Refrigerator

Abstract

An ice making device in a refrigerator including light sensors to detect an ice level in the ice bucket. An ice level sensing unit is positioned lower than an upper edge of the ice bucket and thus can detect ice level even when the ice bucket is not completely full. The ice level sensing unit includes one or more pairs of light emitting sensor and light receiving sensor. When ice in the ice bucket accumulates to a detectable level, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting sensor and received by the light receiving sensor can be blocked accordingly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an ice-making compartment; and   an ice-making device disposed inside the ice-making compartment and comprising:
 an ice-making assembly configured to produce ice from water; 
 an ice bucket configured to store the ice produced in the ice-making assembly; and 
 an ice level sensing unit configured to sense a level of ice in the ice bucket, wherein the ice level sensing unit is disposed lower than an upper edge of the ice bucket. 
   
     
     
         2 . A refrigerator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a main body comprising a storage space; and 
 a door coupled to the main body for covering the storage space, and 
 wherein the ice-making compartment is disposed in the door or inside the main body. 
 
     
     
         3 . A refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice level sensing unit comprises:
 a light-emitting sensor installed on one sidewall of the ice-making compartment and configured to emit light; and   a light-receiving sensor installed on the other sidewall of the ice-making compartment and configured to receive light emitted from the light-emitting sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the ice bucket comprises:
 a first sidewall comprising a first cutout portion, wherein light emitted from the light-emitting sensor is transmitted to the light-receiving sensor through the first cutout portion; and   a second sidewall facing the first sidewall of the ice bucket and comprising a second cutout portion, wherein light emitted from the light-emitting sensor is transmitted to the light-receiving sensor through the second cutout portion.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the light-emitting sensor and the light-receiving sensor are spaced apart in a transverse direction of the ice bucket. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 3  further comprising a control unit configured to determine fullness of the ice bucket based on a detected level of ice in the ice bucket. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein a level of ice in the ice bucket is determined based on an amount of light sensed by the light-receiving sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an ice-making compartment;   an ice tray disposed within the ice-making compartment and configured to receive water and to produce ice from the water;   an ice bucket configured to store the ice produced in the ice tray;   an ice level sensing unit configured to detect an ice level in the ice bucket and the ice level sensing unit comprising:
 a light-emitting unit installed on a first wall of the ice-making compartment; and 
 a light-receiving unit installed on a second wall of the ice-making compartment. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the light-emitting unit is disposed in a position lower than an upper edge of the ice bucket. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the light-emitting unit comprises a plurality of light-emitting sensors configured to emit light. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the light-receiving unit is disposed in a position lower than the upper edge of the ice bucket. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the light-receiving unit comprises a plurality of light-receiving sensors configured to sense the light emitted from the light-emitting unit. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a control unit configured to cause the light-emitting sensors to alternately emit light.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein a light-receiving sensor and a light-emitting sensor are disposed at a same height with reference to the ice bucket. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein a light-receiving sensor and a light-emitting sensor are disposed at different heights with reference to the ice bucket. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine fullness of the ice bucket based on an ice level detected by the ice level sensing unit.