 11, but not enough (Case II). If the ice bath temperature does not change, it means there is no water in water tank 11.

[0053] As described above, the rate of change of the ice bath temperature is different for cases II and III than for case I. Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the comparison operation includes comparing a temperature change parameter characterizing the rate of temperature change with the corresponding temperature change conditions.

[0054] If the water inlet device 12 controls water intake solely through the opening and closing of the inlet valve, the rate at which water enters the ice bath 13 may vary depending on the water level in the water tank 11, and the rate of temperature change in the ice bath may also differ. In this case, the water level in the water tank 11 can even be indirectly determined by observing the rate of temperature change in the ice bath over a period of time. Of course, the rate and magnitude of temperature change can be considered together to improve the reliability of the determination.

[0055] Based on the above description, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the temperature of the second ice tank at a second predetermined time earlier than the first predetermined time after the water inlet device 12 is turned on is obtained, and the difference between the temperature of the first ice tank and the temperature of the second ice tank is compared with the corresponding temperature difference threshold and / or the rate of change of the temperature of the second ice tank to the temperature of the first ice tank is compared with the corresponding temperature change rate threshold.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time differ by 1-10 minutes. Those skilled in the art will understand that the specific time difference can be determined based on the operating characteristics of the specific ice-making system or other factors.

[0057] Different specifications of ice-making systems and refrigerators (even when the specifications of the ice-making systems are the same) will affect the temperature change characteristics of the ice tank during the water filling stage. Other factors, such as the initial temperature of the water added to the water tank 11 by the user, will also have some influence. Therefore, the judgment model is configured to be adjustable or set by the user, and in particular, it is also configured to self-learn and update relative to the initial settings (e.g., factory settings), especially to learn and update the ice tank temperature before and after the user's water filling operation.

[0058] In particular, the judgment model can be trained by allowing users to manually control the amount of water in the water tank 11 with the help of the refrigerator's control unit (e.g., through an interactive interface on the display panel).

[0059] Therefore, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the judgment model is determined at least in part based on historical data of the ice bath temperature under normal water levels in the water tank 11. For example, when insufficient water is detected in the water tank 11, the judgment model can learn from the ice bath temperature data of the previous one or several times when insufficient water was not detected, so as to maintain or improve the reliability of the judgment model. Of course, it can also learn from the ice bath temperature data of the time when insufficient water was not detected after the current detection (at which point the user may have added water to the water tank 11, which can be combined with the door opening and closing operation signal of the refrigerator corresponding to the water tank 11).

[0060] To further improve the reliability of the judgment model, according to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the judgment model is determined at least in part based on historical data of the ice bath temperature under conditions of insufficient water in the water tank 11. Learning from past successful judgments of ice bath temperatures under conditions of insufficient water can also improve the reliability of the judgment.

[0061] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, if it is determined that the water level in the water tank 11 is insufficient, the ice-making cycle is restarted to repeat the water intake stage to determine whether the water level in the water tank 11 is still insufficient. If it is determined again that the water level in the water tank 11 is insufficient, then it is finally determined that the water level in the water tank 11 is insufficient. This can improve the reliability of the determination.

[0062] The retest does not necessarily have to be exactly the same as the first test. For example, if the first test has already determined that the water level in tank 11 is insufficient, the retest can simply observe whether the ice bath temperature rises or changes for a period of time after the water inlet device 12 is restarted. Since the water level in tank 11 is different from the first test during the retest, the initial conditions of the ice bath temperature may also have changed. Therefore, the retest can be performed at a time interval from the first test, such as after completing one ice-making cycle (possibly empty ice making) before starting the retest, or the ice bath temperature at the time of the first test can be considered for the retest.

[0063] If the water tank 11 is found to be completely empty on the first test, a second test can begin immediately after the first test.

[0064] According to another exemplary embodiment of this application, a method for controlling an ice-making system 1 of a refrigerator is provided, the method comprising: determining whether there is insufficient water in the water tank 11 of the ice-making system 1 by means of any of the above exemplary embodiments; and taking corresponding intervention measures when there is insufficient water in the water tank 11.

[0065] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the intervention measures include: ending the ongoing ice-making cycle to automatically stop the ice-making function; and / or issuing an indication that the water level in the water tank 11 is low, particularly by generating a low water level indication on the refrigerator's display.

[0066] For example, a visual indication that the water level in the water tank 11 is low can be displayed on the refrigerator's display panel, or even an acoustic indication can be used.

[0067] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, upon detecting that a user may add water to the water tank 11, a signal is issued to allow execution of a method for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of a refrigerator's ice-making system, according to any of the above embodiments. "Allowing execution" does not mean that execution must be immediate but can be performed at an appropriate time.

[0068] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the ice-making function is kept off if no possibility of a user filling the water tank 11 is detected.

