Control method and device of ice making device as well as refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice maker systems in refrigerators suffer from inaccurate temperature detection, leading to inefficient heating and energy waste when unfreezing frozen water injection pipes, as current methods fail to accurately determine the freezing state of the pipes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a capacitive sensor to detect the presence of ice in the water injection pipe, followed by controlled heating based on detection data to unfreeze the pipe efficiently, with timed intervals to optimize energy use and display alerts when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensor and heating wire are used to detect freezing state, then the system can identify frozen pipes, but the detection accuracy is poor and energy waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the temperature sensor-based detection system with a flow sensor that detects water flow state. Instead of measuring temperature to infer freezing, the system directly detects whether water is flowing through the pipe. When no flow is detected, the pipe is determined to be frozen. This substitution improves detection accuracy and allows for more precise control of the heating wire, reducing energy waste by activating heating only when freezing is confirmed.
2Reliability
If heating wire is activated based on temperature detection, then frozen pipes can be unfrozen, but the response time is delayed and power cannot be timely increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the flow sensor continuously monitors water flow state and provides real-time information to the control unit. When the sensor detects no flow (indicating freezing), the control unit immediately activates the heating wire. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures rapid response to freezing conditions, improving both reliability of unfreezing and reducing time delay compared to periodic temperature checking.
3Device complexity
If temperature-based detection method is used, then the system structure is simple, but the freezing state cannot be accurately obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the temperature sensor with a flow sensor that detects water flow characteristics. The flow sensor measures whether water is moving through the pipe, providing direct evidence of freezing state without relying on temperature thresholds. This replacement maintains relatively simple system structure while dramatically improving detection accuracy, as flow detection is more reliable than temperature-based inference for determining pipe freezing.
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 determines the freezing state of the water injection pipe, enabling efficient unfreezing with reduced energy consumption and timely alerts, thus preventing system failures.
Implementation Method 1
a detection sensor and a heating assembly are provided on the ice-making water injection pipe; the detection sensor is configured as a capacitive sensor
Implementation Method 2
the heating assembly is provided around an outer wall of the ice-making water injection pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A control method and system of an ice making device as well as a refrigerator having the same. The control method includes receiving first detection data of a detection sensor on an ice-making water injection pipe after ice is turned over and before water is injected; judging whether ice exists in the ice-making water injection pipe according to the first detection data; and turning on a heating assembly when ice exists in the ice-making water injection pipe. In the control method of an ice making device according to the present invention, the detection sensor is provided, whether the water injection pipe is frozen is judged by the detection sensor detecting whether ice exists, the detection method is more accurate, a freezing state of the ice-making water injection pipe can be known more accurately, and the heating assembly can be turned on more efficiently to unfreeze the ice-making water injection pipe.