Ice Maker Clumping Detection Using Time-Section Operation Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ice clumping in ice makers within home appliances, such as refrigerators, occurs due to prolonged exposure to cold air, leading to inconvenience as the clumped ice cannot be extracted, and existing deep learning models struggle to accurately predict operational errors due to varied user patterns.
Innovation Solution
A management server and method that includes a communicator and controller to receive operation and sensing information, determining ice clumping by comparing data from a first and second time section, and providing user alerts or remote declumping instructions through a blade operation in the ice maker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deep learning model is used to predict operational errors, then prediction capability is provided, but accuracy deteriorates due to varied user patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring approach by dividing it into two distinct time sections: a first time section for collecting baseline operation and sensing information, and a second time section for comparing against the baseline. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to varied user patterns without requiring complex deep learning models, thereby maintaining prediction accuracy while providing operational error prediction capability.
2Productivity
If ice maker operates continuously to maintain ice supply, then ice availability is improved, but ice clumping occurs due to prolonged cold air exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of ice clumping by comparing operation and sensing information from the first time section with information from the second time section. By detecting clumping early through this preliminary comparison action, the system can identify the condition before it severely impacts ice extraction, allowing for timely intervention while maintaining continuous ice supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors operation information (ice extraction operations) and sensing information (ice amount) from both time sections, compares them to detect clumping conditions, and can provide feedback to users or trigger declumping operations. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain productivity while managing the harmful effect of clumping.
3Ease of operation
If ice extraction operation is performed frequently, then user convenience is improved, but detection of clumping becomes more difficult due to operational variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to varying user patterns by collecting operation and sensing information across two different time sections. This dynamic approach allows the system to distinguish between normal operational variations (caused by different user behaviors) and actual clumping conditions, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving clumping detection accuracy through adaptive comparison.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a management server for an ice maker that includes: a communicator configured to receive (i) operation information on extraction of ice stored in the ice maker and (ii) sensing information on an amount of the ice stored in the ice maker; and a controller configured, based on (i) the received operation information and sensing information in a first time section and (ii) the received operation information and sensing information in a second time section after the first time section, to determine whether the ice stored in the ice maker is clumped in the second time section.