[0069] According to an exemplary embodiment of this application, the signal is emitted when the refrigerator door corresponding to the water tank 11 is opened and then closed again. For example, when the refrigerator door corresponding to the water tank 11 is opened, the door switch sensor generates a corresponding signal, and when it is closed again, a corresponding signal is also generated.

[0070] Users can also inform the ice-making system 1 that a water-adding operation has been performed or is about to be performed by interacting with the refrigerator's display panel (which can be the aforementioned display or a separate device) before and / or after each water-adding operation. This way, the ice-making system may not need to re-check whether the water tank 11 is low on water, and it can also learn from the ice bath temperature data of subsequent ice-making cycles, improving the reliability of the judgment model. Of course, the signal is also issued if the user, for example, cancels the low water level indication and / or clicks the water-adding instruction via touch.

[0071] According to another aspect of this application, a refrigerator is provided, including: a control unit 14, the control unit 14 being configured to perform a method according to any of the above embodiments for detecting insufficient water in the water tank of the refrigerator's ice-making system or a method according to any of the above embodiments for controlling the refrigerator's ice-making system.

[0072] Although specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this application, even when only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. The feature examples provided in this application are intended to be illustrative and not limiting, unless explicitly stated otherwise. In practice, multiple features can be combined with each other where technically feasible and according to actual needs. Various substitutions, modifications, and alterations are also conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for detecting insufficient water level in the water tank (11) of an ice-making system (1) of a refrigerator, the method comprising the following steps: S1) At least after the water inlet device (12) of the ice-making system (1) is turned on, detect the ice tank temperature at the ice tank (13) of the ice-making system (1); and S2) Using a judgment model, at least based on the temperature of the ice tank, determine whether there is a shortage of water in the water tank (11).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the water intake phase of the ice-making cycle, the ice tank temperature at the ice tank (13) of the ice-making system (1) is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The judgment model includes a comparison condition, which is a comparison operation that compares the ice tank temperature or a derived parameter at least partially derived from the ice tank temperature with the comparison condition to determine whether there is a shortage of water in the water tank (11).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The comparison conditions include at least one temperature threshold, and the comparison operation includes: comparing the ice bath temperature at a predetermined time with the corresponding temperature threshold; and / or The comparison conditions include at least one temperature change condition, and the comparison operation includes comparing a temperature change parameter that can characterize the temperature change characteristics of the ice bath with the corresponding temperature change condition.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The comparison operation includes comparing the temperature of the first ice tank at a first predetermined time after the water inlet device (12) is turned on with a first temperature threshold.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The comparison operation includes: Compare the temperature change parameters characterizing the temperature amplitude with the corresponding temperature change conditions; and / or The temperature change parameter characterizing the rate of temperature change is compared with the corresponding temperature change conditions.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The temperature of the second ice bath after the water inlet device (12) is turned on, which is earlier than the first predetermined time, is obtained, and Compare the temperature difference between the first ice bath and the second ice bath with a corresponding temperature difference threshold; and / or The rate at which the temperature of the second ice bath changes to the temperature of the first ice bath is compared with a corresponding temperature change rate threshold.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first predetermined time and the second predetermined time differ by 1-10 minutes.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The judgment model is determined at least in part based on historical data of the ice bath temperature under normal water volume conditions in the water tank (11); and / or The judgment model is determined at least in part based on historical data of the ice bath temperature under conditions of insufficient water in the water tank (11); and / or The judgment model is configured to be adjustable by the user, for example, by training the judgment model through manual control of the water volume in the water tank (11); and / or The judgment model is configured to be self-learning and updated.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, If the water level in the water tank (11) is insufficient in the first test, the ice-making cycle is restarted and the water intake stage is repeated to determine whether the water level in the water tank (11) is insufficient again. If the water level in the water tank (11) is insufficient in the second test, then the water level in the water tank (11) is finally determined to be insufficient. Preferably, the second test is different from the first test.

11. A method for controlling an ice-making system (1) of a refrigerator, the method comprising: The method according to any one of claims 1-10 is used to determine whether there is a shortage of water in the water tank (11) of the ice-making system (1); and If the water level in the tank (11) is insufficient, take appropriate intervention measures.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The intervention measures include: End the ongoing ice-making cycle to automatically stop the ice-making function; and / or It issues an indication that the water level in the water tank (11) is low, especially on the refrigerator's display.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, If it is detected that a user may fill the water tank (11) with water, a signal is issued to allow the execution of the method according to any one of claims 1-10; and / or The ice-making function remains disabled unless it is detected that the user may be filling the water tank (11) with water.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The signal is emitted when the refrigerator door corresponding to the water tank (11) is opened and then closed again; and / or The signal is emitted through user interaction with the refrigerator's control panel, such as canceling the low water level indicator and / or clicking the water-adding indicator.

15. A refrigerator, comprising: Control unit (14), the control unit (14) being configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-10 or the method according to any one of claims 11-14.

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