Refrigerator

Abstract

This refrigerator may comprise: a main body having a storage compartment; an ice-making tray provided inside the storage compartment; a water supply device for supplying water to the ice-making tray; an ice-separating device for separating, from the ice-making tray, ice accommodated in the ice-making tray; a sensor provided in the storage compartment; and a controller which uses a measurement value detected by the sensor after a preset time following the water supply device completing a water supply operation, so as to determine whether water supply is low on the basis that the amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray is less than a preset amount or determines whether water supply is too great on the basis that the amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray is greater than the preset amount, and which controls, on the basis of satisfying whether water supply is low or too great, the ice-separating device such that a plurality of ice-separating operations are performed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator including an ice-making device.[Background Art]

[0002] A refrigerator is a device that includes a main body having a storage compartment, and includes a cold air supply system for supplying cold air to the storage compartment to keep food fresh. The storage compartment may include a refrigerated compartment, which is maintained at approximately 0 to 5 degrees Celsius to store food in a refrigerated state, and a frozen compartment, which is maintained at approximately 0 to minus 30 degrees Celsius to store food in a frozen state. Generally, a storage compartment is provided to be open at a front side for storing and taking out food, and the open front side of the storage compartment is opened and closed by a door.

[0003] A refrigerator repeats a cooling cycle in which a refrigerant is compressed, condensed, expanded, and evaporated by using a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator. In this case, both a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment may be cooled by a single evaporator provided to the freezing compartment side, or evaporators may be provided to each of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment to independently perform cooling.

[0004] A refrigerator may be provided with an ice-making device for producing ice. The ice-making device may automatically produce ice by including an ice-making tray where ice is formed, a rotation motor for separating ice from the ice-making tray, an ice bucket for storing ice discharged from the ice-making tray, and a controller for controlling the ice-making process.[Disclosure][Technical Problem]

[0005] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator and a control method of the refrigerator having an improved structure to repeat an ice-separating operation by determining whether the ice formed in the ice-making tray of the ice-making device is incompletely separated.

[0006] Technical problems to be solved by this document are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems, which are not described above, may be clearly understood from the following descriptions by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.[Technical Solution]

[0007] A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a main body including a storage compartment, an ice-making tray provided inside the storage compartment, a water supply device that supplies water to the ice-making tray, and an ice-separating device that separate ice accommodated in the ice-making tray from the ice-making tray. A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a sensor provided in the storage compartment, and a controller that determines whether there is low water supply based on an amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray being smaller than a preset amount according to a measurement value detected by the sensor after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device, or determines whether there is excessive water supply based on the amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray being greater than the preset amount, and controls the ice-separating device to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

[0008] In a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment, in which an ice-making tray, a water supply device, an ice-separating device that provides a driving force to rotate the ice-making tray, and a sensor are provided, the method includes: controlling the water supply device so that water is supplied to the ice-making tray; determining whether there is low water supply based on an amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray being smaller than a preset amount according to a measurement value detected by the sensor after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device, or determining whether there is excessive water supply based on the amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray being greater than the preset amount; and controlling the ice-separating device to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

[0009] A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a main body including storage compartment, an ice-making tray provided inside the storage compartment, a water supply device that supplies water to the ice-making tray, and a rotation motor that rotates the ice-making tray to separate ice accommodated in the ice-making tray from the ice-making tray. A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the ice-making tray, and a controller that controls the rotation motor to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device being lower than a preset temperature, or a time taken for the temperature of the ice-making tray to reach the preset temperature being smaller than a preset time.[Description of Drawings]

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a state in which an ice-making device and an ice bucket are withdrawn from the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exploded perspective view of an ice-making device of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-separating device when a water supply amount supplied to an ice-making tray, detected by a flow sensor, is determined to be a low water supply, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-separating device when a temperature of water supplied to an ice-making tray, detected by a temperature sensor, is lower than a reference temperature, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-separating device when a water supply amount supplied to an ice-making tray, detected by a flow sensor, is determined to be an excessive water supply, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-separating device when a temperature of water supplied to an ice-making tray, detected by a temperature sensor, is higher than a reference temperature, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-separating device when an elapsed time to reach a reference temperature within an ice-making cycle of the ice-making device is relatively long, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-separating device when a temperature of a freezing compartment is higher than a reference temperature, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-making device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes of the Invention]

[0011] Various embodiments of the disclosure and terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described herein to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of the corresponding embodiments.

[0012] In describing of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related elements.

[0013] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context.

[0014] In the disclosure, phrases, such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

[0015] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0016] Terms such as "1st", "2nd", "primary", or "secondary" may be used simply to distinguish an element from other elements, without limiting the element in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

[0017] Further, as used in the disclosure, the terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "side", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", and the like are defined with reference to the drawings, and are not intended to limit the shape and position of any element.

[0018] It will be understood that when the terms "includes", "comprises", "including", and / or "comprising" are used in the disclosure, they specify the presence of the specified features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

[0019] When a given element is referred to as being "connected to", "coupled to", "supported by" or "in contact with" another element, it is to be understood that it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element. When a given element is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element through a third element.

[0020] It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

[0021] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a main body.

[0022] The "main body" may include an inner case, an outer case positioned outside the inner case, and an insulation provided between the inner case and the outer case.

[0023] The "inner case" may include a case, a plate, a panel, or a liner forming a storage compartment (also referred to as a storage room). The inner case may be formed as one body, or may be formed by assembling a plurality of plates together. The "outer case" may form an appearance of the main body, and be coupled to an outer side of the inner case such that the insulation is positioned between the inner case and the outer case.

[0024] The "insulation" may insulate an inside of the storage compartment from an outside of the storage compartment to maintain inside temperature of the storage compartment at appropriate temperature without being influenced by an external environment of the storage compartment. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the insulation may include a foaming insulation. The foaming insulation may be molded by fixing the inner case and the outer case with jigs, etc. and then injecting and foaming urethane foam as a mixture of polyurethane and a foaming agent between the inner case and the outer case.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the insulation may include a vacuum insulation in addition to a foaming insulation, or may be configured only with a vacuum insulation instead of a forming insulation. The vacuum insulation may include a core material and a cladding material accommodating the core material and sealing the inside with vacuum or pressure close to vacuum. However, the insulation is not limited to the above-mentioned foaming insulation or vacuum insulation, and may include various materials capable of being used for insulation.

[0026] The "storage compartment" may include a space defined by the inner case. The storage compartment may further include the inner case defining the space corresponding to the storage compartment. The storage compartment may store a variety of items, such as food, medicines, cosmetics, and the like, and the storage compartment may be configured to be open on at least one side for insertion and removal of the items.

[0027] The refrigerator may include one or more storage compartments. In a case in which two or more storage compartments are formed in the refrigerator, the respective storage compartments may have different purposes of use, and may be maintained at different temperatures. To this end, the respective storage compartments may be partitioned by a partition wall including an insulation.

[0028] The storage compartment may be maintained within an appropriate temperature range according to a purpose of use, and may include a "refrigerating compartment", a "freezing compartment", and a "temperature conversion compartment" according to purposes of use and / or temperature ranges. The refrigerating compartment may be maintained at an appropriate temperature to keep food refrigerating, and the freezing compartment may be maintained at an appropriate temperature to keep food frozen. The "refrigerating" may be keeping food cold without freezing the food, and for example, the refrigerating compartment may be maintained within a range of 0 degrees Celsius to 7 degrees Celsius. The "freezing" may be freezing food or keeping food frozen, and for example, the freezing compartment may be maintained within a range of -20 degrees Celsius to -1 degrees Celsius. The temperature conversion compartment may be used as either a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment according to or regardless of a user's selection.

[0029] The storage compartment may also be referred to by various terms, such as "vegetable compartment", "freshness compartment", "cooling compartment", and "ice-making compartment", in addition to "refrigerating compartment", "freezing compartment", and "temperature conversion compartment", and the terms, such as "refrigerating compartment", "freezing compartment", "temperature conversion compartment", etc., as used below are to be understood as representing storage compartments having the corresponding purposes of use and the corresponding temperature ranges.

[0030] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include at least one door configured to open or close the open side of the storage compartment. The respective doors may be provided to open and close one or more storage compartments, or a single door may be provided to open and close a plurality of storage compartments. The door may be rotatably or slidably mounted to the front of the main body.

[0031] The "door" may seal the storage compartment in a closed state. The door, like the main body, may include an insulation to insulate the storage compartment in a closed state.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the door may include an outer door plate forming the front surface of the door, an inner door plate forming the rear surface of the door and facing the storage compartment, an upper cap, a lower cap, and a door insulation provided therein.

[0033] A gasket may be provided on the edge of the inner door plate to seal the storage compartment by coming into close contact with the front surface of the main body when the door is closed. The inner door plate may include a dyke that protrudes rearward to allow a door basket for storing items to be fitted.

[0034] According to an embodiment, the door may include a door body and a front panel that is detachably coupled to the front of the door body and forming the front surface of the door. The door body may include an outer door plate forming the front surface of the door body, an inner door plate forming the rear surface of the door body and facing the storage compartment, an upper cap, a lower cap, and a door insulator provided therein.

[0035] The refrigerator may be classified as French Door Type, Side-by-side Type, Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF), Top Mounted Freezer (TMF), or Single Door Refrigerator according to the arrangement of the doors and the storage compartments.

[0036] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a cold air supply device for supplying cold air to the storage compartment.

[0037] The "cold air supply device" may include a machine, an apparatus, an electronic device, and / or a combination system thereof, capable of generating cold air and guiding the cold air to cool the storage compartment.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cold air supply device may generate cold air through a cooling cycle including compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes of refrigerants. To this end, the cold air supply device may include a refrigeration cycle device having a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator to drive the refrigeration cycle. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cold air supply device may include a semiconductor, such as a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element may cool the storage compartment by heating and cooling actions through the Peltier effect.

[0039] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a machine compartment in which at least some components belonging to the cold air supply device are installed.

[0040] The "machine compartment" may be partitioned and insulated from the storage compartment to prevent heat generated by the components installed in the machine compartment from being transferred to the storage compartment. To dissipate heat from the components installed in the machine compartment, the machine compartment may communicate with outside of the main body.

[0041] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a dispenser provided on the door to provide water and / or ice. The dispenser may be provided on the door to allow access by the user without opening the door.

[0042] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include an ice-making device that produces ice. The ice-making device may include an ice-making tray that stores water, an ice-moving device that separates ice from the ice-making tray, and an ice-bucket that stores ice produced in the ice-making tray.

[0043] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a controller for controlling the refrigerator.

[0044] The "controller" may include a memory for storing and / or recording data and / or programs for controlling the refrigerator, and a processor for outputting control signals for controlling the cold air supply device, etc. in accordance with the programs and / or data stored in the memory.

[0045] The memory may store or record various information, data, instructions, programs, and the like necessary for operation of the refrigerator. The memory may store temporary data generated while generating control signals for controlling components included in the refrigerator. The memory may include at least one of a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof.

[0046] The processor may control the overall operation of the refrigerator. The processor may control the components of the refrigerator by executing programs stored in memory. The processor may include a separate neural processing unit (NPU) that performs an artificial intelligence (AI) model operation. In addition, the processor may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processor (GPU), and the like. The processor may generate a control signal to control the operation of the cold air supply device. For example, the processor may receive temperature information of the storage compartment from a temperature sensor and generate a cooling control signal to control an operation of the cold air supply device based on the temperature information of the storage compartment.

