Patent ID: 7216491

Claim:
A method of producing ice, comprising the steps of: opening a valve for a first period of time during a first ice making cycle so that water advances from a fluid source into at least one ice forming compartment of an ice tray through said valve; determining with a member used to eject ice from said at least one ice forming compartment of said ice tray whether a level of water in said at least one ice forming compartment is below a threshold value during said first ice making cycle and generating a control signal in response thereto; reducing temperature of water within said ice tray during said first ice making cycle so as to cause said water located within said at least one ice forming compartment to become a first ice cube having a first size; opening said valve for a second period of time during a second ice making cycle in response to generation of said control signal so that water advances from a fluid source into said least one ice forming compartment of said ice tray through said valve during said second ice making cycle, wherein said second period of time is greater than said first period of time; and reducing temperature of water within said ice tray during said second ice making cycle so as to cause said water located within said at least one ice forming compartment to become a second ice cube having a second size that is greater than said first size.