Refrigerator having ice maker, and ice maker water-injection control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice maker control methods in refrigerators often result in continued water injection after the ice tray is removed, leading to irregular ice cubes and user complaints.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a magnetism-sensitive switch control system, where a magnet on the ice tray rack and a magnetism-sensitive switch on the partition plate cooperate to accurately determine the ice tray's position, thereby controlling water injection accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mechanical control structure or magnetism-sensitive switch is used to control water injection, then water injection control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical control structures with a magnetism-sensitive switch that detects the position of a magnet on the ice tray rack. This substitution maintains accurate detection of ice tray presence while significantly simplifying the mechanical components required for water injection control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnet as an intermediary element that works with the magnetism-sensitive switch to detect ice tray position. This intermediary enables non-contact detection, eliminating the need for direct mechanical interaction between the control system and the ice tray rack, thereby reducing mechanical complexity.
2Device complexity
If water injection control is not accurately monitored, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to continued water injection after ice tray removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the magnetism-sensitive switch continuously monitors the position of the magnet on the ice tray rack. When the ice tray is removed and the magnet moves out of position, the switch detects this change and immediately stops water injection, preventing the formation of irregular ice cubes while maintaining a relatively simple control system.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing complex mechanical monitoring systems with a magnetism-sensitive switch, the patent achieves accurate detection of ice tray presence to prevent harmful water injection, while keeping the control system complexity low through the use of magnetic field detection rather than mechanical sensors.
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
This solution ensures accurate control of water injection, preventing continued water injection after the ice tray is taken out, and thus avoids irregular ice cubes, improving ice making efficiency and user satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetism-sensitive switch mounted on a partition plate between a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, and a magnet mounted on an ice tray rack
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a refrigerator with an ice maker, an ice maker ice-overturning control method, and an ice maker water inj ection control method. The refrigerator in the present disclosure can: perceive whether the ice cube tray is already taken out to avoid continued water injection after the ice cube tray is taken out; and perceive a temperature of ice in the ice cube tray to accurately determine a current situation of ice making so as to perform accurate control for the ice maker, thereby avoiding ice cube lumping due to unsuccessful overturning in the refrigerator, and greatly improving the ice making efficiency. Further, the refrigerator can accurately determine whether the ice tray is mounted to be in place, so as to complete a series of water injection and ice making operation accurately. With fewer interference factors and high reliability, the accurate control of the water injection of the ice maker is improved. Thus, the problem of water in the water supply tube flowing into the refrigerating compartment due to clogging of the water supply tube can be effectively solved, thereby improving overflowing prevention of the water supply tube.