[0047] Furthermore, the processor may process a user input of a user interface and control an operation of the user interface in accordance with the programs and / or data memorized / stored in the memory. The user interface may be provided with an input interface and an output interface. The processor may receive the user input from the user interface. In addition, the processor may transmit a display control signal and image data for displaying an image on the user interface to the user interface in response to the user input.

[0048] The processor and memory may be provided integrally or may be provided separately. The processor may include one or more processors. For example, the processor may include a main processor and at least one sub-processor. The memory may include one or more memories.

[0049] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a processor and a memory for controlling all of the components included in the refrigerator, and may include a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories for individually controlling the components of the refrigerator. For example, the refrigerator may include a processor and a memory for controlling the operation of the cold air supply device in accordance with to an output of the temperature sensor. In addition, the refrigerator may be separately provided with a processor and a memory for controlling the operation of the user interface in accordance with the user input.

[0050] A communication module may communicate with external devices, such as servers, mobile devices, and other home appliances via a nearby access point (AP). The AP may connect a local area network (LAN) to which a refrigerator or a user device is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which a server is connected. The refrigerator or the user device may be connected to the server via the WAN.

[0051] The input interface may include keys, a touch screen, a microphone, and the like. The input interface may receive the user input and pass the received user input to the processor.

[0052] The output interface may include a display, a speaker, and the like. The output interface may output various notifications, messages, information, and the like generated by the processor.

[0053] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body 10, storage compartments 21 and 22 provided inside the main body 10, door 30 for opening and closing the storage compartments 21 and 22, and a cooling system for supplying cold air to the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0055] The main body 10 may include inner cases 11 and 12 forming the storage compartments 21, 22, and 23, an outer case 13 forming the exterior appearance of the refrigerator 1, and a main body insulation 14 provided between the inner cases 11 and 12 and the outer case 13.

[0056] The outer case 13 may be formed to have a shape of a box having a front surface that is substantially open. The outer case 13 may form an upper surface, a lower surface, left and right side surfaces, and a rear surface, etc. of the refrigerator 1.

[0057] The outer case 13 may be configured to include a metallic material. For example, the outer case 13 may be manufactured by processing a steel plate material.

[0058] The inner cases 11 and 12 may have a front surface that is open. The inner cases 11 and 12 may have the storage compartments 21 and 22 provided therein. The inner cases 11 and 12 may be provided inside the outer case 13. An inner wall of the inner cases 11 and 12 may form an inner wall of the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0059] The inner cases 11 and 12 may be configured to include a plastic material. For example, the inner cases 11 and 12 may be manufactured by a vacuum forming process. For example, the inner cases 11 and 12 may be manufactured by an injection molding process.

[0060] The main body insulation 14 may be provided so that the outer case 13 and the inner cases 11 and 12 are thermally insulated from each other. The main body insulation 14 may couple the inner cases 11 and 12 and the outer case 13 together by being foamed between the inner cases 11 and 12 and the outer case 13. The main body insulation 14 may prevent heat exchange from occurring between the inside of the storage compartments 21 and 22 and the outside of the main body 10, thereby improving cooling efficiency inside the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0061] As the main body insulation 14, urethane foam insulation, expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, vacuum insulation panel, or the like may be used. However, the main body insulation 14 is not limited thereto and may be configured to include various materials.

[0062] The storage compartments 21 and 22 may be formed inside the main body 10. For example, the storage compartments 21 and 22 may include a refrigerating compartment maintained at approximately 0 to 5 degrees Celsius to store food in a refrigerated state. For example, the storage compartments 21 and 22 may include a freezing compartment maintained at approximately minus 30 to 0 degrees Celsius to store food in a frozen state.

[0063] The storage compartment 21 and 22 may be provided with shelves 18 on which food can be placed, and drawers 19 in which food can be stored.

[0064] The main body 10 may include a first inner case 11 and a second inner case 12. The first inner case 11 may form a first storage compartment 21. The second inner case 12 may form a second storage compartment 22. For example, the first storage compartment 21 may be configured as a freezing compartment. For example, the second storage compartment 22 may be configured as a refrigerating compartment.

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a side-by-side type refrigerator, the first inner case 11 and the second inner case 12 may be disposed side by side in the left and right direction (Y direction) of the refrigerator 1. Likewise, the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 may be disposed side by side in the left and right direction of the refrigerator 1.

[0066] In FIG. 1, among the inner cases 11 and 12, the inner case disposed on the left side is a first inner case 11, the first storage compartment 21, which is a freezing compartment, is provided inside the first inner case 11, the inner case disposed on the right side among the inner cases 11 and 12 is the second inner case 12, and the second storage compartment 22, which is a refrigerating compartment, is provided inside the second inner case 12, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a freezing compartment may be provided inside the inner case disposed on the right side among the inner cases 11 and 12 of the refrigerator 1, and a refrigerating compartment may be provided inside the inner case provided on the left side. However, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, a description will be given based on the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0067] The main body 10 may include a partition 15 partitioning the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22. For example, the partition 15 may extend in a vertical direction (Z direction) and may partition the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 in a horizontal direction (Y direction).

[0068] The main body insulation 14 may be foamed inside the partition 15 to thermally insulate between the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22.

[0069] For example, the first inner case 11 and the second inner case 12 may be formed as separate configurations. The first inner case 11 and the second inner case 12 may be connected by the partition 15 and may be coupled to each other by the main body insulation 14. However, the first inner case 11 and the second inner case 12 are not limited thereto and may be integrally formed.

[0070] The refrigerator 1 may include a cooling system provided to generate cold air using a cooling cycle and to supply the generated cold air to the storage compartments 21 and 22. The cooling system may generate cold air by using a cooling cycle that compresses, condenses, expands, and evaporates a refrigerant. For example, the cooling system may include a compressor 73, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator 71, a blower fan 72, and the like. The cooling system may be a cooling device 70, which will be described below.

[0071] A cooling chamber 50 and a machine room 60 for disposing the cooling system may be provided in the main body 10. For example, in the cooling chamber 50, components such as an evaporator 71 that generates cold air and a blower fan 72 provided to allow the cold air generated by the evaporator 71 to flow may be provided. Components such as the compressor and the condenser may be provided in the machine room 60.

[0072] The cooling chamber 50 may be disposed at a rear side of the storage compartments 21 and 22. The machine room 60 may be disposed at a rear side of the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0073] Because cold air is generated by the evaporator 71 in the cooling chamber 50, the cooling chamber 50 may maintain a relatively low-temperature state. On the other hand, because heat is generated by the compressor 73 and the condenser, etc. in the machine room 60, the machine room 60 may maintain a relatively high-temperature state. Accordingly, the cooling chamber 50 and the machine room 60 may be formed in spaces separated from each other and may be thermally insulated from each other. For example, the main body insulation 14 may be foamed between the cooling chamber 50 and the machine room 60.

[0074] The main body 10 may include a cold air supply duct 16. The cold air supply duct 16 may form a flow path of cold air that is generated by the cooling system and flows to the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0075] The cold air supply duct 16 may be formed inside the inner cases 11 and 12. The cold air supply duct 16 may be formed at a rear portion of the inner cases 11 and 12. More specifically, the cold air supply duct 16 may be provided at a rear side of the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0076] For example, the cooling chamber 50 may be provided at a rear side of the first storage compartment 21. The cooling chamber 50 may be in communication with the first storage compartment 21 through the cold air supply duct 16. The cold air supply duct 16 may be provided at a rear side of the first storage compartment 21, and the cooling chamber 50 may be formed between the cold air supply duct 16 and an inner case rear wall 11c forming a rear wall of the first inner case 11. The first inner case 11 and the second inner case 12 may communicate with each other through a connection duct (not illustrated) coupled to the rear portion of the first inner case 11 and the rear portion of the second inner case 12, respectively.

[0077] In this case, cold air generated by a single evaporator 71 may flow into the first storage compartment 21 or the second storage compartment 22, respectively. The cold air generated by a single evaporator 71 may have a temperature within a predetermined range. Accordingly, in order to maintain different temperatures in each of the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22, the inflow amount of cold air into the first storage compartment 21 and the inflow amount of cold air into the second storage compartment 22 may be differently provided.

[0078] For example, the cold air supply duct 16 may be provided with a damper (not illustrated) provided to adjust the amount of cold air flowing into the second storage compartment 22 through the connection duct among the cold air generated from the cooling chamber 50. The damper may be provided to open and close a flow path of the cold air flowing toward the second storage compartment 22 through the connection duct from the cooling chamber 50. The first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 may respectively be provided with storage compartment temperature sensors 25 (see FIG. 6) for measuring the temperatures of the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22, and a controller 90 of the refrigerator 1 may receive output values of the temperature sensors and control opening and closing of the damper.

[0079] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and configurations for maintaining different temperatures in the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 may be variously provided. For example, two or more evaporators may be provided in the cooling chamber 50. At least one of the evaporators may be provided to generate cold air supplied to the first storage compartment 21, and at least another one of the evaporators may be provided to generate cold air supplied to the second storage compartment 22. Corresponding to each of the evaporators, two or more blower fans may be provided in the cooling chamber 50. Here, the evaporator and blower fan for supplying cold air to the first storage compartment 21, and the evaporator and blower fan for supplying cold air to the second storage compartment 22, may be disposed in spaces partitioned from each other within the cooling chamber 50, respectively.

[0080] The door 30 may be provided to open and close the storage compartments 21 and 22. The door 30 may be rotatably provided with respect to the main body 10. More specifically, the door 30 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10 by a hinge 40 connected to each of the door 30 and the main body 10. The hinge 40 may be coupled to the door 30 and the outer case 13, respectively.

[0081] The refrigerator 1 may include a plurality of doors 30 that respectively open and close the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22.

[0082] An outer surface of the door 30 may form a portion of an exterior appearance of the refrigerator 1. In a closed position of the door 30, the outer surface of the door 30 may form a front surface of the door 30.

[0083] In the closed position of the door 30, an inner surface of the door 30 may form a rear surface of the door 30. In the closed position of the door 30, the inner surface of the door 30 may be provided to face an interior of the main body 10. In the closed position of the door 30, the inner surface of the door 30 may be provided to cover a front portion of the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0084] A foaming space may be formed between the outer surface of the door 30 and the inner surface of the door 30, and a door insulation 31 may be foamed. The door insulation 31 may prevent heat exchange from occurring between the outer surface and the inner surface of the door 30. The door insulation 31 may improve the thermal insulation performance between an interior of the storage compartments 21 and 22 and an exterior of the door 30.

[0085] As the door insulation 31, urethane foam insulation, expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, vacuum insulation panel, or the like may be used. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the door insulation 31 may be configured to include various materials.

[0086] For example, the door insulation 31 may be composed of an insulation material of the same material as the main body insulation 14. Alternatively, for example, the door insulation 31 may be composed of an insulation material different from that of the main body insulation 14.

[0087] A door basket 32 for storing food may be provided at a rear surface of the door 30.

[0088] The refrigerator 1 may include an ice-making device 1000 that generates ice using cold air from the first storage compartment 21. The ice-making device 1000 may include ice-making units 1300 and 1400 (see FIG. 5) that generate ice, and a support case 1200 that supports the ice-making units 1300 and 1400.

[0089] The ice-making device 1000 may be provided in the first storage compartment 21 configured as a freezing compartment. The ice-making device 1000 may be mounted to the first inner case 11. The ice-making device 1000 may be supported by a first inner wall 11a and a second inner wall 11b, which will be described below.

