REFRIGERATION DEVICE WITH ICE MAKER

Abstract

A refrigeration device has a housing which delimits at least one cooled storage compartment, an ice maker incorporated in the storage compartment, a refrigeration machine for cooling the storage compartment and a device control unit in order to control the operation of the refrigeration machine and of the ice maker. The ice maker has a secondary electronic control unit which is configured in order to convert a single control command from the device control unit into a sequence of commands directed at different actuators of the ice maker.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application DE 10 2016 219 446.1, filed Oct. 7, 2016; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

While it is almost standard in the North American market to provide refrigeration devices with an automatically functioning ice maker, such ice makers still constitute an optional extra in Europe, the proliferation of which is however on the increase.

On account of the low level of proliferation hitherto, European kitchens are not as a general rule configured in order to provide a refrigeration device with a direct connection to the water supply network. Since many interested parties shy away from the costs associated with the establishment of such a connection, in addition to ice makers configured for connection to the water supply network it is also necessary to offer ice makers which do not require such a connection and can instead be fed from a manually fillable water tank.

Automatic ice makers have for a long time been controlled by electromechanical devices. An electromechanical control device for an ice maker contains a cam disk driven slowly in rotary fashion by an electric motor and levers sensing the contour of the cam disk in order to open and close a valve by way of which the ice molds of a tray were filled with water, and to drive a movement of the tray ejecting the finished ice cubes.

The advent of inexpensive programmable electronic control devices resulted in the fact that the devices were soon also employed for controlling the refrigeration machine in a refrigeration device. Since the programmable electronic control devices were capable of carrying out the tasks of the electromechanical control devices and at the same time, as it were, also offering the capability to control additional functions which could be implemented only with considerable effort, if at all, with cam disks the electromechanical control devices were forced out of the market.

While the transition from electromechanical to electronic control significantly reduced the costs of the control devices themselves, this was not the case for the assembly process. On the contrary, an increase in complexity resulted here from the need to route cables between the electronic control unit and the components of the ice maker controlled thereby, and to take into consideration in this situation that different models of ice maker could differ in respect of the number and nature of the components to be controlled and the cables required for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to reduce this complexity, in other words to rationalize the production of refrigeration devices which optionally may or may not have an ice maker, or may have different models of ice maker.

The object is achieved in that in the case of a refrigeration device having a housing delimiting at least one cooled storage compartment, an ice maker incorporated in the storage compartment, a refrigeration machine for cooling the storage compartment and a device control unit in order to control the operation of the refrigeration machine and of the ice maker the ice maker contains a secondary electronic control unit which is configured in order to convert a single control command from the device control unit into a sequence of commands directed at different actuators of the ice maker.

A plurality of advantageous affects result therefrom. For one thing, the cable routing between the device control unit and the ice maker is simplified because apart from an activation command the ice maker requires no further control signals from the device control unit in order to enable it to perform its function. The control program for the device control unit will therefore still also be required in two versions if need be, depending on whether it is employed in a refrigeration device with or without an ice maker; in an ideal situation a single control program can be provided which checks during the course of an initialization process whether or not an ice maker is present, and takes this into account as execution of the program continues. The ice maker can be further developed or augmented with additional functions without this necessarily requiring an adaptation of the control program of the device control unit.

The actuators of the ice maker, which are controlled by the secondary electronic control unit, should include at least one motor in order to pivot a tray of the ice maker and a valve, in particular a solenoid valve, in order to control the water supply to the tray.

If the ice maker in a conventional manner contains a four-sided frame surrounding the tray, the secondary control unit can be accommodated in a chamber which is delimited by one side wall of the frame and a shell attached to the side wall and projecting over the side wall. Existing models of ice makers can thus be adapted to the invention with a minimum of changes.

The side wall of the frame is preferably the same side wall on which a bearing is arranged, by way of which the pivoting motion of the tray is driven—typically by an electric motor and a reduction gear.

The ice maker can comprise a temperature sensor, to which the secondary control unit is connected. This enables control of the ice making process while taking into consideration the prevailing temperature in the ice maker which can differ significantly from the temperature prevailing in other parts of the storage compartment accommodating the ice maker and preferably set as the basis by the device control unit of the controller of a refrigeration machine.

