초록 ▼

A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to ma

A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. A related refrigerator is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an icemaker compartment, a compressor and a coolant pump, the icemaker compartment including an ice mold body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating at lea

1. A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an icemaker compartment, a compressor and a coolant pump, the icemaker compartment including an ice mold body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate; and(b) increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of increasing the operation of the coolant pump is achieved by operating the coolant pump at a speed higher than the speed of operation for making ice at the first rate. 3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of periodically activating and deactivating the coolant pump and/or the compressor during the icemaking cycle. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of increasing the operation of the coolant pump is achieved by activating the coolant pump for a longer period of time than the period of time for making ice at the first rate. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of increasing the operation of the compressor is achieved by activating the compressor for a longer period of time than the period of time for making ice at the first rate. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of increasing the operation of the compressor is achieved by reducing the length of time the compressor is deactivated than the period of time for making ice at the first rate. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of increasing the operation is in response to a temperature sensor measuring a temperature equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value within the icemaker compartment. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor is operatively connected to the ice mold body. 9. A method of controlling temperature for forming ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an icemaker compartment, a compressor and a fan, the icemaker compartment including an ice mold body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating at least one of the compressor and the fan during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate; and(b) increasing operation of at least one of the compressor and the fan to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. 10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of periodically activating and deactivating the fan and/or the compressor during the icemaking cycle. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of increasing the operation of the fan is achieved by one of either activating the fan at a speed higher than the speed of operation for making ice at the first rate, or activating the fan for a longer period of time than the period of time for making ice at the first rate. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of increasing the operation of the compressor is achieved by one of either activating the compressor for a longer period of time than the period of time for making ice at the first rate, or reducing the length of time the compressor is deactivated than the period of time for making ice at the first rate. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of increasing the operation is in response to a temperature sensor being operatively connected to the ice mold body and measuring a predetermined temperature. 14. A method of maintaining a temperature for storing ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising an icemaker compartment, a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, a compressor, and a coolant pump, the icemaker compartment including an ice storage bin, the method comprising the steps of: (a) activating the compressor; and(b) activating the coolant pump in response to activation of the compressor. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of activating the compressor is achieved in response to the temperature in either the fresh food compartment, or the freezer compartment, reaching or exceeding a predetermined level. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of reducing the value of the predetermined temperature level in the freezer compartment in response to a temperature sensor within the icemaker compartment measuring a first predetermined level. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of activating the compressor is achieved in response to a temperature sensor within the icemaker compartment measuring a temperature equal to or greater than a first predetermined temperature. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed within the ice storage bin. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first predetermined temperature is about −7° C. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of deactivating the coolant pump and the compressor in response to the temperature sensor measuring a temperature less than or equal to a second predetermined temperature, which is lower than the first. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second predetermined temperature is about −12° C. 22. A method of maintaining a temperature for storing ice within an icemaker compartment of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising an icemaker compartment, a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, a compressor, and a fan, the icemaker compartment including an ice storage bin, the method comprising the steps of: (c) activating the compressor; and(d) activating the fan in response to activation of the compressor. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of activating the compressor is achieved in response to the temperature in either the fresh food compartment, or the freezer compartment, reaching or exceeding a predetermined level. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of reducing the temperature of the predetermined level in the freezer compartment in response to a temperature sensor within the icemaker compartment measuring a first predetermined level. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of activating the compressor is achieved in response to a temperature sensor within the ice storage bin measuring a temperature equal to or exceeding a first predetermined temperature. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first predetermined temperature is about −7° C. 27. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of deactivating the fan and the compressor in response to a temperature sensor measuring a temperature which is equal to or less than a second predetermined temperature, which is lower than the first. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the second predetermined temperature is about −12° C. 29. A refrigerator comprising: a fresh food compartment;an access door operable to selectively close the fresh food compartment;an icemaker compartment mounted on the access door;an icemaker disposed in the icemaker compartment, the icemaker comprising an ice mold body defining therein a plurality of ice cavities and an ice storage bin;a first temperature sensor disposed in the icemaker compartment;a heat exchanger disposed in the icemaker compartment;a compressor;a coolant pump; anda controller for regulating the coolant pump and the compressor. 30. The refrigerator of claim 29, wherein the coolant pump is a variable speed pump and wherein the controller activates at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump during an icemaking cycle to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a first rate, and selectively increases operation of at least one of the compressor and the coolant pump to provide cooling to the icemaker compartment sufficient to make ice at a second rate, which is faster than the first rate. 31. The refrigerator of claim 29, wherein the controller activates the coolant pump in response to activation of the compressor. 32. The refrigerator of claim 31, wherein the compressor is activated in response to a second temperature sensor within the icemaker compartment measuring a temperature which equals or exceeds a first predetermined temperature, and the coolant pump and the compressor are deactivated in response to the second temperature sensor measuring a temperature which is equal to or less than a second predetermined temperature, which is lower than the first. 33. The refrigerator of claim 29, wherein the controller activates the compressor in response to a second temperature sensor measuring a temperature which equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature in either the fresh food compartment, or the freezer compartment. 34. The refrigerator of claim 30, wherein the increase of operation is in response to a second temperature sensor, which is operatively connected to the ice mold body, measuring a temperature which equals or exceeds a predetermined temperature value. 35. The refrigerator of claim 32, wherein the second temperature sensor is disposed in the ice storage bin.