[0090] The refrigerator 1 may further include a water supply pipe 80 provided to be supplied with water from an external water supply source (not illustrated). The water supply pipe 80 may be provided to supply water supplied from the external water supply source to the ice-making device 1000. The ice-making device 1000 may generate ice using the water supplied through the water supply pipe 80.

[0091] The water supply pipe 80 may be formed to have a shape of a substantially hollow pipe, and a water supply flow path through which water flows may be formed in the hollow portion of the water supply pipe 80.

[0092] The water supply pipe 80 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the ice-making units 1300 and 1400. For example, the ice-making unit 1300 and 1400 may include a first ice-making unit 1300 and a second ice-making unit 1400 (see FIG. 5), and the water supply pipe 80 may be provided in plurality to supply water to each of the first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400.

[0093] The water supply pipe 80 may be disposed to penetrate through the main body 10. The water supply pipe 80 may be disposed to penetrate through the outer case 13 and the first inner case 11. More specifically, the water supply pipe 80 may penetrate through a rear surface of the outer case 13 and the first inner case 11. Here, the rear surface of the inner case 11 may refer to the inner case rear wall 11c of the first inner case 11. In addition, the water supply pipe 80 may penetrate through the cold air supply duct 16.

[0094] The refrigerator 1 may include an ice bucket 100 provided to accommodate ice generated by the ice-making device 1000. The ice bucket 100 may be provided in the first storage compartment 21. The ice bucket 100 may be mounted to the first inner case 11.

[0095] The ice bucket 100 may be disposed below the ice-making device 1000. The ice bucket 100 may be provided to accommodate ice that is discharged from the ice-making units 1300 and 1400 and moves downward.

[0096] A detailed features of the ice-making device 1000 and the ice bucket 100 will be described below.

[0097] The above-described configuration of the refrigerator 1, described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, is merely an example for describing the refrigerator according to the spirit of the present disclosure, and the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The refrigerator according to the spirit of the present disclosure may be provided to include various configurations for performing a function of supplying cold air to a storage compartment for storing food.

[0098] Above, for convenience of explanation, a side-by-side type refrigerator 1, in which a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment are disposed left and right, has been described as one example of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the refrigerator according to the spirit of the present disclosure may include various types of refrigerators such as a French door type, a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type, a top mounted freezer (TMF) type, or a single-door type.

[0099] In addition, above, an indirect cooling type refrigerator 1 has been described as one example of the present disclosure, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may also be applied to a direct cooling type refrigerator.

[0100] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a state in which the ice-making device 1000 and the ice bucket 100 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are withdrawn.

[0101] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ice-making device 1000 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided in the first storage compartment 21. The ice-making device 1000 may be mounted to the first inner case 11. The ice-making device 1000 may be supported by an inner wall of the first inner case 11.

[0102] The inner wall of the first inner case 11 may include a first inner wall 11a, a second inner wall 11b facing the first inner wall 11a, an inner case rear wall 11c disposed between the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b, an upper wall, and a lower wall. For example, the first inner wall 11a may refer to an inner wall of the inner case 11 that is provided on the left side when viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1. The second inner wall 11b may refer to an inner wall of the inner case 11 that faces the first inner wall 11a and is provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1. The inner case rear wall 11c may be covered at the front side thereof by the cold air supply duct 16.

[0103] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first inner wall 11a may be disposed adjacent to the left outer surface of the outer case 13, and the second inner wall 11b may be disposed adjacent to the partition 15.

[0104] However, the terms "first inner wall" and "second inner wall" of the present disclosure are merely terms for defining the inner walls of the first inner case 11 that are disposed to face each other, and the definitions of the inner walls of the inner case are not limited by expressions such as "first" and "second." For example, the inner wall of the inner case 11 provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1 may be referred to as the first inner wall, and the inner wall of the inner case 11 provided on the left side when viewed from the front of the refrigerator 1 may be referred to as the second inner wall.

[0105] Hereinafter, the first inner wall 11a will be defined as the left inner wall in the Y direction of the first inner case 11 based on the drawings. In addition, the second inner wall 11b will be defined as the right inner wall in the Y direction of the first inner case 11 based on the drawings.

[0106] The ice-making device 1000 may be supported by the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b of the first inner case 11. The ice-making device 1000 may be disposed between the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b.

[0107] The ice-making device 1000 may include a support case 1200 that supports ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, which will be described below. The support case 1200 may support the ice-making units 1300 and 1400 (see FIG. 5).

[0108] The support case 1200 may be disposed in the first storage compartment 21. The support case 1200 may be mounted to the first inner case 11. The support case 1200 may be supported by the inner walls 11a and 11b of the first inner case 11.

[0109] The first inner case 11 may include a support portion 11s1 that is provided to support the support case 1200. The support portion 11s1 may be formed to protrude so as to support the support case 1200.

[0110] Specifically, the first inner wall 11a may include a first support portion 11s1 that is formed to protrude so as to support the support case 1200. The first support portion 11s1 may protrude toward an inner side of the first storage compartment 21. Based on the drawings, the first support portion 11s1 may have a shape protruding to the right side.

[0111] The second inner wall 11b may include a second support portion (not illustrated) that is formed to protrude so as to support the support case 1200. The second support portion may protrude toward an inner side of the first storage compartment 21. Based on the drawings, the second support portion may have a shape protruding to the left side.

[0112] The first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion may be disposed to face each other. The first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion may be provided at heights corresponding to each other in the Z direction. The first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion may be formed to have shapes corresponding to each other.

[0113] The support case 1200 may include an inner case mounting portion 1218 that is provided to be supported by the support portion 11s1. The inner case mounting portion 1218 may be seated on the support portion 11s1. The support portion 11s1 may support a lower side of the inner case mounting portion 1218.

[0114] For example, the support portion 11s1 may be provided to support an upper portion of the support case 1200. The inner case mounting portion 1218 may be provided on an upper portion of the support case 1200. Specifically, the inner case mounting portion 1218 may be provided on an upper portion of a case body 1210, which will be described below, of the support case 1200. In this case, the support case 1200 may be more stably supported compared to a case where a lower portion of the support case 1200 is supported by the support portion 11s1.

[0115] The support portion 11s1 may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a frontward and rearward direction (X direction) of the first inner case 11. Accordingly, the support case 1200 may be stably supported in an upward and downward direction (Z direction) of the first inner case 11 by the support portion 11s1.

[0116] For example, the support case 1200 may be mounted to the first inner case 11 by being slidingly moved from the front side to the rear side of the first inner case 11 along the support portion 11s1 extending substantially parallel to the frontward and rearward direction of the first inner case 11. In other words, in a stage of assembling the support case 1200 to the first inner case 11, the support case 1200 may be inserted in a sliding manner from the front side toward the rear side of the first inner case 11.

[0117] The support case 1200 may be guided in a mounting position on the first inner case 11, a mounting direction to the first inner case 11, and the like by the support portion 11s1 when mounted to the first inner case 11.

[0118] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a manner in which the support case 1200 is mounted to the first inner case 11 may be variously provided. For example, the support case 1200 may be moved in an upward and downward direction with respect to the first inner case 11 and mounted, and even in this case, the support portion 11s1 may still extend in a direction substantially parallel to a frontward and rearward direction of the first inner case 11.

[0119] The shapes of the first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion described above are merely examples of support portions of an inner case that are configured to support an ice-making device of a refrigerator according to the spirit of the present disclosure, and the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in the refrigerator according to an embodiment, a support portion of the inner case for supporting a support case of the ice-making device may be formed to have a shape recessed toward an outer side direction of the refrigerator from an inner wall of the inner case. In this case, the support case may be provided with a portion protruding toward the inner wall of the inner case, and the support case may be supported by the inner case as the protruding portion of the support case is inserted into the recessed-shaped support portion.

[0120] Hereinafter, a description will be given based on an embodiment in which the support portion 11s1 is formed to protrude so as to support the support case 1200 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0121] The support case 1200 may form at least a portion of an exterior appearance of the ice-making device 1000. Specifically, a front surface portion 1260 of the support case 1200 may form a front surface exterior appearance of the ice-making device 1000. For example, the front surface portion 1260 of the support case 1200 may be formed to have a width in the Y direction corresponding to a distance between the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b.

[0122] A detailed structure of the support case 1200 will be described below.

[0123] The ice-making device 1000 may include a case cover 1100 that covers one side of the support case 1200. For example, the case cover 1100 may be coupled to an upper portion of the support case 1200 and may cover an upper side of the support case 1200.

[0124] For example, the case cover 1100 may be detachably mounted to the support case 1200. Alternatively, for example, the case cover 1100 may be integrally formed with the support case 1200.

[0125] The case cover 1100 may form at least a portion of an exterior appearance of the ice-making device 1000. The case cover 1100 may form an upper surface of the ice-making device 1000.

[0126] The case cover 1100 may cover at least a portion of the water supply pipe 80. More specifically, the case cover 1100 may cover at least a portion of the water supply pipe 80 located inside the first storage compartment 21.

[0127] An ice bucket 100 may be provided in the first storage compartment 21. The ice bucket 100 may be mounted to the first inner case 11. More specifically, the ice bucket 100 may be supported by the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b of the first inner case 11.

[0128] The ice bucket 100 may be disposed below the ice-making device 1000. The ice bucket 100 may be provided to accommodate ice discharged from the ice-making units 1300 and 1400 and moved downward.

[0129] For example, the ice bucket 100 may include a first accommodation portion 110 for accommodating ice generated by the first ice-making unit 1300 (see FIG. 5) and a second accommodation portion 120 for accommodating ice generated by the second ice-making unit 1400 (see FIG. 5). The first accommodation portion 110 may be disposed below the first ice-making unit 1300. The second accommodation portion 120 may be disposed below the second ice-making unit 1400.

[0130] A bucket shelf 17 for supporting the ice bucket 100 may be provided in the first storage compartment 21. The ice bucket 100 may be seated on the bucket shelf 17. The bucket shelf 17 may be supported by the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b.

[0131] More specifically, the bucket shelf 17 may be supported by a bucket support portion 11s3. The bucket support portion may be formed on each of the first inner wall 11a and the second inner wall 11b.

[0132] The bucket support portion 11s3 may extend along a frontward and rearward direction of the first inner case 11.

[0133] For example, the ice bucket 100 may be provided to be insertable into or withdrawable from the first storage compartment 21. That is, the ice bucket 100 may be mounted to be slidably moved with respect to the first inner case 11. For example, the bucket shelf 17 may be provided to be slidably moved along the bucket support portion 11s3. The bucket shelf 17 may be inserted into or withdrawn with respect to the first storage compartment 21 along the bucket support portion 11s3, and the ice bucket 100 seated on the bucket shelf 17 may be inserted into or withdrawn with respect to the first storage compartment 21 together with the bucket shelf 17.

[0134] However, the ice bucket 100 described above is merely an example of a configuration for storing ice generated by the ice-making units in the refrigerator according to the spirit of the present disclosure, and the spirit of present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0135] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exploded perspective view of the ice-making device 1000 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0136] With reference to FIG. 5, the ice-making device 1000 of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the ice-making units 1300 and 1400. The ice-making units 1300 and 1400 may be supported by the support case 1200.

[0137] The first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400 may be disposed in an inner space of the support case 1200. The first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400 may be located below an upper surface of the support case 1200. The first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400 may be disposed in a space formed between a case wall 1210W and a rear wall of the case.

[0138] The first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400 may be disposed side by side. For example, the first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400 may be disposed side by side in a left and right direction (Y direction) of the refrigerator 1.

