Refrigerator and control method thereof

A method for controlling a refrigerator, comprising:

• controlling, by a controller when ice pieces are selected through an input part and an operation of an operation pad is detected by an operation detection part, a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor so that the BLDC motor rotates in a second direction to dispense the ice pieces;
• determining whether a restriction of the BLDC motor occurs while the BLDC motor rotates in the second direction;
• stopping the BLDC motor when the restriction of the BLDC motor occurs;
• determining whether the operation of the operation pad is no longer detected by the operation detection part when the restriction of the BLDC motor is not detected while the BLDC motor rotates in the the second direction;
• and
• controlling, by the controller, the BLDC motor so that the BLDC motor rotates in a first direction that is opposite to the second direction for a set time when the restriction of the BLDC motor does not occur and the operation of the operation pad is no longer detected by the operation detection part while the ice pieces are being dispensed,
• wherein the method further comprises:
• when ice cubes are selected through the input part, controlling, by the controller, the BLDC motor so that the BLDC motor rotates in the first direction when the operation of the operation pad is detected to dispense the ice cubes,
• determining whether the operation of the operation pad is no longer being detected by the operation detection part while after the ice cubes are being dispensed, and
• controlling, by the controller, the BLDC motor so that the BLDC motor is stopped when the operation of the operation pad is no longer detected by the operation detection part while the ice cubes are being dispensed.

A refrigerator comprising:

• an ice maker configured to generate ice;
• an ice bin configured to store the ice generated in the ice maker, the ice bin comprising a rotary blade that rotates to discharge the ice;
• a motor configured to generate power for allowing the rotary blade to rotate;
• an operation pad configured to operate so that ice is discharged from the ice bin;
• an operation detection part configured to detect the operation of the operation pad;
• an input part configured to select ice cubes or ice pieces;
• and
• a controller configured to control the motor when the operation of the operation pad is detected by the operation detection part,
• wherein when the ice pieces are selected through the input part:
• the controller is configured to control the motor so that the motor rotates in a second direction to discharge the ice pieces when the operation of the operation pad is detected by the operation detection part,
• the operation detection part is configured to determine when the operation of the operation pad is no longer being detected while the motor rotates in the second direction to discharge the ice pieces, and
• the controller is configured to control the motor so that the motor rotates in a first direction that is opposite to the second direction for a set time when the operation of the operation pad is no longer detected by the operation detection part while the ice pieces are being discharged, and
• wherein when the ice cubes are selected through the input part” has been changed to:
• the controller is configured to control the motor so that the motor rotates in the first direction to discharge the ice cubes when the operation of the operation pad is detected,
• the operation detection part is configured to determine when the operation of the operation pad is no longer being detected while the motor rotates in the first direction to discharge the ice cubes, and
• the controller is configured to stop the motor when the operation of the operation pad is no longer detected by the operation detection part while the ice cubes are being discharged.