A control method of a refrigerator includes: determining whether a first temperature of a refrigerating compartment satisfies a first temperature condition; based the first temperature satisfying the first temperature condition, determining whether a second temperature of a freezing compartment satisfies a second temperature condition; based on the second temperature satisfying the second temperature condition, determining (i) whether a third temperature of an ice making compartment satisfies a third temperature condition and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed; maintaining operation of a compressor while determining (i) whether the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, (ii) whether the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition, and (iii) whether the driving time has passed; and stopping operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time has passed.

An icemaker employs a thermoformed ice tray that may have preprinted conductors providing for heating elements in capacitive sensing. Capacitive sensing may be used to control a water fill level and/or to detect complete freezing of the ice cubes and/or to detect complete ejection of the ice cubes.

An apparatus for melting ice comprising an ice bin structure containing ice. The ice bin structure comprising a housing with four walls, a floor, and optionally four supporting legs, a nozzle assembly structure comprising a pipe as well as a head structure, wherein the head structure is oriented at a downward angle; a drainage means situated at the floor of the housing structure; and a removable cover oriented to comprehensively fit the open top of the housing.

An icemaking system includes a circulation circuit configured to circulate icemaking solution, at least one icemaker provided in the circulation circuit, a cooling mechanism, a first detector and an adjuster. The icemaker includes a cooling chamber and a scraping mechanism. The cooling chamber has an inflow port and an exhaust port of solution, and the cooling chamber allows the solution to flow in the cooling chamber. The scraping mechanism scrapes ice generated on an inner surface of the cooling chamber. The cooling mechanism cools the solution in the cooling chamber. The first detector detects whether the inflow port of the cooling chamber has an ice nucleus. The adjuster adjusts a cooling temperature of the solution in accordance with a detection result of the first detector.

A refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, switching valve, an ice-making device, a controller, and a first refrigerant pipe and a second refrigerant pipe connected between the condenser and the evaporator. The switching valve is configured to guide the refrigerant condensed in the condenser to the first refrigerant pipe or the second refrigerant pipe. The ice-making device allows the first refrigerant pipe to pass therethrough and configured to cool water stored in an ice-making tray. The controller is configured to control the switching valve to guide the refrigerant to the ice-making device through the first refrigerant pipe. In response to a temperature of the ice-making tray falling to a level lower than or equal to a reference temperature, the controller is configured to control the switching valve to prevent the refrigerant from being guided to the first refrigerant pipe and supply water to the ice-making tray.

A system and method for controlling ice-making and ice-separating of an ice maker is proposed. In the ice maker that is configured to change an ice-separating time so that ice is cleanly separated in accordance with a changed required icing when the required icing time is changed, the system and method count a consumed ice-making time when ice-making is performed, set a target ice-separating time longer than a predetermined reference ice-separating time when the consumed ice-making time is out of a reference time range, and control the ice maker to perform ice-separating for the set target ice-separating time by means of the controller.

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a first tray assembly defining a portion of an ice making cell and a second tray assembly defining another portion of the ice making cell. The one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies may include a first portion that defines at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion.

A refrigerator that includes a main body, an ice-making chamber formed inside the main body, an ice-making tray to store ice-making water and generate ice, and a refrigerant pipe installed so that at least a part thereof is in contact with the ice-making tray, wherein a refrigerant flows in the refrigerant pipe, wherein the ice-making tray includes an ice-making cell that stores ice-making water, and a temperature sensor accommodation portion that accommodates a temperature sensor that measures temperature of water or ice stored in the ice-making cell, and the temperature sensor accommodation portion includes an accommodation portion that is formed in a groove shape, and has an open upper side so that the temperature sensor moves in or out, and a fixing portion which is coupled to a wire connected to a part of the temperature sensor or to the temperature sensor and fixes a position of the temperature sensor.

A control method of a refrigerator includes: determining whether a first temperature of a refrigerating compartment satisfies a first temperature condition; based the first temperature satisfying the first temperature condition, determining whether a second temperature of a freezing compartment satisfies a second temperature condition; based on the second temperature satisfying the second temperature condition, determining (i) whether a third temperature of an ice making compartment satisfies a third temperature condition and (ii) whether a driving time for ice making has passed; maintaining operation of a compressor while determining (i) whether the second temperature satisfies the second temperature condition, (ii) whether the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition, and (iii) whether the driving time has passed; and stopping operation of the compressor based on at least one of (i) a determination that the third temperature satisfies the third temperature condition or (ii) a determination that the driving time has passed.

Disclosed are an ice maker, which can make ice with high transparency. The ice maker includes an ice making container configured to be filled with ice-making water; a heating ice-separator comprising a heating rod extended from above a water surface of the ice-making water into the ice making container so as to be immersed in the ice-making water and configured to transfer heat to the ice-making water, and a rotary shaft connecting with the heating rod, extended to traverse an upper portion of the ice making container, and configured to rotate the heating rod to be separated from the ice making container; and a heater configured to supply heat to the heating rod. By using the heater, the ice maker can not only make the ice with the high transparency, but also make ice-separation structure be simplified.