The secondary control unit should control the duration of an ice making cycle. It can vary this on the basis of the data from the temperature sensor in order to thus optimize the productivity of the ice maker.

If a water line of the ice maker is provided with a heater in order to prevent the water in the line from freezing, then one of the actuators of the ice maker mentioned above which are controlled by the secondary control unit can be a switch controlling the heater.

A water dispenser having a water outlet accessible on an outer side of the water dispenser can be integrated in the ice maker. In addition to the ice production this also enables cooled water to be tapped off in fairly large quantities, namely in particular when a manually fillable tank from which the ice maker is fed is itself arranged in a cooled manner in the housing, or a water line connecting the ice maker to a water supply network passes through such a tank arranged in a cooled manner.

The water outlet could be brought out from the housing of the refrigeration device in order to enable water to be tapped off without the need to open a door in the housing for this purpose. The water outlet is preferably situated in the interior of the housing, which means that the same type of housing can be used for refrigeration devices with and without a water outlet or even for refrigeration devices with and without an ice maker.

The water outlet from the water dispenser can also be provided physically separated from the ice maker in the interior of the housing or on the outer surface of the housing of the refrigeration device, and the secondary control unit of the ice maker can be configured in order to control the water outlet from the water dispenser. The housing is also understood as including a door attached to the housing body of the refrigeration device. The water dispenser can thus also be provided on an inner or outer surface of a door attached to the housing. The water dispenser can also comprise an operating element for controlling the water outlet on the water dispenser in order to report the water demand to the secondary control unit of the ice maker. This has the result that the device control unit does not need to be fundamentally configured in order to control a water dispenser, in particular not if a refrigeration device is retrofitted with an ice maker. The device control unit can thereby be standardized cost-effectively and simply for refrigeration appliances having an ice maker or not having an ice maker.

The secondary control unit of the ice maker can be configured in order to control a water valve for the water supply to the water outlet from the water dispenser. The water outlet from the water dispenser is thus controlled completely by the secondary control unit of the ice maker. As a result of activating the operating element of the water dispenser a message can be sent to the secondary control unit of the ice maker which opens the water valve for the water supply to the water outlet. As a result of deactivating the operating element of the water dispenser a further message can be sent to the secondary control unit of the ice maker which closes the water valve for the water supply to the water outlet again. The device control unit can thereby be standardized cost-effectively and simply for refrigeration appliances having an ice maker or not having an ice maker.

The device control unit can be in communication with a display and/or operating device which displays a message from the secondary control unit. This serves to ensure that status messages relating to the ice maker and/or water system of the refrigeration device, such as for example error, filter saturation, water level, ice production mode and/or on/off messages, are notified to the customer by means of a visual or audible signal.

A display and/or operating device which displays information relating to the status of the ice maker and/or enables settings to be made on the ice maker can be integrated in the ice maker. This serves to ensure that information relating to the status of the ice maker or of the water system, such as for example error, filter saturation, water level, ice production mode and/or on/off messages, are displayed to the customer directly on the ice maker. This also means that settings can be made directly on the ice maker by the customer. The embodiment of a refrigeration device with an ice maker is thereby simplified and retrofitting of the refrigeration device with an ice maker can be implemented more cost-effectively because no adaptation of the device control unit is required. The device control unit can thereby be standardized cost-effectively and simply for refrigeration appliances having an ice maker or not having an ice maker.

If the ice maker contains a water usage meter, the secondary electronic control unit should be configured in order to output a message, in particular to send the message to the device control unit or to the display and/or operating device of the ice maker, if a threshold value for the water usage is exceeded. The message can draw a user's attention to the need to replenish the water tank or, if a water filter is additionally provided, to replace the water filter.

The refrigeration device can contain a water tank which supplies the tray of the ice maker and/or the water outlet from the water dispenser with water. The water tank can for example be a water tank to be filled manually. This serves to ensure that the refrigeration device can be equipped or retrofitted simply and cost-effectively with an ice maker in particular because connection systems for a domestic water connection are fundamentally not required.

The secondary control unit of the ice maker can be configured in order to control a water delivery device which supplies the tray of the ice maker and/or the water outlet from the water dispenser with water. The water delivery device in question can be a switchable water valve or a water pump. The result is that the device control unit of the refrigeration device does not fundamentally need to be designed for the control of water delivery devices and does not need to be adapted for this purpose in the event of retrofitting. The device control unit can thereby be standardized cost-effectively and simply for refrigeration appliances having an ice maker or not having an ice maker.

