Ice making device and refrigerator

Abstract

An icemaking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a tray which is provided in an icemaking compartment and has an icemaking cell for making ice. The icemaking apparatus may comprise a cooling unit which provides cold for making ice by the icemaking cell during an icemaking process. The icemaking apparatus may comprise a controller for controlling the cooling unit.

1 . An ice making device comprising:
 a tray provided in an ice making chamber and having a cell for generating ice;   a cooler configured to provide cold for ice generation in the cell in an ice making process; and   a controller configured to control the cooler.   
     
     
         2 . The ice making device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to increase a cooling power of the cooler so that an ice making speed increases after supplying cold to the tray.   
     
     
         3 . The ice making device of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to gradually increase the cooling power of the cooler. 
     
     
         4 . The ice making device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to gradually increase the cooling power of the cooler based on an elapse of time.   
     
     
         5 . The ice making device of  claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the tray,
 wherein the controller is configured to increase the cooling power of the cooler according to a change in temperature detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The ice making device of  claim 2 ,
 further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a space where an ice making device is disposed,   wherein the cooling power of the cooler is determined based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         7 . An ice making device comprising:
 a tray provided in an ice making chamber and having a cell for generating ice;   a cooler including a compressor that operates to generate ice in the cell in an ice making process and an evaporator for providing cold to the tray;   a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the evaporator; and   a controller configured to control the compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The ice making device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to adjust a cooling power of the compressor based on a difference value between a temperature of liquid supplied to the cell and a temperature of the evaporator detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The ice making device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to operate the compressor at a predetermined first cooling power,   wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the evaporator is greater than a first reference value, the controller is configured to operate the compressor at a second cooling power greater than the first cooling power.   
     
     
         10 . The ice making device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the evaporator is less than a second reference value, which is less than the first reference value, the controller is configured to operate the compressor at a third cooling power less than the first cooling power.   
     
     
         11 . The ice making device of  claim 10 ,
 wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the evaporator is equal to or less than the first reference value and equal to or greater than the second reference value, the controller is configured to maintain the first cooling power of the compressor.   
     
     
         12 . The ice making device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to operate the compressor at a predetermined first cooling power,   wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the evaporator is less than a second reference value, the controller is configured to operate the compressor at a third cooling power greater than the first cooling power, or   when a difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the evaporator is equal to or less than the first reference value and equal to or greater than the second reference value, the controller is configured to maintain the first cooling power of the compressor.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The ice making device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the predetermined first cooling power is determined based on a temperature of a space where an ice making device is disposed, or is determined based on a type of the ice generated in the cell.   
     
     
         15 . The ice making device of  claim 8 ,
 wherein a timing for determining whether to adjust the cooling power of the cooler is determined based on a change in temperature of the tray detected by a temperature sensor, or is determined based on an elapse of time.   
     
     
         16 . An ice making device comprising:
 a tray having a cell for generating ice and provided in an ice making chamber;   a cooler configured to provide cold to the tray for generating ice in the cell in an ice making process;   a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the tray; and   a controller configured to control the cooler.   
     
     
         17 . The ice making device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to adjust a cooling power of the cooler based on a difference value between a temperature of liquid supplied to the cell and a temperature of the tray detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The ice making device of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the controller is configured to operate the cooler at a predetermined first cooling power,   wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the tray is greater than a first reference value, the controller is configured to operate the cooler at a second cooling power greater than the first cooling power.   
     
     
         19 . The ice making device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the tray is less than the second reference value, which is less than the first reference value, the controller is configured to operate the cooler at a third cooling power less than the first cooling power.   
     
     
         20 . The ice making device of  claim 19 ,
 wherein when the difference value between the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the tray is equal to or less than the first reference value and equal to or greater than the second reference value, the controller is configured to maintain the first cooling power of the cooler.   
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The ice making device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the predetermined first cooling power is determined based on a temperature of a space where an ice making device is disposed, or is determined based on a type of the ice generated in the cell,   a timing of determining whether to adjust the cooling power of the cooler is determined based on a change in temperature of the tray detected by the temperature sensor, or is determined based on an elapsed time.   
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled)