(Currently Amended) A container sensing apparatus of a water purifier having an automatic water dispensing feature to fill a container with a fixed amount of water, comprising: a signal sensing unit configured to transmit a detection signal at a predetermined angle of incidence and to receive a reflection signal corresponding to the detection signal reflected from a surface of the container; and a control unit configured to determine whether the container is present in a predetermined water receiving position using the reflection signal, wherein the signal sensing unit includes: a plurality of transmitters, each of said plurality of transmitters being configured to transmit the detection signal at the predetermined angle of incidence; at least one receiver configured to receive the reflection signal at an angle of reflection corresponding to the angle of incidence from one or more of said plurality of transmitters; and an operation controller configured to control operating times of the plurality of transmitters and the at least one receiver according to a predetermined operating mode, characterized in that the operation controller operates the plurality of transmitters to periodically transmit a detection signal and the at least one receiver to periodically receive a reflection signal for a standby operation time within a standby period when the operating mode is in a standby mode, and operates the plurality of transmitters to periodically transmit a detection signal and the at least one receiver to periodically receive a reflection signal for a sensing operation time within a sensing period when the operating mode is in a sensing mode, wherein the standby mode is activated when the container is not detected, and the sensing mode is activated when the container is detected, wherein the standby operation time is shorter than the standby period and the sensing operation time is shorter than the sensing period, and wherein a length of the standby period is equal to a length of the sensing period, and a length of the standby operation time is shorter than a length of the sensing operation time. a signal sensing unit configured to transmit a detection signal at a predetermined angle of incidence and to receive a reflection signal corresponding to the detection signal reflected from a surface of the container; and a control unit configured to determine whether the container is present in a predetermined water receiving position using the reflection signal, wherein the signal sensing unit includes: a plurality of transmitters, each of said plurality of transmitters being configured to transmit the detection signal at the predetermined angle of incidence; at least one receiver configured to receive the reflection signal at an angle of reflection corresponding to the angle of incidence from one or more of said plurality of transmitters; and an operation controller configured to control operating times of the plurality of transmitters and the at least one receiver according to a predetermined operating mode, characterized in that the operation controller operates the plurality of transmitters to periodically transmit a detection signal and the at least one receiver to periodically receive a reflection signal for a standby operation time within a standby period when the operating mode is in a standby mode, and operates the plurality of transmitters to periodically transmit a detection signal and the at least one receiver to periodically receive a reflection signal for a sensing operation time within a sensing period when the operating mode is in a sensing mode, wherein the standby mode is activated when the container is not detected, and the sensing mode is activated when the container is detected, wherein the standby operation time is shorter than the standby period and the sensing operation time is shorter than the sensing period, and wherein a length of the standby period is equal to a length of the sensing period, and a length of the standby operation time is shorter than a length of the sensing operation time. a plurality of transmitters, each of said plurality of transmitters being configured to transmit the detection signal at the predetermined angle of incidence; at least one receiver configured to receive the reflection signal at an angle of reflection corresponding to the angle of incidence from one or more of said plurality of transmitters; and an operation controller configured to control operating times of the plurality of transmitters and the at least one receiver according to a predetermined operating mode, characterized in that the operation controller operates the plurality of transmitters to periodically transmit a detection signal and the at least one receiver to periodically receive a reflection signal for a standby operation time within a standby period when the operating mode is in a standby mode, and operates the plurality of transmitters to periodically transmit a detection signal and the at least one receiver to periodically receive a reflection signal for a sensing operation time within a sensing period when the operating mode is in a sensing mode, wherein the standby mode is activated when the container is not detected, and the sensing mode is activated when the container is detected, wherein the standby operation time is shorter than the standby period and the sensing operation time is shorter than the sensing period, and wherein a length of the standby period is equal to a length of the sensing period, and a length of the standby operation time is shorter than a length of the sensing operation time.