Refrigerator and ice maker thereof

Abstract

An ice detecting apparatus of an ice maker disposed to make ice in a refrigerator includes an ice maker and an ice detecting sensor to detect an ice-full state of ice discharged from the ice maker. The ice detecting sensor may be disposed at the ice maker. The ice detecting sensor may also be heated by a heater.

1 . An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator, the apparatus comprising:
 an ice maker;   a storage bin to store ice discharged from the ice maker; and   an optical sensor attached to the ice maker to detect an amount of ice collected in the storage bin.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is located at a prescribed height corresponding to a full or near full state of the storage bin. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a transmitter module and a receiver module attached to the ice maker and separated from each other by a prescribed distance. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the prescribed distance is one of less than and greater than a width of the storage bin. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitter module includes at least one infrared photo diode and the receiver module includes at least one photo transistor. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitter module and the receiver module are disposed at sides of an ice discharge outlet of the ice maker to transmit and receiver infrared rays by traversing a distance the ice discharge outlet. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitter module comprises a plurality of optical transmitters. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the receiver module includes a plurality of optical receivers. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ice detecting sensor detects a distance from the ice maker to a top portion of ice collected in the storage bin. 
   
   
       10 . An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator, the apparatus comprising:
 an ice maker having a first heater;   a storage bin;   an ice detecting sensor to detect an amount of ice stored in the storage bin;   and attached to the ice maker; and   a second heater to heat the ice detecting sensor.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second heater includes a heat bridge made of conductive material connected to the first heater. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first heater is maintained in an “ON” state until the ice detecting sensor detects an ice-full state of the storage bin, and thereafter the first heater is turned “ON” at prescribed intervals. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a transmitter module and a receiver module attached to the ice maker and separated from each other by a prescribed distance. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the prescribed distance is one of less than and greater than a width of the storage bin. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter module includes at least one infrared photo diode and the receiver module includes at least one photo transistor. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter module and the receiver module are disposed at sides of an ice discharge outlet of the ice maker to transmit and receiver infrared rays by traversing a distance the ice discharge outlet. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the transmitter module comprises a plurality of optical transmitters. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the receiver module includes a plurality of optical receivers.