Food management device and method and refrigerator

A technology for food management and refrigerators, applied in household refrigeration devices, lighting and heating equipment, supports, etc., can solve the problems of high cost and inconvenient food detection, and achieve the effect of low cost and high practicability

Active Publication Date: 2015-11-11
TCL CORPORATION
7 Cites 12 Cited by

AI-Extracted Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0009] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art above, the object of the present invention is to provide a food management de...
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Method used

In summary, the food management device, method and refrigerator provided by the present invention, when detecting that the door of the refrigerator is closed, detect and obtain the take-out and put-back state information of the attachment, and the server end is based on each attachment and food defined in advance. The food storage status in the refrigerator can be identified by the type relationship correspondence table and the status information of taking it out and putting it back; just pull out the attachment, clamp the food and put it in the refrigerator together, the operation is very simple and convenient. The storage status of food in the refrigerator can be checked at any time through the mobile terminal, which can avoid repeated purchases by users; the use of boxes with attachments can accurately identify the status information of the attachments when they are taken out and put back, which has higher practicability and lower cost.
It should be understood that the combination of the server and the mobile terminal in this embodiment is to make it easier for the user to query the food storage status of the refrigerator at home through the mobile terminal when they are outside (such as a supermarket), so as to avoid repeated purchases of certain food and save Refrigerator cost. In actual implementation, the refrigerator can also manage the food independently, install the corresponding refrigerator food detection APP in the refrigerator, and pre-define the correspondence table between each attachment and the type of food and store it in the main board of the refrigerator. When the APP is started, if the refrigerator 1 detects that the refrigerator door is closed, the box obtains the status information of the removal and replacement of the attachment and uploads it to the refrigerator main board. The main board of the refrigerator can identify the storage state of the food in the refrigerator according to the relationship correspondence table and the information on taking out and putting back the food. The mainboard of the refrigerator sends the food storage status to the mobile terminal 3 for display through the WIFI module, or directly displays it on the display screen of the refrigerator (it does not need to be sent to the mobile terminal for display, which can save the WIFI module).
The present invention provides a kind of food management device, method and refrigerator, adopt the mode that box matches attachment, take out attachment from box and put into refrigerator together with corresponding food, identify the take-out and put back state information of attachment by box And upload to the server side, the server side...
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Abstract

The invention discloses a food management device and method and a refrigerator. The food management device comprises an attachment piece and a box. The attachment piece is placed in the refrigerator together with food while the food is placed in the refrigerator, and the attachment piece is taken out together with the food while the food is taken out of the refrigerator to be placed in the box. The box detects the take-out and place-back state information of the attachment piece when a refrigerator door is closed and sends the obtained take-out and place-back state information to a server or the refrigerator. The take-out and place-back state of the attachment piece can be accurately recognized. Outside interference is avoided, practicability is higher, and the cost is lower.

Application Domain

Technology Topic

Food managementEngineering +1

Image

  • Food management device and method and refrigerator
  • Food management device and method and refrigerator
  • Food management device and method and refrigerator

Examples

  • Experimental program(1)

