Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Kun-bin Lee

Sung-ho Cho

An ice making mechanism includes a tray for receiving water to be frozen into ice bodies, a sensor for determining whether the water is frozen, to initiate an ice-ejecting mode, a motor for rotating the tray to perform the ice-ejecting mode, a switching mechanism for indicating a state of the ice-ejecting mode, and a switch actuating structure driven by the motor for changing a state of the switches during the ice-ejecting mode. A state of the switching mechanism is detected in response to the supplying of electrical power to the ice making mechanism, to determine whether the tray is in an initial upright position. If it is determined that the tray is not in the initial upright position, an ice-ejecting mode is initiated. A time period is counted beginning from the initiation of the ice-ejecting mode, and the state of the switching mechanism is monitored to determine whether and when that state changes. The ice-ejecting mode is stopped when the state of the switching mechanism has not changed within a reference time period.

Method for protecting an ice maker from operation failure

An ice making mechanism includes a tray for receiving water to be frozen into ice bodies, a sensor for determining whether the water is frozen, to initiate an ice-ejecting mode, a motor for rotating the tray to perform the ice-ejecting mode, a switching mechanism for indicating a state of the ice-ejecting mode, and a switch actuating structure driven by the motor for changing a state of the switches during the ice-ejecting mode. When an ice-ejecting mode is initiated, a time period for the state of the switching mechanism to be changed is compared with a reference time period. If the state of the switching mechanism has not been changed within the referenced time period, the ice-ejecting mode is stopped, and the tray is returned to an up-right position. Also, an alarm signal is generated indicating to a user that the ice-ejecting mode has been stopped.

Method for controlling an ice-ejecting mode of an ice maker

A brushless DC motor compressor starting circuit protecting apparatus for a refrigerator and a method thereof, for controlling excessive current flowing through a coil of a brushless DC motor which is caused by a pressure load of the refrigerator when a compressor starts, before the compressor repeats turning on and off according to a temperature cycle, are provided with a resistor mounted on a circuit board, and a relay for connecting the resistor in series with a motor coil, so that the resistor is connected in series with the coil when a large current flows at an initial driving. Here, a power voltage of a motor driver is divided by a dividing means and an initial-rotation state of the motor is detected by the divided voltage. Therefore, the destruction of a switching device and the demagnetization of a permanent magnet can be prevented and a stable starting can be achieved by restraining the excessive current flowing in the motor coil at the compressor starting.

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Seoul, South Korea

Kun-bin Lee