The water tank can have a sensing device for determining the water level in the water tank, and the secondary electronic control unit ice maker can be configured in order to send a message to the device control unit and/or to the display and/or operating device on the ice maker if a threshold value for the water level in the water tank is undershot. The sensing device for determining the water level in the water tank can be a capacitive, magnetic or mechanical fill level detection device. This serves to ensure that the ice maker is configured in order to ascertain the water level in the water tank and to notify the requirement for water or replenishment through the secondary electronic control unit. This message can notify a user of the need to replenish the water tank.

The refrigeration device can be a household refrigeration device for conventional domestic use. A household refrigeration device normally has a body having a storage space for foodstuffs and a door attached to the body by a hinge system.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a refrigeration device with an ice maker, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigeration device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the refrigeration device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 3 to 6 are perspective views showing a first part of an ice maker for the refrigeration devices in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 in different stages of assembly, and also, in FIG. 6, together with a second part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a highly schematic illustration of a refrigeration device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. With this embodiment, a housing 1 of the refrigeration device delimits at least two storage compartments, here one normal refrigerating compartment 2 and one freezer compartment 3. A refrigeration machine for cooling the compartments 2 and 3 contains a compressor 4 and a condenser 5 which are accommodated outside a heat insulation layer 6, typically in a machine compartment 7 of the housing 1, and also at least one evaporator arranged within the heat insulation layer 6. In FIG. 1 one evaporator 8, 9 is associated with each compartment 2, 3, which evaporator 8, 9 directly cools the respective compartment 2, 3; alternatively however it would also be possible to provide only one evaporator which is accommodated in an evaporator chamber separate from normal refrigerating compartment 2 and freezer compartment 3, and a fan and flaps deliver cold air from the evaporator chamber into one of the two compartments and return warmer air from the compartment in question to the evaporator chamber.

An electronic device control unit 10 controls the operation of the compressor 4 on the basis of temperature measurement values from at least one temperature sensor 11 which is arranged in the compartment 2 or 3. In the simplest case outlined in FIG. 1, that the evaporators 8, 9 are connected in series in the coolant circuit with no element controlling the coolant flow between them, the available cooling capacity is distributed in a fixed ratio to the two compartments 2, 3, which means that a single temperature sensor suffices. If the evaporators 8, 9 are connected in parallel in the coolant circuit and the distribution of the coolant to them can be controlled by means of a valve, or if in the case of series connection a controllable throttle point between the evaporators 8, 9 allows their evaporation temperatures to be influenced, temperature sensors 11 should be present in both compartments 2, 3.

A manually fillable water tank 12 is arranged in the normal refrigerating compartment 2. This tank can be provided with a water outlet, not illustrated in the FIG. 1, similar to a water outlet 43 described later with reference to FIG. 6, which discharges into the normal refrigerating compartment in order to enable cooled water to be tapped off. A water line 13 runs from the tank 12 through a dividing wall 14 to an automatic ice maker 15 in the freezer compartment 3. The water tank 12 could alternatively also be arranged outside the heat insulation layer 6, where it would be easier to fill but it would then not be suitable for tapping off cold water. In addition, as a result of positioning the tank 12 in the normal refrigerating compartment 2, freshly added water at room temperature can first be precooled to normal refrigerating compartment temperature before it reaches the freezer compartment 3; on the one hand this results in highly energy-efficient ice production while on the other hand enabling operation of the ice maker 15 with short operating cycles of uniform duration.

The ice maker 15 contains a frame 16 in a manner known per se in which a tray 18 containing a plurality of ice molds 19 (see FIG. 3) is pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis 20 beneath an outlet 17 at the end of the water line 13. In a position of the tray 18 which is open toward the top the ice molds 19 can be filled with water from the water line 13 by intermittently opening a valve 21, in particular a solenoid valve, and the water can freeze in the molds 19. When this has happened the tray, driven by an electric motor 23 (see FIG. 3), is inverted and the ice cubes produced are released from the molds 19, for example by being superficially thawed by electric heating of the tray 18 and thereby being made easily movable, or by being ejected from the molds 19 through deformation of the tray 18, and drop into a collection container 22 arranged beneath the frame 16.

