Patent ID: 8959939
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: F25C,F25D

Abstract:
1. An ice detecting apparatus for a refrigerator, the apparatus comprising: an ice maker; an ice container to collect ice made by the ice maker; and an ice detecting sensor to detect an amount of ice stored in the ice container, the ice detecting sensor having a transmitter module provided on one side of the ice maker and a receiver module provided on another side of the ice maker, the transmitter module being separated by a prescribed distance from the receiver module, and at least one of the transmitter module or receiver module including at least one optical element and at least one heater made of an electroconductive heating material that generates heat upon application of power; a casing and a cover coupled to the casing. the casing housing the at least one optical element and the at least one heater; a printed circuit board in contact with the at least one heater and the at least one optical element; a pipe extending to a predetermined length at a side of the cover facing the printed circuit board; and an insertion hole formed through the pipe, wherein at least a portion of the at least one optical element is received in the insertion hole, and wherein the at least one heater is provided between an end of the pipe and the printed circuit board, wherein the electroconductive heating material is a polymer material that simultaneously transfers electricity and heat, and wherein the at least one heater surrounds and is in contact with at least some portion of the at least one optical element such that heat generated by the at least one heater is directly transmitted from the at least one heater to the at least one optical element.