Apparatus and method for controlling operation of an icemaker

Abstract

A control system for a refrigerator includes a detection component positioned with respect to the icemaker. An icemaker controller is in signal communication with the detection component. The icemaker controller is configured to detect an operational status of the icemaker in response to a signal transmitted by the detection component. A main controller is in bidirectional signal communication with the icemaker controller. The main controller is configured to operate the air damper, the fan and/or the water valve in response to a signal transmitted by the icemaker controller representative of the operational status of the icemaker.

1 . A control system for a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a fresh food storage compartment and a freezer storage compartment, an icemaker positioned within one of the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment, an air damper operatively coupled to the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment, a fan configured to direct cooled air through the air damper and into the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment and an icemaker valve configured to control water flow into the icemaker, said control system comprising:
 a detection component positioned with respect to the icemaker;   an icemaker controller in signal communication with said detection component, said icemaker controller configured to detect an operational status of the icemaker in response to a signal transmitted by said detection component; and   a main controller in bidirectional signal communication with said icemaker controller, said main controller configured to operate at least one of the air damper, the fan and the water valve in response to a signal transmitted by said icemaker controller representative of the operational status of the icemaker.   
   
   
       2 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said detection component comprises a water meter configured to detect an amount of water channeled through the icemaker valve, said water meter in signal communication with said icemaker controller. 
   
   
       3 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said main controller is configured to operate a defrosting process based on the operational status of the icemaker. 
   
   
       4 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said icemaker controller is configured to run an icemaker diagnostic process based on a signal received from said main controller. 
   
   
       5 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said main controller is configured to operate the fan to direct cooled air through at least one of the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment at an increased flow rate in response to a signal received from said icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       6 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said main controller is configured to activate the air damper to move to a closed position restricting cooled air flow into at least one of the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment in response to a signal received from said icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       7 . A control system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said main controller is configured to activate the icemaker valve to channel a predetermined amount of water into the icemaker in response to a signal received from said icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       8 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a fresh food storage compartment;   a freezer storage compartment;   an icemaker positioned within one of said fresh food storage compartment and said freezer storage compartment;   an air damper;   a fan configured to direct cooled air through said air damper and into at least one of said fresh food storage compartment and said freezer storage compartment;   an icemaker valve configured to control water flow into said icemaker; and   a control system comprising:
 at least one detection component positioned with respect to said icemaker; 
 an icemaker controller in signal communication with said at least one detection component, said icemaker controller configured to detect an operational status of said icemaker in response to a signal received from said at least one detection component; and 
 a main controller in bidirectional signal communication with said icemaker controller, said main controller configured to operate at least one of said air damper, said fan and said water valve in response to receiving a signal from said icemaker controller representative of the operational status of said icemaker. 
   
   
   
       9 . A refrigerator in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said at least one detection component comprises a water meter configured to detect an amount of water channeled into said icemaker, said water meter in signal communication with said icemaker controller. 
   
   
       10 . A refrigerator in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said main controller is configured to operate a defrosting process based on the operational status of said icemaker. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said icemaker controller is configured to run an icemaker diagnostic process in response to the signal received from said main controller. 
   
   
       12 . A refrigerator in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said main controller is configured to operate said fan to direct a cooled air flow through at least one of said fresh food storage compartment and said freezer storage compartment at an increased flow rate in response to receiving a signal from said icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       13 . A refrigerator in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said main controller is configured to operate said damper to restrict cooled air flow into at least one of said fresh food storage compartment and said refrigeration storage compartment in response to receiving a signal from said icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       14 . A refrigerator in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said main controller is configured to operate said icemaker valve to channel a predetermined amount of water into said icemaker in response to receiving a signal from said icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       15 . A method for controlling a refrigerator comprising:
 providing a refrigerator comprising a fresh food storage compartment and a freezer storage compartment, an icemaker positioned within one of the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment, an air damper operatively coupled to the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment, a fan configured to direct cooled air through the air damper and into at least one of the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment and an icemaker valve configured to control water flow into the icemaker;   positioning a detection component with respect to the icemaker;   coupling an icemaker controller in signal communication with the detection component, the icemaker controller configured to detect an operational status of the icemaker in response to a signal received from the detection component; and   coupling a main controller in bidirectional signal communication with the icemaker controller, the main controller configured to operate at least one of the air damper, the fan and the water valve in response to a signal received from the icemaker controller representative of the operational status of the icemaker.   
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising providing a water meter configured to detect an amount of water channeled through the icemaker valve, the water meter coupled in signal communication with the icemaker controller. 
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising operating the main controller to run a defrosting process in response to a signal representative of the operational status received from the icemaker controller. 
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising operating the icemaker controller to run an icemaker diagnostic process in response to a signal received from the main controller. 
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising operating the main controller to activate the fan to direct cooled air through at least one of the fresh food storage compartment and the freezer storage compartment at an increased flow rate in response to the main controller receiving a signal from the icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status. 
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising operating the main controller to activate the damper to move to a closed position restricting cooled air flow into the refrigeration storage compartment in response to the main controller receiving a signal from the icemaker controller representative of a threshold operational status.