Example Embodiment

[0034] The present invention provides a food management device, a method and a refrigerator. The box is matched with an attachment. The attachment is taken out of the box and placed in the refrigerator together with the corresponding food. The box identifies the removal and replacement status information of the attachment and uploads it to the server On the server side, the attachment and the food can be marked on the server side to accurately identify the presence or absence of food in the refrigerator, achieving a better food detection effect. It is very convenient to use (remove and put back the attachment), and has strong practicability And reliability. In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer and clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, but not to limit the present invention.
[0035] See also figure 1 with figure 2 The refrigerator provided by the present invention includes a refrigerator main board and a food management device. The refrigerator main board is used to control the operation of the refrigerator, such as controlling the compressor and detecting the switch light of the refrigerator door, which is an existing technology. The food management device includes a box 10 and a number of attachments 20, the attachments 20 are put in with the food when the food is put in the refrigerator, and when the food is taken out of the refrigerator, and then put back into the box 10; The box 10 detects the removal and placement status information of the attachment 20 when the refrigerator door is closed, and sends the obtained removal and placement status information to the server or the refrigerator.
[0036] Wherein, one side of the box 10 is provided with a number of slots 110 for placing the attachment 20, and the box 10 is provided with a PCB board for signal connection with the refrigerator main board, and a state detection circuit 120, The control circuit 130 and the WIFI module 140; the control circuit 130 is connected to the state detection circuit 120 and the WIFI module 140. The box 10 is arranged inside the refrigerator and can be conveniently accessed by users. The control circuit 130 is connected to and communicates with the refrigerator main board through the serial port UART.
[0037] The attachment is a clip, which is inserted into the slot of the box when not in use. When the user needs to store food, he opens the refrigerator door, pulls out an attachment 20 from the box 10 to clamp the food bag or the food container, and closes the refrigerator door after putting it in the refrigerator. The state detection circuit 120 detects the removal and replacement state information of the attachment 20 (corresponding to the clip being in the plug-in state), that is, it detects which slots still have the attachment 20 inserted and which slots have the attachments removed. When the refrigerator door is closed, the refrigerator main board outputs a closing signal to the control circuit 130. When the control circuit 130 detects that the refrigerator door is closed (that is, receives the closing signal), it obtains the retrieval and replacement status information and transmits it to the WIFI module 140. The WIFI module 140 will The above retrieval and replacement status information is uploaded to the server.
[0038] The food type corresponding to each attachment is pre-stored in the server. For example, the attachments 1, 2, and 3 corresponding to slots 1, 2, 3 are meat (such as pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, etc.). The attachments 4, 5, and 6 corresponding to slots 4, 5, 6 are fish (such as seafood, freshwater fish, etc.), and the attachments 7, 8, 9 corresponding to slots 7, 8, 9 are vegetables (Such as Chinese cabbage, water spinach, etc.), the attachments 10, 11, and 12 corresponding to slots 10, 11, and 12 are melons and fruits (such as cucumbers, pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, etc.), and slots 13, 14 and 15 correspond to The attachments 13, 14, 15 are fruits (such as apples, pears, watermelons, etc.). In this way, the server can recognize which foods are in the refrigerator according to the taking out and putting back status information.
[0039] In specific implementation, in order to facilitate the user to distinguish the type of food corresponding to the attachment, the color of the attachment can be set. For example, the attachments for meat can be made of pink food-grade plastic, white for fish, green for vegetables, yellow for melons and fruits, and red for fruits.
[0040] Further, corresponding patterns can be set on the attachments for distinction, such as a cartoon pig pattern for meat, a carp pattern for fish, a cabbage pattern for vegetables, and a cucumber pattern for fruits and vegetables. The pattern, the fruit type is set as the pattern of apple. The color and pattern can also be combined and set, as long as it is convenient for the user to distinguish various types of attachments. The shape and color of the attachments are not limited in this embodiment.
[0041] Please refer to image 3 The control circuit 130 includes a WIFI interface unit 131, a motherboard interface unit 132, a crystal oscillator circuit 133, and a main control unit 134. The main control unit 134 is connected to the WIFI interface unit 131, the motherboard interface unit 132 and the crystal oscillator circuit 133.
[0042] The WIFI interface unit 131 is used to transmit data instructions between the main control unit 134 and the WIFI module, such as fetching and putting back data of status information. The main board interface unit 132 is used to transmit control signals between the main control unit 134 and the refrigerator main board, for example, when the refrigerator door is closed, the refrigerator main board outputs a closing signal, which is transmitted to the main control unit 134 through the main board interface unit 132. The crystal oscillator circuit 133 is used for self-excited to generate a pulse clock when it is powered on and transmit it to the main control unit 134 so that the main control unit 134 can work normally.
