Abstract: An automatic icemaker includes a swing arm, an actuator swinging the swing arm, and a transmission section transmitting movement of the actuator to the swing arm. The transmission section includes a cam rotated by the actuator, a pivotally movable lever including an abutting portion abutting the cam and pivotally moved by the rotation of the cam, and a joint member to transmit the movement of the pivotally movable lever to the swing arm. As the swing arm, one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. As the joint member, one of the first, second, and third joint members which corresponds to the selected one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. At different positions on a board which extends in a vertical direction, the first, second, and third supporting portions support the first, second, and third joint members, respectively.

Abstract: An automatic icemaker includes a swing arm, an actuator swinging the swing arm, and a transmission section transmitting movement of the actuator to the swing arm. The transmission section includes a cam rotated by the actuator, a pivotally movable lever including an abutting portion abutting the cam and pivotally moved by the rotation of the cam, and a joint member to transmit the movement of the pivotally movable lever to the swing arm. As the swing arm, one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. As the joint member, one of the first, second, and third joint members which corresponds to the selected one of the first, second, and third swing arms is selected and provided. At different positions on a board which extends in a vertical direction, the first, second, and third supporting portions support the first, second, and third joint members, respectively.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker installed within a freezing compartment includes an ice tray arranged to hold water and make ice pieces; an ice ejecting mechanism arranged to eject the ice pieces made in the ice tray; an ice releasing heater arranged to melt surfaces of the ice pieces made in the ice tray; a thermostat arranged to detect a temperature of the ice tray and to operate at a specified temperature; and an ice storage amount detecting mechanism arranged to detect an amount of the ice pieces stored within an ice storage box. The automatic ice maker further includes a switch mechanism arranged to stop an operation of the ice releasing heater in conjunction with an operation of the ice ejecting mechanism.

Abstract: A motor driving circuit for full-wave single-phase driving a motor includes a position detection unit, a turn-on signal generation unit, and switching devices that define an H-bridge circuit. The turn-on signal generation unit includes a differential amplifier arranged to produce a trapezoid wave signal, and a square wave generation circuit arranged to produce a square wave signal, wherein the trapezoid and the square wave signals are respectively supplied to control terminals of lower switching devices in the H-bridge circuit. Further, one of the lower switching devices is turned on and off according to a voltage level of the square wave signal, and the remaining lower switching device is turned on and off when a voltage of the trapezoid wave signal becomes higher than an operation voltage of the remaining lower switching device, wherein a non-conducting interval is provided for the motor coil according to the operation voltage.

Abstract: A motor driving circuit for full-wave single-phase driving a motor includes a position detection unit, a turn-on signal generation unit, and switching devices that define an H-bridge circuit. The turn-on signal generation unit includes a differential amplifier arranged to produce a trapezoid wave signal, and a square wave generation circuit arranged to produce a square wave signal, wherein the trapezoid and the square wave signals are respectively supplied to control terminals of lower switching devices in the H-bridge circuit. Further, one of the lower switching devices is turned on and off according to a voltage level of the square wave signal, and the remaining lower switching device is turned on and off when a voltage of the trapezoid wave signal becomes higher than an operation voltage of the remaining lower switching device, wherein a non-conducting interval is provided for the motor coil according to the operation voltage.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker for use in freezing compartments of the refrigerators. A planar stop arm is used as an ice cube detecting device for detecting a sufficient ice cubes stored in a bin arranged below a tray for making ice cubes. The stop arm can be swung between the bin for storing therein the ice cubes and the tray in order prevent the ice cubes stored in the bin from being molten by a head radiation from a heater provided on the tray.

Abstract: An automatic ice making apparatus having a sensor which can detect continuously a temperature of an ice making tray is used as a temperature sensor. The temperature and a temperature variation rate of the ice making tray are detected by an electronic control circuit having a function corresponding to an A/D converter and a microprocessor or the like to determine a freezing state of water. Further, a thermistor is used as the temperature sensor, and by and A/D converter including a microprocessor a water level in the ice making tray is detected and a solenoid valve for determining an amount of supply water is controlled so as to suppress the water amount variation due to a water pressure change or the like.

Abstract: An automatic ice maker for use in freezing compartments of the refrigerators. A planar stop arm is used as an ice cube detecting device for detecting a sufficient ice cubes stored in a bin arranged below a tray for making ice cubes. The stop arm can be swung between the bin for storing therein the ice cubes and the tray in order prevent the ice cubes stored in the bin from being molten by a head radiation from a heater provided on the tray.