Method of controlling ice making assembly for refrigerator

Abstract

Provided is a method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator. According to the method, transparent ice can be made in an ice making space which is kept at a temperature lower than 0° C.

1 . A method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 initiating an ice making mode;   supplying water to an ice recess formed in a tray, the tray ready to receive a rod;   contacting the water with the rod to remove heat from the water;   intermittently operating a heater disposed at the tray to maintain the tray at a temperature above freezing; and   controlling the operation of a cooling fan to selectively supply cooling air to the rod.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an ice ejecting heater is maintained in a turned-off state until an ice making operation is completed, and is turned on for an ice ejecting operation. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fan is selectively turned on and off to maintain the rod at a predetermined temperature during an ice making operation. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed of the cooling fan is increased or decreased to maintain the rod at a predetermined temperature while ice is forming in the ice tray. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the rod is steadily and continuously decreased during an ice making operation. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the rod is decreased in a step-wise manner during an ice making operation. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the rod is maintained at a temperature below freezing while the temperature of the tray is maintained at a temperature above freezing. 
   
   
       8 . A method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 initiating an ice making mode;   supplying water to an ice recess formed in a tray, the tray ready to receive a rod;   contacting the water with the rod to remove heat from the water;   intermittently operating a heater disposed at the tray to maintain the tray at a temperature above freezing; and   controlling an operation of an ice ejecting heater, which heats the rod, so as to gradually decrease a temperature of the rod.   
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a cooling fan is set to run until an ice making operation is completed. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the ice ejecting heater is selectively turned on and off to maintain the rod at a predetermined temperature while ice is forming. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater is increased or decreased to maintain the rod at a predetermined temperature while ice is forming. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater is increased or decreased by a semiconductor switch device. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a temperature of the rod is steadily and continuously decreased during an ice making operation. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a temperature of the rod is decreased in a step-wise manner during an ice making operation. 
   
   
       15 . A method of controlling an ice making assembly for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
 initiating an ice making mode;   supplying water to an ice recess formed in a tray, the tray ready to receive a rod;   contacting the water with the rod to remove heat from the water;   intermittently operating a heater disposed at the tray to maintain the tray at a temperature above freezing; and   operating an ice ejecting heater, to heat the rod, cooperatively with a cooling fan to circulate cool air   controlling the operation of the ice ejecting heater and the cooling fan to gradually decrease a temperature of the rod.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein if the rod has a temperature equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, the cooling fan is turned on and the ice ejecting heater is turned off. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein if the rod has a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature, the cooling fan is turned off and the ice ejecting heater is turned on. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein if the rod has a temperature equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, a rotation speed of the cooling fan is increased, and a voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater is decreased. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein if the rod has a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature, a rotation speed of the cooling fan is decreased, and a voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater is increased. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater is increased or decreased by a semiconductor switch device. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein a voltage applied to the ice ejecting heater is increased or decreased by a semiconductor switch device. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the rod is steadily and continuously decreased during an ice making operation. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the rod is decreased in a step-wise manner during an ice making operation.