Method of controlling ice-detaching temperature of icemaker

1. A method of controlling an ice-detaching temperature of an icemaker, which includes a water supply tank and an ice-making unit that repeats an ice-making operation and an ice-detaching operation, the method comprising:

a first step of performing the ice-making operation in the ice-making unit until a water level in the water supply tank reaches a set water level;

a second step of acquiring an ice-making time period required to perform the ice-making operation of a corresponding cycle, and acquiring an ambient temperature from an external temperature sensor;

a third step of determining an ice-detaching time period of the ice-detaching operation of the corresponding cycle, based on the acquired ambient temperature and the acquired ice-making time period, wherein the ice-detaching operation includes a heating time period and the ice-detaching time period, wherein the heating time period is for heating a refrigerant to a preset temperature and starts at an end of the ice-making time period, and wherein the ice-detaching time period starts at an end of the heating time period and after reaching the preset temperature;

a fourth step of performing the ice-detaching operation of the corresponding cycle based on the determined ice-detaching time period;

a fifth step of determining whether a previous ice-making time period acquired from a previous cycle of the corresponding cycle is outside the set ice-making time period based on the acquired ice-making time period being outside of the set ice-making time period; and

a sixth step of displaying an error sign and stopping the icemaker based on the previous ice-making time period being outside the set ice-making time period and the acquired ice-making time period being continuously outside the set ice-making time period for at least two times,

wherein the third step further comprises:

determining the ice-detaching time period of the ice-detaching operation within the corresponding cycle in which the required ice-making time period is obtained, based on whether the acquired ice-making time period is within a set ice-making time period, wherein the set ice-making time period is greater than or equal to t1, and less than or equal to t2, and wherein t1 is less than or equal to t2;

extending the ice-detaching time period, when the acquired ice-making time period is outside of the set ice-making time period; and

at least one of maintaining or reducing the ice-detaching time period, when the acquired ice-making time period is within the set ice-making time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third step further comprises:

determining the ice-detaching time period based on whether the acquired ambient temperature is within a set ambient temperature range;

extending the ice-detaching time period, when the acquired ambient temperature is less than a first temperature; and

at least one of maintaining or reducing the ice-detaching time period, when the acquired ambient temperature is equal to or greater than the first temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fourth step further comprises:

counting the determined the ice-detaching time period from a time when a refrigerant temperature sensed by an evaporator sensor installed in an outlet pipe of an evaporator reaches a set refrigerant temperature;

performing an operation of an ice-making water pump to prevent an increase in evaporator temperature when the refrigerant temperature reaches a second temperature during the ice-detaching time period; and

turning off the ice-making water pump when the refrigerant temperature reaches a third temperature during the ice-detaching time period.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fourth step further comprises operating an ice-making water pump in a last section of the ice-detaching time period.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the fourth step further comprises supplying water used for ice-making in the ice-detaching operation, after the ice-making operation is completed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the required ice-making time period and the ice-making operation are continuously counted when the water level in the water supply tank does not reach the set water level.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third step further comprises:

acquiring a temperature of water supplied to a water supply tank;

determining an ice-detaching time period based on the water supply temperature;

extending the ice-detaching time period when the acquired temperature of the water is lower than a target temperature; and

reducing the ice-detaching time period when the acquired temperature of the water is equal to or greater than the target temperature.