[0043] In specific implementation, the WIFI module 140 can also receive control commands (such as temperature adjustment commands) sent by the server and transmit them to the main control unit 134 through the WIFI interface unit 131; the main control unit 134 converts the control commands into corresponding controls The signal is transmitted to the main board of the refrigerator through the main board interface unit 132 to achieve corresponding control (such as increasing or decreasing the temperature in the refrigerator).
[0044] In a further embodiment, the control circuit 130 further includes a download interface unit 135 for transmitting the downloaded main control unit program to the main control unit 134 to update the system of the main control unit 134 and facilitate system upgrades.
[0045] Please keep reading image 3 In this embodiment, the WIFI interface unit 131 includes a first interface J1, a first capacitor C1, a first resistor R1, and a second resistor R2; the first pin of the first interface J1 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC and passes The first capacitor C1 is grounded, the second pin of the first interface J1 is connected to the main control unit 134 through the first resistor R1, the third pin of the first interface J1 is connected to the main control unit 134 through the second resistor R2, and the second pin of the first interface J1 Pin 4 is grounded. The external WIFI module 140 of the first interface J1.
[0046] Wherein, the second pin and the third pin of the first interface J1 are data pins for transmitting data commands. By setting the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2, impedance matching can be achieved, which makes the transmitted data command more stable. The first capacitor C1 is a filter capacitor, which is used to stabilize the power supply voltage of the first interface J1, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the first interface J1.
[0047] The motherboard interface unit 132 includes a second interface J2, a second capacitor C2, a third resistor R3, and a fourth resistor R4; the first pin of the second interface J2 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC and is also grounded through the second capacitor C2, The second pin of the second interface J2 is connected to the main control unit 134 through a third resistor R3, the third pin of the second interface J2 is connected to the main control unit 134 through a fourth resistor R4, and the fourth pin of the second interface J2 is grounded. The second interface J2 is connected to the refrigerator motherboard.
[0048] Wherein, the second pin 2 and the third pin of the second interface J2 are data pins for transmitting control signals. By setting the third resistor R3 and the fourth resistor R4, impedance matching can be achieved, so that the transmitted control signal is more stable. The second capacitor C2 is a filter capacitor for stabilizing the power supply voltage of the second interface J2, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the second interface J2.
[0049] The crystal oscillator circuit 133 includes a crystal oscillator Y1, a third capacitor C3, a fourth capacitor C4 and a fifth resistor R5; the first end of the crystal oscillator Y1 is connected to the main control unit 134, one end of the third capacitor C3 and the fifth resistor R5. One end; the second end of the crystal oscillator Y1 is grounded, the third end of the crystal oscillator Y1 is connected to the main control unit 134, one end of the fourth capacitor C4 and the other end of the fifth resistor R5; the fourth end of the crystal oscillator Y1 is connected to the other end of the third capacitor C3 One end, the other end of the fourth capacitor C4, and ground.
[0050] Wherein, when the main control unit 134 is powered on, it outputs a start signal OSC_IN to control the self-excitation of the crystal oscillator Y1, thereby generating a pulse clock OSC_OUT to the main control unit 134.
[0051] The download interface unit 135 includes a third interface J3, a sixth resistor R6, a seventh resistor R7, and a fifth capacitor C5; the first pin of the third interface J3 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC and is also grounded through the fifth capacitor C5, The second pin of the third interface J3 is connected to the main control unit 134 through a seventh resistor R7, the third pin of the third interface J3 is connected to the main control unit 134 through a sixth resistor R6, and the fourth pin of the third interface J3 is grounded.
[0052] Wherein, the second pin and the third pin of the third interface J3 are data pins, which are used to transmit the downloaded program data. By setting the sixth resistor R6 and the seventh resistor R7, impedance matching can be achieved, so that the transmitted program data is more stable. The fifth capacitor C5 is a filter capacitor, which is used to stabilize the power supply voltage of the third interface J3, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the third interface J3.
[0053] The main control unit 134 includes a main chip U1 with a model of 8051 (microcontroller series). The TX1 pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the second pin of the third interface J3 through a seventh resistor R7, and the RX1 pin of the main chip U1 passes through the The six resistor R6 is connected to the third pin of the third interface J3, the RX2 pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the second pin of the second interface J2 through the third resistor R3, and the TX2 pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the second interface J2 through the fourth resistor R4 The third pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the second pin of the first interface J1 through the first resistor R1, and the RX3 pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the third pin of the first interface J1 through the second resistor R2. The main chip U1 The OSC_OUT pin of the main chip is connected to the third end of the crystal oscillator Y1, the OSC_IN pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the first end of the crystal oscillator Y1, and the VCC pin of the main chip U1 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC; the I/O1 pin, I/O2 pin of the main chip U1, I/O3 feet, I/O4 feet, I/O5 feet, I/O6 feet, I/O7 feet, and I/O8 feet are all connected to the state detection circuit 120.
