Refrigerator Ice Bin Full Detection Using Infrared Pulse Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with ice makers, a frozen full ice detection lever prevents accurate determination of ice container fullness, leading to continuous ice supply and overflow.
Innovation Solution
An ice detecting apparatus with a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, using infrared signals to determine if the ice container is full or nearly full, avoiding mechanical lever issues by detecting signal interruptions from ice accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical full ice detection lever is used, then the device structure is simple, but the reliability deteriorates when the lever becomes frozen and cannot perform mechanical operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical full ice detection lever with an optical detection system consisting of a transmitter that emits infrared light and a receiver that detects the light. When ice accumulates and blocks the optical path, the receiver detects the interruption and sends a signal to stop ice production. This substitution eliminates the reliability issue of mechanical levers freezing up while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the full ice detection lever is positioned at a lower side, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates when the lever becomes frozen and cannot rise properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lever that must physically rise with an optical system where the transmitter and receiver are positioned to detect ice accumulation through light transmission. The optical path is arranged so that when ice reaches a certain level, it blocks the infrared light, providing precise detection without requiring mechanical movement or operation.
3Productivity
If the mechanical detection lever is used, then the device is easy to manufacture, but the productivity deteriorates due to continuous ice supply causing overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an optical detection system with transmitter and receiver units that automatically detect when the ice container is full and signal the control unit to stop ice production. This prevents overflow and wasted ice production, improving overall productivity. The system uses standard optical components that are readily manufactured and integrated into modern refrigerators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the receiver continuously monitors the optical path for ice accumulation, and when ice blocks the path, the receiver sends a feedback signal to the control unit which then stops the ice maker. This automatic feedback mechanism prevents overflow and optimizes ice production efficiency without requiring complex manual intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately detects ice fullness, preventing overflow by stopping ice production when the container is full, ensuring stable and precise ice supply.
Implementation Method 1
A transmitting unit to transmit one or more pulses and a receiving unit to detect the pulses transmitted from the transmitting unit
Data Source
AI summary
An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator having an ice maker includes an ice detecting sensor which determines whether or not an ice storage container which receives and stores ice made by the ice maker is full or nearly full of ice based on pulses transmitted from and received by transmitting and receiving units. The ice detecting sensor includes a transmitting unit to transmit one or more pulses and a receiving unit to detect the pulses transmitted from the transmitting unit. A controller is operably coupled to the transmitting and receiving units to determine whether the storage container is full or nearly full based on pulses detected by the receiving unit among one or more pulses transmitted by the transmitting unit. The controller also determines whether or not external light has been introduced into the ice maker based on the pulses detected by the receiving unit.