The device control unit 10 is connected to a user interface 24 arranged externally (or internally, accessible with the door open) on the housing 1, which on the one hand enables the device control unit 10 to display operating states or actual values of operating parameters of the device such as the compartment temperatures for instance, and on the other hand enables a user to specify nominal values for such operating parameters and/or to enter alternative commands.

If the tank 12 is equipped with a fill level sensor which is connected to the device control unit 10, then one of the operating states which are displayed on the user interface 24 can be an insufficient water level in the tank 12.

One of the commands which can be entered at the user interface 24 is a command to produce ice. The device control unit 10 does not execute this command itself but simply forwards it—unless the water level in the tank 12 is considered to be insufficient for ice production—to a secondary electronic control unit 25 which, although illustrated separately from the frame 16 in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity, is however in fact, and as will be explained in more detail later, incorporated in said frame 16.

The secondary control unit 25 uses this command to control actuators of the ice maker 15 such as the aforementioned electric motor 23 and the valve 21 for instance. Further actuators can be the similarly aforementioned heater of the tray 18 or an electric heater 26 on an end section of the water line 13 projecting into the freezer compartment 3. Since when forwarding the ice production command the device control unit 10 does not need to consider whether or not the actuators are present, the same model of device control unit 10 can work together with various models of ice maker 15 which means that the assembly of the housing 1 of the refrigeration device and the incorporation of the device control unit 10 therein can take place independently of the model of ice maker 15 to be mounted later in the freezer compartment 3 of the refrigeration device.

The first reaction of the secondary control unit 25 to the command to produce ice is to open the valve 21 in order to fill the tray 18 with water. In order to define the point in time at which the valve 21 is closed again, a level gage which monitors the water level in the ice molds 19 can be connected to the secondary control unit 25, or the secondary control unit 25 closes the valve 21 again in each case after a predetermined period of time. The period of time must be defined such that even in the case of the water tank 12 full to capacity and correspondingly high pressure in the water line 13 the molds 19 are prevented from overflowing. In order to avoid fluctuating water levels in the tank 12 resulting in ice cubes of excessively differing sizes being produced, an adequate difference in height can be provided between the tank 12 and the outlet of the line 13, or a metering pump can be provided in the water line 13 as a further actuator controlled by the secondary control unit 25.

After closing the valve 21, the control unit 25 waits the time required in order to freeze the water in the molds 19. This time can be predetermined. Since the water poured in will normally be at the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 2, the predetermined time can be chosen such that it is just sufficient in order to freeze water poured in at refrigerating compartment temperature if the temperatures of refrigerating and freezer compartments 2, 3 each lie at the upper end of their user configurable value range. For more efficient ice production, an additional temperature sensor 27 can be fitted as part of the ice maker 15 in order to sense the temperature of the ambient air around the tray 18, and be connected to the control unit 25 so that the control unit 25 is able to define the waiting time as a function of the sensed temperature.

Such a temperature sensor 27 can also be utilized in order to regulate the output of the heater 26 to the minimum required in order to prevent the line 13 from freezing.

When the waiting time has elapsed, the control unit 25 starts the electric motor 23 in order to invert the tray 18, where applicable after a superficial thawing of the ice cubes, and to eject the ice cubes into the collection container 22. In the simplest case, the reaction of the control unit 25 to the ice production command is thereby terminated. It is however also conceivable that following ejection of the ice cubes the control unit 25 fills the tray 18 with water again in order to thus begin a new ice production cycle, and that the ice production cycles continue to follow one another until either the user cancels the ice production command or, if present, a sensor on the collection container 22 reports that the collection container 22 is full.

The refrigeration device shown in FIG. 2 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in a plurality of aspects which can be implemented independently of one another. According to a first aspect, the normal refrigerating compartment has been dispensed with; in order to nevertheless be able to precool the contents of the water tank 12 without freezing them the water tank 12 is embedded in the heat insulation layer 6 surrounding the freezer compartment 3 and insulated by the heat insulation layer 6 both with respect to the surroundings and also with respect to the freezer compartment 3.

