Ice making unit and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

An ice making unit includes an ice making chamber having an ice making area and an ice storing area, an ice tray installed within the ice making area and rotatable by a driving force transferred from the exterior, a driving module fixed in an inner wall of the ice making chamber and configured to provide the driving force, and a control module disposed outside the ice making chamber and configured to control the driving module. Also, a refrigerator with the ice making unit is provided. Therefore, the ice making area and the ice storing area of the ice making chamber can be increased.

1 . An ice making unit comprising:
 an ice making chamber having an ice making area and an ice storing area;   an ice tray installed within the ice making area and rotatable by a driving force transferred from the exterior;   a driving module fixed in an inner wall of the ice making chamber and configured to provide the driving force; and   a control module disposed outside the ice making chamber and configured to control the driving module.   
     
     
         2 . The ice making unit of  claim 1 , wherein the driving module is fixed in the inner wall of the ice making chamber where the ice making area is located. 
     
     
         3 . The ice making unit of  claim 1 , wherein the driving module comprises a motor part configured to generate a driving force, and a gear part having a plurality of gears disposed between the motor part and the ice tray to allow transferring of the driving force. 
     
     
         4 . The ice making unit of  claim 3 , wherein the motor part and the gear part are independent of each other and orthogonally connected to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The ice making unit of  claim 3 , wherein the motor part and the gear part are integrally formed with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The ice making unit of  claim 3 , wherein the driving module is partially laid within the inner wall of the ice making chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The ice making unit of  claim 3 , wherein the whole area of the driving module excluding a shaft portion connected to the ice tray is laid within the inner wall of the ice making chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a refrigeration area;   a door rotatably disposed at one side of the main body and configured to open or close the refrigeration area;   an ice making chamber located inside the door, and having an ice making area and an ice storing area located below the ice making area, the ice making chamber having an ice tray installed within the ice making area and rotatable by a driving force provided from the exterior; and   a driving unit fixed in an inner wall of the ice making chamber and configured to provide the driving force by receiving a control signal from the exterior of the main body or the door.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the driving unit comprises a driving module fixed in the inner wall of the ice making chamber and configured to provide the driving force, and a control module disposed outside the ice making chamber and configured to control the driving module by transmitting a control signal to the driving module. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the driving module is fixed in the inner wall of the ice making chamber where the ice making area is located. 
     
     
         11 . The ice refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the driving module comprises a motor part configured to generate a driving force, and a gear part having a plurality of gears disposed between the motor part and the ice tray to allow transferring of the driving force. 
     
     
         12 . The ice refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the motor part and the gear part are independently separated from each other and orthogonally connected to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The ice refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the motor part and the gear part are integrally formed with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The ice refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the driving module is partially laid within the inner wall of the ice making chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The ice refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the whole area of the driving module excluding a shaft portion connected to the ice tray is laid within the inner wall of the ice making chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the control module is electrically connected to the driving module,
 wherein the control module is located at one of an upper end of the door, at a lower portion of the door at a preset position below the ice making chamber, and an upper end of the main body.