Patent ID: 8196426

Claim:
A method for controlling a refrigerator having a dispenser that includes a dispensing unit that is configured to move between a received position at which a dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of a surface of a refrigerator door where a compartment opened and closed by the refrigerator door is positioned and a dispensing position at which the dispenser outlet of the dispensing unit is positioned on a side of the surface of the refrigerator door opposite of the compartment, the method comprising: receiving user input related to moving the dispensing unit between the received position and the dispensing position; detecting whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position; and driving the dispensing unit based on the user input and the detection of whether the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position or the dispensing position, including at least one of: driving the dispensing unit from the received position to the dispensing position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the received position, and driving the dispensing unit from the dispensing position to the received position based on detecting that the dispensing unit is oriented in the dispensing position.