[0139] The support case 1200 may be formed to have a shape of a substantially box. The support case 1200 may be formed to have a shape of a box with at least one surface thereof opened. For example, the support case 1200 may have a shape with a lower side thereof opened in a direction toward the ice bucket 100 (see FIG. 4). For example, the support case 1200 may have a shape with a rear side thereof opened. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the support case 1200 may be formed to have various shapes.

[0140] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 5, a structure of the support case 1200 will be described in detail.

[0141] The support case 1200 may include a case body 1210. The case body 1210 may be supported by the first inner case 11.

[0142] The case body 1210 may be supported by the first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion. For example, the case body 1210 may be supported by the first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion through the inner case mounting portion 1218.

[0143] When the case body 1210 is supported by the first support portion 11s1 and the second support portion, the case body 1210 may maintain a substantially fixed position with respect to the first inner case 11.

[0144] The above-described case cover 1100 may be coupled to an upper portion of the case body 1210.

[0145] The case body 1210 may be provided to support the ice-making units 1300 and 1400. The case body 1210 may include an ice-making unit mounting portion (not illustrated) provided such that the first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400 are respectively mounted. The ice-making unit mounting portion may be formed inside the case body 1210.

[0146] For example, the ice-making unit mounting portion may be provided at an upper portion of the case body 1210. The ice-making unit mounting portion may be provided to support an upper portion of each of the first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400. However, a position of the ice-making unit mounting portion is not limited thereto.

[0147] The case body 1210 may include a tray partition (not illustrated) disposed between the first ice-making unit 1300 and the second ice-making unit 1400. The tray partition may be provided to distinguish accommodation spaces of the first ice-making tray 1310 and the second ice-making tray 1410. The tray partition may be disposed in an inner space of the support case 1200.

[0148] For example, the tray partition may extend downward from an upper surface of the case body 1210. A plurality of slits may be formed in the tray partition so as to enhance flowability of cold air inside the support case 1200.

[0149] The support case 1200 may include a water supply opening 1217 formed such that water is introduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through the water supply pipe 80.

[0150] The water supply opening 1217 may be provided at an upper portion of the case body 1210. The water supply opening 1217 may be formed on an upper surface of the case body 1210. The water supply opening 1217 may be formed to penetrate through the upper surface of the case body 1210 in an upward and downward direction (Z direction).

[0151] The water supply opening 1217 may be covered by the case cover 1100. The water supply opening 1217 may be located above the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0152] The water supply opening 1217 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410. For example, the water supply openings 1217 may be provided as a pair and may be respectively located above the first ice-making tray 1310 and the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0153] The water supply opening 1217 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the water supply pipes 80.

[0154] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and, for example, a plurality of the water supply pipes 80 may supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through a single water supply opening 1217.

[0155] The support case 1200 may include the case wall 1210W. The case wall 1210W may extend in a substantially upward and downward direction (Z direction) of the refrigerator 1. The case wall 1210W may form at least a portion of left and right outer walls of the support case 1200.

[0156] At least a portion of the case wall 1210W may be disposed to face the first inner wall 11a or the second inner wall 11b of the first inner case 11.

[0157] The left case wall 1210W of the support case 1200 may be disposed to face the first inner wall 11a. The left case wall 1210W of the support case 1200 may be formed substantially parallel to the first inner wall 11a.

[0158] The right case wall 1210W of the support case 1200 may be disposed to face the second inner wall 11b. The right case wall 1210W of the support case 1200 may be disposed substantially parallel to the second inner wall 11b.

[0159] The case wall 1210W may be connected to the case body 1210. Specifically, the case wall 1210W may be located below an upper surface of the case body 1210. The case wall 1210W may be located below the inner case mounting portion 1218 of the case body 1210.

[0160] The case wall 1210W may be located below the support portion 11s1 of the first inner case 11.

[0161] The rear wall that faces the case body 1210, the case wall 1210W, and the cold air supply duct 16 (see Fig. 2) may be formed integrally. Further, the support case 1200 may be formed as a whole integrally. For example, the support case 1200 may be integrally configured to include a plastic material.

[0162] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and some of the components of the support case 1200 described above may be formed as separate components from other components.

[0163] Hereinafter, the ice-making units 1300 and 1400 provided in the ice-making device 1000 will be described in detail. The ice-making units 1300 and 1400 provided in the ice-making device 1000 may be provided to generate various types of ice.

[0164] For example, the ice-making device 1000 may include a first ice-making unit 1300 for generating a first type of ice. For example, the ice-making device 1000 may include a second ice-making unit 1400 for generating a second type of ice.

[0165] The first type of ice generated by the first ice-making unit 1300 and the second type of ice generated by the second ice-making unit 1400 may be types of ice that are distinguished from each other in shape, size, and the like.

[0166] For example, the first type of ice may be ice having a substantially cube shape. For example, the second type of ice may have a substantially cube shape or a shape similar to the first type of ice, but may be formed to have a size different from that of the first type of ice. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first type of ice generated by the first ice-making unit 1300 may be smaller in size than the second type of ice generated by the second ice-making unit 1400.

[0167] However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and for example, the first type or the second type of ice may be ice having a substantially spherical shape. Alternatively, contrary to the above description, the ice-making device 1000 may be configured to generate only one type of ice.

[0168] Hereinafter, an example configuration of the first ice-making unit 1300 will be described in detail.

[0169] The first ice-making unit 1300 may include a first ice-making tray 1310 in which ice is generated. The first ice-making tray 1310 may be supplied with water from the water supply pipe 80.

[0170] The first ice-making tray 1310 may include at least one first ice-making cell 1311 that stores water supplied from the water supply pipe 80. The water stored in the first ice-making cell 1311 may undergo a state change into ice by cold air of the first storage compartment 21. When the first ice-making cell 1311 is provided in plurality as illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of first ice-making cells 1311 may be partitioned by partition walls.

[0171] The first ice-making tray 1310 and the first ice-making cell 1311 may have a shape that is open on one side thereof. When water is supplied to the first ice-making tray 1310 or while the water is being frozen, the opened one side of the first ice-making tray 1310 and the first ice-making cell 1311 may face substantially upward in the refrigerator 1. When the ice generated in the first ice-making tray 1310 is moved to the ice bucket 100, the opened one side of the first ice-making tray 1310 and the first ice-making cell 1311 may face substantially downward in the refrigerator 1.

[0172] The first ice-making tray 1310 may include a first rotation shaft 1313. The first rotation shaft 1313 may be formed to protrude from one side (for example, a rear side) of the first ice-making tray 1310 outward (for example, a rear side) of the first ice-making tray 1310.

[0173] The first ice-making unit 1300 may include a first driver 1320 for providing power to the first ice-making tray 1310 in an ice-separating operation for moving ice generated in the first ice-making tray 1310 to the first accommodation portion 110 of the ice bucket 100. For example, the first driver 1320 may be provided such that the first ice-making tray 1310 rotates about the first rotation shaft 1313 extending in the horizontal direction (for example, the X direction) of the refrigerator 1, thereby moving ice within the first ice-making tray 1310 to the first accommodation portion 110.

[0174] The first driver 1320 may be coupled to the first ice-making tray 1310. The first driver 1320 may be coupled to one side of the first ice-making tray 1310 in an extending direction of the first rotation shaft 1313. The first ice-making tray 1310 may include a first driver coupling portion 1312 to which the first driver 1320 is coupled. The first driver coupling portion 1312 may be provided on one side of the first ice-making tray 1310 facing the first driver 1320.

[0175] The first driver 1320 may include a first rotation motor 1321 (see FIG. 6), a first power transmission member 1322, a first case 1324, and the like.

[0176] The first rotation motor 1321 may generate power, and the first power transmission member 1322 may receive power from the first rotation motor 1321 and transmit the power to the first ice-making tray 1310. The first power transmission member 1322 may be connected to the first driver coupling portion 1312. The first power transmission member 1322 of the first driver 1320 may include, for example, at least one gear. The first power transmission member 1322 may include a first drive shaft 1323 that rotates the first ice-making tray 1310. The first drive shaft 1323 may be coupled to the first driver coupling portion 1312 so as to transmit rotational force to the first ice-making tray 1310 as the first rotation motor 1321 operates.

[0177] The first case 1324 may be formed by coupling a first front case 1324a and a first rear case 1324b so that an accommodation space is formed therein. However, the first case 1324 is not limited thereto, and may be formed integrally.

[0178] The first ice-making tray 1310 may be coupled to a shaft coupling hole (not illustrated) provided in a case rear wall of the support case 1200. The first rotation shaft 1313 of the first ice-making tray 1310 may be coupled to the shaft coupling hole. The first rotation shaft 1313 may be disposed to penetrate the shaft coupling hole. The shaft coupling hole may be disposed at a position opposite to the first driver coupling portion 1312 with respect to the first ice-making tray 1310. The shaft coupling hole may rotatably support the first ice-making tray 1310.

[0179] By the above configuration, the first ice-making tray 1310 may receive power from the first driver 1320 and may rotate about the first rotation shaft 1313 extending in the horizontal direction of the refrigerator 1. In the ice-separating operation of moving ice from the first ice-making unit 1300 to the ice bucket 100, ice generated in the first ice-making tray 1310 may be discharged from the first ice-making cell 1311 as the first ice-making tray 1310 rotates, and may be moved to the first accommodation portion 110 of the ice bucket 100.

[0180] The first ice-making unit 1300 may include a first ice-fullness detection lever 1330. The first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may be provided to detect whether ice is fully accumulated in the first accommodation portion 110 of the ice bucket 100 disposed below the ice-making device 1000.

[0181] The first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may be coupled to the first driver 1320. Specifically, the first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may be coupled to a side portion of the first driver 1320. The first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may include a first lever mounting portion 1331 that is coupled to a case of the first driver 1320.

[0182] The first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may be rotatably coupled to the first driver 1320. The first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may be provided to be rotatable about the first lever mounting portion 1331 as an axis. A rotation axis of the first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 may extend in a horizontal direction (for example, the Y direction).

[0183] When it is determined by the first ice-fullness detection lever 1330 that the first accommodation portion 110 is full of ice, the controller 90 (see FIG. 6) may control so that water is no longer supplied to the ice-making device 1000. Through this, it is possible to prevent excessive ice from being collected in the ice bucket 100.

[0184] The first ice-making unit 1300 may include a first temperature sensor 1340. The first temperature sensor 1340 may be mounted on a lower portion of the first ice-making tray 1310. The first temperature sensor 1340 may be a temperature sensor provided to detect a temperature of the first ice-making tray 1310.

[0185] When it is determined, based on an electrical signal output from the first temperature sensor 1340, that the temperature of the first ice-making tray 1310 is equal to or lower than a reference temperature, the controller 90 may determine that ice formation in the first ice-making tray 1310 has been completed. Based on the completion of ice formation in the first ice-making tray 1310, the controller 90 may control driving of the first driver 1320 so that the first ice-making tray 1310 rotates. Through this, ice generated in the first ice-making tray 1310 may be collected in the first accommodation portion 110 of the ice bucket 100 disposed below the first ice-making tray 1310.

[0186] The first ice-making unit 1300 may include a first insulation 1342. The first insulation 1342 may accommodate the first temperature sensor 1340.

[0187] The first ice-making unit 1300 may include a first sensor case 1343. The first sensor case 1343 may accommodate the first insulation 1342. The first temperature sensor 1340 may be connected to an electric wire through the first sensor case 1343, and may be supplied with power or transmit an electrical signal to the controller 90.

[0188] The second ice-making unit 1400 may have a structure similar to the first ice-making unit 1300. Hereinafter, an example of a configuration of the second ice-making unit 1400 will be described in detail.

