Refrigerator and full ice level sensing apparatus thereof

Abstract

A refrigerator and an ice level sensing apparatus are provided. The refrigerator may include a main body, and an ice level sensing apparatus including an optical element for sending or receiving a signal, and an alignment device for aligning and maintaining alignment of the optical element in a preset direction. The sensing apparatus may sense whether an ice storage container in which ice cubes made by an ice maker is at a full ice level. The optical element may be aligned at a preset position, thus preventing movement of the optical element, resulting in improved reliability of the sensing apparatus.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body;
 a door coupled to the main body; 
   an ice maker installed in the main body or the door;   a storage container configured to receive and store the ice cubes made by the ice maker; and   a sensing apparatus configured to sense an ice level in the storage container, the sensing apparatus comprising:
   an optical element that sends or receives a signal; and   at least one alignment device that aligns and secures the optical element in a preset direction.   
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises:
 a transmitting module that sends a signal; and   a receiving module that receives the signal sent by the transmitting module.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing apparatus is disposed at the ice maker. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitting module and the receiving module are coupled to first and second printed circuit boards (PCBs), respectively, and wherein the at least one alignment device comprises first and second alignment devices that couple the transmitting and receiving modules to the first and second PCBs, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein each of the alignment devices comprises:
 an accommodation portion in which a respective transmitting or receiving module is accommodated; and   a coupling portion formed at one end of the accommodation portion so as to couple the accommodation portion to the corresponding PCB.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a plurality of coupling protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein each of the coupling protrusions comprises a stopper configured to contact the corresponding PCB so as to prevent the separation of the plurality of coupling protrusions from the corresponding PCB. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein each of the coupling protrusions is elastically deformable. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitting module comprises a single transmitter and the receiving module comprises a plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the single transmitter is positioned on a first side of the ice maker and the plurality of receivers are positioned on a second side of the ice maker opposite the first side, and wherein the plurality of receivers are spaced apart from each other on the second side of the ice maker so as to form a receiving range in which the signal from the single transmitter is received. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing apparatus further comprises a temperature regulator configured to increase a temperature of the optical element. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature regulator comprises a heater configured to increase the temperature of the optical element. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the sensing apparatus further comprises case in which the optical element and the at least one alignment device are received, and a cover that covers and open face of the case, the cover having a transparent window. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature regulator is positioned adjacent to the cover. 
     
     
         15 . An ice level sensing apparatus for a refrigerator that senses whether a storage container that stores ice cubes made by an ice maker is fully filled with ice cubes, the apparatus comprising:
 a case having an accommodation space formed therein;   a printed circuit board (PCB) received in the accommodation space;   an optical element mounted at the PCB and configured to send or receive a signal; and   an alignment device configured to align and maintain alignment of the optical element in a preset direction.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the case is provided with an opening through which the PCB is positioned in the accommodation space, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a sealing cap that covers and seals the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a heater configured to increase a temperature of the optical element. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the case includes a transparent window, and the heater is positioned at one side of the transparent window. 
     
     
         19 . An ice level sensing apparatus for a refrigerator, the sensing apparatus comprising a transmitter and a receiver spaced apart from each other, each having a case with an accommodation space formed therein and a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the case, wherein the sensing apparatus senses whether a container storing ice cubes made by an ice maker is fully filled with ice cubes, wherein the transmitter comprises a first electronic element mounted at a corresponding PCB thereof, and a first alignment device that aligns and secures the first electronic element in a first preset direction, and wherein the receiver comprises a second electronic element mounted at a corresponding PCB thereof, and a second alignment device that aligns and secures the second electronic element in a second preset direction.