Refrigerator and method for controlling same

Abstract

A refrigerator of the present disclosure can include an ice making cell, a heater configured to supply heat to the ice making cell during an ice making process, and a controller configured to control the heater. The process for controlling the heater includes a basic heating process and an additional heating process that is performed after the basic heating process. In the basic heating process, the controller performs control so that a heating amount of the heater varies according to a mass per unit height of water in the ice making cell. In at least partial section of the additional heating process, the controller controls the heater to operate with a heating amount that is equal to or less than a heating amount of the heater in the basic heating process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a cell having a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold;   a first tray configured to define a first portion of the cell;   a second tray configured to define a second portion of the cell;   a cooler configured to supply the cold into the cell;   a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water or the ice within the cell;   a heater configured to supply heat into the cell, the heater being positioned outside of the cell; and   a controller configured to control the heater to provide the heat for a section of the cell in an ice making process, while the cooler supplies the cold,   wherein a process for controlling the heater in the ice making process comprises:   a basic heating process; and   an additional heating process that is performed after the basic heating process,   wherein in a section of the basic heating process, the controller is configured to vary a heating amount of the heater, and   in at least a partial section of the additional heating process, the heating amount of the heater is equal to or less than a heating amount of the heater in the basic heating process.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when a predetermined time elapses or when a value measured by the temperature sensor reaches a reference value, the controller is configured to control the basic heating process to change from a current process to a next process among a plurality of processes of the basic heating process, and
 when a first set time elapses, a final process of the basic heating process is ended.   
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein, in the basic heating process, the controller is configured to control the cooler such that a cooling amount of the cooler varies according to a volume per unit height in the cell. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein, in the basic heating process the controller is configured to vary a heating amount of the heater according to a volume per unit height in the cell. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when a predetermined time elapses or when a value measured by the temperature sensor reaches a reference value, the controller is configured to control the additional heating process to change from a current process to a next process among a plurality of processes of the additional heating process, and
 a first process of the additional heating process is ended when a set time elapses.   
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the basic heating process includes a process of operating the heater for a first set time, and
 the additional heating process includes a process of operating the heater for a second set time, the second set time being longer than the first set time.   
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the basic heating process includes a process of operating the heater for a first set time, and
 the additional heating process includes:
 a first process of operating the heater for a second set time; and 
 a second process of operating the heater for a third set time after the first process, the third set time being equal to or shorter than the second set time. 
   
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator having the ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space and a door,
 the ice maker is provided in the storage space or the door.   
     
     
         9 . An ice maker comprising:
 a cell having a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold;   a first tray configured to define a first portion of the cell;   a second tray configured to define a second portion of the cell;   a cooler configured to supply the cold into the ice cell;   a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water or the ice within the cell;   a heater configured to supply heat into the ice making cell, the heater being positioned outside of the cell; and   a controller configured to control the heater to provide the heater for a section of the cell in an ice making process, while the cooler supplies the cold,   wherein a process for controlling the heater in the ice making process comprises:   a basic heating process; and   an additional heating process that is performed after the basic heating process,   wherein in a section of the basic heating process, the controller is configured to vary a heating amount of the heater, and   wherein the additional heating process comprises:
 a first additional process; and 
 a second additional process that is performed after an end of the first additional process, 
 wherein a heating amount of the heater in the second additional process is equal to or smaller than a heating amount of the heater in the first additional process, or 
 in at least section of the additional heating process, the heating amount of the heater is the same as a heating amount of the heater in one of a plurality of processes of the basic heating process. 
   
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein in at least section of the additional heating process, the heating amount of the heater is the same as a minimum heating amount of the heater in the basic heating process. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the basic heating process includes a plurality of processes, and
 a heating amount of the heater in a last process among the plurality of processes is greater than a heating amount of the heater in a previous process.   
     
     
         12 . An ice maker comprising:
 a cell having a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold;   a first tray configured to define a first portion of the cell;   a second tray configured to define a second portion of the cell;   a cooler configured to supply the cold into the cell;   a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water or the ice within the cell;   a heater configured to supply heat into the cell, the heater being positioned outside of the cell; and   a controller configured to control the heater to provide the heat for a section of the cell in an ice making process, while the cooler supplies the cold,   wherein a process for controlling the heater in the ice making process comprises:   a basic heating process; and   an additional heating process that is performed after the basic heating process,   wherein in at least section of the additional heating process, a heating amount of the heater is varied corresponding to a target temperature of a storage chamber, a cooling power of the cooler being determined corresponding to the target temperature of the storage chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the heating amount of the heater is increased when the target temperature decreases. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the heating amount of the heater is reduced when the target temperature increases. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the basic heating process includes a plurality of processes, and
 a heating amount of the heater in a last process among the plurality of processes is greater than a heating amount of the heater in a previous process.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein in a section of the basic heating process, the controller is configured to vary a heating amount of the heater, and
 wherein the basic heating process includes a process of operating the heater for a first set time, and   the additional heating process includes a process of operating the heater for a second set time, the second set time being longer than the first set time.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein in a section of the basic heating process, the controller is configured to vary a heating amount of the heater, and
 wherein the basic heating process includes a process of operating the heater for a first set time, and   the additional heating process includes:
 a first process of operating the heater for a second set time; and 
 a second process of operating the heater for a third set time after the first process, the third set time being equal to or shorter than the second set time. 
   
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the heating amount of the heater increases in at least period that a cooling power of the cooler increases, or
 the heating amount of the heater decreases in at least period that the cooling power of the cooler decreases.   
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein
 the cooling power of the cooler increases,
 in at least period that the target temperature of the storage chamber is lowered, 
 in at least period that an operation mode of the storage chamber is changed from a normal mode to a quick cooling mode, 
 in at least period that an output of at least one of a compressor or a fan increases, 
 in at least period that an opening degree of a refrigerant valve increases. 
   
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein
 the cooling power of the cooler decreases,
 in at least period that the target temperature of the storage chamber increases, 
 in at least period that an operation mode of the storage chamber is changed from a quick cooling mode to a normal mode, 
 in at least period that an output of at least one of a compressor or a fan decreases, 
 in at least period that an opening degree of a refrigerant valve decreases, 
 in at least period that a door is opened during the ice making process, 
 in at least period that a defrost heater is operated, or 
 in at least period that full ice is detected in an ice bin provided in a door.