[0189] The second ice-making unit 1400 may include a second ice-making tray 1410 in which ice is generated. The second ice-making tray 1410 may be supplied with water from the water supply pipe 80.

[0190] The second ice-making tray 1410 may include at least one second ice-making cell 1411 that stores water supplied from the water supply pipe 80. The water stored in the second ice-making cell 1411 may undergo a state change into ice by cold air of the first storage compartment 21. When the second ice-making cell 1411 is provided in plurality as illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of second ice-making cells 1411 may be partitioned by partition walls.

[0191] The second ice-making tray 1410 and the second ice-making cell 1411 may have a shape that is open on one side thereof. When water is supplied to the second ice-making tray 1410 or while water is being frozen, the opened one side of the second ice-making tray 1410 and the second ice-making cell 1411 may face substantially upward in the refrigerator 1. When the ice generated in the second ice-making tray 1410 is moved to the ice bucket 100, the opened one side of the second ice-making tray 1410 and the second ice-making cell 1411 may face substantially downward in the refrigerator 1.

[0192] The second ice-making tray 1410 may include a second rotation shaft 1413. The second rotation shaft 1413 may be formed to protrude from one side (for example, a rear side) of the second ice-making tray 1410 outward (for example, a rear side) of the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0193] The second ice-making unit 1400 may include a second driver 1420 for providing power to the second ice-making tray 1410 in an ice-separating operation for moving ice generated in the second ice-making tray 1410 to the second accommodation portion 120 of the ice bucket 100. For example, the second driver 1420 may be provided such that the second ice-making tray 1410 rotates about the second rotation shaft 1413 extending in the horizontal direction (for example, the X direction) of the refrigerator 1, thereby moving ice within the second ice-making tray 1410 to the second accommodation portion 120.

[0194] The second driver 1420 may be coupled to the second ice-making tray 1410. The second driver 1420 may be coupled to one side of the second ice-making tray 1410 in an extending direction of the second rotation shaft 1413. The second ice-making tray 1410 may include a second driver coupling portion 1412 to which the second driver 1420 is coupled. The second driver coupling portion 1412 may be provided on one side of the second ice-making tray 1410 facing the second driver 1420.

[0195] The second driver 1420 may include a second rotation motor 1421 (see FIG. 6), a second power transmission member 1422, a second case 1424, and the like.

[0196] The second rotation motor 1421 may generate power, and the second power transmission member 1422 may receive power from the second rotation motor 1421 and transmit the power to the second ice-making tray 1410. The second power transmission member 1422 may be connected to the second driver coupling portion 1412. The second power transmission member 1422 of the second driver 1420 may include, for example, at least one gear. The second power transmission member 1422 may include a second drive shaft 1423 that rotates the second ice-making tray 1410. The second drive shaft 1423 may be coupled to the second driver coupling portion 1412 so as to transmit rotational force to the second ice-making tray 1410 as the second rotation motor 1421 operates.

[0197] The second case 1424 may be formed by coupling a second front case 1424a and a second rear case 1424b so that an accommodation space is formed therein. However, the second case 1424 is not limited thereto, and may be formed integrally.

[0198] The second ice-making tray 1410 may be coupled to a shaft coupling hole (not illustrated) provided in a case rear wall 1240 of the support case 1200. The second rotation shaft 1413 of the second ice-making tray 1410 may be coupled to a shaft coupling hole (not illustrated). The second rotation shaft 1413 may be disposed to penetrate the shaft coupling hole (not illustrated). The shaft coupling hole (not illustrated) may be disposed at a position opposite to the second driver coupling portion 1412 with respect to the second ice-making tray 1410. The shaft coupling hole (not illustrated) may rotatably support the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0199] By the above configuration, the second ice-making tray 1410 may receive power from the second driver 1420 and may rotate about the second rotation shaft 1413 extending in the horizontal direction of the refrigerator 1. In the ice-separating operation of moving ice from the second ice-making unit 1400 to the ice bucket 100, ice generated in the second ice-making tray 1410 may be discharged from the second ice-making cell 1411 as the second ice-making tray 1410 rotates, and may be moved to the second accommodation portion 120 of the ice bucket 100.

[0200] The second ice-making unit 1400 may include a second ice-fullness detection lever 1430. The second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may be provided to detect whether ice is fully accumulated in the second accommodation portion 120 of the ice bucket 100 disposed below the ice-making device 1000.

[0201] The second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may be coupled to the second driver 1420. Specifically, the second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may be coupled to a side portion of the second driver 1420. The second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may include a second lever mounting portion 1431 that is coupled to a case of the second driver 1420.

[0202] The second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may be rotatably coupled to the second driver 1420. The second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may be provided to be rotatable about the second lever mounting portion 1431 as an axis. A rotation axis of the second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 may extend in a horizontal direction (for example, the Y direction).

[0203] When it is determined by the second ice-fullness detection lever 1430 that the second accommodation portion 120 is full of ice, the controller (not illustrated) may control so that water is no longer supplied to the ice-making device 1000. Through this, it is possible to prevent excessive ice from being collected in the ice bucket 100.

[0204] The second ice-making unit 1400 may include a second temperature sensor 1440. The second temperature sensor 1440 may be mounted on a lower portion of the second ice-making tray 1410. The second temperature sensor 1440 may be a temperature sensor provided to detect a temperature of the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0205] When it is determined, based on an electrical signal output from the second temperature sensor 1440, that the temperature of the second ice-making tray 1410 is equal to or lower than a reference temperature, the controller 90 may determine that ice formation in the second ice-making tray 1410 has been completed. Based on the completion of ice formation in the second ice-making tray 1410, the controller 90 may control driving of the second driver 1420 so that the second ice-making tray 1410 rotates. Through this, ice generated in the second ice-making tray 1410 may be collected in the second accommodation portion 120 of the ice bucket 100 disposed below the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0206] The second ice-making unit 1400 may include a second insulation 1442. The second insulation 1442 may accommodate the second temperature sensor 1440.

[0207] The second ice-making unit 1400 may include a second sensor case 1443. The second sensor case 1443 may accommodate the second insulation 1442. The second temperature sensor 1440 may be connected to an electric wire through the second sensor case 1443, and may be supplied with power or transmit an electrical signal to the controller 90.

[0208] However, the configuration of the ice-making units 1300 and 1400 described above is merely one example of the ice-making units for generating ice in the refrigerator according to the spirit of the present disclosure, and the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0209] Hereinafter, ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 will be described. The ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 may be rotation motors 1321 and 1421. When the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are at positions for ice-making, the temperature sensors 1340 and 1440 measure the temperatures of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 and transmit the measured temperatures to the controller 90, and the controller 90 determines whether ice formation has been completed.

[0210] When it is determined that ice formation has been completed, the rotation motors 1321 and 1421 operate to rotate the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to positions for ice-separating. When the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 rotate for ice-separating, the temperature sensors 1340 and 1440 rotate together therewith. When the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are at positions for ice-separating, the rotation shafts 1313 and 1413 are restricted in rotation by shaft coupling portions (not illustrated) adjacent to the shaft coupling holes, and the driver coupling portions 1312 and 1412 continue to rotate by the drive shafts 1323 and 1423, so that the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are twisted. By such operation, ice in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is dropped into the ice bucket 100.

[0211] When the ice-separating operations of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are completed, the rotation motors 1321 and 1421 rotate the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 back to the ice-making positions. Accordingly, the temperature sensors 1340 and 1440 fixed to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are also rotated back to the original positions.

[0212] As described above, the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be rotated to be twisted in one direction by the temperature sensors 1340 and 1440. However, when ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is incompletely formed, the ice may not be easily separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by a single ice-separating operation. Hereinafter, conditions under which ice is incompletely formed and a plurality of ice-separating operations according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for solving such a problem will be described in detail.

[0213] FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0214] With reference to FIG. 6, the refrigerator 1 may include the components described above and a controller 90 for controlling the components described above.

[0215] The refrigerator 1 may include a water supply device 82, a cooling device 70, an ice-making device 1000, a storage compartment temperature sensor 25, an ice-making temperature sensor 1040, a flow sensor 85, an ice-fullness detection sensor 1035, and a controller 90.

[0216] According to various embodiments, a user interface portion (not illustrated) may be implemented as a control panel, and may include an inputter for receiving user inputs and a display portion for displaying information related to operations of the refrigerator 1.

[0217] The inputter may include various input devices such as a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch screen, or a button.

[0218] The display portion may be implemented with various types of displays, which are previously known, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), or a cathode ray tube (CRT), but is not limited thereto, and any device capable of visually displaying various types of information related to the refrigerator 1 and capable of displaying a user interface capable of receiving various control commands from a user may be employed without limitation as the display portion.

[0219] According to an embodiment, the refrigerator 1 may not only provide various types of information to a user but also display, on the display portion, a user interface implemented to receive, as input, various control commands related to the refrigerator 1 from the user.

[0220] The storage compartment temperature sensor 25 may be provided in the storage compartments 21 and 22, and may include a freezing temperature sensor 27 located in the first storage compartment 21 inside the main body 10 and a refrigeration temperature sensor 26 located in the second storage compartment 22 inside the main body 10.

[0221] The ice-making temperature sensor 1040 may be provided to detect the temperatures of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410. The ice-making temperature sensor 1040 may include a first temperature sensor 1340 that is attached to a lower surface of the first ice-making tray 1310 and detects the temperature of the first ice-making tray 1310, and a second temperature sensor 1440 that is attached to a lower surface of the second ice-making tray 1410 and detects the temperature of the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0222] The flow sensor 85 may detect a flow rate of water flowing through the water supply pipe 80 (see FIG. 4) provided to supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 for a predetermined period of time after an ice-making operation starts. The flow sensor 85 may include a first flow sensor 86 that detects a flow rate of water supplied to the first ice-making tray 1310 and a second flow sensor 87 that detects a flow rate of water supplied to the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0223] More specifically, the flow sensor 85 may detect amounts of water supplied to the first ice-making tray 1310 and the second ice-making tray 1410, respectively, during a preset water supply time during a water supply operation of the water supply device 82.

[0224] The ice-fullness detection sensor 1035 may detect whether ice has filled up in the ice bucket 100 that accommodates ice generated by the ice-making device 1000. The first ice-fullness detection sensor 1335 may be coupled to the first ice-making tray 1310 to detect whether ice has filled up in the first accommodation portion 110, and the second ice-fullness detection sensor 1435 may be coupled to the second ice-making tray 1410 to detect whether ice has filled up in the second accommodation portion 120 located below the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0225] The water supply device 82 may supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 of the ice-making device 1000. The supplying of water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may include supplying water to the ice-making cells 1311 and 1411 formed where the first ice-making tray 1310 and the second ice-making tray 1410 come into contact.

[0226] The water supply device 82 may include a water supply valve 81 that opens and closes a water supply flow path formed by the water supply pipe 80.

[0227] The cooling device 70 may include a compressor 73 (see FIG. 2), a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator 71. The controller 90 may control the temperature of the storage compartments 21 and 22 by controlling the compressor of the cooling device 70.

[0228] In an embodiment, the cooling device 70 may supply cold air to the first storage compartment 21, and as a result, may supply cold air to the ice-making device 1000 provided in the first storage compartment 21.

[0229] In various embodiments, the cooling device 70 may directly deliver cold air to the ice-making device 1000. To this end, the cooling device 70 may be provided inside the ice-making device 1000.

