Refrigerator Ice Making Control Based on Usage Pattern Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator ice making systems continuously produce ice until the ice bank is full, leading to increased noise and power consumption, as well as issues with supercooling and weak cooling due to low temperatures, and lack active control over ice making performance.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator with an ice making compartment and a controller that allows for various ice making modes based on user patterns, including high-speed, low-speed, and prohibition modes, to optimize ice production according to usage patterns, reducing unnecessary operation and maintaining optimal temperatures in both refrigerating and freezing compartments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the ice maker continuously produces ice until the ice bank is full, then the ice making quantity is maximized, but noise is generated and power consumption is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making quantityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller detects the amount of ice in the ice bank and uses this feedback information to control the ice making operation. When the ice bank is full or nearly full, the controller stops or reduces ice making, preventing unnecessary power consumption and noise generation while maintaining adequate ice supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous ice making, the system performs periodic ice making operations based on detected ice bank levels. The ice maker operates intermittently - starting when ice is needed and stopping when sufficient ice is accumulated, creating a periodic on-off operation pattern that reduces overall power consumption and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Quantity of substance

If the ice maker continuously produces ice, then the ice making quantity is maximized, but noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making quantityVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller monitors ice bank levels and uses this feedback to stop ice making when sufficient ice is accumulated, eliminating continuous operation and its associated noise generation while maintaining adequate ice supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The ice maker operates periodically rather than continuously, with operation cycles separated by idle periods when the ice bank has sufficient ice. This periodic operation significantly reduces noise generation while maintaining ice making capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the ice maker operates at low temperature to maximize ice production, then ice making performance is improved, but supercooling and freezing occur in the refrigerating compartment and weak cooling occurs in the freezing compartment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making performanceVSAvoidcompartment temperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The ice maker operates periodically with on-off cycles controlled by ice bank level detection. During idle periods when the ice bank has sufficient ice, the ice maker stops operation, allowing the refrigerating and freezing compartments to recover their proper temperature balances without continuous low-temperature operation causing supercooling or weak cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system detects ice bank levels and uses this feedback to control ice making operation intensity. When ice accumulation reaches sufficient levels, the controller reduces or stops ice making, preventing excessive cold air generation that would cause temperature imbalances in the compartments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 maximizes ice making performance, reduces power consumption, and enhances user convenience by adapting ice production to usage patterns, preventing noise and maintaining efficient cooling and freezing temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

an evaporator for allowing refrigerant to absorb latent heat therearound and to evaporate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLatent heat absorption: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 2

a condenser for condensing refrigerant by radiating heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

a compressor for compressing refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

an expansion device for decompression-expanding refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecompression expansion: Joule-Thomson Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11280533B2Refrigerator and method of controlling the same

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A method of controlling a refrigerator includes detecting opening/closing of an ice dispensing duct, through which ice is taken out, and storing an opening time of the ice dispensing duct per time interval. Each time interval is classified as a use time when the opening time of the ice dispensing duct is equal to or greater than a reference time and each time interval is classified as a non-use time when the opening time of the ice dispensing duct is less than the reference time.