Ice Maker Temperature Sensor Positioning to Reduce Heat Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice makers face issues with temperature sensor accuracy due to heat interference from heaters and complex wiring structures, leading to inefficient ice formation and transfer.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design with a temperature sensor fixed to an upper tray, accommodated in a recessed sensor accommodation part, and positioned to avoid heat interference, allowing for accurate temperature sensing and easy mounting without twisting wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is rotated with the ice-making dish, then the sensor can continuously monitor the ice formation process, but the wire connected to the sensor twists and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making dish is separated from the temperature sensor, allowing the sensor to remain stationary while the dish rotates. This segmentation eliminates the wire twisting problem and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining continuous temperature monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A fixed mounting structure serves as an intermediary between the rotating ice-making dish and the stationary temperature sensor. This intermediary allows the sensor to monitor the dish without being attached to it, preventing wire twisting while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is placed in contact with the ice-making dish, then temperature sensing accuracy is improved, but the sensor is exposed to heat from the heater
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from the direct contact zone with the heater by mounting it on the fixed upper tray rather than on the rotating ice-making dish. This positioning removes the sensor from the harmful thermal field while maintaining its ability to monitor ice formation temperature through the tray structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper tray acts as an intermediary between the heater and the temperature sensor. The sensor contacts the tray rather than being directly exposed to the heater, filtering out excessive heat interference while still allowing accurate temperature sensing of the ice-making process.
3Ease of operation
If the ice maker uses a rotating ice-making dish for ice transfer, then ice can be easily removed, but the temperature sensor and heater wires twist during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a stationary upper assembly (containing the temperature sensor and heater) and a rotating lower assembly (ice-making dish). This segmentation allows the dish to rotate freely for easy ice transfer while the wiring remains stationary, eliminating twisting problems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the temperature sensor and heater with the dish, the invention inverts the approach by keeping these components stationary and allowing the dish to rotate independently. This reversal solves the wire twisting issue while maintaining ice transfer functionality.
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
Improves temperature sensing accuracy, prevents heater-induced heat interference, and simplifies the mounting process, ensuring efficient ice formation and transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of the upper tray or the ice chamber
Implementation Method 2
an ice transfer heater for heating the upper tray
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an ice maker and a refrigerator having the ice maker. An ice maker according to the present disclosure includes: an upper assembly including an upper tray forming an upper chamber, which is a portion an ice chamber, and having an upper opening, and a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of the ice chamber in contact with the upper tray; and a lower assembly being rotatable with respect to the upper assembly and having a lower tray forming a lower chamber that is another portion of the ice chamber, in which a contact portion between the temperature sensor and the upper tray is positioned closer to a contact surface of the upper tray and the lower tray than the upper opening.