Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a storage space, a cooler, a first tray constituting a part of a cell which is the space in which water is phase-changed to ice by the cold, a second tray, which constitutes another part of the cell, a water supply valve to adjust the flow of water to be supplied to the icing cell, a water supply amount detection unit or sensor, and a controller configured to control the supply valve.

1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly including a first tray;   a second tray assembly including a second tray;   a cell in which liquid is phase-changed into ice, the first tray defining a first portion of the cell and the second tray defining a second portion of the cell; and   a temperature sensor provided to detect a temperature of the first tray or a temperature of the liquid or the ice in the cell and configured to detect a supply amount of the liquid in the cell,   wherein the temperature sensor is exposed to the cell.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first tray includes:
 an opening to introduce at least one of cold or the liquid to the cell, and   a first surface,   wherein the temperature sensor comprises a portion that is positioned closer to the first surface than the opening of the first tray.   
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , wherein the first surface is in contact with the second tray. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first tray includes:
 an auxiliary storage chamber communicating with the cell, and   a first surface,   wherein a distance between an end of the auxiliary storage chamber and the first surface is greater than a distance between a portion of the temperature sensor and the first surface.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein the first surface is in contact with the second tray. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first tray includes a first surface and the second tray includes a second surface in contact with the first surface when the first tray contacts with the second tray. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a portion that is positioned closer to the first surface than one end of the cell. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 7 , further comprising a heater configured to provide heat to the cell,
 wherein one end of the heater is positioned closer to the first surface than the portion of the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the heater is positioned closer to the first tray than the second tray. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , further comprising a heater configured to provide heat to the cell,
 wherein a first distance between the portion of the temperature sensor and a vertical center line of the cell is less than a second distance between a portion of the heater and the vertical center line of the cell.   
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to the cell in an ice making process. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the heater is configured to provide heat to the cell in an ice separation process. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a supply valve configured to adjust a flow of the liquid supplied to the cell. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second tray includes a second surface in contact with a first surface of the first tray when the first tray contacts with the second tray. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein the first tray contacts with the second tray when the second tray is located at an ice making position. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the temperature sensor is disposed lower than one end of the cell. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein when an amount of liquid as much as a target liquid supply amount is supplied to the cell, the temperature sensor is in contact with the liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein it is determined that whether an ice making is completed based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on the first tray. 
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber; and   the ice maker of  claim 1 .