초록 ▼

Apparatus and a method for detecting fault conditions in an automatic icemaker system of the type having an ice forming mold and an electric motor and mold heater which are energized during ice cube ejection cycles. A current sensor monitors current in the icemaker motor and mold heater circuit and

Apparatus and a method for detecting fault conditions in an automatic icemaker system of the type having an ice forming mold and an electric motor and mold heater which are energized during ice cube ejection cycles. A current sensor monitors current in the icemaker motor and mold heater circuit and generates an “on”signal when current is detected. A microprocessor measures the duration of the “on”signals and the elapsed time between successive of “on”signals. A diagnostic code is displayed signifying a fault condition in the icemaker circuit when the time between successive “on”signals is less than the normal time required to freeze cubes or the duration of an “on”cycle exceeds the normal ejection time. In a preferred embodiment the microprocessor counts each successive occurrence of a shorter than normal time between ejection cycles and displays the diagnostic code after the detection of three successive shorter than normal times between cycles, so as to avoid unnecessarily alerting the user to isolated short fill occurrences.

대표청구항 ▼

In an appliance having a freezer compartment containing an icemaker of the type having an ice forming mold and an electric motor and mold heater which are energized by an external power supply during ice cube ejection cycles initiated upon detection of frozen cubes in the mold and de-energized upon

In an appliance having a freezer compartment containing an icemaker of the type having an ice forming mold and an electric motor and mold heater which are energized by an external power supply during ice cube ejection cycles initiated upon detection of frozen cubes in the mold and de-energized upon completion of the ejection cycle, an icemaker diagnostic arrangement comprising: current sensing means operative to generate an “on”signal whenever the icemaker motor and mold heater are energized; and logic circuit means including timing means for measuring the elapsed time between successive “on”signals and signal means operative to generate a user discernible signal signifying a malfunction of the icemaker when an elapsed time less than that normally required to freeze cubes in the mold is detected.