초록 ▼

An icemaker system provided in a refrigerator is designed to reduce an amount of time required to produce ice. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration system including a number of refrigeration components and a refrigeration loop. The refrigeration loop includes an icemaker section that carries a

An icemaker system provided in a refrigerator is designed to reduce an amount of time required to produce ice. The refrigerator includes a refrigeration system including a number of refrigeration components and a refrigeration loop. The refrigeration loop includes an icemaker section that carries a flow of refrigerant to an ice mold portion of the icemaker system and a bypass section that isolates the icemaker system from the flow of refrigerant. A control system automatically activates the icemaker system regardless of a need for cooling. That is, upon sensing a demand for ice, the control system opens a valve to cause refrigerant to flow through the icemaker section and activates the refrigeration components to speed ice production whether or not additional cooling is required in fresh food and/or freezer compartments.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A method of controlling a refrigerator including a cabinet, fresh food and freezer compartments defined within the cabinet, an icemaker arranged in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments, and a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food and freezer compartments and the icema

I claim: 1. A method of controlling a refrigerator including a cabinet, fresh food and freezer compartments defined within the cabinet, an icemaker arranged in one of the fresh food and freezer compartments, and a refrigeration system for cooling the fresh food and freezer compartments and the icemaker, the refrigeration system including a plurality of refrigeration components, including at least a compressor, a sole evaporator and a condenser, interconnected through a refrigeration loop that carries a flow of refrigerant to the plurality of refrigeration components and includes an icemaker section extending to the icemaker, and a control system operatively coupled to both the refrigeration system and the icemaker, the method comprising:operating the refrigerator in a rapid ice mode, regardless of a need for cooling in the fresh food or freezer compartments, wherein refrigerant flows through the refrigeration loop and the icemaker section to enhance a production rate of ice; andoperating the refrigeration system to only cool at least one of the fresh food and freezer compartments by having the refrigerant flow through the refrigeration loop, while bypassing the icemaker section.