[0054] Taking 8 clips as an example, there are 8 slots 110. Correspondingly, the state detection circuit 120 includes a first switch SW1, a second switch SW2, a third switch SW3, a fourth switch SW4, a fifth switch SW5, a sixth switch SW6, a seventh switch SW7, and an eighth switch SW8. One end of the first switch SW1 is connected to the I/O1 pin of the main chip U1, one end of the second switch SW2 is connected to the I/O2 pin of the main chip U1, and one end of the third switch SW3 is connected to the I/O3 pin of the main chip U1, One end of the fourth switch SW4 is connected to the I/O4 pin of the main chip U1, one end of the fifth switch SW5 is connected to the I/O5 pin of the main chip U1, and one end of the sixth switch SW6 is connected to the I/O6 pin of the main chip U1. One end of the switch SW7 is connected to the I/O7 pin of the main chip U1, and one end of the eighth switch SW8 is connected to the I/O8 pin of the main chip U1; the first switch SW1, the second switch SW2, the third switch SW3, and the fourth switch SW4, The other ends of the fifth switch SW5, the sixth switch SW6, the seventh switch SW7, and the eighth switch SW8 are all grounded.
[0055] When the clip is inserted in the slot, the corresponding switch is pressed to make it closed and grounded. The I/O pin corresponding to the main chip U1 detects a low level, identifying that the clip has been inserted, and outputs 0; when the clip is pulled out, the corresponding switch pops up, and the I/O pin corresponding to the main chip U1 detects a high level , To identify the clip has been pulled out, output 1. Combine the output of all I/O pins to obtain a plug-in state such as 0110. 0110 indicates the insertion and removal status of clips 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. from left to right. For example, 0 in the first digit indicates that the first clip is still inserted in the slot, and 1 in the second digit indicates that the second clip has been removed. , The 1 in the third place indicates that the third clip has been pulled out, and the 0 in the fourth place indicates that the fourth clip is still inserted in the slot.
[0056] The TX3 and RX3 pins of the main chip U1 output the removal and replacement status information to the WIFI interface unit 131. The WIFI interface unit 131 transmits the removal and replacement status information to the WIFI module 140, and the WIFI module 140 uploads the removal and replacement status information to the server. (Ie the cloud). Since the food type corresponding to each attachment has been pre-defined in the server, it is possible to identify which food is put in the refrigerator according to the status information of the removal and placement.
[0057] It should be understood that the main chip U1 also has multiple reserved pins. image 3 The 8 switches in are only examples, and can be increased or decreased arbitrarily during specific implementation. If the number of attachments is increased, the number of slots and switches correspondingly increases, and the corresponding switches can be connected to reserved pins.
[0058] The prior art uses NFC technology to read electronic tags to identify food. Since the NFC card is a near-field wireless reading, the effective reading distance is less than 10cm, and the user needs to put the NFC card in a specific area to read it, which is troublesome and easy to be interfered to cause the reading to fail. The state detection circuit used in this embodiment uses a hardware switch, which can accurately identify the removal or insertion of the attachment, has no reading distance limit, and is not subject to external interference. It is more convenient and more practical than NFC cards. High and lower cost.
[0059] Based on the above-mentioned refrigerator, in order to save the cost of the refrigerator, the present invention combines the server 2 (ie, the cloud) and the mobile terminal 3 for food management. The server terminal 2 is in communication connection with the refrigerator 1 and the mobile terminal 3. The mobile terminal 3 is pre-installed with a corresponding refrigerator food detection APP, and the mobile terminal 3 starts the APP to communicate with the server 2. The corresponding table of the relationship between each attachment and the type of food is predefined by the mobile terminal 3 and stored in the server 2. When the refrigerator 1 detects that the refrigerator door is closed, it detects and acquires the removal and replacement status information of the attachment and uploads it to the server 2. The server 2 can recognize the food storage state in the refrigerator, that is, which foods are placed in the refrigerator according to the relationship correspondence table and the retrieval and return status information. The server 2 can send the food storage status to the mobile terminal 3 for display, or display on the display screen on the refrigerator.
[0060] It should be understood that the retrieval and replacement status information sent by the refrigerator 1 is data in the form of 01, and the corresponding names of attachments 1, 2, 3, etc. (such as pork, beef, mutton, etc.) are listed in the relationship correspondence table. The data of the retrieved and replaced status information corresponds to the attachments 1, 2, and 3 from left to right. The data is 0, indicating that the attachment is not used, and there is no food corresponding to the attachment in the refrigerator. The data is 1, indicating that the attachment has been pulled out and clamped the corresponding food, and the food corresponding to the attachment is stored in the refrigerator.
