Ice-full state detecting apparatus and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

An ice-full state detecting apparatus and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. The refrigerator including an ice-full state detecting apparatus includes: a refrigerator body including a cooling chamber; a cooling chamber door to open and close the cooling chamber; an ice maker installed at the cooling chamber or at the cooling chamber door; an ice storage container to store ice made by the ice maker; and the ice-full state detecting apparatus to detect an ice-full state of the ice storage container, wherein the ice-full state detecting apparatus includes: a ice-full state detecting sensor to detect an ice-full state of the ice storage container; a sensor heater to heat the ice-full state detecting sensor; a detecting unit to detect whether the ice-full state detecting sensor is in contact with external air; and a controller to control the operation of the sensor heater based on the detection result of the detecting unit. The ice-full state detecting sensor can be restrained from being frosted to thus prevent degradation of detection performance of the ice-full state detecting sensor. In addition, power consumption required for a defrosting operation can be reduced.

1 . A refrigerator including an ice-full state detecting apparatus, comprising:
 a refrigerator body including a cooling chamber;   a cooling chamber door to open and close the cooling chamber;   an ice maker installed at the cooling chamber or at the cooling chamber door;   an ice storage container to store ice made by the ice maker; and   the ice-full state detecting apparatus to detect an ice-full state of the ice storage container,   wherein the ice-full state detecting apparatus comprises:   a ice-full state detecting sensor to detect an ice-full state of the ice storage container;   a sensor heater to heat the ice-full state detecting sensor;   a detecting unit to detect whether the ice-full state detecting sensor is in contact with external air; and   a controller to control the operation of the sensor heater based on the detection result of the detecting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling chamber comprises a freezing chamber, the cooling chamber door comprises a freezing chamber door to open and close the freezing chamber, and the ice maker is disposed at the freezing chamber door. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the freezing chamber door comprises a case forming a space for accommodating the ice maker and a door to open and close the case, and the detecting unit detects whether or not the door is open. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the detecting unit comprises a switch turned on or off according to relative movement of the door and the case. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the switch is disposed at the case and turned on or off by being pressed by the door. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein combination portions are formed at the door and the case such that they are engaged with each other to maintain the door closing the case. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the switch is disposed at a portion where the combination portions are engaged, and turned on or off as the combination portions are engaged. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the controller operates the sensor heater when the door is open. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the controller stops operation of the sensor heater when the door is closed. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the ice maker is disposed at the freezing chamber, and the detecting unit detects whether or not the freezing chamber door is open. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the controller controls the sensor heater to operate when the freezing chamber door is open. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling chamber comprises a refrigerating chamber, the cooling chamber door comprises a refrigerating chamber door to open and close the refrigerating chamber, and the ice maker is disposed at the refrigerating chamber door. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerating chamber door comprises a case providing the ice maker and a receiving space with one side open, and a door for opening and closing the open portion of the case. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the detecting unit may detect whether or not the door is open. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the controller controls the sensor heater to operate when the door is open. 
     
     
         16 . An ice-full state detecting apparatus comprising:
 a case having a receiving space with one side open;   a door for opening and closing the open region of the case;   an ice-full state detecting sensor for detecting whether or not an ice storage container is full of ice;   a sensor heater for heating the ice-full state detecting sensor;   a detecting unit whether or not the door is open; and   a controller for controlling an operation of the sensor heater based on the detection result of the detecting unit.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the sensor heater to operate when the door is open. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the controller controls the sensor heater to be stopped when the door is closed.