Refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes an ice maker having a mold body. A temperature sensor is positioned adjacent the mold body of the ice maker. Utilizing measurements from the temperature sensor, a temperature of air within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance and a temperature of the mold body can both be determined, and the use of multiple temperature sensors within the chilled chamber can thereby be eliminated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;   an ice maker mounted to said cabinet within the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said ice maker having a mold body for receipt of water for freezing;   a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the mold body of said ice maker; and   a controller in communication with said temperature sensor, said controller configured for:
 receiving a first signal and a second signal from said temperature sensor; 
 determining a temperature of said mold body based upon the first signal; and 
 establishing a temperature of air within the chilled chamber of said cabinet based upon the second signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving comprises receiving the first signal from said temperature sensor when said ice maker is producing ice. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein said step of receiving comprises receiving the second signal from said temperature sensor when said ice maker is not producing ice. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature sensor comprises a thermistor or thermocouple. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature sensor is mounted to said ice maker at the mold body of said ice maker. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 5 , wherein said temperature sensor is mounted to the mold body of said ice maker. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within the mold body of said ice maker. 
     
     
         8 . A method for measuring temperatures within a refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance having an ice maker disposed within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance, the ice maker having a mold body and a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the mold body, the method comprising:
 initiating a flow of liquid water into the mold body of the ice maker;   setting a condition of the ice maker to an ice making condition, a temperature measurement of the temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of the mold body in the ice making condition;   measuring a temperature with the temperature sensor;   determining whether the water within the mold body has frozen based at least in part upon the temperature of said step of measuring; and   changing the condition of the ice maker to a frozen ice condition if water within the mold body has frozen at said step of determining, the temperature measurement of the temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of the chilled chamber in the frozen ice condition.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising keeping the condition of the ice maker in the ice making condition if water within the mold body has not frozen at said step of determining. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising maintaining the condition of the ice maker in the ice making condition until water within the mold body has frozen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising harvesting ice from the ice maker if water within the mold body has frozen at said step of determining. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising gauging a temperature with the temperature sensor after said step of changing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising activating a refrigeration system of the refrigerator appliance based at least in part upon the temperature of said step of gauging. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor or thermocouple. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor is mounted to the mold body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned within the mold body. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber;   an ice maker positioned within the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said ice maker having a mold body for receipt of water for freezing; and   means for measuring a temperature of the mold body of said ice maker and a temperature of air within the chilled chamber of said cabinet.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 17 , wherein said cabinet includes a rotatable door for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of said cabinet, said ice maker mounted to the door of said cabinet. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein said door defines the chilled chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the chilled chamber of said cabinet comprises a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber, said ice maker positioned within the freezer chamber, said means for measuring configured for measuring the temperature of the mold body of said ice maker and a temperature of air within the freezer chamber.