[0230] The ice-making device 1000 may perform an ice-separating operation of separating ice formed inside the first ice-making cell 1311 and the second ice-making cell 1411 from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410. That is, the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 may separate the ice accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0231] The ice-making device 1000 may include a first rotation motor 1321 of the first driver 1320 provided to rotate the first ice-making tray 1310 to separate ice accommodated in the first ice-making tray 1310 from the first ice-making tray 1310, and a second rotation motor 1421 of the second driver 1420 provided to rotate the second ice-making tray 1410 to separate ice formed and stored by the second ice-making tray 1410 from the second ice-making tray 1410.

[0232] The controller 90 may include a processor 91 that generates control signals related to the operation of the refrigerator 1, and a memory 92 that stores programs, applications, instructions, and / or data for operating the refrigerator 1. The processor 91 and the memory 92 may be implemented as separate semiconductor devices or may be implemented as a single semiconductor device. In addition, the controller 90 may include a plurality of processors 91 or a plurality of memories 92. The controller 90 may be provided at various positions inside the refrigerator 1. For example, the controller 90 may be included in a printed circuit board provided inside the control panel.

[0233] The processor 91 may include an arithmetic circuit, a memory circuit, and a control circuit. The processor 91 may include one chip or a plurality of chips. In addition, the processor 91 may include one core or a plurality of cores.

[0234] The memory 92 may store a program for performing a water supply operation and an ice-making cycle, and data necessary for performing the water supply operation and the ice-making cycle.

[0235] The memory 92 may include a volatile memory, such as a static random access memory (S-RAM) or a dynamic random access memory (D-RAM), and a non-volatile memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), or an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). The memory 92 may include one memory device or a plurality of memory devices.

[0236] The processor 91 may process data and / or signals using the program provided from the memory 92, and may transmit control signals to each component of the refrigerator 1 based on the processing result. For example, the processor 91 may process an user input received through a user interface portion, data regarding the temperature of the storage compartments 21 and 22 detected from the storage compartment temperature sensor 25, data regarding the temperature of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 detected from the ice-making temperature sensor 1040, data regarding the flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 detected from the flow sensor 85, and full-ice information detected from the ice-fullness detection sensor 1035, or the like.

[0237] The water supply device 82, the cooling device 70, and the ice-making device 1000 may be operated based on control signals of the controller 90.

[0238] In an embodiment, the controller 90 may control the user interface portion to display various information. The controller 90 may control the cooling device 70 to maintain a predetermined temperature of the storage compartments 21 and 22. The controller 90 may control the ice-making device 1000 to perform an ice-making cycle.

[0239] The controller 90 may operate the water supply device 82 to supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 based on a predetermined condition being satisfied, and may stop the water supply operation of the water supply device 82 based on a predetermined condition being satisfied.

[0240] The controller 90 may start a water supply operation based on the ice-making cycle ending and the ice bucket 100 not being in a full-ice state.

[0241] Operating the water supply device 82 to supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may include opening the water supply valve 81. Stopping the operation of the water supply device 82 to stop water supply may include closing the water supply valve 81.

[0242] The controller 90 may operate the water supply device 82 during a water supply operation and may determine a point in time to stop the operation of the water supply device 82 based on a water supply amount detected from the flow sensor 85.

[0243] The controller 90 may control the rotation motor 1321 of the first driver 1320 and the second rotation motor 1421 of the second driver 1420 to rotate the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 in a preset pattern while performing an ice-making cycle.

[0244] The controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 based on measurement values measured by the storage compartment temperature sensor 25, the ice-making temperature sensor 1040, or the flow sensor 85. The ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 may include the rotation motors 1321 and 1421.

[0245] More specifically, the controller 90 may determine whether a water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1320 is a low water supply or an excessive water supply based on the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1320. In addition, the controller 90 may determine whether there is an insufficient ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 through a cycle of an ice-making cycle and the freezing temperature sensor 27.

[0246] Meanwhile, the ice formed by the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be formed smaller than the ice formed by a determined water supply amount because water accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is relatively small when a water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is a low water supply, which is determined to be less than a preset water supply amount. In this case, ice formed due to water of the low water supply may be incomplete ice.

[0247] The controller 90 may open the water supply valve 81 to increase a water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 when the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is determined to be less than a preset water supply amount.

[0248] When the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is an excessive water supply or when it is determined to be a low water supply and becomes an excessive water supply due to the increased water supply amount, the amount of water accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be relatively large. In such a state, ice formed by the ice-making cycle may be formed larger than ice formed by a determined water supply amount in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, and ice clumping may occur as adjacent pieces of ice stick together.

[0249] When a single ice-separating operation by the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 controlled by the controller 90 is implemented in such a state, the ice may not be easily separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0250] When the water supply operation of the water supply device 82 is restarted by the controller 90 in such a state, water may be reintroduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 while the existing remaining ice is still present in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410. Because the ice formed by the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through the next ice-making cycle may not be easily separated repeatedly, a vicious cycle may be repeated.

[0251] In addition, when the cycle of the ice-making cycle becomes longer than the cycle of the previous ice-making cycle while the ice-making cycle is repeatedly performed, it may be determined that the ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 is insufficient. When the cycle of the ice-making cycle becomes relatively longer, it may be a case where the time for forming ice by the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 becomes relatively longer. For example, when the cycle of the ice-making cycle becomes relatively longer, there may be a case where there is a problem in the refrigerant or the like of the refrigerator 1.

[0252] In this case, when the cycle of the ice-making cycle becomes longer than the normal cycle of the ice-making cycle, there may be a case where ice formed by the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is formed as hollow ice, and such incompletely formed ice may cause the surface of the ice and the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to stick to each other. Even in such a case, with a single ice-separating operation of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 according to a signal of the controller 90, ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may not be easily separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, and a vicious cycle as described above may be repeated later.

[0253] Even when a freezing compartment temperature is relatively high within an ice-making cycle in which ice is formed by the ice-making device 1000, it may be determined that the ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 is insufficient. For example, when a freezing compartment temperature detected by the freezing temperature sensor 27 within the ice-making cycle is equal to or higher than a reference temperature, it may be determined that there is an abnormality in a refrigerant of the refrigerator 1 as described above. For example, even when a temperature of the first storage compartment 21 detected by the freezing temperature sensor 27 does not fall a predetermined temperature or less while the door 30 closes the storage compartments 21 and 22, it may be determined that the ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 is insufficient as described above.

[0254] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12, a structure in which the controller 90 determines whether the water supply amount to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is a low water supply, whether it is an excessive water supply, or whether the ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 is insufficient, and controls the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 so that the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 perform a plurality of ice-separating operations based on each condition being satisfied will be described in detail.

[0255] FIG. 7 is a flowchart 2000 illustrating repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 when a water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 detected by the flow sensor 85 is determined to be a low water supply according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0256] With reference to FIG. 7, when the ice-making cycle starts, the controller 90 may operate the water supply device 82 to perform a water supply operation (2010).

[0257] The controller 90 may confirm a water supply amount S1 supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the flow sensor 85 after a reference time elapses (Yes of 2020) following the water supply operation by the water supply device 82 being started (2030).

[0258] When the water supply amount S1 supplied to each of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, which is detected by the flow sensor 85, is smaller than a preset reference water supply amount S2 (No of 2040), the controller 90 may determine that the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is a low water supply.

[0259] That the water supply amount S1 supplied to each of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, which is detected by the flow sensor 85, is not greater than the preset reference water supply amount S2 means that a flow rate of water supplied to each of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is not greater than a preset flow rate. The preset reference water supply amount S2 may be set by being stored in the memory 92.

[0260] In this case, the controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 so that the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 repeatedly operate (2050). That is, the controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the water supply amount S1 detected by the flow sensor 85 not reaching the preset reference water supply amount S2.

[0261] In this case, because harder ice may be formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 in a state where a relatively small amount of water is supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may not be easily separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by a twisting operation of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, which is a single ice-separating operation. According to this structure, the controller 90 may determine a low water supply based on a relatively small amount of water being supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, and thus may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to repeat operations, thereby allowing ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to be separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0262] Here, the reference water supply amount S2 may be a minimum water supply amount set so that ice is normally formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 after a predetermined time elapses following the water supply valve 81 being opened so that the water supply device 82 is operated by the control unit 90 (2010).

[0263] Alternatively, the reference water supply amount S2 may be a determined amount of water supply supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 within a maximum water supply limit time after a predetermined time elapses following the water supply valve 81 opening the water supply pipe 80 for the water supply device 82 to supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the controller 90. Here, the maximum water supply limit time refers to a maximum value within a normal water supply time for supplying water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, and when this limit time is exceeded, it may be recognized that there is an abnormality in the ice-making device 1000.

[0264] FIG. 8 is a flowchart 2100 illustrating repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 when a temperature of water supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 detected by the temperature sensor 1040 is lower than a reference temperature according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0265] With reference to FIG. 8, the controller 90 may control the water supply operation so that the water supply device 82 supplies water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 (2110). After a predetermined time elapses, the controller 90 may control the water supply valve 81 of the water supply device 82 to be closed so that water is not provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through the water supply pipe 80. That is, the controller 90 may end the water supply operation of the water supply device 82 (2120).

[0266] After a reference time elapses following the water supply operation of the water supply device 82 ending (Yes of 2130), the first temperature sensor 1340 and the second temperature sensor 1440 may be controlled to detect a temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 (2140) and may transmit a measurement value of the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to the controller 90.

[0267] The controller 90 may compare the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 with a reference temperature T2. Here, the reference temperature T2 may be a preset temperature value for confirming that an amount of water accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is within a normal range during the ice-making cycle. The reference temperature T2 may be a temperature indicating a minimum water supply amount necessary for complete formation of ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 compared to the temperature of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 at the start of the water supply operation. The reference temperature T2 may be stored in the memory 92.

[0268] When water is supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, because a temperature of water is higher than a temperature of ice, the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may increase immediately after water is supplied and may gradually decrease as ice is formed.

[0269] Because the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is proportional to the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, when the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is lower than the reference temperature T2, it may mean that an amount of water supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is relatively small.

[0270] When the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 does not reach the preset reference temperature T2 (No of 2150), the controller 90 may determine that the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is in a low water supply state.

[0271] The controller 90 that determines the state is the low water supply state may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform repeated operations (2160). That is, the controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 not reaching the preset reference temperature T2.

[0272] According to this structure, it is possible to separate ice from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by repeating the ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421, by predicting in advance that ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may not be separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by a single ice-separating operation of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 because an amount of water less than the reference water supply amount is supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0273] FIG. 9 is a flowchart 2200 illustrating repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 when a water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 detected by the flow sensor 85 is determined to be an excessive water supply, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0274] With reference to FIG. 9, the controller 90 may operate the water supply device 82 (2210). When the water supply device 82 is operated, the water supply valve 81 may be opened so that water is provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through the water supply pipe 80.

[0275] After the water supply device 82 is operated, the flow sensor 85 may detect the water supply amount S1 provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 during an operation time of the water supply device 82 (2220) and may transmit the water supply amount S1 to the controller 90.

[0276] The controller 90 may compare the water supply amount S1 detected by the flow sensor 85 with the reference water supply amount S2 (2230). The reference water supply amount S2 may be a preset determined amount of water supply prepared so that ice formed by the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is included within a normal range. The reference water supply amount S2 may be a value input in advance to the memory 92.

[0277] The controller 90 may confirm an elapsed time t1 taken for the water supply amount S1 provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 from the start of the water supply operation to reach the reference water supply amount S2 when the water supply amount S1 detected from the flow sensor 85 reaches the reference water supply amount S2 (Yes of 2230) (2240).

