Patent ID: 7779641

Claim:
An ice supplier comprising: an ice maker configured to make ice; an ice storage bin configured to store ice made by the ice maker, a sensing system configured to sense a quantity of ice stored in the ice storage bin, the sensing system including: a first sender positioned at a first height with respect to the ice storage bin and configured to send a first signal used in sensing the quantity of ice; a first receiver positioned at the first height with respect to the ice storage bin and configured to receive the first signal used in sensing the quantity of ice; a second sender positioned at a second height with respect to the ice storage bin and configured to send a second signal used in sensing the quantity of ice, the second height being different than the first height; a second receiver positioned at the second height with respect to the ice storage bin and configured to receive the second signal used in sensing the quantity of ice; a heating element arranged to be in thermal communication with and produce heat to defrost the first receiver and the second receiver; wherein the heating element comprises a single heat generating portion that is in thermal communication with both the first receiver and the second receiver and that produces heat to defrost both the first receiver and the second receiver; wherein the single heat generating portion abuts a surface of the first receiver through which the first signal is received and abuts a surface of the second receiver through which the second signal is received; and a controller configured to control the ice maker based on the quantity of ice sensed by the sensing system.