Ice level sensing system for a bottom freezer refrigerator

A refrigeration appliance comprising:

• a fresh food compartment;
• a freezer compartment separate from said fresh food compartment and defined by walls;
• an ice making mechanism located in said freezer compartment;
• an ice bin slidably mounted in said freezer compartment below said ice making mechanism;
• a first structural member secured to a wall of the freezer compartment carrying a first sliding rail to support said ice bin;
• a second structural member secured to a wall of the freezer compartment carrying a second sliding rail to support said ice bin;
• and
• an ice level sensing apparatus having an emitter component mounted on said first structural member and a receiver component mounted on said second structural member.

A refrigeration appliance including a freezer compartment having a plurality of walls and an access opening, said refrigeration appliance comprising:

• an ice making mechanism disposed within said freezer compartment;
• an ice bin mounted in said freezer compartment below said ice making mechanism;
• a first structural member secured to a wall in said freezer compartment;
• a first track attached to said first structural member;
• a second structural member secured to a wall in said freezer compartment;
• a second track attached to said second structural member;
• said ice bin mounted on said first and second tracks to slide into and out of said access opening;
• an emitter component attached to said first structural member to emit a beam of light across an upper portion of said bin;
• and
• a receiver component attached to said second structural member opposite said emitter component to receive said beam of light.