[0278] When the elapsed time t1 taken for the water supply amount S1 provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 from the start of the water supply operation to reach the reference water supply amount S2 is at least twice as large as a reference time t2 and less than or equal to a maximum water supply limit time t3 (Yes of 2250), the controller 90 may determine that a flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the water supply device 82 is an excessive water supply. The maximum water supply limit time t3 may be a case where the time taken for the water supply amount supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference water supply amount S2 is abnormally long due to an abnormality occurring in the water supply device 82 or the like.

[0279] When the controller 90 determines that the water supply amount provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is an excessive water supply (Yes of 2250), the controller 90 may allow the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform repeated operations to easily separate ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 (2260).

[0280] Here, the excessive water supply may include not only a case where an amount of water larger than the reference water supply amount is primarily introduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the water supply device 82, but also a case where after the controller 90 determines that the water introduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is a low water supply and additional water is supplied, it is subsequently determined that the state is an excessive water supply state.

[0281] That is, the controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the elapsed time t1 taken for the water supply amount S1 supplied into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 after the start of the water supply operation to reach the reference water supply amount S2 being at least twice as long as a preset reference time t2.

[0282] According to this structure, even when water introduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 during the ice-making cycle is in an excessive water supply state or transitions to an excessive water supply state after a low water supply state, and ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is relatively large or adjacent ice pieces are clumped together, it is possible to separate the ice from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by repeatedly performing the ice-separating operations, even in situations where ice separation is not properly performed.

[0283] FIG. 10 is a flowchart 2300 illustrating repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 when a temperature of water supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 detected by the temperature sensor 1040 is higher than a reference temperature, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0284] With reference to FIG. 10, the controller 90 may operate the water supply device 82 to control the water supply device 82 so that water is provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 (2310).

[0285] After the water supply device 82 is operated and water is supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, the controller 90 may control the water supply device 82 to stop the operation of the water supply device 82 (2320). That is, the water supply valve 81 of the water supply device 82 may be opened by the controller 90 and may be closed after a predetermined time elapses.

[0286] The first temperature sensor 1340 and the second temperature sensor 1440 may detect temperatures T1 of the first ice-making tray 1310 and the second ice-making tray 1410, respectively (2330).

[0287] The controller 90 may compare the temperatures T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 with the reference temperature T2 until the temperatures T1 the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 reach the reference temperature T2. Here, the reference temperature T2 may be a preset temperature, which may be a value stored in the memory 92. In addition, the reference temperature T2 may be a minimum temperature of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 set so that an amount of water accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 reaches within a reference water supply amount range.

[0288] That is, when the temperatures T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 rise to the reference temperature T2 due to water supplied to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, the controller 90 may determine that the water supply amount introduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 has reached the reference water supply amount.

[0289] When the temperatures T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 reach the reference temperature T2 (Yes of 2340), an elapsed time t1 elapsed from the start of the water supply by the water supply device 82 may be measured (2350).

[0290] When the elapsed time t1 taken for the temperatures T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2 is smaller than 0.8 times the reference time t2 (Yes of 2360), the controller 90 may determine that the water supply amount provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is an excessive water supply.

[0291] In other words, the temperature value detected by the ice-making temperature sensor 1040 may be higher as the water supply amount provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the water supply device 82 is larger, which means that the faster the elapsed time t1 taken to reach the reference temperature T2 after the operation of the water supply device 82 ends, the larger the amount of water provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be. Here, the reference time t2 may be a time taken to reach the minimum temperature T2 that is set so that the flow rate of water provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 falls within a normal range.

[0292] Meanwhile, the setting of whether there is excessive water supply based on the elapsed time t1 being 20% smaller than the reference time t2 (Yes of 2360) is to reduce an error in the determination of whether there is excessive water supply based on the water supply amount provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the controller 90.

[0293] When the controller 90 determines that the water supply amount provided to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is excessive water supply, the controller 90 may control to perform repeated operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 at least twice to separate ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 (2370).

[0294] The controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the time t1 taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the preset reference temperature T2 being faster by 80% or more than the preset reference time t2.

[0295] According to such a structure, when the state is an excessive water supply state, that is, either a primitive excessive water supply state or an excessive water supply state after water is introduced into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, after it is determined as a low water supply, it is possible for the controller 90 to predict in advance a state in which the ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 is difficult to be separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by a single ice-separating operation due to problems such as ice clumping, and to separate the ice from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 before water is introduced back into the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through a plurality of repeated ice-separating operations.

[0296] FIG. 11 is a flowchart 2400 illustrating repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 when an elapsed time to reach a reference temperature within an ice-making cycle of an ice-making device 1000 is relatively long, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0297] With reference to FIG. 11, the controller 90 may open the water supply valve 81 to supply water to the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 through the water supply pipe 80 (2410), and may control to close the water supply valve 81 so that the water supply operation ends after a predetermined time (2420).

[0298] In this case, the ice-making temperature sensor 1040 may detect the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, and a measurement value of the temperature T1 detected by the ice-making temperature sensor 1040 may be transmitted to the controller 90 (2430).

[0299] The controller 90 may compare the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 and a reference temperature T2, which is a temperature at which it may be determined that ice has been formed within the ice-making cycle (2440). The temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may increase due to the water supply operation and may then decrease as ice is formed, and the controller 90 may confirm the elapsed time t1 taken to reach the reference temperature T2 (2450).

[0300] Subsequently, the controller 90 may compare the elapsed time t1 and the reference time t2, and, as an example, when the elapsed time t1 taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2 from the start of the water supply operation is 150% or more longer than the reference time t2, it may be determined that the ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 is insufficient.

[0301] The controller 90 may determine that the water accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 has become ice as the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 reaches the reference temperature T2 within every ice-making cycle, and may measure an elapsed time taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2 within each ice-making cycle.

[0302] The above-mentioned reference time t2 may be the time taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2 within a second ice-making cycle immediately preceding a first ice-making cycle in progress, when the elapsed time t1 is the time taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2 within the first ice-making cycle in progress.

[0303] In addition, in contrast, the reference time t2 may be an average of each time taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2 within a second ice-making cycle immediately preceding the first ice-making cycle, a third ice-making cycle immediately preceding the second ice-making cycle, and a fourth ice-making cycle immediately preceding the third ice-making cycle.

[0304] That is, when the elapsed time t1 is longer than the reference time t2, it may indicate that the cycle of the current ice-making cycle has been prolonged compared to a normal ice-making cycle period. When the elapsed time t1 becomes longer, problems may occur, such as the ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 being formed in a hollow state, resulting in incomplete ice formation, or the ice adhering to the ice-making cells 1311 and 1411 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, so that the ice in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may not fall into the accommodation portions 110 and 120 (see FIG. 4) through a single ice-separating operation.

[0305] The fact that the elapsed time t1 becomes longer may be determined as insufficient ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 due to various problems. Here, the various problems may be, for example, a refrigerant abnormality, etc. of the refrigerator 1.

[0306] More specifically, when the elapsed time t1 taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 within the current ice-making cycle to reach the reference temperature T2 is 150% or more longer than the previous elapsed time t2 taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to reach the reference temperature T2, the controller 90 may determine that the refrigerator 1 has insufficient ice-making capability. Here, the numerical value of 150% may indicate that the elapsed time t1 has abnormally increased enough for the controller 90 to determine that the refrigerator 1 has insufficient ice-making capability.

[0307] The controller 90 may determine that the refrigerator 1 has insufficient ice-making capability when the elapsed time t1 is 150% or more longer than the reference time t2 (Yes of 2460), and may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to be repeatedly operated to prevent incomplete ice separation that may occur as a result (2470).

[0308] According to such a structure, the refrigerator 1 may predict in advance an incomplete ice separation situation of ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 not only in situations of low water supply or excessive water supply but also in a situation of insufficient ice-making capability, and may prevent a vicious cycle caused by failure to separate ice from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0309] FIG. 12 is a flowchart 2500 illustrating repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 when a freezing compartment temperature is higher than the reference temperature, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0310] With reference to FIG. 12, the water supply valve 81 may be opened by the controller 90, and the water supply device 82 may perform a water supply operation (2510). After a predetermined time elapses, the water supply valve 81 may be closed, and the water supply device 82 may end the water supply operation (2520).

[0311] The freezing compartment temperature sensor 27 may measure a temperature T3 of the first storage compartment 21 within the ice-making cycle, and the measured freezing compartment temperature T3 may be transmitted to the controller 90 (2530).

[0312] The controller 90 may compare the freezing compartment temperature T3 detected by the freezing compartment temperature sensor 27 and a reference temperature T4 within the ice-making cycle (2540).

[0313] When the freezing compartment temperature T3 detected by the freezing compartment temperature sensor 27 within the ice-making cycle is higher than the reference temperature T4 (Yes of 2540), the controller 90 may determine that the refrigerator 1 has insufficient ice-making capability. Here, the reference temperature T4 may be a preset reference temperature of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to perform an ice-separating operation within the ice-making cycle. For example, the reference temperature T4 may be minus 17 degrees Celsius.

[0314] That is, when the temperature of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 reaches the reference temperature T4, the controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform an ice-separating operation.

[0315] More specifically, within the ice-making cycle, the first storage compartment 21 may be maintained at, for example, minus 22 degrees Celsius or minus 23 degrees Celsius. However, when the freezing compartment temperature T3 rises above the reference temperature T4 due to reasons such as the door 30 being opened, the water accommodated in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may not be formed into complete ice. In this case, the controller 90 may determine whether the ice-making capability of the refrigerator 1 is insufficient.

[0316] That is, when the freezing compartment temperature T3 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature T4 (Yes of 2540), the controller 90 may control the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 to perform repeated ice-separating operations (2550).

[0317] In addition, the reference temperature T4 may be minus 18 degrees Celsius. In this case, the freezing compartment temperature T3 measured during one hour in which the door 30 closes the first storage compartment 21 may be compared with the reference temperature T4. When the freezing compartment temperature T3 remains at minus 17 degrees Celsius or higher during the one-hour in which the door 30 closes the first storage compartment 21, it may be determined that the refrigerator 1 has insufficient ice-making capability due to causes such as refrigerant issues, and because ice formed in the ice-making cycle with insufficient ice-making capability may be incompletely separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, repeated ice-separating operations are performed.

[0318] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a repeated ice-separating operation of an ice-making device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0319] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 13, repeated ice-separating operations of the ice-making device 1000 will be described in detail. The ice-separating operation may mean an operation in which the ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 twist or rotate to twist the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by the controller 90.

[0320] More specifically, as the rotation motors 1321 and 1421 operate, the driving shafts 1323 and 1423 may rotate, and accordingly, the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may rotate clockwise. In this case, the driving shafts 1323 and 1423 may continuously rotate, so that one side (front side) of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may continuously rotate, and the rotation shafts 1313 and 1413 of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be interfered with by rotation shaft coupling portions (not illustrated), thereby restricting the rotation of the other side (rear side) of the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 beyond a predetermined rotation position. By such a structure, the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be twisted, and the ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may be separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410.

[0321] Meanwhile, the repeated ice-separating operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may mean that the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are rotated to be twisted clockwise, return to their original positions, and then the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 are rotated again to be twisted clockwise.

[0322] The repeated ice-separating operation is to twist the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 again in consideration of the fact that the ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may not be sufficiently separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 by a single ice-separating operation.

