Ice maker with piezo dielectric elastomer sensor

Abstract

An ice maker includes, among other things, an ice cube mold, an ice cube remover and a force sensor comprising a piezo dielectric elastomer (PDE). The ice cube mold has at least one cavity for receiving liquid. The ice cube remover is configured to apply a removal force to either the mold or an ice cube. The force sensor is provided on either the mold or the remover and provides an output indicative of the removal force. Upon the removal of an ice cube from the cavity, the ice cube remover applies a removal force to the mold or the ice cube to effect the removal of the ice cube from the cavity and the force sensor outputs a signal indicative of the removal force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice making assembly comprising:
 an ice maker having an output for expelling ice cubes;   a storage bin defining an ice cube reservoir and having an opening in communication with the ice maker output; and   a weight sensor comprising a piezo dielectric elastomer (PDE) provided below the storage bin and outputting a signal indicative of the weight of the ice cubes within the reservoir;   wherein ice cubes expelled from the ice maker are received through the opening and stored in the ice cube reservoir, with the weight sensor providing an output indicative of the weight of the ice cubes within the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker is located higher than the storage bin. 
     
     
         3 . The ice making assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the opening is in a top of the storage bin. 
     
     
         4 . The ice making assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the output does not overlie the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the weight sensor is attached to a storage bin mounting plate. 
     
     
         6 . The ice making assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the storage bin is removable from the storage bin mounting plate. 
     
     
         7 . The ice making assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the storage bin compresses the weight sensor when the storage bin is placed onto the storage bin mounting plate. 
     
     
         8 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker expels ice cubes when the weight sensor output is within a pre-specified range. 
     
     
         9 . The ice making assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-specified range is based in part on a user input. 
     
     
         10 . The ice making assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the user input selects an amount of ice available in the storage bin wherein a selected amount of ice is less than a maximum amount of ice that the storage bin will hold. 
     
     
         11 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker expels ice cubes when the weight sensor output is below a pre-specified value. 
     
     
         12 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker expels ice cubes when the weight sensor output is equal to or below a pre-specified value. 
     
     
         13 . The ice making assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker expels ice cubes when the weight sensor output is above a pre-specified value. 
     
     
         14 . The ice making assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-specified range is based in part on a capacity of the storage bin.