Method for diagnosing ice-making apparatus

1. A method for diagnosing an ice-making apparatus, wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a controller and a display, wherein the method comprises:

determining, by the controller, whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not;

upon determination that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied, counting, by the controller, an actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus;

displaying the counted number on the display by the controller;

counting a time elapse between a start time to count the number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus and a current time;

calculating, by the controller, a normal expected range of the number of ice forming and removing cycles for the time elapse, wherein the normal expected range is defined based on a normal expected number of ice forming and removing cycles in a normal state of the ice-making apparatus for the time elapse;

determining whether the actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus is in the normal expected range, thereby to determine whether the ice-making apparatus is in a normal or abnormal state based on the determination; and

displaying the determination result of the normal or abnormal state of the apparatus on the display by the controller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the controller, whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not comprises determining, by the controller, that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied in an event that an inspection mode in which the ice-making apparatus is disassembled and assembled is terminated.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a manipulation interface, wherein determining, by the controller, whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not comprises determining, by the controller, that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied in an event that a diagnosis-trigger button on the manipulation interface is activated.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a hot-gas valve, wherein counting, by the controller, the number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus comprises counting, by the controller, the number of opening the hot-gas valve in ice-removing operations of the ice forming and removing cycles.

5. A method for diagnosing an ice-making apparatus, wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a controller and a display, wherein the method comprises:

determining, by the controller, whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not;

upon determination that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied, counting, by the controller, an actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus;

displaying the counted number on the display by the controller; and

counting, by the controller, an actual cycle time of each of the ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus;

determining whether each actual cycle time of each of the ice forming and removing cycles is in a range defined based on a cycle time of a single ice forming and removing cycle in a normal state of the apparatus;

computing the number of the ice forming and removing cycles having the actual cycle times not being in the range respectively; and

determining, based on the computed number, whether the ice-making apparatus is in a normal or abnormal state.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a computer, causes the one or more processors to perform operations of a method for diagnosing an ice-making apparatus, wherein the ice-making apparatus includes a display, wherein the operations comprises:

determining whether a diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied or not;

upon determination that the diagnosis-initiation condition for the ice-making apparatus is satisfied, counting an actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus; and

displaying the counted number on the display,

counting a time elapse between a start time to count the number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus and a current time;

calculating a normal expected range of the number of ice forming and removing cycles for the time elapse, wherein the normal expected range is defined based on a normal expected number of ice forming and removing cycles in a normal state of the ice-making apparatus for the time elapse;

determining whether the actual number of ice forming and removing cycles performed by the ice-making apparatus is in the normal expected range, thereby to determine whether the ice-making apparatus is in a normal or abnormal state based on the determination; and

displaying the determination result of the normal or abnormal state of the apparatus on the display.