According to a second aspect, the water tank 12 is connected to a domestic water supply. A valve 28 can be provided between the domestic water supply and the water tank 12 in order to maintain the latter at a constant, but lower pressure than that of the domestic water supply. The valve 28 opens automatically and allows a renewed flow of water to the tank 12 when the control unit 25 opens the valve 21; no signal connection is required for this purpose between the control unit 25 and the valve 28.

In addition to supplying the ice maker 15, the tank 12 here can also supply a tapping point for cold water not illustrated in the figures. If no such tapping point is provided, instead of the tank 12 a simple connecting pipe having a small cross section could also be provided which connects the valve 21 to the domestic water supply and ensures that the water feed is precooled on its path through the heat insulation layer 6 before reaching the ice maker 15.

According to a third aspect, a replaceable water filter 41 is provided. The water filter 41 can be arranged between the tank 12 and the valve 21 or, as shown here, between the valve 28 and the tank 12.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified perspective view of a frame 16 of the ice maker 15 and component parts relating thereto. The four side walls of the rectangular frame 16 are formed by at least two component parts connected to one another and preferably formed from plastic. Shaft projections 29 from the tray 18 are rotatably mounted in openings in a front side wall 30 and a rear side wall 31 of the frame 16. In the case of the front side wall 30, the opening is hidden by the electric motor 23 arranged thereabove, in the case of the rear side wall 31 by the tray 18 itself. The electric motor 23 and a reduction gear having a worm 32 and a plurality of gear wheels 33, which transfers the rotation of the motor 23 to the front shaft projections 29, are housed in a cavity 34, open to the front in the direction facing away from the tray 18, in the side wall 30.

This design of an ice maker is already known; in the case of a conventional ice maker having no electronic control unit of its own in order to complete the design it would suffice to close off the cavity 34 by means of a front plate which protects the gearing from contamination and prevents contact with possibly live electrical connections on the motor 23.

A dividing wall 35, which conceals motor 23 and gearing, is also provided in the case of the ice maker 15 according to the invention; in the illustration in FIG. 4 the dividing wall 35 itself engages with the cavity 34 in the side wall 30 and in turn forms a shallow depression 36 on the outer side thereof. A plurality of electrical conductors 37 are embedded into the plastic of the dividing wall 35. They are placed such that when the dividing wall 35 is mounted they contact the terminals of the motor 23 and also, if present, of a heater of the tray 18.

The surface contour of the dividing wall 35 defines the mounting position of a circuit board 39 shown in FIG. 5 on the dividing wall 35 by projecting pins 38, ribs or the like such that contact fields on the circuit board 35 make contact with the conductors 37. The circuit board 39 is equipped with electronic components which form the secondary control unit 25.

In the final assembled state shown in FIG. 6 the circuit board 39 is concealed behind a front plate 40. Since the space in the cavity 34 of the front side wall 30 is not sufficient to accommodate the dividing wall 35 therein, the circuit board 38 together with the components mounted thereon and the front plate 40, especially if the front side wall 30 is that of a conventional ice maker which was not originally designed in order to also offer space for an electronic control unit, the front plate 40 creates said space in that it is formed as a shell which projects forward over the front side wall 30 and is hollow on its rear side.

In addition to the frame 16, a second module 42 of the ice maker is also shown in FIG. 2 which, mounted in a wall of the freezer compartment 3, accommodates the valve 21. A downstream section of the water line 13 extends out over the tray 18.

The second module 40 can have a second water outlet 43 which is displaced sideways against the frame 16 and is fed by way of a second valve in the interior of the module. In order to actuate second valve, a paddle 44 projecting downward from the module 42 can be provided, which paddle 44 can be deflected by a container held beneath the water outlet 43.

If the water filter 41 is present, provision can be made that the secondary control unit 25 monitors the times during which the valve 21 and, if present, the second valve are open in order to thus estimate the quantity of water which has passed through the filter 41. If the water quantity estimated in this or any other suitable way has exceeded a predetermined limit value the control unit 25 generates a signal in order to notify the user of the need to change the filter. Means for displaying the signal can be provided on the ice maker 15 itself, for instance an LED on the circuit board 39 and a window suitably placed for the purpose in the front plate 40. By preference the control unit 25 sends the signal to the device control unit 10 in order that the latter forwards the signal on the user interface 24, for example in the form of an error code which the device control unit 10 translates on the basis of a table into a text which is then displayed on the user interface 24. The device control unit 10 again does not require any adaptation here for the presence of the water filter 41. Although the table of the device control unit 10 must contain the required text, such a text can however also be contained in the table of devices not having a water filter without ever being displayed there.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

