System and method for ice making of refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for ice making of a refrigerator and, more particularly, to an ice maker of a refrigerator, which reduces unnecessary power consumption by controlling the operation of a heater according to the presence of a liquid for freezing.

1 . An ice making system of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a tray in which water for making ice is received;   a control unit for determining whether water is supplied into the tray and whether an ice making process is finished;   an input unit for inputting an ice-making command to the control unit;   a water supply unit for supplying water into the tray;   a heater for heating the tray when the ice making process is finished; and   an ejector for separating ice formed in the tray, wherein the heater is selectively operated according to whether water is supplied into the tray or not.   
   
   
       2 . The ice making system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is operated only when water is supplied into the tray. 
   
   
       3 . The ice making system according to  claim 2 , wherein the heater is operated according to whether the rotation of the ejector is achieved within a preset time period. 
   
   
       4 . The ice making system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ejector is rotated when the heater is operated,
 and wherein the heater stops operating when the ejector is returned to its original position.   
   
   
       5 . A method for ice making of a refrigerator, comprising the steps of:
 supplying cold air into a tray as an ice making mode is on;   measuring surface temperature of the tray;   rotating an ejector according to the surface temperature of the tray;   determining whether the ejector is returned to its original position within a preset time period; and   supplying water or operating a heater according to the determined result.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein if the ejector is returned to its original position within the preset time period, the water supply process is carried out as it is determined that water is not supplied into the tray. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein if the ejector is returned to its original position within the preset time period, water supply signal or water supply error signal is displayed. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein if the ejector is not returned to its original position within the preset time period, the heater operates as it is determined that the ice making process is completed. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the ejector is rotated as soon as the heater starts to operate. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the heater operates until an ice moving process is completed. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the water supply process is carried out before supplying cold air. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein it is determined that the water supply process is completed if a preset time has been elapsed after supplying water.