# US 12,111,090 B2 · Control method and control apparatus for ice making of refrigerator, and refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,090 B2 - Document ID: US12111090B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/615,547 - Filed: 2020-05-22 - Published: 2022-07-28 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-11 - Assignees: Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co., Ltd.; Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co., Ltd.; Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jun Wang; Aimei Kan; Jirong Wu; Long Yao; Yunfei Zhu; Zhi Zhang; Haiyan Liu; Xiang Fang; Sizhi Guo; Wei Chen; Quanshui Li; Wenqing Kan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111090B2 ## CPC - F25C 1/24: for refrigerators, e.g. freezing trays - F25C 5/187: with ice level sensing means - F25D 29/00: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - F25C 2600/02: Timing - F25C 2600/04: Control means - F25C 2700/02: Level of ice - F25D 2700/02: Sensors detecting door opening - F25C: PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract The present application relates to the field of ice making control for a refrigerator. Disclosed is a control method for ice making of a refrigerator, the method comprising: when an ice maker finishes ice making, detecting whether an ice storage box of the ice maker is in an ice-full state; when it is detected that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state, controlling the ice maker to complete a first instance of ice turning; detecting again whether the ice storage box of the ice maker is in the ice-full state; and when it is detected that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state, controlling the ice maker to make ice again. In this way, the utilization rate of an ice maker can be effectively improved, the ice making amount is improved, the time during which a user waits for ice making is reduced, and the user experience is improved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control method for ice making of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising an ice maker, comprising: acquiring a duration that a door of the refrigerator is opened before the ice maker works; and determining a first time according to the duration; controlling the ice maker to work for a first time; acquiring a temperature of ice cubes in an ice cube tray of the ice maker; and completing ice making in response to determining that the temperature of the ice cubes is lower than a preset temperature; detecting whether an ice storage box of the ice maker is in an ice-full state in response to that the ice maker completes ice making; controlling the ice maker to perform a first ice turning over in response to detecting that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state; detecting again whether the ice storage box of the ice maker is in the ice-full state; and controlling the ice maker to remake ice in response to detecting that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Control method of claim 1, wherein the detecting again whether the ice storage box of the ice maker is in the ice-full state further comprises: controlling the ice maker to perform a second ice turning over in response to detecting that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state; and controlling the ice maker to remake ice. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1, further comprising: delaying a second time in response to firstly detecting that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state; and controlling the ice maker to restart first ice turning over. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1, further comprising: acquiring an ambient temperature around the refrigerator; and determining the first time according to the ambient temperature and the duration. ### Claim 5 A control device for ice making of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including an ice maker, and the control device comprising: a controller configured to acquire a duration that a door of the refrigerator is opened before the ice maker works; and determine a first time according to the duration; control the ice maker to work for a first time; acquire a temperature of ice cubes in an ice cube tray of the ice maker; and complete ice making in response to determining that the temperature of the ice cubes is lower than a preset temperature; detect whether an ice storage box of the ice maker is in an ice-full state in response to that the ice maker completes ice making; control the ice maker to perform a first ice turning over in response to detecting that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state; detect again whether the ice storage box of the ice maker is in the ice-full state; and control the ice maker to remake ice in response to detecting that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control device of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to: control the ice maker to perform a second ice turning over in response to detecting that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state; and control the ice maker to remake ice. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The control device of claim 5, the controller is further configured to: delay a second time in response to firstly detecting that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state; and control the ice maker to restart first ice turning over. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The control device of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to: acquire an ambient temperature around the refrigerator; and determine the first time according to the ambient temperature and the duration. ### Claim 9 A refrigerator, comprising: an ice maker including an ice storage box; and a controller, the controller configured to: acquire a duration that a door of the refrigerator is opened before the ice maker works; and determine a first time according to the duration; control the ice maker to work for a first time; acquire a temperature of ice cubes in an ice cube tray of the ice maker; and complete ice making in response to determining that the temperature of the ice cubes is lower than a preset temperature; detect whether the ice storage box of the ice maker is in an ice-full state in response to that the ice maker completes ice making; control the ice maker to perform a first ice turning over in response to detecting that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state; detect again whether the ice storage box of the ice maker is in the ice-full state; and control the ice maker to remake ice in response to detecting that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to: control the ice maker to perform a second ice turning over in response to detecting that the ice storage box is not in the ice-full state; and control the ice maker to remake ice. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to: delay a second time in response to firstly detecting that the ice storage box is in the ice-full state; and control the ice maker to restart first ice turning over. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to: acquire an ambient temperature around the refrigerator; and determine the first time according to the ambient temperature and the duration.