[0061] In specific implementation, the mobile terminal 3 can also modify the relationship correspondence table in the server 2 through the refrigerator food detection APP. For example, the attachment used by the user is marked as pork, but the user pulls out the attachment and clamps the apple (the attachments for fruits have been used up). Then the user can modify the name of the attachment to Apple through the mobile terminal.
[0062] In a further embodiment, the mobile terminal 3 can also control the working state of the refrigerator 1 through the refrigerator food detection APP. If the user needs to lower the temperature in the refrigerator, he can send a control command such as lowering to -2°C through the mobile terminal to the server, and the server forwards the control command to the refrigerator, which is received by the WIFI module 140 in the food management device. 140 transmits the control instruction to the main chip U1 through the WIFI interface unit 131. The main chip U1 outputs the corresponding control signal after the identification processing, and transmits it to the refrigerator mainboard through the mainboard interface unit 132 to realize the cooling control.
[0063] In addition, when the refrigerator fails, the refrigerator main board can send a failure signal to transmit the main chip U1 through the main board interface unit. After the main chip U1 recognizes, the fault signal is transmitted to the WIFI module through the WIFI interface unit. The WIFI module uploads the fault signal to the server. After the server recognizes the fault signal, it notifies the mobile terminal that the refrigerator is faulty and prompts the user to repair the refrigerator.
[0064] It should be understood that this embodiment combines a server and a mobile terminal to facilitate users to query the food storage status of the refrigerator at home through the mobile terminal when they are outside (such as a supermarket), avoid repeating purchases of certain foods, and save refrigerator costs. In specific implementation, the refrigerator can also perform food management alone, install the corresponding refrigerator food inspection APP in the refrigerator, and predefine the relationship table of each attachment and the food type and store it in the refrigerator main board. When the APP is started, if the refrigerator 1 detects that the refrigerator door is closed, the box obtains the removal and replacement status information of the attachment and uploads it to the refrigerator main board. The refrigerator main board can recognize the food storage state in the refrigerator according to the relationship correspondence table and the take-out and put-back state information. The refrigerator main board sends the food storage status to the mobile terminal 3 through the WIFI module for display, or directly displays it on the display of the refrigerator (there is no need to send it to the mobile terminal for display, which can save the WIFI module).
[0065] Based on the above refrigerator, the present invention also provides a food management method, please refer to Figure 4 , The food management method includes:
[0066] S100. The mobile terminal predefines a correspondence table of the relationship between each attachment and the food type and stores it on the server. It is convenient to set up the relationship table defined by the mobile terminal. In specific implementation, it can also be directly defined by a refrigerator with a touch screen, and the refrigerator mainboard generates and stores a relational correspondence table according to the content input by the user. Or the mobile terminal is directly transferred to the refrigerator mainboard for storage after being defined.
[0067] S200: When the refrigerator detects that the refrigerator door is closed, it detects and acquires the removal and replacement status information of the attachment and uploads it to the server. If it is processed directly by the refrigerator, it does not need to be uploaded to the server and can be transmitted to the refrigerator motherboard.
[0068] S300. Display the food storage status in the refrigerator identified by the server side according to the relationship correspondence table and the retrieval and return status information. The food storage status can be sent to the mobile terminal for display. If it is processed directly by the refrigerator, the refrigerator main board can identify the storage state of the food in the refrigerator according to the relationship correspondence table and the removal and placement status information. At this time, the refrigerator can directly display or transmit to the mobile terminal to display the food storage status. The refrigerator may have a networking function to facilitate users to use mobile terminals to query the food storage status in real time when they are outside.
[0069] In summary, the food management device, method, and refrigerator provided by the present invention detect and obtain the attachment status information when the refrigerator door is closed, and the server side performs the pre-defined relationship between each attachment and the food type. The corresponding table and the status information of the removal and placement can identify the storage status of the food in the refrigerator; only need to pull out the attachment, clamp the food and put it into the refrigerator, the operation is very simple and convenient. The storage situation of food in the refrigerator can be checked at any time through the mobile terminal, which can avoid repeated purchases by the user; the method of matching the attachment with the box can accurately identify the removal and replacement status information of the attachment, which is more practical and lower in cost.
[0070] It should be understood that the application of the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and those of ordinary skill in the art can make improvements or changes based on the above description, and all these improvements and changes should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present invention.
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