• Housing
• Normal refrigerating compartment
• Freezer compartment
• Compressor
• Condenser
• Heat insulation layer
• Machine compartment
• Evaporator
• Evaporator
• Device control unit
• Temperature sensor
• Water tank
• Water line
• Dividing wall
• Ice maker
• Frame
• Outlet
• Tray
• Ice mold
• Axis
• Valve
• Collection container
• Electric motor
• User interface
• Secondary control unit
• Heating facility
• Temperature sensor
• Valve
• Shaft projections
• Front side wall
• Rear side wall
• Worm
• Gear wheel
• Cavity
• Dividing wall
• Depression
• Conductors
• Pin
• Circuit board
• Front plate
• Water filter
• Module
• Water outlet
• Paddle

Claims

1. A refrigeration device, comprising:

a housing delimiting at least one cooled storage compartment;

an ice maker incorporated in said cooled storage compartment and having actuators;

a refrigeration machine for cooling said cooled storage compartment;

a device control unit for controlling an operation of said refrigeration machine and said ice maker; and

said ice maker having a secondary electronic control unit configured to convert a single control command from said device control unit into a sequence of commands directed at different ones of said actuators of said ice maker.

2. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein:

said ice maker has a tray; and

said actuators include at least one motor for pivoting said tray of said ice maker and a valve to control a water supply to said tray.

3. The refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein said ice maker has a shell and a four-sided frame surrounding said tray, said secondary electronic control unit is accommodated in a chamber which is delimited by one side wall of said four-sided frame and said shell attached to said one side wall and projecting over said one side wall.

4. The refrigeration device according to claim 3, wherein said ice maker has a bearing by way of which a pivoting motion of said tray is driven and said bearing is disposed in said one side wall of said four-sided frame.

5. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein said ice maker has a temperature sensor to which said secondary electronic control unit is connected.

6. The refrigeration device according to claim 5, wherein said secondary electronic control unit controls a duration of an ice making cycle.

7. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein said ice maker has a water line with a heater and said heater is controlled by said secondary electronic control unit.

8. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, further comprising a water dispenser having a water outlet accessible on an outer side of said ice maker and is integrated in said ice maker.

9. The refrigeration device according to claim 8, further comprising an operating element disposed on said ice maker for controlling a dispensing of water by way of said water outlet.

10. The refrigeration device according to claim 8, wherein said water outlet from said water dispenser is provided physically separated from said ice maker in an interior of said housing or on an outer surface of said housing, and said secondary electronic control unit of said ice maker is configured to control said water outlet from said water dispenser.

11. The refrigeration device according to claim 8, wherein said secondary electronic control unit of said ice maker is configured to control a water valve for a water supply to said water outlet from said water dispenser.

12. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein said device control unit is in communication with at least one of a display or an operating device which displays a message from said secondary electronic control unit.

13. The refrigeration device according to claim 8, further comprising at least one of a display or an operating device which displays information relating to a status of said ice maker and/or enables settings to be made on said ice maker and is integrated in said ice maker.

14. The refrigeration device according to claim 13, wherein said ice maker has a water usage meter and said secondary electronic control unit is configured to send a message to said device control unit or to said display and/or said operating device of said ice maker if a threshold value for water usage is exceeded.

15. The refrigeration device according to claim 13, further comprising a manually fillable water tank which supplies at least one of said tray of said ice maker or said water outlet from said water dispenser with water.

16. The refrigeration device according to claim 15, wherein said secondary electronic control unit of said ice maker is configured to control a water delivery device which supplies at least one of said tray of said ice maker or said water outlet from said water dispenser with the water from said manually fillable water tank.

17. The refrigeration device according to claim 15, wherein said manually fillable water tank has a sensing device for determining a water level in said manually fillable water tank, and said secondary electronic control unit of said ice maker is configured to send a message to said device control unit and/or to said display and/or said operating device on said ice maker if a threshold value in said manually fillable water tank is undershot.

18. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device is a household refrigeration device.