[0323] Meanwhile, the repeated ice-separating operation may mean a plurality of ice-separating operations, and the ice-separating operation is not limited to being performed twice, but may be performed at least twice.

[0324] With reference to FIG. 13, the controller 90 may determine that a low water supply, an excessive water supply, or an insufficient ice-making capability determination condition has been satisfied according to the above-described flowchart or the like (2610).

[0325] The controller 90 may control the rotation motors 1321 and 1421 to operate in a first rotation direction (for example, a clockwise direction) (2620).

[0326] The controller 90 may determine that the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 have been rotated to an ice-separating position and may then operate the rotation motors 1321 and 1421 in a second rotation direction (for example, a counterclockwise direction) opposite to the first rotation direction so that the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 return to their original positions (2630).

[0327] Subsequently, the controller 90 may control the rotation motors 1321 and 1421 to rotate again in the first rotation direction (for example, a clockwise direction) based on the repeated ice-separating condition, so as to twist and rotate the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 to an ice-separating position (2640).

[0328] According to such a structure, the refrigerator 1 may predict in advance a situation in which incomplete ice separation of ice formed in the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 may occur under an incomplete ice-separating condition, and may perform repeated ice-separating operations so that ice is completely separated from the ice-making trays 1310 and 1410. That is, the ice-making device 1000 may have improved durability and may enhance consumer satisfaction.

[0329] A refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment includes a main body 10 including storage compartments 21 and 22, ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 provided inside the storage compartments, a water supply device 82 that supplies water to the ice-making trays, and ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 that separate ice accommodated in the ice-making trays from the ice-making trays. A refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment includes sensors 1040 and 85 provided in the storage compartment, and a controller 90 that determines whether there is low water supply based on an amount of water supplied to the ice-making trays being smaller than a preset amount according to a measurement value detected by the sensors after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device, or determines whether there is excessive water supply based on the amount of water supplied to the ice-making trays being greater than the preset amount, and controls the ice-separating devices to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

[0330] The sensor 1040 may be a temperature sensor 1040 that detects a temperature of the ice-making trays. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a failure of the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays to reach a preset temperature T2 after the preset time elapses following an end of the water supply operation by the water supply device.

[0331] The sensor 1040 may be a temperature sensor 1040 that detects a temperature of the ice-making trays. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a first time t1, in which the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor reaches the preset temperature T2 after the preset time elapses following an end of the water supply operation by the water supply device, being smaller than a preset second time t2.

[0332] The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the first time t1 being less than or equal to 80% of the second time t2.

[0333] The sensor 85 may be a flow sensor 85 that detects a flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making trays during the preset time after the water supply operation by the water supply device. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a failure of the flow rate S 1 of the water detected by the flow sensor to reach a preset flow rate S2.

[0334] The sensor 85 may be a flow sensor 85 that detects a flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making trays during the preset time after the water supply operation by the water supply device. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a first time t1, in which the flow rate S1 of the water detected by the flow sensor reaches a preset flow rate S2, being greater than a preset second time t2.

[0335] The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the first time t1 being two times or more greater than the second time t2.

[0336] The sensor 1040 may be a temperature sensor 1040 that detects a temperature T1 of the ice-making trays. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to separate the ice formed in the ice-making trays from the ice-making trays based on the temperature of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a first time t1, which is a time taken for water to be supplied to the ice-making trays by the water supply device and for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays to reach a preset temperature T2, being 150% or more greater than a preset second time t2.

[0337] The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform an ice-separating operation based on the temperature of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor in a first cycle and a second cycle preceding the first cycle. The first time t1 may be a time taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor to reach the preset temperature T2 within the first cycle. The second time t2 may be a time taken for the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor to reach the preset temperature T2 within the second cycle.

[0338] The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform an ice-separating operation based on the temperature of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor in a first cycle, a second cycle preceding the first cycle, a third cycle preceding the second cycle, and a fourth cycle preceding the third cycle. The first time t1 may be a time taken for the temperature of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor to reach the preset temperature within the first cycle. The second time t2 may be an average of times taken for the temperature of the ice-making trays detected from the temperature sensor to reach a preset temperature within the second cycle to the fourth cycle.

[0339] The refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may further include a storage compartment temperature sensor 25 that detects a temperature of the storage compartment. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature T3 of the storage compartment detected by the storage compartment temperature sensor being equal to or higher than a preset temperature T4.

[0340] The refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may further include a door 30 that is provided to open and close the storage compartment. The controller may control the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature T3 of the storage compartment detected by the storage compartment temperature sensor not falling to minus 18 degrees Celsius or lower during one hour in which the door closes the storage compartment.

[0341] The ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 may include rotation motors 1321 and 1421 that provide a driving force to the ice-making trays so that the ice-making trays rotate. The controller may operate the rotation motors a plurality of times so that the ice-making trays rotate based on based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

[0342] The controller may control the ice-separating devices to rotate the ice-making trays in a first direction, then rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and then rotate in the first direction, based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

[0343] A method of controlling a refrigerator 1, in which ice-making trays 1310 and 1410, a water supply device 82, ice-separating devices 1321 and 1421 that provide a driving force to rotate the ice-making trays, and sensors 1040 and 85 are provided, includes controlling the water supply device to supply water to the ice-making trays, determining whether there is low water supply based on whether an amount of water supplied to the ice-making trays is smaller than a preset amount according to a measurement value detected by the sensors after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device, or determining whether there is excessive water supply based on whether the amount of water supplied to the ice-making trays is greater than the preset amount, and controlling the ice-separating devices to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

[0344] The sensor 1040 may be a temperature sensor 1040 that detects a temperature of the ice-making trays. Determining whether there is the low water supply or excessive water supply may include determining whether there is the low water supply based on a failure of the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays detected by the temperature sensor to reach a preset temperature T2, or determining whether there is the excessive water supply based on a first time, in which the temperature of the ice-making trays detected by the temperature sensor reaches the preset temperature, being smaller than a preset second time.

[0345] The sensor 85 may be a flow sensor 85 that detects a flow rate S1 of water supplied to the ice-making trays during the preset time during a water supply operation by the water supply device. Determining whether there is the low water supply or excessive water supply may include determining whether there is the low water supply based on a failure of the flow rate S1 of the water detected by the flow sensor to reach a preset flow rate S2, or determining whether there is the excessive water supply based on a first time t1, in which the flow rate of the water detected by the flow sensor reaches the preset flow rate, being smaller than a preset second time t2.

[0346] A method of controlling the refrigerator may further include determining whether there is insufficient ice-making capability of the refrigerator based on an ice-separating time in which ice accommodated in the ice-making trays is separated from the ice-making trays, or determining whether there is insufficient ice-making capability of the refrigerator based on a temperature of a storage compartment, and controlling the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations based on whether there is insufficient ice-making capability of the refrigerator has been satisfied.

[0347] A refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment includes a main body 10 including storage compartments 21 and 22, ice-making trays 1310 and 1410 provided inside the storage compartments, a water supply device 82 that supplies water to the ice-making trays, and rotation motors 1321 and 1421 that rotate the ice-making trays to separate ice accommodated in the ice-making trays from the ice-making trays. A refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment includes a temperature sensor 1040 that detects a temperature of the ice-making trays, and a controller 90 that controls the rotation motors to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature T1 of the ice-making trays detected by the temperature sensor after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device being lower than a preset temperature T2, or a time t1 taken for the temperature of the ice-making trays to reach the preset temperature being smaller than a preset time t2.

[0348] The refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment may further include a flow sensor 85 that detects a flow rate S1 of water supplied to the ice-making trays during the water supply operation by the water supply device. The controller may control the rotation motors to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the flow rate S1 of the water detected by the flow sensor being smaller than a preset flow rate S2, or a first time t1, in which the flow rate of the water detected by the flow sensor reaches the preset flow rate, being greater than a preset second time t2.

[0349] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, according to the refrigerator and the method of controlling the refrigerator, because conditions in which ice formed in the ice-making trays is incompletely separated are determined in advance and repeated ice-separating operations are possible, the quality of ice may be improved and consumer satisfaction may be enhanced.

[0350] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, according to the refrigerator and the method of controlling the refrigerator, because low water supply, excessive water supply, or insufficient ice-making capability in which ice formed in the ice-making trays is incompletely formed is determined in advance and repeated ice-separating operations are performed, durability of the ice-making device may be improved.

[0351] The effects according to the spirit of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned may be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description.

[0352] The above describes and illustrates specific embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains would be able to make various modifications without departing from the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body including a storage compartment; an ice-making tray provided inside the storage compartment; a water supply device configured to supply water to the ice-making tray; an ice-separating device configured to separate ice accommodated in the ice-making tray from the ice-making tray; a sensor provided in the storage compartment; and a controller configured to: determine whether there is low water supply based on an amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray being smaller than a preset amount according to a measurement value detected by the sensor after a preset time elapses following an end of a water supply operation by the water supply device; or determine whether there is excessive water supply based on the amount of water supplied to the ice-making tray being greater than the preset amount; and control the ice-separating device to perform a plurality of ice-separating operations based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the ice-making tray, and the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a failure of the temperature of the ice-making tray to reach a preset temperature after the preset time elapses following an end of the water supply operation by the water supply device.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the ice-making tray, and the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a first time, in which the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor reaches a preset temperature after the preset time elapses following an end of the water supply operation by the water supply device, being smaller than a preset second time.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the first time being less than or equal to 80% of the second time.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a flow sensor that detects a flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making tray during the preset time after the water supply operation by the water supply device, and the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a failure of the flow rate of water detected by the flow sensor to reach a preset flow rate.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a flow sensor that detects a flow rate of water supplied to the ice-making tray during the preset time after the water supply operation by the water supply device, and the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a first time, in which the flow rate of water detected by the flow sensor reaches a preset flow rate, being greater than a preset second time.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the first time being two times or more greater than the second time.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the ice-making tray, the controller controls the ice-separating device to separate ice formed in the ice-making tray from the ice-making tray based on the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor, and the controller controls the ice-separating devices to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to a first time, in which water is supplied to the ice-making tray by the water supply device and the temperature of the ice-making tray reaches a preset temperature, being 150% or more greater than a preset second time.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform an ice-separating operation based on the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor in a first cycle and a second cycle preceding the first cycle, and wherein the first time is a time taken for the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor in the first cycle to reach a preset temperature, and the second time is a time taken for the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor in the second cycle to reach a preset temperature.

10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform an ice-separating operation based on the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor in a first cycle, a second cycle preceding the first cycle, a third cycle preceding the second cycle, and a fourth cycle preceding the third cycle, and wherein the first time is a time taken for the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor in the first cycle to reach a preset temperature, and the second time is an average of times taken for the temperature of the ice-making tray detected by the temperature sensor in the second to fourth cycles to reach a preset temperature.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a storage compartment temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the storage compartment, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature of the storage compartment detected by the storage compartment temperature sensor being equal to or higher than a preset temperature.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, further comprising: a door provided to open and close the storage compartment, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating device to perform the plurality of ice-separating operations in response to the temperature of the storage compartment detected by the storage compartment temperature sensor not falling to minus 18 degrees Celsius or lower during one hour in which the door closes the storage compartment.

13. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the ice-separating device includes a rotation motor that provides a driving force to the ice-making tray such that the ice-making tray rotates, and the controller operates the rotation motor a plurality of times such that the ice-making tray rotates based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the controller controls the ice-separating device to rotate the ice-making tray in a first direction, then rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and then rotate in the first direction based on whether there is the low water supply or whether there is the excessive water supply being satisfied.

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