Ice maker and refrigerator including the same

Abstract

An ice maker, according to the present invention, comprises: a first tray forming a part of an ice-making cell; a second tray forming another part the ice-making cell; and a heater which is disposed so as to be adjacent to the first or the second tray, wherein the heater turns on during a period when cold air is being supplied to the ice-making cell, and the output of the on heater can vary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray configured to define a first portion of a cell;   a second tray configured to define a second portion of the cell;   a heater configured to be disposed adjacent to one of the first tray and the second tray; and   a controller configured to control the heater,   wherein the heater is configured to be turned on in at least partial section while cold air is provided to the cell, and   wherein in a state in which the heater is turned on, the controller is configured to control the heater to vary an output of the heater according to a plurality of steps while the cold air is provided to the cell,   wherein the plurality of steps comprises:   a first step where the controller is configured to operate the heater at a first output greater than zero for a first time period;   a second step where the controller is configured to operate the heater at a second output greater than the first output for a second time period, the second step being performed subsequent to the first step; and   a third step where the controller is configured to operate the heater at a third output less than the second output for a third time period, the third step being performed subsequent to the second step.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first step includes a plurality of sub-steps, or the second step includes a plurality of sub-steps, or the third step includes a plurality of sub-steps. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first time period is different from the second time period and the first time period is different from the third time period. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 3 , wherein the first time period is shorter than the second time period and the first time period is shorter than the third time period. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second time period is different from the first time period and the second time period is different from the third time period. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein the second time period is longer than the first time period and the second time period is shorter than the third time period. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the third time period is different from the first time period and the third time period is different from the second time period. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , wherein the third time period is longer than the first time period and the third time period is longer than the second time period. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the third time period is longer than the first time period, or the third time period is longer than the second time period. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steps comprises a fourth step where the controller is configured to operate the heater at a fourth output equal to zero for a fourth time period. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth time period is shorter than the third time period. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first output is greater than a difference between the first output and the second output, and greater than a difference between the second output and the third output. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second output is greater than a difference between the first output and the second output, and greater than a difference between the second output and the third output. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the third output is greater than a difference between the first output and the second output, and greater than a difference between the second output and the third output. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the third output is greater than a difference between the second output and the third output. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first output and the second output is different from a difference between the second output and the third output. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 16 , wherein a difference between the first output and the second output is less than a difference between the second output and the third output.